Why Do This All By Yourself When You Do Not Have To?  

Obviously proper screening is essential, but how does one go about it? Even if a prospective caregiver hands over a stack of references and credentials, how do you know if these items are adequate or authentic? You need to have a thorough verification process in place to make sure the person is legitimate and trustworthy, but in reality, most people are not qualified to do this. Even the most resourceful and intelligent person would need some help, especially if this is the first time he or she has ever had to perform this task. Fortunately, there are agencies in New Jersey who specialize in hiring qualified, experienced care providers so that all you have to do is evaluate the company itself.

Now You Need to Choose the Right Company

When choosing a home health care agency, it is important to scrutinize the company’s history and procedures. A truly exceptional agency will only employ Registered Nurse (RN) supervisors and certified aides who pass thorough background screenings and skill assessments, and they will use standardized procedures to ensure that all employees will provide a consistent level of care. Additionally, the agency will handle all of the business management paperwork like payroll and tax forms and bonding. Most importantly, the best home health agencies provide personalized care that fits the client’s needs. This is especially important with patients who suffer from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease or terminal illnesses because the provider’s skill set should include experience with the specific physical, mental, and emotional features of such conditions.

When you are considering a home health agency, be sure to ask up front about the company’s certifications and licenses and its screening procedures. Make sure that the company requires its nurse supervisors to have state licensing (RN) and that home health aides are supervised by them. The company should also make sure that the providers have appropriate insurance and bonding. Rest assured that your loved one will receive the best possible care if you ask the right questions when evaluating New Jersey home health care agencies.

People with chronic bronchitis are at increased risk of developing infections, and those with other breathing problems (such as emphysema or COPD) are at risk of having infections further these problems. To prevent infections, encourage your senior to:

• Wash both hands frequently.
• Stay away from people who are ill.
• Take a daily vitamin.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain vitamins and will build up their immune system.
• Try a zinc supplement, which may help reduce infections.

Reducing indoor air pollution can help strengthen your elderly loved one’s lung health.  Here are some things to consider:

• Central air conditioning is essential in warmer months for older people.  Make sure the filter is changed often.
• Check for mold which can irritate the lungs.
• Use only vacuum cleaners with HEPA air filters that trap the dust.
• Wash bed linens, pillows, and curtains in hot water to kill any dust mites.
• Remove any pets from the home.
• Do not paint the inside of the house or redo the floors with polyurethane coating, as paint and polyurethane can irritate lungs.
• Always run a fan that vents to the outdoors for at least 20 minutes when cooking or showering, as this will help avoid moisture buildup which can lead to mold.
• Aerosol sprays and scented products should be avoided as they can cause breathing problems.

Learn how to conserve your senior’s energy. Here are some things to consider:

• Exercising can help tone your senior’s muscles.
• Seniors should rest for an hour after each meal to give the body time to digest the food eaten before using energy on something else.
• Your senior should keep often used items within reach of his or her chair, so that it isn’t necessary to move very much to get them. Silverware should go from the sink or dishwasher to the table rather than cabinets. Pots and pans should be placed back on the stove after washing
• If your senior lives alone, find someone to prepare meals, shop and do chores for him or her.

Clothing can also play a role.  Here are some tips to consider:

• Your senior should avoid anything tight in the chest or abdomen that could restrict breathing, such as belts, bras and girdles.
• Heavy clothing, such as coats and sweaters, can be exhausting, as these items require extra energy to wear.
• Trying on clothing can itself be tiring. Instead, encourage your senior to measure him or herself with a tape measure or be measured by someone. Knowing these measurements will enable your senior to buy clothes either on line (thereby saving the energy needed to shop) or in a store, without trying them on.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care.  New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

NJ Senior Care Planning

Talking to your elder parents about end of life care

No one looks forward to discussing end of life issues with aging parents, but this is something that needs to and should be done.

Having the conversation is necessary so that your senior’s preferences may be honored, if at all possible, and so that your contribution to the decision-making can be based on an understanding of those wishes.

The conversation should be ongoing, rather than just occurring one time, and hopefully each time the topic is revisited it will become more comfortable, as you and your elderly loved one become more used to discussing the range of future possibilities together.

Here are some tips to help you through the discussion:

How to begin a conversation about future wishes with your senior

One way to begin is by asking your senior what their biggest concerns are for the future. This topic may evoke thoughts on the past, regrets, or a life assessment. Listen uncritically, with empathy.  Having your senior share these thoughts with you can bring you closer.

Discuss your senior’s preferences regarding housing options

While most people prefer to remain in their current home, ask your senior what they would like to do if that were no longer possible. Sometimes this conversation will bring forth your senior’s expectations about moving in with one of their children, which can be helpful to know.

Ask your senior if they feel financially secure

It is important for you to have a record of your senior’s insurance policies, such as Medicare, Medigap, prescription coverage plan, and any long term care insurance.  If your senior doesn’t already have a will, durable power of attorney and health care proxy, now is a good time to see an elder care attorney so that they can have their wishes resolved as to asset distribution and care.

Discuss your senior’s feelings about their medical care and whether or not they are satisfied with their physicians

Does your senior have any concerns about their medical care? Do they have any concerns about their doctors? Do you need to help them find better ones? What are your senior’s wishes as to medical interventions and end-of-life care?

Discuss your senior’s wishes as to death, dying and funerals

Do your parents have any preferences as to funeral and burial? These conversations are difficult, but you need to resolve them sooner rather than later. Researching and selecting specific services isn’t morbid, and can help when the time comes.  Seniors to be assured their wishes will be followed even when their adult child is feeling sad and possibly overwhelmed when arranging a funeral.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care.  New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

NJ Respite Care

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is substitute care given so that the regular caregiver can take a break from the stress of caregiving. The respite care can be for a week, a long weekend, a day or an hour, on a regular basis or just once. It can be for an ill or fragile adult or a special needs child.

Who Gives Respite Care?

Sometimes respite care is given by family or friends, who want to relieve the regular caregiver. Or, it can be provided by paid caregivers who work for a home care agency.

How Will the Caregivers Know What to Do?

You will need to give them a check list of things to do and emergency numbers. List everything you do and check the references of the respite caregivers. For all respite caregivers, make sure they are comfortable and able to provide you with the assistance you need and that the person being cared for understands the temporary transition.

How Will I Find Respite Caregivers?

You can look for a licensed home care agency, many of who offer respite care services. Depending on the length of the respite, some nursing homes and assisted living facilities may also provide temporary respite care.

Who Pays for Respite Care?

Some local governments help pay for respite care. Check with your local Council on Aging or Social Services Department. The federal government is addressing the problem and may offer assistance. Call the eldercare locator at 1-800-677-1116, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, to see if help is available where you live.

Why is Respite Care Necessary?

Caregivers are often at increased risk of depression and other health problems as a result of the stress that accompanies being a caregiver. Having respite care refreshes the caregiver and protects them from burning out or becoming ill.

What Else Can I Do to Avoid Burn Out?

Join a support group, get adequate sleep, eat nutritious meals, and exercise daily. Take advantage of offers of help. Providing constant care is a demanding job. It’s crucial for caregivers to take a break periodically and this need is a normal part of the life-cycle of care. Support groups can help with guilt and frustration or just help caregivers keep morale high.

If you are caring for a loved one, you need to take care of yourself so that you can continue to provide that care. Finding quality respite care is an excellent means to an end.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care.  New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

Here are some tips to help your elderly loved one recover from surgery:

1. In the hospital room, whether your parent is uncomfortable and needs attention, or has a sudden turn for the worse, having a caregiver who will immediately get help could have a significant impact on your parent’s recovery.  You can work out a rotation system to provide 24-hour coverage, with each family member or caregiver sitting by the bedside a certain number of hours.
2. Let your senior know that you are there for them either in person or by finding or paying others.  This will increase the pace of emotional recovery from the surgery.
3. You should attend post-surgical doctors’ visits with your parent or loved one because they tend to forget what the doctor said or what they wanted to ask. Having someone take notes, ask questions and in general advocate for the patient can be tremendously helpful.  The more you understand about your senior’s condition, the more helpful you can be.
4. Following post-surgery instructions might be a problem for your elderly loved one.  If this involves dietary changes, let them know that you realize how hard it is, but that you want them to be there for you and your family, and that following doctor’s orders will allow that to happen.  When you eat with your senior, try to restrict your own diet to the one they must follow.   If your senior was told to stop smoking or drinking, do likewise.
5. When coping with post-surgery sleep problems, talk to the doctor about sleep medications. Relaxation techniques used before surgery have been shown to lower the degree of pain experienced by patients afterward.  The relaxation techniques also help control post-surgical anxiety and enable some patients to sleep better.
6. You may notice a change in your senior’s personality after surgery.  Older heart surgery patients can become very emotional afterward, cry frequently, and worry about death.  As a result of anesthesia, they may have a difficult time returning to the way they were before the surgery.  In the initial stages, those reactions are normal, but if they continue, then it might be a good idea for you and your senior to seek professional help.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care.  New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ seniors, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have elder care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia (excess blood sugar) and insulin resistance (which prevents glucose from entering the cells and, instead, builds it up in the blood).  A diabetic may not show any symptoms for many years.  As a result, many overlook the most common initial symptoms – increased thirst and frequent urination. This a result of excess glucose in the bloodstream sucking water from tissues, thus forcing the body to take in more liquid and, as a result, excrete more fluid.

What Can Be Done?

The single most effective treatment, and best prevention, is gradual and permanent weight loss.   This means eating less and exercising more.

One can start by cutting out desserts and avoiding second portions.  Increase the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains that are high in complex carbohydrates, and decrease the amount of red meat and sugars.  Avoid alcoholic beverages.

It is important to consult a physician about medications, since there can be serious side effects and contraindications.   In addition, seniors with diabetes need to:

• Have regular blood tests.

• Have their eyes checked regularly to keep track of diabetic retinopathy.

• Monitor their weight and blood pressure.

• Check the health of their feet for any signs of foot ulcers or infections

• Monitor their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Conduct regular urine tests to look for any kidney problems

• Get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia as a precaution against additional infection

• Stop smoking

• Manage stress

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors has been educating diabetic seniors and helping them manage their illness since 1984. Please call us when you need help at 800-848-2336.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, President of Expert Home Care

Educate yourself regarding your loved ones illness/and or disability.
Communicate efficiently and succinctly with healthcare professionals.
Recognize you are a healthcare consumer and deserve quality healthcare.
Understand you are an important member of the healthcare team.
Give input and ask questions.
Pick your battles and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Realize that sometimes it is the squeaky wheel which produces results.

We all go through varying stages of emotions when our lives have been transformed by becoming a family caregiver. Research has shown there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. All of these emotions are part of the framework which makes up our learning to adjust and cope to our life as a family caregiver while we watch someone we love struggle with chronic illness.

On occasion some become sufficiently angry and search for ways to deal with their anger by channeling it into a constructive endeavor and caring enough to become activists for a much larger cause. Sometimes we will find the energy and passion not only to advocate for our loved one’s well-being but for all family caregivers.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help – 800-848-2336.

Doctors are faced with questions everyday regarding even the most common ailments. Many people who experience these symptoms write them off as minor and may not seek medical attention when it’s needed. Here we provide you the information you need to determine whether your symptoms may indicate a greater medical issue.

What could it mean when you’ve experienced unexpected weight loss?

• Diabetes (symptoms include weight loss, intense thirst and frequent urination)
• Depression (experiencing weight loss, apathy and insomnia)
• Stomach Ulcer (indicated by weight loss, severe and recurrent upper abdominal pain)

Why is your cough persisting even after you’ve recovered from a respiratory illness (i.e. the flu)?

• Pneumonia/lung inflammation (cough worsens as opposed to improving)

What might the sudden onset of an itchy rash mean?

• Anaphylactic shock; a severe allergic reaction to medication, food or bug bite (signs may include the appearance of hives, and swelling around the mouth or face). Emergency treatment is required!

When might your severe headaches be telling you?

• Tumor (symptoms are blurred/double vision, loss of peripheral vision, instability when standing or walking, nausea and/or vomiting)
• Aneurism/mild stroke (sensation described as “unlike anything you’ve ever felt before, with a sudden onset of symptoms)

When could your chest pain be more than indigestion?

• Heart attack (experiencing severe pain in center of chest, also felt in shoulders, arms or back, nausea and sweating and/or shortness of breath)
• Angina/ arteriosclerosis; hardening of the arteries (symptoms include dull heavy chest pain brought on by physical strain or extreme emotion which disappears with the reduction of physical and emotional stress)

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or have concerns about any persistent medical issues, please contact your physician as soon as possible.

Gardening has wonderful benefits for the muscles.  When carrying bags of soil, flats of flowers, or tools, make sure that they’re not too heavy for you.  Lift things in separate shifts if need be, but carrying the right amount of weight at a time is great for bone density and muscle toning.

Keeping up a garden also requires walking, digging, and planting.  All of these actions promote cardiovascular health by slightly elevating the heart rate and deepening the breath.  This improves circulation, lung capacity, and overall health.  Again, only do as much as feels comfortable and invigorating.

Swatting, kneeling, turning and twisting are great for your joints.  When it comes to flexibility, you really need to use it or lose it.  While gardening, focus on the subtle movements, and how the various actions are keeping your muscles and joints alive and well.

Gardening can also be great for you emotional health as well as physical health.  Relax and take deep breaths while gardening.  Admire all the colors and scents, have picnics in your garden, or maybe your first cup of coffee in the morning.  There’s no greater fulfillment than admiring the natural beauty around you that has been nurtured by your own hard work.

Use it or lose it?  Evidence points to exercise as possibly slowing Alzheimer’s.

Exercising the body helps the brain. That’s the conclusion of a new study that reviewed the effects of exercise on brain functioning in humans and animals.

Based on a wide-ranging review of existing studies, researchers found a significant relationship between physical activity and later cognitive function and decreased occurrence of dementia. Better yet, the evidence suggests that the benefits may last several decades.

Studies of persons over age 65 found that those who exercised for at least 15-30 minutes at a time three times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease, even if they were genetically predisposed to the disease.

The exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. One study of 62- to 70-year-olds who continued to work and retirees who moderately exercised, showed they had higher sustained levels of cerebral blood flow and superior performance on general measures of cognition as compared to the group of inactive retirees.

The review covered 40 years of research.