Archives for Senior Care

Home Fire Prevention

Every year, more than 1000 seniors die in fires started at home, while 2000 are injured. According to usfa.fema.gov.com, in 2015, incidents with seniors involved in fires were almost 3 times as likely to end in fatality than any other age group in the U.S. And with more older loved ones opting to age-in-place, it’s likely that the number of of fire-related injuries will continue to increase as well. If you have a senior who lives alone or is considering living alone, it’s important that both you and your loved one are familiar with fire safety and are able to
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Elder Care Planning

Elder care planning involves a plan of action that not only involves communicating an older loved one’s choices in their personal, physical and financial matters, but also aids family members, caregivers and advocates in helping them plan the final years of life. Although it may be a difficult conversation to have, the long-term care and comfort of your loved one is something that should be discussed and planned out by everyone involved out well in advance. Because there are so many important topics to cover – from money management, home care agencies and senior assisted living, to retirement income, savings and
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Helping Seniors With Holiday Stress

Filled with lots of love, laughter and special times with family, the holidays are a joyous occasion.  But with holiday shopping, dinners and travels things can sometimes get a little stressful for even the most spirited of individuals. This is especially true for older loved ones. It’s important that your senior takes steps to avert some of the unnecessary pressure that can sometimes be associated with the holidays. Here are some ways Freedom Home Care found that you can help make this season a more enjoyable one for you and your family. Plan Ahead A little bit of planning goes
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How To Help Seniors Cope With Cooler Weather

Anyone is prone to the effects of harsh winter weather, especially the elderly. Hypothermia, frostbite, cold/flu and broken bones are only a few of the health issues associated with exposure to cold. Before your senior loved one ventures out this season, be sure they are properly prepared for the cold weather. Here are a few things Freedom Home Care found that will keep your senior safe and warm as the temperature falls. Help Prevent Hypothermia During cold weather, the body’s temperature could drop below 35 degrees or less leading to hypothermia. Hypothermia can cause both multi-system injury and increased mortality.
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Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Home Health Care Agency

Deciding on a quality home health care agency is important not only for the safety and well-being of your senior but for your peace-of-mind as well. While it might take some planning and a little bit of research to determine which questions to ask, this information can actually help you find the facility that best meets the needs of your loved one. Freedom Home Care did some digging and found some things that might be helpful to know before hiring a home health care agency. Interview the Organizations Experts suggest interviewing the organizations that you’re interested in to get a better idea of
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How to Help a Parent That is Refusing Elder Care

One of the most heartbreaking things that adult children deal with is an aging parent that refuses in-home care. Not only is it heartbreaking, but it can also be the most frustrating. You’ve heard these stories before. Mom claims she doesn’t need help bathing and dressing, even though she struggles to do it herself. Dad doesn’t want anyone driving him to his appointments even though the doctor recommended it. You know your parent needs help, but how do you help a resistant loved one get the personalized elder care that they need? On one hand, you don’t want to force
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How To Care For a Loved One After Surgery

Depending on the procedure, having surgery can be a pretty stressful experience.  As caretakers, we’re often concerned about the things that need to be done in preparation of the surgery, how well the procedure goes and what to expect afterward. The healing process itself can be daunting and one that requires a lot of time and assistance from loved ones to aid in a successful recovery. If you’re a caretaker and your senior has just undergone surgery, here are a few things Freedom Home Care found that you can do to relieve the anxiety of caring for someone during their recovery. Ask the Doctor about the Procedure Every surgery requires
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Ways to Care for Parent or Spouse with Technology

Statistics show that more than 75 percent of the wealth in the United States is controlled by people over 50. The irony in that fact is that according to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of young people aged 18-29 own a smart phone, while 74 percent of people aged 50-64 own one as well as 42 percent of those aged 65 and older. But to be fair, 97 percent of Americans in the 50-65 or older age group and 80 percent of seniors aged 65 and older own a cell phone of some type. This means that although most
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How To Fight Isolation

Senior isolation is increasingly becoming one of the greatest social challenges faced by older Americans. And in 2014, 34 percent of people (or 11 million) aged 65 and older were living alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That number continues to increase, as more and more Americans reach their golden years. This is also the time that more seniors are coping on their own – and those statistics are rising as a growing number of older adults don’t have children to care for them. Here are a few important facts that Freedom Home Care discovered about senior isolation and
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Could Telemedicine Benefit You or Your Loved One?

Telemedicine is quickly becoming the new wave of the future. And for seniors, it’s providing better access to quality healthcare in a more affordable way. If you’re like those of us here at Freedom Home Care, then you probably agree that the health and well-being of our seniors is one of our greatest priorities. Finding solutions that meet the needs of older loved ones is crucial, especially when we can’t be there to care for them. And telemedicine does just that. What is Telemedicine? It’s the practice of using electronic communications to monitor and improve the health of patients. Through the use
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