Health
Golden Years Sun Safety: Seniors and Skin Cancer Awareness
June 28, 2024
Skin cancer, the abnormal growth of skin cells, most commonly develops on areas exposed to the sun. However, it can also occur on less sun-exposed areas, such as the palms, beneath fingernails or toenails. As seniors age, their risk of developing skin cancer increases. Sun safety is very important, since one of the most preventable types of cancer is skin cancer. Here’s what you need to know:
Types of Skin Cancer:
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: The most common type, often appearing as a pearly or waxy bump.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Usually presents as a red, scaly patch or sore.
- Melanoma: The deadliest form, characterized by changes in moles or new growths.
Risk Factors for Seniors:
- Sun Exposure: Accumulated sun exposure over a time contributes to skin cancer risk.
- Age: Around 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.
- Fair Skin: Light-skinned individuals are at higher risk.
- Gender: More men over 55 develop melanoma.
How Just Like Family Home Care Can Help:
- Assistance with Dressing: Help seniors dress in sun protective clothing, such as lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover arms, shoulders, and legs, as well as wide-brimmed hat to protect face, ears, and neck.
- Assistance with Sunscreen: Help seniors apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, which is a highly recommended method of preventing skin cancer.
- Assistance with Appointments: Help seniors attend dermatology appointments for regular skin checks.
- Supportive Care: Provide emotional support during diagnosis and treatment.
Remember, one of the most preventable forms of cancer is skin cancer. An early detection and professional assistance play a vital role in management and treatment. Just Like Family Home Care plays an essential role in helping seniors maintain skin health and overall well-being.
Arthritis in Seniors
May 30, 2024
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. It primarily affects seniors and tends to worsen with age. It can have a major negative effect on seniors’ quality of life by impairing their capability to carry out everyday tasks and engage in social interactions. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for minimizing the impact of arthritis on seniors’ well-being. Just Like Family Home Care plays a vital role in helping seniors manage arthritis. These are some of the ways we can be of great service.
- Skilled Nursing Care: Just Like Family Home Care can provide professional nursing care. Seniors with arthritis can benefit from the assessment, care, and pain management techniques offered by registered nurses (RNs).
- Dietary Guidance: Just Like Family Home Care team can educate seniors about arthritis-friendly diets. We recommend avoiding pro-inflammatory meals like processed foods, sweets, and saturated fats and consuming anti-inflammatory foods like berries, leafy greens, olive oil, and fatty fish.
- Support with Daily Life Activities: Just Like Family Home Care team can help seniors with bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. By minimizing joint stress during daily activities, seniors will experience less pain and discomfort.
- Emotional Level Support: Arthritis can influence seniors’ mental health. Just Like Family Home Care team can provide emotional support and companionship. We minimize elders’ sense of loneliness by listening to their worries and offering support.
Considering that every senior has different needs and preferences, personalized arthritis care is crucial. Just Like Family Home Care is able to modify support according to each person’s unique circumstances and degree of arthritis severity.
Heart Disease and How Just Like Family Home Care Can Help
April 26, 2024
Heart disease has a significant impact on seniors. The risk of having a heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure is significantly higher in people 65 years of age and above. Millions of seniors’ quality of life is diminished and their activities restricted by heart disease, which is also a major source of disability. Just Like Family Home Care can be a valuable resource for supporting heart health in seniors. Here are three key ways in which we can help:
- Supporting Preventative Care with Nutrition and Well-being: The best line of defense to help identify cardiac problems early on is preventative care services, which include yearly physicals, lab testing, and screenings. In the case that the senior is unable to drive themselves and the family is unavailable, Just Like Family Home Care can help with transportation to and from appointments. A few healthy lifestyle choices that can help lower the risk of heart disease include increasing physical activity, eating a balanced diet, cutting back on alcohol, and giving up tobacco products.
- Services to Support Recovery and Lower Readmissions to Hospitals: Returning home after a cardiac incident might be very stressful. Following the discharge instructions is important for lowering the possibility of being readmitted to the hospital. By handling duties like driving the senior home upon release, cleaning the house, collecting up prescriptions, sending out medication reminders, running errands, and more, the Just Like Family Home Care team can help with the transition back home and make recovery process less stressful.
- Personal and Hygiene Care: Just Like Family Home Care can provide personal care services, such as light housekeeping, errand running, companionship, and more. Maintaining personal hygiene might become increasingly difficult both during and after recovery, particularly, when mobility changes. The staff at Just Like Family Home Care is happy to help while upholding dignity and offering support.
While every elderly person faces various needs, Just Like Family Home Care is available to assist seniors as they go through heart health journey. Our staff is here to help with all phases of heart health care, encompassing prevention, post-treatment rehabilitation, and continuing care.
Benefits of Spring Cleaning for Seniors
March 30, 2024
Traditionally, spring cleaning gives us a chance to makeover our houses and get ahead of the busy spring and summer months. However, due to physical restrictions or health concerns, spring cleaning can be a difficult undertaking for elders. In this situation, Just Like Family Home Care’s support might be quite helpful. Here are some advantages of spring cleaning for seniors with the help of Just Like Family Home Care:
- Safety First: A clean and organized home is a safer home. Clutter can be a tripping hazard, and accumulated dust can exacerbate respiratory issues. Just Like Family Home Care can ensure safety during cleaning, such as preventing falls and using non-toxic cleaning products.
- Promoting Hygiene: A thorough cleaning can eliminate germs, allergens, and bacteria, which promotes a healthy living environment. Regular cleaning can improve air quality, which is particularly important for seniors with respiratory issues.
- Reducing Stress: Getting spring cleaning chores done can make you feel proud and accomplished. A well-kept and arranged home can boost happiness, lessen stress, and encourage sounder sleep.
- Fostering Independence: With a clean and organized home, seniors can navigate their space more easily, fostering a sense of independence.
- Companionship: Spring cleaning with Just Like Family Home Care can also provide valuable companionship for seniors. The presence of a caregiver can make spring cleaning a social experience, making it more enjoyable for seniors and providing an opportunity for seniors to engage in conversation and share stories.
In conclusion, spring cleaning is not just about keeping things tidy. It’s about creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable living environment. With the help of Just Like Family Home Care seniors can reap the benefits of spring cleaning without the stress and physical strain. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Aging in Place
February 27, 2024
Aging in place is the idea of growing older while remaining in one’s own home, rather than moving to a senior care facility. This choice is favored by many senior citizens since it preserves their comfort, familiarity, and independence. However, aging in place may also require some assistance. Just Like Family Home Care can provide various services to help seniors live safely and comfortably at home. A few of the main advantages of using Just Like Family Home Care to age in place include:
• Personalized care: Just Like Family Home Care is able to customize services, including the kind, frequency, and length of care, to meet the unique needs and preferences of elders. You can choose the caregivers you trust and feel comfortable with, and communicate with them directly about your expectations and feedback.
• Cost-effectiveness: Just Like Family Home Care can often provide care at a lower cost than institutionalized care, especially for long-term or chronic conditions.
• Improved health outcomes: Just Like Family Home Care can offer a range of health care services, such as medication management, wound care, care after surgery, monitoring of vital signs, injections, attending doctor appointments, and many more. By using these services, seniors can enhance their quality of life, avoid or treat health issues, and spend less time in hospitals or emergency rooms.
• Emotional well-being: Just Like Family Home Care can also support seniors’ emotional well-being by providing companionship, social interaction, and mental stimulation. We can help elderly cope with loneliness, depression, or anxiety, and enhance their self-esteem and dignity.
At Just Like Family Home Care we empower seniors to maintain their independence, improve their quality of life, and grow old comfortably in their own homes.
Incontinence in Seniors
January 29, 2024
Incontinence is a common problem among seniors. About 75% of women over age 65 suffer with urine leakage, and 60-70% of people with Alzheimer’s eventually become incontinent. Incontinence can be caused by aging, illness, or injury. Weak muscles of the sphincters and pelvis can lead to urinary incontinence because the muscles cannot remain tight enough to hold urine in the bladder, or the bladder does not have enough support from the pelvic muscles to stay in its proper position. Weak bladder muscles may also result in not being able to empty the bladder completely. Additionally, incontinence may be caused by medication interactions, vaginal or urinary tract infections, prostate problems and progressive diseases that lead to cognitive and physical decline.
Just Like Family Home Care can help seniors deal with incontinence by providing assistance with toileting, hygiene, incontinence products, and medication management. We can also provide transportation to doctor’s appointments and prescription pickups. Just Like Family Home Care can also offer emotional support and companionship to seniors who may feel embarrassed or ashamed about their incontinence. We can also help seniors stay connected with their friends and family by providing transportation assistance to social events and activities.
At Just Like Family Home Care we provide seniors, who are incontinent, with support they need to keep their dignity and self-confidence to continue being involved in life.
Help Seniors Overcome Holiday Loneliness
December 19, 2023
The Christmas holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and gratitude for many people. However, the holidays may also be a stressful, depressing, and lonely time for some seniors, particularly those who live alone or have few social connections. If you have a senior loved one who may be feeling isolated or depressed during this festive season, Just Like Family Home Care can help.
Just Like Family Home Care is a service that provides in-home care for seniors who need assistance with daily living activities, such as personal care, medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping, and companionship. Our caregivers are trained, compassionate, and reliable, and they can make a positive difference in the lives of seniors and their families.
Here are some of the ways that Just Like Family Home Care can help seniors during the Christmas holidays:
- Provide emotional support and social interaction. Our caregivers can visit seniors regularly and offer them a listening ear, a friendly conversation, and a warm smile. They can also engage seniors in meaningful activities, such as playing games, reading books, listening to music, or watching movies. These interactions can help seniors feel less lonely and more connected to others.
- Help seniors connect with their family and friends. Our caregivers can assist seniors with using technology, such as phone calls, video chats, or online platforms, to stay in touch with their loved ones. They can also help seniors send and receive cards, gifts, or photos, and share their holiday memories and wishes. These connections can help seniors feel more loved and appreciated.
- Assist seniors with participating in holiday traditions. Our caregivers can help seniors celebrate the holidays in ways that are meaningful to them. They can help seniors decorate their homes, bake cookies, wrap presents, or attend religious services. They can also accompany seniors to family gatherings or community events, and ensure their safety and comfort. These traditions can help seniors feel more festive and joyful.
- Help seniors access community resources and activities. Our caregivers can help seniors find and join local programs and services that can enhance their well-being, such as senior centers, places of faith, volunteer opportunities, or support groups. They can also help seniors enjoy the holiday spirit in their neighborhoods, such as visiting light displays, listening to carolers, or shopping at local markets. These resources and activities can help seniors feel more engaged and fulfilled.
Just Like Family Home Care can tailor its services to meet the specific needs and preferences of each senior, and ensure they receive quality care and attention during the holiday season and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about how Just Like Family Home Care can help your senior loved one, please contact us today. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Happy Veterans Day
November 10, 2023
Veterans Day is a special day to celebrate and appreciate the brave men and women who have served our country in the military. At Just Like Family Home Care, we are proud and honored to provide home health care services to veterans and their families. We believe that veterans deserve the best quality of care and respect for their service and sacrifice. That is why we offer a range of services and benefits that are tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of veterans.
Some of the services and benefits that we offer to veterans include:
• A consultation and assessment to determine the level and type of care that is suitable for each veteran.
• A customized care plan that is designed to address the specific goals and challenges of each veteran, such as managing chronic conditions, recovering from injuries, coping with mental health issues, or enhancing independence and quality of life.
• A team of skilled and compassionate caregivers who are trained and experienced in working with veterans and their families. Our caregivers are carefully matched with each veteran based on their personality, interests, and background. Our caregivers also undergo regular evaluation to ensure that they deliver the highest standards of care and professionalism.
• A 24/7 support and communication system that keeps veterans and their family caregivers informed and involved in the care process. We provide regular updates and feedback on the progress and well-being of each veteran. We also welcome and encourage any questions, comments, or suggestions from veterans and their family caregivers. We are always available and ready to respond to any concerns or emergencies that may arise.
At Just Like Family Home Care, we are more than just a home health care provider. We are a partner and a friend to veterans and their families. We are committed to honoring and supporting veterans not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve those who have served us. Happy Veterans Day!
Healthy Fall Charcuterie Board
October 25, 2023
A healthy fall charcuterie board is a great way to enjoy the seasonal flavors and produce, while also catering to the needs and preferences of seniors. Here are some tips and ideas on how to make a healthy fall charcuterie board that elderly can make:
- Choose whole-grain breads and crackers that are high in fiber, B vitamins and protein. These can help with digestion, energy and blood sugar levels. You can also make your own cauliflower chips for a low-carb alternative.
- Add nuts, such as almonds, pecans or walnuts, to your board. Nuts are a healthy snack that provide plant-based protein and healthy fats. You can also roast or spice them for extra flavor.
- Load up on fruits and veggies that are in season, such as apples, pears, grapes, kumquats, figs, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Fruits and veggies add color, nutrients and antioxidants to your board. You can also roast some of the veggies for a warm and cozy touch.
- Choose the right meats and cheeses for your board. Avoid cold cuts that are high in sodium and saturated fat, which are not good for heart health. Instead, opt for thinner sliced meats and choose lower-fat cheese options.
- Add one or two dips to your board, such as hummus, spinach dip or a sweet dip made with yogurt and honey. Dips can add moisture and flavor to your board, as well as provide some calcium and protein.
- Don’t forget some fun treats to finish off your board. You can add some dark chocolate, dried fruit or mini pumpkin pies for a festive touch. Just be mindful of the portion size and sugar content of these treats.
Just Like Family Home Care hopes these tips and ideas help seniors create a healthy fall charcuterie board that they can make and enjoy!
How to Make the Transition from Hospital to Home Successful
August 30, 2022
Most hospital patients aren’t fully recovered when they leave — especially after surgery or a complex procedure. Although having them back at home is comforting and relieving, the transition period can be overwhelming. Your loved one’s recovery from hospital discharge to home is crucial, but they will need to adjust to certain factors such as environment, people, and routine.
As a result, you and your family need to understand and prepare ahead of time. Here are some tips that will help you or your loved have a successful post-surgery recovery.
Make sure you understand the hospital discharge process
As the expert on your loved one, you play a crucial role in their post-surgery care. Make sure to be prepared and do some research beforehand, finding this article means you are on the right track! Understanding why your loved one was hospitalized can also help you understand what symptoms to look out for once you are home, along with what to expect in the future. When your loved one is given his or her discharge paperwork, review the summary and make sure you don’t have additional questions. Be sure to meet with the discharge planners during the discharge process. Discharge planners are dedicated professionals who help hospitals plan for a safe discharge.
Understand the medication, symptoms and side effects
Having a clear understanding of how long it will take for symptoms to improve, what types of setbacks are typical, and when you should reengage medical attention is crucial. To be able to take good care of yourself or your loved one–properly and accurately, you need to be aware and understand every single detail in regards to their medication. This can be considered the most important factor to keep in mind when you get to bring your loved one back home.
Ensure your loved one’s space is well prepared and comfortable before they arrive
Hospitals are known to be clean, well-sanitized, and comfortable. It will be much easier for you or your loved one to adjust if the surroundings are similar. Before your loved one heads home, make any necessary changes, so you will feel more prepared and the house will seem calmer. A clean and comfortable environment will help your loved one recover physically and emotionally.
Be ready to provide extra care or need extra care
When someone has been hospitalized, you can always assume that they will need extra assistance and supervision following their discharge. Even in the best-case scenario, older adults usually require time and patience to return to their routine. If you are welcoming a family member to your home, make sure that anyone else living with you is ready for new adjustments and willing to help out.
If your loved one usually lives alone, plan on having someone stay with him or her for at least the first week. If you need help finding someone, contact us today to find a post-hospital caregiver that fits you or your loved one.
Look for a post-operative caregiver if you are not sure you can do it alone
In order to take proper care of your loved one, you must consider looking for a reliable caregiver. This will help you make things easier and more comfortable for your loved one. Some doctors recommend families to look for professional caregivers especially when the family has no medical background. Just Like Family Home Care has nurses available to offer superior care directly in your home or temporary accommodation setting. Our flexible hours are designed to meet the needs of our clients following surgery, as we understand how difficult it may be to anticipate how much care you may require. To learn more about daily care, extended hours, and post-operative care, click here.
Make sure to arrange a follow-up check up with a primary-care doctor
To make sure the transition and recovery process is going well and smoothly, it is recommended to set an appointment with a doctor after a couple weeks of staying at home. In this case, you will be aware if you or your loved one is in need of treatment or extra medication or if they are doing pretty well.
Taking home a former hospital patient might be challenging at first. Surgery is a major decision that requires a lot of research and planning. Post-operative care is just as important. Just Like Family is tailored to those who are seeking the best in nursing care and know the peace of mind that comes with having assistance following surgery.