If you are in a successful, lasting relationship, you understand that it requires compromise, commitment, and sacrifice. The happiest relationships are those where both parties selflessly look after each other. This balance shifts, however, if you find yourself caregiving for your partner. And this shift can have an adverse impact on the dynamics of your relationship if you’re not careful.

Naturally, you want to do everything you can for your spouse. Nonetheless, it’s vital that you ensure you’re not sacrificing your romantic connection in the process. Trying to parent your companion can cause bitterness – for both of you. To keep healthy boundaries in place, keep the following tips in mind:

• Express your love for your partner in ways that have nothing in connection with the care you are providing. Write love letters, provide simple, thoughtful gifts, tell the person just how much you admire specific traits you notice in them.
• Have an open, honest discussion regarding how the health changes are affecting you. Brainstorm how to find a new normal that will be fulfilling for both of you, establishing new, attainable dreams and goals together.
• Encourage your partner to remain as independent as possible. Although you certainly have the best of intentions in wanting to help, it is not difficult to cross the line into causing damage to the person’s self-esteem. Plan additional time, incorporate adaptive tools, and step back whenever you can to permit the person to do whatever they are able to on their own.
• Be deliberate in creating opportunities to focus on your relationship independent of the injury or illness. Continue to take part in the activities and conversations you enjoyed together before the health issue arose, altering if needed.

If all this seems easier in theory, there are some specific things you can do to ensure you’re keeping appropriate boundaries when caregiving for your partner:

• Place some favorite photos or memorabilia from past vacations you’ve taken in areas where you’ll see them often, to remind yourself of the happy times you’ve had together.
• Offer hugs, hold hands, give a back rub or shoulder massage, etc. to stay in close physical contact apart from touch that is a necessary element of care.
• Keep an active social network, both as a couple and individually. Activities you engage in with relatives and friends may need to be modified, but should not be eliminated altogether.
• Work on resolving any conflicts in a healthy way, bringing in a professional counselor for help if needed.

An at-home caregiver is a great option to ensure your partner has all of the support and help needed, letting you concentrate on spending quality time together as a couple. Contact us online or call us at (530) 885-7444 for more information regarding our Auburn, CA senior care services or care throughout the surrounding areas.

If a senior you love prefers carbs over carrots, it can be difficult to figure out how to help fulfill their nutritional needs. And you are not alone. The CDC shares that just one in 10 older adults meet the recommendation for at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables every day. Numerous studies have revealed that older adults who do follow these guidelines reduce their risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health issues, and ultimately live longer.

It may be the right time to experiment with creative ideas to improve senior diets by incorporating more fruits and veggies. For example:

Choose convenience. Slicing, peeling, chopping, cooking – the many steps necessary to prepare some vegetables and fruits makes it easier to just grab a prepackaged snack. Seek out healthy alternatives which are typically just as easy to grab and enjoy, such as baby carrots, ready-to-eat salads, or other cleaned and sliced veggies, individual cups of fruit, bananas, etc.

Keep it crunchy. There are so many nutritious alternatives to greasy potato chips for a crispy snack or as a side to enjoy with a sandwich. Pick up a few for the older adult to try and see which ones are most satisfying: sweet potato, kale, beet, radish, green bean, eggplant, and much more. Or try freeze-dried fruit, another crunchy and nutritious solution.

Freeze it up. Make your own easy, healthy frozen treats by blending fruit with a little water or juice, pouring into popsicle molds, and freezing until solid. These also make a wonderful multi-generational activity! Invite the family over, let everyone choose their favorite flavor to make, and then spend some quality time together while you wait for them to chill before enjoying your personal creations.

Make it smooth. Smoothies and sauces are excellent ways to integrate a plethora of superfoods. You can create a nourishing, delicious drink by blending fresh fruit, yogurt, and a handful of spinach. Or try pureeing an assortment of vegetables to blend in with marinara sauce: zucchini, kale, bell peppers, carrots, etc.

Join a CSA. If you have never thought about a CSA, now could be the right time to investigate this option. A CSA (community supported agriculture) is a subscription service for fresh produce from local farmers. Get more information and find a CSA near you.

Help at Home Senior Care’s caregivers are skilled in preparing delicious, healthy meals according to each person’s unique preferences. We are able to pick up all of the ingredients too! Just connect with us online or at (530) 885-7444 for help with enhancing senior diets and to get other benefits from our Auburn, CA senior care and care in the nearby areas.

“I absolutely do NOT need to move to an assisted living facility!” It is a typical sentiment proclaimed by many older adults, even when they begin to have trouble with managing tasks in the home independently. And who can blame them? Home is where each of us feels secure and safe, and older adults are no exception. They’re familiar with where things are located and they enjoy following their own unique routines. They may have friends and family living nearby, who enhance their quality of life. Still, if you're starting to feel worried that a senior loved one’s safety in the home might be compromised, it may be time to look into assistance at home.

To determine if help at home for seniors is needed, the Rocklin home care experts at Help at Home Senior Care have compiled the following questions. Review these to help determine whether an older loved one is as safe as possible, or if perhaps the senior might benefit from some added assistance at home:

Weight Loss

• Has the older adult lost weight unintentionally within the past couple of months?
• Can the senior handle grocery shopping and planning and cooking nutritious meals?
• Does the person practice safety in the kitchen, such as remembering to turn off the stove?
• Has the senior started complaining about the way food tastes?
• Is the individual drinking sufficient quantities of water as well as other fluids throughout each day to avoid dehydration, particularly during the warmer summer season?

Personal Hygiene

• Is the elderly individual properly maintaining his/her personal hygiene?
• Can the person deal with the tasks of laundry, bathing, grooming, and using the toilet appropriately?

Medicines

• Does the older adult take prescription drugs or supplements?
• Is the person remembering to take them exactly when and how they are prescribed?
• Can the senior read and comprehend prescription labels, and understand what each medicine is for?
• Is the individual physically able to swallow medications, or otherwise take them as advised (for example, broken or crushed pills, creams, liquids, etc.)?

Home Safety

• Is the home free from clutter, which could present a tripping and falling risk?
• Could the senior call for help in the event of a fall?
• Are there grab bars in the bathroom, and are handrails on stairways installed correctly?
• Is there adequate light to allow the senior to safely get up at night to go to the bathroom or kitchen?
• Have you seen any cuts, scrapes, burns, or bruises that could have been the result of a fall or other unexplained accident?
• Is the kitchen neat and safe for preparing meals?

Psychological, Emotional, and Cognitive Issues

• Does the older adult seem to be depressed or anxious?
• Is the individual remaining socially active as frequently as possible?
• If the senior practices a religion, is he or she going to programs or services that are of interest?
• Is the senior taking pleasure in pastimes that have been interesting in the past?
• Is the senior loved one having memory issues? Uncommonly loud or distressed?
• Are financial affairs in order?

Determining the answers to questions such as these might seem overwhelming, but Help at Home Senior Care is here to provide support. Our experienced elder care team can evaluate your loved one’s situation and suggest solutions, providing you and your loved one peace of mind. Our expertly trained and knowledgeable senior care staff provide a variety of home care services, including light housekeeping, companionship, preparing nutritious meals, and so much more.

Contact us at (530) 885-7444 to learn more about our in-home care in Rocklin, CA and nearby areas, and to see how our experienced care staff can provide the help at home for seniors necessary to keep them safe and thriving. For a full list of all of the communities where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.

There are a number of aspects associated with choosing senior care services for an older adult you love. In our ongoing commitment to help families knowledgeably sort through their options for in-home care, we recommend the following:

• Evaluate Needs

With a professional home care agency, you will never need to worry about determining what services will be best for the senior's particular challenges. Prior to beginning of care, the agency will visit the senior in the home and ask a variety of questions. This information will be used to develop a customized plan of care designed to meet the individual needs of the person who needs care. The agency may also work with the older adult’s doctors or others on the care team in order to coordinate other care services that may be needed.

• Who Will Manage the Care?
A professional home care agency has a supervisor who can oversee regular check-ins and modify the care plan as needs change. Many families also choose to partner with a geriatric care manager who will not only help to coordinate care, but also serve the client’s advocate.

• Care Transitions
  Care needs can change over time from basic assistance with day-to-day activities and personal care to skilled medical care and back again to basic assistance. A professional home care agency will help make these types of care transitions as simple and as seamless as possible, offering recommendations, assisting with transitions, and coordinating changing care needs.

We hope that this information will prove to be helpful in the process of selecting senior care services for someone you love. Engaging the services of a caregiver through a dependable home care agency, such as Help at Home Senior Care, is always the safest choice. We’d love the opportunity to learn more about a senior you love and to help him or her live an active, engaged, and independent life with the companionship of one of our friendly caregivers. Reach out to us at (530) 885-7444 for more information on how our professional home and memory care in Auburn and surrounding areas can make each day the very best it can be for an older adult you love.

When it comes to selecting home care for elderly loved ones, there are a variety of options available to families, and it's very important to diligently research and ask the right questions in order to ensure the highest levels of care. Help at Home Senior Care has compiled the questions below that can help when contacting home care agencies to ensure you’re making an informed decision: 

Services

• List of services. Do they offer services specific to the senior's requirements? Is someone on staff available to provide details on all services, eligibility requirements and funding sources? Can you access this information online or can it be sent to you?
• Supervision and training. What professional training and certification does the agency require of its direct care providers? How frequently do the supervisors oversee the care providers to guarantee proper care is being provided?
• Documentation and coordination. Are visits documented? Do family members have easy access? Does the agency coordinate with the senior's home health team to provide a coordinated plan of care?

Caregivers

• Duration of visits. How frequently will the caregiver visit, and how long does she or he stay for each visit? Does the agency provide care on evenings, weekends, and holidays? Will the visit allow for time to engage in conversations and to get to know the senior?
• Rotation of care. Is care provided on a consistent basis by the same caregiver, or is care rotated between multiple people? If caregivers rotate, how frequently? Will the family receive advance notification when a caregiver change is made?
• Accessibility. Does the caregiver and office staff maintain frequent contact? Will they keep you informed of any changes in the older adult’s health, condition, or plan of care?

Costs

• Billing and funding. Are services covered by long-term care insurance or available grants? Do they provide printed statements outlining costs? How often is the care invoiced if there is payment due?
• Additional fees. Are there fees for specialized or extended services? Are there payment plans in place for out-of-pocket services?

We hope that if a senior you love is in Grass Valley or the surrounding areas, you’ll consider partnering with Help at Home Senior Care for your care needs. With years of experience and a full range of services, including companionship, respite care, specialized dementia care and much more, we’re here for you for a few hours a week all the way up to round-the-clock care. Reach out to us any time at (530) 885-7444 to learn more about our top-rated respite care in Grass Valley, CA and nearby areas, and to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation today.