Firstlight Resources

Getting involved and giving back

From our Care Blog

Lately, I’ve been noticing a trend amongst seniors in the news—they’re giving back to their local communities and helping in out-of-the-box ways. A group of pro-active seniors in Burlington, Wash., for example, are helping fight crime with the town’s new Citizens On Patrol program. "So far our volunteers have already spotted a house that was broken into," Officer Tim Van Dyken, community resource officer for Burlington police told NWCN.com this week. The help from seniors is especially important as it comes at a time when budget cuts are the norm. Another story that sparked my attention this week is one...

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Research|Penn State: The Diabetes Tsunami

 Click the link below to read, watch, listen, and learn more about the combination of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. There is a wealth of information. The Penn State Hershey Diabetes and Obesity Institute http://pennstatehershey.org/web/diabetesandobesity/home is a great resource.   Diabesity image, reporting, and story credit to The Pennsylvania State University and to Kelsey Bradbury, Penn State University Research Unplugged intern. Hearthside Home Care is Penn State Proud! Do you know or care for someone with diabetes, diabesity, or who is obese? Please share these links with someone you know and care about. Today might be the turning point in the life of that someone you care for. Who will you...

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November is Home Safety and Fall Prevention Month

[caption id="attachment_488" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Learn More About Fall Prevention"][/caption]  Home Safety Checklist: Resources: Elizabeth A. Browning Helen K. Pereira, PT, DPT, MPH, GCS www.homesafetycouncil.org   Our home is our safety net and our comfort zone. Yet how safe are we in our own homes? National home injury statistics show that falls in the home are a serious public health problem, with nearly 5.1 million Americans injured by falls in and around the home each year. With a little planning and modifications, your home can easily be adapted for safety, keeping you safe... #1 Get Rid of Throw Rugs and Keep Flooring Safe.........

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Couple infuses business with passion

From our Care Blog

Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, John Tolbert spent a great deal of time with his grandmother when his parents were at work. While she helped raise him for many years, she unfortunately fell sick when John was a teenager. That’s when the family enlisted the help of a caregiver. Unlike a nursing home, they felt as though an in-home caregiver would give her the personal attention she required. And they were right. The experience had such a great impact on John that he and his wife, Shea, opened FirstLight Home Care this September. As the first FirstLight franchise...

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Gaming for health and happiness

From our Care Blog

Last weekend, it was announced—again—that a senior citizen bowled a perfect score on Nintendo’s Wii Bowling. But if you’ve been following your video gaming news, you know that Rhea Freeman, 85, of Houma, La. isn’t the first senior to perfect the game! Earlier this year, Dayton, Ohio resident Jack Davis, 86, announced that he had rolled 40 perfect games out of the 4,300 games attempted. "I bowled when I was younger, but not like this," Davis told his local paper. "If I bowled like this when I was league bowling in 1963, then I'd be a millionaire." Well, he's not...

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Fighting off the flu

From our Care Blog

With flu season starting this weekend, doctors and health officials are reminding everyone to get the flu shot—especially seniors. Some organizations are even offering free flu shots today. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, for example, will offer free flu shots for senior citizens on Medicare or enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs through Nov. 20. The shots will only cost $15 for others. Luckily this season, a new high-dose flu shot is available for senior citizens. The vaccine contains Antigen, which produces a stronger immune response than the standard flu shot. Seniors should also beware of H1N1. After last year's...

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FirstLight Home Care Expands Across the Country

From our Care Blog

After just six months of franchising, we have expanded our services throughout six states: Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Nebraska and Illinois. And it doesn’t stop there. We plan to award an additional 24 locations in 2011 and 36 in 2012, totaling 74 franchises awarded and/or developed within three years. During a time when many businesses are closing their doors, it feels great to be bucking the trend. At FirstLight, we do our best to help foster a “Culture of Care” based on the hallmarks of trust, open communication and solid relationships. We build a “franchise family” that will work together...

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Alzheimer’s Awareness

From our Care Blog

This Tuesday marks World Alzheimer’s Day. With this important day right around the corner, we wanted to take some time to shed light on the topic. Consider this*: • One in eight Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s • 172 billion U.S. dollars are spent every year on the disease • There are 10.9 million unpaid Americans acting as caregivers to Alzheimer’s patients • Alzheimer’s was the seventh leading cause of death across all ages in the U.S. in 2006 Although Alzheimer’s affects people differently, some signs to be aware of in your loved one are: memory loss that...

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Fall Signals Time for Seniors to Stay Active

From our Care Blog

Now that the temperatures are cooling, there has never been a more optimal time to get outdoors and get active! And with the heat of summer a near memory, we encourage the elderly to enjoy the less humid temperatures. How can you help them make the most of the fresh air while it lasts? Consider these helpful tips to better keep your loved one active, alive and invigorated by fall’s cool rush: First Things First: Before starting an exercise program, consult a doctor. This is especially important when working with an in-home care provider service, such as FirstLight Home Care....

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Aging Awareness Month - September 2010

[caption id="attachment_146" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Planning, Power of Attorney for Healthcare, Power of Attorney for Finances, Living Wills, DNRs"][/caption]Most of us are great planners whether we know it or not. However, when it comes to planning for our end of life decisions, we fizzle out. Here are a few plans that you should consider having in place: • Power of Attorney for Finances • Power of Attorney for Health Care • Living Will • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Full Code Not sure what all of these terms mean? Call us today at 336-808-1351 for a FREE fact sheet on how...

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