In extension to some key steps like keeping the floors clean and clutter-free, there are a few things that can be done to make it easier and safer for your elderly parent to get around in their home.

Shower and bath tub grab bars in bathrooms. This is an extremely important item in home safety. This doesn’t mean using a towel bar; buy the best quality grab bar that you can afford and place it with blocking in a wall or a blind fastening system. They should be positioned beside the toilet and one right outside the shower and/or tub in each bathroom. Grab bars come in different kinds of textures and colors now so it’s easy to coordinate it with the bathroom.

Railings. Your elderly parent needs to feel safe around their home going up and down the stairs. Make sure railings are installed on both sides of all staircases; for wide staircases, use extendable railings.

Medical alert systems. Most seniors prefer to have some privacy which is understandable. Putting in a medical alert system will not only give them their privacy, but you peace of mind. An emergency pull-cord is also a good idea to be set up in each bathroom and connected to a phone.

Nonslip mats. Using nonslip mats in the bathroom or on any other floor surface will help the senior from slipping; place a nonslip insert in each shower or tub to keep washing safe for your parent. Also, be sure to get rid of scatter rugs since they can cause an elderly person to trip or slip and fall.

Lighting. Many elderly don’t realize they can’t see so well in lower wattage lighting, so provide higher wattage light bulbs like 60 or 75 watts. Night lights are a big help too; put one in each bathroom and one or two in the kitchen and living room. A sensor night light is probably a good choice for the elderly because they don’t have to remember to turn it on or off, it goes on when it’s night and turns off when it’s morning.

Door levers. Those that have arthritis may find it hard to turn a regular door knob. So replace those knobs with door levers; they’re easy to change and it won’t take much time at all.

Remote entrance to home. Seniors will find it easier to open the door by simply pressing a button on a keyless entry remote rather than trying to get that key in the lock. Also, provide a ramp from the driveway to your front door and make sure to keep it free of things like potted plants. It will be easier for your parent to walk a ramp rather than negotiate a bunch of steps.

Accessible bathroom fixtures. A lot of seniors have problems lowering themselves to sit on a traditional height toilet; so replace that toilet with a higher height one or buy a toilet extender seat. As for showers, a walk-in shower is the best complete with nonslip floor, grab bars and either a removable or permanent seat. They also have walk-in bath tubs now that also have grab bars, a nonslip floor and a seat; some even have air jets. To avoid burning, make sure the hot water is set at a minimum temperature.

None of us want to see anything bad happen to our parents as they go through their senior years. Following the advice above will provide them with a safe home that will let them be comfortable and independent. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at (253_ 460-1574/. We are always here to help!  Heartwarming Care

Independent Living

Senior adults seem to be happier when they are in familiar surroundings. They prefer their own home as long as it is safe for them to be there. In-home care is the answer to compassionate care, which allows the senior to enjoy an independent lifestyle without moving to a community facility.

This preference to be in their own home should not represent obstacles to the senior adult whether the person is economically challenged or well-to-do. Payment for services rendered can be as creative or as mainstream as is necessary to meet the various needs for assistance. Safety is the number one priority for our senior adult population.

Heartwarming Care on a Budget

Senior adults do not always require high maintenance care. Some need only companionship while alone during the day. Others might require assistance with simple things such as cooking, cleaning, a few quick housekeeping tasks and an errand now and then. This is especially true if they live with family members or a house mate who is gone during the daytime.

Care providers tend to overlook older adults who do not have financial means. Heartwarming Care is available to assist with the placement of appropriate caregivers who can perform the necessary services within your budget. Talk to us today. Our goal is to pleasantly surprise you.

The first principle related to the cause, cure, and prevention of just about any infection you will encounter among the elderly in the home environment is…any fluid in your body that does not move will either clot or get infected. Whether it’s urine, blood, or fluid in your lungs, stagnant fluid either clots or gets infected with bacteria, it’s a physiological fact.

How do you apply it? If lack of motion creates the problem, then motion will fix it. Coughing and deep breathing can help to prevent pneumonia. Intake of fluids (to keep urine moving) can help prevent urinary tract infections. Walking can help to prevent blood clots.

The second major principle is…hand washing, hand washing, hand washing. This alone will prevent most viruses and bacterial infections from other people. Whether it’s your aged loved one, a visitor, or yourself, make a firm household policy of hand washing upon entering, before eating, after using the restroom, after performing any personal cares, and, well, just because!

If after applying these principles, a bug still slips by and infects your loved one, keep in mind the, again simple, symptoms which tell you to head to the doctor. Watch for fevers, strange colors or consistencies (whether in urine or coughing up from the lungs), or areas of bright angry redness (for wounds and skin infections). If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it’s vitally important to finish the entire course of medication as ordered. If that doesn’t clear it up, back to the doctor.

For further information on how to prevent infections, and other important information on maximizing the health of your loved ones, please contact us

Often adult children of aging parents worry about mom or dad’s capabilities. Often times, they tend to over-assist their parents, not allowing them to keep their senior independence.

As well-meaning as that may be, it doesn’t allow the parent the sense of pride and accomplishment they deserve to feel. Keeping our self-importance is vital as we age. Maintaining a sense of independence keeps our minds active and strong.

Most senior citizens, if given a choice, will choose to stay and live out the remaining days of their lives in their home. How many parents have said, “Don’t ever put me in a nursing home!”? As the child making that decision it is one of, if not, the most important decisions of your life. Your first choice, of course, would be to have mom or dad stay in their own home. But, with having a life of your own to tend to, it may be difficult to help mom or dad when they need it.

At Heartwarming Care your parent can remain in the home they’ve spent decades in and your worries will be over. Mom and Dad can keep their independence and feel wonderful about themselves and enjoy life.

A quality, professional, trusted home caregiver will give you peace of mind as they assist your parent with whatever is needed. Your parents will have the assistance of a caregiver in the comfort and privacy of their own home whenever or for whatever your parent or you deems necessary.

Heartwarming Care offers 5 core values:

• Professionalism
• Consistency
• Integrity
• Compassion
• Quality

You and your parent can expect confidence, guaranteed compatibility and assured quality.

Remember that senior independence is crucial to enjoying the last chapter of our lives and helping your parent maintain it is both loving and wise.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

From About.com on senior living:

According to the Journal of Financial Service Professionals, at the beginning of the 20th century between 4% and 7% of people in their sixties had at least one parent still living. Today, that figure is nearly 50%. And people in their sixties who end up caring for an aging parent often feel they are getting a preview of what they may experience emotionally, physically and financially as they age—and at a time when they are confronting their own mortality more keenly than ever before.

Aging does not only affect your elder family member; it has a great impact on your life and the life of your children. While it may seem like common sense, there are steps that should be taken to ease the transition for your parent and yourself.

1. The first step is to accept the fact that your parents are getting older. That may seem obvious, but there are many out there that think there will be time…later. If you wait, there may be circumstances that occur that prevent you from having that much needed conversation: stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, or another life changing event.
2. Set a day and time to meet with your parent/elder family member to have a conversation about their wants and needs. You may choose to meet with them one-on-one initially, or you may want to hold a conversation with the immediate family. Whatever is decided, plan well for the meeting.
   1. While this is a serious conversation, keep things light and not forced.
   2. Let your parent/elder know that you love them and you want to have this conversation to know their wishes.
   3. Discuss how you can help and what needs to be done to get things in order to ensure that they have the care that may be needed.
   4. Speak with them about their healthcare needs and their wishes for care if their life circumstances change. Look into options for receiving care.

In looking at life changes, you need to make sure that you are taking care of the emotional needs of your parent and yourself. You need to be sensitive to their wants and needs but also be realistic as to what you can provide. You need to know when to seek professional help to care for your aging parent.

That is where we come in. We provide in-home care and help educate you and your loved one on living as independently as possible. We provide consistency for your family member and are sensitive and compassionate to their needs. We can help determine the needs of your parent and customize a program for them.

Don’t wait until it is too late. Contact us and have assurance that your parent will be cared for when the time arises.

What is a stroke? “Cerebrovascular disease; CVA; Cerebral infarction; Cerebral hemorrhage; Ischemic stroke; Stroke – ischemic; Cerebrovascular accident; Stroke – hemorrhagic.”  Stroke is an umbrella term for many brain conditions that can lead to paralysis, loss of speech or understanding of speech, and perhaps death.

Strokes can be divided roughly into two varieties, ischemic or hemorrhagic.   Ischemic strokes are caused by a blockage of oxygen to a portion of the brain until that section literally starves to death.  This blockage can be from a detached blood clot or piece of cholesterol detached from a semi-blocked vein.  A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding, either from a head injury or the rupture of a weakened vessel.  The ensuing blood clot can cause potentially fatal pressure on the brain.

Heartwarming Care is a company that helps today’s sandwich generation to improve the care they can give to homebound relatives.  Knowing the symptoms of a CVA can prompt the caregiver to intervene medically before severe neural damage is done. Stroke awareness can be lifesaving.

As there are many causes of strokes, there can be many symptoms.  Perhaps most commonly, the patient may have slurred or incomprehensible speech.  There may a pin and needles sensation or weakness on one side of the body.  BP will probably rise and the patient may complain of an unbearable headache, lapsing into unconsciousness.

Heartwarming Care encourages you and other caregivers of your loved one to increase your stroke awareness.  Remember, it is better to seek medical care on a false alarm than see a member of your family or employer suffer a deadly CVA.

According to a recent study published by Berg Insight, more than 2.8 million people worldwide are tracked by their health care providers through remote monitoring. This information was published in a study, which also showed that the number is increasing rapidly. Telehealth is forecasted to reach 9.4 million people by 2017. The study, titled mHealth and Home Monitoring, is the 2013 edition of the report. Berg Insight began studying telehealth and its role in patient care in 2007.

The majority of these devices are implanted in older patients for cardiac rhythm management. This means maintaining heart health for seniors is a focus of the industry. Cardiac defibrillators and similar telemonitored devices have become standard protocol in the United States for congestive heart failure. The fastest growing category is sleep monitoring devices built into CPAP machines, according to the report. Other devices that use wireless technology to connect patients and doctors includes some advanced glucose monitoring and blood pressure testing systems.

In addition to providing better health care to patients and peace of mind for their caregivers, remote monitoring is also a cost-saving measure for hospitals. The better most chronic conditions are monitored the better they are managed. This reduces the needs for hospitalizations. The U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services charges financial penalties for readmission to the hospital. The study says this is the primary reason for the growth of telehealth in the United States.

Doctors, hospital staff and administration are also becoming more and more comfortable with the use of telehealth and other wireless communication in patient care. Schools are working to educate the next generation of health care providers about the role of technology, including remote monitoring, in patient care.

Sometimes this technology can still be confusing for caregivers and those outside of the medical profession, however. For more information about how our training or services can make you feel more comfortable with your loved one’s wireless medical device, contact us today.

From healthguide.org:

…A recent study by the National Institutes of Health suggests that healthy older people may require about one and a half hours less sleep than younger adults, or an average of seven and a half hours per night. The study indicates that seniors sleep less even when given the opportunity for more sleep because of age-related changes in the ability to fall asleep or remain asleep.

As you age, your body produces lower level of hormones. This, in turn, affects your deep sleep. You just won’t have as much. You potentially may be awake more during the night. This means you may need to stay longer in bed to get the proper amount of sleep. Knowing these things will help you decide if you are having difficulty sleeping, staying asleep or if it is a natural process.

If you or your loved one are appearing overly-tired, or suffering other signs of insomnia, steps should be taken to rectify the problem.

First, think of things that could be affecting your sleep.

• Are you stressed?
• Are you exercising? People who exercise have a tendency of sleeping better.
• Are your melatonin levels affected by too much artificial light?
• Are you taking medications that affect your sleep?
• Do you have poor sleep habits? Falling asleep to the television or drinking alcohol before bed?

If you have looked at these things and they do not provide an answer to your lack of sleep or tiredness, then you need to look at other areas.

• Listen to your body. Sleep when you are tired. Do not force yourself to stay up. Taking a short nap in the afternoon may help you sleep at night.
• Sleep in a dark room. Do not have a computer screen on.
• Move alarm clocks so you can’t see the time. Looking at the clock can provide stress.
• Keep a routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
• Take a soothing bath before bed.
• Intimacy can help promote sleep. Sex and intimate touch like hugging and massage may help get you to sleep.
• Do not over medicate.

If, after trying these things, you still are having problems with insomnia, professional consultation may be necessary.

Heartwarming Care is available to help with elder care, including home care and sleep disorder education and care. We have many resources available for all of your healthcare needs. Contact us with any questions.

Are you caring for a senior who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes? Although people live successful, fulfilling lives with diabetes for years, it IS a serious illness. It’s also an illness in which the outcome is largely dependent on how well the patient is able to care for him or herself.

So if you’re providing diabetes care for a senior—especially if you’re not professionally trained– there are some things you need to pay special attention to. The most important of these are outlined below.

Part of diabetes treatment involves testing one’s blood sugar up to four times a day with a glucometer, or blood glucose meter. It’s important for you to know how to use the glucometer and also to know the acceptable limits for results. These blood sugar readings are used to adjust medications up or down; keep a list of the doctor’s recommended levels and corrective actions to take when the blood sugar readings are not within acceptable limits.

Most diabetics take medication—either insulin or pills—more than once a day. The medication often has to be adjusted in response to blood sugar levels; again, it’s essential to have doctor’s instructions regarding medication adjustments. Your senior has probably been performing these tasks for years, but all the variables involved in self-care make it hard for anyone to remember. You’ll need to ensure your loved one remembers to test blood sugars and take medications appropriately.

The longer someone has lived with diabetes, the more sensitive the skin becomes and the more likely he or she is to suffer skin breaks and wounds that won’t heal. This is due to poor circulation, another long-term consequence of diabetes.

It’s important to check the elderly person’s skin, and monitor the body for open sores—especially on the feet at least every five to seven days. Skin wounds in persons with diabetes can quickly turn into gangrene and amputations—stay on top of this!

If the person you care for acts confused or disoriented, don’t assume this is part of the aging process. Often persons with diabetes suffer from nerve damage which makes it impossible for them to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar; this can lead to death if not treated promptly. Be vigilant and check the person’s blood sugar if you notice any unusual behaviors.

Following these suggestions will help to keep your loved one healthy, but if you feel overwhelmed  as a caregiver, contact us. We provide caregiver training, respite care and complete professional in-home care.

While caregiving can have its rewards, the pressure can lead to things like depression and anxiety, and the physical maladies associated with long-term stress such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, caregivers are often so invested in caring for their loved one that they neglect their own health, not taking the time to rest or eat properly, and delaying their own medical care, including cancer screenings and prescription renewals.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, not sleeping properly, exhausted, depressed, or otherwise at the end of your rope, caregiver stress may be a serious problem for you. What can you do?

Seek help. Talk to a doctor or counselor. Don’t dismiss your problem, or minimize your own needs. Some hospital and healthcare organizations offer classes to help caregivers to learn the skills needed for their own safety and the safety of the person in their care. Books, support groups, and websites can offer tips for caring for both your loved one and yourself.

Seek help from relatives, including financial help if necessary, and don’t allow them to put additional strain on you. For example, if you usually cook Thanksgiving dinner, don’t be afraid to speak up and say ‘no’ this year. If you already have your hands full with caregiving, there is no reason for you to take on the stress of planning a holiday celebration as well. Ask someone else to host this year, offer to bring a simple dish or a bottle of wine, and let yourself hand over responsibility to someone else.

Stay in touch with your friends. Talk on the phone, email, or ask them to stop by for a short visit. Staying connected will help you to stay positive and refreshed. Take time to be alone also. Read a book, go for a walk, see a movie, or go shopping. You need some time to recharge your own batteries.

If you find that you simply cannot adequately care for your loved one and make time for yourself, it is probably time to look into homecare. Homecare offers companionship and a helping hand.

Caregiver stress is not uncommon, but it is not something that you have to deal with alone. Look for resources in your family and in your community, and never be afraid to seek additional care services.

If you or someone you love needs help, please contact us. We want to help.