Friday 17 November 2017

How to Tell Your Senior Loved One Needs Additional Care

Whether you live close by or far away, it’s sometimes hard to determine if your aging loved needs additional care. It is likely that seniors, who have been independent for a good fifty to sixty years, find that asking for help is difficult. Fortunately, there are some signs that can help tell you that someone needs extra help at home. You just should be vigilant, understanding and, ultimately, approach the subject delicately.

Physical Signs
  • Changes in weight – Is it fairly obvious that they’ve either gained or lost significant weight. There may be many reasons why this might be taking place, but it’s often a sign that they need additional care or more medical attention than they have been receiving.
  • Poor hygiene – This might be in the form of hair that isn’t neat when was usually in the past, intense body odor, wearing clothes that haven’t been washed, or showing signs of dirt on their skin. Poor hygiene is often due to financial problems, depression or both.
  • Change in clothes –  Did your senior loved one go from wearing jeans to sweatpants all the time? Button down shirts to t-shirts? This could mean that they can no longer use buttons and need help with these types of matters.
  • Frailty – Do they look frail? Diminishing bones and muscle strength is common in older adults. If it looks like they are having a hard time walking or getting out of their chair, they might need some extra help. They may also be at an increased risk of falling.
Look around the House
  • Are they no longer keeping house as they used to? Poor housekeeping can be a sign of early dementia or increased mobility issues. Look for spills that were never cleaned, cobwebs, mold and dust.
  • Too many take out menus and frozen dinners? This could be because they have either lost excitement in eating, do not have the transportation needed to go to the grocery shopping, have difficulty preparing food in the kitchen, or simply is no longer that hungry.
  •  Is their house becoming more cluttered than usual? This could be a sign of a neurological issue that should be addressed by their doctor.
  • Plants and animals getting neglected? This could point toward the beginning stages of dementia or a physical ailment that doesn’t allow them to care properly for their pets and plants.

Do you live in East or South Wake or Johnston counties? Are you interested in learning about home health care services Raleigh and nearby areas in NC? Consider contacting Always Best Care at (919) 724-4297 to setup a free care consultation. They look forward to chatting with you!

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Things to Consider when Visiting an Assisted Living Community

Are you planning to move your aging loved one to an Assisted Living Facility? If yes, it is very important for you to find a reputed facility where your seniors can spend their retirement years peacefully. There are many things that you need to look for while visiting an Assisted Living Facility in your region. Here are a few things to get started in making the best decision possible.

  • Make sure that the facility you choose has a safe and comfortable environment for the seniors. The environment should be pleasant and relaxed, with safe surroundings. Look around the neighborhood to see if the setting is convenient for the seniors to live in.

  • A healthy and nutritious diet is important for the seniors overall good health. Check on the food and the quality that the facility offers. In addition, ask about their dining and meals structure.

  • When visiting an Assisted Living community, talk with the staff members. Observe how they behave and treat other residents. Ask them specific questions about the type of issues your loved one faces to see how knowledgeable they are.

  • Read their paperwork carefully to learn about every policy they have related to security, fees, medical services, safety and other areas of concerns you may have.

Senior care organizations, like Always Best Care, can help you learn more about Assisted Living Facilities in Raleigh, CO. They are a noted senior care organization that offers reliable Assisted Living referral services. The experienced care coordinators understand the needs of each client and help in finding a suitable senior living option. For more information, call (919) 724-4297.

Thursday 10 August 2017

Why Volunteering Keeps You Young At Heart

Giving to others has proven to be one of the most fundamental ways to bring fulfillment and contentment into your life. Research studies have proven that when people volunteer their time to help others it promotes a sense of well-being and greater purpose in the individual’s life. Seniors are at a unique time period when they are able to volunteer their time and also have the wisdom to impart to others.

Here are some other great reasons to volunteer:
  1. Reduces the senior’s risk of depression. Being isolated is common for seniors. Oftentimes spouses have passed away, children and friends have moved away and the senior finds themselves alone most of the time. By volunteering, it gets the senior out and about and with other people which ultimately leads to less loneliness, and less depression.
  2. It connects seniors with the younger generation. While seniors, certainly, have accrued much more wisdom over their years than the younger generation, both can learn from each other. And, when seniors interact with kids, teens, and younger adults, it boosts their “young at heart” attitude.
  3. It’s good for the brain. Did you know that as we get older, our brain shrinks up to 10%? This results in cognitive impairment and decline. Fortunately, this can be delayed or staved off by participating in activities that promote good brain activity – and volunteering is one of them. The physical aspect of volunteering also helps the brain through increased blood and air flow to the brain.
  4. Puts seniors in a more positive light. Youthfulness is glorified in this world, oftentimes leaving seniors out to dry. By volunteering their time, seniors can help promote a more positive light surrounding the senior experience, helping to change society’s POV.
Volunteer opportunities exclusively for seniors:
  1. Seniors helping Seniors
  2. RSVP
  3. The International Senior Lawyers Project
  4. Foster Grandparents
  5. Road Scholar Service Learning
  6. The Senior Companion Program.

If you are a senior living in the Raleigh area and would like to learn about home care assistance in Raleigh or assisted living in Raleigh NC, you are invited to contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Friday 28 July 2017

Get Details About Home Health Care In Raleigh NC From Always Best Care

Since 1996, Always Best Care has been North America’s leading senior care giving provider. They take special care in hiring only the best, most compassionate and highly-skilled caregivers to care for their senior clients. These caregivers are dedicated to their jobs and are always licensed, bonded, and insured. Seniors living in the Raleigh area, who are interested in learning the details about home health care in Raleigh NC can contact Always Best Care for a free care consultation.

What can you expect during the consultation? An Always Best Care professional care coordinator will visit with you and your family to discuss your needs and budget. A customized care plan will be created for you, and it will be updated as your needs change so that you never have to worry about getting the exact care that you require.

Whether you are looking for in-home care or are thinking about transitioning into a senior living environment, Always Best Care can help you with both. If you’re ready to move into an assisted living facility or some other type of senior environment, the care coordinator will assist you with narrowing down your choices (as per your requirements and budget) and also accompany you on tours of each facility. This service is free because ultimately, the facility that is chosen absorbs all of the related costs.

Always Best Care has always put their senior clients first and wants only to assist them with their daily activities to help them maintain their independence and improve their overall quality of life. Some of the tasks that the Always Best Care caregivers provide include light housekeeping, escorting to various locations, functions, and events, preparing and serving meals, morning wake up and evening tuck in, and many others.

For the past 20 years, Always Best Care has been providing exceptional and compassionate care to seniors all over the United States and Canada. Their goal is to help seniors stay active, connected to their loved ones, and healthy. They accomplish this by hiring only the best caregivers in the industry and going to great lengths to ensure that the right senior caregiver is matched up with the right senior.

If you have any questions about home health care in Raleigh NC or Apex home care, you are encouraged to contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up your own free care consultation. They look forward to chatting with you!

Thursday 6 July 2017

Have You Practiced Your Mindfulness Today?

Mindfulness is a buzz word that has captured the attention of people in the west. While the practice has been around for millennia in the east, an increasing interest in spirituality and meditation has brought mindfulness to the forefront for many seeking a more fulfilling life. Be aware that mindfulness is not a religion; it’s simply a way to view the world that ultimately creates a more calming, peaceful inner being.

The difference between mindfulness and meditation

Meditation is known to relieve stress and even increase longevity when practiced on a regular basis. It promotes good physical and mental health and can be accomplished via a number of ways and for varying lengths of time.

Mindfulness carries with it many of the same benefits; however, the main goal of mindfulness is to be aware of how you feel and your surroundings at every moment. It promotes living in the present and not worrying about the future or stressing about the past. It’s about gratitude and being thankful for every moment presented to you.

How mindfulness helps seniors

As people get closer to the end of life, it’s natural for them to worry and stress about chronic ailments and what might happen in the future and when. Mindfulness is particularly rewarding for seniors because it’s about living “in the now.”
  • Through connectedness with the environment, mindfulness can decrease loneliness. Isolation and loneliness are two important, debilitating issues for seniors. By practicing mindfulness, seniors feel a connection with their environment and others, and report decreased feelings of isolation.
  • Increased longevity. Studies have proven that those who participate in mindfulness and meditation often experienced improved longevity. This may be due to enhanced mental attitude and/or a decrease in cellular aging.
  • Seniors communities often teach mindfulness. More and more, senior communities are aiming to increase their senior clients’ quality of life, helping them to stay more mentally and physically active. Mindfulness and other related techniques are now often taught at senior facilities, giving seniors easier access to this way of life more so than ever before in history.
Are you interested in learning about home care services in Clayton or elder care in Cary? Contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to sitting down with you to discuss your bright future!

Monday 12 June 2017

Medication Management Tips For Seniors

Polypharmacy. If you’ve never heard of the term, you’re not alone but it’s becoming more and more common as a record number of people reach the age of 65 and over. It refers to when an individual takes more than one medication to treat multiple illnesses or conditions on a daily basis. Most seniors take at least five medications every day, and this can result in various problems such as accidental overdose, taking the wrong medication, administering the wrong medication, adverse medication interactions, and more. 



Medication Management Tips for Seniors:
  • Create a medications list. Continually update your medication list with every medication you take – even OTC medications and herbal remedies. Take it with you to your doctor’s appointments and specialist appointments.
  • Reason for taking medication should be on label. This will not only help you, but also any caregiver that is helping you. It will also ensure that you aren’t taking too many medications for one issue.
  • Utilize your pharmacist’s knowledge. Your pharmacist is highly knowledgeable; if you have any questions at all about the medications you are taking, make sure to ask them.
  • Utilize the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. This is a list of medications put together by the American Geriatric Society that seniors should take with caution. 
  • Cut back on providers and pharmacists. Ideally, if you can have just one pharmacist, that will help you to keep better track of all of your medications and avert any medication accidents.
  • Ask if the dosage is age-appropriate. The human body changes as it ages, and what might be the right dosage for a 35 year old may not be the right dosage for someone who is 75. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this.
  • Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. If you are uncomfortable with taking a prescribed medication for any reason, don’t hesitate to seek out a second opinion on whether or not you should be taking it.
  • Know the medication side effects. Before taking the medication, read up on the side effects, and take note (actually write down) any side effects you might encounter so you can relay them to your doctor.
Always Best Care has been providing compassionate and exceptional in-home care giving services to seniors in the United States and Canada for the past 20 years. Seniors living in the Raleigh area, who are interested in finding out more about Apex home care and home care assistance in Raleigh, are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free consultation.

Wednesday 7 June 2017

5 Strategies For Combating Senior Isolation

Senior isolation is a serious issue that can result in many detrimental physical and mental problems. It can lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, etc. Seniors are at risk of isolation due to many different reasons. Some of these include the death of a spouse, family and friends moving away, chronic illness, lack of transportation, etc.

Strategies For Combating Senior Isolation:

Help them to implement assistive technologies. Things such as hearing aids, walkers or scooters are great ways for seniors to feel less lonely. Although they might, at first, be reluctant to take part (because they believe it makes them look and feel old), once they start utilizing these technologies they will enjoy the freedom they bring.

Give them a pet. A couple of things need to be in place before a senior receives a pet. First, does their living environment allow pets? And second, is the senior able to care for a pet (mentally, physically, financially). Caring for a pet, whether it’s a small dog or a fish, will lead to them feeling less isolated and also promote a sense of purpose.

Encourage them to go to religious studies or places of worship. Seniors who frequently attend church lead more socialized, less isolated lives. Churches often hold other types of events like bake sales and retreats which also foster socialization.

Help them get the transportation they need. Realistically, one single person can’t provide all of the transportation requirements a senior might have, that’s why it’s important to help them figure out the bus route, or make sure the number of a reliable taxi service is readily available. Friends and family members can also help out with transportation.

Talk about incontinence. Many seniors suffer from incontinence. It might just be the one thing that is stopping them from joining the world and becoming less isolated. Help them discover how they can address incontinence, whether it’s talking to their doctor about medication, or helping them understand products that are available.

Do you live in the Raleigh area? Are you a senior interested in learning about home health in Garner, or Raleigh assisted living? Contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to talking with you about your many options for a bright future!

Wednesday 12 April 2017

Always Best Care Provides Superior In Home Senior Care in Raleigh

Around the age of retirement, seniors begin to think about whether they would like to remain in the comfort of their own home, or to move into a senior living environment. While there are, of course, variables attached to this decision (health status, budget, if the senior is the only one in the household), there are bound to be many other questions, as well.

Always Best Care has been in the senior care giving industry since 1996, and they have extensive experience helping seniors all over the country with their questions regarding in home care and the process involved with moving into a senior living environment. Always Best Care provides a free care consultation, in which the senior and their family can discuss these options with a professional care coordinator who will help guide the senior toward the option that suits them best.

Seniors living in the Raleigh area, who are interested in learning about home health in Garner, or in home senior care in Raleigh, are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Raleigh office to set up their own free care consultation.

In-Home Senior Care in Raleigh

What are the types of services you can expect if you choose to obtain in home senior care in Raleigh through the Always Best Care Caregivers?

  • Experienced, licensed, bonded, and insured caregivers who are always employees and never contractors.

  • These caregivers undergo thorough background criminal checks to ensure the peace of mind and safety of senior clients.

  • The Always Best Care caregivers provide a number of services that fall within the home helper, companion, and personal care categories.

  • Some of these services include laundry, housekeeping, meal preparation, conversation and companionship, escorting to various locations, and much more

Transitioning to Senior Living Environment
Making the choice to move into a senior living environment is never an easy one, and the Always Best Care professional care coordinators are there to help. They provide free referrals to three or four senior care centers and will escort the senior client on tours of the facilities to help them choose which is right for them.

Do you live in the Raleigh area? Are you interested in learning more about home health in Garner or in home senior care in Raleigh? Contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up your own free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Monday 10 April 2017

Afraid to Garden with Arthritis? Follow these “Handy” Tips!

Arthritis is a common chronic disease that affects 12.5% of adult Americans. It even affects children, and can have a sudden onset, or a gradual one. Arthritis is a stiffening of the joints, coupled with pain, and sometimes doesn’t allow for the completion of various projects due to the symptoms involved.

Gardening is one of the most popular pastimes for seniors, and carries with it numerous health benefits. These benefits include being outside, physical agility from the movements involved, eating nutritious, healthy foods that result from the garden, possible social benefits, and an overall sense of wellness and mood enhancement.

The problem is, many seniors suffer from arthritis and would still like to be able to work in their garden. So, how can this be accomplished?
  1. Keep in your mind that there’s a limit to how much you can use your hands. As a senior with arthritis, it’s hard to accept that there is only so much you can do with your hands now, but it’s true. If you spend an hour in the garden, you’ll have to swap that for an hour of doing something else with your hands (such as putting together a puzzle or other task that requires manual dexterity).

  2. Know your hand limitations. Do your hands become stiff and painful after an hour’s worth of working with them? Two? Know where the cutoff point is so you can delegate how you’d like to use your hands on any given day.

  3. Delegate. If you have friends, family or neighbors that can help with your various tasks, delegate some to them to cut down on the amount of time you are using your hands.

  4. Hire a helping hand. There are always teens around in the neighborhood looking to make a little extra cash, or look for ads in local penny savers.

  5. Soak your hands in warm water for five minutes before starting to work on your garden. Make sure to wear thin rubber gloves. Warm hands work much more smoothly than cold ones do.

  6. Make sure garden tools are sharp. You’ll spend too much extra time trying to use a dull garden tool and waste your valuable hand time. Keep them sharp and efficient.
Do you live in the Raleigh area? Are you interested in learning about home health care in Raleigh NC or dementia care in Raleigh? Contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to chatting with you!

Monday 6 March 2017

Where Do You Stand On The Paper Vs. Plastic Debate?

We all want to help the environment. Nobody wants to intentionally cause harm to Mother Nature or her inhabitants that share the world with us. However, we’ve also heard conflicting messages about the benefits of using paper vs. plastic, and vice versa. Most chain grocery stores use plastic bags, but if you ask, they will give you the paper instead. Is one choice really better than the other?

Consider the Life Cycle of Each

When we think about this debate, most of us tend to consider only how the bag will be used - generally, to carry groceries from the store and into the house. But, the reality is, we have to look at the entire life cycle of both plastic and paper bags to get an idea of which is better (or just less worse) than the other. 
  • Plastic – The downside to using plastic is that plastic is made from a non-renewable resource – oil. It also requires huge amounts of energy to be produced, which means burning coal (another non-renewable resource). All of this has a negative impact on the environment. The good news is, plastics can be recycled, however, when they are “down-cycled” the resulting product is not as high-quality as the original. 
  • Paper – Paper comes from a renewable resource – trees. However, harvesting these trees requires expending energy that ultimately harms the environment (using gas or electric loggers, etc). These production methods cause a buildup of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and in turn, there are fewer trees to help balance out the buildup. The good news is, some states are now enforcing that for every tree taken down, one must be planted (California is one such state). Also, paper can be recycled and used to create other products. 

How to Help the Environment

Whether you choose paper or plastic, the environment is affected in some way. The best thing to do is to reuse the bags that you have for as long as you possibly can. Consider also taking fabric grocery bags to stores to eliminate the need for either paper or plastic. When it comes to helping the environment, a little bit goes a long way!

If you live in the Raleigh NC area and are interested in learning about elder care in Cary, or would like to get free referrals for assisted living in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, or Johnston County, call the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up a free consultation. With 20 years in the senior care giving industry, they have established a fine reputation and they look forward to chatting with you!

Friday 3 March 2017

With Age Comes Wisdom: Advice From Seniors

Today, life expectancy for American’s has reached almost 80 years. That’s nearly double what it was one hundred years ago. Clearly, people are living longer, happier lives, and enjoying family and friends more than ever before. Want to know what advice seniors have on life in general? Read on:
  • Being a senior is much better than what younger people think. You’ve adapted to life in a way that you can handle ups and downs more readily than when you were younger. You are content and at peace with yourself.
  • When choosing a partner or spouse, do so wisely. One of the biggest regrets for seniors is that they rushed into a marriage with the wrong person. The decision to spend years with someone should be made with a clear heart, mind, and soul. And it should never be done in haste.
  • Parents need to spend more time with their children. The number one thing that will drive children to success? Time spent with parents. Being neglectful will cause them to wander haplessly on their own – with no guidance. So be there for them.
  • Own your own happiness. External situations should not have the ability to increase or take away your happiness. Create your own happiness within yourself and it will be more real and more long lasting.
  • Instead of being obsessed with dying – be worried about developing a chronic disease. Act like you will need your body for a century by eating right, sleeping right, exercising, laughing often and loving hard. Keep yourself in good shape for old age and it will serve you well.

Always Best Care, an in-home senior care giving company with locations all over the United States and Canada, has been providing quality, compassionate care to seniors since 1996. They employ the finest, most dedicated caregivers who are always employees, never contractors. Their caregivers are licensed, bonded, highly-skilled, and well-trained. They undergo thorough background checks so that their senior clients can enjoy peace of mind. If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in learning about Raleigh assisted living or other options for senior living in Raleigh, you can contact the Always Best Care Raleigh location at (919) 724-4297 or email sdas@abc-seniors.com to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to helping you shape an even brighter future!

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Seniors: How Dangerous is Breaking a Hip?

As people get older, bones become more brittle, balance is harder to obtain and falls become not just more common, but also more problematic. Breaking a hip can lead to serious injury, and even death. Even though the rates for hip fractures are steadily declining in America, falling remains the number one cause of injury in the elderly. 

Women are twice as likely to fracture their hip as men are, and a full 20% of patients who have suffered from a hip fracture die within one year of the injury. About one in every three falls leads to a serious injury and 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls. 

Outside all of the statistics, what’s important to keep in mind is that even though a senior’s risk of falling increases as they get older, there are also preventative methods they can utilize to reduce the risk of falling, and subsequently, reduce their risk of mortality due to a fall.

Maintain Good Bone Health
  • Some people are more inclined toward brittle bones than others; these include small-boned people, Asians and Caucasians, women, and those who are slender. Knowing this predisposition is beneficial to taking the right steps toward prevention.
  • Eating a healthy diet will help keep bones strong. Include lots of calcium found in foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, kale, broccoli, watercress, etc.
  • Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia will have a depleting affect on bone health (and health in general).
  • Take your daily vitamins to make sure your bones are getting the nutrients they need.
Preventing Falls
  • Medications can cause dizziness, check with your doctor to make sure there are no negative drug interactions with your medications, and if a medication does cause dizziness, try to take it at night before bed.
  • Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles and maintain focus and balance.
  • Keep your eyes healthy by regularly visiting the optometrist.
  • Wear appropriate shoes (flat) to avoid tripping and falling.
  • Add grab bars, railings, tack down carpets, and install good lighting at home.
If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in receiving Alzheimer’s care in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Clayton and the surrounding areas, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at (919) 724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They can also offer you free referrals for assisted living placement in Raleigh. Call them today; they look forward to hearing from you!

Thursday 9 February 2017

Obtain Premium Home Care Assistance in Raleigh with Always Best Care

Are you a senior living in the Raleigh area? Has the time come for you to consider your options for the future like obtaining in-home assistance, or moving into either an assisted living facility or other type of senior living community? The team at Always Best Care in Raleigh can help you decide what is best for you. Simply call them and set up a free care consultation and they will help you make the decisions that are best for you and your future.

The in-home care assistance in Raleigh that Always Best Care provides includes an entire spectrum of services. These services fall within the home helper, companion, and personal care categories and include (but certainly aren’t limited to): light housecleaning, grocery shopping, home maintenance supervision, medication and appointment reminders, pet care, companionship, assistance with evening tuck-in and morning wake-up, escorting to various locations such as doctor’s appointments, grocery store, etc.

Regardless of the level of care that you need, Always Best Care can provide it. The company takes enormous pride in pairing the best caregiver with the best senior client. They will also create a free care plan for you which is a detailed personalized assessment of your needs. You can rely on Always Best Care when you require:

  • Companion Care (Level 1): Personal Care Assistants assist with all types of errands, light housekeeping, preparing meals, and friendly companionship. It is perfect for seniors who would like to have non-medical in-home assistance, giving both the senior clients and their families’ peace of mind.
  • Personal Care (Level 2): Trained Caregivers visit you to help with daily activities such as medication reminders, bathing and grooming, incontinence, as well as everything involved in companion care. 
  • Very High Level of Care (Level 3): Highly Experienced Caregivers provide everything in levels one and two, plus knowledgeable assistance to help seniors who are suffering from a chronic illness, who are bed-bound, and those who are on hospice.

If you live in the Raleigh area and would like information about home care assistance in Raleigh or Apex home care, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!