For many seniors, aging in place can be a satisfying option since it allows them to remain independent and comfortable in familiar settings. But as seniors get older, they might need extra assistance to ensure they’re safe and well. Home health care services are essential in this situation because they offer individualized care that enables seniors to live comfortably at home while getting the support they require. For family members and seniors themselves, finding the right home health care resources can make all the difference.

Determining Needs for Care

Home Health Care Somerset County NJ – Finding the Right Home Health Care for Seniors Aging in Place

It’s important to understand the senior’s care needs before choosing what home health care services to incorporate. Family members can gain a better understanding of this by talking with the medical team. It also helps to understand what support home health care can provide, such as assistance with everyday tasks, medication administration, physical therapy, or specialist care for ailments like diabetes or Alzheimer’s.

Researching Options

Finding trustworthy home health service providers requires research. Loved ones should seek out organizations with a license, accreditation, and good feedback or referrals from other families. Healthcare providers, specialists who work with seniors regularly, and the internet can all provide valuable information to consider.

Examining the Services Provided

Beyond researching options, it’s also important to understand what home health services the agency offers because not all agencies offer the same thing. For instance, ensure the agency can offer the particular care required, whether it is personal care help, nursing care, therapy services, or a mix of these.

Examining the Qualifications of the Staff

Caretakers’ and medical experts’ credentials and training are vital. Family members should be able to access information about the training and experience of the providers they’re considering to ensure they’re making the best choice. Knowing these things also increases peace of mind that loved ones will be cared for appropriately.

Guaranteeing Comfort and Compatibility

A good experience depends on the senior and the caregivers getting along. To find out whether a prospective caregiver will get along with a loved one and what kind of communication style they prefer, family members might inquire about the possibility of setting up a meeting or interview. A proper fit can improve the senior’s level of comfort and contentment with the care they receive overall.

Examining Policies and Contracts

Loved ones should review the service agreement or contract with the agency thoroughly before making a decision. It’s important to recognize the conditions, cancellation procedures, and services covered under the agreement. If questions remain, don’t hesitate to ask for better clarification.

Monitoring Care

After home health care services are established, loved ones should keep an eye on the standard of care given to make sure the senior’s requirements and expectations are being met. Frequent evaluations and contact with caregivers can assist in addressing any issues as soon as they arise and modifying the care plan as needed.

Families can choose home health services with confidence by following these guidelines, which guarantee that seniors get the individualized attention and assistance they require to age in their own homes. An enjoyable and fulfilling aging-in-place experience can result from making well-informed decisions and putting the senior’s welfare first.

Sources: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2018/hiring-caregiver.html
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/home-care-services-for-seniors.htm
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/support-for-older-adults-living-alone/

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Health Care Services in Somerset 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.

It’s estimated that as many as 3 million Americans experience pressure sores each year. Often, they occur in people who are bedridden for one reason or another or are confined to a wheelchair. Your dad’s stroke resulted in the need for a wheelchair, and you’ve found he has pressure sores. It’s time to arrange home health care services to help get them taken care of and learn why they happen and how to keep them from happening again.

What Is a Pressure Sore?

Home Health Care Somerset County NJ – Keep Pressure Sores From Worsening With Home Health Care

A pressure sore, commonly referred to as a bedsore, occurs when pressure pushes against the skin cells and fatty tissue continuously and reduces blood flow to that area. The tissue isn’t getting enough oxygen and dies.

Often, pressure sores are prevalent in areas where they’re compressed against a mattress, wheelchair, or chair for long periods, such as heels, buttocks, or hips. The key to preventing pressure sores is by shifting position regularly. But, if your dad is in a wheelchair throughout the day, shifting around isn’t easy to manage. He needs help doing this.

Pressure sores can become infected. Infections need to be carefully treated until they’re fully healed. Even after they heal, the skin has already been damaged and scar tissue is delicate and may reopen easily. Prevention of pressure sores is optimal.

Tips for Avoiding Pressure Sores

If your dad is in his wheelchair from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed, he needs to be shifted regularly. Consider moving him from a wheelchair to an armchair and back every few hours. Invest in a wheelchair cushion that’s designed to prevent pressure sores.

If he’s in bed all day, turn him from his back to his right or left side every couple of hours. A mattress topper with a gel/memory foam mixture that has some give can help ease some of the pressure on his pressure points.

When you or a paid caregiver bathes your dad, apply a skin moisturizer that helps soothe the skin. If any irritated areas are visible, take care of them immediately with barrier creams. If they are open or showing signs of infection, medical care is needed. Home health care providers should be called for wound care services.

Prevent Infection Through Proper Wound Care

Home health care nurses are experts in wound care. When your dad has pressure sores, they must be carefully cleaned and bandaged to lower the risk of infection. He also needs to have his position adjusted more often to ensure they don’t keep happening.

Talk to our home health care agency about wound care. Get your dad’s pressure sores carefully tended to and healed up. Then, learn how to prevent them from happening again.

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557868/

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Health Care Services in Somerset 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.

Generations Home Healthcare is excited to announce that we will be moving to a new location effective 8/22/2022. Our new address will be 268 Main Street, Gladstone, NJ 07934.

Please stop by and say hello! Of course, we can still be reached 24/7 at www.generationshh.com / 908-769-0800.

Home Health Care Somerset County NJ – Generations Home Healthcare Is Moving to a New Location

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Health Care Services in Somerset 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.

Chronic health issues can affect aging adults all year, but the winter season can add additional challenges in managing your aging mom or dad’s exposure to germs and injurious situations. Keeping an aging loved one healthy during the winter weather will take all your abilities and resources, but it’s worth it when your elderly parent stays happy and healthy.

Home Health Care Somerset County NJ – Keep Your Elderly Parent Healthy This Winter

Why Winter Weather Affects Senior Health?

Winter weather is hard on senior health for several reasons. First, the cold weather brings people indoors, where it’s easier to spread and pick up germs that can cause harmful illnesses such as the cold, influenza and pneumonia. It’s also much harder to practice healthy habits such as exercise, eating fresh food, spending time in fresh air and sunshine, and socializing. Finally, the ice and snow can lead to numerous slip and fall accidents, which can lead to scrapes, bruises, concussions and broken bones.

Many aging adults are dealing with one or more chronic illnesses that are also affected by winter weather. For example, seniors with arthritis are often in more pain and discomfort in cold weather because it causes the joints and muscles to stiffen and they don’t get as much activity, which boosts flexibility. Another example is that many seniors have a weakened immune system, which makes it harder for them to fight off illnesses when exposed to germs.

Tips for Dealing with Winter Weather

You can do a lot to keep your aging parent healthy and happy during the winter. First, insist that everyone washes their hands whenever anyone comes to your elderly mom or dad’s home. This includes home health care providers, family members, community services, and friends. Practice good hygiene by covering a sneeze or cough and insist others do too. If your aging loved one goes on an outing, make sure they wash their hands often or use hand sanitizer to stop the spread of germs.

When it comes to your elderly mom or dad getting exercise and activity in the winter months, a home health care provider can be a real asset. Because they spend so much time with your loved one, they can schedule in some sessions for yoga, tai chi, chair aerobics or a brisk walk outside, weather permitting. Even doing some housework, decorating for the holidays or actively caring for a pet can get seniors more active than usual in the winter.

Finally, family caregivers should be proactive in helping aging adults avoid a slip and fall accident. If they go outside, you or the home health care provider should be by them to help navigate ice and snow on sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. Watch for moisture on hard surfaces that has been tracked into the house as that can cause a slip and fall accident. Home health care providers can help seniors in and out of the shower or bath so they don’t have a bad fall.

There’s no doubt that keeping your aging parent healthy and safe during the winter months is particularly challenging. With the help of friends, family members and home health care providers, your mom or dad can get through the season without issue.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Health Care Services in Somerset 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.