Dementia – the word alone sends shivers down the spine of anyone even remotely familiar with its effects. If you’ve already come face to face with this condition because you’re dealing with a parent who suffers from it, you will have already familiarized yourself within home senior care, Los Angeles families whose lives have been changed forever by dementia or another brain disease swear by skilled home help for seniors.
But what if your parent refuses to receive care and assistance? In case of dementia, especially if it was caused by a stroke, which requires special care in its own right, the patient requires constant care and vigilance. Read on to learn more.
If your elderly loved one has recently suffered a stroke, brace yourself – they are in for a challenge, and so are you. The journey to recovery will be a long and difficult one, and there is always the risk that your elderly loved one will not exactly reach the desired destination. But this risk can be avoided by taking the right steps and seeking in-home care for elderly stroke survivors is a step in the right direction. Actually, due to the rise of the frail elderly population inLos Angeles, home caregivers’ services are now needed more than ever.
Just like they help brain disease patients maintain a level of independence and stability, professional caregivers help stroke survivors get their old lives back and regain independence. Even if your senior family member is unwilling to cooperate, professional in-home care providers know how best to approach them and get them to act in their own best interest.
Depending on the distance between you and your elderly loved one, the amount of free time you have and whether they require full-time care or not, you might be considering live-in care. If your elderly loved one requires constant assistance due to illness or age, the benefits of live-in care far outweigh those of any other elderly care option. Read on to learn more.
Preoccupied with their hectic lives, people with aging parents feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, especially if these include parenting. But although the world we live in might be far from the natural order of things, that doesn’t mean that we can’t give our elderly parents the love and attention they deserve. Here’s how!
Most caregivers tend to get extremely worried about their senior loved ones getting behind the wheel. And rightfully so. Seniors are often depicted as antagonists among other drivers and not without a reason. There are some serious concerns every time the elderly take the wheel, but the danger they pose is often to themselves rather than other drivers.
However, the leading Los Angeles Home Caregivers Services advise there are some measures family members can take to ensure seniors are safe on the road. The best way family could help is introduce their senior loved ones to vehicles that are designed to be safe to handle by anyone. Additionally, professional caregivers referred by A Better Way in Home Care can monitor their health condition and limit their access to their vehicle accordingly.
In our previous blogs, we talked about your senior loved ones’ health. And while we are quick to give advice such as modify your diet or exercise more with the best intentions, how many of us actually follow the same advice? When was the last time you exercised? What did you have for lunch?
However, working for a respectable company that offers senior care referral services in Los Angeles, we have seen firsthand how slightly adjusting the diet and introducing an exercise routine can improve the lives of most seniors. Something as simple as a stroll around the park can help the elderly battle various health issues and make them feel better about themselves.
How dangerous can not drinking water really be? Probably more than you think! During the hot, summer days as well as cold, dry ones in winter, being properly hydrated is imperative, especially for senior citizens. However, not all seniors are aware of how dangerous improper hydration can be. In fact, dehydration is among the most frequent reasons for hospitalization with the elderly. Professional caregivers referred by A Better Way in Home Care, premier Los Angeles home caregiver referral service, know how to monitor the signs and make sure senior citizens stay well hydrated.
When Steffi Gaines was only 34 years old she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Her experience gave her a passion to maintain people’s dignity no matter their condition, so she made a career transition in 1999 and opened A Better Way in Home Care, serving the Los Angeles area. Referring caregivers who have the same passion is of the utmost importance to Steffi. In 2012 the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative presented A Better Way with the Award of Excellence in recognition of their contributions to cancer pain relief.
What sets you apart from the many home care services that are available?
“With 16 years of experience, we offer professional, certified caregivers who have undergone rigorous background and reference checks. We know the people whom we refer and work to find the perfect match for each customer. Steffi personally interviews each caregiver and speaks to all potential clients.”
How do you find the perfect match of caregiver-to-client?
“Listening. We are professional listeners who work closely with the individual and their family. We advocate ‘aging in place,’ so we pinpoint the needs and personality of an individual and coordinate a living arrangement and caregiver that are conducive to happy and healthy relationships.”
“WE ARE PROFESSIONAL LISTENERS WHO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAMILY.”
What services does A Better Way In Home Care offer?
“We specialize in Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides and companions who can be full-time, part-time, temporary, live-in or live-out. The caregivers assist with medical orders, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, incontinence care, cooking, shopping and driving. Most importantly, our team is trained to advocate for our clients’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and to be the bridge between family and medical providers.”
What is the biggest challenge facing your clients today?
“Fear. The fear of making the decision to get in-home care for their loved one and the senior’s fear of having a stranger in their home. I am committed to helping families choose the best in-home care. No one should ever be uncomfortable in their home. I find out who the client was prior to becoming ill, what they did for a living, their hobbies and personality, and I match accordingly. Because I take the extra time to do this, the clients and caregivers can build a best friend/advocate relationship. This is a complete joy for me.”
1) When a family member needs to be in a nursing home its essential to visit as random times to ensure the best care for your loved one. When the staff at the nursing home see that your family is visiting they will provide better care for your loved one.
2) Things that can go wrong in a nursing home at night include:
Staffing ratio of caregiver to patient to save money leads to compromised personal care
Staff shortages result in patients going with inadequate care
Caregivers have been known to triple diapers on a patient to avoid having to change linens
3) In interviewing CNAs they have shared confidentially that they have observed some caregivers who that pretend to wash patients hair by just adding watered to their head to give the appearance of having been bathed.
4) Food is presented at times without taking proper care to make sure the patient can easily utilize utensils and reach the food easily.
Tips and key questions to keep in mind:
Have you properly educated yourself on the care your loved one will get at the facility?
Do the meals appear to be nutritious and appetizing?
What is the turnover rate of staff?
What’s is the staff to patient ratio on each shift?
Do the residents seem to be happy and engaged?
Do the residents appear to be groggy or overmedicated?
Are the residents clean and well groomed?
Are the residents feet and toenails kept clean?
Does the environment appear to be clean?
Does it smell like urine or deodorant to cover up the smell?
There’s no more important decision than finding the right caregiver for your loved one. To learn more about getting the finest of in home care Los Angeles or Beverly Hills in home care for your loved one call A Better Way In Home Care today at: (323) 650-2211.
1) Listen carefully how your loved one feels about the caregiver regardless of your personal opinion of the person.
2) Evaluate and get feedback from all of the caregivers don’t base your opinion on the feedback of just one caregiver.
3) Protect the finances of your loved one and make sure that there can be no abuse of their personal resources. This will also protect the wrong type of caregiver from your loved one.
4) Don’t feel comfortable just because someone has a good background. That is just the beginning and does not guarantee the caregiver will provide good care or be honest.
5) Frequently check in with your loved one to make sure they are doing okay.
6) If the caregiver is controlling or pushy get rid of them.
One of the most important decisions is finding the right caregiver for your loved one. To learn more about getting the finest of in home care in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles home care for your loved one call A Better Way In Home Care today at: (323) 650-2211.
Most caregivers tend to get extremely worried about their senior loved ones getting behind the wheel. And rightfully so. Seniors are often depicted as antagonists among other drivers and not without a reason. There are some serious concerns every time the elderly take the wheel, but the danger they pose is often to themselves rather than other drivers.
In our previous blogs, we talked about your senior loved ones’ health. And while we are quick to give advice such as 
How dangerous can not drinking water really be? Probably more than you think! During the hot, summer days as well as cold, dry ones in winter, being properly hydrated is imperative, especially for senior citizens. However, not all seniors are aware of how dangerous improper hydration can be. In fact, dehydration is among the most frequent reasons for hospitalization with the elderly. 
