The National Council on Aging is a great resource for older individuals as well as for the people who take care of them. Therefore, we here at Freedom Home Care tend to visit the NCOA’s website with a fair amount of frequency. When we stumbled on the article, “Debunking the Myths of Older Adult Falls,” we knew we had to share it with the regular visitors of our blogs. We hope you find it to be as enlightening as we did: Myth 1: Falling happens to other people, not to me. Reality: Many people think, “It won't happen to me.” But
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Archives for caregiver chicago
Celebrating Chicago’s North Shore communities
More than 150 years ago, Europeans settled in what are now known as Chicago’s North Shore communities. After an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans, the area was free for the picking. Towns like Evanston rose up once Northwestern University opened its doors in 1855 and even more emerged upon the founding of Lake Forest College two years later. After the devastation of the Great Chicago Fire, city dwellers escaped to its quiet neighborhoods, building mansions and beautiful homes that still line the streets today. Ever since, the tight-knit communities have welcomed even more residents to raise families and open
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Feel comfortable and confident with your loved one's caregiver
When your loved one opens his or her home to a new caregiver, the No. 1 hope is for that individual to become not only an aid but a friend, as well. A recent study, however, revealed that hiring a caregiver can open up the unfortunate opportunity to a host of concerns. The study, recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and funded by the National Institute on Aging, revealed poor hiring and screening practices by home-care agencies around the nation. According to an article published by NextAvenue.com, which summarized the study’s findings, including the responses of 180
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Competing in the 2012 Olympic Games at age 71
Hiroshi Hoketsu of Japan, pictured here, is 71 years old and is, believe it or not, competing at the 2012 London Olympics in the individual dressage for Japan's equestrian team. According to an article recently published by the Huffington Post, Hoketsu isn’t just the oldest athlete to compete at London 2012; he's the oldest one to do so in the last 92 years. As we have come to understand, staying active at a later age in life is not just important; it is imperative. And physical activity isn’t just good for aging individuals; it’s good for people of all ages. Simple
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Three straightfoward questions to ask a potential caregiver
When it comes to choosing a caregiver for your aging loved one, there are a lot of options. And we here at Freedom Home Care understand that it is not an easy decision to make. Therefore, to make the transition easier, we offer free in-home consultations in order for you to learn more about our services and to do so face to face. During the meeting – or while interviewing any potential caregiver – it’s important to ask the right questions. TodaysSeniors.com, a website dedicated to providing tips, news and advice plus reverse mortgage and Medicare tools for seniors and
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Getting assistance for your aging loved one
At some point in time all children will be faced with the realization that their parents are getting old – and perhaps too old to care of themselves on their own. Before that day comes, it’s worthwhile to prepare. And thankfully, there are many outlets to take advantage of so that you don’t have to go it alone. These 10 programs (compiled by AgingCare.com) can offer so much and really require so little. All it usually takes is filling out an online application. So before you become overwhelmed with the financial and mental obligations that come with helping to care
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FHC finds value in Illinois' Continuity of Care organization
With locations in Oak Brook, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Highland Park, Hinsdale and Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, Freedom Home Care has a strong foothold in the Chicagoland area. The vast coverage was set in place to deliver the very best care possible for patients. Memberships in the Chicago, Northwest and Lake/McHenry chapters of Continuity of Care further supports that initiative. According to Continuity of Care, an Illinois healthcare association, “What makes the membership essential is the group’s ability to enhance the concept of continuity of care as both an essential part of the health care continuum and as integral to total patient
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Tips for long-distance Alzheimer's caregiving
For many adult children whose aging parents are not living in the same city or even in the same state, the well being of their loved one can be a stressful topic. And this is especially true when a parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Knowing that a parent is so far away but not knowing about their current condition – mental or physical – can be more than troubling. In the Chicagoland area, however, there are multiple Freedom Home Care facilities with caregivers at quick disposal to a patient. With locations in Hinsdale, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Oak Brook
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Establishing a prescription drug main brain
In the following video, two doctors, Dr. Andrew Duxbury, professor of clinical geriatrics at the University of Alabama, as well as Dr. Barbara Paris of New York, who specializes in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, discuss the importance of monitoring prescription medication. “One of the concepts that I use with older adults in terms of medication is the one that I call the Main Brain,” Dr. Duxbury explains. “And that is that they have one physician, nurse practitioner or health care provider whom they trust who becomes the keeper of their medication list so that no matter where the buy
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Reminding patients that there's no place like home
When a person hears the terms home health care, in-home care or home health aide services, often times the first thing that comes to mind is caring for the elderly. This, however, is a bit of a misnomer, considering that home health care can run the gamut – from post-surgery care to speech therapy. “Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home,” Medicare.gov explains. “Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.” Just as it
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