Firstlight Resources

Travel Companion for Seniors

From our Care Blog

Can you believe it? Summer is almost here, which means vacations and family visits are on everyone’s minds.  If you or a loved one are desiring to travel this summer but are uneasy about making the trip alone, we completely understand, as traveling can be hectic to everyone these days. At FirstLight Home Care we offer a special service called our, “Travel Companion Program.” Our “Travel Companion Program” is designed specifically for clients in need of travel assistance. Whether they are traveling nationally or internationally makes no difference. Our travel companions are here to help you or your loved one...

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Asthma Awareness

Asthma is one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. There are 26 million people in the United States living with asthma, a disease affecting the lungs, causing repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma successfully to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes.

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Care Giving Tips For An Only Child

From our Care Blog

If you are an only child caring for elderly parents, you know it can be a handful.  In this case. you may feel the stresses of care giving are all on you. It may even start to define your livelihood.  As much as you love your parents and know they deserve the best care possible, it is okay, and will be better for all, if you continue to have a life too and feel comfortable delegating others to help.  Here are a few tips to consider. Don’t be afraid to ask other relatives for help. Many times, other family members and friends are ready...

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No One Can Take Of Your Mother Like You Do

From our Care Blog

But FirstLight Home Care comes very, very close. There is no doubt that as our mothers begin to age, it can be tough on sons, daughters and other family members to provide the level of care she needs. Whether you live close or far away, suddenly the roles are reversed and the dynamics of the parent-child relationship changes – in many cases, you take on the role of caretaker. You have to make sure your Mom is taking her medication and gets to doctor appointments. You may be responsible for meal preparation, financial arrangements, and household chores, the day-to-day activities that...

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Reducing the High Cost of Hospital Readmissions

From our Care Blog

Millions of Americans go to the hospital each year for reasons that are often necessary and unavoidable. Whether we fall, get sick, or hurt ourselves in a number of different ways, going to the hospital for medical care is something that we simply can't avoid.  However, the same cannot be said for a substantial fraction of people who are readmitted to hospitals each year.  Hospital readmission is not only extremely costly and harmful to the patient, it can be easily avoided with proper care and precaution. Although there are many factors that can play into the need for a hospital readmission,...

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Pairing Seniors and Teenagers

From our Care Blog

We all know that the teenage years can be tumultuous. We also know it can be prime time for trouble. So at FirstLight Home Care, we’d like to share with you some stories where teens can learn from senior citizens and vice versa. Maybe it will inspire you to start an intergenerational program in your area! Think about it. Many senior citizens have trouble with their mobile devices and computers. What better person to teach them than a teenager who is never far away from their favorite technological gadget? Teenagers can text faster than most of us can talk! Many...

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Meditation and Aging

From our Care Blog

For thousands of years, meditation has served as an excellent source of stress relief and relaxation. Through active practice, people can even see improvements in their health, including reduced blood pressure, a slower heart rate, and a stronger immune system.  But did you know that it might also help reduce the process of aging? Recent studies have found that people who practice mindful meditation (focusing on the present) had improved telomere health.  For those who aren’t neuroscientists, telomeres are the protective ends of our DNA that prevent the ends of chromosomes from fusing with nearby chromosomes or deteriorating.  The healthier the telomere,...

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Four Effective Ways To Ask For Help For Seniors

From our Care Blog

Taking care of an elderly parent or a person with a chronic illness can become too much. You have your own family, job and responsibilities, and can easily become overwhelmed. Don’t be too proud to ask for help – from other family members, friends, people in your church or community organizations. You’ll be amazed at how many people volunteer and will love helping seniors! Help with Meals. Too often, seniors neglect their nutrition and eat poorly. This can result in weight loss or serve as a precursor to illnesses such as diabetes. Round up a group of people to provide meals for one day/week each. They...

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Caregivers At Home Smile!

  [caption id="attachment_1702" align="aligncenter" width="113"] Be Happy![/caption] We forget the power of a smile and a laugh. When the road going gets rough as a caregiver, don't forget to just smile, and lighten up the moment with a good belly laugh! Remember a good time, a funny moment. Even just for 15 seconds ! Go Ahead! Do something that gives joy! Cooking perhaps?  

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5 Great Surprising Safety Tips for the Kitchen

  Kitchen Safety Tips 5 Surprising Ways to Make Your Kitchen Safer By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor Nobody ever expects a fire, a fall, or another type of accident in the kitchen, but these things happen often enough for government safety experts to name this room one of the two most dangerous in the house, along with the bathroom. With that in mind, be sure you know these five simple steps that even safety-conscious families sometimes miss. 1. Give Grease Some Respect. Grease tends to be the Rodney Dangerfield of ingredients, good to have around but mostly ignored, since it's...

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