Understanding
Senior Care

Depression and Aging

From our Care Blog

Depression is not a normal part of aging. However, older adults are at an increased risk for depression. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that 80% of older adults have a least one chronic health condition, and 50% have two or more. Depression is more common in people who have other illnesses or whose function becomes limited. It also increases in those who require home healthcare and older hospital patients. Unsure if a family member is suffering from depression? Here are some signs from CDC that might help you confirm your concerns: Signs of Depression Feelings...

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Respite Care: Caring For The Caregiver

From our Care Blog

If you are the primary caregiver in your family, then you’ll be able to relate to this blog post. It can be exhausting to care for an aging parent or a family member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are going to need a break -- a time to regroup and re-energize yourself. You may not want to admit exhaustion and although taking a break isn’t on the schedule, but here are some ways you can help care for the caregiver: Take the person in care away: If the person in care can still travel, offer to...

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Make Every Day a fabulous Father’s Day

From our Care Blog

Father’s Day 2014 may be over but can’t we keep it alive each and every day. While searching the web for smart men talking about being a great day, we found Carey Casey, CEO of the National Center for Fathering. We’re now big fans. Mr. Casey wrote the following blog earlier this month and we thought it was worthy to share because he was spot on. The National Center for Fathering has a father-training program that looks very rewarding and his ideas for how to make every day like Father’s Day. His tips are simple and easy for all of...

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How to Help a Loved One Manage Dementia and Money

From our Care Blog

FirstLight Home Care provides tips to help your loved one manage dementia and money while maintaining financial security.

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FirstLight Home Care Prevents Caregiver Burnout

From our Care Blog

If you are a family caregiver for a loved one, you know it can take an emotional, financial and physical toll on your own well being. Chances are you have a job, a family of your own, and are trying to juggle it all. You become your last priority. The end result? Caregiver burnout and exhaustion. Don’t people realize you are only one person and you can only accomplish so much? No. What Are Some Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout? Although caring for a loved one can be rewarding, it can also be extremely stressful. You may not see any light...

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Seniors and Alzheimer's

From our Care Blog

Improving Quality of Life for Seniors with Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s is a particularly cruel disease, as it wipes away a human’s personality one day at a time until they become unrecognizable to us. And though it happens relatively frequently in seniors, almost to the point of expecting it, it still isn’t any easier to both cope or live with. How Alzheimer’s Starts Progresses, and Ends Over 100 years ago, in 1906, the disease now known as Alzheimer’s was first discussed by Alois Alzheimer. And today, a century after it was first described, almost 30 million people worldwide suffer from it, with the...

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Plan Ahead With Advanced Directives

From our Care Blog

None of us can predict when we are going to be suddenly incapacitated. You’re driving down the road, minding your own business and bam! Before you know it, you are in a car accident! Or maybe you find yourself in an unexpected coma. Although we hope it never happens, you have to be prepared. You want to be in control of your own healthcare options if you are too ill to express your own wishes. Advanced directives are legal documents that allow you to express your end-of-life wishes should the situation arise. In most states, these consist of two documents:...

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Are You A Novice Blood Donor?

From our Care Blog

Did you know that every time you donate blood, you could be saving three lives? That you can store your own blood for future needs? There are many myths about blood donation and its safety after the initial scare in the 1990s when unsafe blood banking practices came to light due to people contracting HIV and hepatitis. However, the FDA put rigid guidelines into place to ensure sterile procedures and proper equipment disposal. About 5 million people get blood transfusions every year. They are often necessary after surgery, an injury, cancer treatments, heart surgeries, organ transplants or for those with...

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Give Yourself A Much Needed Break With Respite Care

From our Care Blog

You may be burnt out. Stressed out. Like many Americans, you may be taking care of your Mom, Dad, or other loved ones. On top of that, you may also have a job and an immediate family of your own.  There is not enough hours in a day – definitely not enough hours to take care of yourself. You want to scream: can’t I get a break? As a matter of fact, you can and you need one. What The Numbers Say According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, you are not alone. In fact, more than 65 million people,...

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Holiday Gift Giving for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

From our Care Blog

Shopping for holiday gifts for family members with Alzheimer’s can be tricky. You may be unsure about what they enjoy or what they’re capable of doing. When choosing a gift, think about their personality, their hobbies, their abilities and their favorite pastimes. A few great gift suggestions for those with Alzheimer’s include: A family calendar Give your loved one a personalized calendar for your family. Include pictures of family member—grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, cousins, anyone who is close with your loved one. In addition to photos, take the time to fill in any special dates like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and...

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