Elder Care Denver Respite Services
No child imagines that their parents will grow older and be unable to care for themselves. Children are basically always their parent’s children even when they realize their parents need help. Many times this results in children becoming the primary caregiver for one or both parents.
If you are able to take care of your elderly parent or parents at home without sending them to a nursing home or assisted living, it is the best solution for them, but not necessarily for you. It takes patience, understanding and outside help.
When you want to truly care for your elderly mother or father it is important to first take care of yourself. If you have children of your own, it is also crucial to maintain some kind of balance in the home if your parents move in with you.
What can you do for yourself and your family to take some of the frustration and stress out of this situation? You can hire full time or part time elder care Denver services to help maintain sanity in your home and provide some respite for you and your family.
You do not want to feel as though your parent is a burden to you, and you will if you do not take the proper steps and take time for yourself. You should not feel guilty for hiring help because it is not good for you to sacrifice your emotional or physical health trying to do it all on your own.
It is wise to determine your needs for help when you are seeking in-home services for elder care. It is also wise to know you are choosing a service provider that provides qualified, screened caregivers that can meet the level of care required for your parents when you cannot be there for them.
Care Services
- Companion care services for emotional support, social interaction, light housework and meal preparation, errands, medication and appointment reminders, respite (relief) for the primary caregiver and the family and to lessen the feeling of isolation and loneliness.
- Personal care assistance to help with personal hygiene and grooming, wound dressing, feeding, transfer and repositioning, taking walks and to ensure safety in the home.
If you are a primary caregiver in need of relief, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
August 2, 2012 at 4:56 pm | GoldLeaf News | No comment
Music and Memory: Name That Tune for Senior Care, Denver!
Quick–don’t look. What’s on your iPod playlist? If you’re like most of us, your playlist consists of a combination of new and old, classic hits and the latest chart-toppers.
But if you’re a senior in Denver, perhaps you have Fred Astaire or Judy Garland, or many of the other singers whose musicals you grew up with at the Paramount Theatre. Perhaps you spent your time at the Bonfils Theatre on Colfax Avenue, listening to the music of Rogers and Hart, Cole Porter, and other Broadway favorites.
The music you listened to in your youth may be the key to healthy memory, or even returning cognitive functioning to dementia and Alzheimers’ patients.
Social worker Dan Cohen knows a lot about playlists. He’s been creating them for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients with amazing results. Cohen is the subject of a new documentary called Alive Inside, which premiered April 18, 2012 to a sold-out house at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City.
Buzz about the movie is coming to a fever-pitch, due in part to a viral video about Henry, one his elderly patients.
“He is able to actually answer questions and speak about his youth, and this is sort of the magic of music that’s familiar for those with dementia,” Cohen says. “Even though Alzheimer’s and various forms of dementia will ravage many parts of the brain, long-term memory of music from when one was young remains very often. So if you tap that, you really get that kind of awakening response. It’s pretty exciting to see.”
As Dr. Oliver Sacks, of Awakenings fame, states in that same viral video, “The effects of this doesn’t stop when the headphones are taken off. Henry, normally mute and virtually unable to answer the simplest yes or no questions, is quite voluble.”
Cohen is Executive Director of Music and Memory, a non-profit organization that helps individuals and elder care facilities implement patient-specific music therapy programs with iPod playlists designed to stimulate memory and recall.
Research shows that music is good for the brain. An article in Psychology Today states:
Musicians are commonly studied models for neural plasticity, which refers to the ability of learning experiences to change the brain chemically and physically. Musicians have more brain grey matter volume in areas that are important for playing an instrument and in the auditory cortex, which processes all kinds of sound. Of course, the effects of music training are most robust for processing of music. But benefit transfers to speech, language, emotion, and general auditory processing.
Incorporating music into your daily routine keeps the mind vigorous, regardless of your age. However, whether you’re providing senior care in Denver or just designing a playlist for a friend or loved one, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
- Personalize the playlist: What kind of music do they like? Jazz? Classical? Sinatra? The key to success with setting up an iPod for someone else is to learn what music they really enjoy. This will ensure the iPod gets used, instead of just sitting in a drawer somewhere.
- Go Straight to the Top: Once you’ve determined their favorite music, check out the Popularity category in iTunes. Choose songs that are downloaded often, as they are more likely to strike a chord and trigger memories. It is better to start with a variety of artists, maybe five songs from each, than to choose several songs from just a handful of artists.
- Keep It Simple: You don’t have to go with the top-of-the-line, cutting edge model of iPod or MP3 player. Instead, choose a model that is easy to use and will not complicate the process. This is about the music, not the machinery.
- Always Improve: It’s not enough to create a great playlist, load the player, and leave it at that. Review the list after a few days, find out what works, what doesn’t, and what can be added. Keep it stimulating and fresh, intertwining new songs into the favorites over time.
- Ask for Help: Music and Memory has several how-to guides on setting up iPods for family and friends, or for a friend living independently.
Music can be a vital tool in healthy aging and maintaining excellent cognitive functions throughout life. Not only that, it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it, too!
For more tips on senior living and long term senior health, contact us.
July 22, 2012 at 6:19 pm | GoldLeaf News | No comment
Alzheimer’s Senior in Home Care Denver Services
Alzheimer’s disease falls under the category of dementia and it affects the sufferer’s memory, behavior and cognitive abilities. Normally it starts with mild memory loss and gradually gets worse over a period of time. The time lapse for advanced Alzheimer’s varies from individual to individual.
Risk Factors
This debilitating disease is most common in the elderly, but early onset Alzheimer’s can occur before the age of 60 and progress much faster than late onset. While not much is known about this brain destroying disease, it is believed to be linked mostly to genetics. Other risk factors may include long-term high blood pressure or head trauma.
Symptoms
Memory Loss
The very first symptom is memory loss that may only appear to be part of what is considered a normal part of aging making it difficult to diagnose early. It is the more serious cognitive impairment that alerts those around the individual that triggers concern.
Behavioral Changes
Since this disease can be difficult to recognize in elderly individuals, it is important to be aware of behavioral changes that are out of the norm for the individual.
Personality Changes
Personality changes are common in even mild to moderate Alzheimer’s and as the disease progresses it gets much worse. One example of a personality change might be if the person never said a curse word or seldom cursed and now curses often or at inappropriate times.
Those are only three of the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You also need to be aware of problems with communicating, recognition of family or friends, losing interest in something they previously loved to do, changes in sleep patterns and understanding what you have to say to them
When you are the primary caregiver for a parent or loved one with these symptoms you need to address the issue with a doctor. You also need to seek senior in home care Denver services for help. Regardless of your age or mental strength, you will need to get help when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia.
You want to be able to count on the in-home caregiving services you choose, so make sure the provider has a strict screening process. This is how you can feel sure you are getting qualified and reliable care for your loved one.
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, you will want to contact us for a free consultation to help determine your needs.
July 18, 2012 at 4:23 pm | GoldLeaf News | No comment
In Home Health Care News
Working with a support system is the best way to ensure that adults facing challenges due to declining health, surgery, or aging has their needs met. Loved ones have the power to take steps to ensure that they are experiencing the best quality of life possible. Maintaining relationships with family and friends is essential for most adults sense of well-being.
In home health care Denver offers true support for each family. Several of the daily or weekly tasks needed for the senior family member to stay healthy can be challenging for adult children or a spouse. Scheduling issues with work or other required commitments may not leave enough time for loved ones to devote to their needs.
Living out of town is common for adult children. In home health care Denver makes it easy to stay in touch and ensure that their loved one is being checked on regularly. Some seniors may be physically capable to take care of themselves, but would appreciate someone stopping by to check on their health and listen to them.
Companion care Denver reaches out to help with administering medications and can even be used after a hospital stay. There are options for long term care in the comfort of home. Each situation is different, and needs a specific approach.
Take time to explore the numerous advantages of Denver in home health care. Nursing homes are usually not the best options for most seniors and those recovering from a lengthy illness. In home care is an affordable and respectable way to help preserve independence and dignity for those we love.
Avoid the stress involved with always constantly wondering how a loved one is doing while at work or taking care of other important responsibilities. There is support and true help available. We are available and have an around the clock support team contact us.
July 8, 2012 at 12:08 am | GoldLeaf News | No comment
Child Care Service in Littleton Colorado: Providing the Best Care for Your Children in Your Absence
An increasing number of households now consist of both parents working. With both parents out of the house, someone else is going to have to step in to look after the children. In some cases, the oldest child may be able to step in and watch after his or her younger siblings. If a grandparent is part of the household, then he or she can act as the caregiver.
In any other scenario, you may have to hire a sitter. When it comes to your children, you do not want to hire a babysitter that you randomly selected out of the phone book. Alternatively, you may hire someone you know, such as your neighbor’s daughter who could use a part-time job, though you must ask yourself whether such a person will have the experience.
Another option is to drop off your children at a daycare center. However, with a roomful of other kids, your children may not get the individual attention they need. Plus, you would have to go out of your way to drop your children off in the morning and pick them up on your way back from work.
If you want an in-home caregiver that is passionate about her job while professional at the same time, then contact a child care Littleton service. The agency will assign a sitter that will report at your doorstep on the days and hours you specify.
The caregiver assigned to you will become your children’s best friend while acting responsibly as an adult at all times. She will help with your children’s homework, play board games with them, prepare their meals and send them to bed when it’s bedtime. Caregivers are trained to interact with children at their age level. This includes infants and toddlers as well as children with special needs.
One of the most valuable aspects about having a specifically assigned caregiver is that she will develop a personal bond with your children. It is very important that they are able to trust the person who is under their care. This means that the person has to take a genuine interest in your children and not just simply be there because she is on the clock.
With a child care Littleton agency, you will be given a caregiver who is passionate in her line of work and strives to provide a nurturing environment for your children. If you are unable to be there for them 24/7, then let us step in in your absence. Please contact us for more information about our services.
July 7, 2012 at 12:06 am | GoldLeaf News | No comment
