Can Dementia Come and Go? That is often something that goes through a lot of people’s minds when they are dealing with or have a family member diagnosed with dementia. At Freedom Home Care, your home care agency, we have asked some experts and are here to share what they have to say about dementia coming and going. One morning your loved one is lost and not sure who you are greeting them. The next morning they greet you with a smile and are enjoying the daily newspaper. Could it be that their dementia has gone away and they
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Archives for Chicago In-Home Care
Celebrating the Family Caregiver
Caregivers are a vital member of our community and perhaps more personal- your family. At Freedom Home Care we know just how much time they spend with your loved one and how much effort they put into developing a relationship with a family. Caregivers come from all over and serve a purpose in a variety of roles. Some of these roles may be an advocate, nurse, consoler, helper, chef, companion, safety guard, merrymaker, and steward. Each role unique and important, they all require different strengths and skills that should be celebrated and appreciated. Our caregivers are constantly reading
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Old Timer, Seniors, Elderly Person, What Else?
Figuring out what to call someone who is higher on the age scale is not as simple as it may sound. If you call someone in their late fifties “elder” they will be offended, and you will probably be getting some mean looks. So how do you go about it? Find out here at Freedom Home Care. This topic is getting more challenging each day because more and more people are living longer than ever before. People feel more youthful longer because of this and those over the age of fifty don’t look at age the same as some
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St. Patrick’s Day Traditions Sure to Bring You Luck
Has your luck run short? No worries, you don’t have to be Irish to get luck on St. Patrick’s Day! Follow these 6 classic traditions and get good fortune on the 17th from your friends here at Freedom Home Care. Some of these might come to you as a surprise, so read all below: One: “Drowning the Shamrock” Legend has it if you drown a shamrock it is considered a token of good fortune to come. Dating back centuries in Ireland, they used to dunk a shamrock in a glass of whiskey. They would drink the whiskey and throw
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5 Books on Caring for Aging Parents and Grandparents
The National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP estimated that about 34.2 million Americans have provided care to an adult 50 or older. The Alzheimer’s Association found that approximately 15.7 million adult family caregivers have cared for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. Caring for aging parents, grandparents, family or friends is becoming a common experience. Many of us find reading stories from other caregivers helpful to understand and prepare for care-giving duties. Below are a couple books that depict the challenges of caring for seniors. “The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias,
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American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month. This month gives us all the chance to focus on heart health and the steps we can take to make our heart function better. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States. One in four deaths are caused by heart disease. However, this is a disease that can be prevented when people make healthy lifestyle decisions. February is American Heart Month, so we are helping to get out the word and help people make some lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease. How Can You Prevent Heart Disease? There are
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A Good Breakfast for Senior Citizens
Are you running out of breakfast ideas for your loved ones to stay healthy and have energy throughout the day? Starting out the day with a nutritious and healthy breakfast might help prevent health conditions for your loved one. Luckily for you, we at Freedom Home Care, your home care agency, have some ideas for you! When asking around, we found that the most difficult part about eating healthy, especially for elders, is all the planning that goes into it. Our first tip for you is to plan out what your loved one is going to eat for the
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How to Stimulate Someone Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
As a home care agency we know that having a loved one suffer from Alzheimer’s disease is not easy. This progressive disease eventually begins to wear down your body’s senses, and you then need something known as sensory stimulation to help maintain those functions. By doing so, you will notice a way to improve a loved one’s life without the use of medication. You are in luck! We at Freedom Home Care have found some great activities that’ll help your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia stay engaged and positively benefit them. Try any of these activities
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Medication Reminders for Your Loved Ones
We all know that making sure you take all your medication at the right time can be hard. The more medication you have to take, it makes it even more of a challenge. Luckily, we at Freedom Home Care have a few tips to help simplify the process and ensure your loved ones are taken care of. Tip number one, set alarms for medication. There are a ton of multi-function alarm clocks that you can use to remind yourself when it is time to take your medicine. Some are even made for that exact reason like the Med-Q Digital
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Fall Risk Assessment Tools: What’s Your Risk
Older adults are at an increased risk of falling. With thousands of documented cases of geriatric falls every year, it is imperative that older adults and their loved ones utilize fall risk assessment tools to stay healthy and safe. Falling results in minor or fatal injuries, so it is crucial to have a solid understanding of the different fall risk assessment tools. These tools are readily available for the public to use to evaluate how much of a risk a loved one is at for a fall. Below details three of these necessary tools. Morse Fall Risk Assessment Tool
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