Home Care Services Los Angeles
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How to Avoid Losing Sleep Over Elderly Sleep Issues
If you’re caring for an elderly loved one, it’s likely you’ve had to deal with sleep disorders at one time or another. Home health care professionals are trained to sort through the confusing information provided by seniors when they try to describe the reasons for sleeplessness. It’s also important for family caregivers to understand the many reasons why a senior’s sleep patterns might be disrupted. That way, they’ll know when sleep issues can be handled with lifestyle and diet changes, or if a trip to the doctor is needed. The Need for Sleep Changes With Age Sleep disorders are just one of the many changes that happen as the human…
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Palliative, Not Terminal, Care
When most people hear the term “palliative care,” they immediately think of care for terminal patients. But that is not always the case. The basic thing about palliative care is that it is an approach that combines several disciplines in providing specialized medical care for seriously ill patients. The object of the care is to improve the quality of life for the patient. Taking Care of Serious Illness Palliative care is often applied to patient care that does not focus on providing cures. It is combined with other treatments, but the palliative care looks toward management of symptoms, and giving social and psychological, even spiritual, support to the patient and…
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Agitated By Alzheimer’s and Dementia
For family members who are trying to provide Alzheimer’s or dementia care for an older loved one, one of the greatest challenges can come from dealing with the agitation that the loved one suffers. Because memory, especially short term memory, is affected by these conditions, the patient can become very agitated, because the world seems disturbingly unsettled to them. Learning how to cope with this challenge is an ongoing part of loving treatment from the family and caregivers. Difficulties in Communication For the elderly patient who suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s, trying to communicate can become a major frustration. Vocabulary seems to deteriorate, making it difficult for the patient to…
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Can Walking More Slowly Indicate Alzheimer’s Disease?
Home health care professionals are always on the lookout for signs of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the problems with managing Alzheimer’s is the lack of reliable information about diagnosing the disease. Another challenge for caregivers is keeping up to date with information about available treatments. One thing is known: the earlier it is detected, the more likely that Alzheimer’s treatments will be effective in the long run. As we grow older, our bodies undergo profound changes that make life more challenging, but these changes don’t necessarily indicate the presence of an underlying disease that can be treated. These natural changes in physical and mental ability can mask the onset of…
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Getting Around With Senior Transportation
In home health care services help seniors and their families solve many problems associated with aging. Of course the particular home care services will vary according to the needs of the client, and these will change as time passes. Rehabilitation care will end when a full recovery is made, while services for clients suffering from degenerative conditions will increase. There is one type of home health care that’s likely to last indefinitely: senior transportation. When it’s time for a senior citizen to stop driving, senior transportation can be the difference between isolation and a full and interesting lifestyle. The Most Common Form of Senior Care Senior transportation is the most…
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Hospice Care Is Better Than Aggressive Treatment. Here’s Why
End of life decisions can be difficult for the entire family. It’s hard to know how to choose between aggressive treatment to battle the disease and hospice care that makes the patient’s last days more comfortable. With help from a new study, patients and their families may find it easier to make an informed decision. The study measured the satisfaction that families expressed about end-of-life care when an elderly relative was diagnosed with cancer, and later died of the disease. The results were surprising to many observers in the media, but not to caregivers who provide hospice care. That’s because home health care aides are more attuned to the wants…
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Making Caregiving Services Easier With Skype
Many senior citizens are enthusiastic Internet users. Social media use is also very common among seniors, although the particular social media platforms are still segregated a great deal by age. People who are eligible to receive letters from AARP generally prefer Facebook to Twitter, for example. But there is a general willingness to stay connected to loved ones that can be used to improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Whether a loved one is being cared for in a rehabilitation center, receiving nursing home health care, or using caregiving services to help them stay independent, social media can help. Ease of Use Is Important If a…
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Seniors on the Go-Go-Go
One of the challenging things for people as they get further and further into the ranks of “seniors” is the matter of transportation issues. While many seniors remain competent drivers, others may be in need of caregiving services and transportation assistance. There are several different types of services that can address the different needs of seniors. Getting from Point A to Point B When seniors who no longer drive need to get from one location to another, they and their caretakers have to become familiar with the various transportation options available to the senior. A healthy life for the individual involves social engagement, so caregivers try to make sure that the…
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What Does Caregiving Entail?
As you consider whether a loved one may need caregiving services, it is important to understand what is included. Understanding the terminology is part of making an informed decision and will help you feel more comfortable as you move forward. Let’s start with the easy question first. What is Caregiving? Caregiving is the act of helping someone with tasks they are not able to complete themselves. Some organizations focus particularly on elder care, while others may focus on helping children and adults with various physical or mental disabilities. Caregiving may include anything from lending an ear or offering a ride to helping a person take a bath or eat. The…
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Taking Care of Seriously Ill and Terminal Patients
Many families who are facing taking care of terminally ill loved ones, have to make difficult choices about caregiving services for the last months and weeks of the loved one’s life. Other families have to consider how to take care of a loved one who has an on-going major illness for which there may be no cure. The value of quality care for this challenging period is very important for both patient and family. Knowing that loved ones may be facing their last days inspires family and caretakers to give the patient the greatest comfort possible, both physically and psychologically. Impersonal Institutional Care Until the 1970s, there was not very…
