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.    

The Growing Need for Caregivers

According to the new Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 report from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, it discovered that over the past year “about 43.5 million American adults worked as unpaid caregivers, the bulk of them to an adult age 50 or older.”  Furthermore, the study found that while family caregivers are usually women around 50 years of age and that their caregiving duties are for a relative; caregivers come from a variety of ages and backgrounds and are both men and women.         

One aspect the study looked at was the level of stress for the caregivers and it was no surprise that unpaid caregivers who were on the job for more than 21 hours a week reported the most stress.  The average length of time those who were high-hour a week caregivers have done the job is five years.   Most reported they expect to continue in their role as caregiver for another five years. 

As projections from the Census Bureau estimate the number of U.S. seniors 65 and older will almost double from 2012 to 2050 and the number of seniors 85 years and older more than triple, there will certainly be a need for more caregivers.  In a recent article in NBC’s Business section it quotes John Schall, chief executive of the Caregiver Action Network, as saying, "We are seeing, without a doubt, that the caregiving need is just growing and growing."  The article went on to say that currently over 80 percent of adults 51 to 54 years old may be “at risk” of needing to provide care for a parent or in-law due to health problems. 

At SYNERGY HomeCare of Austin, we understand the stress of juggling caregiving with work, raising children and managing a household can have over time.  This is why we provide professional and compassionate respite care services to allow you to take some much-needed time for yourself while still meeting the needs of your loved one. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most respected agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, compassionate services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us to discuss our range of options for providing your family peace of mind with professional home care in the Austin area.    

Sources:aarp.org/ppi/info-2015/caregiving-in-the-united-states-2015.html

nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/more-americans-pay-steep-price-plunge-caregiving-cliff-n425081

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

Exercise is Important for Adults with Dementia

While research shows that it is important for aging adults to remain active both physically and mentally, it may be even more critical for people suffering from memory loss or dementia.  There have been many studies that seem to indicate that adults who engage in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, playing games and attending plays and lectures may help to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s and age-related cognitive decline.  Furthermore, the National Institute on Aging states that, “Epidemiological studies and some intervention studies suggest that physical exercise may also play a role in reducing risk for Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.” 

Researchers have discovered that exercise in older rats and mice helps to increase the number of small blood vessels that supply blood to the brain and the connections between nerve cells.  It has also been shown to raise the level of a nerve growth factor, which is a protein key to brain health, and important for memory and learning.  If fact, one year-long study of adults 65 years or older showed that exercise can “stimulate the human brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones that are vital to healthy cognition.”  The group who took part in an aerobic daily walking program, as opposed to nonaerobic toning and stretching, had an improved connectivity in the area of the brain that helps us recall the past.  They also had an improvement in planning and organizational skills.    

Scientists are not sure how mental stimulation and social interaction help to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s but offer several theories.  They think that these activities may help protect the brain “by establishing ‘cognitive reserve,’ the brain’s ability to operate effectively even when it is damaged or some brain function is disrupted.”  They explain that these activities could help to keep the brain adaptable and may even be able to compensate for declines in other functions. 

As one of the most respected agencies for home care in Central Texas, SYNERGYHomeCare offers families affordable and compassionate services for all ages, from expectant mothers to seniors.  We work with you to create a customized CarePlan for in home care for yourself or a loved one.  Please contact us to learn more about our range of services for professional in home care.

Source:nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/preventing-alzheimers-disease/search-alzheimers-prevention-strategies  

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