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25% Discount on Home Medical Supplies — Exclusively Through FirstLight Home Care

FirstLight Home Care — South Sound is excited to announce a new partnership to provide medical equipment and supplies — all available at an exclusive 25% discount to our clients and referral partners. OneKey Health is a family-owned business with more than 90 years of combined experience in the health care industry, providing affordable healthcare services to physicians, hospitals and directly to patients. Their focus is to provide patients with durable medical equipment from top brands at unbeatable value. They offer every kind of home medical equipment, supplies and services aging adults need, including: Ambulatory Aids like canes, walkers and...

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'There's No Place Like Home' for Growing Old

“The stairs are getting so hard to climb.” “Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner.” “I’ve lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home.” These are common issues for older people. And your aging loved one might share the often-heard wish, “I want to stay in my own home!” The good news is that with the right help, they can do just that. What do you do first? Planning ahead is hard because you never know how your loved one's needs might change. But, the first step is to think about the kinds of...

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Why I Chose Home Care Instead of a Nursing Home for My Mom

Guest Post: by Sara Fields Once a great American politician, Frank A. Clark, said that we are putting more effort into helping folks reach old age than into helping them enjoy it. And I could not agree more. When several years ago my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my first reaction was that I will not leave her side, just like she never left mine whenever I needed to be taken care of. Since long working hours prevented me from being full-time family caregiver, I had to find a suitable alternative in order to avoid quitting my job. Like many other elderly...

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Just How Will 'Companion Care' Benefit Your Aging Loved One?

When someone mentions "caregiving," you most likely think first of medical and personal assistance, and very likely in a senior housing facility of some kind.  However, the reality is that caregiving does not always equate to nursing care...or a nursing home.  For many aging adults, simply having a companion come to their home for a few hours each day or over a week is all that’s required to maintain a comfortable level of independence – at home. For circumstances like these, professional companion care can help – and can be a much more cost-effective alternative to moving into an independent or assisted living senior...

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Daily Activities for Alzheimer's Caregiving

Doing things we enjoy gives us pleasure and adds meaning to our lives. People with Alzheimer’s disease need to be active and do things they enjoy. However, don't expect too much. It's not easy for them to plan their days and do different tasks.  Here are two reasons: They may have trouble deciding what to do each day. This could make them fearful and worried, or quiet and withdrawn. They may have trouble starting tasks. Remember, the person is not being lazy. He or she might need help organizing the day or doing an activity. Help the person get started...

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What can you do when your aging parents want to stay in their own home?

We know exactly what you’re going through because we’ve been there. Your Mom and/or Dad are having trouble living on their own. They can no longer handle all the usual daily home activities, and you fear for their health and safety. Unfortunately, your schedule doesn’t allow you to assist or check in on them as often as they need. Or maybe you and other family members live too far away to provide them with consistent support. But, your parents also don’t want to move into a facility. And you agree they are better off emotionally and psychologically if they can continue to...

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Helping Caregivers Deal With Stress

It’s no secret: Helping to care for a sick or dying loved one exacts a steep emotional toll. One study found that as many as one in three caregivers rate their stress level as high, and half say they have less time to spend with family and friends. But when you’re caring for others, it’s critical that you first take care of yourself. By not doing so, you put yourself at risk of exhaustion, health problems and even total burnout. These 10 tips will help keep your stress in check: 1. Put your physical needs first. Eat nutritious meals. Don’t...

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Understanding and Communicating Through Dementia

Communication is a vital tool that we use every day in our work and personal lives. Whether we realize it or not, every word, action, and body posture communicates something to others. Understanding more clearly how we communicate can make you much better able to understand others, and to make yourself understood. Working with someone with dementia or memory loss can make clear communication even harder. Here are a dozen tips for you to use to enhance your everyday communication with a friend or loved one suffering from dementia: Be aware of your Body Language. When we lose verbal communication, often our awareness of nonverbal cues...

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A Valuable Resource for Family Caregivers

Thriving at Home (January 2016) by Sarah Lane The challenge of “family caregiving” – providing care for a spouse, parent, child or friend with a chronic, disabling or serious health condition – is becoming nearly universal.  A report issued last year by the Public Policy Institute of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) estimated that there are now 40 million family caregivers in the United States who provide 37 billion hours of care to aging loved ones with limitations in daily activities. Being a family caregiver for a loved one takes time, effort and work, and is both rewarding and...

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FirstLight Home Care -- South Sound Receives 2015 Best of Home Care® Awards

Home Care Pulse has selected FirstLight Home Care – South Sound to receive both the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award and Employer of Choice Award for 2015, the only home care agency in Thurston County to be recognized with either of the coveted honors. Awarded to only the highest quality home care providers, based on client and caregiver satisfaction surveys gathered independently by Home Care Pulse in 2015, FirstLight Home Care – South Sound is now ranked among a select group of home care providers across the country who have proven their ability to provide the highest quality care to clients and an...

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