Alzheimer’s and
Memory Loss

The Biggest Challenges Facing Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

Family caregiver skills cover a wide range of responsibilities that require endless amounts of energy, empathy, and patience. Most family caregivers will tell you that the time they spend caring for a loved one is one of the most fulfilling experiences they have had in their adult life, but it also comes with its own unique challenges. At FirstLight Home Care, we know that each home care situation is unique. But over the last 10 years we have seen that many of the biggest challenges that caregivers face are very similar: Emotional and physical stress: Studies have confirmed that family caregivers have higher levels...

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Coping Strategies for Dementia Caregivers

From our Care Blog

This week, we have a guest post from one of our readers, Annabelle Short. Anna is a caregiver to her mom who is living with dementia and she has some valuable advice on coping strategies for dementia caregivers. Sometimes, the decision of becoming a caregiver is not entirely up to you. Unexpected life events might lead you to start taking care of a loved one, and suddenly you realize you have a new career commitment: to care for someone else. This was precisely what happened to me when I had to start taking care of my mom. My mom suffers...

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A Family Caregiver's Guide to Senior Safety and Emergency Preparedness

From our Care Blog

September focuses on Falls Prevention and Emergency Preparedness If you’re a family caregiver, you may, at some point, need to handle an unexpected situation when it comes to your loved one. It could be anything from helping them stay safe during a natural disaster to helping them heal after a serious fall. Family caregivers should have a plan in place to help in emergency situations. At the very least, they should have a conversation with the person they’re caring for about the potential risks and what they can do to be prepared. If you or someone you know is a...

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Caring for Our Military Caregivers

From our Care Blog

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." -- Joseph Campbell Earlier this year, Veterans Affairs officials agreed to a set of 12 recommendations that are meant to assist family caregivers of veterans with things like including caregivers in medical check-ups, creating new training and support services and expanding research into their challenges. Read more about these recommendations. Because of the work we do in non-medical home care and the services we provide to military caregivers and their loved ones, a couple of these recommendations stood out to us: Recommendation 6: Conduct...

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Immunization Awareness for Older Adults

From our Care Blog

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, an annual observance meant to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. However, vaccines are particularly important for older adults because as you age, your immune system weakens, and it can be more difficult to fight off infections. The older you get, the more likely you are to get diseases like the flu, pneumonia, and shingles. Certain immunizations can help keep seniors from getting and spreading serious diseases that could result in poor health, medical bills and the inability to care for themselves. Getting vaccinated can help keep your older loved...

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The Impact of Being a Spousal Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Taking on the role of spousal caregiver can be tough, but there are a number of ways that enlisting the help of FirstLight Home Care can benefit you.

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How does Alzheimer's Affect the Family Caregiver?

From our Care Blog

The impact of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's has a ripple effect on the entire family and their network of friends, but most likely the biggest effect is on the family caregiver. The impact Alzheimer’s disease has on caregivers can lead to a variety of emotions, from guilt to anger, as well as influence their own physical and financial well-being. The most common effects include: Increased Risk of Physical Illness: A recent study conducted by the Mayo Clinic uncovered that family caregivers report a greater number of physical health problems and worse overall health compared with non-caregivers. Family...

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6 Tips for Long Distance Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

Many families live long distances from one another, and caregiving from afar is more prevalent today than it has been in years. Trends in family mobility and urbanization are moving more and more adult children farther from their aging parents, making family care more difficult. If you are one of the many who don’t live nearby to care for your aging parents, no need to panic. You can still be actively involved and take on a meaningful caregiving role from miles away. At FirstLight Home Care, we help many families living miles between loved ones and have found the following...

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Simple Ways Family Caregivers Can Take Time for Themselves (and Not Feel Guilty!)

From our Care Blog

As a family caregiver, you are focused on the care of others. And often the one person you forget to take care of is yourself. We all know how important it is for you to stay healthy, fit and rested in order to be at your best. Caring for another is a rewarding personal experience, especially if it’s one of your own family members. But at the same time, factors like exhaustion, worry, inadequate resources, and continuous care demands can be enormously stressful. It is important that family caregiver takes time for themselves. Here are a few simple ways to...

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Summer Travel Tips for the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Summer is quickly approaching and for many, the longing for a vacation is in the air. But the idea of taking time off can be daunting for the 40+ million family caregivers who support and aid a loved one with everyday needs. As a caregiver, a summer holiday getaway may not seem possible, especially if it means leaving your elderly loved one alone in their home. Worrying about their safety while you are away can make it difficult for you to relax and enjoy your well-deserved, and most likely needed, vacation. Caring for a parent or grandparent can be challenging...

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