The FirstLight Care Corner

Your Teeth and Gums Can Impact Your Health

From our Care Blog

October is Dental Hygiene Month (sorry, no cake or sweets with this celebration). Taking care of your teeth and gums can have great health benefits. Here are a few of our favorite facts: Boosts Your Self-esteem and Confidence: Decayed teeth and gum disease are often associated not only with an unsightly mouth but very bad breath – which, let’s be honest, affects your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem. May Lower Risk of Heart Disease: Chronic inflammation from gum disease has been associated with the development of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease, blockages of blood vessels, and strokes. Preserves Your Memory:...

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The Best Foods for Memory Health

From our Care Blog

Keep your mind sharp as you age with the best foods for memory health.

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Funny Things Seniors Say

From our Care Blog

We are blessed to work around elderly people every day with our in-Home Care services at FirstLight Home Care. Some days are better than others when you care for someone who isn’t feeling well or who is struggling with the challenges that come with aging. Truthfully, many days are just plain hilarious. Old people say funny and do things. Many of them are jokesters and can’t wait for us to show up so that they can do something that will make us laugh. We completely understand and appreciate HIPPA laws…but these are just too darn funny not to share. And,...

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Serving Our Veterans

From our Care Blog

FirstLight Home Care team members are proud to be able to serve and care for our men and women Veterans. We work hard to deliver care that is tailored to the servicemen and women that have fought for our freedom. We provide services that can be covered through a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pension program that provides financial benefits to veterans, or their surviving spouses, with non-service connected disabilities (called “Aid and Attendance). FirstLight Home Care caregivers can come into your home or a home of a Veteran family member and create a safe and supportive environment for you...

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Losing It. Early Signs of Dementia

From our Care Blog

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans live daily with dementia. In fact, every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops dementia. Dementia is a collection of symptoms that can be caused by various diseases. The leading cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can also be caused by brain damage incurred from any injury or stroke or from other diseases like Huntington’s or Lewy body dementia. Many people write in to Nurse Gina to ask about dementia and its early signs versus normal age-appropriate forgetfulness. Here are some signs to consider: Memory Loss: If you...

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5 Things Your Mom Didn't Tell You About Growing Old

From our Care Blog

Our moms taught us many things when we were growing up – how to braid our hair, tie our shoes, dance, and multi-task both at home and work. However, it's amusing that she failed to tell us what would happen as we age. It’s like we’re now the Lewis and Clark of old age…uncovering and discovering all these new and unknown changes we’re going through. It would have been nice if she would have just handed us her old-age map with instructions on what to expect. So if your mom is anything like our mom, then you’ll want to read...

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How To Find The Right Caregiver

From our Care Blog

A caregiver is an important companion for your parent and can support them with everything from bathing and light housekeeping, to meal preparation, prescription pick-ups and transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. If you have determined that having additional outside support to help you care for your parents, you might struggle with where to start to find an outside service and even one you can trust. Following are some important considerations to get the process started. Caregivers can be found through personal referrals, but oftentimes it is easier to go through a reliable referring service that handles the background checks...

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Baby Boomer Trends

From our Care Blog

The Baby Boomer generation are pretty cool. There are 40 million Americans age 65 and older and they make up 13 percent of the population. By 2030, when all the baby boomers will have passed age 65, this group will represent over 20 percent of the population. What’s fascinating is that they continue to make a difference in our world. Here are some trends that show just how Baby Boomers are making an impact! 1. Helping Young People: Baby Boomers are going back to the classroom to support local schools. With funding reduced in area schools, many Boomers are joining...

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Health is Wealth: Create a Winning Baby Boomer Exercise Plan

From our Care Blog

Want to stay healthy and active in your 50s and beyond? Try out some of these effective Baby Boomer exercise activities.

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Sanity Check: Why Family Caregivers Need Respite Care

From our Care Blog

Caring for a parent, family members or loved one day in and day out can take its toll on the caregiver. It’s a tough job and sometimes caregivers need a sanity break and take time for themselves and to rejuvenate their own body, mind and soul. At FirstLight Home Care, we are caregivers and we know what caregivers go through. We support these family members and over the years we have found these 4 tips to be very helpful in keeping your sanity in check. 1. Have a Life: Yes caregiving can be a 24/7 job but you need to...

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