5 Essential Go-Bag Items for In-Home Senior Caregivers

Being a caregiver for a senior loved one often means facing the same routine challenges each day, like preparing meals, getting to and from shops or appointments, dressing and bathing. But caregivers also must plan ahead and be ready to act quickly in the event of an emergency — that’s where your go-bag comes in. Here are some insights from our in home senior care team in NJ.

Pack your go-bag today 

As a caregiver, you know that a lot of preparation, planning and teamwork is needed to care for your loved one. When an emergency happens, there’s not a lot of time to think — only time to act.
Having a go-bag ready in advance keeps you prepared and ensure you both have the essentials you need without causing additional anxiety or confusion for your loved one.

What should be in my senior go-bag? 

While the final items are up to you, our team has the following suggestions:

1. Patient fact sheet. A brief document for healthcare professionals so they have the basic information needed to manage your loved one’s treatment. Include information like his or her full legal name (to match insurance documents), current health conditions and medications, allergy information, contact information of his/her healthcare providers, special dietary considerations, any communication issues or behavioral issues, and religion. Be sure to also include your own contact details.
2. Copies of important documents. Including Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance cards; healthcare proxy; Living Will; Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR); etc.
3. Basic toiletries and supplies. Spare set of eyeglasses, denture storage and cleaning supplies, a change of clothing and/or pajamas, hand lotion, hair brush, facecloth, small bag for jewelry or valuables, reading material, and any comfort items.
4. Snacks and water. A few of your loved one’s favorite snacks and some bottled water often come in handy and help keep blood sugar stable and prevent dehydration.
5. Items for you. Keep a few crossword puzzles, a novel or a few magazines in your go-bag, as well as some healthy snacks and water, for the wait. It’s also a good idea to keep a spare phone charger in your bag so you can stay in contact easily.

In-home senior care from trained and experienced home health aides in NJ 

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we understand the challenges of providing expert medical care and companionship to seniors while encouraging a full and independent life, which is why we’ve developed our HomeWorks program.

Trained and highly experienced staff assist seniors and their families through this comprehensive senior in-home care program. Each care plan is designed around the client’s exact needs, filling in with necessary assistance while allowing your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home.
For more information on our seniors in-home care services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-essential-go-bag-items-home-senior-caregivers/

Special Home Caregiving Services for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients

An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis is a challenge to deal with for the patient and loved ones. As the disease progresses, patients will require different levels of care and support to stay healthy, comfortable and enjoy a good quality of life. Our senior home care services team can provide some insight into the care and companion services for your loved one.

Types of at home care 

A common misunderstanding about at home care is that it is limited to medical care, but actually, there are a few different types of care designed to provide assistance wherever it’s needed. These include:

• Companion services. A home health aide supervises certain activities – like recreation, grocery shopping, social visits and more. These are great for seniors who need help with transport, remembering appointments, and so forth.
• Homemaker services. Going one step further, these help your loved one manage their household. This is ideal for seniors who are more frail, recovering from an illness/surgery, or struggling with their memory. It covers daily household chores, meal prep and cooking, and generally managing the home.
• Personal care services. This covers assistance with bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, exercising, and other activities.
• Skilled nursing care. These focus on your loved one’s medical needs, including wound care, medication management and so forth.

Certified home health aide services are tailored to your loved one’s needs 

When it comes to these services, many seniors require some of one and a little of another, so it’s important to find a provider who can tailor services to fit individual requirements. Because Alzheimer’s and dementia are progressive diseases with specific symptoms, your experienced aide will not only be able to cope with the challenges your loved one faces, but also play an active role in their care. This means proposing and performing therapies to assist your loved one, keeping in contact with family members, and offering recommendations when your loved one’s care requirements change.

Compassionate care from experienced home health aide services in New Jersey 

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we understand the challenges of providing expert care and companionship to seniors while encouraging a full and independent life, which is why we’ve developed our HomeWorks program.

Through this program, trained and highly experienced staff can assist seniors and their families through comprehensive in home care. Each care plan is designed around the client’s exact needs, filling in with necessary assistance while allowing your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home.

In addition to helping with daily tasks, transport and personal hygiene, our senior home care services team can assist with nursing, medication management and much more. For dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, we can develop specific care routines that ensure a sense of structure and help reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information on our in-home care for elderly, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/special-home-caregiving-services-alzheimers-dementia-patients/

Be Aware and Save Lives: Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms

When it comes to strokes, every second counts towards preventing permanent damage and saving lives. Here’s what you need to know from our senior home health care services team about this medical condition in order to act quickly.

F-A-S-T – The easy way to recognize stroke symptoms 

The four letters F-A-S-T, spells out the symptoms of a stroke and are key to saving lives. Here’s what they mean:

F = FACE DROOPING. Watch for one side of the face starting to droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile to check for unevenness.

A = ARM WEAKNESS. One arm feeling weaker or numb. To test, ask the person to raise their arms up in front of them and see if their one arm drifts down or has difficulty responding.

S = SLURRED SPEECH. Difficulty speaking and articulating words. Test the person by asking them to repeat a short sentence like, “The grass is green.”

T = TIME. If someone shows one or more of the above symptoms, it’s time to call 9-1-1. This is vital even if you are unsure or if the symptoms seem to be going away, as time is absolutely vital for effective medical treatment.

Additional symptoms may include vision trouble, sudden dizziness or trouble walking, severe headache or numbness on one side of the body.


What is a stroke? 

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This prevents vital organs, like the brain, from getting needed oxygen and nutrients and very quickly results in damage to the organ. This is a very serious event, as the affected part of the brain may never fully recover from the damage and, if the stroke is severe enough or not treated quickly enough, the patient may die.

In fact, strokes are the fifth most common cause of death in the USA, killing around 140,000 Americans each year. Because many of these deaths and stroke-related injuries can be prevented if patients are treated as quickly as possible, knowing the FAST checklist is so essential.

Stroke risk factors 

While a stroke can happen to anyone, these risk factors make a stroke more likely:

• African-Americans are twice as likely as whites to have a first stroke, and have the highest mortality rate.
• Younger age groups are increasingly at risk of stroke, but the highest age group at risk are people over 65.
• Women are more likely to have a stroke than men.
• Health conditions and lifestyle. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, low physical activity, and heart disease all increase stroke risks.

Expert, compassionate at home care for the elderly in NJ 

At United Methodist Communities, one of New Jersey’s leading home health aide servicesorganization, we strive to offer the very best quality senior homecare options, from assisted living to in-homecare through our HomeWorks program. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers, personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. In addition to daily home care, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our senior home health care services or to find a qualified home health aide in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website athttps://homeworks.umcommunities.org.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/aware-save-lives-stroke-warning-signs-symptoms/

Celebrating Veterans Day with Seniors Who Served

Saturday, November 11^th, is a day to not only thank those who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but also to remember veterans who are no longer with us. It’s a day of remembrance and celebration, and there are plenty of events and activities happening in the State of New Jersey and across the USA where you can join in with your loved ones. Here’s some essential information from our home health aide services team in NJ.

The America’s Parade, New York, NY 

This very well-known event is definitely worth the travel time to attend! Known as America’s biggest Veterans Day event, Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and Korean War veteran, will be Grand Marshall at the 2017 parade. This year’s featured military branch is the U.S. Air Force, and will showcase veterans of all eras with floats, military and vintage vehicles, bands and much more. It starts at 10 am and ends around 3:30 pm. With over 30,000 participants and crowds of over half a million spectators, this is an incredible event and a wonderful opportunity for honoring any veterans in your life. It is also a memorable outing for any family, including seniors!

Take senior veterans shopping for great discounts 

Veterans Day comes with big discounts for current and past members of the military, but seniors with transportation difficulties may struggle to participate. If you have a senior loved one who served, or know your senior neighborhood veterans, providing transportation and companionship is a great opportunity to thank them for their service! Many local museums, cinemas and restaurants also offer great deals for veterans on this day, so you can really make an experience of it all. Take a look at your local newspaper and social sites for participating stores and entertainment providers.

Proudly celebrating Veterans Day with the best in senior home care services 

At United Methodist Communities, one of the state’s leading home health aide agencies, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through our HomeWorks program. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers, personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home healthcare agency or our residential in home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/celebrating-veterans-day-seniors-served/

Reducing Fall Risk Among Older Adults Living at Home

Falls are the number one risk for seniors and account for the clear majority of injuries, broken bones, and hospital stays they experience. In fact, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for Americans over age 65, which makes fall prevention essential.

Home Health Aides Advise You to Be Aware of What Causes Falls

Older adults are vulnerable to falls for many reasons and knowing what may contribute to a fall can help prevent it. Some of the most common reasons include poor vision, dizziness, poor balance, chronic health conditions, and even the home itself.

Steps Every Senior Caregiver Should Take to Help Prevent Falls: 

Step one. Talk to your loved one’s doctor. Seniors often take a variety of medications as well as self-medicating with over-the-counter drugs. Ask the doctor to fully evaluate your loved one’s medications, as well as how they are taking them in order to eliminate any conflicts that may lead to dizziness, sleepiness, low blood pressure or anything else that could cause a fall. This is also a good time to get a record of previous falls, near-falls and fall-related injuries to see if there is a specific issue or an increase in frequency.

Step two. Start an age and health-appropriate exercise routine. Balance, reflexes and strength diminish as we age, but that doesn’t mean anyone should sit in a chair all day. Using targeted exercise regimes on a regular basis, seniors can build up core muscles and strength that is critical to preventing falls and injuries. Be sure to use a physical therapist or trainer who is experienced with older adults and understands your loved one’s health.

Step three. Evaluate your loved one’s environment. Poor lighting, clutter, rugs that shift, slippery tiles, steps, and bathrooms without grab rails significantly contribute to falls. Hallways and rooms should be clear and easy to navigate; install grab bars in the bathroom, and remove rugs. Make sure lighting is bright and easy to access in every room — especially between the bathroom and bedroom. Simple battery-operated press lights work well!

Step four. Your loved one’s wardrobe may pose hazards. Shoes should fit well and have good grip; trousers and skirts shouldn’t be too long. Substitute a sturdy pair of slippers for wearing socks around the home.

Assistance for Seniors and Their Loved Ones Through In-Home Care for the Elderly 

United Methodist Communities strives to offer the very best quality senior independent home care options in New Jersey through HomeWorks. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. In addition to daily homecare, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our senior home care services or to find a qualified home health aide in New Jersey, please contact us today and visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/reducing-fall-risk-among-older-adults-living-home/

What’s Included In-Home Care Costs?

As the demand for senior care rises, seniors and  their families are under a fair amount of pressure to find an option that offers quality care at an affordable price.. Often, home care offers the best of both worlds – the ability to stay in your home and age-in-place, as well as keep costs down by tailoring the services to exactly what is needed. Here are some insights into what is included in the cost of in-home care for the elderly.

What makes in-home care an affordable, high quality senior care option? 

The cost of in-home care services varies from agency to agency, at a range between $15 and $35 per hour. While you may realize significant savings from staying in your own home, the biggest day-to-day savings come from strategically tailoring services to fit your needs – so you only pay for care as you need it.

Hourly care is ideal for seniors who need assistance with some daily tasks but don’t require around-the-clock care. This is also a good respite care option for family caregivers who need to find care for an elderly loved one when they need to travel or are unable to provide 24-hour care because of work or other commitments.

For seniors who require more intensive care, the services can be broadened to include overnight, live-in care or specialized Alzheimer’s or dementia care. All of these services can be scaled up or down to provide a tailored care solution that ensures that you aren’t paying for services that you don’t require.

These costs cover services that range from assistance with day-to-day tasks, pastoral care, companionship and light housekeeping, to medication management, nursing and chronic disease management.

Compassionate, certified in-home care in New Jersey 

United Methodist Communities offers high-quality senior care at affordable rates,  through our HomeWorks program. Our home health aides are fully certified in New Jersey and have senior care training and experience, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home services, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/whats-included-home-care-costs/

When is the right time to look for at-home care for the elderly?

Senior home health care services are a great option for elderly loved ones who still live independently, but are starting to need help for basic, day-to-day tasks. Here are some indicators that your loved one can benefit from in-home assistance from New Jersey’s specialists in home care for the elderly.

1. Trouble driving: The ability to drive safely is an important part of being independent, but may deteriorate as we age. If your loved one is no longer feeling confident behind the wheel, anxious about driving or has had a minor accident, they may benefit from an in-home care service that takes care of their transportation needs.
2. Home maintenance: If your previously house-proud parents are now letting home cleaning and maintenance issues get out of control, in-home care might be a good idea. This lack of daily cleaning and maintenance may mean that your parents just aren’t able to keep up with the constant demands of their home. With some assistance, they can continue to enjoy their home, while also removing potential safety and health hazards.
3. Loss of weight and poor hygiene: Caring for ourselves becomes more difficult as we age and this often includes bathing, traveling to the supermarket, cooking and cleaning. If you’re noticing that your elderly loved one is experiencing unusual weight loss or poor hygiene, in-home care offers a great option. These services prioritize your loved one’s health and comfort and avoid the stress of moving.
4. Confusion and forgetfulness: Everyone forgets things sometimes, but if you’re noticing this more frequently, it could be a good time to talk about getting in-home care. As possible symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s, it’s important to consult a physician for a proper medical diagnosis and treatment plan. Your in-home care assistant can then help with daily tasks, medication management, transport and more.
5. Depression, anxiety and mood swings: Unusual changes in mood or high levels of stress can signal that your loved one isn’t coping at home. This can be a very difficult reality for anyone to deal with, but it’s important to recognize, seek and implement a solution that suits your loved one. Often, seniors feel anxious about their inability to cope and possibly giving up their homes and their independence. In-home care can be the right choice.

Compassionate, expert senior health care services in the comfort of home

United Methodist Communities in New Jersey understands the challenges of providing care and companionship to seniors while encouraging a full and independent life, which is why we’ve developed our HomeWorks program.

Through this program, trained and experienced staff assist seniors and their families through comprehensive in-home care. Each care plan is designed around the client’s needs, filling in with necessary assistance while allowing your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home.

In addition to assistance with daily tasks, transportation and personal hygiene, our team can give support with nursing, medication management and much more. For dementia and Alzheimer’s clients, we can develop specific care routines to ensure a sense of structure and help reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information on our in-home care for the elderly, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/right-time-look-home-care-elderly/