tips Archives - Ella Home Care

September 10, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

Ways to Protect Your Aging Loved Ones from Scams

Your aging parents could be a prime target for any number of the many scammers out there that prey on innocent and vulnerable people. Our aging population is an ideal demographic for scams because cognitive function may be impaired, they may be less aware of new technology that makes some scams very convincing and they more easily believe claims that are simply too good to be true.

While the threat of being scammed is very scary, especially for adult children who are looking out for their aging parents, the good news is there are ways you can take a stand and stay in the know so that you can spot red flags as soon as they arise and help guide your aging loved one away from a scam before it takes place. Take a look at these tips for protecting a friend or family member from scams.

Stay Involved

Foremost, you don’t know what you don’t know. If you’re not able to check in on your parents regularly to monitor their mail and the types of phone calls and emails they are receiving, you may leave them open to engaging with scammers. If you live close by, be sure to visit regularly to make note of any suspicious behaviors or interactions you parents may seem to have with outside contacts. If you’re not local, ask a neighbor, friend or professional caregiver to the do the same. The more involved you remain, the sooner you can put an end to scam-like activity before it becomes serious.

Help Them Think Through the Reality of the Situation

One of the best things you can do is help your aging loved one take a step back and examine the reality and probability of the situation. Remind them of simple truths such as you can’t win a contest you never entered and you never have to pay money to collect lottery winnings. Explain the way things work as well as current laws that make such actions illegal. With a dose of common sense, and your reinforcement, your aging loved one is more likely to see the reality of the situation.

Don’t Spread Shame or Blame

Even if you become angry or disappointed by your parents’ actions, never shame or blame them. Scammers are very convincing and persistent, sometimes even hostile! Keep in mind that they may have harassed your parents to the point of complying. Instead, focus on finding solutions and justice. How can you immediately put an end to the scammers’ contacting your parents? Who can you call to report this activity and possibly work to get their money back? Rather than focusing on shame or blame, focus on preventing this from happening again.

Use Reverse Psychology

Many have found reverse psychology to help an aging loved one understand when a scam is taking place. If your aging parent or loved one claims that they’ve been offered a “double your money” guarantee, ask them how you can get in on the offer and do the same. Most often, they want to protect you, like you want to protect them, and in explaining the details of the offer, they realize the holes and risk that exist.

Empower Them to Help Others

If your aging parent or loved one does fall victim to a scam, work to find ways that their story and experience can be shared with others as a cautionary tale. Report the incident to higher authorities and take to social media. Warn people about the details of what took place and you will find that others will be grateful for the advice and may even have some advice of their own to share.

Ask for Oversight

Finally and most importantly, have the conversation with your parent about why it might be a good idea for you to have oversight of their bank accounts, bills, phone records and mail. This may feel uncomfortable at first, as your loved one may wish to keep their independence as long as possible. However, if the scamming won’t seem to stop, and your loved one is not capable of making good decisions on their own, the best thing you can do is explain that it’s truly out of love and care for them that you wish to take on this role. Work to set boundaries that everyone feels comfortable with.

Do you have a loved one that has been a victim of a scam? Or do you have another piece of advice to share that may prevent this from happening? Join in the conversation by sharing your experience below!

June 12, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

5 Tips to Improve Caregiver-Patient Communication

Communication is challenging. We use it in every part of our life, whether it’s verbal or non-verbal, and we rely on communication to convey our wants and needs.

Now imagine the unique challenges caregivers and patients face when trying to communicate with one another in a new and unfamiliar environment, or when health issues create roadblocks. If you have an aging friend or family member who relies on the help of a professional caregiver, know that there are tips and resources that can help you facilitate stronger, clearer communication between both parties. Take a look!

Set a weekly meeting to talk about important issues.

Pick a day and time and make it a weekly, recurring meeting where the patient and caregiver can go over important issues. It may be helpful to have a third-party sit in on these meetings, like the patients spouse or adult children. Some common topics that should be discussed are health concerns, changes in moods or behaviors, changes in needs and expectations for care, the schedule for the upcoming week and ways to improve everyone’s experience. Through weekly meetings, you will have scheduled time for discussion so issues are left unaddressed for long periods of time.

Have multiple ways to communicate.

Not everyone prefers the same communication channels. Especially with aging adults, certain technologies or skills such as speaking, typing or writing can become increasingly difficult. Be sure to have multiple ways for caregivers and patients to communicate with each other and with other members of the family. Caregivers may want to call, text or email with family members to communicate important information. But when communicating with their patient, caregivers may prefer speaking face-to-face or writing things down for them to read. Often it’s trial and error! Be patient to find the communication channels that work best for your situation – and be flexible!

Check in with each party independently.

If you are the friend or family member of an aging loved one who has a professional caregiver, you should check in with the caregiver independently of your loved one, and vice versa. This creates a safe space for open communication about hard-to-address topics. For example, a caregiver may have noticed a decline in health and need to recommend additional care and assistance for your loved one. Or your loved one may feel their needs are not being fully met and want to talk about their expectations for quality care. As a third-party listener, you are a valuable communication channel who can help mediate issues before they grow into larger concerns.

Address concerns quickly.

And when it comes to voiced concerns, the key is to address them quickly. Any issue is worth examining because a caregiver-patient relationship is quite intimate and greatly impacts quality of life for both parties. Even something as minor as a negative attitude or resistance to care can manifest into larger, more concerning issues, if not addressed immediately. Don’t forget to include your home care provider in the conversation, as they have vast experience working with both caregivers and patients to resolve just about every issue you can imagine.

Pay attention to non-verbal communication.

Equally as important as verbal communication is non-verbal cues that can give you insight into larger issues that are slowly coming to a boil. For example, a patient’s body language around a caregiver, facial expressions and mood can alert you of negative emotions that could manifest into negative behavior in the future. Likewise, a caregiver’s non-verbal communication toward a patient is another way they can demonstrate love, respect, comfort and friendship. If these important cues feel “off” or indicate there may be tension between the two parties, it’s worth addressing this early and often.

What is your favorite tip for improving caregiver communication? Or do you have another to share? Leave a comment below!

June 5, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Keep Your Aging Loved One Safe and Healthy this Summer

Here in Central Pennsylvania, it feels like we wait most of the year for warm and sunny weather. It’s natural for us to want to get outside and enjoy every minute of it! However, we must use common sense when it comes to exposing ourselves to the sun and heat. Especially for older adults, the summer months pose real safety concerns such as dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion.

In an effort to keep our aging loved ones safe this summer, take a look at some tips for helping senior adults be proactive when it comes to beating the heat!

Wear Layers

Encourage your loved ones to dress in layers during the summer months. While they may feel cold in the morning or indoors with the AC on, during the afternoon and into the evening, things warm up quickly. Especially if you plan to go outside for any amount of time, plan ahead by wearing easy to remove layers that can quickly come off when the heat kicks in.

Apply Sunscreen

Even when covered up with layers, begin each morning by applying sunscreen. Whether you will be simply sitting in the sun for any period of time, or plan to be walking, gardening, etc., sunscreen is so important to keep your skin safe. Not only will it prevent the discomfort of sunburn, it will prevent serious long-term damage that may cause skin cancer. Sunscreen at every age is important, but especially for our aging loved ones who may need assistance applying it.

Give Air Conditioning Units a Check-Up

The worst time to figure out your air conditioning unit no longer works is in the heat of summer when you need it most. Help your aging loved one give their AC unit a check-up prior to the dog days of summer by scheduling an HVAC company to come and test everything out. If they do need a new unit, you will be able to plan ahead and have everything up and running before it becomes a danger to their health.

Limit Time Outside During Peak Heat Hours

Watch the forecast and plan your day accordingly. Avoid outdoor activities when temperatures reach into the 80’s and above. Be sure to also take humidity and wind into account. Early mornings are a great time to enjoy sunshine without the direct heat. Also seek shaded spots to relax, rather than placing an aging loved one in direct sunlight.

Stay Hydrated

Have cold water readily available and within reach. Some seniors may not have the ability to refill their own water bottles or drink from a cup. Be sure they have assistance throughout the day to meet these basic needs to stay hydrated. Even for seniors who are physically capable of providing themselves with water, like anyone, they will need encouragement to remember how much water they should drink in a day.

Have a Plan for Help

Most importantly, develop an action plan for getting help. Your loved one needs to know how to speak up when they feel too hot, thirsty or weak. Clearly communicate, and create a reminder, of who they should contact for any number of emergencies. Do a test run to make sure they are comfortable with the process. The peace of mind is well worth the effort!

How do you plan to help an aging loved one stay safe this summer? Share your favorite tip by leaving a comment below!

May 14, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Create a Safe Living Environment for an Aging Loved One

As anyone you love grows older, they will reach a point where they will need to make adjustments to their living space to ensure it’s safe and that it meets their changing needs. If your aging loved one wishes to remain living in their home for as long as possible, it’s important to help them make these adjustments that can prevent a future accident and improve their ability to care for themselves.

Here’s a brief overview of just some of the many things you can do to alter the most heavily used living spaces in a home to better meet the needs of a senior adult.

Kitchen

In the kitchen the biggest dangers are sharp objects and the stove and oven. Sharp objects, such as knives, should be stored in a knife block, ideally. This hides the sharp edges of the knives so that they are only accessible when needed. Even when stored safely, knives still pose a hazard as they are used, washed and transported. Depending upon the ability of your loved one, you may consider removing most or all sharp objects from the kitchen, especially if they are not generally needed for basic food preparations.

It’s common for a senior adult to forget to turn off the oven or stove. You can write notes reminding your loved one how to use these appliances and how to turn them off. You can purchase a kitchen timer and leave it near these appliances so that a timer can be set when cooking. You may also want to tape a sticker near the oven and stove reminding them that these surfaces are “HOT!”

Bathroom

In the bathroom, you will want to be sure your loved one has proper support to use the toilet and shower. Guide rails and stools can make it easier and safer for a senior adult to use the bathroom. Another potential hazard is the misuse of medications or bathroom products. You’ll want to be sure that everything is clearly labeled in a way that makes sense to your loved one. Finally, make sure that bath rugs have rubber backings so they cannot slide. Bath rugs will also help soak up any water that could cause a slipping hazard.

Bedroom

In the bedroom, you’ll want to make adjustments so your loved one can easily maneuver around the bed, especially if they require a wheel chair, cane or walker. The height of the bed can also pose a challenge. If it’s too high, they may need a step stool. If it’s too low, it will be difficult to get up without help. Also be sure there is an adequate night stand that can house a lamp, electronics and any other personal items that are frequently needed throughout the night like water, medications or glasses.

Living Room

Similar to the bedroom, you’ll want to help arrange the living room in a way that makes it easy for your loved one to maneuver around. Check the flooring to be sure there are no loose rugs, long cords or furniture that could cause someone to trip. Less is more! Since your loved one will be spending much of their time in this room, it’s smart to place a phone here so they can take calls without having to quickly move to another room. The phone also provides a means for communication should something happen.

Other Precautions

Stairs pose another challenge for aging adults. At some point it will not make sense for your loved one to climb up and down stairs each day. You should consider rearranging things so that their core living spaces all on one floor. Outside, you’ll also want to assess the stair situation. It may be necessary to put in a ramp. Every so often you’ll want to check for any faulty locks on doors and broken or worn out items that need replaced. Things like a burned out lightbulb or dead smoke alarm battery are as annoying as they are unsafe!

Do you have additional questions related to creating a safe living environment for a senior adult? We are happy to answer! Leave a comment below or contact Ella Home Care today.

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!

Ways to Protect Your Aging Loved Ones from Scams

5 Tips to Improve Caregiver-Patient Communication

How to Keep Your Aging Loved One Safe and Healthy this Summer

How to Create a Safe Living Environment for an Aging Loved One

Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors

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