May 2017
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ElderCare at Home brings you this newsletter in the spirit of cooperation and education. We hope you find this information useful and informative.
  
Love and Gratitude
Celebrating Mother's Day
 

Love and Gratitude for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this month. May is also considered Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is the perfect time to be mindful of two things: 1) If you are caring for an aging mother, you have the opportunity to express your love and gratitude for Mother's Day; and 2) If your aging mother has a degenerative neurological disorder, like Alzheimer's, then you should also try to think of ways to show her how much you care in ways that are sensitive to her mental health.

ElderCare at Home would like to share tips with you on how you can thoughtfully prepare for Mother's Day. 

Some Ideas for Activities :

1)   A visit : Nothing says you care more than actually taking the time to visit your loved one. Perhaps you can even bring her favorite treat if she is able to have it.

2)  Anything tactile : Alzheimer's patients often enjoy tactile experiences and games, like puzzles or doing simple water color paintings. Another idea is to bring a wrapped gift since unwrapping a gift provides a complex sensory experience for a such a simple task. Perhaps the gift can be something that is comfortable to hold, like a blanket, or something that smells nice.

3)  Music : There is a growing body of research showing the beneficial therapeutic connections between Alzheimer's and listening to music. Find out what kind of music your mother enjoyed listening to growing up and play that over the stereo. See how she responds to the music. If she is enjoying it, then keep the music going.

4)  Photographs : Since Alzheimer's negatively impacts memory, many Alzheimer's patients cannot retain new experiences, but they usually can recall older experiences. Try to find old photos that can help your loved one reminisce. If you have older baby photos, vacation photos, or anything else that might evoke happy memories, then show them to her.

5)  Go outside : If your mother is physically capable, try taking her outside for a walk or to bring her around town. There is a lot of benefit to being outside in nature. Try finding a local garden or park where you can bring her. If she is unable to walk easily, then find a wheelchair-friendly area.

6)  Bake or cook : If your mother has a favorite snack or food item, then prepare some and bring it to her. There is no better gift than one's favorite food!

7)  Bring a favorite treat : When my grandfather was in an assisted living facility, he cherished the times we would visit him and bring a cup of coffee. Think of something your mother loves, and bring it to her, even if it a non-food item.

We hope that these ideas can also spark some ideas in you. You know your loved one better than most people, so you may think of some other great ideas. ElderCare at Home wants to wish you and your loved one a Happy Mother's Day. 

If you have any questions or want to learn more
about how ElderCare can help,
then please call 800-285-0093 or visit our website

 

Great Give Open House Party
D o n a t e  t o  H e l p  L o c a l  No n - P r o  f i t s  



The Great Give Open House Party

The Alzheimer's Care Resource Center, a local non-profit with which ElderCare at Home works closely, is proud to participate in the Great Give 2017. The Great Give is a 24-hour online giving event designed to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits in a single day. This community-wide event celebrates the spirit of giving and the collective effort it takes to strengthen our community by raising critical funds for local non-profits.

Your donation goes directly to helping provide counseling and coaching services for family caregivers who otherwise cannot afford it.  Every dollar donated gets us one step closer to helping family caregivers.

Alzheimer's Care at Home is having an open house party to celebrate the event and where you can donate in person on: 

May 17th, 2017  
10:00am to 2:00pm

The address is:
2328 10th Avenue North  #600
Lake Worth, FL 33461
 
And our phone number is 561-588-4545 if you have any questions.  If you cannot attend the event, then please donate online: http://bit.ly/2lSB4uF


Our goal is $5,000. Most caregivers will donate to our cause. Will you join them?

 

We're More Than Just Private Duty Home Care
Specialty Home Care Programs

In addition to our Alzheimer's/dementia specific private duty referral services, ElderCare at Home, a licensed nurse registry,  has referred caregivers who have provided exceptional care to thousands of patients through a number of specialty home care programs and our vast network of referred, independent contractors.

Each referral program allows the patient to recuperate in the place they most want to be... their own home!  Most patients experience positive outcomes and are able to enjoy an improved quality of life.



ElderCare at Home is always here for you!
To learn more, reach out to us at anytime (561)585-0400.

 

Being a Caregiver: 6 Things to Avoid Doing
A Video for Family Caregivers

Hello caregivers! If you are a family caregiver taking care of a loved one with dementia, then you have a firsthand understanding of the challenges caregiving can bring. See if you are struggling with any of these six behaviors, attitudes, or habits that are not conducive to good caregiving.

Click on the Image to Watch the Video

 
Subscribe to ElderCare at Home's
YouTube Channel  by Clicking Here.

 

Managing Caregiving at a Distance
Tips if You Are Far Away

  
Managing Caregiving at a Distance

 
A long distance caregiver is anybody who plays a role in providing support for someone at a distance.

If you have an aging loved one who needs home health care services and you do not live close by, then you are presented with a unique set of challenges not shared by caregivers who live close to their loved ones. Just because you live far away does not necessarily mean that you are free from the stresses of caregiving. In fact, not being nearby can make matters trickier if you have to be heavily involved in organizing care for them. For instance, you may have to manage money, arrange doctor's appointments, and help your loved one understand their health insurance and benefits.  Not only that, not being physically present can often be emotionally draining because you cannot be in the same place with someone you love during a time of need.

In this blog, we hope to explain some of the roles a long distance caregiver assumes and give you some tips to help you balance the challenges that come with this role.

What to expect: Providing care for someone can mean many different things depending on the level of care they need. If your loved one is unable to live life normally without some form of homecare, then you may have to contact a nurse registry or agency to schedule professional caregivers to visit them. Depending on whether you have siblings and if they live nearby your loved one, you may also have to become involved in managing medical bills, talking to insurance companies, and scheduling grocery deliveries. Many of these tasks can take up a substantial amount of time, and you may be interrupted at work to handle more important moments. Sometimes you may not know what to expect, but, as time goes on, you will learn about the resources available to help you on your caregiving journey.

Learn about your loved one's condition: If your loved one has a degenerative neurological disorder or is experiencing common symptoms associated with aging, it is important to know what to expect. Anticipating challenges can often help you respond better and manage your stress levels. For example, if your aging parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, then there are numerous challenges to face as the illness progresses. Preparing yourself for the hard facts can help you respond to certain events with more soundness of mind, even when these challenges can often induce great amounts of stress. Additionally, learning more about your loved one's condition will help you learn about the resources that exist to help them, giving you more control over the situation to find help when necessary.

Talking to family members: If you have siblings, you may have to organize a meeting time (or a phone conference) to speak about the kind of roles you want to adopt with respect to caring for your loved one. Sometimes you can split up different roles which can alleviate much of the burden from one person. For instance, if one sibling has more free time to make phone calls during business hours, then this could potentially help another family member if they are tied up at work during those same times. Or if a family member lives near your loved one, maybe they can visit more often and look out for problems. A family meeting will help everyone be on the same page about the best way to help. This will also allow you to find out everyone's (including your) strengths and weaknesses. If there are certain aspects of caregiving that you think you can perform the best, then try to take those duties on and allow other family members handle what they can do best.

Keep a record: As you become more involved in caregiving, you will need to keep track of various contact information as the network of resources on which your loved relies grows. Track any changes in their condition because you will likely need to convey new information to professional caregivers or relevant parties, so they are also informed. Other information you want to keep track of can include legal information, medical evaluations, banking account information, and personal email addresses. Depending on how involved you are in managing your loved one's affairs, these records will make your role as a caregiver a lot easier.

Dealing with guilt: Being far away can often make you feel like you are not doing enough. This feeling is a result of not being in direct control and being unable to be present physically. To alleviate this guilt, recognize that you are doing everything you can given your situation; and feeling overly guilty is not a productive way to manage your current situation. You can only do so much at a distance and, if you deeply care for your loved one, you are likely doing everything you can.

Communicate! This rule applies to everybody involved in caregiving, whether from far away or close by. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need help, then you have to communicate your feelings to a sibling, a counselor, or a third party who can provide assistance. If you are frustrated with a family member for not following through on their promises to help, you have to communicate with them exactly what the problem is. Conversely, if you feel you are unable to follow through with a promise, you should reach out to others involved to let them know. The root of most conflicts results from a lack of communication.

You should also keep in touch with your loved one as much as possible if you can. Checking in on them will help you stay up to date on their daily situation so you can respond to any emergencies if they arise.

Caregiving at a distance comes with many responsibilities. Fortunately, resources exist to give your loved one the assistance they need. 

If you are interested in ElderCare at Home
and learning more about what we can do to help,
call 800-285-0093 or visit our  website.

 

Client Referral Program
A Promotional Offer From ElderCare at Home
                      
ElderCare at Home would like to thank you!  As you know, our mission is to help seniors live confidently and age gracefully at home for as long as possible. We are continually working to educate the community about the services that we provide. However, it is often difficult to get this information to everyone.

ElderCare at Home would like to ask for your help in this endeavor. If you know of anyone who could benefit from our services, simply give them one of our Client Referral Program flyers with your name written on it and prompt them to schedule a FREE assessment. If they retain our services, we will give each of you 15% off a week's worth of services*!


Thank you so much for your help! We really appreciate it.

 

Traveling with a Loved One Who Has Dementia
An Ar ticle from the ElderCare at Home Blog
                      
Traveling with a family member who has dementia can pose some difficulties. If it is not possible to hire respite care at home, then you may have to bring your loved one along during some travel. [. . .]



For more information regarding Alzheimer's
disease  and caregiving, subscribe to our blog.

 

"6 Facts About a Person with Dementia"
Photos from the ElderCare at Home's Facebook Page

 
For more great posts like this, follow
the ElderCare at Home's Facebook Page.

 

Caregiver Support Groups
Open Support Groups for Family Caregivers
 
Caring for someone that has Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other cognitive impairment is hard. These support groups are attended by caregivers who are struggling with all kinds of different challenges and emotions.
 
ElderCare at Home in cooperation with the Alzheimer's Care Resource Center, facilitates more than 17  Caregiver Support Groups throughout the Palm Beach County area (Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, Delray Beach and Boca Raton)
 
Our Alzheimer's caregiver support groups are different! Our caregivers are able to come together and share in a warm, relaxed and nurturing environment.  We also offer a monthly telephone support group for all Alzheimer's caregivers who are either unable to attend in person, or live out of state.



Call (561) 588-4545 to RSVP
for any of the support groups listed.

 

Career Opportunities
Accepting New CNA and HHA Registrations
 
We are currently recruiting independent contractors who not  only enjoy working with the memory impaired, but who have an interest in making a difference in the lives of the patients and families they serve.

Do you have these qualities?
  • Experience
  • Compassion
  • Loyalty
  • Commitment
  • Kindness
  • Professionalism
Referral opportunities are available throughout South Florida.We've been helping  caregivers like you find employment for over 17 years. As an Independent Contractor, you tell us exactly where you want to  work; how many hours you can devote to your clients; and the type of caregiving situations you are looking for!

Call us Today (561) 585-0400 or Apply Online

 

The Best Compliment
Refer Your Friends and Family

 

The best compliment you can give us is the referral of your friends and family! We always appreciate referrals from our satisfied clients to friends and family members or professional resources. To send us a referral, simply call (561) 585-0400. Thank you!

 

We welcome the opportunity to serve

the people you care about.  


Please visit our website today at www.ElderCareatHome.org
and don't forget to visit our blog

You can call us anytime at (800) 209-4342
or email us at Info@ElderCareatHome.org


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