The Hogans started Home Instead Senior Care modestly, opening the first office in Omaha principally to assist other local families like theirs.  You see, Paul’s grandmother, Eleanor Manhart, of Omaha, was an active widow and grandmother with a large extended family.  When she was in her 90s, the family – including Lori and Paul – began providing a little extra non-medical assistance to keep her safe and independent.  In fact, because the family was so large – and nearby – they shared these caregiving tasks quite effectively.

But this situation made Lori and Paul wonder about those other families – locally, and later, nationally – that had similar senior care requirements, but didn’t have enough members actually to provide this care.  Or, what about those families in which the adult children lived hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their parents or other older relatives?

Thus, Home Instead Senior Care was born from the Hogans’ unique idea: to assist seniors on a non-medical basis with their activities of daily living, thus allowing them to stay at home longer – where they want to be – and to do so comfortably, safely and affordably. 

Now, at this point, you might be asking, “What exactly is non-medical care, and how are these services delivered?”  That’s a good question, because admittedly, it’s a bit unusual to define a product or service by what it isn’t.

Consider this, though.  When many of us think of home care for seniors, we typically think of a home-health nurse giving a patient an insulin shot, or perhaps a pharmacist or similar licensed medical professional assembling a senior’s pillbox for the week.

Visit us in a day when we give more information on our non-medical home care in New Braunfels. Call us at 830-624-8380.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Non-Medical Senior Care - What it is & How we provide it

At Home Instead Senior Care in New Braunfels, we know that caring for a senior isn’t always easy. Every day, all across the country, people juggle the demands of their busy lives.  Jobs, children, and dozens of other activities all compete for time.  And then mom or dad gets sick or otherwise needs in-home help.

These seniors’ adult children – the ones who typically end up as their caregivers – are referred to as the “sandwich generation,” caught between providing for their own young families and assisting their aging parents.  They’re already stretched to the limit, and the strain shows no sign of easing.  That’s largely because of numbers; by the year 2030, 70 million Americans – 20 percent of the population – will be over the age of 65.

In anticipation of this tremendous need, back in 1994 Lori and Paul Hogan co-founded Home Instead Senior Care in Omaha, NE.  Now, just over a decade later, the company finds itself the unquestioned leader in the international non-medical senior care industry, with more than 700 independently owned and operated offices throughout the world.  Here are some global statistics:

• More than 37,000 CAREGivers;
• Hundreds of thousands of clients served; and,
• 20 million hours of service delivered annually.

View more on non-medical home care in our next post.. visit soon.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

• Consider long-term care insurance – a policy that specifically caters towards long-term care pays for in-home, assisted living or nursing home care. It is important to thoroughly research these policies before making a  decision, because there are a few cons and plans vary.

• Research caregiving options – know what services are available in your area as well as the associated costs. Your local Area Agency on Aging is a great resource to provide you with this information.

• Appoint a Power of Attorney – legal documents should be drawn up by a senior before a medical situation occurs; one POA can appoint someone responsible for medical care, and another care dictate whose responsible  for managing personal and financial affairs. A payee representative can also be appointed (who may or may not be separate from a POA) who will be responsible for receiving income and paying bills.

• Review health care coverage – review any health care coverage or insurance plans a senior has while they are still in good health. Are they covered by Medicare and by which plan? Do they have supplemental health care  coverage? Will the plan they currently pay into be sufficient should their health situation change down the road?

FINANCIAL PREPARDNESS FOR ELDERCARE EMERGENCIES

Long term care for an aging seniors in New Braunfels can be a very expensive, yet necessary, investment whether they are placed a care facility or cared for by a family member. When a family member falls ill, it causes a great deal of stress for their loved ones; financial strain does not need to be added into the mix. It is important that families have plans in place to handle these unfortunate emergencies, and that they are financially prepared.

• Be aware of a senior’s financial situation – while this can be a very delicate topic for many people, close family members (typically children) should be aware of a senior’s finances. Do they have retirement savings? What can they afford, if anything, to help pay for any long term care programs required?

• Set up an emergency fund – often family caregivers become responsible for any costs involved with providing for an aging relative, in addition to setting money aside for your children’s education, vacation funds and your own  personal emergency savings, set aside a bit of money every month for eldercare emergencies; this will help alleviate the financial burden should full-time caregiving be required for your loved one.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Home Health Care New Braunfels continues the post from August 16 about the family member who noticed her dad, widowed for nine years, appears depressed.  He’s always had lots of friends and a great social life. Please refer back to our story dated August 16.

The findings may be important to patients because both low blood vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels can be treated with higher dietary intake of vitamin D or calcium and increased sunlight exposure.

Since your father is widowed, perhaps he is getting to a point in his life when he might value and benefit from a little extra help around the house.  Or a friend to accompany him to doctor’s appointments or social events might provide a boost as well.  How about someone to help him with groceries, errands and other transportation needs?  Or perhaps he would like a companion who can assist with medication reminders?

He can have all of that support with a CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care.  CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured and may be just what your dad needs to help him through this difficult time.  CAREGivers also provide peace of mind for family members when they can’t always be there to help their loved ones.  A second set of eyes could be just what you need as well to help put your mind at ease about your father.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Lead to Depression in Seniors

Question from an out of state family member who is concerned about her father: I’ve noticed that my 76 year old dad, who has been widowed for nine years, seems depressed lately.  He’s always had lots of friends and a great social life.  I just can’t explain this.  Can you?  

Please encourage your father to get a physical.  There are many reasons why he might be experiencing depression including illness or medication imbalance.  But only his doctor will know for sure. 

We discovered an interesting study that found older adults with low blood levels of vitamin D and high blood levels of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands may have a higher risk of depression.

In fact, symptoms of depression in about 13 percent of older individuals have been linked to vitamin D deficiency, according to the report from the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Blood vitamin D levels were 14 percent lower in individuals with major and minor depression compared with non depressed participants, according to the study.

Get more tips and information about depression in seniors.. visit soon.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Take Action for Healthy Aging

Home Instead Senior Care office in New Braunfels, San Marcos, Canyon Lake, Sequin.

Question from a Senior Citizen in Sequin: I hear a lot about healthy aging, but what are ways that seniors can do that?  My husband and I are both 75 and don’t get out much anymore.

There’s no time like the present to learn about healthy aging.  In fact, September is “Healthy Aging Month,” a great opportunity to learn these issues.  Following, from the National Institute on Aging, are tips for healthy aging:

1. Eat a balanced diet.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Get regular check-ups.
4. Don’t smoke. It’s never too late to quit.
5. Practice safety habits at home to prevent falls and fractures.
6. Always wear your seatbelt when traveling.

Visit us in a day to receive more tips - take a look at this study - 101 Anti-Aging Tips. It tells us -

A decade ago, anti-aging medicine was labeled by some as science fiction. Ten years later, many of the insights of anti-aging pioneering researchers and clinicians have become science fact. Today, scientists know much more about the deterioration and vulnerability to disease that typifies the aging process. Many of these discoveries can be attributed to the advent of anti-aging medicine, heralding in a new era for an innovative healthcare model and exciting scientific field of study.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Nutritional Tips for Family Caregivers

Following are some tips for you to use during mealtime with your elder loved one:

• If a plateful of food is overwhelming, try placing one item at a time in front of your loved one and give verbal cues such as, “look at the orange carrots,” or “here’s the roast chicken that you like.” Wait to place the next selection on the plate until your loved one finishes eating the first item.

• Allow plenty of time to eat and keep the environment quiet.

• Breakfast time seems to be when individuals with Alzheimer’s are most alert and most hungry. Plan the most food for this time of the day in order to maintain your loved one’s weight.

• Remind your loved one to chew and swallow.

• Research studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease eat as much as 25 percent more when their food is served on brightly colored plates. Use bright colors to make it easier to distinguish between the plate and the food.

• Make sure the plate or bowl is secure on the table to avoid slipping and frustrating spills.

Supplying your aging loved one with good nutrition in a calm and stress free environment can make it possible for him or her to cope both physically and emotionally with this disease. Taking extra time to set the tone for a successful meal can increase quality of life and reduce the risk of malnutrition. When you plan a day well, the result is a calmer, more relaxed day.

If you need help with your aging relative please contact Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels.  Please call 830-624-8380.

Staying Healthy at 50+ in New Braunfels, Seguin, San Marcos, Canyon Lake

This information is designed to help people ages 50 and older stay healthy. If you are younger than 50, some of the information also may apply to you. Whatever your age, talk with your doctor or nurse about staying healthy. You can also get more information by going to the “Tools and Resources” page at www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

What To Do and When - Daily Steps to Good Health

• Be tobacco free: All men and women  Ages 50 to 80 and older.
• Be physically active: All men and women  Ages 50 to 80 and older.
• Eat a healthy diet: All men and women  Ages 50 to 80 and older.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation: All men and women  Ages 50 to 80 and older.

Screening Tests and Preventive Medicine - Heart and Vascular Diseases

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Tests: Once for men  Ages 65 to 75 who have smoked.
• Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack: Men  Ages 50 to 80 at risk.
• Aspirin to Prevent Stroke: Women  Ages 55 to 80 at riska.
• Blood Pressure Screening Test: All men and women  Ages 50 and older, at least every 2 years.
• Cholesterol Screening Test: All men and women  Ages 50 and older.
• Diabetes Screening Test: Men and women  Ages 50 and older with high blood pressure.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

Home Instead Senior Care New Braunfels helps seniors & elders remain safe & independent at home. Call us for help - 830-624-8380.

With senior citizens as prime targets for con artists, the National Crime Prevention Council  (NCPC) recommends you hang up on unscrupulous telemarketers. Studies show that fraudulent telemarketers direct anywhere from 56 to 80 percent of their calls at older Americans.

The NCPC warns that seniors and their caregivers should be leery of strange or unexpected calls.
The organization offers these tips to help seniors and their caregivers avoid being victims of telemarketing fraud:

• Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry at 888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov.
• If a caller asks for personal information, such as a credit card number or Social Security number, say, “I don’t give out personal information over the phone. I’ll contact the company directly and provide them with the necessary information.” Then hang up.
• If a caller offers a free item and then wants you to pay for shipping and handling or taxes, say, “I shouldn’t have to send money for something that’s free.” Then hang up.
• If a caller wants a decision on a limited-time offer right away, say, “I’d like some time to think about this. Tell me how I can get in touch with you. If I’m interested, I’ll call you back.”
• If you don’t understand the details of the verbal offer, have the telemarketer send you the information by mail. If the caller won’t do that, say,” If you can’t mail me the information, then I can’t talk to you.”

The National Crime Prevention Council offers free publications on its Web site that are meant to help keep seniors from becoming fraud victims.