Alzheimer’s and
Memory Loss

Keeping You Aging Parents' Home Safe

From our Care Blog

June is National Safety Month. It is important to keep everyone safe, especially when it comes to your aging parents living independently at home. FirstLight Home Care put together a list of home safety tips to help aging parents prevent falls and accidents in their homes. Start with the outside of your parents' home. Walk around the home to check out the condition of sidewalks, handrails, lighting and vegetation or shrubs. Uneven sidewalks, loose handrails, poor lighting and overgrown landscaping could become a trip hazard. Move or put away outdoor furniture, flower pots, and gardening tools that could obstruct their...

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Five Myths + Misconceptions of Parkinson’s Disease

From our Care Blog

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. There are many myths and misconceptions about Parkinson's Disease and FirstLIght Home Care is here to set things straight. During the month of April, our caregivers at FirstLight Home Care will share information through our social media channels about the disease. Conversations will include living with or caring for someone with Parkinson’s Disease and tips and resources to help you better understand this progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the United States. The first step in understanding Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is to recognize some of the many common misconceptions and myths that...

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Diabetes Alert Day is Coming: Are You at Risk?

From our Care Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and one in four of them doesn’t even know it. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and can be managed through diet, physical activity and appropriate use of insulin and oral medications to lower blood sugar levels. American Diabetes Association Alert Day® is next Tuesday, March 28. It’s observed to help sound the alarm about the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in American adults by asking people to take the "Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test." The Importance of Detection...

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The Home Care Decision: What to Look for In a Partner

From our Care Blog

For people who are aging in place, navigating the typical activities of daily living can be an ongoing challenge. Home care can be a lifeline.

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Random Acts of Kindness: Good for the World, and Good for Your Health

From our Care Blog

Next Week, February 12 to 18, is Random Acts of Kindness Week. And it's the perfect opportunity to shower some kindness on the people in your life -- or maybe even a total stranger. We've all heard stories about the person at the drive-thru who bought coffee for the stranger who was next in line. Simple deed, big reward. Everyone could use a little boost from time to time to raise their spirits. Those who need a little extra support – an elderly neighbor, an adult with a disability, a loved one recuperating from surgery – could find even the smallest...

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New Year’s Strategies for the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

By Beth Bourgault, Caregiver, FirstLight Home Care of Salem, Mass. FirstLight Home Care 2016 Caregiver of the Year Being a family caregiver is both a rewarding and challenging role. Becoming a primary source of care – when you used to be a daughter, son, sister, brother, wife, husband, friend – can be overwhelming. And it can place a strain on your most valued relationships. As a FirstLight caregiver, I work with many clients who are fortunate to have a loved one also providing support and participating in their care. While each situation is different, many of the challenges are the...

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Working Family Caregivers: Managing a Delicate Balance

From our Care Blog

The challenges of the family caregiver are gaining more visibility. But there's one part of the family caregiving story that still needs much more attention: the struggles of the family caregiver who's also maintaining a job. New data is giving us a clearer picture of the impact of caregiving on work-life balance, as well as employee productivity and performance. Let’s review that data, and explore opportunities for family caregivers to get more support during their 9-to-5. Working family caregivers are in good company. An estimated one-fifth of today’s working Americans are also family caregivers, which means they are, in essence,...

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Moments of Thanksgiving

From our Care Blog

It’s difficult to capture in one blog post all the things we’re thankful for at FirstLight Home Care. For us, it’s about the clients who trust us to help them achieve independence and live happier lives. The family caregivers who invite us to be a part of their caregiving journeys. The partners who help us deliver the best home care services. And the referral sources who introduce us to the people who will become such a central part of our lives. But just as much as we’re profoundly grateful for the people who allow us to live out our mission...

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50 Ways Home Care Can Support Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

For so many family caregivers, the story is familiar. “I don’t know where to turn for help.” Or, “I’m exhausted. I don’t think I can do this on my own anymore.” Or, “There has to be a better way to care for my loved one.” These are the words of an untold number of family caregivers who are struggling to provide care and support for loved ones, while at the same time maintaining some balance in their own lives. The good news is there is somewhere to turn for help. You don’t have to do it alone. There’s a way...

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A Helpful Dozen: 12 Online Resources for Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

A recent report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine concluded that there’s more to caring for the older adult population than services and support for aging individuals. An equally urgent need is resources for the family caregiver who is so integral to their care. The report found that nearly 18 million Americans care for a relative older than 65. And that those providing support are often thrust into the family caregiving role without the preparation, services, support and information they need. The Academies said “the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the most significant challenges”...

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