Some Tips to Make Dealing with Aging Parents Less Stressful

 

in-home care services in East Bay

Anyone who has spent time caring for a loved one understands that it can get a bit stressful and overwhelming. Here are a few ways that might make the job a bit easier.

• Put some effort into trying to understand the motivation behind their behavior as that will help you communicate better with them and make positive changes.
• Try to understand that you cannot force your parents into doing things, and this one thing alone can go a long way in improving your relationship with your parents.
• Instead of focusing on non-essential tasks, start with deciding the most important issues such as matters involving their safety.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself as there is little you can control.
• As you help them with their medications or another hard task, treat them like the adults they are.
• Don’t hold back from communicating your worries to your parent, and explaining how your anxieties will be tempered if they follow your advice. The chances of a senior changing their ways for a loved one are fairly high.
• Instead of venting about the things that bother you to your aging parents, consider confiding in a friend, sibling, partner, or therapist.
• If you are deciding on taking a major decision, bring the topics up and talk about them with your parents. Make them feel involved and remind them that their opinions will always be valued.

If you are looking for the best in-home care services in the East Bay, look no further than Always Best Care. We provide safe, quality care for seniors while putting strict COVID-19 restrictions in place. Not just that, we are more than willing to tailor our care to our patient’s level of need without them having to compromise on their independence. Schedule a FREE consultation today.

For someone who has an aging parent at home, offering assistance with activities of daily living without compromising on their social life can be quite overwhelming. An assisted living facility solves this situation for all.

Elderly Care East Bay

Here are some of the key highlights about assisted living not many people know of.

• Different assisted living facilities offer different levels of care. In fact, not just the care levels, assisted living facilities differ in look and feel too. Even though a lot of these facilities sport a homelike ambiance, there are several others that may have a formal design.
• Because of the increasing popularity of pets among seniors, a number of assisted living facilities nationwide now also welcome their pets along with the seniors wholeheartedly. Pet therapy in assisted living facilities affects older adults positively by lowering their stress levels, decreased heart rate and blood pressure, and more.
• Contrary to popular opinion, most assisted living facilities are less expensive than employing a full-time home care aide.
• There are several points of difference between nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 
• A number of assisted living facilities nationwide have also started offering specialized memory care for seniors having memory issues.
• There are a lot of communities and assisted facilities out there that work on keeping couples together.
• A number of assisted living communities are also being redesigned keeping the preferences of the local population in mind, in order to make the transition from home to the community easier for seniors.

Elderly Care East Bay

The elderly care providers at Always Best Care in East Bay are thoroughly screened, bonded, and trained to provide the safest and highest level of care. We also serve several other locations across the States. Schedule a FREE consultation today by dialing (925) 210-0323.

Keep A Check on Fall Prevention in Seniors By Taking These 5 Steps

 If the recent statistics from the CDC are to be believed, falls continue to be a leading cause for all kinds of injuries in older adults. Not just physically, recovering from a fall can be challenging for a senior financially as well. 

Here is a list of some of the most basic but significant steps one can take to reduce fall risk in seniors.

1. An older adult is very likely to get tripped on area rugs, electrical cords, and stuff and hence, the floor should be kept as clean as possible. One good practice is to install non-slip flooring and keep all sorts of wires and cords covered.

2. If you have the experience living with a senior, you must be well aware that the majority of in-home falls occur in the bathroom. These falls can be avoided to a great extent by installing grab bars in the bathing area.

3. One of the easiest ways to make a home senior friendly is adding accessible seating such as kitchen and shower tools.

4. If your home has raised flooring between rooms, it might turn into a significant trip hazard. One good practice is either getting the thresholds flattened or adding indoor ramps and handrails.

5. As far as the outdoor spaces are concerned, try to ensure that the path to the areas they often visit, the mailbox for instance, are free of trip hazards such as rocks and roots.

If you still feel that the surroundings your seniors live in can pose a threat to your senior loved ones’ life, you might want to consider sending them to be taken care of at an assisted living placement in East Bay. Schedule a free consultation by dialing (925) 210-0323. 

Checking Up on Your Elderly Loved Ones as Summer Approaches

 As we get busy raising families of our own, we often tend to forget that our elderly parents may be dealing with issues of safety and health, and might need a little assistance. It becomes more important to pay attention because many seniors are used to staying independent and thus, are hesitant about voicing their concerns.

If you're worried about an elderly loved one's health too, summer might just be the perfect time to see whether they could benefit from a transition from an old, creaky house to an assisted living community where their needs can be met in a safe and friendly environment. You can consider scheduling a vacation to visit them and while you're there, make sure you pay attention to signs that might indicate if their health is deteriorating. 

Some things you can take note of include whether or not the yard has been mowed or there are unpaid bills and unopened mail on the table. Spoiled food or empty cupboards often suggest that a senior is not only neglecting the house, but their own health as well. The best approach is always to strike an indirection conversation about how often do they see their friends or go out to shop. Note that social isolation can be a dangerous condition for seniors, both mentally and emotionally.

You can try bringing it to their attention that if they are having trouble running errands or maintaining their house, moving to an assisted living community can be a great way to spend the golden years in comfort and safety. You can also go ahead and talk about how much better the transition would make the family feel.

A home care services provider in East Bay can assist your seniors with all the basic tasks as well as the complex ones. Dial (925) 210-0323 to schedule a conversation.

4 Step Guide to Choosing the Best Caregiver for An Elderly Parent

There can be various explanations as to why in-home non-medical care is required by a family. Some may need it for help with chores around the house and others for outdoor tasks such as running errands. Irrespective of the nature of their responsibility, one needs to be extremely careful with choosing a caregiver and it is important to ensure that the chosen individual is both trustworthy and reliable. Some tips that will help you make an informed decision are:

1. Always go with a licensed caregiver and this can easily be kept in check by requesting the caregiver for his details. Additionally, you can also check with the local health department for reviews and complaints.

2. Generally, it is a good practice to choose a home care provider that is registered with Medicaid as they usually meet all federal requirements for safety and health as they look after an older adult.

3. Make sure you ask the caregiver about their screening process and references; this will also play a significant role in choosing the best caregiver among all.

4. If it is an agency that you are contacting, you may also want to ask them about their process of assigning a caregiver to the clients. Go ahead with a company that requires its employees to be trained for specific home care duties.

Always Best Care is known for combining national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal advice. Whether you need help handling legal or medical matters or just with ensuring caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and trained to provide the safest and highest level of care. For more information on home care services in East Bay, dial (925) 210-0323. 

3 Effective Ways of Staying Connected With Your Senior Loved Ones Amid the Pandemic

 Considering what has been going around for the last few months, we can no longer visit our senior loved ones the way he used to. Thankfully, the internet and video calls have somehow helped ensure their well-being in these uncertain times. Here is a list of some other activities you can do to make them feel connected with the family while maintaining a safe distance

1. Send them a letter or a card

No number of video calls can ever make up for a handwritten note or a greeting card from a loved one. Such little gestures make seniors happy like no other. Why not try this out by writing to a senior who is living away from home in a senior care facility?

2. Drop off food or care packages

While visiting a senior might be risky as they are more prone to getting infected from the virus, you can always take to dropping them some homemade food or maybe some of their other favorite things.

3. Make family videos

Living away from home, the seniors must be missing their children and grandchildren. How about making small videos for your loved ones with a message from their family members? A video message will surely put them in a great mood and they can even watch it every time they miss you and you are not available for a video call!

Video calls most definitely are an amazing way to stay connected but these other gestures will only add to their joy. In order to keep a check on your loved ones, the best thing you can do is introduce them to an elder care services provider in East Bay such as the ones at Always Best Care. Dial (925) 210-0323 to schedule a FREE consultation today. 

Why Is It So Important to Have Early Conversations About Elderly Care?

 Life is short even though it may not seem so and moments become memories in the blink of an eye. Sometimes things happen when you least expect them to happen and that is exactly why it is so important to have conversations about elderly care with your loved ones at the right time.

The topics that need to be discussed usually include:

• The type of care that will be provided after they start showing signs that they require help

• How the finances need to be handled

• Whereabouts of important documents

• Decisions they become incapable of making on their own

It is important that these topics are discussed before the situation gets too grim because that gives your loved one ample time to give everything due attention. Discussing these things when their body and mind are still sound gives the elderly as well as you the ability to handle things more efficiently. The feeling that their opinion about things still matters makes them feel in control and a lot less vulnerable than waiting for things to worsen as you break the news to them.

The situation can especially be overwhelming when information such as the whereabouts of important documents, bank accounts, and the likes is concerned.

Make it a point to make these decisions while they are still in good spirits to make the stress of them getting old more bearable.

Hiring a caregiver, in most situations, is the best way to take better care of your loved one. Always Best Care is among the most trusted names when it comes to in-home care in East Bay. We are a locally owned and operated in-home care services providing company. For the best senior care services in East Bay get in touch with us. Dial (925) 210-0323.

Simple Ways to Make Managing Finances Easier for The Seniors

 Let’s be honest, no one wants to consider external help with managing their finances but as a loved one grows older, in the direction of becoming incapable of handling things on their own, intervening becomes important. In order to make sure that this necessary step doesn’t become stressful for everyone involved in the decision, it is important you proceed in a well-thought manner.

If you don’t shy away from having straightforward conversations, it might be a great idea to discuss the potential need for care to make the conversation more productive and less stressful. Reaching conclusions is easier with everyone in the right frame of mind. Here, it becomes extremely important to remember that there’s absolutely no reason why you should be rushing in to take over all the aspects of a loved one’s finances when they are well capable of handling them on their own. Make sure you spend ample amount of time assessing the situation alongside your family. The elderly’s medical conditions can also be detrimental factors in making decisions as these. Instead of taking things into control all at once, you should walk one step at a time, giving your loved one enough time to adapt to the change and accept what is better for them and for their families. Try to make them comfortable in the level of elderly home care that you are planning to offer them.

Hiring a caregiver, in most situations, is the best way to take better care of your loved one. Always Best Care is among the most trusted names when it comes to hiring in-home caregivers in East Bay. We are a locally owned and operated in-home care services providing company. For the best senior care services in East Bay get in touch with us. Dial (925) 210-0323.

Importance of Vision Checks in Seniors

 It has often been observed that while dental check-ups and regular medical check-ups are given due emphasis when planning a care plan for a senior, vision checks tend to take the back seat. Vision checks need to be taken seriously as early detection of an ailment may save a senior from the risk of blindness or other vision related issued that surface when eye infections are left untreated.

Some of the most common ailments related to eyes most people experience as they age include but are not limited to cataracts, floaters, glaucoma, and dryness. As soon as the senior start having difficulty with their vision, that should be considered to be an alarm for help with their activities of daily living. That doesn’t necessarily mean putting their independence at stake but directs towards seeking external guidance to get them through the day.

Seeking help from an in-home aide can turn out to be an extremely beneficial decision as they can provide basic help including getting dressed, making meals, grocery shopping or any other day-to-day activities that are difficult for seniors with failing eyesight. They also help ensure that their inability to see clear is not keeping them from the joys of their life.

Hiring a caregiver, in most situations, is the best way to take better care of your loved one. Always Best Care is among the most trusted names when it comes to hiring elderly care in East Bay. We are a locally owned and operated in-home care services providing company. For the best senior care services in Bergen & Passaic get in touch with us. Dial (925) 210-0323.

3 Tips for Seniors to Minimize Clutter Effectively

 It is but human to want to hold on to one’s prized possessions. The primary reason behind this being the sentimental value attached to a belonging as it makes it difficult to get rid of the particular belonging. Here are some effective ways of helping them minimize the clutter without making it look like insensitive.

1. Take it slow. Start with a drawer or a closet. As you help a loved one declutter, keep reminding yourself that neither did it collect overnight nor it will disappear overnight. The slower you are with the process, the easier it is going to be for the senior to get rid of things. Taking things slowly makes these changes almost unnoticeable.

2. You don’t have to get rid of everything. If they insist on keeping an item or two that have memories or a significant sentimental value attached to them, it is only fair that you let them keep those things. Allow them to keep their Favourite things and get rid of the rest.

3. Try to find a nice place to keep those belongings in an organized manner. You can easily grab some organization items such as inexpensive bins that can be stacked on top of one another and are a great way of getting rid of clutter, making their place a lot more clean. 

Hiring a caregiver, in most situations, is the best way to take better care of your loved one. Always Best Care is among the most trusted names when it comes to hiring home care services in East Bay. We are a locally owned and operated in-home care services providing company. For the best senior care services in Bergen & Passaic get in touch with us. Dial (925) 210-0323.

3 Tips to Ensure That Your Elderly Loved One Is Eating Right

 

Being mindful of what one consumes as they age is of utmost importance. Here are some small but significant changes that are very likely to have a positive impact on your loved one’s overall health:

1. Reduce sodium intake

A lot of observations suggest that excessive consumption of sodium by seniors may lead to health problems such as water retention and high blood pressure. This doesn’t only slow you down but also causes potentially serious medical issues. You can consciously choose to season your food with spices such as garlic and natural herbs instead of salt to get the almost the same flavor without risking your health. 

2. Get rid of excessive sugar

It is no surprise that sugar is one of the major contributors to weight gain in people from all age groups. As we age, our body starts slowing down and this includes the metabolism as well, reducing our body’s ability of breaking down sugars as fast as it used to do and this is definitely a problem that deserves to be addressed. Instead of offering your seniors with sugary eatables, give them fruits. It will not only satisfy their craving for sweet but will also provide them with a wealth of additional nutrients.

3. Consume more vegetables

We all know that vegetables contain a high number of vitamins and minerals which benefit our cells and organs in a number of ways. When your body does not get enough vitamins and minerals, it slows down, resulting in you slowing down. These necessary nutrients can help keep your body moving and your mind sharp.

If you feel your loved one is struggling with a task as basic as meal preparation in their daily lives, you should consider hiring an in-home caregiver to make their lives easier. Hire the best in-home caregivers in East Bay from Always Best Care. Dial (925) 210-0323 to get started.

3 Situations in Which You Might Want to Consider In-Home Care for A Senior Loved One

Majority of seniors prefer in-home care over other options of senior care as it allows them to remain in the comfort of their home while having most of their needs covered. If you are confused between choosing senior living communities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and more for your loved one, here are some insights that might help make a better decision.

• There are a lot of seniors who are well capable of taking care of most of their daily needs but need help with activities such as laundry and home maintenance. A little assistance from an in-home care professional will allow them to function fairly well at home. You can go ahead with choosing in-home care if you wish to have your aging parents at home but are too busy to watch over them yourself.

• Senior couples wanting to stay together is quite normal but poses a challenge if the two of them require different levels of care. In situations like these, in-home care is a great option as a caregiver takes care of the seniors’ needs without having them shifted to a senior care facility, offering just the right level of care to each of them.

• A lot of us choose senior care facilities for our loved ones’ end of life care wanting to rather avoid the idea of dealing with death without even realizing that most seniors hope to spend their remaining lives in their home instead of an institution. In-home care gives them a chance of spending some quality time with their family before they breathe their last.

Get in touch with Always Best Care for the best home care services in East Bay as they are known for combining national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal services. Dial (925) 210-0323 for free consultation.

3 Ways in Which Elder Care Assistance Makes Lives Easier

 3 Ways in Which Elder Care Assistance Makes Lives Easier

Leaving the comfort of one’s home to move to an assisted living facility or an old age home is never a senior’s first choice and thanks to the changes that have recently taken place in the medical technology, all kinds of services such as nursing to medical management can be offered to the seniors without having to shift them to an external facility.

Some of the many ways in which professional elder care assistance can make yours as well as your loved one’s lives easier include but are not limited to:

1. Professional caregivers have been trained to deal with routine as well as critical situations with great ease and the experience is exactly what allows them to identify the needs of an older adult and deal with the situation accordingly.

2. It is a known fact that the communication and socialization of a senior is very likely to be affected if he is being taken care of by a family member. Hiring someone outside of the family will help your loved one maintain a healthier emotional state.

3. As far as your life is concerned, taking care of an older adult when you already have a lot of other things on your plate can be really difficult. Seeking help will save you both time as well as energy and by all means, is the right decision to make.

Always Best Care is known for combining national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal advice. Whether you need help handling legal or medical matters or just with ensuring caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and trained to provide the safest and highest level of care. For more information on elder care in Contra Costa County, feel free to dial (925) 210-0323.

Did You Know This About Assisted Living Facilities?

Assisted Living Contra Costa County

Considered to be a middle point between living independently and in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, in fact, is a lot more than that. The full picture as far as assisted living facilities are concerned is a lot wider than that. Depending upon their structure, the services being offered, and the communities, assisted living facilities can be categorized as large apartment complexes, individual cottages, duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes, converted homes or mansions, and many more.

One thing that remains common in all the aforementioned variations of assisted living facilities is the level of care and support that is being offered to the residents. The professionals at an assisted living facility put in their best efforts to ensure that the elderly continue to lead their lives with independence while receiving just the right assistance as and when needed to ensure their safety and well-being.

You can start off by selecting a package of services according to your loved one’s needs and the best part is, you can make necessary changes and adjustments as and when you like. Most of the reliable assisted living facilities in Contra Costa County offer services such as personal care, housekeeping, meals, transportation, social and lifestyle enhancement services, and a lot more. The whole concept behind assisted living facilities is to offer the right level of support to older adults without the having to compromise on their independence.

Always Best Care is known for combining national strength and standards with local accessibility and personal advice. Whether you need help handling legal or medical matters or just with ensuring caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and trained to provide the safest and highest level of care. For more information on assisted living in Contra Costa County, feel free to dial (925) 210-0323.

Understanding the Deficiency of Vitamin B12 In Seniors Better

One of the most common mistakes seniors make is overlooking the deficiency of vitamins in their body until it starts causing significant health problems. A lot of older adults end up developing a serious deficiency of Vitamin B12. Also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 is responsible for generating cell growth, boosting cognition, supporting bone health, and supporting the immune system.

The deficiency of cobalamin in your aging parents may lead to health issues including but not limited to anemia, neuropathy, and even cognitive impairment in extreme cases. Contrary to the popular belief that deficiency of vitamin B12 causes pernicious anemia, it is, in fact, the other way around. Some other problems vitamin B12 deficient seniors face include memory issues and waking difficulties.

Factors that make seniors more susceptible to deficiency of vitamin B12 are low levels of stomach acid, medications such as metformin, alcoholism, and other problems such as Crohn’s disease that cause poor absorption in the stomach or small intestine. As for the treatment with vitamin B12 supplements for seniors is concerned, the initial phase requires an intramuscular shot or oral vitamins. While intramuscular shots bypass any absorption problems in the stomach or intestine, high-dose oral supplements take longer to work and thus, are not ideal for correcting a deficiency. Oral supplements are mostly used to maintain the cobalamin levels.

The best thing about vitamin B12 treatment is that overdosing on this particular vitamin is extremely unlikely and hence, all the risks are eliminated. Even when the levels are high, it doesn’t really cause any kind of toxicity. The senior care services providers in East Bay from ABC can help you take better care of your senior loved ones and can even help you keep a check on your aging parents’ dietary needs.

Feel free to dial (925) 210-0323 and schedule a free consultation today.

7 Home Safety Tips for Seniors with Conditions Such as Dementia

 Seniors who have started wandering or experiencing significant symptoms of memory loss need to be supervised all the time. Some extra precautions you should consider taking while caring for an aging parent at home include but are not limited to -

1. Consider switching to appliances with auto-shutoff features or installing hidden gas valves and circuit breakers to ensure ovens, fireplaces, and stoves are not left alone.

2. All the drawers and cabinets containing things such as knives, cleaning supplies, and medications as well as garages or basements with harmful chemicals and machinery should be locked.

3. Use deadbolts on exterior doors to keep the seniors from wandering outside the house unsupervised.

4. Your loved one’s bedroom and bathroom should not have any locks as it will help avoid a situation where they may lock themselves inside accidentally and panic.

5. Try to have finger guards on garbage disposals or covering the switches with safety locks.

6. Lights and night lights should be easily accessible. This would help reduce any kind of disorientation at night.

7. Create clear paths and open areas to encourage independence and social interaction, which are two important needs for people with dementia, and other such conditions.

Being proactive when it comes to senior safety can go a long way. The best way to ensure if a surrounding is safe for your loved one to live in is getting a safety inspection done. The senior care experts with Always Best Care in Contra Costa County are also well capable of noticing risk factors a family member may not recognize and suggesting the required changes to address those factors. Schedule a free consultation with one of our experts. Dial (925) 210-0323 to get in touch and get started.

6 Ways to Prevent Pneumonia in Older Adults

 As is the case with most of the other infections, pneumonia too can lead to a greater risk for complications and even deaths in seniors. The most common symptoms of the disease include but are not limited to high fever, chills, productive cough with phlegm, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Adults 65 and older, people with a weakened immune system, patients recovering from surgery, and people with other respiratory conditions are more likely to be attacked by the infection.

Not many people understand that pneumonia can lead to complications such as bacteremia, pleurisy, lung abscess, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in older adults, and hence need to be prevented at all costs. Some of the most effective ways of preventing pneumonia in older adults are:

1. Make sure your aging parent gets the right type of pneumococcal vaccine at the right time.

2. Getting the annual flu shot regularly minimizes the risk of developing pneumonia as a complication of the flu in older adults.

3. Ensure that your seniors are practicing good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly before and after eating, preparing food, and after using the bathroom.

4. Encourage them to stay physically active and to consume a diet rich in vitamins and lean proteins.

5. If your aging parent has conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, etc., make sure those are being managed properly.

6. If they are into smoking, encourage them to get in touch with their doctor for help with quitting this habit.

Considering the ongoing pandemic, being aware of your health conditions and handling them responsibly has become all the more important. The in-home caregivers at ABC in Contra Costa County can help you take better care of your aging parent. Feel free to dial (925) 210-0323 for more information.

4 Effective Ways to Prevent Falls in The Elderly

 There are a lot of things that can be done for senior fall prevention and minimize the injuries in case of a fall. You should encourage your elderly loved ones to

1. Maintain their fitness

Right from low impact aerobics to plenty of chair exercises, there are several muscle-strengthening programs seniors can benefit from. Experts suggest focusing on the seniors’ functional ability by introducing them to programs that can be tailored to their individual needs.

2. Eat well and hydrate

Dehydration and malnutrition have been identified as major causes of poor balance and falls in seniors. This can be addressed by having well-balanced meals as they provide the essential minerals and vitamins that boost bone and muscle health.

3. Tell you if they feel different after a changed medication

A caregiver should not only know a senior’s medication regiment but should also note their responses to new medications as some medicines may cause symptoms that increase the risk of falls.

4. Have physical therapy

Consider undergoing physical therapy and occupational therapy as it will help them rehabilitate after an injury and prevent future falls.

Some steps you can take to keep a check on fall prevention in seniors indoors include keeping the floor as clean as possible, installing grab bars in the bathing area, adding accessible seating, and getting the thresholds flattened. It is important to take necessary steps as a fall can be challenging for the senior physically as well as financially.

Do you often feel that the surroundings your aging parents live in can pose a threat to their lives? You can address your concerns by sending them to be taken care of in an assisted living facility in East Bay. Feel free to schedule a free consultation with one of our experts. Dial (925) 210-0323.