Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Caregiving Spouses from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO
We, here at Comfort Keepers of St. Louis, St Charles and Lincoln County have seen this happen again and again. One spouse taking care of the other until something happens to the caregiving spouse. Sometimes the spouse being cared for outlives his or her caregiving spouse. The stress of caregiving can lead to depression and anxiety as well as a host of other medical problems.
Spouses face challenges in caring for themselves and their ailing partners
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Choosing an In Home Senior Care Company in Troy, MO
Keeping the comfort
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Safety Tips for Your Loved Ones Home by Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO
1. A change in color to denote changes in surface types or levels helps . Use contrast in paint, furniture and carpet colors so to make boundaries easier to see..
2. Use nonskid tape to secure rugs and carpet edges. Remove throw rugs that can be tripped over. Nonskid mats or carpet in areas that can get wet such as bathrooms and kitchens help reduce fall risks also.
3. Reduce clutter by removing over sized furniture and objects. Arranging furniture (especially low coffee and end tables) so that they can easily move around it with out bumping into it.
4. Make sure light bulbs are of adequate brightness and not burned out. Remember to check the ones in places your loved one doesn't frequently go such as in the basement or attic. Nightlights in bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways can help at night. Use a light on the nightstand beside the bed that is easily turned on and off. Keep curtains, window shades, and blinds open for good lighting during the day.
5. Keep electrical and telephone cords out of walkways. Keep them as close to the wall as possible and never have them extended across a room. Add electrical outlets in places where an outlet is needed if possible.
6. Make sure all stairways have secure handrails on both sides of stairs. Use brightly colored or glow in the dark tape at the edge of the steps to make them more visible. Keep everything off of a stairway, your loved one may not see what has been placed on the steps.
7. Keep commonly used items within easy reach in kitchen cabinets and closets. Make sure there is a sturdy step stool available to reach higher items to reduce the temptation of climbing on a chair or other unsafe object.
8.In the bathroom install grab bars on walls in and around the tub and beside the toilet. Make sure they are strong enough to hold your loved ones weight. Use nonskid appliques or mats in the shower or tub and make sure there is a nonskid mat for them to step out on after they are done. A liquid soap dispenser in the on the tub or shower wall can also help, as can a hand held shower head. A shower seat can also make the shower safer. A raised toilet seat can make it easier to get up and reduce the risk of falls.
9. Remove caster wheels from chairs so they don't slide away as your loved one is trying to sit down. Also make sure chairs and couches are easy to get in and out of. Adjusting the height of bed can make it easier to get in and out of.
10. Have at least one phone extension in each level of the home and post emergency numbers at each phone. Locate the bedroom telephone within reach of the bed.
We can do what we can to prevent falls but unfortunately they still happen. An electronic emergency alert system can help your parent get help when it is needed. Comfort Keepers has a system we call Safety Choice. For more information in the St Louis area call us toll-free at (888) 892-2993.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Companions from an Elder Care Agency- An Alternative to Nursing Homes in Troy, MO
By: Tyler Moon
A fit and healthy lifestyle always leads to much alert sense in the elderly. A fit lifestyle includes healthy and nutritious meals, regular exercise and stimulating the mind with mental activity. With the aid of elder care services, a senior member of the family can get the support they need to keep up with their physical and mental health.
A well controlled nutritious diet not only contributes to the physical health, but also has a great role to play for mental stability. Five times consumption of fruits and vegetables in a day would suffice, with fish once or twice a week. Fats of any type should always be avoided. A companion from elder care services can make sure that someone living on their own will continue with their healthy eating, and not skip meals.
Physical activities that take care of cardiac fitness and vascular health can also take care of brain required for mental stability. For senior members, thirty minutes of exercise every alternate day allows for cardiovascular benefits. This vascular health and maintenance translates into a sharp mind for seniors. An elder care companion to visit an elderly person will make sure that a patient keeps up with their exercise routine.
Engaging an elderly person in mentally challenging activities can also help them keep their minds healthy and quick. Reading novels, solving crossword puzzles, games, brain teasers or learning a new language or musical instrument keeps the mind active and occupied. These activities can be good pastimes for an elder and a caregiver sharing these pastimes can be a positive experience for the seniors.
Personalized care for seniors from non-medical care agency can be a good alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. A senior member will stay more active physically and mentally if they stay more at home rather than in a nursing home. Companions provided from elder care agencies can help an individual with their routine and assist in their activities. It is a priority for a patient to continue to live a healthy lifestyle.
Ideally, once you find a senior care provider you're happy with, you should provide the newly-hired caregiver with a detailed job description outlining job title, purpose, duties and responsibilities.
Using resources available, elderly care in the home becomes a viable option. Elder care does not have to mean you have to do it alone. Becoming knowledgeable about elderly care issues make the aging transition an easier road to travel.
About the Author
Tyler Moon is an expert in article writing and internet marketing. She regularly contributes articles on various topics like security services, birth announcements etc.
Senior Care
(ArticlesBase SC #833146)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Companions from Elder Care Agency – An Alternative to Nursing Homes
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tips for Choosing Home Care from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO
How to Choose Home Care for Elderly Parents
Our caregivers here at Comfort Keepers are our employees. Every one of them has undergone a thorough background check. They are bonded and insured, trained and supervised. Even if you don't choose us please make sure your loved one is being cared for by an agency that can say the same.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Useful Tips for Alzheimers Care in Troy, MO
Author: MIKE SELVON
When the Alzheimers diagnosis first hits you, it can feel devastating and overwhelming. Alzheimers patients often feel angry and fall into the "Why Me?" syndrome, while caregivers suffer with helplessness and uncertainty about how the disease will progress. For the 5 million patients and their families, Alzheimer care can go on for as many as 20 years, so learning how to cope and seeking education on the matter is crucial.
The medical difficulty of Alzheimers is that no two patients progress at the same rate or exhibit the same Alzheimers symptoms. Some Alzheimers patients are prone to wandering off or forget that they are unable to drive a car.
Other earlier signs of alzheimers include misplacing keys, forgetting names and becoming irrationally upset without remembering why. In the worst stages, the patient can no longer speak or recognize friends and family.
"Each individual is so unique, so different, there is no black and white or this is how you take care (of the patient)," says Connie Kudlacek, former director of the Alzheimers Association Midlands Chapter. "Instead of focusing on the negatives, we need to look at the positives and find an opportunity to continue to nurture their personality and give them an opportunity for success, even in the later stages."
The emotional difficulty of caring for someone with Alzheimers is the "losing and grieving while providing the care because Charlie isn't Charlie anymore," relates Professor Jacquelyn Frank at the Frank of Ulndy's Center For Aging & Community. She describes the feelings as "anticipatory grief," which refers to the fear of losing someone before they've even died, and "ambiguous loss," which is the discordant feeling of caring for someone who is physically alive but socially lacking. Frank highlights the importance of airing out emotions in an Alzheimers support group to maintain a positive attitude in the face of such isolation and hopelessness.
Reducing frustrations is one tactic that will help you provide effective Alzheimer care. At first you may struggle with your loved one trying to bathe or feed them, but over time you'll get to know their natural schedule of when they are most agreeable.
Established routines can help make the day less unpredictable and more manageable for the Alzheimers patient and you. Limiting difficult decision-making is very helpful for the Alzheimers caregiver. For instance, a closet full of clothes may be intimidating, whereas a choice between two outfits may be totally do-able.
You may sometimes feel like you're walking on egg shells when communicating with a loved one who requires Alzheimer care. Frustrations can flare up tempers and it can be hard to understand the root of the problem. Sometimes Alzheimers patients forget words or substitute incorrect words. They can lose their train of thought, require more time deciphering your words or they may curse incessantly.
The stages of Alzheimers can change suddenly, without warning. You can help by remaining patient, making eye contact while listening, using visual cues and keeping your language simple, as well as avoiding criticism, interrupting and arguing.
There are many different Alzheimer care treatment options, depending on the severity of the illness and your budget. Many caregivers try to keep their loved one at home for as long as possible, looking into products that may safeguard them from an accident or heightened confusion. Other family members may try splitting their time with the patient so he or she is never left alone.
There are specialized caregivers, such as "Comfort Keepers," who make house calls as well. There are adult day care centers, which allow family members to continue working their normal schedules while the Alzheimer patient receives care or participates in planned activities. Lastly, there are long term care facilities that fully address the needs of Alzheimers patients 24/7.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/reviewing-some-useful-tips-for-better-alzheimer-care-442020.html
About the AuthorEnrich your knowledge further about alzheimer care from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our nursing care blog where a free gift awaits you.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Holiday Assessment from Comfort Keepers Elder Care in Troy, MO
cleaning or a decrease in physical appearance by writing them off to “old age”.
Comfort keepers has developed a checklist to use each of your five senses that provide key
indicators or warning signs to help determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance.
If your not sure if your loved one may need extra care this holiday please download this assessment:
Holiday Assessment Guide
Friday, October 2, 2009
When Mom or Dad Won't Bathe from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO
Dad Won’t Shower or Change His Clothes. What Do I Do?
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Comfort Keepers Senior Care of Troy, MO Walk for Alzheimer's
This was the view ahead of us, I wish I had a better picture to show you all the other walkers, this place was packed. I was told so many more people turned out that they ran out of the purple bracelets we were supposed to wear!
Here's Jackie and Dave walking in front of me.
And now we are nearing the end, Jackie is out in front as you can see! Our team raised over $1500 and you can still donate if you wish! Go to Our Team Page.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Long Distance Caregiving from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Poor Medication Management Can Harm Seniors from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO
Up to 10 percent of all admissions into long term care and/or assisted living facilities are because the client was unable to self-medicate. Adverse drug reactions are also considered to be the 4th leading cause of death among the elderly.
Comfort Keepers Home Care of the St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln County areas in Missouri can help. Starting with our new Daily Meds program that will package your elder loved ones medications in packets with instructions on what day and time to take it. This is mailed to the home monthly.
We also offer a Safety Choice Medication Dispenser which organizes, reminds, dispenses and tracks delivery of up to 40 days of prescribed drugs. It can alert the elder that medications are due and warns when they have not been dispensed.
We also, of course, offer our wonderful caregivers, who can help with many other things as well as remind your loved one when to take their medication.
Resource: The elderly face the dangers of poor medication management
You can call us at: 314-288-0054
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Caregiving Misconceptions from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO
Common Caregiving Misconceptions
Monday, August 31, 2009
Long Distance Caregiving from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO
Long Distance Caregiving
If you are a long distance caregiver with parents in the St. Louis, St Charles or Lincoln County Area give Comfort Keepers a call at 314-288-0054.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Alzheimer's and Social Activity with Senior Care in Troy, MO
Many seniors with Alzheimer’s have a tendency to isolate themselves and have lost the ability to reach out to family and friends for their social needs. Friends and even family may stop visiting so often, or be so taken up with caring for basic physical needs that they may not recognize the need for social and mental activity. Even if we, as family members, recognize the need, we may not be able to do much about it because of restraints of time and distance.
Here at Comfort Keepers we can assist families with these needs, as well as your loved ones physical needs and safety, we call it Interactive Caregiving. Caregiving should be more than just cooking, cleaning and assisting with personal care, we take everyday activities and transform them into opportunities to communicate with and engage our clients. If you would like to know more about Interactive Caregiving please take the time to read our online brochure or if you’re in the St. Louis, St. Charles or Troy, MO area call us at 314-288-0054.
Interactive Caregiving
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Why Pay the Extra for an Agency? from Comfort Keepers Senior and Elderly Care in Troy, MO
Research to find in-home caregivers
Friday, July 17, 2009
Denial can be Deadly for Aging Seniors by Comfort Keepers in Troy, MO
Please take a minute to read the following article:
Denial can be deadly with aging parents
If your parents need more help than you can provide in St Louis, St Charles or Lincoln Counties in Missouri, please give us a call.
314-288-0054
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Preventing Caregiver Burnout in Troy, MO Courtesy of Comfort Keepers Senior Care
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Preventing Caregiver Burnout
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Monday, July 6, 2009
Taxes, the IRS and Hiring a Private Duty Caregiver for Elderly Care in Troy, MO
Hiring an agency who's caregivers are employees and not independent contractors can save you many headaches and, in the long run as you can see from the article I've linked below, money.
Hiring Private Duty Home Care Workers:Why Work through an Agency?
Friday, July 3, 2009
Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's with Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO
Alzheimer’s Care: What the Caregiver Needs
Don't forget that companies such as ours, Comfort Keepers Senior and Elderly Care of Troy, MO can help give you the assistance you need so you can take care of you.