6 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

The outside temperatures are dropping quickly and that means a snowy, icy winter is on its way. As we get older, we become more susceptible to the challenges of this season, so it’s important for seniors to do a little extra preparation to stay safe and healthy over the winter. Here are six tips for older adults from our home care services team in New Jersey:

• Reduce Winter Fall Risks – Falls are incredibly dangerous for seniors, and the ice and cold conditions of winter make falls during this season very common. Check your loved one’s winter wardrobe and make sure pants, skirts, and dresses are the right length. Check winter shoes to ensure that they have a sturdy tread. If your loved one likes wearing house slippers, these should be checked to make sure they have a stable rubber grip. If you live nearby, volunteer to clear their steps or pathway outside their home to get rid of ice, or ask a neighbor to assist.
• Stock the Shelves and Medicine Cabinet – This is especially important when a storm is on its way. Pop over with enough food and essentials to last five to seven days, including fresh and canned goods, water, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription medication. Check that their emergency kit is stocked with a working flashlight and spare batteries, a whistle, and a warm blanket, and place it somewhere easy to reach.
• Keep the House Warm – Seniors can lose body heat quickly and are less likely to sense that their body temperature is dropping. While many seniors are on a tight budget, it’s recommended that thermostats are set at 68 degrees throughout winter. You can help keep energy bills down with some small home improvement projects, including closing vents in unused rooms, sealing around windows and doors, and replacing your furnace filter at the start of every heating season. A dirty filter sends particles into the air that contribute to winter illness.
• Banish the Space Heater – Space heaters are incredibly dangerous and expensive to run. So, it’s best to get rid of them. They are a leading cause of house fires, often caused by flammable furnishings, blankets or curtains that brush up against them unnoticed.
• Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Seniors are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, be sure to test detectors and make sure there’s a working detector on each floor of the home. Carbon monoxide,  a common byproduct of less efficient furnaces and heating systems, is called the silent killer because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating. Optimally, hire a home heating professional to make an onsite service visit during the fall.
• Stay in Touch – Whether you are close enough to visit or whether you call, it’s important to check in on a regular basis. Winter can be a time when many seniors are vulnerable to isolation and depression, so social contact can do a lot to keep seniors connected and active. It’s also a good idea to keep in contact with a few of your loved one’s neighbors so that they can also check in on occasion and make sure everything is alright.

For Peace of Mind, Choose the Best Home Help Services for the Elderly in NJ

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through our HomeWorks program. This program is dedicated to assisting seniors in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families, and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness, and independence.

For more information on our at-home health care agency or our residential in-home respite care in NJ, 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/6-essential-winter-safety-tips-for-seniors/

What to Do When Your Senior Parent Refuses Help They Need

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they may need a little extra help and care to live life to the fullest – but not everyone sees a helping hand as a positive thing. Many seniors struggle to accept that they need assistance, and this stubbornness can be a big concern for loved ones. Here are some tips from our home health aide services team in New Jersey on what to do when your senior loved one isn’t interested in talking about assistance.

You Can’t Force Someone to Accept Help 

The first thing to realize is that you can’t make your parent accept help – or even accept your advice. Unless they are suffering from a mental or physical health condition that legally allows you to make healthcare decisions on their behalf (Power of Attorney or a legal guardianship), they are legally entitled to make their own decisions.

Don’t Make Ultimatums 

An aggressive approach, even if it’s rational and logical, is going to look like an attack, putting your parent on the defensive. Most older adults who refuse to consider assistance or at home care are rejecting the idea out of fear – fear of getting older, fear of being removed from friends and family, and so forth. Instead, speak to your parent as someone who respects their input and their point of view, and explain your concerns.

Try Meet Them Halfway 

Try to understand where they are coming from and consider their concerns too. If they don’t want to move out of their home or away from their social circle, consider home health aide services rather than assisted living. If they are worried about having to invite someone into their house that they don’t know, then talk with your local service providers about making introductions with different caregivers so your parent can get to know them.

Don’t put any pressure on – your parent needs to come around to the idea of assistance by themselves. Often, they have just as many misconceptions about these services as younger people do, so it is often just a matter of showing how useful and rewarding a little senior care can really be.

Home Health Aide Services New Jersey – Compassionate At Home Care for the Elderly

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we strive to offer the very best quality senior care options, from assisted living to in-home care through our HomeWorks program. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. We can assist you with respite care, overnight care, hourly or live-in care, as well as provide experienced care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Original Content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/what-to-do-when-your-senior-parent-refuses-help-they-need/

Ask These 3 Questions When Hiring For In Home Respite Care Services

In home respite care services are a useful option for seniors who need some additional assistance in their daily lives after an operation, fall or illness, or for family caregivers who need additional help caring for their loved one. Here are some important issues to cover in the interview process.

What are Your Qualifications?

In most states – but not all – home health aide services are required to have the correct license, which includes regular reviews, in order to ensure that the quality of the services they offer meet a particular standard. You can ask to see an up-to-date license and you can also call your state health department to confirm that the company you are interviewing is licensed to operate.

Another area to look into is the personal qualifications of the individual who will be providing your in home respite care services. This can be confirmed by talking to the organization about their employee background screening process, by contacting personal references, and getting a clear idea of their training and experience.

What Services Do You Cover?

Home health aide service providers offer a wide range of services that meet the needs of a variety of people and offer an hourly rate. This ensures that you aren’t paying for time or services that you don’t need. It’s important to understand the range of services that your home health aide can cover, which may include:

• Companionship
• Bathing and dressing
• Light housekeeping (laundry, vacuuming, etc.)
• Grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation
• Transport to social and medical appointments
• Home care for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia, palliative care, stroke recovery, cancer recovery, etc.

What Do These Services Cost?

It’s important to find out how the agency handles expenses and billing (especially when it comes to skilled nursing care), whether costs can be submitted to health insurance or Medicare, and if the agency offers any kind of financial assistance. Be sure to get quotes in advance so that you can check with your insurance provider and ensure that it fits in your budget.

High-Quality, Compassionate In-Home Respite Care Services in NJ

Whether you need assistance as a family caregiver or your loved one is recovering from an operation or illness, our care team is here to help through our HomeWorks program. As one of the leading residential in-home respite care providers in NJ, our fully certified staff have all the essential senior care training and experience needed to provide for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Care-Services-For-Seniors

Original Content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/ask-these-3-questions-when-hiring-for-in-home-respite-care-services/

What to do When Each Parent has Different Care Needs

Each person ages differently and it’s normal for one parent to need minimal assistance while the other requires far more intensive care. Here’s some advice to help you ensure both parents get the right amount of assistance, from our home health aide services team in New Jersey.

Is Living Together No Longer an Option? 

Whether it’s due to an age difference, illness or other complications, senior couples are often faced with the decision to move into assisted living. As much as your parents may want to continue living together, different care needs can make this a challenge, if not impossible. For families, this means that one parent may have to transition into assisted living alone.

Coping with separation can be difficult, even if it’s for the best. It’s important for family caregivers to ensure regular visits (your local Department on Aging may be able to assist with transportation services), create a schedule for family activities, and focus on self-care.

When faced with this difficult decision, it’s important not to focus on feelings of guilt, but rather, to contribute positively to shared decision-making, providing support, and – importantly – having quality time together.

Are Home Health Aide Services an Alternative to Assisted Living? 

Every provider is different, whether you are looking at senior home care services or assisted living communities, so it’s important to research and find out if they can meet your loved one’s needs.

Professional home health aide services can be a viable alternative to moving into an assisted living community, especially when parents have different care requirements. The provider can do a detailed assessment of your loved one’s needs and make recommendations about  the services and type of care they offer, with some providers offering everything from assistance with chores and transport, as well as skilled nursing care, 24-hour care, and assistance with daily living activities.

This allows your parents to stay in their home together and continue living as independently as possible. These services can also be scaled up or down to meet changing needs as you or your parents require, which gives you the benefit of flexibility.

Skilled, Compassionate Home Health Aide Professionals in New Jersey 

Whether you need a permanent home health aide services in New Jersey or need someone qualified and experienced to assist your loved one temporarily with respite care, we are here to help through our HomeWorks program. Our staff are fully certified in New Jersey and have extensive training and experience in at home care for elderly, including assisting Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services in New Jersey, 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/what-to-do-when-each-parent-has-different-care-needs/

Virtual Reality – Exploring a New Therapy for Dementia

When most people think of VR or virtual reality, they think of entertainment — but the truth is that this technology offers so much more. VR has useful applications helping people with dementia conditions. Our home health aide services team offers some supportive insight.

Using Memory to Engage and Connect with Dementia Patients 

One of the biggest challenges for caregivers, family and loved ones of dementia patients is finding ways to connect with their loved one and spend meaningful time together. Happily, VR technology helps make this easier and more rewarding.

Dementia conditions affect memory, causing short-term memory loss while mostly leaving long-term memories intact. Using virtual reality, patients are able to relive their past memories by “visiting” realistic periods of time, places, and locations that hold special meaning to them.

These kinds of memory exercises are key in therapeutically treating these conditions, helping to stimulate brain activity, reduce anxiety and confusion, stabilize mood and improve the quality of life for dementia patients. For families, it’s a wonderful way to engage with their loved ones and share positive, happy memories in a calm, safe environment. In this way, VR therapies form a method to help prolong essential human connections.

VR Technology as a Way to Understand Dementia Better 

Another interesting application of this technology is in helping caregivers, medical professionals, and families better understand the life of someone with dementia. Winners of The Caregiving for Dementia Innovation Challenge showcased their software offering, “Embodying a Person With Alzheimer’s in Virtual Reality,” as a way for caregivers to better understand the disease and the needs of their clients.

Through VR, caregivers can experience how neuro-cognitive conditions affect other parts of the body, not just their memory functions. It shows how the disease progresses in a way that helps all involved in care better understand and anticipate their client’s needs. In this way, VR builds empathy and understanding, as well as promotes caregivers’ thinking outside the box.

Full-Time, Part-Time and Respite Care from Home Health Aide Services in NJ 

As a caregiver, getting the assistance of a qualified and experienced home health aide can be the best way of getting the support and guidance you need to care for your loved one with dementia.
As part of United Methodist Communities, a non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer home care for the elderly with trained, experienced nursing and health aide staff to help your loved one.

Our respite care and seniors home care services cover everything from companionship and help around the home to 24-hour live-in care, depending on exactly what you and your loved one requires. Our services are scalable and by-the-hour, allowing you to develop a custom care plan.

For more information on respite care and our home health aide services in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Heath-Aid-services

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/virtual-reality-exploring-a-new-therapy-for-dementia/

Effective Therapies to Change Senior’s Lives for the Better this New Year!

Aging is a process filled with new challenges and adjustments, and the effects of aging – from losing bone and muscle tissue to changes in cognitive functionality – often mean that seniors can no longer participate in activities they previously enjoyed. However, this is more about discovering new activities and paths to wellness and happiness! Here are some great therapeutic, fun activities ideal for seniors from our in home respite care services team.

• Art therapy: Arts and crafts are a source of enjoyment at any age, but this type of creative expression is especially beneficial to seniors. It provides mental stimulation, improving cognitive and sensorimotor functions, triggering the memory, building self-esteem and self-awareness. And there are so many creative activities to choose from, including painting and drawing, origami, crafting photo albums, knitting, weaving baskets, making jewelry and pottery – there’s something for everyone.
• Movement therapy: If you have a senior loved one, you know just how important it is – and how challenging it can be – to stay strong, fit and mobile. Movement therapy is calibrated especially for seniors and customized to their current mobility and health status. Not only does preserving or improving mobility help seniors live a more full and independent life, it also fights a wide range of health conditions, improves the immune system, helps create social connections, improves appetite and memory, and fights depression. Again, there are so many activities to choose from, including water aerobics, tai chi, swimming, nature walks, dancing, yoga, and gardening.
• Music therapy: As everyone knows, nothing can quite lift spirits and transform a mood as hearing your favorite song! Music therapy, whether it’s learning an instrument, taking singing lessons, joining a choir or dancing, is a critical part of living a full life. The activities are social, co-operative and encourage engagement, helping build social connections, relive good memories and living a life of purpose and accomplishment.

In Home Respite Care Services in NJ – Experienced Home Health Aide Services for Seniors 

Whether you need residential in home respite care in NJ or need someone qualified and experienced to assist your loved one on a more permanent basis, we are here to help through our HomeWorks program. Our staff are fully certified in New Jersey and have training and experience, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services in NJ, 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/effective-therapies-to-change-seniors-lives-for-the-better-this-new-year/

5 Great Ways to Honor Veteran’s Day!

November 11^th, a very important day for many Americans and their families, is a wonderful opportunity to remember and thank the men and women who have served our country. For seniors, this is an especially important day, so our home care services team is sharing their best tips for helping your senior loved one honor this day:

1. Display the flag. While many Americans already do this, it is an especially poignant activity on this special day. Where you fly the flag, or the size of the flag is up to you, but the most important thing is that your loved one gets a chance to participate.
2. Visit a VA facility. If your loved one is fairly mobile and up to a busier day, then why not visit a VA hospital or assisted living community? It’s a good opportunity to show your support or even share memories. They may offer events that you can participate in or you could even bake a few treats together that will brighten a patient’s day!
3. Pay respects. If your loved one knew veterans who have passed away, then one good idea is to visit their gravesite and pay your respects. Take the time to talk about the person who has passed and thank them for their service with a poppy or token you can place at the site.
4. Visit a veteran. If there are any elderly veterans in your neighborhood, then this is the perfect opportunity to visit and thank them in person. It’s a good idea to make up a few care or treat packages together to drop off when you visit. It’s also a great way to reconnect with neighbors and build those essential connections that keep isolation at bay.
5. Take part in local activities. Check out local community, town and state websites to find out what’s planned for Veteran’s Day in your area. The usual list includes parades, choirs, memorial ceremonies, the Battleship ceremony and much more.

Aging in Place – Qualified Home Care Services in New Jersey 

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer high-quality home care 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 with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home care agency or our senior homecare services, pleasecontact 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/5-great-ways-to-honor-veterans-day/

5 Things Seniors Need to do to Prepare for Winter

Winter is approaching quickly and along with all the celebrations and festivities, the season also brings a few challenges like snow, ice and cold weather. Here are five tips for seniors to prepare for the winter ahead from our specialists in home help services for the elderly:

1. Home maintenance. Start early with home maintenance before the rush sets in. Have your home’s heating system checked and serviced, make sure the gutters are cleared out and schedule small home maintenance repairs before they become bigger problems. It’s also a good idea to have smoke and CO₂ (carbon monoxide) detectors checked to ensure they’re in good working order.
2. Wardrobe. Go through your winter wardrobe thoroughly to ensure that your warm weather items are in good condition and within easy reach when the cold sets in. Make sure you have enough warm clothing, scarves and blankets, as well as weather-proof gear, for when you go outdoors. Check your shoes to make sure they are still weather-tight and can grip well to avoid slipping on ice. Walking sticks must also be checked to ensure that worn cane tips are replaced.
3. Car maintenance. Driving in the winter can be dangerous, so make sure your vehicle is fully serviced before the icy weather arrives — check oil, wiper blades, tires and the battery. Ensure that your roadside assistance service is up-to-date and pack an emergency kit to leave inside your vehicle (not in the trunk). This kit should include a blanket, snacks with a long expiration date, hat/socks/gloves, booster cables, emergency flare, flashlight with additional batteries, cellphone adapter to charge your phone from inside the car, basic first aid kit and bottled water.
4. Home provisions. Stock up with non-perishable foods and bottled water to eliminate trips during bad weather. Frozen meals can also be stockpiled in your freezer. Aim for as much variety as possible and ensure that you have Vitamin-D-rich foods like tuna, salmon, milk and grains. Also, stock up on common over-the-counter medications.
5. Assistance. If needed, don’t hesitate to ask for help from neighbors, family, and friends. They can take on bigger jobs like clearing away snow and ice, home maintenance or fetching winter goods out of hard-to-reach places. Lifts to and from the shops, appointments or social events can also make daily life a lot easier. Some communities even have shuttle services specifically to help seniors.

Winter or Summer, Choose the Best Home Help Services for the Elderly in NJ 

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through HomeWorks. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home health care agency or our residential in home respite care in NJ, 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/5-things-seniors-need-to-do-to-prepare-for-winter/

5 Healthy Vision Tips for Seniors

The eyes are often called the window to the soul — and they’re certainly an important window out into the world. As we age, vision can deteriorate, and we can become increasingly at risk for health conditions that affect eyesight. Here are five tips for seniors from our home health aide services team to help protect and preserve eyesight:

1. Be aware of changes in eyesight/discomfort. In the case of most eye health conditions, early detection is critical to restoring eyesight and minimizing damage. If you notice changes in your vision and eyes — blurriness, yellowing, pain, loss of night vision, etc. — make an appointment to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
2. Stay informed about systemic health problems. Certain health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can worsen as we age and affect vision. It’s important to keep your ophthalmologist informed about your health conditions and the medication you’re taking to ensure that they can spot issues easily, give advice on how to recognize eye problems and assist in keeping your eyes healthy.
3. Regular exercise. For eyes to be healthy, they need good blood circulation and a constant flow of oxygen, and exercise provides this stimulation. It also helps with keeping health conditions that affect the eyes under control. This doesn’t mean training for a marathon, however — yoga, stretching, walking, water aerobics and other gentle exercises are also effective.
4. Invest in quality eye protection. Always wear protective eyewear when outdoors, especially in bright sunlight. Make sure that your sunglasses have larger lenses with an ultraviolet (UV) filter that blocks 100% of harmful rays.
5. Have regular eye exams. Eye tests are not just for making sure that your prescription is up-to-date, it’s about monitoring and assessing the health of your eyes. Eye exams are designed to pick up early signs of health conditions that can affect your vision, including glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. One exam per year is recommended, but don’t hesitate to go more often if you are concerned about your vision.

Home Health Aide Services New Jersey – Convenient, Scalable At Home Care for the Elderly

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we strive to offer the very best quality senior care options, from assisted living to in-home care through our HomeWorks program. This program assists older adults in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. We can assist you with respite care, overnight care, hourly or live in care, as well as provide experienced care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

For more information on our home health aide services for older adults, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/home-health-aide-services/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-healthy-vision-tips-for-seniors/

5 Ways to Assist a Senior Recovering from a Stroke

Assisting an elderly loved one after a stroke requires patience, planning and a lot of hard work. Here are some tips to help make stroke recovery caregiving easier and more effective, from our in home respite care services team in New Jersey:

1. Research strokes. Knowing as much as possible about your loved one’s condition is key to providing effective assistance. In addition to reading about the subject online from reputable sources like the American Stroke Association, speak to your loved one’s physicians and find out exactly how the stroke has affected your loved one, what the recovery process looks like, and signs of a possible relapse or an additional stroke. Hospitals also offer stroke support groups.
2. Prepare the home. While your loved remains in hospital, take some time to prepare the home to accommodate their caregiving needs. You might need to relocate their bedroom to avoid stairs, get rid of mats and loose carpets that can cause trips and falls, or install grab handles in the bathroom.
3. Identify risk factors. Since stroke patients are more vulnerable to additional strokes, rapid treatment is essential in the event of another. It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate a second stroke, such as loss of balance, fatigue, slurred speech, facial muscle weakness, numb or tingling limbs and blurred/double vision. You can also reduce risk factors by helping your loved one follow a healthy eating plan, adhere to a strict medication schedule, get gentle exercise, and quit bad health habits like smoking.
4. Create a routine. Daily routines aren’t only comforting to stroke patients and easier on caregivers, they also aid in the recovery process. Write down what daily activities your loved one can do independently, which ones they need help with and those they are unable to manage completely, so you know when you’re most needed. While providing assistance, always encourage your loved one to try to complete as much of the task as they can comfortably manage, rather than taking over. This is crucial to helping them re-learn these skills.
5. Take care of yourself. Caring for a stroke patient is hard work and can be frustrating — and when they’re a loved one, this can be a difficult emotional strain, too. Don’t forget to care for yourself — whether it’s joining a support group, letting other family members share the workload, or calling in professionals to provide expert assistance on a temporary basis.

In-Home Respite Care Services in NJ – Support for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones 

Whether you have an appointment you must keep, a meeting you need to attend, or you simply require a day to yourself to recharge, our care team is here to help through our HomeWorks program. As one of the leading residential in-home respite care providers in NJ, our fully certified staff have all the essential senior care training and experience needed to provide for stroke recovery patient, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Care-Services-For-Seniors

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-ways-to-assist-a-senior-recovering-from-a-stroke/

May is Arthritis Awareness Month!

This month, our home healthcare services team is looking at a health condition that affects so many seniors — arthritis. This includes over 100 conditions that cause joint disease and joint pain, affecting over 50 million adults in the United States. Here is some helpful information about arthritis and its treatment.

Do I Have Arthritis? 

As this name is given to such a large group of conditions, there’s no definitive single set of symptoms for diagnosis. However, these four most common symptoms can indicate an issue:

1. Swelling, pain and stiffness in the joints
2. Decreased range of motion
3. Physical changes to the joints, for example, knobby finger joints
4. Difficulty with daily activities like walking, typing and climbing stairs

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with your doctor as soon as possible to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Osteoarthritis, the most common condition in this category, generally affects the elderly. It is caused when the cartilage (the hard but smooth cushioning surface on the ends of bones) wears away, leaving bone to rub against bone. This causes pain, swelling and stiffness, which often worsen over time, resulting in a lack of strength in the joint.

Inflammatory arthritis conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are immune conditions which occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints of the body, resulting in painful inflammation and even damage to internal organs and other parts of the body. It can result from genetic and environmental risk factors, including smoking.

Treatment for Arthritis 

For osteoarthritis, symptoms are treated by not overworking joints, engaging in therapeutic activity and strengthening the muscles around the joints, healthy weight management, hot and cold therapies, assistive devices, mild pain medications and avoiding repetitive movements.

For inflammatory arthritis, early diagnosis is very important, as patients can get medical treatment in the form of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to reduce pain and inflammation and prevent permanent damage.

Compassionate, Quality Care from Our Home Health Aide Services Team in New Jersey 

Whether you need permanent senior homecare services or someone qualified and experienced to assist your loved one on a respite care or temporary basis, we are here to help through HomeWorks. As one of the leading home health agencies in NJ, our staff are fully certified in New Jersey and have senior care training and experience. Please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information about HomeWorks’ home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Care-Services-For-Seniors

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/may-is-arthritis-awareness-month/

8 Spring Cleaning Safety and Health Tips for Helping Seniors

Spring is a wonderful time of year that’s all about transitioning into those long, care-free summer days. For seniors, however, this season can bring its set of challenges despite the warmer weather!
Here are some tips for caregivers to help senior neighbors, friends, family and members of community to shake off the winter weather:

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips 

Some of us dread spring cleaning and seniors are no exception! If you’re planning to help an elderly loved one with this task, follow these tips:

1. Plan ahead. Make a list of each area that needs to be addressed in the home and what you want to accomplish. Be sure to get approval for each step — especially about what must go and what should stay.
2. Team effort. Your loved one is likely only going to be able to manage lighter tasks and supervise some of the process, so don’t take on everything else alone. Get friends and family in to help — it will make the job easier and faster, as well as a lot more enjoyable!
3. De-clutter first. Clutter is a very real health hazard for seniors, so it should be a priority when cleaning out. Once you’ve dealt with initial clutter, only then move on to cupboards and storage areas. Remember to keep clear paths throughout the house that can accommodate your loved one’s walker or wheelchair, if necessary.
4. Test safety devices. Use this opportunity to install safety devices in the home or test ones already in place to make sure they are in working order. This includes ensuring grab bars are secure, fire and carbon monoxide detectors function, and that lights are bright and in full working order.

Spring Health Checks 

Spring is allergy season, and seniors are no exception!

5. Be sure to check if your loved one is suffering from any allergy symptoms and if so, plan a trip to the doctor to prescribe the right medication.
6. If you suspect that the allergen is inside the home, check and clean air conditioning filters.
7. Check for mold growth in moist areas of the home and inside cupboards.
8. Give bedding and soft furnishings a thorough cleaning.

Companionship, Nursing and More from Our NJ Home Help Services for the Elderly 

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.

Through this program, trained and experienced staff can 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 helping with daily tasks, transport and personal hygiene, our senior home care services team can assist with nursing, medication management and much more on a permanent or temporary basis. 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 home health aide services and residential in-home respite care in NJ, 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/8-spring-cleaning-safety-and-health-tips-for-helping-seniors/ 

Stroke Recovery Advice for Senior Caregivers

A stroke can be a frightening event with serious consequences, and compassionate, expert care is key to making the best recovery possible. Here are some tips for caregivers from our home health aide services team on how to cope with this recovery period and give your loved one the support they need.

Change Your Caregiving Routine 

Strokes can cause significant changes in your loved one’s temperament, personality and physical abilities. These can be temporary or permanent depending on the severity and location of the stroke. This means that your regular caregiving schedule will have to be completely rethought in order to meet new challenges as your loved one recovers.

Some of the most common results of a stroke include difficulty walking, eating, or speaking. Often, patients also have trouble focusing their attention, remembering things or even recognizing people. It’s important to meet with your loved one’s physician in person to discuss exactly what to expect from your loved one’s current condition and how permanent these effects may be. Always remember that no two strokes are the same, and everyone recovers differently, so there can be no set timeline or definite expectations of recovery.

Speak to the physician about any new medications your loved one will be on. Take a list of all current medications and go through them with the physician to ensure a clear understanding of when they should be taken, the possible side effects and to confirm that there aren’t any medication combinations that should be avoided.

Emotional Support is Essential 

Recovering from a stroke is a confusing and frightening experience, and it is normal for patients to be upset, scared of future health problems, confused and even frustrated. An important role for caregivers is to provide emotional support — helping to keep your loved one motivated in their recovery, and watch for signs of anxiety and depression.

Don’t be Afraid to Get Professional Assistance from Home Health Aide Services in New Jersey 

Stroke patients are a big adjustment for caregivers, and usually require intense care especially in the beginning of their recovery. As a caregiver, getting the assistance of a home health aide can be the best way of getting the support and guidance you need to care for your loved one, as well as relief assistance to help you focus on your loved one’s recovery.

As part of United Methodist Communities, a non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer at home care for the elderly through trained, experienced aides to help your loved one as they recover from a stroke. Our respite care and senior home care services cover everything from companionship and help around the home to 24-hour live-in care. Tailored to what you and your loved one require, our services are scalable and by-the-hour or live-in, allowing you to develop a custom care plan.

For more information on respite care and our home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Heath-Aid-services

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/stroke-recovery-advice-senior-caregivers/

Healthy Heart Tips from HomeWorks

Hearts are the strongest muscles in our bodies, beating over 3.3 billion times over 80 years while we sleep, eat, laugh, and enjoy life. Like any muscle, it needs certain nutrients and exercise to keep healthy and fit — this becomes more essential as we age. Here are some of the best tips for senior heart health, from our home health aide services team:

• Exercise. 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 5 days a week is required to keep hearts in great shape, but you need not worry about running a marathon to get results. Walking, hiking, dancing, aqua aerobics, and even gardening benefit the heart and are gentle on joints, too.
• Eat the right diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good for the heart, as are lean proteins and essential oils. Try to avoid or omit red meat, fatty meats, saturated fats, and salt.
• Control cholesterol and high blood pressure. High numbers here put your heart under considerable stress and force it to work harder to get blood and oxygen to the brain and body, as well as leading to increased risks of heart disease and heart attacks. To reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, speak to your physician about keeping these numbers in a healthy range and take the required medication as prescribed.
• Stop smoking. Smoking is just as bad for your heart as it is for your lungs. This unhealthy habit causes serious health problems for the heart, including increased risks of heart disease and heart attacks. However, it is important to remember that it is never too late to quit and quitting will have an almost immediate benefit. In fact, within a few months, you will be breathing easier and in just one year, reduce your risk of heart disease by half.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Managing a healthy weight is key. Like smoking, excess weight increases risks of heart disease and heart attacks. Your physician can advise you on a health and wellness plan that will help you lose weight in a safe and manageable way.
• Stop the stress. Stress, anxiety and worry can have very real effects on your physical health, including your heart. Speaking to a therapist or pastor, taking up a new hobby, socializing more or joining yoga and meditation classes for seniors, all form therapeutic outlets.

Maintain a Healthy Heart, Mind and Body with In-Home Care for the Elderly in NJ

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best quality home health aide services for the elderly, from assisted living to elderly in-home care 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 medical care and daily home care, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our home health aide services in New Jersey, 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/healthy-heart-tips-homeworks/

5 Ways Home Health Aides Can Help Make Family Caregiving Easier

With many people taking on the role of family caregiver to keep their loved one in the comfort of their home, it’s important to provide family caregivers with support. Life is demanding for family caregivers, and here are just some of the ways that home care can provide essential assistance.

1. Professional support without the cost of assisted living: Home care services bridge the gap between family caregiving and assisted living, helping caregivers and loved ones access care when needed without the commitment and expense of assisted living.
2. Home comforts: This brings one of the biggest benefits to seniors and their families. Assistance by a home health aide helps you to keep your loved one at home in their own comfortable and familiar surroundings and in the community they love, which is ideal for seniors with nearby friends and relatives.
3. Scalable services: Among their biggest worries, family caregivers fear that one day they will be faced with a challenge they cannot handle, whether it requires special training or a clash of important commitments. When family caregiving becomes too much to handle, a home health aide offers an easy, compassionate transition into professional care.
4. Daily help: An important role of a family caregiver is to provide emotional support and companionship, but this can easily be lost under a mountain of daily chores and mundane, but essential tasks. A home health aide can take on this side of caregiving with ease, letting you focus on quality time with your loved one.
5. Spotting wellness issues early: Home health aides are trained to monitor the wellbeing of their client, keeping track of medications and current health issues, as well as spotting new developments and report any changes to the registered nurse in charge of your loved ones’ care. This expertise ensures that your loved one gets the right treatment early on, helping to reduce and prevent costly treatments and hospital visits.
6. Professional home care in New Jersey – The affordable, high-quality wellness option 

At United Methodist Communities HomeWorks, we’re proud to offer home health aide services to assist family caregivers and their senior loved ones. Whether your loved one needs round-the-clock care, companionship or assistance with daily chores and grooming, we can  help with professional support. Our home health aides are trained, certified and experienced in senior care, and we offer our services at affordable rates scaled to your requirements. We can assist you with respite care, overnight care, hourly or live in care, as well as provide experienced care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

For more information on our home health aide services for the elderly, please contact us todayat https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-ways-home-health-aides-can-help-make-family-caregiving-easier/

Home Health Aide Services: How Can We Help You Live an Abundant Life?

Home health aide services are more than simply getting household chores done or managing medication and healthcare services for seniors. They’re about providing essential support so seniors can live the fullest, most rewarding lives possible. Here’s how we do it:

• Staying in the comfort of your home and community: If moving into assisted living isn’t something you want  or simply doesn’t make sense from a financial or other perspective,senior home care services can help. By bridging that gap between full independence and living in an assisted living community, home healthaide services can make living in your home easy again. This means the comfort of familiar surroundings, as well as staying within your community and social circles.
• Health monitoring: Chronic disease management is about staying on top of medical conditions before they become a more severe problem. In an unobtrusive way, home health aides will help you track your health data to ensure more effective management of chronic diseases y. This directly leads to better health, less falls in the home and less time in hospitals.
• Emotional and spiritual support: While friends and family are a wonderful source of love and support, many seniors feel a lack of spiritual support as part of their medical and health care program. This is why HomeWorksoffers pastoral care. .Compassionate, community-based companionship brings a great source of spiritual wellbeing to many seniors and yields essential support for health and happiness.
• Custom care: Is your health still good but you’re struggling with daily housework? Does your partner need special assistance to deal with a chronic medical condition or Alzheimer’s? Whatever your needs, home care services can be tailored to meet them , so you aren’t paying more than you should be or getting more assistance than you require. These services can also be scaled up or down as you need them, making it easier and more affordable to get high quality assistance without sacrificing your independence.

Custom, affordable senior home care services in New Jersey for a full, independent life 

United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, strives to offer the very best quality senior care options, from assisted living to in-home care through our elderly in-home care HomeWorks program. This program assists older adults in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. We can assist you with in-home respite care, overnight care, hourly or live-in care, as well as experienced care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

For more information on our home health aide services for the elderly, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/home-health-aide-services-can-help-live-abundant-life/