The FirstLight Care Corner

Home for the Holidays: A Checklist for Visiting Aging Parents

From our Care Blog

It can be hard to tell how your senior parents are really doing at home when you don't live nearby. If you have concerns about how your parents are managing while living on their own, there are many things you can and should look for when you are visiting with them this holiday season. We have created this handy Home for the Holidays Checklist to get you started. Download and print our FREE checklist and take it with you on your visit. Happy Holidays from FirstLight Home Care!

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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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Nine Halloween Safety Tips for Older Adults

From our Care Blog

Halloween is a fun time of year for both kids and adults. But for our elderly loved ones, it can be stressful and a little scary, especially if they live alone. A constant stream of trick-or-treaters knocking on the door can be a bit unsettling and intimidating - add scary masks and high-spirited kids and the unknown is greatly magnified. Our elderly loved ones should feel safe and secure on Halloween, whether they choose to hand out candy or not. Here are nine Halloween safety tips to consider: Check your lights and keep them on, even if you’re away from...

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How Do I Reduce Caregiver Stress?

From our Care Blog

What family caregivers can do to alleviate stress and take care of themselves. As a family caregiver, you tend to be primarily focused on your loved one, and you don't always realize that your own health and well-being could be suffering. It’s important that you watch for these common signs of caregiver stress: Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried Feeling tired often Getting too much (or not enough) sleep Drastic changes in weight Becoming easily irritated or angry Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy Feeling sad much of the time Having frequent headaches or other physical pains Abusing alcohol...

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Natural Disasters: Preparing for the Unexpected

From our Care Blog

"One person caring about another represents life's greatest value." - Jim Rohn While we can’t always predict or avert weather emergencies or natural disasters, we can try to prepare for them as much as possible so that we are always ready. Unexpected emergencies involving seniors can be even more challenging as many older adults have mobility issues, chronic health conditions, or they may not have family or friends nearby to assist them. We were quite inspired when we learned about the above-and-beyond measures one of our FirstLight franchise owners took during the recent hurricanes. When the massive storms blew through...

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Address Possible Safety Hazards

From our Care Blog

As we transition into autumn, and eventually into more wintry weather, it’s the perfect time to consider the safety, health, and well-being of older adults who are aging in the place they call home…especially if they are living alone. If you’re a family caregiver assisting an aging senior, now is the time to address all potential safety hazards, health challenges and home maintenance issues your loved one may face as they prepare for this season of change. Inspect the HVAC system. Cold temperatures can be difficult for the elderly. Schedule a regular maintenance check for your parents’ home heating system...

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The Importance of Oral Health and Hygiene As We Age

From our Care Blog

October is Dental Hygiene Month A century ago, the need for dentures later in life was considered a natural part of aging. Today, three-quarters of people over the age of 65 retain at least some of their natural teeth. While the improvement in oral health care among seniors is something to smile about, our aging loved ones still need to be diligent when it comes to their teeth. Even with regular brushing and flossing, older people still have higher rates of gum disease, dental decay, oral cancer, mouth infections, and tooth loss. Our team at FirstLight® addressed several oral health...

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Avoiding Caregiver Burnout When Dealing with Alzheimer's

From our Care Blog

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a tough job. The stress, demand, and constant worry can take a heavy toll on the family caregiver, so much that they often don’t take good care of themselves. It can also be an emotional journey as the family member providing care watches their loved one’s memories disappear and their daily skills decline. This inevitably will lead to caregiver burnout. Caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia can be all-consuming. Family caregivers face many responsibilities and it is easy to become overwhelmed. The best advice our caregivers at FirstLight...

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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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