Home Instead Senior Care in Austin, Texas invites you to Be A CAREGiver. There are many Austin seniors who may be needing extra income due to the rising costs of living today. If you’ve spent several years caring for an aging loved one and find yourself short of funds or time on your hands, give us a call at 512-347-9207. You may be retired, over or near the age of 65 with lots of time to better another elder’s life in Austin. If you are healthy and active, and expresses an interest in working again - please call us at 512-347-9207 or fill out Be A CAREGiver.    

In a recent study by MetLife Mature Market Instititue found:

• 70 percent of those surveyed overestimated how much savings they can draw and still maintain enough money to last through retirement.
• 43% thought they could withdraw more than 10% each year, while experts suggest a withdrawal rate of at most 4%, according to the institute.

Outliving savings is the largest risk in retirement, the institute said.

The good news for healthy and active seniors is that more are working well past traditional retirement age.  And one of the most popular professions is caregiving.  The personal and home care aides occupation is expected to grow by more than 50 percent between 2006 and 2016, increasing from 767,000 to a projected 1.15 million jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many of these caregiving jobs in Austin can be found in the homes of seniors who need help to remain independent.  If you have experience caring for an elder or a loved one and have learned caregiving skills, this could be a great job for you.  

Home Instead Senior Care Austin, for instance employs many seniors as CAREGivers.  In fact, we have joined AARP’s National Employer Team (NET). 

So if you do have marketable skills that could provide extra income and a fulfilling way to spend your days, call Home Instead Senior Care Austin at 512-347-9207.

MetLife Mature Market Institute study, log on to: http://www.metlife.com/FileAssets/MMI/MMIStudiesRetirementIQ.pdf

Home Instead Senior Care Austin helps elders remain independent longer at home. Call us today at 512-347-9207.

Regular Walking Helps Elderly Remain Independent

Older adults who participate in a walking exercise program can decrease their risk of disability and increase their likelihood of maintaining independence by 41 percent, a University of Georgia study found. Establishing a walking routine with your aging loved one is an easy way family members help them stay them stay independent longer. Home Instead Senior CareGIVERS can be a walking companion for your aging parent or relative in Austin, Texas. 

“In the past decade, researchers have focused on the benefits of strength training in maintaining independence, but until now we didn’t have good evidence using an objective performance measure that a walking program would improve physical functioning,” said study co-author M. Elaine Cress, Professor of Kinesiology and Researcher in the UGA Institute of Gerontology. “Our study found that walking offers tremendous health benefits that can help older adults stay independent.”

Study participants were assigned to either of two groups – a walking group that met three times a week for four months or a nutrition education control group. Researchers measured the aerobic capacity of participants using a treadmill test. While the control group saw a 9 percent decline in aerobic capacity over the four-month period, the walking group’s aerobic capacity increased by 19 percent. Physical function increased by 25 percent in the walking group, compared with a decline of 1 percent in the control group.

“We know that walking is good for you, but too many people still aren’t doing it,” said Trudy Moore-Harrison, lead study author. “This study shows that just walking on a regular basis can make a huge impact on quality of life.” The study appears in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy.

Call Home Instead Senior Care Austin when you prefer your aging relative live at home instead. Call us at 512-535-6194.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin helps Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients live at home. Please call for more information 512-347-9207.

Our female elders, over the age of 90, are more inclined to dementia and significantly more likely to have dementia than men of the same age. A U of CA - Irvine study shows, one of the largest studies of dementia and other health factors in this age group. It validates the need for elder care & senior care services -Home Instead Senior Care Austin. The need will only continue to increase as the population ages.

The study’s findings show that “more will need to be done to provide adequate resources to care for the increasing number of very old people with dementia”, Maria Corrada, a UC-Irvine epidemiologist and study co-author.

They found signs of dementia in 45 percent of women and 28 percent of men age 90 and older living in a  southern California retirement community. Researchers found no clear reason for the discrepancy, but noted that women with higher levels of education were less likely to show signs of senility.

The “oldest old,” is the fastest growing segment of the population, according to the U.S. Census. While there are currently nearly 2 million nonagenarians in the U.S. alone, that number is projected to increase to 10 to 12 million by the middle of the century.

The study appears in the July 2 online issue of Neurology. For more information about caring for your loved one living with memory loss, Home Instead Senior Care Austin can help. Call us today at 512-347-9207.

Older adults in Austin are vulnerable victims when disasters strike in Texas. The summer and early fall is when Mother Nature unleashes floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and fires. These present prime times for trouble.

Home Instead Senior CAREGivers encourage families of elders in Austin to talk with their aging loved ones and begin preparing for any kind of emergency that could threaten their health or safety. One thing to do right away is assess what your loved one needs in the event of a disaster like a tornado, flood, or fire.  If your believe they need additional help and assistance, you need to hellp them identify a team. A personal support network like neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers who are available and near them to help in case of an emergency.

Family caregivers need to organize a plan around every place they might be during the day or week. If your aging parents visits the a senior center or the public library, if a disaster should strike while they are there, a plan should be in place for them.

Communication after a disaster is a vital component of your disaster plan.  Local telephone lines are usually overloaded in a disaster, but the long-distance lines may be working, and possibly cell sights may be down.  Make sure your aging relative has an out-of-town contact number available to call after a disaster to let someone know they are safe and sound.

If you have a private question for our elder care expert, Catherine Kohl, please send her your confidential question about Alzheimer’s or Assisted Living at home in Austin - HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin, helping your elder stay at home safely. Call us today - 512-347-9207.

Wandering is a big concern for elder’s with Alzheimer’s. Family members should be aware of this common issue when dealing with any form of dementia. Too often we hear of an elderly family member that has wandered away from their home, unable to remember their way back. On our Amber alert highway warning signs too often we see Elderly Missing… driving brown or blue or whatever color sedan. How many loved one’s end up in another state, not knowing where they are or where they are going.

If you have a private question for our elder care expert, Catherine Kohl, please send her your confidential question about Alzheimer’s - HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com.

Alz.org gives us some useful tips on elderly wandering. It’s good to know that the elderly or people with dementia often have a purpose or goal in mind when wandering. They may be searching for something that is lost or trying to fulfill a former job responsibility.

Here are some tips to reduce wandering from Alz.org:

• Encourage your elder to move and exercise - this helps reduce anxiety, agitation and restlessness
• Make sure their basic needs are met like nutrition, thrist, and toileting
• Have them participate in activites such as folding laundry or preparing dinner
• Camouflage doorknobs by putting cloth napkins over them
• Redirect them when they begin to pace or become restless
• By placing a mirror near doorways, stop them from leaving or exiting
• Always reassure the person if they feel lost or abandoned - leading by the hand, guiding them to their room helps them feel less anxious

 

Home Instead Senior Care Austin can assist in evaluating your loved one who may possibly exhibit these behaviors and symptoms. Call us at 512-347-9207.

Austin Home Instead Senior Care offers respite for family members. We can help - 512-347-9207.

Any caring for an aging loved one whether they are living with Alzheimer’s disease or not, all family members need a break from caregiving. Those living with dementia may want a break from the daily routine at home. You may want to go out and meet your friends for lunch or simply take a drive in the neighborhood. 

Respite care can help, by providing a new environment or time to relax. Home Instead Senior Care Austin offers families a break by caring for your loved one for a few hours or several days or weeks depending on your particular needs and interests.

Respite care provides famililes, a temporary break from daily caregiving responsibilities. Using Home Instead Senior Care services supports your ability to continue taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer’s in the home.

Home Instead Senior Care Services:

Our in-home care services offer a range of options:

Companionship services:

Offer elderly companionship and conversation

Provide respite care

Monitor diet and eating

Check food expirations

Assist with evening and tuck-in

Aid with morning and wake-up

Arrange appointments

Provide medication reminders

Aid with reading

Assist with walking

Write letters and correspondence

Organize mail

Stimulate mental awareness

Assist with entertaining

Answer the door

Reminisce about the past

Assist with clothing selection

Care for houseplants

Provide reminders for appointments

Discuss current and historical events

Participate in crafts

Play games and cards

Supervise home maintenance

Record and arrange recipes

 

Personal care services:

Eating

Grooming

Dressing

Bathing

Incontinence

Cognitive impairment

Mobility

Medication reminders

 

Home Helper Services:

Provide Alzheimer’s Care

Assist with laundry and ironing

Take out garbage

Change linens

Plan, prepare and clean up meals

Make beds

Dust furniture

Drop off and pick up dry cleaning

Pick up prescriptions

Organize and clean closets

Assist with pet care

Shop for groceries and supplies  

Prepare future meals

Escort to appointments

Accompany to lunch or dinner

Escort for shopping and errands

Attend plays and concerts

Escort to religious services

Attend club meetings and sporting events

 

There are a wide variety of services available, and this list may grow to include activities and support that are unique to your needs. Home Instead Senior Care Austin can help with compassionate, home care services delivered right in your loved one’s home. Call us today 512-347-9207.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Helping elders with Alzheimer’s remain safely at home. Call 512-347-9207.

Catherine Kohl, our senior care expert, is equipped to answer your toughest questions on Alzheimer’s elder care in Austin - hisc.kohl@yahoo.com. 

Because each person living with Alzheimer’s disease in Austin is unique, every individual contributes special talents, knowledge, values and customs to make the world a better place. People living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia’s have actively contributed to the world for decades.

Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers specialize in Alzheimer’s and dementia related illnesses.  In addition to learning more about your loved one, who they are today, but our CAREGivers also want to learn who they were - what your loved one enjoyed doing when he or she was more active and aware, what jobs they had, what cities they lived in, and what countries they formerly traveled. 

Learning more about your loved ones contributions to the world, their life experiences, abilities and talents can help our CAREGivers make the most of their daily lives and bring quality back into their worlds. There are various ways to gather a life story. Compiling photos and information and putting them in sequence of events, is a great way to keep your loved one interested in activities. We at Home Instead Senior Care Austin,  provide the training required to connect the days and tell a complete story.

Call us for a free consultation 512-347-9207 or send me an email with your questions or concerns about Alzheimer’s disease - HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Helping elders with Alzheimer’s remain safely at home. Call 512-347-9207.

Catherine Kohl, our senior care expert, is equipped to answer your toughest questions on Alzheimer’s elder care in Austin - hisc.kohl@yahoo.com. 

One problem with diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is that other diseases sometimes look and act like Alzheimer’s.  That’s because the disease is a type of dementia - often referred to as a dementing illness.  

Dementia is a syndrome, a term which refers to a group of related symptoms.  In other words, someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have many of the same symptoms as someone with another type of dementing illness.  Some forms of dementia are curable and others, like Alzheimer’s disease are not. Symptoms can be confusing and similiar to other dementia type illnesses so it is difficult to diagnose without the help of a medical examination by a licensed physician or neurologist. *Also see our posts in this blog dated 7-01 and 7-02 for full description of symptoms.

One advantage of our CAREGivers at Home Instead Senior Care Austin, we are educated in dementing illnesses and understand that different approaches are needed. As you may have experienced with your loved one, providing care for someone with dementia can be very hard work. 

Your loved ones physical condition or behavior can become too severe for the type of care that you can provide.  Contact Home Instead Senior Care Austin for an assessment of your loved one if caring for them is too difficult, at 512-347-9207.  Remember to contact your loved ones primary care physician for a thorough medical evaluation.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Helping elders live at home. Call 512-347-9207.

Catherine Kohl, our senior care expert is ready to answer your questions on elder care in Austin - hisc.kohl@yahoo.com.

Did you know that one out of three Americans age 65 and older fall? 

Did you know 30% of those falls end up requiring medical attention, due to a bump or blow to the head? And that many traumatic brain injuries are missed or misdiagnosed among our older adults?

Traumatic brain injuries caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. Brain injuries accounted for half of these deaths. Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but research shows that traumatic brain injuries also can have serious consequences, said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Falls are not a typical consequence of aging but they do occur more frequently among older adults whose health and aging conditions are associated risk factors.

How to prevent these injuries? Take a look at CDC’s “Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury” an initiative for seniors, the materials are available at www.cdc.gov/BrainInjuryInSeniors.

Millions of people in this country provide care for an older adult - a parent, grandparent, other family member, professional caregiver, or a close friend. For most caregivers, the older adult’s health is the overriding concern. One way to help older adults live, better lives and stay independent is by learning about traumatic brain injury, or TBI and how to prevent it.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin will give tips on preventing falls for seniors in our next blog. Visit us again.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Helping elders living with memory loss stay home. Call 512-347-9207.

Catherine Kohl, our senior care expert in Austin gives a few tips for families seeking answers and tips on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and memory loss. She is ready to answer your questions on elder care in Austin - hisc.kohl@yahoo.com.

Tips on what to look for:
 
Do you have a loved one that cannot remember the simplest tasks?
 
What type of help does your loved need, if they have Alzheimer’s or dementia disease?
 
What qualities would you need in a CAREGiver providing care for your loved one?
 
When grappling for help with these concerns, turn to Home Instead Senior Care Austin. Without a knowledgeable CAREGiver, your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia may wander aimlessly, repeat simple meaningless actions over and over or become agitated or frightened.  As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, you’ll need to make sure that nearly all aspects  of their lives run smoothly.

Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers will help organize:

• Their physical environments - including their home and personal items
• Ensure their safety while living at home
• Plan meaningful and interesting activities to fill their days 

They will be happier and your lives less worrisome.  Call Home Instead Senior Care, for you personal in-home evaluation, free of charge today - 512-347-9207. 

Or speak to one of our Alzheimer’s specialist office staff over the phone for more information about our services at Home Instead Senior Care Austin.  Or you can email Catherine Kohl, at hisc.kohl@yahoo.com.

Or if you are a CAREGiver, in the medical field, or family member, feel free to reply to this or any other blog.  This is a place where you can feel free to share YOUR story.