Want to Age Comfortably in Your Own Home?

For many elderly adults, retaining a level of independence and privacy in their own home is extremely important.  It may be very doable with just a few modifications and some outside assistance, but first take the time to plan out what you sort of help you will require to ensure your continued safety and comfort.  

Many home modifications are relatively inexpensive and can help to make your home safer and more accessible.  Things like grab bars in the tub, grip mats in the bathroom and the addition of ramps to avoid stairs can make a difference.  Also although a more expensive modification, installing a new bathroom on the lower level floor can be helpful.

Furthermore, while you may have a supportive family and rely on them for help from time to time, in the long-term, you may want to consider looking into professional home care services.  Home care providers such as SYNERGY HomeCare, located in Central Texas, offer a broad range of services that you design around your specific needs.  If it is transportation that is a problem as you no longer feel comfortable driving but still need to get to and from doctor appointments and running errands, we can safely get you there. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by housework and having a hard time keeping up, SYNERGY HomeCare also offers light housekeeping services.  For anyone having trouble with personal daily care activities such as dressing, bathing, feeding, or meal preparation, we can offer a helping hand.  In addition our flexible, compassionate services include care management, recovery assistance, live-in or 24-hour care, recovery assistance, companionship and respite for family caregivers.  Contact us to learn more about how we can help. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies for non-medical home care in the Greater Austin area.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us so we can offer your family peace of mind knowing you are getting the best professional home care available in Austin.    

Caring for an Elderly Parent

As many seniors are now living well into their 70’s and beyond, more adult children are faced with making decisions regarding the kind of care their elderly parents need.  And to further complicate matters, families with multiple siblings do not always necessarily agree on the course of action to take when parents require assistance to ensure their continued safety and wellbeing. 

When this happens, the experts advise families to thoroughly discuss the various care options available before the situation reaches a critical stage.  Neal Cutler, PhD, dean of the American Institute of Financial Gerontology and the executive director of the Center on Aging for the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodlawn Hills, CA, suggests families "Anticipate that these are decisions and choices that are best made before a crisis happens."  He further adds, "Sit down with everyone together, and talk about what you want to do, whether it's a financial issue or geographical issue. The key is conversation rather than crisis management."

    

The WebMD site has several tips to help families plan for the care of an aging parent.  If possible they recommend starting a discussion regarding long-term care with a parent while they are still in good mental and physical health.  In addition this is an ideal time to talk about appointing a health care proxy and creating a living will. 

If one family member is going to act as the primary caregiver for the parent, the rest of the siblings will need to figure out how they can provide support - be it financial, by doing paperwork or to help with the physical care.  Keep in mind that there are many excellent home care agencies such as SYNERGY HomeCare that provide a broad range of physical care services available on a daily basis or as often as the need arises.    

   

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, reliable and compassionate services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Contact us for a complementary home visit to discuss the ways we can provide your family with the best professional care.

Source:webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/role-reversal-caregiving-for-aging-parents?page=3

Caring for a Family Member with Alzheimer’s

The number of older adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is increasing.  The Alzheimer’s Organization states that there are now 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's.  Of those numbers, “an estimated 5.1 million people are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 (younger-onset Alzheimer's).”   As the population of 65 years and older adults continues to grow, it is believed as many as 7.1 million adults will be affected with the disease by 2025.  Furthermore, the disease is the only one of the ten top causes of death that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed down.   

The reality of these sobering statistics is that today more and more families are finding themselves in the situation of assisting a loved one suffering from the disease.  The Alzheimer's Organization also has studied the overwhelming toll on family caregivers.  Their statistics indicate that almost 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers “rate their stress level as high or very high”.  In addition approximately 40 percent of them suffer from depression and have required healthcare services related to the emotional and physical toll of caregiving.

The FamilyDoctor.org website recommends that family caregivers learn as much as they can about the disease while their loved one is still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, now is the time for the whole family, including the patient, to plan for the future.  This may include having an attorney help to update legal documents and creating an advanced healthcare directive and power of attorney for health care.

Your research should include finding out what you can about area resources including local training, counseling, and support groups.  Also get referrals for in home respite care agencies such as Austin’s SYNERGY HomeCare.  We provide professional respite care services that make it possible to take some much-needed time for yourself while ensuring the needs of your loved one are being met by our compassion caregivers.   Our services are flexible and will be customized to meet your family’s needs.    

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, reliable and compassionate services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Contact us for a complementary home visit to discuss the ways we can provide your family with the best professional care.   

Sources:alz.org/facts/overview.asp#prevalence,familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/seniors/caregiving/caring-for-a-relative-who-has-dementia.html 

The Importance of Taking Care of Your Health as You Age

A recent article from Everyday Health Media states that once someone reaches 65 years of age, they can expect to live on average another 19.2 years.  While that sounds great, it still means that seniors need to carefully manage chronic health conditions and follow good health habits.  Jeanne Wei, MD, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas Medical School, reports, “You need to be physically active and eat a healthy diet and also make healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking and losing weight, to avoid senior health risks.”  The article also notes that if you see a geriatric doctor it can help you to be among the “76 percent of people over 65 who say their health is good or excellent.”

The Family.org published an article that reminds us it is never too late to start good health habits.  Even individuals who have never been physically active can benefit from exercising but please consult your doctor before you start.  Studies show that a moderate amount of exercise can make your bones and muscles stronger and help to prevent falls and broken bones down the road.  Furthermore, research indicates physical activity is also good for your brain.  What type of exercises should you do?  For seniors walking is an easy exercise and does not require any fancy equipment. 

Another suggestion in the article is to increase the fiber in your diet.  They recommend that men 50 years and older get 30 grams of fiber per day, and for women, 21 grams a day.  By increasing your fiber, it helps the colon to work better and reduce the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes and cancer as well as lower cholesterol.   

SYNERGY HomeCare’s wide range of in home care is designed to keep seniors living safely and comfortably in their own homes.  Our non-medical services are fully customizable and offer individuals solutions for living independently while getting the assistance they need.  Services include help with basic daily activities, meal preparation, transportation, light housekeeping, and grocery shopping right through to live-in care and more.      

**This is for informational purposes only.  Before you start any exercises, consult your health care provider**

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the Greater Austin area’s most trusted agencies for non-medical home care.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from short term wellness visits to live-in care.  Please contact us to discuss the range of services we can provide for your loved one.  Our offices are conveniently located throughout Austin.    

Sources: everydayhealth.com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors/, familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/seniors/staying-healthy/good-health-habits-at-age-60-and-beyond.html