by San Diego Home Care

Transforming a Senior’s Life with the Help of a Home Care Agency

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Senior couple at home focusing on angry man

The help of a quality home care agency like ours can help your senior loved one thrive and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Even though many older adults adapt smoothly when a new caregiver comes into the home, and enjoy a higher quality of life, there are some older adults who may still feel threatened. At San Diego Home Caregivers, we’re sensitive to the feelings of each individual we serve, and are experienced in helping to ease worries and restore peace.

A senior who feels the need to convince their family that hiring a home care agency is simply not needed may employ one of these common tactics:

  1. Arguing. Aggravations at being perceived as incapable of self-care may display as an increase in arguments, even over relatively minor issues. It’s important to recognize the underlying sense that the person needs to prove their ability to remain in control and in charge.
  2. Distancing from loved ones. The individual may show irritation through becoming standoffish and declining necessary support from family members. For example, an adult child who usually accompanies the person to medical appointments may now be prohibited by the person from going into the exam room.
  3. Concealing activities. If an agreement has been made for the person to restrict driving, for example, they may continue to drive when no one is around. Another example is refusing to adhere to a diabetic diet, eating unhealthily in private.
  4. Making dangerous choices. A senior who is encouraged to rest and allow someone else to handle a task that may now be unsafe, such as climbing a ladder to replace a lightbulb, may do just the opposite. In this way, they’re showing that they are still capable of activities such as this, but it could cause a fall and serious injury.

How Can I Help a Loved One Thrive With Home Care Services?

The truth is, no one wants to feel as though they are not able to meet their own day-to-day needs, or that they are in a state of decline. It’s very important to validate the important role the senior continues to play in our lives, and let them know often that they are both valued and needed. Several ways to accomplish this include:

  • Enlist the person’s help in meaningful tasks.
  • Reminisce about ways the senior has affected your life.
  • Ask the senior for advice.
  • Spend plenty of time listening to and engaging in conversations with the senior.

A professional caregiver from San Diego Home Caregivers will understand the many emotions older adults experience and the ways in which those emotions may present. All of our caregivers are trained and experienced in helping promote a sense of self-worth and fulfillment in life.

Get in touch with our home care agency at (619) 487-9000 for more tips and resources to pave the way to a smoother journey through aging! We offer a complimentary in-home meeting to answer any questions you have and to develop a care plan to address the particular needs of a senior you love in San Diego, La Mesa, La Jolla, Carlsbad, or other nearby areas. For a full list of the communities we serve in California, please visit our Communities Served page.

by San Diego Home Care

When Seniors Refuse Help: How to Approach Home Care Services

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cheerful mature woman serving breakfast and taking care of elderly senior woman at home

Home care services can help a senior loved one age in place and maintain independence.

As experts in home care services, we witness firsthand every day the companionship, joy, and improved quality of life older adults receive through our caregiver services. But we also know that many older adults initially reject the concept of in-home care assistance. Read more

by San Diego Home Care

The ABC’s of Caring for the Heart for Older Adults

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Go back to the basics of caring for the heart using these simple guidelines.

Almost half of all Americans have one of the three key risk factors of heart disease: high blood pressure, smoking, and high LDL cholesterol. Too many people make poor lifestyle decisions every day that adversely impact their heart. Excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity are just a few things that can do permanent damage. It’s easy to forget to put into practice the fundamental ways of caring for the heart, but it’s one of the most important things to remember. Go back to the basics and look after your heart with the following guidelines: Read more

by San Diego Home Care

Tips for Caring for a Senior After a Heart Attack or Stroke

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Help promote healing when caring for a senior after a heart attack or stroke with these helpful tips.

When a loved one experiences a stroke or heart attack, you will likely want to focus on a list of actions that can be taken to ensure that the damaged heart heals and the individual’s lifestyle choices that contributed to the heart attack are changed. San Diego Home Caregivers often receives calls from families looking for a list of actionable items – to-do lists for care and heart health. In a scenario fraught with chaos, lists give family caregivers a sense of control. They are the handbook for a caregiver’s new reality, helping them know what they can do to promote healing and keep another heart attack from taking place. Read more

by San Diego Home Care

How to Ensure a Safer Recovery at Home for Seniors

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Recovery at home for seniors after a hospitalization is safer and more comfortable with the help of home care services.

Recovery at home for seniors after a hospitalization takes time. Not merely do older bodies take more time to mend, but there are further considerations that can arise: reduced mobility and numerous instructions to follow for dietary restrictions, medications, follow-up appointments, and physical activities, just to name a few.  Read more

by San Diego Home Care

Simple Fall Prevention Exercises Seniors Can Do at Home

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Reduce the risk of falls with simple fall prevention exercises.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shares that as many as one-third of seniors experience a fall each year, and surprisingly, only half of them bring those falls to the attention of a doctor. When an older adult falls, even if it does not cause a serious injury, it can lead to an elevated fear of falling again. This can cause the person to begin to limit activities and exercise, which leads to reduced mobility and eventually, a greater risk of another fall.  Read more

by San Diego Home Care

Senior Fall Prevention Tips for the Home

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Try these senior fall prevention tips and simple home modifications to make life safer for older adults.

Experiencing a fall can be painful for anyone, but for older adults, falling can have devastating results. One of the common effects of a senior fall is a fractured hip, which can lead to even more health problems. Alarmingly, one-fourth of seniors who fracture a hip die in a period of just six months from the time of the injury – a sobering, yet preventable fact. This shows how important it is to take senior fall prevention measures to keep loved ones safe at home. Read more

by San Diego Home Care

Watch for These Signs of Depression in Senior Loved Ones

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Senior woman with sad expression

Be aware of the signs of depression that could present in senior loved ones.

Most people go through times when they simply want to be by themselves for a while with their thoughts, to sort out issues in their lives without any distractions, or just to experience some downtime. For older people, however, being isolated for an extended period of time might be indicative of a more concerning condition: depression.

At San Diego Home Caregivers, a provider of professional home and memory care in La Jolla and nearby areas, our team has shared the journey through depression with many older adults, and we want to offer help. The most important first step is to contact the older person’s doctor right away if you believe he or she may be struggling with depression. Depression in seniors is treatable, and the sooner, the better.

Watch for these signs of depression in your senior loved ones:

  • Loss: A variety of kinds of loss can trigger depression or other medical concerns: losing weight, losing the desire to eat, a loss of self-worth, disinterest in activities or hobbies that were formerly enjoyed, or a reduction in time spent with family or friends.
  • Slowing Down: Notice if the older person’s movements or speaking have slowed down, if it takes the senior longer than usual to talk about or recall memories, or if drive or energy are reduced.
  • Sleeping Changes: Depression in seniors can have significant effects on sleep patterns, causing trouble with falling or staying asleep, issues with awakening, or struggles with being alert and awake for the duration of the day. 
  • Forgetfulness: Watch for differences in how the senior takes care of herself; for instance, if she was always careful about maintaining good personal hygiene and taking care with her appearance, but abruptly begins to ignore personal care, or any other critical changes like forgetting to take medicine, to eat a well-balanced diet, etc.

Various other medical conditions may also make depression worse. Be especially mindful if the senior has been affected by any of the following:

  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
  • Thyroid conditions

If you suspect depression in a senior loved one, it’s crucial to take action and not to disregard it as something the senior will get over in time. Depression is a chronic medical condition that requires treatment in order to recover. 

And keep in mind, you are not alone! The caregivers of San Diego Home Caregivers are here to help older adults, and their family members, through senior depression or any other condition of aging. We’re experienced in providing caring, compassionate in-home services for older adults, offering friendly companionship to help encourage participation in exercise programs and social activities, to prepare appetizing, healthy meals, provide transportation to medical appointments and to run errands, and more. 

Reach out to us any time online or call us at (619) 487-9000 to learn more about our in-home senior care and memory care in La Jolla and the surrounding communities.

by corecubed

Help for Seniors Who Want to Stay in Their Own Homes

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Portrait of a beautiful smiling senior woman

Portrait of a beautiful smiling senior woman

The great majority of seniors wish to remain at home for a lifetime, rather than relocating to an assisted living facility or nursing home – nearly 90 percent of them, according to research conducted by AARP. And who can blame them? The comfort of familiar surroundings, the freedom to go wherever, whenever you would like, the opportunity to prepare the meals you want when you want them are all priceless commodities. 

But although it seems like the perfect plan for growing older, there are some real concerns to think through as well: 

  • Will the older person stay safe?
  • How will the older adult get around once driving, or even walking, becomes a challenge?
  • What happens if the older person gets sick or injured and no one’s close by to help?

Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever for seniors to stay safe and well at home. Considering the following can assist you in taking the necessary precautions to ensure the senior you love is prepared for these needs and any others, now and in the future: 

  • Assess the home, both inside and out, from the viewpoint of the senior’s safety. Check to verify that: 
    • Grab bars are in place near the tub and toilet. 
    • Throw rugs and any other fall hazards are removed. 
    • There is plenty of lighting, including in hallways and stairways. 
    • Commonly used items are located within easy reach. 
    • Emergency numbers are posted in a highly visible location. 
  • Create a transportation plan, so it is ready to implement when driving is no longer possible: 
    • Look into public transportation choices that are available and easy to access. 
    • Put together a volunteer tree of reliable people the older person can turn to for transportation when needed: friends, family members, neighbors, religious organizations, local senior centers, San Diego Home Caregivers, etc.
  • Make sure the senior has access to the technology that can be used in an emergency to reach out for help when alone, such as a PERS (personal emergency response system). 

The perfect way to ensure older individuals remain safe and well cared for at home, however, is by hiring a professional home care agency, such as San Diego Home Caregivers. Our caregivers are trained and have experience in providing elder help for San Diego seniors such as personal care services, transportation, meal planning and preparation, and companionship, and are available to help for as much or as little care as needed. 

Our San Diego in-home caregivers start with the development of an individualized plan of care to address the senior’s particular needs and wishes, and then we continually monitor that plan and adjust as needs change – ensuring that the senior remains safe and can live life to the fullest, where it’s most comfortable: at home. 

As the leading providers of senior companion care in San Diego and nearby areas, we invite you to contact us online or at (619) 487-9000 to learn more about how we can provide help for seniors in multiple ways.

by San Diego Home Care

Home Modifications for Wheelchair Users

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Senior disabled man in wheelchair

Learn the most important home modifications to make for wheelchair users.

Home is where the heart is, and it’s for that reason so many older adults make the decision to continue to live at home for a lifetime. But many times wheelchairs come to be a part of life when older adults or those with particular disabilities lose mobility. This can be a unique challenge when it comes to making sure the home is a safe place. But a few key home modifications for wheelchair users can considerably improve safety for aging adults.

Following are just a few modifications recommended to incorporate a wheelchair into the home:

  • Ensure that walkways and driveways are smooth, but not slick.
  • Install a ramp to the front door with landings at the bottom and the top.
  • Doorways ought to be 32-36 inches wide with enough floor space near the doors to maneuver a wheelchair.
  • Thresholds on doors should always be ¼ inch or less.
  • Cabinet shelves should ideally be no more than 10 inches deep.
  • Kitchen stove controls should be located at the front.
  • Be sure that there is knee space underneath all sinks.
  • Oven doors should ideally be able to swing open to the side.
  • For deeper shelves, utilize a Lazy Susan to permit the person to easily reach all items.
  • Bathrooms ought to have either a wheelchair maneuverable tub with a 60-inch turning radius or T-turn space, or a stand-up shower that is curbless and at least 36 inches wide.
  • There should be plenty of room to transfer from wheelchair to toilet.
  • Walk-in closets are great for wheelchair-bound individuals, but a closet organizer that gives the person the ability to reach all items is also a good option.
  • Additionally, floors should be free of clutter and furniture should be arranged for maximum maneuverability. 

San Diego Home Caregivers, offers experienced in-home caregivers in San Diego and the surrounding areas, who can also assist with home modification ideas and coordination. The first step is our complimentary in-home evaluation, where we will put together a customized care plan to address the individual’s unique care needs and wishes, and then we monitor that plan ongoing and modify as needs change. Our in-home care services in San Diego are available for just a few hours each week, up through 24/7, around-the-clock care. You can reach us any time via our online contact form or at (619) 487-9000 to learn more about available services!