advice Archives - Ella Home Care

December 3, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Help Senior Adults Avoid the Winter Blues

The winter season can be a challenging time for many people. Colder temperatures and inclement weather can cause us to feel isolated and bored, leading to seasonal depression. This can be more prevalent in our aging adult population who often live alone or have limited interaction with the outside world.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, it’s important to move into the winter with a plan in place to counteract the effects of these “winter blues” so you can not only survive these colder, darker days, but also thrive in this new season. Here are some tips you may wish to try.

Establish a Daily Routine

Contrary to what many think, a routine does not add to the monotony of the day, rather it gives it structure and keeps you from getting stuck in a rut. The key is to map out a daily routine that includes variety and movement. In the winter months, it can be hard to find motivation and opportunities to be active. By establishing a schedule in advance, you can identify such opportunities and see that they take place. You can also schedule a nice rhythm of activity with relaxation and intentional quiet time.

Schedule Out Special Events

While we’re talking about scheduling, you should also schedule out your calendar of upcoming special events, visits, and activities that give you something to look forward to. During December you may have holiday gatherings or family events to attend. Even when your day-to-day routine may feel dull, being able to look ahead to a date on the calendar when there is something special taking place can be the much needed light in the winter darkness.

Look to the Bright Side

Lamps that mimic sunlight are very popular among people who feel the winter blues. Exposing yourself to this type of light therapy every day has been proven to drastically improve Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If you or someone you know suffers from SAD (i.e. the winter blues), then this would be a great holiday or “thinking of you” gift to give them.

Call On Friends and Family

Local friends and family are a great resource to help make the winter months a little brighter. Reach out to encourage them to pay your loved one a visit. Having even just one new visitor a week will help add variety to their schedule and give them something to look forward to on a regular basis.

Turn to Technology

When friends and family are not local and cannot make house calls, don’t forget about technology’s power to connect us with one another, no matter how far. Use FaceTime, Skype, Google Chat or Facebook to see and hear your loved one in real time. This adds so much more dimension to a conversation than voice alone.

Hire a Professional Caregiver

And finally, even if you implement all of these other tips, your loved one might also benefit from the care and companionship of a professional caregiver. It may be just a few visits a week to check in on things and to spend some one-on-one time together. Though the winter can be particularly lonely for aging adults, it doesn’t have to be that way. Professional caregivers are an excellent resource to brighten someone’s day and bring joy to the winter.

If you or someone you know struggles with feeling sad or alone during the winter, consider offering them these tips to help them find happiness in this season, and every season!

October 22, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

6 Signs That an Aging Adult May Need a Professional Caregiver

It can be hard to come to terms with the fact that an aging loved one may need the help of an in home caregiver to assist them with essential daily tasks. We all want to believe that our parents, or other extended family will always be capable of caring for themselves and living independently, safely. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.

Sooner or later it’s likely that your loved one will need some form of professional care to remain in their home as long as possible. And it’s in everyone’s best interest to see they get the help they deserve early, before an accident or worse could take place. Let’s explore some of the most common signs that this time has come.

They are unable to keep up with their hygiene.

When you visit your loved one, you likely take notice of their appearance and personal hygiene. Do they appear to have recently showered? Are their clothes clean? How do their hair, skin, and nails look? If any of these appear below the standard of care you would wish for them, this is where a professional caregiver, even just a few days a week, can step in to be of assistance.

The house is becoming unkempt.

Again, another thing to note when you visit is the state of their home. A little clutter here and there is perfectly natural (for all of us). But should you start to notice things like dishes piling up, expired food sitting out, excess dust and dirt on surfaces, or strange odors, it may be time to talk to a professional home care company about your options. More than just hiring a housekeeper to keep things neat, a professional caregiver can assist with these tasks, plus care for the mental and emotional wellness of your loved one.

They are showing signs of forgetfulness.

Forgetfulness is common as we age. Minor things here and there are hardly cause for concern. Where it does become concerning is when important, and potentially dangerous, things are being overlooked. For example, missing a doctor’s appointment repeatedly can have serious health consequences, as can forgetting to take medication as prescribed. Additionally, forgetfulness can lead to dangers like forgetting to turn off the stove, or checking food for expiration dates. This is where the extra eyes and hands of a professional caregiver can really help.

Accidents and injuries are becoming more frequent.

Life should not be spent waiting for that next dreaded phone call that your loved one had an accident and it resulted in a broken bone, or major injury. When such incidents appear to be coming on more frequently, it’s time to take immediate action. It is well worth being proactive and seeking professional care to assist your loved one throughout the day so that your heart doesn’t sink every time your phone rings.

They express loneliness.

Let’s talk about the emotional side of caregiving for a moment. Even if your loved one appears perfectly fine to care for themselves physically, how are they doing emotionally? Do you they receive regular face-to-face interaction from other people? Do they have the ability to get out of the home and enjoy activities? No one wants to feel shut in their own home. This leads to depression and an overall pool quality of life. With the help of a professional caregiver, your loved one will have regular social interaction and assistance to get them out of the home when desired.

You worry about them often.

Finally, and most importantly, if you feel like hours of your day are spent thinking – and worrying – about your loved one, then it’s time to put a system in place to give you back peace of mind. Knowing your loved one is being seen regularly and receiving professional care will allow you to be fully present in your own life, and enjoy the time you get to spend with that loved one.

Do you or someone you know show one or more of these signs? It might be time to have a conversation with a home care agency who can offer you advice and options.

Contact Ella Home Care today!

June 5, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

5 Ways to Be Proactive About Senior Heat Safety in the Summer

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you know that summer is heating up. We’ve already had some days creep to the 90 degree mark, and this is only the beginning. In Pennsylvania, our summer months get dangerously hot and this heat is especially dangerous for our aging senior adult population.

Far too many injuries and deaths occur each summer due to the heat. This summer, in order to beat the heat, we urge you to be proactive with how you and your loved ones prepare for the coming weeks. Here are five steps to help get your started.

Make sure air conditioning and fans are in working order.

Imagine on a hot day, your senior parents going to turn on their air conditioning unit and nothing happens. The temperatures are quickly rising and you may not be able to track down a repair man for hours, if not days. What do you do? This is the scenario you want to avoid and you can do so by making sure all air conditioning units and fans are in working order right now. Ideally, you would even do this in the spring months to allow time for repairs. Checking these things early and often will prevent the panic of being without cool relief in the hottest months.

Limit time outside during the hottest hours.

The next thing you can do to be proactive about summer heat safety for your aging loved ones is to limit their time spent outdoors between 10am and 2pm. These are the hottest hours of the day and also when the sun is most direct. You can avoid unnecessary heat exhaustion and sunburn by planning your outdoor activities accordingly.

Make it easy to stay hydrated.

When preparing for the summer, also check the home to be sure there are ample opportunities to get water and stay hydrated. Make it easy and enjoyable for your loved ones to drink liquids. Are water glasses easy to get to? Are there water bottles to make it more portable? Are there some low-calorie drinks that offer some taste to add variety? All of these things will help make proper hydration possible.

Switch out the wardrobe.

For many senior adults, getting dressed each morning is a challenge all on its own. When summer comes around there is also the challenge of locating weather-appropriate clothes. If all the light-weight tops and shorts are packed away in storage, or on high shelves, it’s not going to be as easy as it should be to dress smart for the heat. Before summer sets in help your loved ones unpack their summer wear and remind them of the best outfits for the hottest days.

Check in regularly.

Finally and most importantly, on hot days you should check in just a bit more frequently with your senior parents and grandparents. Not only is this a great opportunity to remind them of summer heat safety, you will also be able to hear how they are feeling and if they are staying cool and hydrated. This small act to keep seniors safe in the summer is well worth the effort!

This summer, be sure to be smart about the sun and the heat. The best defense is to be proactive with how you dress, the time you spend outside, and staying hydrated. We hope you’ll take these five actions and put them into practice for you and your loved ones this summer!

March 12, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors

For seniors who are living independently, your spring cleaning can be a point of stress and frustration in your life. You know the tasks need to get done around the house, but with each passing year your physical ability to complete them may decrease.

We want to offer you some tips for helping take control of your spring cleaning and turn it into a reasonable, and dare we say enjoyable task that can involve the whole family. Take a look!

Prioritize Your Most Important Projects

It can be overwhelming to think about deep cleaning every corner of your entire house. So don’t! Let’s be honest, your house will never be 100% free and clear of dust or clutter. Rather, prioritize the rooms that are used daily and in most need of a good cleaning. Your living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom are great places to start. Other rooms like your guest room or basement, are not nearly as urgent.

Tackle One Room at a Time

With your list of prioritized rooms, start with just one. Don’t feel like you need to spring clean four rooms in your house in one day. First, you won’t have the time to really dig into the corners of any of them. Second, you will surely get tired and could put yourself as risk for an injury. Make it a goal to tackle one room in a day (or over many days) before you start on the next room.

Have the Right Tools on Hand

When you have the right tools, cleaning is so much easier! Make note of any items you need like scrub brushes, cloths, cleaning products, step stools and long reaching dusters. With the right tools you will protect yourself from injury and greatly reduce fatigue and frustration from trying to clean with inadequate tools.

Ask for Help

For many, this will be the most important piece of advice. Ask for help! Spring cleaning is hard on anyone, especially seniors. Your family and friends want you to be safe and will gladly step in to help you. Plus, when you tackle these chores together, they will be done in a fraction of the time and you will make some new memories along the way.

Make It Enjoyable

Speaking of making memories, use your spring cleaning as a time to bond with your friends and family. Sure, it’s still cleaning, but by playing music, taking snack breaks and setting a reward (like a movie night!), you will be motived to knock these tasks off your list with a smile.

How do you plan to tackle your spring cleaning this year? Share your ideas or ask a question by leaving a comment below!

February 6, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

Best Practices for Hiring a Quality Caregiver

Once you decide to hire an in-home caregiver for your aging loved one, you will have a very important decision to make. Who will you choose to be the caregiver? Allowing someone in your home to care for a member of your family requires a lot of trust and confidence in that person.

In order to hire a quality caregiver, you need to do your due diligence during the vetting process. You will never regret the time it took to do so! Take a look at five best practices for hiring the right caregiver to care for your loved one.

Interview them several times

It’s hard to really get a feel for someone from the first interview. The second or third time you speak to someone is when you really get a better understanding of a person’s experience, passion and interests. While this will add a little time and effort to your caregiver search, it is well worth finding someone you like and trust.

Ask open ended questions

During your discussions with your potential caregiver, be sure to ask some open ended questions that make them think and offer their own answers. Simple “yes” or “no” questions are not enough to fully gauge someone’s interest and experience. Offer some scenarios of what the caregiver might encounter in a day’s work and ask what they would do to handle the situation. If they seem unsure or inexperienced with common issues that arise when caring of a senior adult, they may not be the best fit for your family.

Observe their interactions

In addition to making sure a caregiver can tend to the physical needs of your aging loved one, you also want to feel confident that they are serving as a companion. Conduct at least one of your interviews with your aging loved one so that you can see how the caregiver interacts with them. Do they immediately connect with them and put effort into having a conversation or do they seem uncomfortable and disconnected? The natural reaction of the caregiver will likely be the default when they are left to care for your loved one alone. Look for a caregiver who is outgoing, engaging and warm.

Speak to their references

Finally and most importantly, take the time to call each and every reference provided for your caregiver. This is your chance to really gauge their character from people who know them well and have seem them in a caregiving role. Ask the references for their honest opinion, “Would you hire this person to care for your loved one? Would you want them caring for you?” Consider not only what they say, but how they say it. If the references, without hesitation, recommend the caregiver and all seem consistent in their character assessment, this is a good indication you have found a quality caregiver!

Do you have additional questions about hiring a quality caregiver to care for your loved one? Let us advise you! Call Ella Home Care today for a no-cost consultation.

How to Help Senior Adults Avoid the Winter Blues

6 Signs That an Aging Adult May Need a Professional Caregiver

5 Ways to Be Proactive About Senior Heat Safety in the Summer

Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors

Best Practices for Hiring a Quality Caregiver

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