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Senior Care

FirstLight Home Care Prevents Caregiver Burnout

From our Care Blog

If you are a family caregiver for a loved one, you know it can take an emotional, financial and physical toll on your own well being. Chances are you have a job, a family of your own, and are trying to juggle it all. You become your last priority. The end result? Caregiver burnout and exhaustion. Don’t people realize you are only one person and you can only accomplish so much? No. What Are Some Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout? Although caring for a loved one can be rewarding, it can also be extremely stressful. You may not see any light...

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Seniors and Alzheimer's

From our Care Blog

Improving Quality of Life for Seniors with Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s is a particularly cruel disease, as it wipes away a human’s personality one day at a time until they become unrecognizable to us. And though it happens relatively frequently in seniors, almost to the point of expecting it, it still isn’t any easier to both cope or live with. How Alzheimer’s Starts Progresses, and Ends Over 100 years ago, in 1906, the disease now known as Alzheimer’s was first discussed by Alois Alzheimer. And today, a century after it was first described, almost 30 million people worldwide suffer from it, with the...

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Plan Ahead With Advanced Directives

From our Care Blog

None of us can predict when we are going to be suddenly incapacitated. You’re driving down the road, minding your own business and bam! Before you know it, you are in a car accident! Or maybe you find yourself in an unexpected coma. Although we hope it never happens, you have to be prepared. You want to be in control of your own healthcare options if you are too ill to express your own wishes. Advanced directives are legal documents that allow you to express your end-of-life wishes should the situation arise. In most states, these consist of two documents:...

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Are You A Novice Blood Donor?

From our Care Blog

Did you know that every time you donate blood, you could be saving three lives? That you can store your own blood for future needs? There are many myths about blood donation and its safety after the initial scare in the 1990s when unsafe blood banking practices came to light due to people contracting HIV and hepatitis. However, the FDA put rigid guidelines into place to ensure sterile procedures and proper equipment disposal. About 5 million people get blood transfusions every year. They are often necessary after surgery, an injury, cancer treatments, heart surgeries, organ transplants or for those with...

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Give Yourself A Much Needed Break With Respite Care

From our Care Blog

You may be burnt out. Stressed out. Like many Americans, you may be taking care of your Mom, Dad, or other loved ones. On top of that, you may also have a job and an immediate family of your own. There is not enough hours in a day – definitely not enough hours to take care of yourself. You want to scream: can’t I get a break? As a matter of fact, you can and you need one. What The Numbers Say According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, you are not alone. In fact, more than 65 million people,...

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Holiday Gift Giving for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

From our Care Blog

Shopping for holiday gifts for family members with Alzheimer’s can be tricky. You may be unsure about what they enjoy or what they’re capable of doing. When choosing a gift, think about their personality, their hobbies, their abilities and their favorite pastimes. A few great gift suggestions for those with Alzheimer’s include: A family calendar Give your loved one a personalized calendar for your family. Include pictures of family member—grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, cousins, anyone who is close with your loved one. In addition to photos, take the time to fill in any special dates like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and...

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Out of Town Siblings Doesn’t Mean Out of Sight

From our Care Blog

By Dr. Thomas Hoess Taking care of an elderly parent from out-of-town is not easy. It’s the late night calls from the group home that your Mom is on the way to the hospital because she may have a blood clot that causes your heart to race. It’s when the phone rings after 10PM that you worry it’s the final call, the one telling you that your Mom passed away. It is challenging. Harrowing. Stressful. In my family there’s only my sister and I. Sometimes I think having a bigger family and spreading the caregiving around would be easier. I...

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Holiday Meals with Aging Loved Ones

From our Care Blog

The holiday season is upon us! For many, the holidays are a time to gather with family around the dining room table, enjoying food and conversation. However, the holidays are often a time when many seniors become increasingly frustrated by their disabilities. As a family caregiver, it is important to be aware of any limitations that your aging loved one may have while planning a holiday meal. That includes everything from adapted cooking tools that will allow them to stay involved in the meal preparation to seating arrangements to help them feel comfortable with conversation during the meal. Meal Preparation:...

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The Best Christmas Gift For Seniors Is You!

From our Care Blog

As we all get caught up in the throes of holiday shopping, it’s important to remember the gifts that are the most meaningful. You probably don’t remember what you got for Hanukah or Christmas last year, because they were just “things”. It may have been the latest high tech gadget or even some bling or a bauble. Chances are by this time it’s out-of-date or in the Goodwill bag you have been meaning to donate. Buying gifts for seniors can be challenging, since they usually have everything they need, and the last thing they want is more clutter. So here...

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