Long Island Senior Care Blog
Posted: 2/22/2018 10:41 AM by
Interim HealthCare
As your parents age it is important to be alert to signs that they may be having trouble on their own at home. With family caregivers becoming more common it is important to know what to look for in your loved one’s behavior and it is important to know when to switch to professional home care giving. Below are some behaviors to lookout for to know if professional caregiving is need for your sen...
Posted: 2/13/2018 10:30 AM by
Interim HealthCare
One of if not the most common side effect of being a family caregiver is not properly caring for them self. This happens because the caregiver is so focused on the health of their loved one, that they forget to care for themselves and their health needs. It is important for every caregiver to understand that the better they care for themselves the better they can care for their loved one.
Posted: 1/30/2018 4:21 PM by
Interim HealthCare
As our senior loved ones continue to age, the risk for illness and development of diseases increase. There are many factors that add to these risks including poor diet, un-healthy habits, lack of exercise, and use of harmful substances. As a caregiver it is important to be vigilant and help your loved ones make good lifestyle choices and avoiding the 4 most common illness among seniors.
Posted: 1/22/2018 4:20 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Symptoms generally develop slowly over years, and include tremors, slowness of movement, limb rigidity, gait and balance problems. This illness is common in seniors and be managed well with the help of a caregiver.
Posted: 12/22/2017 2:53 PM by
Interim HealthCare
In today’s technology-based society your parent has more opportunities than ever to engage with others, stay connected to friends and family, find entertainment, and even handle basic personal tasks by utilizing devices such as their computer or phone. While these can be a wonderful way to encourage them to stay more active and independent, and to support mental and emotional health as they age...
Posted: 12/8/2017 2:29 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Music can bring back memories and affect moods. It is a hallmark of celebrations. One song can take you to your childhood while another finds you on the shores of a Hawaiian island. For seniors who may find themselves alone more often than not, music can offer not only mood enhancement, but mental benefits as well.
Posted: 11/24/2017 2:17 PM by
Interim HealthCare
As a culture we are more aware than ever of the importance of the foods we eat and the impact they make on physical and mental health, wellbeing, and longevity. One of the most important things that people have come to understand in recent years is the potential danger of eating too many animal products, particularly too much red meat. Switching over to a vegetarian or vegan diet is an increasi...
Posted: 11/10/2017 2:12 PM by
Interim HealthCare
The largest organ in the human body is the skin and your elderly loved one is likely to notice a lot of changes to her skin as she ages. Some of these changes may not be a big deal, but others, such as dry patches of skin, can be uncomfortable.
Posted: 10/27/2017 1:56 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Diabetes is a very serious condition that requires extensive and management to ensure that it does not develop into more severe complications. One of the major ways to help your senior manage their condition is through changing their diet. What your loved one eats makes a tremendous difference in their health and well-being, as well as their ability to manage their condition. This might be a bi...
Posted: 10/13/2017 1:30 PM by
Interim HealthCare
A sense of smell can be extremely important to your senior loved one’s wellbeing and memory. Certain kinds of smells can recall memories: a certain kind of perfume or cologne, foods, or the smell of certain places.
Posted: 9/15/2017 3:05 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Being away from your elderly loved one is difficult as a long-distance family caregiver, but if she's diagnosed with dementia, that can make you a little more nervous. Finding ways to compensate for the distance involved can help you and your elderly loved one to feel more at ease.
Posted: 9/1/2017 2:53 PM by
Interim HealthCare
When you're a family caregiver to an elderly loved one, some situations can crop up that you didn't expect. A loved one who is suddenly reluctant to bathe is one such situation, especially if your loved one has always paid a lot of attention to her personal hygiene. Some of these tips can help.
Posted: 8/18/2017 2:37 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Grief is something that virtually everyone will have to face and get through at some point in their lives. This loss of an important person can be extremely painful and a difficult phase to push through, but as a family caregiver it is critical that you are prepared to help your parent deal with their loss in an effective and healthy way so that they can move forward and enjoy a lifestyle that ...
Posted: 8/4/2017 1:38 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Memory issues can make many things more difficult with your elderly loved one, especially family fun in the summer. This doesn't have to be the case, though, especially if you try some of these tips.
Posted: 7/21/2017 11:48 AM by
Interim HealthCare
The thought of your parent undergoing surgery can be daunting. Hip replacement surgery, however, can make a tremendous difference in their health and quality of life, enabling them to stay more active, healthier, and more engaged in the world around them. Helping your parent to determine if they should consider this type of surgery empowers them to make the decision that is right for them and f...
Posted: 7/7/2017 10:41 AM by
Interim HealthCare
While there are many potential causes for low vision among elderly adults, one of the most common is a condition called macular degeneration. This disease is a leading cause of the loss of vision among those older adults over the age of 50 and can develop so gradually that the senior is not even aware of the changes in their vision until they have become severe. This condition does not lead to ...
Posted: 6/20/2017 2:06 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Changes in appearance. Does the person's hair and makeup look all right? Are clothes clean? Someone known for crisply ironed shirts who's now in a stained sweatshirt may lack the dexterity for buttons or may have lost the strength for managing an ironing board and iron. A formerly clean-shaven man with an unkempt beard may be forgetting to shave (or forgetting how to shave).
These are just ...
Posted: 6/5/2017 1:52 PM by
Interim HealthCare
The decision to help an aging adult move out of a current home is a complex one -- both emotionally and practically. Above all, you want the person to be safe and well. How can you all feel more confident about whether circumstances suggest that your loved one should no longer be living alone?
Although every situation is different, looking at the following 11 signs will give you valuable infor...
Posted: 5/15/2017 1:33 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Seeking solutions to difficult situations is, of course, one of the most important tools in caregiving. Once you've identified a problem, taking action to solve it can change the situation and also change your attitude to a more positive one, giving you more confidence in your abilities.
Posted: 5/5/2017 1:24 PM by
Interim HealthCare
Only when we first help ourselves can we effectively help others. Caring for yourself is one of the most important—and one of the most often forgotten—things you can do as a caregiver. When your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit, too.