Blog - Page 8 of 22 - Green Tree Home Care

Are brain supplements good for you? Do they work?

Supplements and vitamins are a dime a dozen these days and it can be hard to differentiate what is real from what is not.

This is especially true if you’ve tried to research solutions to help boost your elderly loved one’s brain health.

So which supplements do you trust and which ones are just a fad?

In today’s post, I will go over which brain supplements researchers show to be effective.

Brain supplements are not for everyone

An important note is that while one may enjoy excellent benefits from a supplement person, another person may see none.

This is due to a number of factors.

Genetic make-up. Research scientists still discovering that your genetic make-up can affect the efficacy of a drug. There is more and more talk of personalized medicine where treatments are tailored to individuals instead of everyone receiving the same drug.
Underlying health issues. Before you start using any supplements, it’s helpful if you could talk to your primary healthcare provider. Supplements still contain organic chemicals interact with the drugs you already take and so may cause you to react adversely or see no benefits.
Sometimes, a supplement may only work when the person is deficient in that particular supplement. If you’re not deficient in it, you may see no benefits.

And apart from these, the truth is that certain supplements are hyped by marketing companies; but have no research to back them.

Thus in researching and buying brain supplements, it is important to do your due diligence.

Brain supplements – Results from research

Omega-3 fatty acids, gingko biloba and ashwagandha are a handful of brain supplements that researchers have studied.

Omega-3-Fatty Acids

You will find omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. According to this study published in Psychopharmacology, older adults with mild cognitive impairment who were given fish oil over a 12-month period showed improved brain function over a similar group of older adults who did not take the supplements.

It’s important to not that while the scientists saw this improvement in people who had mild cognitive impairment, they did not notice any increased benefit with people who did not have brain impairments.

Gingko Biloba

Researchers in this study found the Gingko Biloba benefited people had dementia.

Most people in the study tolerated the drugs well.

Ashwagandha

Ayuverdic medical practitioners (a type of traditional medical system practiced in India) use ashwagandha a lot.

Researchers show that Ashwagandha has effects on the heart, different glands in your body as well as on the brain.

While all of these supplements show positive effects on brain health, researchers still have a long way to go in studying them.

In fact, few negative side effects have been reported for the three supplements I’ve discussed here. Nonetheless, it is always important to check with your doctor or healthcare provider before you start taking a new supplement.

So are brain supplements safe for you?

It depends on many factors but so far, research supports a handful of them.

Perhaps your elderly loved one is still able to drive themselves everywhere.

This is great!

However, declining vision and other health challenges can throw a kink into a person’s ability to drive.

An inability to drive however should now keep your elderly loved one from getting to medical appointments, the grocery store and connecting with friends and family.

So what are some affordable transportation option for seniors?

That’s what we’ll be discussing in this blog post.

Five affordable transportation options for seniors

Senior discounts with local bus systems

Several bus and train systems across the country offer deep discounts for seniors.

You can purchase a monthly pass for these buses and trains and as long as you present proof of your age, you or your elderly loved one will receive the discount.

Lyft/Uber

If most of your (or your loved one’s trips) are short, you can use the Lyft or Uber apps to get picked up and dropped off at your destinations.

The nice thing about these apps is that you can add a special message telling the driver of any special needs you have before they get there. And in my experience, even as a non-senior (yet!), drivers are very helpful when they know you have needs ahead of time.

Hired caregivers

If you’re paying for a professional care-giving service such as that which you get with Green Tree Home Care, caregivers can provide transportation and companionship to your medical appointments, the grocery store and more.

Just let your care-giving agency know about your needs and they may be able to step in!

GoGoGrandParent

if you want to use Uber or Lyft but don’t have a smartphone, you can use GoGoGrandparent to call for one.

GoGoGrandParent allows people to use a regular phone to access Uber or Lyft.

They also will provide your loved ones with text updates on where their senior loved one is in their journey.

Here’s a short video on how GoGoGrandParent works.

Veyo

Veyo partners with health insurance companies and Medicaid/Medicare Advantage programs to provide transportation for seniors. You don’t have to pay anything out of the pocket for Veyo.

You don’t have to have a cell phone to use Veyo.

All you need to do is reach out to your health insurance company to find out if they partner with Veyo. If they do, you will simply follow their process for signing up for pick-ups and you’re done.

And those are five affordable transportation options for seniors to check out.

If you know someone who is looking for affordable transportation options for seniors, share this post with them.

The summer is upon us and so are those terribly hot temperatures.

It’s indeed the time to make great memories with your family and take advantage of the outdoors.

However, one of the most disturbing things about summer is the number of elders who die from the heat during this time.

In today’s post, I will share a series of tips with you to help you and/or your elderly loved one stay cool this summer so we can avoid bad news.

Ready?

Let’s get into it.

Staying cool this summer-A guide for elders

Drink a lot of water

While this might seem obvious, people do forget to drink water even in the summer. Yet it is the number one way to stay hydrated during the hot months. To make it easy, here are a few tips on how to get more water in your system.

- Get a dedicated drinking bottle. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. It could even be a regular gallon you get after you empty one of those iced teas you get at the gas station. Fill it with water at the beginning of the day and make it your goal to finish the whole gallon before the day is over. Yes, this means you might have to visit the bathroom a lot; however, it will keep dehydration and its’ effects far away.
- Add flavor to your water. Some people hate the taste of water. It’s understandable if you do. To make your water palatable for you, you could infuse it with fruits. I especially loved infusing my water with lemon and whenever I do, I end up drinking more water than I normally do because of how refreshing water tastes with lemon.
- Drink your sugary drinks-but don’t forget to drink water too. People sometimes convince themselves that as long as they are drinking something, it’s all good and they don’t need water. Drinking something is better than drinking nothing at all. However, not all drinks will hydrate you. So go ahead and enjoy your sweet tea and various juices. But don’t forget to drink water as well.

Stay out of the sun

After those long cold months, nothing is as heavenly as getting your fair share of the sunshine.

The old adage “too much of a good thing can be bad” holds true here as well.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause severe skin damage and causes cancer.

So as much as possible, stay out of the sun.

If you have to or want to be in the sun, it is always best to put on your sunscreen and reapply it every 3-4 hours to make sure your skin is protected.

Wearing hats and using umbrellas is helpful as you will be able to enjoy the sun without being affected by the UV rays directly.

Apart from skin damage, over-exposure to the sun can cause heat exhaustion which can lead to death if it’s untreated.

Therefore, if you are going to be in the sun for a long time, you will have to take the extra caution of having ice packs and hydrating drinks to make sure your body doesn’t succumb to the heat.

Tis’ the season for cool showers

A cool shower in the morning and one at night does wonders for your body.

If more than one shower will be too harsh on your water bill, a local swimming pool where you can take a dip is helpful.

Staying cool this summer: Use your fans and air-conditioners

You bought them to use them, correct?

So allow them to do their job during the summer.

Staying cool this summer and knowing about heat exhaustion

Even when people take precautions, the elderly can still suffer heat exhaustion or dehydration.

It’s helpful to know the signs of heat exhaustion in these instances.

Check out the following posts to learn more about heat exhaustion and other heat-related health issues.

Heat exhaustion in the summer. Here’s what you should know.

Avoiding dehydration this summer.

If you’re struggling to pay the bills…

At times, people cite the fact that they cannot afford their electric or water bills as the reason why they may not be using their shower, fans or air conditioners to stay cool during the summer.

If this is your situation, you will need to find out from your utility suppliers if there are any discounts or special programs for elders.

In every city I’ve lived in, the utility companies have always offered some kind of program for the elderly to help them afford their bills, especially in peak seasons like winter or summer.

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What is a power of attorney?

And do you need one?

If you are elderly, or if you have an elderly loved one, you need a power of attorney.

In today’s post, we will go over what it is, how it comes in handy and how to create one.

Let’s get into it.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document that allows you to appoint a person or an organization to handle your affairs on your behalf should you become unavailable or unable to.

Some scenarios that would require you to have this document include:

Falling sick and becoming unconscious and so you’re no longer able to make your own decisions.
Traveling outside the country and then you have an important decision that needs to be taken on your behalf immediately.
You suffer a mental health condition that makes you incapable of such decisions. Examples include dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.

And these are just three examples. Essentially, any situation that would make you unable to make your own decisions requires this legal document.

Why you need one

You need one because it is best if the decision taken concerning you, comes directly from you.

When you have this as a legal document, it will reduce uncertainty on what you want.

Many family feuds have come about as a result of having no appointed people to take crucial decisions.

Sometimes, these issues are followed up in court and costs everyone involved precious time and money.

How to create a power of attorney

Like I mentioned above, a power of attorney is a legal document.

Thus, it is in your best interest to consult with a lawyer when you decide to create one.

There are different types of the document.

For instance, you could have a general power of attorney. With this type, you give powers to an individual or organization to take decisions that include:

the sale of your property
managing your financial affairs
buying health insurance
employing professionals

A healthcare power of attorney, will be able to take medical decisions on your behalf. Such a person or organization can be included in your estate plan.

With a special power of attorney, you will afford the person you choose with the exact decision they are allowed to take for you. For instance, you might designate one of your children as the person who decides what happens to a piece of real estate while another one will be responsible for something else.

I highly recommend that you talk to a lawyer about this as well as creating a complete estate plan.

It comes down to trust

You should never let anyone force you into making them a power of attorney.

If you don’t trust the person or organization, you are not compelled to give them this responsibility.

And because you can do this with a lawyer at any point in time, you can do it privately before you ever disclose whom you’ve appointed.

Whichever way you choose to go, it is helpful to have a power of attorney for those seasons of life when you are unable to take crucial decisions that have lasting consequences.

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When it comes to paying for home care, the drawback many families cite is money.

And understandably so.

While home health care is usually covered by most insurance companies (including Medicaid and Medicare), home care usually is not.

So how are you supposed to pay for it?

If the thought of paying for your loved one’s care out-of-pocket is blocking your decision, this post is for you.

In this post, I will share about the PACE program and how it could help you and your elderly loved one pay for home care.

Paying for home care

Find out if your loved one has retirement savings that could cover the costs

Yes, this post is about the PACE program but, it is helpful to find out if your loved one has any money saved up that you can use to pay for home care.

If your elderly loved one worked for a corporation that offered a retirement plan, find out if they still have money in their savings account.

If they do, this will help immensely with out-of-pocket costs.

Look into the PACE program

PACE stands for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It is a Medicaid and Medicare program that allows the elderly to keep living in their home or community instead of going to a nursing home.

In order to qualify, your loved one has to “in need of nursing home-level services”.

If you live in an area where PACE is offered and your elderly loved one meets this criteria, you could apply for and receive the PACE program.

You must have Medicaid or Medicare to join PACE
Age must be 55 or older
Must be able to live safely with the help of PACE
And as I mentioned above, they must need nursing home-level care

What does it cover?

PACE will cover the following services

Home care
Adult day care
Nursing home care
Nutritional counseling
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Prescription drugs
Preventative services
Social work counseling

Amongst other services.

But for the purposes of this blog post, it is important to note that PACE will cover home care costs.

And so if you live in an area that PACE covers and meet the criteria above, you should be able to access the program.

This way, your loved one can continue living at home and in the community they love.

To find out if you live in an area where you can get PACE, go here.

You should also be able to get this information by calling your local Medicaid office.

Summer is here and more than ever, taking great care of your skin is important.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it is the vessel with which we interact with people everyday.

Thus, it makes sense to take excellent care of it.

As a caregiver, you may be taking care of a loved one who is unable to take proper care of their skin.

This post is for you too. In this post, I’ll go over a simple 3-step skin care routine for older adults that will work this summer.

A simple skin care routine for older adults

CLEANSE

The key to healthy skin is to keep it clean.

Wash your loved one’s skin during their daily shower or bed bath.

Make sure to clean those areas of the body where sweat regularly gathers e.g the armpits, the elbow area and behind the ears.

Give these areas an extra clean to get rid of all the dirt that has collected there in the last 24 or so hours.

A mild soap or body wash that doesn’t dry out the skin is always an excellent choice.

MOISTURIZE

Once you have helped your loved one clean their skin, it is time to lock in some of that moisture.

During the summer, lotions that hydrate but which are not oily or heavy are best.

Apply the extra moisturizers on those areas of the skin that are prone to drying like the knees and elbows.

I don’t know about you, but I feel dry and will begin to itch if I don’t put lotion on my arms, legs and back after showering.

Make sure to apply some here as well.

SUNSCREEN

It is summer and there are no laws forbidding us from enjoying a walk outside or a day at the beach.

To make sure your loved one is protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun, it is always helpful to apply sunscreen after moisturizing.

If you know you spend most of the day outside with your loved one, apply sunscreen after moisturizing as a rule so you don’t forget.

SOME EXTRA TIPS

Encourage your loved one to drink a lot of fluids, especially water. Staying hydrated is great for your skin and will ward off dehydration.
Eat citrus fruits. Citrus fruits contain vitamin C. Vitamin is great for your the health of your skin and promotes wound healing.
Include a lot of protein in your food. Protein is one of the major building blocks for your body. Including a lot of it in a person’s diet can help keep their skin healthy as well.
If you can get a moisturizer that contains antioxidants, this is helpful. Antioxidants also protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays.

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When it comes to home care services, people get confused very quickly.

In fact, it is common for people to confuse home care services with home health care services.

Yet, there are clear differences between the two.

Home health care services are provided by licensed healthcare professionals like nurses and physical therapist.

Thus by definition, home health services are medical in nature and would usually be on the order of a doctor.

Home care on the other hand is care that allows your elderly loved on to stay in their home instead of having to move into an elder care home.

So what kind of services can you expect from your home care agency? Here are over 20 of them (if you combine all ones under each headline below).

20 home care services you can expect from your agency

Light housekeeping

Home care professionals can help with:

Dusting
Vacuuming
Mopping
Laundry
Kitchen cleaning
Bathroom detail
Rearranging and organization

Transportation

Need to get to your doctor’s appointment? Your home care professional can get you there.

Meal preparation

Does your loved one love to eat home-made meals?

A home care professional can provide that service so they can have warm and healthy home-cooked meals everyday.

Companion care

Everybody needs somebody.

Home care professionals can double as companions too. They can be around for simple conversation or to escort you and/or your loved one on shopping trips.

Movies
Shopping
Exercise
Reading
Traveling

These are all services your home care professional can provide.

Care for bed-bound clients

Is your loved one bed-bound and unable to perform daily living activities themselves? Home care professionals can help here are help.

Transfer and mobility

We can help your loved one move from one part of the house to another.

Home care professionals are trained to use Hoyer Lifts and gait belts to help your loved one get around.

End of life/Hospice care

If your loved one has been discharged home on hospice care, this is something home care professionals can help out with too.

Personal care

A home care professional can help with:

Bathing
Dressing up
Skin care
Teeth and denture care
Hair care
Shaving
Perineal care
Changing briefs
Emptying a catheter

…and basically anything that is related to a person’s daily care.

Dementia/Alzheimer’s care

Adults who are otherwise healthy but have memory problems that are related to dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease will have trouble caring for themselves at home.

In such instances, a home care professional can help them live at home successfully.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Your local home care agency can provide with more services than you may realize.

Do you or your loved one need home care? Reach out to us for a consultation.

If you live in the Greater San Diego or Orange County areas, we are more than happy to serve you and your family.

If you’ve read our blog long enough, you know we are advocates for caregivers.

Around half of all the content we put out is to help you as a caregiver provide your loved ones with the best care.

But let’s be honest, even human angels like you make mistakes sometimes.

And in today’s post, we are going to raise those issues; because ultimately, we want you to be the very best caregiver there is.

Three mistakes you might be making as a caregiver

You don’t take care of yourself

An empty vessel cannot care for others because there is nothing to pour from.

This is why we’re adamant here about taking care of yourself as a caregiver.

There are a myriad of ways to take care of yourself so that your loved one can be enriched and you can read more on self care for caregivers here.

But here are a handful of thoughts for you.

Realize that you’re not a superhuman. You are amazing by all standards but you cannot do it all. Give yourself grace.
Talk to a mental health professional. It is not easy to care for a loved one with dementia. Especially since you may have seen how sharp and quick-witted your loved one was before dementia set in. Therefore, give yourself permission to talk to a mental health professional so you can understand your feelings.
Get help! If you live in the Greater San Diego area or in Orange County, Green Tree Home Care is happy to assist your loved one with all their needs so they can continue to live in their home. Give us a call today.

You haven’t hired a fiduciary for your elderly loved one (or helped them get one)

If you live far away from your loved one and they have financial assets that need managing, you should hire a fiduciary that will help them manage their money.

Money mismanagement is a common reason why families have quarrels that last for years.

Hiring a fiduciary is helpful in preventing these.

Start the conversation on this early before it is too late.

You haven’t looked for free resources that may be available to you

Although there may be a lot of bureaucracy involved, there are a number of free resources that you and your loved one could take advantage of.

Websites like eldercare.gov are good in helping you find these resources.

So are you making any of these caregiver mistakes?

The good news is that any day is a good day to rectify them!

What is perineal care?

And why should you care about it as a caregiver?

In today’s post, I will share why perineal care for elderly adults is important and how to perform this care as a caregiver.

What is perineal care?

The perineal area or the perineum is the area of the body that surrounds a person’s genitals and anal area.

It is an area that is in the rough shape of a diamond.

Perineal care therefore refers to the care and cleaning of the area especially in people who are unable to do it for themselves.

If you have a loved one who is bedridden and or unable to perform most of their own daily care activities, perineal care is essential for them.

Why perineal care?

The genitals and anal area are both prone to infections mainly because this is where waste – feces and urine- pass through.
For a person who has an indwelling catheter, proper perineal care reduces the risk for infection.
Perineal care also protects the skin around the genitals and anus from breaking down. For bedridden loved ones, the risk of bed sores is high. Proper perineal care helps to keep that at bay.
Cleaning the perineum helps to keep your loved one comfortable.
For a person who is bedridden and who is unable to clean their own perineum, proper perineal care represents an opportunity for them to maintain their dignity.

How to perform perineal care

You can perform perineal care as a separate event or during bath time.

Prepare your cleaning materials. You will need:

1-2 washcloths (take more if you need it)
A container with warm water
Peri-wash products – We recommend this product called Sensi Care. We like that it is unscented and good for sensitive skin. This product from Aloe Vesta is a popular, quality line. We like that this product is rinse free and a foaming blend. Soaps can dry out fragile skin. Peri wash products are recommended for each changing. PeriGiene offers an antimicrobial peri wash for those prone to urinary tract infections or pressure ulcers.

How to perform perineal care

Make sure to wash your hands first before you start providing perineal care.
Wipe your hands and wear gloves.
Provide your loved one with privacy during this time.
Explain to them you will be cleaning their perineum. If this is the first time you’re doing this, have the conversation and make sure they understand what will happen during this time. Understand that this may be embarrassing for them so make it as comfortable as possible.
Wet washcloth with cleaning solution that is a comfortable temperature.
For a woman, wipe from the front of the vagina and back towards the anus. This prevents carryover of feces into the vaginal area.
For a man, wipe from the scrotum towards the anus. With men, you may need to lift up the penis and the skin around the scrotum to get a proper clean.
Use a second wet wash cloth if you need to.
Use a dry washcloth to wipe the area of excess moisture.
If their sheets need to be changed, this is the best time to change the sheets, so you don’t have to bother them for a while.
Make sure to wash your own hands after you are done with the cleaning.

Dressing after perineal care

Make sure the area is thoroughly dry before putting undergarments back on. Make sure to use gentle motions and do not get abrasive while drying.

If your loved one wears cloth under garments, we recommend cotton products for breathability. Make sure these garments remain clean and use gentle cleaners to avoid irritating sensitive skin.

Protective underwear or adult diapers offer a disposable option for dressing between peri care sessions.

All products are not created equally and choosing the right disposable briefs helps control UTIs and skin breakdown.

Never double up on disposable adult diapers. We do not recommend using a diaper with a pad inserted. This can cause too much moisture to build up and encourage urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, and yeast problems.

We like this pull-on brief from TENA because it offers great absorbency while keeping the skin dry. This pull-on brief from Tranquility is for heavy or overnight use. We like it because it absorbs so fast. There is also a tab version of the Tranquility brief that offers the same protection and absorbency.

Our friend Angel did a video showing exactly why the tranquility product is an exceptional choice for overnight use.

After perineal care

It is important to make sure you respect the dignity of your the person.

Pay attention to them if they mention that something hurts and make sure you are performing care in the most comfortable way possible for them.

Full disclosure: We do make money when you click on the product links. First, we appreciate your support and are confident you will love our partners. Second, Angel is a real person who owns a San Diego based incontinence company called Dependable Daughter.

She will answer the phone personally to make sure you get the right product for your needs! We rarely offer links in our articles, but we think this connection is important!

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Your job is in one city.

And your elderly loved one lives in another.

You want to be close to them so you can help them out but you are too far away.

What’s an adult child to do?

In today’s post, I will go over 5 things you can do to help your elderly parents from a distance.

How to help your elderly parents from a distance

Get help from a trusted source

Yes it these are your parents and I know this means you may have misgivings about having someone else help them.

However, if you work with caregivers and companions from companies like Green Tree Home Care, they will be in great hands.

To ease your concerns, make sure that the home care company you decide on has great ratings on places like Google and Yelp.

Read what people have to say-both good and bad.

There will always be the people who give a one star and are not happy about anything. So I recommend that you read one-star ratings with a grain of salt unless, a majority of the ratings can be found here.

Three and four-star reviews usually give you the best look at the company.

Look for a company that provides care transparency

At Green Tree Home Care we believe in care transparency.

We keep you up to date on how your loved one is doing using a secure website called Family Room.

Using Family Room, you can check schedules, see what your loved one has been up to during care sessions and even add any pertinent appointments to the schedule.

Using this technology, not only will you see exactly what kind of care your loved one is receiving. You will also be able to stay involved in their care.

Use technology to stay in touch daily

Yes, you cannot be there physically.

But video calling now makes it easier to “be” with your family even when you’re not around.

Tools like Zoom (available on Android, iPhone and desktop computers), Skype or Facetime (Apple devices) are excellent communication tools that will help you stay in touch and help your elderly parents from a distance.

Get friends and family involved

If you have friends and family who still live around your elderly parents, get them involved if it’s appropriate.

Friends and family who are not paid caregivers could:

check on your parents to make sure they have everything they need
check on them to make sure they are safe and alright
send them meals when they are not well
help with light house-keeping
transport them to appointments

Help your parents hire a fiduciary

When it comes to taking care of parents who live far away, the issue of money always comes up.

If your parents saved up and are currently living on their retirement but are not fully able to handle their own finances, you can enlist a fiduciary to help.

A fiduciary is mandated by the state to help other people handle their financial assets.

Fiduciaries can also help with bill payments and make sure your parent is not behind on their payments as long as they have the one.

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