Archives for Freedom Home Care

Taking advantage of Medicare – in the here and now

Taking advantage of Medicare – in the here and now

October 4, 2012 | Comments Off on Taking advantage of Medicare – in the here and now

After last night’s presidential debate, it’s clear to see that the future health care of America’s senior population is at a crossroads. Despite the uncertainty, we here at Freedom Home Care have decided to focus today’s blog post on the here and now. adobe acrobat download Although some may see flaws in the current system, there are many benefits for elderly individuals to take advantage of. And cheap flagyl so is especially the case, considering the number of Medicare beneficiaries that able to receive annual flu vaccinations. Medicare is taking concerted efforts to limit the spread of the annual flu
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Four potential home modifications for getting around in a wheelchair

Four potential home modifications for getting around in a wheelchair

October 3, 2012 | Comments Off on Four potential home modifications for getting around in a wheelchair

For many aging individuals living alone, a wheelchair can serve as a safe way to get around the house. Loss of balance and strength are common signs of aging, and therefore, a wheelchair will often become a necessary purchase at some point in time. Unfortunately, bathroom doors are rarely wide enough for a wheelchair or even a walker to pass through. To accommodate the aging loved one’s in our lives, CaregiversHome.com made a few suggestions as to how to offer increased access into narrow passages, specifically for those to the bathroom or bedroom. Here are the four tips from CaregiversHome.com
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Five methods to close the door on Alzheimer's stigma

Five methods to close the door on Alzheimer's stigma

October 2, 2012 | Comments Off on Five methods to close the door on Alzheimer's stigma

Every day major strides are made in the efforts aimed at understanding Alzheimer’s disease. The unfortunate but honest truth, however, is that there is still a myriad of misconceptions surrounding the condition. Because of that confusion, those suffering from Alzheimer’s often feel alienated and misunderstood. Depression often goes hand in hand with the already difficult side effects of Alzheimer’s. But some of those feelings could be alleviated by simply talking about the disease with family members and friends. To help open the lines of communication and close the door to depression, current and former members of the National Alzheimer's Association Early-Stage
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Tips to winterize a home for our aging loved ones

Tips to winterize a home for our aging loved ones

October 1, 2012 | Comments Off on Tips to winterize a home for our aging loved ones

Although fall is just now beginning to show us its true colors, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter weather conditions. And that is especially true when there are aging loved in our lives who are living alone. Living alone during the coldest part of the year can be difficult and even dangerous if the proper preparation isn’t set into motion. According to AgingParentRescue.com, normal everyday tasks become harder for seniors living alone when temperatures drop. Likewise, worries about frozen pipes and the expense to keep the house warm can be incredibly stressful. Therefore, it is imperative to
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Determining the level of care your aging loved one needs

Determining the level of care your aging loved one needs

September 28, 2012 | Comments Off on Determining the level of care your aging loved one needs

When the people closest to us in life begin to show signs of aging, it’s natural to question what that means for their current and future well-being. And when those questions arise, open lines of communication should quickly be established. In an earlier Freedom Home Care blog post, we looked at PBS’s Caring for your Parents web page, which said that “ideally these conversations should happen before there is a crisis.” If an elder's ability to do certain things begins to diminish, it’s important to talk openly and soon, keeping in mind that often, they will be relieved to talk
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How to be at ease with a new in-home caregiver

How to be at ease with a new in-home caregiver

September 27, 2012 | Comments Off on How to be at ease with a new in-home caregiver

Family members will often take on the added responsibility of taking care of an aging loved so as to not bring a caregiver into the home. Often the burden can be too great, but because of apprehension surrounding potential in-home care candidates, family members feel that they do not have any other choice. essay writing By understanding the demographics of the caregiver community, however, and by knowing the high level of standards placed on Freedom Home Care during the hiring process, we hope to diminish some of those uncertainties. As we here at Freedom Home Care have explained in past
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Laughter does the body (and brain) good

Laughter does the body (and brain) good

September 26, 2012 | Comments Off on Laughter does the body (and brain) good

Memory loss is a common side effect of aging. As our bodies (and brains) grow older, it becomes more and more difficult to remember where we put our car keys or when we were supposed to water the plants. In the following video, posted on the official AARP YouTube channel, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and animator Walt Handelsman puts a lighthearted spin on the forgetfulness that most of us will experience later in life. In fact, the old saying “laughter is the best medicine,” actually holds true when it comes to improving our memories. “Unlike emotional responses, which are limited
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Considering a pet for your aging loved one

Considering a pet for your aging loved one

September 24, 2012 | No Comments

In the article “Our Pets, Our Health,” published by the Pet Information Bureau in Washington, D.C., editors explained the mental health benefits that can come from having a cat or dog in the home. And although there is some work associated with keeping a pet, there can be even greater rewards for it. “Many of us occasionally feel alienated from others and some of us, such as the elderly…feel this loneliness even more acutely,” the article explains. “Pets can help bridge this isolation by serving as a social catalyst between young and old.” As more and more aging individuals choose to live
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Five compelling reasons for seniors to use social media

Five compelling reasons for seniors to use social media

September 21, 2012 | No Comments

The number of older individuals taking advantage of social media is growing every day. According to Mashable.com, there are quite a few tech-savvy seniors bucking the trend that Facebook and Twitter are just for the younger generations. In fact, in an article published by Mashable.com, “about 34% of Internet users age 65 and older use sites such as Facebook and Twitter — and 18% of this group do so each day.” And actually, social media can offer a lot of benefits for seniors who find it harder to get out of the house. Thanks to the website Senior Care Corner,
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10 questions to ask your healthcare provider about prescription medication

10 questions to ask your healthcare provider about prescription medication

September 20, 2012 | No Comments

In a recent Freedom Home Care blog, we posted a video from the UCSF’s Memory and Aging Center that covered the importance of understanding the side effects of prescription medication. No matter the drug – be it synthetic or natural – there is always a chance that it will produce an unwanted effect. The possibility for that increases when a patient is taking more than one prescription, considering that those drugs have the potential for interacting with one another. “This does not imply that the drugs are bad, but rather that they should be used carefully in order to reap
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