The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have morphed into “take two of these…and two of these…and perhaps one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of seniors are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention OTC meds, vitamins, and supplements. It is easy to see why there is an increased likelihood of adverse medical reactions and overmedicated seniors.

Take these steps to prevent complications from overmedicated senior loved ones:

• Make a list, and check it twice. Create a list of all of the medications – both over-the-counter and prescription – that the older adult is currently taking. Share the list with all of the older adult's healthcare providers, and supply updated lists whenever there is a change in medications. Then, at least twice a year, review the list with their primary care physician to ensure that all of the medications are essential and that current doses are ideal.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be sure you completely understand what each medication is actually for, and confirm that there are no contraindications with other medications the older adult is taking. The doctor or pharmacist can run the senior’s meds through a drug interaction database to verify. If you’re unsure about anything else pertaining to the medications prescribed, speak up. You’ll want to make sure you understand:
  • Exactly when as well as how the meds must be taken (for example, with a full glass of water, on a full stomach, if they should be crushed or broken in half, etc.)
  • What the potential side effects can be
  • What to do if a dose is missed
  • Whether a generic version is available
  • And any other questions you might have
• Set up a system. As soon as you’ve confirmed that all of the older adult's medications are essential and you have the details you need to ensure they’re taken correctly, create a system for following physicians' orders. Depending on the senior’s cognitive functioning, this may be as simple as a pill box that is filled weekly. Or, you may want to count on the services of a home care provider, like Help at Home Senior Care, for medication reminders.

It is also vital to remember that a doctor should always be consulted before beginning or changing any medications, including vitamins or over-the-counter meds. Some prescription medications belong to the same drug category as OTC meds and could lead to an excessive amount of a medication being administered. In other cases, OTC medications or vitamins interact negatively with prescriptions.

We are always available to help seniors continue to be healthy and safe. Email or call us at (530) 885-7444 for more information on our in-home care in Roseville, CA and nearby areas. For a full list of all of the communities where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.

It is instinctive to most of us that socialization with others improves well-being. It keeps us connected to other people’s experiences, beliefs, challenges, humor, viewpoints, and other human occurrences. However, now scientific research is confirming that socializing with others, and specifically socialization for seniors, actually may improve the wellness of both brain and body.

The outcomes point clearly to the impact of friendship and social engagement for seniors. A study performed by Rush University Medical Center determined that someone who noted a high degree of senior socialization was almost twice as likely to remain free of impairment with activities of daily living than someone with a lower degree of social activity. Additionally, a person is about one and a half times as likely to remain free of disability with instrumental activities of daily living or mobility. Very social seniors had a 70% reduction in their rate of cognitive decline when compared with unsocial seniors.

Nevertheless, staying social is not intuitive to all of us, and for many, it actually is more challenging with age because one’s ability to get around can be greatly reduced. Here are several ways a home care agency such as Help at Home Senior Care can help older individuals stay social and protect their quality of life:

• Promote attendance at and serve as a personal escort to enjoyable outings including club meetings, community activities such as fairs, holiday activities and parades, concerts, plays, and sporting events, faith-based services and activities.
• Share in playing interactive games together such as board and card games.
• Plan and arrange for visits with friends and loved ones.
• Offer transportation to an adult day facility or a senior exercise class.
• Offer companionship at family get-togethers or vacations for optimum safety and comfort.
• Introduce seniors to social platforms such as Facebook and Zoom to enable them to connect with family and friends even if they're homebound.

In the Social Activity and Wellbeing of Older Australians Study, testing over 6,000 older individuals over about 5 1/2 years, seniors who have routine, regular social activity were shown to have a slower decline in intellectual and memory performance. Better mental capacity was observed most in seniors who were the most socially engaged.

Having a trusted home care agency provide in-home care to motivate and aid with senior socialization may just be one of the most important ways to help an elderly adult continue to thrive and feel alive. Help at Home Senior Care's staff are all fully committed to supporting the independence, dignity, and social connection of every senior we serve. To learn more about our in-home care in Lincoln, CA and the surrounding areas, contact us at (530) 885-7444.

“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.