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Visiting Angels

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At-Home-Care

by Kendall VanBlarcom November 18, 2019

written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Anytime a child must care for their elderly parents it can be stressful for both parties.

Many people are turning to home healthcare to combat this reality. An estimated 12 million people use these services as an alternative to nursing homes. If you are using at home care or are interested in learning more, here are five things you can do to maximize your parent’s experience.

1.) Know Your Limitations

If you are going to provide at-home care for a parent, being honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do is important. Providing for another person in your home is an investment of both time and money. Your utility and grocery bills will increase. Adding things to a house to make it more comfortable for your parent can also get expensive.If your parents need help bathing and getting dressed, determine if you are comfortable helping them. Don’t forget to plan ahead, understanding that needs will change over time.

2.) At Home Care Requires Safety Precautions

Six out of every ten falls happen in the home. Falling can be a serious health concern for seniors, but there are steps which will lessen this risk. Tape down rugs and other floor coverings that pose trip hazards. For an elderly parent with mobility issues, make sure they have a cane or walker handy. Using walls to stay stable when walking is never safe. Install grab bars and rubber mats in showers and by the toilet, and make sure a panic button is accessible. Rooms should be well lit, with switches placed close to the entrance and within reach.

3.) Secure The Home

Seniors are at a higher risk for crime and financial scams than other age groups. Security has to be a top priority for the elderly.
To protect against potential scams, put your parent’s phone on the federal do not call registry. This list blocks their number from telemarketers. Sliding glass doors are a frequent target for burglars. Make sure they are secure by adding a bar that prevents them from sliding open when they are not in use. Use a hidden safe to protect important documents and cash.

4.) Know Who Comes Into the Home

If you are hiring someone to help your elderly parent, make sure you do some homework.
Get information about the company that is sending someone out. If you are hiring an individual, do a full background check and make sure they are first aid certified. Many states have agencies that regulate home care providers. Anyone you hire should be willing to show you their certifications and licenses.

5.) Maintain Their Quality of Life

Find local support groups that cater to the elderly. These groups are a great place to make friends and discuss issues that are important to elders. Many groups encourage physical activity and will go on mini-trips to local places. Mental stimulation becomes essential as the mind ages. Crossword puzzles and other hobbies will help combat boredom and keep the brain focused, especially in the cold winter months.

Get The Support You Need

For over 25 years, I have worked with thousands of clients around the world, consulting with them on ways to improve their quality of life.

Deciding in favor of at-home care can be a life-changing decision. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I have helped families from various backgrounds confront life’s challenges.
Right now, I am offering a special 30-minute introductory session for only $49, with a $10 discount for seniors. This session will help us learn about each other and discuss ways that my services can help you.

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care

November 18, 2019 0 comment

Caregiving

The Care Needs of Older Adults

by Carol Marak May 27, 2019

written by Carol Marak

The older segment living without the support of grown children, a spouse or partner continues to rise. Having few to depend on, other than a handful of friends, in many cases, the population has little to no personal support if and when illness strikes.

Local medical and healthcare organizations are more aware of the segment’s needs and address the older adult’s functional declines to better facilitate maintenance of the aging process. And we need more ways to assess the patient’s lifestyle.

For instance, the medical paperwork asks for marital status, age, illnesses, diseases, and symptoms. What it does not ask, “what is the living arrangement, emotional and financial support system, and if the patient has legal documents in order?”

If they did, I believe more individuals would plan before an emergency. Other insights to capture from older patients:

Who would you call if an emergency or crisis would occur?
Have you fallen in the past six months?
Do you have 3 or more chronic illnesses?
Do you take 5 or more medications?
Have you been hospitalized in the past three months?
Identify Cognitive and Functional Abilities
Do you need help with bathing, dressing, shopping, and paying bills?
Do you feel sad?
Are you lonely?
Do you drive?
Have you had a car accident in the last year?

Post hospital care is another problem. In a Facebook group for those aging alone, many members deal with surgeries and planning for post acute care. It’s a surprise to see the intelligent conversations around such difficult issues. You’d think we were patient advocates, not the actual patients!

Too often this segment goes unnoticed especially by providers and live silently in danger of a medical crisis. I hope to build more awareness for the group who is in need of protection, security, connection and support.

And even if you do have loved ones, who’s to say that they’ll be around when if you need them? Our society has changed so much. Today, family members move around the country taking new jobs or even new lives and experiences abroad, leaving an older parent to fend for herself. The U.S. Census (2010) estimates 27 percent of people 65 and over live alone /directory/#key-senior-statistics. Today, that number reaches closer to 30 percent.

Another significant risk is isolation. If a person lives in the suburbs, they have a higher danger and exposed to risks like poor health, restricted mobility, admission to institutional care, low morale, inadequate rehabilitation, and mental illness.

Moving forward, organizations form like the Transition Network and many more who focus on the dire needs of the aging and alone market.

Are you on Facebook? Like my Page @Carebuzz and join the conversation every Tuesday at 3:00 PM CST.

May 27, 2019 0 comment

Caregiving

Hiring the Right Caregiver

by Kathy Macaraeg May 10, 2019

written by Kathy Macaraeg

Making the decision to hire a caregiver is stressful. Once you decide your aging parent needs outside help, you need to take the next step to find the right person. Whether you are hiring an independent caregiver or going through an agency, you need to be sure that your hired caregiver is a good fit for your family. How do you know if you’ve hired the right person? Hiring the Right Caregiver

I have worked with many families over the years and have met good and bad caregivers. There are certain traits that were common among good caregivers. Hiring the Right Caregiver

Signs You Found the Right Caregiver

Respectful: A good caregiver treats your aging parent with respect and kindness, regardless of your parent’s cognitive ability. He/she looks your parent in the eye, speaks directly to him/her and addresses him/her directly in a respectful, not condescending tone.

Patient and Flexible: Not everything will always go according to schedule. Our caree may be difficult because they are frustrated with their situation. A good caregiver is patient and flexible and understands the challenges of caring for others and allows their caree to go at their own pace.

Able to Empathize: The ability to empathize is an important, yet challenging skill for many. To be able to understand what a client is going through and be able to ease their frustration or discomfort helps your parent let them in and share concerns with them.

Trustworthy: You are not only entrusting this person with your parent’s care, you are letting them into your parent’s home. Knowing you can trust them with both your parent’s life and their valuables is critical. You don’t want to constantly worry about either.

Passionate: Caregiving is not a high-paying job. Even if you are paying more than $30 an hour for a service, the caregiver is likely making minimum wage, or just slightly above minimum wage. There are many jobs that pay the same rate but are easier to do or don’t require the level of commitment that caregiver requires. Make sure your caregiver is in it because they truly care about helping others and not because they like the idea of relatively unsupervised work (particularly if your parent has cognitive decline or communication challenges).

Forward-Thinking: A good caregiver comes up with ideas or addresses potential problems before they arise. They can see changes in your parent’s demeanor or well-being and bring it up immediately, rather than just going through the motions and waiting for your direction.

Thick-Skinned: Even the sweetest, kindest person may be not-so-nice to their caregiver. A good caregiver understands that it isn’t about them and doesn’t take the behavior personally. They understand that the behaviors may be due to not feeling well or frustration over the situation.

Creative: Sometimes, particularly when working with someone with dementia, a caregiver needs to find unique ways to cajole a client into doing important activities of daily living. Additionally, a creative caregiver will find activities to do with a caree outside of sitting them in front of the TV.

Professional: A good caregiver always remains professional, even when dealing with embarrassing issues. They don’t make your aging parent feel shame about a health condition, physical or mental decline or inability to perform activities of daily living.

Organized: A good caregiver is able to manage many tasks in an organized manner. They can keep track of medications, dosage information and scheduling needs of your parent.

Reliable: A good caregiver arrives on time and ready to work. They don’t frequently call in sick, show up late or leave early.

Physically Strong: Caregiving isn’t just about emotions and professionalism. Many caregiving tasks require physical strength. Caregivers need to be able to safely move their clients, assist with bathing, etc. Your parent may not require these tasks immediately, but if their condition declines, your caregiver will need to be able to handle the changes safely.

There are many other signs of a good caregiver, but these 12 characteristics are a good indicator that your caregiver is the right person for the job. Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver

Hiring the Right Caregiver

May 10, 2019 0 comment

Housing Tips

What to Expect Owning a Senior Care Franchise

by Richard Bitner April 13, 2019

written by Richard Bitner

So you’ve decided to purchase a senior care franchise. You’ve done research on home care’s upcoming growth boom, have chosen the franchise you want to be a part of, and you’ve committed yourself to staring a new business. What to Expect Owning a Senior Care Franchise
Now what?
Your first year as a senior care franchise owner promises to be a busy, exciting, and rewarding ride. At Visiting Angels, we’ve guided all of our franchise owners through the same adventure you’re about to take part in. And as the #1 ranked home care franchise in Franchise Business Review’s 2015 franchisee satisfaction survey, we know a thing or two about what it takes to get through those first 12 months.
Here’s what you can expect in year one of owning a senior care franchise.

Franchisee Training

The first thing you should expect is a flood of new information. Any franchise worth its salt budgets plenty of time for training new franchisees. At Visiting Angels, we have an extensive and comprehensive training program for new franchise owners. We cover everything you need to know about home care, and build your skills and knowledge as a new business owner.
This is a time to soak in as much new info as possible, as there is valuable information for franchise owners of all backgrounds. At Visiting Angels, many of our first-time franchisees come to us knowing nothing about home care and with limited business skills, while others have previously worked as care providers or have owned their own businesses.

Getting Set Up

There are plenty of i’s to dot, t’s to cross, and dotted lines to sign before opening your senior care franchise. You’ll need to get licensed and registered, obtain insurance, find office space, install phone lines, and set up the infrastructure of your new business. What to Expect Owning a Senior Care Franchise
Support is valuable during this time, which is why Visiting Angels offers extensive corporate support to new franchise owners. Our corporate staff are experts in the state-to-state requirements for senior care agencies and counsel new franchise owners on how to get their business up and running.

Ready. Set. Go.

Your first week of business will likely be a whirlwind. Ditto your first month. As a new franchise owner, the weeks just before and just after opening are often the busiest stretches of time you’ll spend on your business. Expect to carry most of the workload, as most new franchises are light on additional staffing. What to Expect Owning a Senior Care Franchise
This is another point in the year where strong support from your franchisor is valuable. With limited time and resources, new franchisees often rely on corporate for guidance on whenever new issues come up. Strong corporate support can give you the quick, high-quality answers and resources you need to stay on your feet through the first few weeks.

Growing Your Business

Your second month as a senior care franchise owner will likely be easier than your first, and your third month easier than your second. Soon, you’ll start to get into the swing of things, relying less and less on outside support. Once you’ve found your footing, you can start adding new staff, searching out fresh leads, and growing your business in other ways.

Settling In

Soon enough, you’ll find yourself on stable ground, turning your attention to the details that successful businesses thrive on. By year’s end, you’ll feel like a whole different person – and why wouldn’t you? In twelve, short months you’ll have gone from a prospective entrepreneur to the owner of a full-fledged business in an industry poised for exceptional growth.
Ready to become a senior care franchise owner? Why not take your journey with Visiting Angels? Request information today to find a senior care franchise opportunity near you.
What to Expect Owning a Senior Care Franchise

April 13, 2019 0 comment

Caregiving

Aging Parents: Plan for All Seasons

by Guest Blogger January 3, 2019

written by Guest Blogger

Plan now for where your elders will live as they age. Get their vision for what they want to happen if they need care or accommodations for an illness. Having a plan is the key. It reduces the stress, eases the frustration and makes caregiving easier for all involved. I’ve boiled it down to 3 steps.

Do your elders want to live at their own home as long as they can? Do they have a vision for where they’ll want to be if the time comes when they need care? Does each family member have a role?

First – talk to your elders. Do they want to live in their current home as they age (called aging in place)? Do they want to move to a retirement community where there is a continuum of care (independent living to assisted living to nursing or memory care, if needed)? Do they want to move to be near you or one of your siblings? Do they already have a retirement residence where they want to move?

This first step is critical. Discussing these details with your elders puts everyone on the same page. It brings all the parties who will be a part of their care into the same discussion. You can better accommodate their vision if you know what it is.

Waiting until the first emergency is not a plan. The resulting panic will probably not result in a decision that looks like what it would have if you had developed a plan and executed it.

Second – Based on input from your elders, your siblings and/or other family members, work toward developing a plan that incorporates your elder’s wishes, takes your own needs into consideration and can be accomplished within the budget that your family has.

If they want to age in place, you can help your elders make necessary accommodations to their home or property. Do those things now, before an emergency would make those changes infeasible.

If assets need to be sold to build a budget for care, work on a plan to maximize revenues and minimize the hassle of having to sell immediately because they need the money.

If they want to live with you, near you or near one of your family members, start looking for the right residential fit. If it’s in your home, you can start making any necessary changes now – additions, retrofits for older folks, etc. If it is moving to a retirement or assisted living facility residence, check out what’s available and arrange for a tour. Whatever their choices are, develop a plan, move to the next steps and don’t wait.

If your elder already has a retirement residence, are there any accommodations that might need to be made as they age? If yes, decide when/how those can be cost-effectively made and set a timeline in place. It may not be needed now, but determine at what point the changes would need to be made and stay on track to make them if the need arises.

Third – Know that even the best plans change. Keep an open mind about what might happen if their health changes or they need more care than can be given where they planned to live. Make them aware that you will incorporate their wishes and their vision as much as you can.

Have a positive attitude about this journey. Know it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Laugh as much as you can. Giggle when you find something funny and share that giggle with your elder.

If you know what your elder wants, you can develop a plan that incorporates your needs as well, recognizing that life happens and things change. You will have gone a long way to ease your stress in the caregiving/caretaking role. Frustration arises most often when an emergency happens, no plan is in place and you find yourself in PANIC mode. Making decisions in the PANIC mode produces the MOST stress and the LEAST optimal solutions.

Get out your calendar and set a date with your elders. With the holidays coming up, now is the perfect time to talk to your elders with the whole family there.

Start the conversation.

By Suzanne Asaff Blankenship

Suzanne’s experience with eldercare came the hard way – by doing it. Suzanne has two decades of experience managing her mother’s care as well as sharing the care for her in-laws. After years of sharing stories and receiving requests for advice, Suzanne found she wasn’t alone in her eldercare journey, or in her search for solutions. With her unique approach of organized preparation sprinkled with her tongue-in-cheek humor, Suzanne guides others skillfully through the challenging experience of eldercare.

theeldercarenavigator.com

January 3, 2019 0 comment

Home Improvements Safety & Fall Prevention

How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen

by Richard Bitner September 26, 2018

written by Richard Bitner

The bathroom is typically the most dangerous room in the home for elderly adults, but the kitchen isn’t far behind. Every year, thousands of American seniors suffer injuries in their kitchens. Some of those injuries are minor, like small cuts to fingers, but many of these injuries are serious or life-threatening. As family caregivers, we can help reduce these risks by designing safer kitchens for seniors. How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen
How can you make the kitchen safer for your elderly mom, dad, or grandparent? Here are four key areas where smart kitchen design can reduce the risk of injury to elderly adults and make the kitchen more senior-friendly.

Non-Slip Flooring

One of the biggest injury risks for elderly adults is slippery flooring. Falls are the number one cause of accidental death among elderly adults, and low-traction flooring increases the risk of slips and trips. Unfortunately, many kitchens contain low-traction flooring, such as marble, granite, laminate, and certain types of vinyl and tile flooring. While easy to clean and visually attractive, these styles of flooring significantly increase the chance of accidents and injuries in the kitchen.
Changing floors to a less slippery option will make the kitchen safer for elderly adults, but not everyone has the funds for a costly re-flooring project. In that case, you may want to look for non-slip decals that can be applied to the floors. Another alternative is for family caregivers to buy rubber-soled slippers, indoor shoes, or non-slip socks for your loved one to wear any time they are in the kitchen.

Visibility & Lighting

Poor visibility is another risk factor for falls and accidents in the kitchen. That’s especially true for elderly adults, who suffer from poor eyesight at a higher rate than younger adults. Safe kitchen design for seniors requires family caregivers install adequate lighting to prevent mishaps and injuries.
When assessing lighting in the kitchen, remember to inspect all areas, including nooks, crannies, and out-of-the-way areas. If you’re able to re-light the kitchen, consider recessed lighting, which cuts down on shadows and glare, and under-cabinet lighting, which ensures that all countertop areas are visible.
Beyond lighting, the color scheme of the kitchen can also have an impact on its safety for elderly adults. A high-contrast color scheme is one of the best ways to help seniors with poor eyesight avoid accidents in the kitchen. In particular, having counters that contrast with their surroundings will make navigating the kitchen easier for seniors with vision problems.

Ease of Access

How easy is it for your loved one to access important items in the kitchen? Ideally, your loved one will be able to access everything he or she needs for most meals without having to bend, kneel, or stretch. These actions often put seniors in vulnerable, off-balance positions that increase their risk of falls.
If key items are out of immediate reach, it is a good idea to reorganize the kitchen storage in a way that prioritizes ease of access. Modern cabinet and drawer systems can be installed to make lower items easier to reach. Place the least-used items on higher shelves. These items should only be accessed by step ladder or, if a step ladder is unsafe for your loved one to use on their own, with the help of a family caregiver.

Accident Prevention & Preparedness

A senior-friendly kitchen should be modified to prevent some of the most serious and common actions that occur in kitchens. Family caregivers should also equip kitchens so that when accidents occur, seniors and caregivers can respond as quickly as possible.
Here are a few specific steps family caregivers can take to prevent and prepare for accidents in the kitchen.

Install a quality smoke detector in the kitchen and perform regular testing to ensure that it is functioning properly.
Do not store hazardous materials in any container that could be mistaken for holding something else, particularly by those with poor eyesight.
Inspect all wires to make sure that they are in good condition, away from water, and cannot be tripped over.
Lower the heat setting on the hot water heater to prevent the possibility of scalding or burns by hot water.
Keep a fully stocked, easily accessible first aid kit in the kitchen.
Post emergency numbers next to the phone, including the local numbers for emergency services, family doctors, and poison control.

Family Caregivers & Kitchen Safety

Senior-proofing the kitchen can be a time- and cost-intensive project, but it’s one that’s more than worthwhile when caring for an elderly loved one. But remember that senior safety doesn’t stop with senior-friendly kitchen design. Senior safety in the kitchen also depends on a strong support system from both family and professional caregivers.
Caregivers play a key role in elderly safety in the kitchen. Having a caregiver nearby means that seniors can ask for a helping hand when needed. It also means that if an emergency occurs, someone is there to quickly take action. Perhaps most important, having a caregiver also means that seniors can spend less time in the kitchen to begin with. Caregivers can put groceries away, prepare meals, and perform other kitchen tasks that might put seniors’ safety at risk.
A family member, friend, or care professional can fill the role of a caregiver. If you’re concerned about an elderly loved one’s safety in the kitchen and feel they need a caregiver with them more often, we encourage you to contact your local Visiting Angels® caregiver agency. Your local Visiting Angels office will be more than happy to discuss your options for caregiver services and coordinate a free in-home consultation for your loved one.
How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen
How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen How Family Caregivers Can Design a Senior-Friendly Kitchen

September 26, 2018 0 comment

Caregiving

10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers

by Richard Bitner September 19, 2018

written by Richard Bitner

Providing dementia care for a family member is rarely easy. But it gets easier if you regularly remind yourself about positive aspects of caregiving. The following eleven mantras for dementia care providers offer needed perspective to family caregivers and professional care providers alike. 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers

“I Am Creating Positive Change.”

Caregivers sometimes feel like nothing they do is really making a difference. During tough moments, it can be hard to see the positive impact that you’re having on your loved one’s life. It pays to remind yourself how much tougher those moments could be without your presence.

“Quality of Lifeand Quality of CognitionAren’t the Same Thing.”

When a loved one starts to lose their cognitive abilities to dementia, it can be easy to confuse this with a loss of quality of life. While the two are linked, it is still possible to live a happy, comfortable, and meaningful life in the face of a dementia diagnosis. As a caregiver, it’s important not to lose sight of this distinction.

“My Loved One Needs Affirmation, Not Correction.”

Even experienced caregivers can sometimes fall for the trap of trying to correct or argue with someone suffering from dementia. When your loved one is confused, remind yourself that trying to correct them will only make things more confusing. By affirming their experience — even if it’s mistaken — you will help them feel more comfortable, at ease, and secure.

“Caregiving Missteps Are Learning Opportunities.”

No one has ever provided care for a loved one without making missteps along the way, especially when caring for someone with an illness as complicated as dementia. Remember that mistakes almost always present an opportunity to learn and become a better caregiver.

“There’s Nothing Wrong with Asking for Help.”

Caregivers often take the weight of the world onto their shoulders, feeling like it’s their responsibility to bear the burden. At a certain point, we all need to recognize that we need help from others. That might be from family. It might be from friends. It might be from professional dementia careproviders. No matter who it’s from, it’s crucial that you allow yourself to ask for help when it’s needed.

“Self-Care Is an Essential Part of Caregiving.”

As a caregiver, any moment you spend on your own well-being can feel like an indulgence. “How can I be focused on myself when my loved one’s care needs are so much greater than my own?” But without taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to adequately care for your loved one. And remember: caregiving isn’t supposed to be a case of trading your quality of life for your loved one’s.

“There’s Always Something New for Me to Learn.”

The learning curve never truly ends when you’re providing dementia care for a loved one. Whether you’re learning from other caregivers at a local support group, acquiring information from medical professionals, or taking part in an online community like The Caregiver’s Voice, there are always new perspectives and new information for you to learn.

“Routine and Structure Shouldn’t Be Taken for Granted.”

Routine, structure, and familiarity can be crucial to those coping with dementia. Familiar surroundings offer comfort and security, helping those with dementia manage moments of stress and anxiety. Caregiver’s shouldn’t underrate how important a familiar routine can be to their own lives. Creating a stable routine gives you much less to worry about, allowing you to focus on care responsibilities.

“There’s No Such Thing as The Perfect Caregiver.”

When a loved one’s well-being is in your hands, it’s easy to expect perfection from yourself. But there’s no such thing as the perfect caregiver, and caring for someone with a memory disorder will put you in situations where there’s no perfect solution.

“I’m Not Alone.”

Memory disorders create confusion and disorientation for those with dementia and their caregivers. When caring for a loved one with dementia, it’s common to feel lost and alone. But there are millions of people who are in your shoes or who have walked miles in them at some point in their lives.
10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers
10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers 10 Mantras for Dementia Care Providers

September 19, 2018 0 comment

Vision

How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment

by Richard Bitner September 12, 2018

written by Richard Bitner

Poor eyesight is a serious health concern for American seniors. Roughly one in three seniors copes with some form of vision loss or vision impairment. Poor vision is linked with lower quality of life, poor self-care, and increased risk of injury and poor health. One study from 2014 found that, over an eight year period, seniors with poor vision faced a 16% higher risk of mortality compared to those without vision problems. How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment
One way to fight back against elderly vision impairment is through home care services. While home care services can’t restore vision, they can help seniors with poor eyesight in a number of other ways. With home care, seniors with vision loss receive the personal support they need to maintain quality of life and reduce their risk of injury, poor health, and mortality.

Home Care and Poor Eyesight

Vision loss may be linked with lower quality of life and poor health, but these aren’t direct links. There’s almost always something in between.
For instance, seniors with poor vision are more likely to suffer injuries. This isn’t because poor vision causes injuries. Instead, it causes seniors to misjudge their surroundings, which increases the risk of slipping, tripping, or coming in contact with harmful objects. In these situations, it isn’t necessary to correct vision problems to reduce the risk of injury. If someone is there to lend a helping hand and a second set of eyes, it can dramatically reduce the chance of injury.
If a spouse or family member can’t always be there, a home care professional can step in to help seniors with vision problems. Through the support of a home care professional, seniors with poor eyesight can benefit in a number of areas. These include:

Social Life. Researchers have found that seniors with poor vision report lower levels of social activity and higher levels of loneliness. A home care professional can make it easier for vision-impaired seniors to get out and meet friends and family. Even if seniors prefer to stay at home, a caregiver can provide them with much-needed person-to-person contact.
Self-Care.Poor vision makes mundane tasks more difficult than many people realize. These difficulties often lead seniors with limited eyesight to give up on aspects of self-care. Home care services ensure that someone is there to help perform these tasks, which may include activities like dressing, grooming, day-to-day hygiene, and preparing complete meals.
Homemaking activities, as with self-care activities, become more difficult as vision degenerates. Seniors with poor eyesight who struggle with homemaking can benefit from a caregiver’s help with activities like buying groceries, light housekeeping, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
Many seniors give up their favorite pastimes as they lose their vision. A caregiver is the perfect partner for hobbies like card games, gardening, model making, or bird watching, providing a companion and a second set of eyes to make these activities enjoyable once more.
Accident Prevention.Accident prevention is the most important thing home care can offer to seniors with vision problems. A caregiver’s presence means someone is there to spot dangers that visually impaired seniors can’t, such as slipping or tripping risks on floors, sharp or hot objects, and household chemicals and medications with hard-to-read labels.

If you have a loved one with vision loss or impairment, you should be able to find home care services through a home care agency in your local area. To find home care services near you, we invite you to contact your local Visiting Angels® office

How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment

How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment How Home Care Helps Seniors with Vision Loss or Impairment

September 12, 2018 0 comment

Caregiving

How to Handle Caregiving Related Jealousy

by Richard Bitner September 5, 2018

written by Richard Bitner

Caregiving can be an emotional situation, one that leads to unexpected feelings and conflicts. One of the more the common feelings felt in caregiving situations is jealousy. How to Handle Caregiving Related Jealousy
Feelings of jealousy are rarely expected by families who are starting out with caregiving. But anyone who’s seen the way caregiving relationships develop will understand how these feelings happen. Whether care is provided by a family member, a professional caregiver, or a combination of both, caregivers are often the targets of jealousy.
At Visiting Angels®, feelings of jealousy are something we commonly deal with in caregiving situations. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up over the years on how to handle caregiving-related jealousy.

Questions to Ask About Caregiver-Related Jealousy

Jealousy toward caregivers can occur in a number of different ways, and the best way to address feelings of jealousy will depend on the specific situation. Key factors include who is providing care, where jealous feelings are coming from, and the severity of the situation.
Who’s Providing Care?When a caregiver is the target of jealous feelings, who’s providing care makes a big difference. If a family member is providing care, existing family dynamics will need to be considered when addressing feelings of jealousy. If care is provided by a professional caregiver, the lack of pre-existing dynamics could make it easier to resolve feelings of jealousy or — if necessary — bring in a new caregiver.
Who’s Feeling Jealous?Jealousy toward caregivers can come from different people, and sometimes comes from multiple people at once. Usually, jealous feelings are coming from someone in one of the following categories:

The Care Recipient.Sometimes, the person receiving care can become possessive of their relationship with their caregiver. They may feel jealous that the caregiver is spending time with other clients, their own family, or taking care of themselves.
The Recipient’s Spouse.Some of the most powerful feelings of jealousy come from spouses of people receiving care services. Spouses start to feel neglected or unwanted as their partner is cared for by someone else.
The Recipient’s Children.Care recipients’ children sometimes experience feelings of jealousy similar to those felt by spouses. They may feel that a family caregiver has become favored by the person being cared for, or they may feel like a professional caregiver has replaced them in their role of supporting their parent.

How Severe Is the Situation?How you approach feelings of jealousy in a caregiving situation will depend on how severe those feelings are. The more jealous a person is, the more sensitive you may need to be in handling the situation. You may also need to take mental and cognitive health factors into account. Cognitive decline and mental health challenges can make it difficult to address these situations directly. In such cases, it is better to manage and accommodate jealous feelings rather than tackle them head on.

Addressing Jealousy Toward Caregivers

“Anytime you’re trying to address feelings of jealousy, it’s important to be sensitive to everyone’s feelings,” says Larry Meigs, CEO and President of Visiting Angels and a twenty-year veteran of the caregiving industry. “Emotions run high in these discussions. So, a confrontational approach is rarely constructive.”
Larry says that when feelings of jealousy are coming from a care recipient, it is often important to help the person receiving care see things from the caregiver’s perspective. “Sometimes, seniors don’t realize the expectations they’re placing on caregivers and how those expectations impact caregivers’ lives. It’s easy for jealous feelings to crop up without thinking through why a caregiver might need to spend time with other people.”
In cases where jealousy is coming from a spouse or another family member, Larry suggests framing the discussion around what’s best for the person receiving care. “Ultimately, we all want what’s best for our loved ones. So, if you can help someone see that their loved one needs their caregiver to age happily and comfortably, that can help defuse jealousy feelings.”
If feelings of jealousy can’t be resolved, Larry says that a change of caregivers may be necessary. “Home care agencies know that a change of caregiver can sometimes be positive,” he says. “That might mean bringing in a professional caregiver so that a family member is no longer the target of jealousy. Or it might mean changing your loved one’s home care professional.”
At Visiting Angels, our Select Your Caregiver® program has helped families find the right caregiver for their loved ones. By focusing on both the physical and emotional needs of clients, this program has made it easier for seniors to find a care provider that they — and their family members — are comfortable with.
If you’re currently looking for a caregiver for your loved one, we invite you to learn more about our Select Your Caregiver program onlineor to contact your local Visiting Angels office.
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September 5, 2018 0 comment

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