Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

The most recent report on the state of America’s elderly citizens gives us information that does not surprise anyone who is observing or watching out for our seniors. By 2030, one fifth of Americans will be over the age of 65.

The report also tells us that the challenges our elderly will be confronted with the following issues:

• Fixed income
• Rising costs of health care
• Increased leisure
• Getting exercise
• Eating a balanced diet

It seems that a lot of people will have increased their chances of either being a seasoned citizen, or having a parent who is a senior, are pretty darned good.

So, with as many as one fifth of us will be over the age of 65, who is going to take on the parent-care responsibility?  Usually it is the oldest female child who takes that responsibility. An articleon WebMD goes on to talk about the awesome amount of duties that need to be performed on behalf of an aged parent and how the one who has been delegated to attend to them can become overwhelmed by it all.

What helps the primary family caregiver is reaching out to your siblings or other family members for support. To ask for help is decreases your chances of developing caregiver stress. Another valued option is to hire a professional caregiver.

Many families have come up with ways to care for mom and dad. They do their best to keep the family together and provide elder care for aging parents.

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

When my mom was in her 80’s, we began to discuss the possibility of having her move into an assisted living facility. I had been acting as her part-time caregiver for a number of years, however, the level of assistance she needed was increasing and I didn’t feel I was qualified to be her full-time caregiver.

I knew that my mom would meet this idea with reluctance, but I didn’t expect her reaction to be so volatile and emotional. Initially, through anger and tears, she flat out refused to leave her home.

I tried to gently persuade her, admitting that it would result in a loss of independence, but also introduced the benefits and exposure to new things that my mother would experience in assisted living. Finally, she told me that this wasn’t the problem; she could adjust to those changes, but she couldn’t bear to leave her memories behind.

The house that my mother was still living in during her later years was the house where she raised me and my siblings, the home where we celebrated birthdays and holidays, the place where we packed for family vacations. It was also the home where for 60 years; she lived with my father before his death. I finally understood that my mother was afraid that along with her independence, she would lose her memories.

Today, mom enjoys living at home with help from a professional caregiver. I check on her as often as possible but it’s great to know that she has a companion that helps her remain independent and safe at home. 

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Are you stressed? What to look for:

• Worried and anxious, getting palpitations
• Feel tired all the time 
• Frequent headache 
• Backache 
• Lack of sleep, insomnia 
• Rise in blood pressure 
• Get irritated at small things 
• Feel like crying
• Poor work performance

Tips to Relax Yourself

• Eat right
• Do regular exercise 
• Get a massage — that helps release tension 
• Prioritize and set realistic goals 
• Learn to say “No” 
• When worried, look for distractions 
• Control your anger. Go easy on criticisms. Let go 
• Do not isolate yourself. Talk it out 
• Stop smoking 
• Meditate

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Here’s a list of activities to do with your senior loved one during the holidays. The list is made of ideas of things to do for simple, engaging, and fun activities. A lot of seniors have skills to lead games or classes. But you can always lead them or arrange some of these activities.

Holiday Activities for Older Adults:

• Calligraphy
• Digital photography
• Flower arranging
• Scrapbooking
• Quilt making or sewing
• Computer and Internet use
• Fishing or hunting
• Foreign Language
• Art and Painting
• Movie night with popcorn and perhaps a ‘theme’ party could be great fun. Revisit old favorites or enjoy newer films at home or in a theater.
• Visit to the local zoo
• Local city gardens
• Ethnic or interesting restaurants
• Visit an art gallery
• Regular game nights are fun
• Hold an English Afternoon Tea for Seniors

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

November and December are two favorite months of the year for most seniors.  The holidays bring to memory wonderful celebrations of the past.  This can be a special time to reminisce and to learn more about the traditions of your mom and dad when they were growing up. 

Create a musical setting with your mom’s favorite holiday album.  Then help her relive a vision of a special event surrounding the festive holidays.  Ask her questions and allow time for your mom to tell a story.

• What event do you see?
• Who was there?
• What sounds do you hear?
• Is it cold or warm outside?
• What’s on the dinner table?
• Do you smell anything?
• Did you receive a special present?
• Did you give a special present?
• Did you attend a religious service?
• Did you play any games with your family?

This will help her remember special times of the past.

Saying ‘Thanks’ to Seniors this Holiday Season

Many of us take for granted what older adults contribute to our society. We don’t always recognize just how much our elder war veterans have done for our country. While retirement may seem like a permanent vacation, we often forget that some people struggle to make ends meet; paying for a constant influx of medical bills, funding their stay at long-term care homes or caregiving assistance.

Living on a fixed income is not easy, so this holiday season, it’s time to give thanks to our seniors for all they do. Since many seniors may not have a nearby family network, many organizations reach out and say ‘thanks’ by way of a holiday meal. Nursing homes, community centers, local restaurants, and various other establishments open their doors to older adults and offer free Thanksgiving meals that are reminiscent of those cooked in their own ovens during holidays passed.

Those who are fortunate enough to have close families and friends, may be taken into their homes; according to a poll on About.com Senior Living, the greatest number of seniors will be feasting at their children’s homes. No matter where you are, or what your story is, it’s time to give thanks to your elders.

Source: http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-seniorliving&tid=174

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Home Instead Senior Care helps Dallas Caregivers cope with elder care. Please call us at (972) 239-3934.

Activities To Do With Nursing Home Residents

• Knitting
• Story Telling
• Crocheting
• Sewing
• Drawing
• Painting
• Bring in a Pets - if facility allows pets.
• Play music or CD.
• Take the resident out for a walk.

Talk - Ask these questions:

What is the best present you ever received.

Do you remember the first time you fell in love?

• What was your first job?
• What is your favorite vacation?
• Tell me about your brothers and sisters.
• What was your mom & dad like?
• What did you like best about being a parent?
• What is your favorite song?
• What is your favorite movie?
• Tell me about your best friend.

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Home Instead Senior Care understands that managing elder care is demanding and requires good communication skills and coordinating schedules to enhance outcomes. As an adult child of an aging parent, you can expect to have emotional feelings as you manage the caregiving role.

Being your parent’s primary caregiver, you can gain peace of mind by learning “how” to deal with senior care situations.   

You may find that you must learn to adjust to the “parenting your parents” role. It’s also a learned skill to balance your new caregiving role with your immediate families needs. When you feel overwhelmed, we recommend reaching out to other family members and ask for their support. By appropriately coping with these aging issues and caring for oneself, gives you the key to a satisfying caregiving experience.

Your siblings can take on different responsibilities when an aging relative needs more help. A spouse may assume a “parent” role for their husband or wife. You or siblings may find these role changes difficult to accept. Often these roles change in some ways, but not in others, leading to some confusion about just how to act. It sometimes takes a while to figure out just who will do what.

Just remember, elder care is challenging and Home Instead can help.

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

Taking Care during the Holidays

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. We shop, we plan, we cook and we visit. With all of the activity, it’s easy to for seniors to get caught up and forget to take the time to look after their health.

Seniors of all ages and health need to make sure that they don’t overburden themselves, remain well-rested, eat well and enjoy their time with family and friends. Seniors with diabetes need to take particular care of their health at a time when food is in abundance and diets go out the window until the New Year.

In order to get through the holidays with health in tact, individuals with diabetes need to watch their portion sizes even though there may be a temptation to fill their plates with the vast assortment of food available. While preparing for the season, seniors also need to eat regularly and often (5 to 6 small meals) in order to keep energy levels up.

Meals should consist of lean meats and proteins and fill up on salads, vegetables and calorie-free drinks. Alcohol should be avoided, and to encourage the healthy eating of others, bring a healthy snack or dish to a party.

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas is one of the best alternatives to assisted living and nursing homes in Dallas. Your loved one prefers to live at home and our CAREGivers are trained to help them remain safe and healthy at home. Call us at 972-239-3934.

“I had a fall.” These can be chilling words to hear if you are a caregiver, spouse, child, or friend of an older person.  The possible consequences can be devastating: bruises, broken bones, hospitalization, loss of mobility, and loss of independence.

The fear of falling can lead older adults to limit their activities. This can actually increase the risk of falling as lack of exercise and reduced movement impairs flexibility and balance. 

Falls are the leading cause of injury among Americans over age 65, sending 1.8 million seniors to the emergency room in 2005, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing falls is a key component of healthy aging.

Experts say that efforts to prevent falls should include management of chronic conditions, limiting the number of medications to reduce adverse side effects, physical therapy to increase range of motion, and “fall-proofing” the home.

The first step to fall-proofing the home is to create open paths through each room.  Furniture should be re-arranged so that seniors can walk through each room without have to maneuver around tables and chairs.  There should be a clear path from the bed to the bathroom that is wide enough to be negotiated in the dark.