caregiver Archives - Ella Home Care

September 11, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel Leave a Comment

Great Outdoor Activities to Enjoy in Cooler Weather

It’s bittersweet to bid farewell to summer, but the fall brings with its some unique benefits like cooler weather which is a welcome break from high temps and humidity. Especially for senior adults, the very warm summer days can make it dangerous to spend too much time outside, limiting activities during peak daylight hours to shaded or air conditioned space. So with the arrival of fall, we wanted to offer a variety of outdoor activities you might enjoy sharing with an adding loved one this season. Take a look!

Walk in the park

A walk in the park during the fall season is a beautiful and scenic activity that is perfect for all ages, especially those in their senior years. Whether your local park is walkable from home or you need to take a quick car trip to get there, once you’re there you can enjoy a leisurely pace of walking different areas of the park while stopping to take a break on a bench of picnic table to take in the views.

Campfire with friends

Another fun fall activity, especially in the evening hours, is sitting by campfire or fire pit. If you don’t have one at your home, think of a friend or family member who does. Ask if they would be willing to host a small get together and then arrange transportation for your aging loved one(s). Sitting by the warmth of the fire, enjoying some snacks and sharing stories with one another is a great way to make new memories this fall.

Baking seasonal treats

Now that the heat of summer has subsided, an afternoon of baking in the kitchen seems bearable again. Use this as an opportunity to spend time with an aging loved one, making some of their favorite fall recipes. Think apples, pumpkin and cinnamon! If you’re able to bake a few different types of treats in a day, you can make these into care packages to share with neighbors and friends.

Hot cocoa to go

Tis the season for some homemade hot cocoa! Make some at home and bring it in a thermos to your loved one’s home. Then suggest you sit on the porch or deck to enjoy the fresh, cool air of fall while the hot cocoa keeps you warm. This would pair nicely with some of those homemade fall treats you’ve made.

Brunch or lunch on the patio

Treat a senior loved one to a meal out at one of their favorite restaurants. Choose a location that has the option to sit outside. If the weather is nice enough for it, suggest sitting outside on the patio or deck of the restaurant to take in the scenes of fall while enjoying a delicious meal. To be mindful of the dropping temperatures during the evening hours, make the meal a brunch or lunch so that you’re able to still enjoy the warm sun during peak hours.

What is your favorite fall outdoor activity? Is this something you might be able to share with an aging loved one this season? Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.

September 4, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel Leave a Comment

Fun and Easy Fall Craft Ideas for Senior Adults

Tis the season for pumpkin spice and everything nice! The passing of Labor Day typically shifts our mindsets from summer to autumn, making it a great time to dig into some seasonal crafts that can make your home feel a bit more festive this time of year.

Crafts aren’t just for kids! In fact, crafts are one of the best ways to engage aging adults, giving them a productive pastime while increasing mental alertness and dexterity. Let’s take a look at just a few of the many fall craft ideas you may wish to try out this season with your aging loved one.

Decorating a photo frame

Photos are closely tied to memories, making a photo frame a great craft idea for aging adults. Find an old, plain photo frame or purchase an inexpensive new one. Try to choose something made of unfinished wood or of a material that will work well with hot glue. The Dollar Store is a great place to find these types of items! Next, using a hot glue gun (and helping your loved one as needed), carefully arrange various fall décor items like faux leaves, acorns, and mini plastic pumpkins around the frame. Once dry, the frame is ready for a new photo. Use this opportunity to take a family photo with your loved one. Now you have a fresh memory fit for the fall season!

Filing a vase with fall décor

It’s likely you or someone you know has a variety of empty vases to spare. Borrow or buy some of various sizes and shapes. Next, go on a “scavenger hunt” around the home, or outside to collect fall items like leaves, pinecones, acorns and flower clippings to fill the vases. Take time to carefully arrange the various items in the vases to create a colorful and decorative display that can be placed on a table, above a fireplace or on a side table to add a burst of fall décor to your loved one’s home or apartment.

Creating fall themed greeting cards

You don’t have to be a true artist to master this fall craft idea. Whatever comes from the heart will be well received! Using crayons, colored pencils and stencils, spend time with your aging loved one decorating greeting cards to send to family and friends. On the front of the blank cards, draw a fall scene like a park bench surrounded by leaves, or a pumpkin patch. Then write a thoughtful note inside. The final step in this craft is taking a walk together to the mail box to send your well wishes off together. This is the perfect craft to do over the course of an afternoon.

Making a no-sew fleece throw

This craft idea take a bit of preparation, but is well worth the effort. Go to your local fabric store ahead of time and purchase two large squares (large enough to be a comfortable throw) of fleece in two different fall patterns. Then, following these instructions, work together to cut tabs around the material and knot the two pieces together to create a warm and cozy blanket that is perfect for those cool fall days. Every time your loved one wraps up in this blanket they will think back on the memory of making it with you.

Filling trick or treat bags

Another fall craft idea, geared more toward the Halloween holiday, is to fill trick or treat bags to have on hand to give out to neighborhood trick or treaters. Help your loved one by purchasing a variety of candy and baggies in advance. Work together to fill each bag and tie it off. You can even add a fun and festive note to the bags, if you wish! This is something a senior adult may not have the means or ability to do by themselves, so with your help they will be well prepared to enjoy Halloween visitors from neighborhood children while having treats ready and on hand to give them.

Which one of these fall craft ideas do you plan to do with a friend or family member this season? Let us know, or share a new idea, by leaving a comment below!

August 9, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel Leave a Comment

A Perfect Match: How Ella Home Care Finds the Best Caregiver for You

At Ella Home Care, we go much deeper than simply matching an available caregiver with a new client. We have a careful process for how we assess the needs of a client, as well as their personality, interests and hobbies so that we can provide them with a caregiver who is as close to a “perfect match” as possible. Are you curious to know more about our process? Read on to learn the steps we take to find the best caregiver for every situation.

We take time to really get to know you.

First, a member of our team comes out to the home for an assessment. The assessment is like a meet-and-great where we get to know each other and determine what services will be needed to keep that person living independently in his or her place of residence. We also ask the person what kind of personality and traits he or she would like in a caregiver. For some, a strong and outgoing personality is a good fit, while others may be better suited for a quiet personality.

We consider the areas of expertise needed.

Next we take inventory of what is expected of a caregiver. If a lot of hands-on tasks are involved, like bathing and transfers, we look to our experienced staff who are accustom to providing those services like our CNA’s on staff or other skilled caregivers. We also make sure our caregivers of physically capable of providing such care and can do so safely.

We take into account pets, interests, and hobbies.

If the person has any pets, we make sure our caregiver is not allergic to or has issues working around animals. We also try to match someone with a pet with a caregivers who also loves pets. This commonality can help to create a bond right from the beginning. We also try to identify interests and hobbies and when possible match a caregiver who has a shared interest or hobby. Many times, a client will request someone who is a good cook, someone who likes the outdoors, or someone who likes conversation and we do our best to accommodate this.

We make sure everyone feels comfortable and prepared.

Once we have obtained all the necessary information to make an informed decision, we carefully review our roster of available caregivers to see who may be the best fit. If the client wishes to meet their caregiver in advance of their first day, we are happy to arrange this. In fact, we recommend that the client and caregiver meet prior to the start of their working relationship to ease into the transition and to make things more comfortable. This also allows the caregiver to see the home in which they will be working, allowing them to prepare anything they may wish to bring with them to help them in caring for the client.

Could you or someone you know benefit from the care and assistance of an in-home caregiver? Contact Ella Home Care today so we can help you find the right option to meet your needs!

August 3, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel Leave a Comment

How an In-Home Caregiver Can Help Even When You’re Not at Home

Just as the title would imply, an in-home professional caregiver most commonly provides care for aging loved ones who wish to stay in their home as long as possible. However, there may be situations that arise that call for this person to receive care outside their home for a period of time. For example, an injury or procedure could require a short hospital stay or a few days or weeks in a rehabilitation facility.

During this time, a professional caregiver serves just as important of a role as ever by continuing to care for this person in their new location. The doctors and nurses on-site will care for their major medical needs, while the professional caregiver is there to assist with their daily hygiene, dressing, and eating. And they are there to provide a lot more than that! Here are four benefits of having an in-home caregiver care for a loved one even when they’re not in their home.

A Familiar Face

When your loved one is in the hospital or in short-term care at a rehabilitation facility, their caregiver will provide them with something familiar. When you’re out of your home environment, it can be lonely, unsettling and even scary, especially for older adults. With a professional caregiver, that person has something that feels safe, familiar and normal.

Continuity of Care

A very important role a professional caregiver plays is providing continuity of care. When someone is in any type of short-term care, they will likely be working with many different nurses and doctors in a short period of time. This can make it challenging to be sure your loved one is receiving consistent care tailored to their needs and expectations. With a professional caregiver, you know you will have one thing that remain constant throughout it all.

Personalized Attention

More than just the physical care of your loved one, you want to be sure they are being cared for emotionally and mentally. A professional caregiver is available to listen, talk, and simply spend time with a person. This personalized attention can greatly enhance the healing and recovery process.

Your Eyes and Ears

Most importantly, when you cannot be with your loved one, you will have the professional caregiver there to help be your eyes and ears for all that is going on. As doctors or nurses stop by ask questions and do their assessments, the caregiver can provide you with updates. They can also alert you of any concerns or requests they have. This gives you both the peace of mind and certainty that your loved one is receiving the top quality care.

Could you or someone you know benefit from having a professional caregiver? Contact Ella Home Care today so we can tell you more about our process and determine if this is the right fit you!

July 1, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel Leave a Comment

5 Signs You or a Loved One May Benefit From In-Home Care

Professional in-home caregiving is a very unique industry in that it allows families to care for one another, even as generations age, while still maintaining the balance of children being children, rather than fulltime caregivers.

If you have an aging loved one, possibly a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparents who desire to continue living in their home as long as possible, but who need some additional assistance in order to do so, then this article is for you. Consider the following reasons why you might benefit from hiring a professional in-home caregiver to provide this extra assistance, while alleviating any added stress to the family.

You don’t want full responsibility to fall on family members.

In many instances, family members are happy to step forward to offer some additional assistance to aging family members as they require it. This could be stopping by the house several times a week, driving them to doctors’ appointments, providing some meals, or running errands. These tasks are all manageable in moderation, but can quickly overwhelm any one person who feels responsible for it all, often while still needing to work and take care of their own family. A professional caregiver can assume a little or a lot of this responsibility to make caring for a loved one less stressful. Whether you need help just a few days a week, or require 24/7 care.

You want to ensure safety and the highest level of care.

Professional in-home caregivers are specially trained in the industry’s best practices to ensure safety and the highest level of care. They also have the unique desire to care for another person and are passionate about forming a relationship that meets both mental and emotional needs. Not every family has someone like this who can step forward to care for an aging loved one. In our field of work, we often see how the right caregiver can greatly enhance the quality of life for an individual.

You need more care than what any one person can provide.

Should your loved one require around the clock care, or even long day shifts, this is often more than what any one person can handle. We all need a break, and this is exactly what an in-home caregiver, or team of caregivers can provide. At Ella Home Care, we can cycle several caregivers in different shifts throughout the week to provide as much as 24/7 care. Additionally, this gives the person being cared for some variety in their week, which is something to look forward to.

You or your loved one wants to stay in their home as long as possible.

One of the biggest benefits of having the help of an in-home caregiver is that it makes it possible for an aging adult to continue living in their home much longer than they could solely on their own. In many cases, without a caregiver, the alternative is moving into a retirement community or nursing home. Should your loved one strongly desire to stay in their home, the offer of hiring an in-home caregiver can provide a desirable middle ground for additional care without needing to move.

You need reliability and consistency.

Finally, a professional caregiver provides reliability and consistency for your loved one. When the responsibility falls on family members who have other obligations like work or caring for their own family, there can be times when they can’t spend the time with the loved one that they had planned to. With a professional caregiver, this is their career and their calling. Even if an illness or unforeseen circumstance should arise with your caregiver, the agency they work for, like Ella Home Care, ensures an alternate caregiver will still cover the shift and be there to provide care as scheduled.

Are you or a loved one considering adding the help of a professional in-home caregiver to improve your quality of life?

Let us help answer your questions! Contact Ella Home Care today.

Great Outdoor Activities to Enjoy in Cooler Weather

Fun and Easy Fall Craft Ideas for Senior Adults

A Perfect Match: How Ella Home Care Finds the Best Caregiver for You

How an In-Home Caregiver Can Help Even When You’re Not at Home

5 Signs You or a Loved One May Benefit From In-Home Care

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