The FirstLight Care Corner

5 Things to Consider Before Becoming Your Parent’s Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Each year, more than 43 million Americans provide unpaid care to a family member, usually a parent. Most seniors prefer to age in place, but as they grow older and face declining health, they may need extra care at home. In many cases, their children decide to step in and become the caregiver. Serving as a caregiver for a family member is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do. It allows you to spend time with your loved one, and it provides you with the opportunity to ensure they receive the best quality care possible. Every day, adult...

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Helpful Travel Tips for Seniors Adventuring Abroad

From our Care Blog

It’s official. Summer is here. It’s time to pack up the suitcase and travel to fun places or family you want to see. There are certainly no age limits to travel! And AARP confirms this with their latest travel report: “More people, age 65 and older, will be traveling this summer, with more than 40% of Baby Boomers reporting that they will be traveling outside of the United States.” If you or an elderly loved one in your family will be traveling abroad this summer, here are a few key tips you need to know before you go. Planning: Research and...

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What’s the Best Advice Your Dad Has Given You?

From our Care Blog

Father’s Day is this Sunday. In celebration of all the dads out there - and the impact they have on our lives - we asked FirstLight Home Care team members to share the paternal words of wisdom that have proved to be true in their lives over the years. The response from our owners and other team members was inspiring! Here are more than a dozen great pieces of fatherly advice from our very own FirstLight family. My father taught us kids to drive. There were four of us. Dad was always very calm. He always said, "Keep right on the...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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