The FirstLight Care Corner

Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage?

From our Care Blog

7 questions you need to ask before considering this type of loan. A reverse mortgage is a loan that enables homeowners - who are generally 62 years of age or older - to use part of their home’s equity to obtain cash proceeds that can be used to pay for property taxes or insurance, home renovations, or medical and daily living expenses that help them age-in-place. This type of loan does not have to be repaid until the last surviving borrower or remaining eligible non-borrowing spouse passes away or permanently leaves the home, or if the homeowners sell the home...

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Living with Parkinson's Disease

From our Care Blog

Living with Parkinson’s disease can be challenging. But there are ways to help improve your quality of life. At FirstLight® Home Care, we understand the impact Parkinson's Disease has on patients and their loved ones. Tremors, stiffness, loss of balance, and depression can lead to isolation and poor quality of life. Discovering the right medications, complementary therapies and support are ways to stay independent and even enhance your quality of life. April is Parkinson’s Awareness month. There are more than one million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease, and most are doing everything they can to proactively affect the course of...

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Stress and the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Long-term stress of any kind, including caregiver stress, can lead to serious health problems. At FirstLight Home Care we understand how stress impacts families. When a family member is ill, aging, disabled, or unable to complete daily tasks on their own, a family member may find themselves becoming the caregiver for their loved one. Caregiving is a 24/7 job and the stress from the demands can take its toll on the family member leading the care. We’ve seen it often and we’ve written many blog posts to help support the caregiver and their families with tools, tips, and resources on...

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Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease

From our Care Blog

Learn the early signs of Parkinson’s Disease and how in-home caregivers can help patients thrive.

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5 Benefits of Having a Travel Companion

From our Care Blog

The busy travel season will soon be upon us with spring and summer vacations, graduations, weddings and family reunions. Many aging seniors want to attend these special events, but for some, travel can be tricky - whether it’s because of mobility issues or just the anxiety that comes with making a long-distance trip. Additionally, if you are the adult daughter or son caring for your aging parent, you may feel a bit uneasy about them making the trip alone. At FirstLight Home Care we completely understand. Traveling can be hectic and stressful at any age, but for senior travelers especially,...

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Getting Enough ZZZZs? The Importance of Sleep for Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

We all know how important a good night’s sleep is to our health. Regular sleep deprivation can increase the risk for many health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke and dementia. Quality sleep for family caregivers is critical as they can especially be at risk for sleep problems, including insomnia (the inability to fall or stay asleep), hypersomnia (problems staying awake), and poor-quality sleep. While taking care of a loved one, caregivers often get up in the middle of the night to help, or they stay up late to get their own chores done. Additionally, many...

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Helping Seniors with Spring Maintenance: 5 Tips

From our Care Blog

Spring will be here before we know it. In fact, the first day of Spring is Tuesday, March 20. And in a few days, Daylight Savings Time begins, clocks change, and some of us gain a little extra light in the evenings. As the weather warms and things begin to thaw, there’s often a need to do some general spring maintenance. For aging seniors, some routine tasks around the home can be difficult to take on, especially if they have mobility issues. There are several ways you can assist your senior to help get their home ready for spring and...

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Caring for Adults with Disabilities

From our Care Blog

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about developmental disabilities, teach the importance of inclusion and show that a successful life is possible. FirstLight Home Care is proud to advocate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and we are honored to provide the assistance adults with disabilities need to live safe, fulfilling lives. More than 5 million Americans are estimated to have a developmental disability. Many of them need support with life activities such as self-care, mobility and independent living. FirstLight provides compassionate home care to help adults with disabilities achieve the independence they desire and...

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Family Caregivers Can Balance Career, Caregiving

From our Care Blog

Family Caregiver – noun | fam·i·ly care·giv·er One who takes care of a member of his or her family, often a senior parent or disabled relative; someone who is responsible for attending to the daily needs of another person. According to an AAPR Public Policy Institute study, the average U.S. family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman who provides unpaid care of nearly 20 hours per week to her mother for nearly five years. The life of working family caregivers can be difficult. Caring for a loved one while also working a paying job is time-consuming and it's physically and emotionally demanding....

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Small Changes Can Lead to Lifetime of Heart Health

From our Care Blog

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - American author Robert Collier Small changes matter. That is true of many things in life, even when it comes to taking action to maintain heart health. Applying small changes at an early age can have positive, lasting effects. And making those changes before developing a chronic condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, is key. Why is this so important? Because heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. And most Americans aren’t even aware that they could be at risk...

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