Firstlight Resources

Understanding Lewy Body Dementia

From our Care Blog

Lewy Body Dementia: Symptoms, treatment, and the challenges that come with caring for a loved one living with this disease. Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a disease associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. These deposits, also known as Lewy bodies, affect chemicals in the brain whose changes, in turn, can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. It is the third most common cause of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Lewy body dementia affects more than 1 million individuals in the United States. Typically, early signs of this disease begin...

Learn More about Understanding Lewy Body Dementia

5 Helpful Tips for Dementia Caregivers

From our Care Blog

16.1 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Caring for someone with dementia can be demanding and stressful if you’re not sure what to expect. If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, the following 5 dementia caregiver tips can help with your day-to-day responsibilities and overall care. #1. Encourage your loved one to eat right: People living with dementia should consume a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables. Proper nutrition is key to keeping their body strong and healthy. Remember that nutritious meals may become a challenge...

Learn More about 5 Helpful Tips for Dementia Caregivers

May is Older Americans Month

From our Care Blog

Encouraging Older Americans to "Engage at Every Age" Each May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. It is a time to recognize the contributions of older Americans and think about how we can work together to support and value people over age 65. The 2018 Older Americans Month theme is “Engage at Every Age”. It’s meant to remind us that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the ways...

Learn More about May is Older Americans Month

Announcing Our 2018 National Caregiver of the Year

From our Care Blog

Cherise Knowlin, FirstLight Home Care of The Grand Strand, South Carolina We are so very proud and honored to share with you our 2018 National Caregiver of the Year award winner, Cherise Knowlin. Cherise was selected from more than 4,500 caregivers and was the only FirstLight employee nationwide to receive the honor. The award was presented during an annual gala at the recent FirstLight Home Care national conference in San Antonio, Texas. Our caregivers are the heart and soul of our company. They breathe life into our Culture of Care and build meaningful relationships that provide help, joy and peace...

Learn More about Announcing Our 2018 National Caregiver of the Year

Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage?

From our Care Blog

7 questions you need to ask before considering this type of loan. A reverse mortgage is a loan that enables homeowners - who are generally 62 years of age or older - to use part of their home’s equity to obtain cash proceeds that can be used to pay for property taxes or insurance, home renovations, or medical and daily living expenses that help them age-in-place. This type of loan does not have to be repaid until the last surviving borrower or remaining eligible non-borrowing spouse passes away or permanently leaves the home, or if the homeowners sell the home...

Learn More about Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage?

Living with Parkinson's Disease

From our Care Blog

Living with Parkinson’s disease can be challenging. But there are ways to help improve your quality of life. At FirstLight® Home Care, we understand the impact Parkinson's Disease has on patients and their loved ones. Tremors, stiffness, loss of balance, and depression can lead to isolation and poor quality of life. Discovering the right medications, complementary therapies and support are ways to stay independent and even enhance your quality of life. April is Parkinson’s Awareness month. There are more than one million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease, and most are doing everything they can to proactively affect the course of...

Learn More about Living with Parkinson's Disease

Stress and the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Long-term stress of any kind, including caregiver stress, can lead to serious health problems. At FirstLight Home Care we understand how stress impacts families. When a family member is ill, aging, disabled, or unable to complete daily tasks on their own, a family member may find themselves becoming the caregiver for their loved one. Caregiving is a 24/7 job and the stress from the demands can take its toll on the family member leading the care. We’ve seen it often and we’ve written many blog posts to help support the caregiver and their families with tools, tips, and resources on...

Learn More about Stress and the Family Caregiver

Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease

From our Care Blog

Learn the early signs of Parkinson’s Disease and how in-home caregivers can help patients thrive.

Learn More about Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease

5 Benefits of Having a Travel Companion

From our Care Blog

The busy travel season will soon be upon us with spring and summer vacations, graduations, weddings and family reunions. Many aging seniors want to attend these special events, but for some, travel can be tricky - whether it’s because of mobility issues or just the anxiety that comes with making a long-distance trip. Additionally, if you are the adult daughter or son caring for your aging parent, you may feel a bit uneasy about them making the trip alone. At FirstLight Home Care we completely understand. Traveling can be hectic and stressful at any age, but for senior travelers especially,...

Learn More about 5 Benefits of Having a Travel Companion

Getting Enough ZZZZs? The Importance of Sleep for Family Caregivers

From our Care Blog

We all know how important a good night’s sleep is to our health. Regular sleep deprivation can increase the risk for many health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke and dementia. Quality sleep for family caregivers is critical as they can especially be at risk for sleep problems, including insomnia (the inability to fall or stay asleep), hypersomnia (problems staying awake), and poor-quality sleep. While taking care of a loved one, caregivers often get up in the middle of the night to help, or they stay up late to get their own chores done. Additionally, many...

Learn More about Getting Enough ZZZZs? The Importance of Sleep for Family Caregivers