Personal Care For Seniors After A Hospital Stay

When your senior parent has been in the hospital, either for a short stint in the ER or a longer stay due to an illness or fall they are going to need some extra help when they get home. Chances are good that your senior parent will be groggy, a little bruised, and very disoriented after their hospital stay. And if they were in the hospital because of a fall they are going to need help around the house to make sure that they don’t fall again and make their injuries worse. Personal care at home services are designed to help seniors with the tasks they need help with that may be awkward or embarrassing for seniors.

Personal Care at Home Union County NJ - Personal Care For Seniors After A Hospital Stay

Personal Care at Home Union County NJ – Personal Care For Seniors After A Hospital Stay

Very often seniors prefer to have personal care at home providers help them after a hospital stay rather than a family member to avoid that embarrassment or any awkward situations.

Personal care at home for seniors after a hospital stay means that seniors will get the help they need with things like:

Getting In And Out Of Bed

There is a good chance that seniors who have already fallen once will fall again when they are home. And most seniors fall when they are trying to get in or get out of bed. After days in the hospital seniors are going to be weaker than usual and their mobility may be off because they have been lying in bed for days in the hospital. With the expert help of a trained care provider that knows how to help seniors of all shapes and sizes get safely in and out of bed seniors are much more likely to be able to avoid falling at home after a hospital stay.

Going To The Bathroom

It’s never easy to help a senior parent with a task like toileting. Seniors find it much less awkward and embarrassing to have a dedicated trained professional care provider help them when they need help with such an intimate hygiene task. And since your senior parent will probably need help with all aspects of personal care after being in the hospital it just makes sense to get personal care at home for a senior loved one who has been in the hospital.

Showering

Having a child help them shower isn’t just awkward for a senior, it can be dangerous. Showering means being around slippery wet floors, potentially catching a chill and getting sick, or falling getting in and out of the tub. Trained care providers who have experience helping seniors with tasks like showering, washing their hair, and brushing their teeth can help seniors safely maneuver in the bathroom during and after a shower.

Getting Dressed

Seniors will feel a lot better when they are home if they are getting dressed each day. Just getting dressed in clean “day “ pajamas instead of wearing the same ones they slept in can totally change a senior’s mindset and mood. But seniors who have limited mobility or are not able to dress because of their injury need the help of someone who knows how to safely help a senior with limited movement ability get dressed.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Personal Care at Home Services in Union County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




What Does In-Home Care Include?

Aging in place is a great option for many seniors. There are proven health benefits that come with seniors getting to grow older in their own homes in the established neighborhoods they’ve been in for years. But as seniors get older and develop health problems they may need some assistance at home in order to keep up their homes and make sure their homes are safe. In-home care services for seniors are there to provide the extra support that seniors need so that they can stay in their homes as they get older but do so safely.

In-home care for seniors can be customized for each senior’s individual needs, and if those needs change over time the level of care can change too. In-home care for seniors includes things like:

Housekeeping

In-Home Care Somerset NJ - What Does In-Home Care Include?

In-Home Care Somerset NJ – What Does In-Home Care Include?

One of the areas that seniors usually need the most help in is housekeeping. Chores like dusting, vacuuming, and keeping the house tidy can become difficult for seniors as they get older, especially if they have health problems. In-home care for seniors includes light housekeeping tasks and keeping the house clutter-free. When the house is clutter-free it lowers the risk of seniors falling over piles of paper, shoes left in front of things, books, and other items.

Meal Preparation And Clean Up

Cooking and preparing meals can be difficult for seniors too, especially if they have mobility challenges or have poor grip strength that makes it tough for them to lift pots and pans or chop, stir, and use kitchen utensils. This can lead to seniors becoming malnourished because they can’t prepare healthy meals for themselves. With in-home care, seniors will have help in the kitchen. Along with a care provider seniors can once again cook delicious healthy meals with fresh ingredients. And care providers can prepare meals and snacks and put them in the fridge so that your senior just needs to reheat them when they are hungry and a care provider isn’t there.

In-Home Care Aides Can Shop And Run Errands

Shopping and running errands can be particularly tough for seniors who are on their own. With a care provider seniors have a much easier time getting out to run errands. A care provider will help with transportation, dropping off mail and packages or picking them up, getting seniors to hair appointments or medical appointments, and making sure that those little errands and tasks that are necessary for living, get done.

Laundry

Getting laundry to the washer and doing loads of laundry can be tough for seniors, especially if the laundry is in the basement and the clothes are on the second floor. With in-home care, seniors will have help doing laundry from start to finish, including getting the folded and sorted clothes back upstairs where they need to be. And a care provider can help seniors wash big items like towels, linens, and comforters when they need to be washed. In nice weather, a caregiver can hang items outside to dry so they get that special scent that clothes can only get when they’re line dried in the summer. Talk with our local care agency today to find out more about the benefits of in-home care for seniors.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional In-Home Care Services in Somerset NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




The Value of Home Care When Your Dad Lives Alone

What do you do when you live on the other side of the country and get the call that your dad fell? You can visit for a week, but after that, you have a life and job where you currently live. You can’t just uproot your family, and your dad refuses to move. Have you considered the value of home care services?

Someone’s Checking On Him Regularly

Home Care Scotch Plains NJ - The Value of Home Care When Your Dad Lives Alone

Home Care Scotch Plains NJ – The Value of Home Care When Your Dad Lives Alone

When your dad has home care services, you have peace of mind that he’s not alone for days and weeks on end. He has someone stopping by to check that he has enough food, medications, and toiletries.

His caregiver can verify that his heating or cooling system is working properly, that he has heating fuel, and that his water is running properly. Your dad’s caregiver can alert you if anything is wrong or in need of repair.

He Has Someone to Encourage Him to Stay Active

With regular caregiver visits, your dad has someone to help him stay motivated. His caregiver can join him on walks and encourage him to walk farther and push a little bit harder. If he needs someone to hold onto while walking, his caregiver is there.

Home Care Aides Keep His Home Clean and Organized

Your dad’s household chores get completed regularly with the help of home care aides. They can change his sheets and towels each week and do the laundry that same day. Clothes, bedding, and towels get washed and dried. Then, the caregiver will put everything away.

Vacuuming, dusting, and sweeping chores are completed by caregivers. They’ll also wash dishes, load the dishwasher, put clean dishes away, and sanitize surfaces. After a shopping trip, caregivers put items where they go. They also get the mail, sort it, and recycle any junk mail.

Carrying out the trash and recyclables is another task caregivers help with. They’ll tidy up clutter and even help your dad care for his pets if necessary.

He’s Well Fed

Your dad’s meals are prepared by caregivers. He can tell his caregivers what he likes to eat. You’ll go over any dietary restrictions. His caregiver prepares the meals and snacks he needs, helps him shop, and even sits with him while he eats so that he’s never alone for a meal.

Caregivers Can Join Him on Shopping Trips and be a Companion

Your dad’s home care aides can help him with his shopping. If he can’t read a price tag or nutrition facts, his caregiver reads it for him. Caregivers can also help him at the register and carry the bags into the house.

Your dad’s caregivers are there for socialization, too. He’s never going to go days or weeks without having a conversation with someone. He’s able to socialize while playing games, taking walks, or eating meals.

Call our agency and ask to learn more about home care. You’ll review pricing, services, and the best schedule for your dad’s needs.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Scotch Plains NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




How Do You Support Your Dad After an Illness?

Your dad’s health changed. It’s not surprising as 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition. Seven out of ten older adults have two or more. Hiring home care assistance providers can help with managing his needs and improve his routine to better health.

The most common chronic health issues are:

  • Stroke
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • COPD
  • Cancer
  • Alzheimer’s disease

That’s just chronic health conditions. Your dad may also have illnesses like a bad chest cold, COVID, the flu, and shingles. If he does, how are you supporting him?

Stock His Fridge and Pantry

Home Care Assistance Berkeley Heights NJ - How Do You Support Your Dad After an Illness?

Home Care Assistance Berkeley Heights NJ – How Do You Support Your Dad After an Illness?

Go through your dad’s pantry and fridge and make sure he has the food he needs. If he’s been sick with the flu, he may want plenty of beverages and soups while his body heals. You could stock up on vegetables and make bone broth.

If you put together several soups and store them in single-sized portions in the freezer, he can get a freezer bag and heat it on the stove or in the microwave as often as he needs.

As you build a list of the items he needs, you can order groceries for delivery or schedule a time to pick them up if that’s more convenient. Otherwise, shop while a caregiver spends time with your dad to ensure he’s not alone.

Do His Housework

Your dad isn’t going to have a lot of energy when he’s dealing with a health issue. Do his laundry for him. Change his sheets and towels, wash and dry them, and put them away. Wash his clothes, too.

Go through the home and sterilize surfaces. Don’t overlook light switches, remotes, phones, and knobs and handles. Wash dishes and wipe down the sink after.

Vacuum carpets and stairs and sweep and mop any hardwood, linoleum, laminate, vinyl, or tile floors. If he has pets, clean up the pets’ areas, litter boxes, and beds.

Look Into Air Purifiers

Many of today’s air purifiers do more than remove allergens and cooking odors from the house. They also have UV or ionizers that can help kill germs. If your dad’s home is pretty air-tight, consider an air purifier to help remove bacteria, viruses, pollen, and dander.

Hire Home Care Assistance Aides to Help Him

Have caregivers stop by to help your dad each week. For a few hours or all day, hire home care assistance aides to clean his home, do his laundry, cook his meals, and take him to stores and medical offices.

Your dad’s caregivers can help him schedule appointments, go for walks outside, and order prescription refills. If he needs medication reminders, assistance with personal care, or companionship services, those are all options.

Home care assistance is important after your dad’s health changes. Work with him to ensure he has the support he needs as he ages at home. Call our home care advisor to arrange the home care assistance your dad requires.

Sources:  https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-healthy-aging

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Assistance Services in Berkeley Heights NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




Companion Care at Home Helps Out When Tempers Increase

Being a family caregiver has its rewards, but it also leads to many moments of frustration. When you or your parents become frustrated with each other, tempers may flare. This is normal, and it’s not a sign that any of you are failures. You can try to avoid the situations that often cause tempers to rise, but it’s not always possible. You can’t prevent problems from happening, so how do you avoid a meltdown? Here are some of the best ways to stay calm when you’re a family caregiver and how companion care at home can help.

Step Away for a Few Minutes

Companion Care at Home Warren NJ - Companion Care at Home Helps Out When Tempers Increase

Companion Care at Home Warren NJ – Companion Care at Home Helps Out When Tempers Increase

Suppose your dad has Alzheimer’s and is in a rage. He’s convinced you stole his soda, but you haven’t had soda in the house for years. You’ve offered to buy some and hope to diffuse the situation, but he’s not stopping.

Sometimes, it’s better to remove yourself from the situation. Walk out of the room and do something else for a few minutes. While your dad yells, go downstairs to do the laundry. Eventually, he’ll forget why he’s so mad.

You might find yourself becoming angry with your mom when she refuses to check her blood sugar level. She has diabetes, and it’s important, but she absolutely will not cooperate. You’re frustrated and want to yell at her. This is another moment when it’s better to walk away.

Put On a Distraction

Tempers are flaring, so put on some music. Don’t warn anyone. Just put on some music and start dancing. Soon, your parents’ moods will change, and everyone will be dancing together. You can also put on a movie or pull out a board game for a distraction.

Don’t Ignore Your Need for a Day Off  and Let Companion Care Home Step In

When was the last time you took a day off? You’re with your mom and dad 24/7 and haven’t taken a break in months. You’re overdue for a day to yourself.

Have you heard about respite care services? Instead of trying to do everything your parents want, you have a chance to take a break. Companion care at home provides your parents with a helping hand when needed, which helps them remain independent and secure.

To arrange companion care at home, sit down with your parents to discuss what they can and can’t do independently. Reassure them it’s okay to need help. Once you’ve talked, call our companion care at home agency to discuss caregiver prices, available services, and the best schedule for their needs.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Companion Care at Home Services in Warren NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




Benefits of Home Care Services During National Wellness Month

When was the last time you thought about self-care? Are your emotional and mental health needs being addressed? Family caregivers often overlook their own need for care while they focus on their parents’ needs. To practice self-care, you need to take time to work on your emotional, physical, professional, psychological, and spiritual care.  Sometimes, the activities you choose will address more than one of these at the same time. Home care services providers can step in during your absence.

Activities That Help With Self-Care

Home Care Services Hunterdon NJ - Benefits of Home Care Services During National Wellness Month

Home Care Services Hunterdon NJ – Benefits of Home Care Services During National Wellness Month

You have to take care of your mental and physical health. If you’re overweight, underweight, or simply making poor nutritional choices, physical health addresses this. Emotional care, proper amounts of sleep, and diet all help with your mental health.

You can take care of your physical and mental health at the same time through exercise programs like Tai Chi and Yoga. They’ll help you with breathing that boosts relaxation while also toning muscles and helping with balance.

A healthy diet helps fuel your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs for healing, muscle growth, and energy. If you avoid sugary treats, foods high in saturated fat, and a lot of sodium, you’ll feel better and have the energy you need to tackle the next chore on your list.

Psychological self-care also requires you to learn to stand up for yourself by setting boundaries. Your mom has Alzheimer’s, and you’re with her all day to help her with daily routines. Your neighbor asks if you can watch their family dog while they go on vacation. If you don’t have the time or interest, say no.

You also want to set time aside for activities you enjoy. If you enjoy working in your garden, leave some time in the morning or after dinner to pull weeds, harvest crops, or plant more seeds. Go for a walk to enjoy the feel of the sun on your skin as you breathe the fresh air.

Make Sure You Have the Time to Invest in Yourself by Hiring Home Care Services

When you’re caring for your parents, it’s easy to have little time for yourself. You have to learn how to make time. This means stepping away for a day off, a long weekend away, or full weeks away. With the help of professional homer care services providers, this is easier to do than you might imagine.

August’s National Wellness Month is all about taking the time needed to focus on your mental, physical, and emotional health. One of the best ways to do this when you’re a family caregiver is by arranging home care services to help out. Talk to our specialist in home care services to learn more.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Hunterdon NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.




Stress-Free Lifting Techniques That Save Your Back

Since your dad had a stroke, he needs help getting out of bed. He can’t get in and out of the shower without you lifting him. He certainly can’t get from a chair or sofa to his wheelchair. It’s tough to manage, and it’s starting to prove hard on your back. Overexertion injuries are most common in healthcare fields. If you’re lifting and moving your dad, it’s not uncommon to strain a muscle. This is a situation that many family caregivers encounter. You’re not trained to help a parent in this way, but you can to learn some techniques to save your back. It would also be helpful to have homecare services to help your dad too.

Homecare Essex County NJ - Stress-Free Lifting Techniques That Saves Your Back

Homecare Essex County NJ – Stress-Free Lifting Techniques That Save Your Back

At one point, the Veteran’s Health Administration and Association of Perioperative Nurses agreed that workers shouldn’t lift more than 35 pounds. It’s tough to stick to those guidelines when you’re shifting or lifting an adult. You can’t ignore your dad’s need for help. What are some of the best ways to lift him without hurting your back?

Work Out and Build Muscles

Get your back in shape by completing daily exercises that target the back muscles. You may want to talk to your doctor about working with a physical therapist who can help you learn how to lift correctly while also strengthening the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back, and hips.

Ask About Renting or Purchasing Helpful Equipment

Talk to your dad’s insurance company about renting or purchasing equipment that helps support your dad’s weight during a transfer. This could be a sling lift, a lifting vest, or a medical lift belt. It might mean investing in a recliner or bed that’s motorized to help him go from sitting or laying down to a standing position.

Get Your Dad to Do Some of the Work

The more your dad can help out, the better it is for you. Encourage him to do some of the work. Keep him motivated by offering a treat in exchange for his effort. You know he loves omelets. Offer to make him a vegetable omelet if he’s able to swing his legs off the bed on his own.

Make sure you don’t criticize him if he can’t do it. It’s the effort that matters. As long as he tries, he should be rewarded.

Rely on Teamwork with Homecare Help

Team up when it comes to lifting your dad out of bed and into his wheelchair. Have someone to help out when you’re moving him from his wheelchair to a shower seat and back. With a helper to assist you, it’s less strain on your back.

Homecare aides can help your dad with ambulation and transfers. They’re also able to help with the other things he needs, like assistance with meals, toileting, and housekeeping. Call our homecare specialist, ask about these helpful services, and determine how much caregivers cost. From there, you’ll have the information you need to make arrangements.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/safepatient/default.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Homecare Services in Essex County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.