“Here, let me help you with that.” “Don’t overdo it now!” “Maybe you should sit here and rest; I’ll take care of that.” How often have we made suggestions such of these to older individuals, with the very best of intentions, of course? We want to do what we’re able to help our senior loved ones; to help them stay…
In our last blog post, we shared the positive aspects of utilizing a professional in-home care agency to provide the highest quality and safest level of home care services in the west suburbs of Chicago. But specifically, what types of home care services are available to help older individuals remain safe and thriving at home? If you have decided that…
When you are looking for in home care for elderly loved ones, there are many available possibilities, and deciding where to turn can be overwhelming. For example, should you work with a professional home care agency, a privately hired caregiver, or use a caregiving registry? And how can you figure out which home care option is optimal for your loved…
As you go through the different periods of your life, your stages of independence can take on different meanings. They can be significant stages, such as leaving your parents’ home or getting married, or smaller stages, such as completing tasks you didn’t think you could manage. Then as you age, independence takes on still another form – being able to…
The holiday season is all about enjoying time with family—from the youngest baby to the oldest great-grandfather, and everyone in between! And this season, whether you’re getting together for dinner, a party, or any other group outing, it’s important to be prepared. Consider these holiday ideas for seniors from Chicago’s top-rated in home care provider, Home & Hearth Caregivers, to…
Changing seasons can sometimes bring on changes in how we feel. And while for many of us, the holiday season is a joyful time—the colder temperatures and shorter days can bring on darker feelings as well. The low light that occurs in fall and winter can lead to a type of clinical seasonal depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). During…
It’s the holiday season once again, which means it’s also time for the “holiday reality check.” If you haven’t seen your elderly loved ones in a while, now is a great time to take note of how your senior loved ones are doing. With frenzied schedules or long distances separating families for so much of the year, subtle (or not-so-subtle)…
Dementia confusion, a common occurrence in Alzheimer’s, can result in recent memories being forgotten or distorted, while those from the more remote past often stay intact. This may cause prior times to make more sense to an older adult with dementia than the present. A person’s alternate reality could be his or her way of making sense of the present…
For individuals providing care for a senior displaying dementia signs and symptoms, careful, compassionate management is a must; but potentially the most overwhelming behaviors include suspicions, hallucinations, and illusions that others are out to cause harm. Incorrect impressions such as these manifest typically in the more advanced stages of progressive dementia due to changes within the brain. It’s vital to…
Like they say, there’s no place like home; but what do you do when a senior with dementia insists on going home – when he/she currently IS home? Regrettably, when caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, this is an all too common dilemma. And the confusion and plaintive yearning being expressed are simply…
