Home Care Services That Fit Your Needs

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118. Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

Each client’s care needs are unique. Providing effective care in different circumstances demands different caregiver experience, skills, training, and even personality characteristics. We tailor our services to match the right caregiver to the situation.

General Care & Living Assistance

Our caregivers provide assistance for the “activities of daily living” (sometimes known as ADLs). Assistance with these types of needs gives family members the ability to spend quality time with loved ones when they are together. Activities of daily living include:

• Personal care – bathing, grooming, dressing, meal-time assistance, medication reminders, toileting and incontinence care.
• Companionship and recreation – attending events, visits with friends, lunch and dinner outings, shopping and exploring hobbies and interests.
• Transportation and mobility – attending doctor’s appointments, errands to grocery, drug or other stores, light exercise and walking outdoors.
• Household tasks – light cleaning, changing of linens and making of beds, assistance with pets, and laundry.

24-Hour, Live-In Assistance

For our clients whose circumstances require 24-hour, live-in care, we typically provide our most experienced caregivers. There are two different options for live-in care.

• The first option is the most common whereby a caregiver spends 24-hours in your household with a full 8 hour overnight sleeping break and intermittent breaks throughout the day. The caregiver is available on an emergency basis during their sleeping break.
• The second option provides “awake and alert” care around the clock whereby a caregiver is available at all hours (with the exception of standard breaks). This care is typically handled in shifts of two (sometimes three) caregivers for clients that need frequent and constant attention throughout all hours of the day.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia requires a special understanding of these diseases to ensure safe and effective care. Our caregivers have Alzheimer’s and dementia care experience and training to ensure their preparation for the demands these circumstances place on both the individual receiving care and their family. 5 Star Home Care follows guidelines set forth by the Alzheimer’s Association and creates a Plan of Care that incorporates their training and recommendations for care.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease robs an otherwise healthy individual of the motor skills to perform their normal activities of daily living. Our care focuses on helping our clients maintain as much independence as possible in their normal daily routines by assisting with these tasks. Maximizing mobility and mental stimulation assists in keeping one’s quality of life intact to the greatest extent possible given the limits of the disease’s progression. If desired, our caregivers can work with client’s physical or occupational therapists to facilitate the exercises and movement that improves overall well being. Of equal importance, respite care for a family caregiver can restore energy with the rest required to meet the mental and physical challenges caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s.

Post Hospitalization/Surgery Recovery

It’s very common for seniors to have challenges with the activities of daily living that stem from surgery or other hospital stays. Many times these clients are used to taking care of themselves and view caregiving as an intrusion into their private lives. Our caregivers understand these frustrations and work diligently to provide the right care that maintains a client’s independence and mobility, while respecting their privacy and need for control over their environment. Assistance with meal preparation, bathing, grooming and transportation to frequent doctor visits helps ensure a speedy recovery to a more normal life after surgery.

Hospice-Related Care

Our clients often need to supplement the hospice care covered by Medicare Medicaid with care from 5 Star Home Care in the remaining months of a loved one’s life. This more frequent care which can be performed on an hourly or 24-hour basis if necessary, provides family members with the comfort of knowing someone is present at all times with their loved one.

In Home Elder Care Services

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118. Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

5 STAR HOME CARE provides full-service, private duty home care assistance. We also provide one-on-one assistance to our clients who find themselves in a hospital or other care facility. As a non-medical service, we do not administer medications, but we can remind our clients to take them. In case of emergency, all staff and caregivers are trained in the most up-to-date CPR techniques, and most of our staff are Certified Nursing Assistants.

Caregiver & Home Helper Services

• 4 hours to 24 hours/Live-in assistance & companionship
• Meal preparation & clean-up
• Monitoring & assistance with diet & eating
• Light housekeeping/Home maintenance
• Laundry and ironing
• Shopping & errands
• Maintain calendar
• Escort to appointments
• Bathing and/or stand-by assistance with bathing
• Daily reminders including medication
• Personal grooming, dressing
• Toileting assistance/Incontinence Care
• Exercise assistance, mobility
• Reading & letter writing
• Games, cards & crafts for mental stimulation
• Pet care assistance
• Outings & trips, assistance with visits/visitors
• Incidental transportation
• Evening tuck-in
• Alzheimer’s care needs

The difference between Alzheimer’s and typical age-related changes

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

Signs of Alzheimer’s	Typical age-related changes
Poor judgment and decision making	Making a bad decision once in a while
Inability to manage a budget	Missing a monthly payment
Losing track of the date or the season	Forgetting which day it is and remembering later
Difficulty having a conversation	Sometimes forgetting which word to use
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them	Losing things from time to time

Home Care Options for Your Loved One

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118. Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.  The best way to make the most of our older years is to take control before we become frail or sick. Most older men and women want to “age” in their own homes as long as they can physically and financially care for themselves. A fall or other injury can make an older person more dependent and vulnerable to fraud and abuse. With that in mind, it is of utmost importance to learn as much as possible about both safety and security.Remember, over the course of the year there may be many different repairmen, home deliveries, or home care workers who will have unsupervised access to the home. Minimizing temptation and opportunity can reduce the risk for theft and abuse. The following six steps, combined with frequent visits by family and friends, can help to protect elders, especially those who are homebound: Prepare the Home The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that each year in the United States one in three people older than age 65 suffers a significant fall. Fortunately, many falls and injuries can be prevented when a meaningful effort is made to create a safe environment. A fall can cause serious injury and may push an older patient to a chronic, or even permanent, need for a higher level of care. For example, half the elderly patients hospitalized for hip fracture cannot return home or live independently after the fracture. There are many ways to increase the safety and security of our homes. Some are as simple as installing brighter lights in the home to compensate for failing eyesight, or providing night lights to mark a clear path to the bathroom at night. Others include installing smoke detectors throughout the home, especially in the kitchen. Installing a burglar alarm system can add to the safety of an elder, especially if the system includes a medical alert feature which can be activated with a remote. Portable and cellular phones facilitate emergency calls, not to mention making it easier for the older person to keep in touch with family and friends. Install Medical Equipment Any medical equipment that helps maintain independence is helpful. Walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids, eyeglasses and hospital beds are examples. The more active and alert you are, the more protected you are from the risk of abuse or fraud. Screen Potential Home Care Workers There are many certified home care agencies that provide home care service. Screen all applicants with a prepared telephone interview in which you ask for specific information such as licensing, experience and references, and require that an employment application be filled out and submitted. Do not give your address or any other personal information until you have verified the information gathered in the telephone interview. For the most part, checking a reference or license is not a complicated procedure; however, you must do your homework. Take Advantage of Respite Care Many family caregivers devote themselves so fully to their chronically ill spouse or parent that they neglect their own needs. It is important to take time off from the rigors of caring for a family member. Respite care for caregivers is available from visiting nurses, home health aides and other professional home care workers, as well as such sources as senior centers, meals-on-wheels and adult day care centers. The stress relief provided by respite services helps both caregivers and patients. An exhausted caregiver can only provide limited care. Involve Family and Friends When all other precautions have been taken and a home health care regimen is established, make frequent, unscheduled visits, positioning the home health care worker as part of a support team.

The Importance of Planning for Long Term Care

 

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

No one wants to think about a time when they might need long-term care. So planning ahead for this possibility often gets put off. Most people first learn about long-term care when they or a loved one need care. Then their options are often limited by lack of information, the immediate need for services, and insufficient resources to pay for preferred services. Planning ahead allows you to have more control over your future.

Planning ahead for long-term care is important because there is a good chance you will need some long-term care services if you live beyond the age of 65. About 70 percent of people over age 65 require some services, and the likelihood of needing care increases as you age.

Planning ahead helps you understand what service options are available in your community, what special conditions may apply for receiving services, for example, age or other eligibility criteria, what services cost, and what payment options – public and private – apply. Having this information helps ensure you will have a range of options when you need long-term care, and makes it more likely that you will have more choice and control over where and how you receive services.

Planning ahead is important because the cost of long-term care services often exceeds what the average person can pay from income and other resources. By planning ahead, you may be able to save your assets and income for uses other than long-term care, including preserving the quality of life for your spouse or other loved ones. With planning, there is a greater likelihood of being able to leave an estate to your heirs, because you are less likely to use up your financial resources paying for care.

Planning ahead also means less emotional and financial stress on you and your family. It can provide a way to involve your family in decisions without depending on them to bear the entire burden alone.

Finally, for many people, one of the most important advantages of planning ahead is to ensure greater independence should you need care. Your choices for receiving care outside of a facility and being able to stay at home or receive services in the community for as long as possible are greater if you have planned ahead.

Tips For Families Dealing With Dementia

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

Dementia is a multi-faceted disease, which involves a variety of behavior changes within those inflicted with the disease. No cure exists currently and depending on the stage the dementia patient is in thinking can be greatly affected.

Step 1

1. Learn all you can about dementia, once a firm diagnosis has been made. Secure a power of attorney. A trustworthy family member should have access to all bank accounts and legal information, so get a power of attorney as soon after diagnosis is made. Allow dementia patients to live on their own since they can care for their own needs. However, this is a quick progressing disease and these patients should not be alone for extended periods because no one can predicts that rate of cognitive impairment.
2. Step 2

   Check in on the dementia patient daily if he or she does not live with you or have a trusted neighbor check this person. If there is, a spouse or close neighbor to help watch over the patient it should be okay, but if that person lives alone, make an excuse to visit everyday for as needed.

3. Step 3

   Watch for those dangerous points, which are red flags that this person has regressed to the point when they are no longer able to stay alone. These include not eating properly, taking too many medicines, not remembering simple stuff, like the day, as well as any odd behaviors which are not usual to that person.

4. Step 4

   Prepare the dementia patient to have a say in where they live if possible. Allow them to make their own choices as they are able, but at the point when they are unable to make simple decisions then a family member needs to step in.

5. Step 5

   Move the dementia patient in your home or a nursing home when they can no longer live on his or her own. Perhaps they will resist, talk with their doctor, and go to court to gain custody if needed. Safety is very important and if their cognitive thinking and reason skills are damaged by the progress of the disease to the extent that they have become unable to care for them it is up to us as family members to step in and help.

Tips on Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s Disease

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118. Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

People with Alzheimer’s disease have special needs and offer special challenges to those who care for them. Alzheimer’s Disease often forces a family to restructure their lives. While each person is different, the following list offers some tips to make everyday living a little more manageable.

Home Safety

As the person’s symptoms worsen, even common household items and furnishings can become dangerous.

• Get rid of the “clutter” around the house, such as piles of papers, throw rugs etc. Also, furniture should be simple and clear pathways should be established.
• Put locks or install child-proof latches on any cabinets that contain potentially harmful items such as guns, liquor, matches, household cleaners, medicines, knives, etc.
• Install handrails throughout the house, especially around the bathtub and toilet, since coordination and balance may deteriorate.
• If the person you are caring for wanders, put locks on doors leading outside. Also, place an identification tag in the person’s wallet or purse or on a necklace in case he or she does wander off and become lost.
• Remove the door locks that are operated from the inside– as in bedrooms and bathrooms– so that the person will not lock himself or herself in.

Eating

Eating sometimes can become difficult for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. He or she might forget to eat, or forget that he or she has already eaten. For instance, sometimes people forget what to eat and consume a bag of candy for lunch.

• Make eating easier by having ready-to-eat food (sandwiches, soup) or by enlisting the help of a meal-delivery service, like Meals on Wheels.
• If the person you are caring for constantly eats, have some low-calorie foods around such as carrots, celery, crackers, or butter-less popcorn. Then if he or she wants to eat, these low-calorie, healthy snacks can be given without much hassle.
• If the person you are caring for does not eat, do the opposite and provide high-calorie snacks such as a milkshake, cheese and crackers, or a diet-supplement shake.

Personal Hygiene

Even something that we take for granted, such as personal hygiene, may become a chore for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Allow the person to continue his or her personal hygiene routine as much as possible. For example, if he or she brushes his or her teeth before bathing, encourage the continuation of this process. Routines can make the person with Alzheimer’s disease more secure less confused about the process.
• If showering or bathing becomes too difficult, then sponge baths will work just as well. Also, the person does not need to be bathed daily; three to four times a week is fine.
• Bathing is a private activity. Allow the person as independence as possible–however, do not leave him or her unattended. A shower chair, available through medical supply companies, may allow the person to bathe privately while keeping them out of danger.
• To facilitate dressing, lay out the person’s clothes in the order of how they go on. Use comfortable, easily manageable clothing such as sweatpants and button-less tops so that the person may be able to dress independently.

Sleep

Alzheimer’s disease often throws off a person’s “internal clock” thus causing restlessness at night. There are certain things you can do to help make their nights calmer. Do what you can to help maintain a regular schedule and reduce frustration when such confusion occurs.

• Scheduling is often the key to producing positive results in the person’s behavior. Schedule a time for naps and a time for bed and stick with the routine.
• To help calm the person down before bedtime, do a sedate activity such as reading, doing a puzzle, listen to calming music. Even getting the person into his or her bed clothes may help the calming process.
• Make sure the person has gone to the bathroom before going to bed.

Advice for Caregivers

Caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another illness involving dementia can be very difficult, time-consuming, and stressful. Here are some more things a caregiver can do to help the person with Alzheimer’s disease while also reducing the substantial burden that comes with caregiving:

• Stay Informed – Knowledge equals power. The more you know about Alzheimer’s disease or any other dementing disease, the better you can prepare yourself to deal with problems that may arise.
• Share concerns with the person – A person who is mildly to moderately impaired can assist in his/her own care. Memory aides and other strategies can be created by the person with dementia and the caregiver together.
• Solve problems one at a time – A multitude of problems may occur that may seem insurmountable at the time. Work on one specific problem at a time — you do not have to solve every problem all at once.
• Use your imagination – One of the keys to handling this disease is your ability to adapt. If something can’t be done one way, try another. For example, if the person only uses his or her fingers for eating, do not keep fighting; just serve as many finger foods as possible!
• Establish an environment that encourages freedom and activity within limits Try to create a stable, balanced schedule for meals, medication, etc. but also encourage activities that the patient can handle such as taking a walk or visiting an old friend. Remember, the person with AD is not the only one whose needs must be taken into consideration. You as a caregiver have needs and desires that must also be met. First, try and find some time for yourself. Even though this suggestion may seem like an impossibility, find some time during the week where you can have someone else watch the patient — be it a relative, friend, or neighbor — and do something for yourself.
• Avoid social isolation – Keep up contacts with friends and relatives. Its easy to get burned out when it seems like you have no one to turn to. Another way to establish contacts is by joining the Alzheimer’s Association or other such support groups. Talking with other families who share many of the very same problems can be reassuring as it helps you know you are not alone in your round-the-clock struggles.

Could It Be Alzheimer’s? 10 Early Signs

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

It’s normal to every once in a while forget a phone number, the day of the week, or what you just came in to a room to do. Memory changes, confusion, and disorientation associated with Alzheimer’s, however, grow progressively worse over time. The early-stage warning signs may develop gradually and go unnoticed, or, in many cases, they’re initially mistaken for the normal aging process.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s is the 11th leading cause of death for adults age 65 and older. While the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still uncertain, researchers agree that the risk of developing the condition increases as a person ages.

It’s estimated that 4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and, unless a cure or significant treatment is found, it’s predicted that as many as 14 million will have the disease by 2050. To better help ourselves and/or our loved ones, all of us can benefit from knowing what the most common early-stage warning signs of Alzheimer’s are.

10 Possible Early Warning Signs:

If you or someone you love experiences any of the symptoms listed below, see your physician. A medical examination is the first and most important step if you suspect you or someone close to you might have Alzheimer’s.

1. Recent memory loss that impairs the person’s ability to complete routine assignments at work and/or function effectively at home: May frequently forget names, phone numbers and work tasks and have trouble remembering them even when reminded.
2. Problems with language: May progressively forget simple words, substitute inappropriate words, and/or make statements that don’t make sense.
3. Disorientation in time and space and getting confused or lost in a familiar place: May leave their home and then forget where they intended to go, could become lost on a nearby street and not know how to get home.
4. Difficulty completing familiar tasks: May, for example, prepare a meal but forget to serve it–or even forget that they ever made it.
5. Distorted judgment: May dress inappropriately, completely forget what they’ve set out to do mid-task, or forget key routine tasks, such as keeping set appointments or caring for their pet.
6. Problems with abstract thinking: May have trouble with simple mathematical calculations such as balancing a checkbook or remembering a familiar, often-used phone number.
7. Misplacing things: May put things in inappropriate places, such as putting their keys in the microwave, toothbrush in the kitchen cabinet, or their briefcase in the refrigerator.
8. Repeated and sudden changes in mood and behavior: May begin exhibiting out-of-character rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality: May start to act in ways that are counter to their usual personality style, for example, acting suspicious, fearful, or confused.
10. Loss of initiative to do things: May become passive, unresponsive, express little interest in previously enjoyed activities and require real encouragement to get involved.

Studies indicate that as many as one in ten cases of dementia-like symptoms may actually be caused by something less serious and more reversible, such as medication or depression.

When testing for Alzheimer’s, a doctor will perform a physical exam and do tests to analyze memory and reasoning skills. No individual’s Alzheimer’s progresses with the same symptoms or at the same rate. For instance, some people with Alzheimer’s become paranoid and combative, while others remain placid; some like to wander; still others change their waking and sleeping hours.

Early Diagnosis

People with Alzheimer’s can live for another ten or even twenty years after the onset of their disease. Early diagnosis can make it easier for both sufferers and their families to weigh their options early on and to prepare for the changes that come as the disease progresses. But most important is learning to see the disease for what it is, changing your expectations of what someone with Alzheimer’s will be like, and remembering that this can take time.

Getting Professional Support

Alzheimer’s is an organic process and progresses over time. Early diagnosis can help individuals and their loved ones have as much time as possible to do the best they can with circumstances that are beyond their control. Working with a therapist can provide information and support for the whole family. Therapy can provide crucial insight into what to next anticipate, how best to cope day by day, and ways to move through the inevitable mix of emotions, including loss, anger, hope, intensified love, frustration, alienation, helplessness, grief, and a deepened awareness of both the power and the fragility of the human experience.

Senior Citizens Summer Safety Tips

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – call 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

 

The US Center for Disease Control Control (CDC) estimates that every year around 300 people in the US die from heat related ailments. In addition thousands of American citizens suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Summer draws people, including seniors, outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and outdoor activities with family and friends. Senior citizens are more susceptible to the effects of heat as their bodies return to normal slowly and their bodies cooling mechanism is not as efficient as younger people. Hence seniors should be well aware of the health problems related to summer heat and the preventive and safety steps that they should take to avoid these problems.

Here we will discuss some important summer safety tips for seniors. The first thing to know is that the faster you move the faster your body gets heated up. Hence seniors should take it slow in the summer, especially when it is hot. All outdoor activities should be planned for early mornings when it is cooler. As mush as possible, use the shaded areas under trees or covered porches. If possible air conditioning should be used when it is very hot and fans are not enough. If air conditioning is not available at home consider visiting public places like shopping malls, libraries, etc., that have air conditioning.

Proper ventilation is essential so that the temperature and humidity do not become very high. In places where there are no fans or air conditioning it may be dangerous if temperature rises above 90 °F. Some seniors prefer to keep windows closed for security reasons even when cool breeze is blowing. This problem can be easily solved by installing safety latches for windows so that they cannot be opened from outside but will allow air to enter. They are inexpensive and bought at local hardware stores.

Risk factors of aging that affect safe driving

5 Star Home Care quality homecare for Seniors – 404-719-4118.  Serving all areas in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and  Gwinett County.

Because everyone ages differently, some drivers are safe behind the wheel well into their eighth or ninth decade, while others need to find other sources of transportation much earlier. Some key risk factors for senior drivers follow.

Risk Factors of Aging That Can Affect Driving Ability
Visual decline	Vision declines with age, which means depth perception and judging the speed of oncoming traffic become more difficult. The eyes also lose the ability to process light, which makes night vision worse and causes more sensitivity to bright sunlight and glare. By age 60, you need three times the amount of light that you did at age 20 in order to drive safely after nightfall
Hearing loss	Approximately one-third of adults over age 65 are hearing-impaired. Because hearing loss happens gradually, a senior may not realize they are missing important cues when driving, such as honking, emergency sirens, or a child’s bicycle bell.
Limited mobility and increased reaction time	With age, flexibility may decrease as response time increases. A full range of motion is crucial on the road. In addition, chronic conditions can limit mobility (rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, heart disease, or diabetes).
Medications	People often take more medications as they age. Certain medications, as well as a combination of medications and alcohol, can increase driving risk. Be particularly careful about medication side-effects and interactions between medications.
Drowsiness	Aging can make sleeping more difficult, resulting in daytime tiredness and an increased tendency to doze off during the day (or while driving). In addition, certain prescription drugs cause drowsiness.
Dementia or brain impairment	Mental impairment or dementia makes driving more dangerous and more frustrating. Brain impairment may cause delayed reactions to sudden or confusing situations on the road.

In addition, numerous environmental factors that affect people of all ages can magnify a senior’s diminished ability to drive safely:

• signs and road markings that are difficult to see or to read
• complex and confusing intersections
• older vehicles that lack automatic safety features
• newer dashboard instrument panels with multiple displays