October 2010 Archives

Home Care Talk: Bathing

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 28, 2010

I'm concerned that my mother/father has not bathed lately?  How can I tell?

For the answer to this one, I went to a nurse here at Seniors Home Care, Alice Endy.  Alice says that this question comes up frequently.  Family members are concerned with the hygiene of their loved one, but sometimes feel uncomfortable asking the question. 

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Elderly Home Care - Do you have time for a walk?

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 25, 2010

Have you taken a walk lately.  The weather in St. Louis this time of year is perfect for a walk around the block or if you are more ambitious, a hike on your favorite trails.  Last week I saw a whole hillside covered in quartz.

I came across this article today from the Los Angeles Times today reporting on a study published by the Journal of Neurology.  This study is interesting because it not only points out the benefits to your physical body but also memory and congnitive improvements.
 

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Senior Care at Home - Medication Management

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 18, 2010

The average, relatively healthy senior takes 4-5 prescription medications and 2 over-the-counter medications per day.

Those seniors with more complex conditions may take 12-15 medications daily. 

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Care for the Elderly - A Family Dialogue on Driving Safety

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 15, 2010

Today's elders are living longer and have more disposable income.  More and more of them are traveling regularly, many by car.  Unfortunately, statistics show that this group also has one of the highest accident rates.

According to the National Institute on Aging, about 600,000 people 70 and older stop driving each year.  AARP surveys show that a third of older non-drivers complain of feeling isolated from other people, compared to 19 percent of older adults that still drive.

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Private Duty In-Home Care - Is now the time?

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 13, 2010

You may be finding yourself in a state of unceartainty and questioning whether in-home care is appropriate.

Use this checklist to help determine the need for in-home private duty care.  If you find that you or your loved one meets 3, 4 or 5 of these items, it is probably time to look for care in the home.

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Financial Planners: 3 Tips for Working with Seniors

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 11, 2010

When advising senior clients, financial planners need to keep these three factors in mind:

  1. Privately Funded.

    Many senior services are not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.  Most services; personal care/bathing, medication management, meal preparation, transportation, etc. are privately paid for out of pocket.  As your client ages, it is important to anticipate the costs of long term care.

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October 2010

Home Care Basics

posted by Ryan Whittington on October 08, 2010

Home care services fall into five general categories, although some home care agencies may offer multiple services and have more than one service provided by the same person from their agency.

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