Memory Loss: An Inevitable Part of Aging?

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.

“I’ve lost my car keys…I must be getting Alzheimer’s disease.” “I can’t remember the name of the restaurant…I am having one of those ‘senior moments.’” How many times have you heard friends and family members utter these statements? How many times have you said the same things? People used to think that memory loss and confusion was a normal part of aging. Now, however, scientists know that most people remain both alert and able as they age, although it may take longer to remember things. Memory is a function of learning and recall. Everyone experiences some forgetfulness as they age. Memory complaints are common for people by the time they are in their 30’s and 40’s. Age-associated memory impairment is defined as a condition of someone over 50 who has a memory impairment demonstrated by at least one standard memory test and believes that they have experienced some memory changes. It is estimated that 40% of all people in their fifties have this condition, 50% in their sixties, and over 70% of people who are 70 and older have age-associated memory impairment. Without some form of intervention (brain exercises or, if needed medical evaluation and treatment), age-associated memory impairment could eventually lead to mild cognitive impairment. Those with mild cognitive impairment have problems with memory, language, or another mental function severe enough to be noticeable to other people and to show up on tests, but not serious enough to interfere with daily life. People with mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease with each year that passes. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are things we can do to maintain our brains and memory. This includes eating a healthy diet, remaining socially involved, staying physically active, and staying mentally active.  If you feel that your loved one may be experiencing some cognitive imparment you can always use homecare to assist in caring for you aging loved one and to help provide social and mental stimulation.

Home Care Services: What type of services can a Home Care Agency Provide?

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.

Home Care may be the right option for you and your family, many different services are offered in the comfort of your own home. Each client’s care needs are unique. Providing effective care in different circumstances demands different caregiver experience, skills, training, and even personality characteristics. Home Care services  should be tailored to match the right caregiver to the situation.

General Care & Living Assistance

Caregivers will 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 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.

Aging Parents: Home Care vs. Assisted Living Facilities

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.

Home Care vs. Assisted Living Facilities

By 5 Star Home Care

Which is the best choice for your loved one?

Well all that may depend on your parent’s willingness to leave their home. It also may depend on the level of care that they may need.  The key is to get an assessment from both a reputable homecare agency and an assisted living facility; the key is to do as much research that you can so that you can help make the best decision for them. Find out what services that both can offer your parent. Then it would be time for you to make your own basic assessment to see which setting would be more suitable for your parent.

This may be one of the most important decisions that your parent will make in their lives. Where should they spend their Golden Years? In my experience it would seem clear to keep them in their own home as long as you possibly can. Your loved ones are always happier  at home and definitely more comfortable. Most home care agencies are able to provide care from a minimum of 4 hours per day up to 24 hours per day, depending on the clients needs. The good thing about the homecare setting is that your parent will receive the one on one care that they deserve.

Homecare providers are allowed to help with all activities of daily living from dressing, bathing, grooming and toileting to meal preparation, light housekeeping and running errands.  The assisted living facilities can provide the same care with the exception of the one on one personalized care. They may have ratios 1 caregiver to every 10-15 residents. That is definitely something to keep in mind before you make your decision.  Although there is no perfect solution relating to senior care homecare stands to be the most comprehensive approach.  For more information contact one of our 5 Star Home Care staff members at 404-719-4118.

 

Home Care in Atlanta

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. 

Home care is a cost-effective service for individuals recuperating from a hospital stay and for those who, because of a functional or cognitive disability, are unable to take care of themselves. However, it should be noted that cost-effectiveness is not the only rationale for home care. Home care reinforces and supplements care provided by family members and friends and maintains the recipient’s dignity and independence, qualities that can be lost even in the best institutions. Home care also allows patients to take an active role in their care.

Respecting the Desire to Live Independently

5 Star Home Care brings the resources to our clients to ensure their needs are being met. Whether a few hours a day or long-term care 24 hours a day, a caregiver can assist you. All caregivers are thoroughly screened, extensively trained, insured and bonded, matched to your preferences, professional and reliable.

5 Star Home Care offers a wide variety of services, which may grow to include activities and support that are unique to you and your elderly loved one’s needs. Senior Services include the following and more – all tailored to meet your needs:

Companionship Social Activities & Life Engagement Projects Bathing, Dressing, Grooming Medication Reminders Transportation to Personal Appointments

Assistance with Errands & Shopping Meal Preparation Light Housekeeping & Laundry Range of Motion Exercise

All of our home care services are available on an hourly or live-in basis throughout the Atlanta area including Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb and Gwinett County. Let 5 Star Home Care help you keep your loved one independent, happy and in optimal health. For a free in home assessment please call us at 404-719-4118.

What is Respite Care for the Elderly?

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.

Respite care is the provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home.

The term “short break” is often used in some countries to describe respite care.

Even though many families take great joy in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite. Respite provides the much needed temporary break from the often exhausting challenges faced by the family caregiver.

Respite is the service most often requested by family caregivers, yet it is in critically short supply, inaccessible, or unaffordable regardless of the age or disability of the individual needing assistance. While the focus has been on making sure families have the option of providing care at home, little attention has been paid to the needs of the family caregivers who make this possible.

What is Live In 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.

OUR LIVE-IN CARE PROGRAM:

A live-in care program means having 5 Star Home Care caregivers around the clock in the care recipients’ home. Our caregiver lives and works in the home as long as needed. Benefits include the fact that our caregivers are always there, thus reducing the risk of leaving the client unattended, no matter what traffic or weather conditions are like.

When the primary caregiver needs some time off, 5 Star Home Care  fills in with another caregiver (relief) until the primary caregiver returns. Basically the primary caregiver becomes part of the family. Fact: Live-in care is the most cost-effective way of securing 24-hour companionship for a senior or those with disabilities. Our Live-in care services are quoted on a daily basis & not by the hour.

Tips on Caring for the Elderly

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.

Taking care of the elderly, caring for old people, especially if caring for the aged personally, often needlessly causes hurt to persons caring for old people or to the elderly or both, to carers of aged persons and to old persons -more so where the elderly are not ill old people but healthy senior citizens, and where loved ones care for the aged. But hurt in old age, upset to the carer of an old person can be avoided. Here is how to care for the elderly.

In coping with old people issues, avoidance of hurt to the elderly and upset to those taking care of the aged, begin with appreciating the aged and those caring for the elderly.

The care of the elderly in extreme cases of old age not common to old people aside, the old age of senior citizens need not be a problem in caring for aged persons -neither to aged persons nor to those caring on behalf of the families of the aged, if the following tips on how to take care of the elderly are kept in mind by persons caring for the aged, and by the families of old people and of those caring for the elderly.

In caring for the elderly the first problem is not the elderly, but unawareness of the persons taking care of the elderly of the appreciation by those for whom also old people are cared for -that the family of the old person do appreciate the regular attendance to that old person ~more so if the care of the elderly is by one only of the members of the family of the aged; the occasional ‘How are you coping?’ by the relatives of the elderly is morale boosting to those caring for aged persons.

Other problems in caring for the elderly which both the old people and carers for the aged have fall into three categories, below, arising from assuming that old age means physically and/or mentally weak, which old age does not make the elderly and most old people enjoy good health, many of the aged continuing to work after they have become senior citizens.

The status enjoyed by old persons before their old age is important to old people; the elderly must not be treated as children: the aged expect their privacy to be respected, also not to be excluded from family discussions -it hurts the dignity of old people needlessly to be spoken to loudly or slowly or be ignored and causes resentment by the elderly.

Aged persons do not cease to like activity; old fashioned habits and interests of the aged must not be made light of: many old people are young in heart and outright rejection of help offered by the aged, limiting old age pass-times, objecting to elderly friends, annoy old people -older people, seniors, don’t like it.

Crises in old age affecting also those caring for old people and the families of the aged mostly is due to inadequate consultation with the elderly: if old persons are to be subjected to change of environment or arrangements, consult and prepare them -taking it for granted that the elderly will adjust causes confrontation.

Treat old people normally and thank those who have undertaken the taking care of the elderly.

Bed Sore Prevention and Treatment

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.

Modern physicians have methods of treating bed sores that have been developing since the 1960s. It’s important to begin preventive measures immediately, to keep the bed sores from worsening.

Identification

Bed sores are identified in four stages. Stage 1 is simply a red area on the skin that isn’t relieved by removing the pressure. Stage 2 is an external blister or abrasion. Stage 3 occurs when external and internal damage result in lack of blood flow and thinning of the skin. Stage 4 involves damage to the muscles and tendons. Stage 4 has dead cells and the living tissue is infected as well, so that depth cannot be determined.

Prevention

Bed sores can be prevented by frequently changing wet and soiled bedclothes. Ultra-absorbent silica-based wicking materials can be used at the skin, like a disposable diaper, to keep the skin cells dry. The most important way to prevent bed sores is by frequently changing the patient’s position. Every 2 hours is recommended.

Considerations

Patients who are obese will have more pressure and friction placed upon their bodies while lying sill, so they may need to change positions more often.

Treatment

In addition to frequent changes in a patient’s position, the dead skin cells must be removed for the area to heal. Surgical removal of the dead skin cells is the least painful to the patient and most often recommended.

Recovery

After removal of the dead cells, bed sores are often stitched up and great care is necessary to prevent pressure from being placed upon the affected area.

MAKING THANKSGIVING SPECIAL FOR SENIORS

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.

So many times holidays like thanksgiving are celebrated while missing the entire point of the holiday. Thanksgiving is about being thankful. To make a thanksgiving celebration that everyone will be sure to remember do the following. Send out invites in advance asking that every member write down at least 20 things they are thankful for on a note card or piece of paper. Have someone research your family history and put together a slide show of your family describing your history.

Instead of doing the traditional family get together book a hotel conference room or something similar. You can also ask that everyone donate at least $10.00 for the event to help cover the cost of the room. You can have a pot luck or have whoever normally cooks put together a meal. If you collected enough money you can have it catered as well. Have at least some type of tasteful music playing in the background and decorate. Place pictures of the family all around the room, and have candles lit as well.

Get a master of ceremony preferable the oldest family member to preside over the events. So many times holidays are about eating and watching tv. The thanksgiving many of us are use too, isn’t really about getting to know our families or even our family history. So people travel all across America to be with our families. Shamefully all Thanksgiving amounts to is eating and watching tv. So many of us know who we are but we don’t know where we came from.

Plan some type of entertainment for the kids as well.

Need Care for a Family Member, Loved One or an Older Adult?

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.

Most seniors in need of non-medical care say that they prefer to get that assistance in the comfort of their own homes. They like the peace of mind they get from being attended to in a familiar environment.

Studies show that this care option plays a significant role in a patient’s response to therapy and overall well-being.

5 Star Home Care provides such a service.

We help seniors with the routine activities of daily living from the comfort of home. We offer a range of services that include full-time, personal, and non-medical care for your loved ones at very affordable rates.

• 24 Hour Care
• Assistance in Hygine
• Dressing and Self-Grooming
• Ambulation
• Transfer from Bed to Chair
• Meal Preparation & Feeding
• Light Housekeeping
• Errands and Shopping
• Joyful Companionship
• Day/Night, Live-in/Hourly Care
• Weekends & Holidays
• Respite

Your Care is Personalized

You have the freedom to choose the caregiver you feel comfortable with. That’s right! You get to call the shots. Just let us know what makes you happy and we’ll work with you to help you find the perfect match.

Caregivers

Our goal is to provide superior client care with emphasis on the soft skills, such as excellent interpersonal skill, listening and team work. Our caregivers are qualified, trustworthy individuals with experience in serving the elderly, sick and disabled.

They are:

• Certified
• Bonded
• Character Checked
• Referenced Checked

Staffing Services

Hospital and nursing home staffing services are available on a long- or short-term basis.