Understanding
Senior Care

How To Recognize Dementia: 7 Early Signs

From our Care Blog

Dementia is a term that describes a variety of symptoms affecting a person's cognitive functioning. The most recognizable being their ability to think, remember and reason. It is a disease that can be characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Every person is unique, and dementia affects people differently - no two people will have symptoms that develop in the same way. Signs of dementia can go unnoticed for a long time because the changes that occur in your loved one can be small at first....

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5 Tips to Manage Holiday Stress

From our Care Blog

With all the decorating, cooking and gatherings, Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year tend to bring additional stress. But a little planning and prioritizing can help you enjoy a peaceful holiday season. Here are some useful tips for all of us to help manage holiday stress: Remind yourself that things don’t always go as planned… and be flexible. It’s ok if you can’t make it to every holiday party you are invited to or stay for hours at each one. If you need to make an appearance at more than one, just be cautious of the time and leave when...

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Happy Thanksgiving!

From our Care Blog

On this day of gratitude, may the good things in life be yours in abundance not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the coming year. At FirstLight Home Care, we have a lot to be thankful for. We are most grateful for our extraordinary caregivers who continue to provide exceptional care and compassion to our clients and families. We are also thankful for the more than 40 million family caregivers who will spend this Thanksgiving – as they do every day – placing the care and safety of a loved one first. We thank them for their care, commitment, generosity and...

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How Can Caregivers Practice Self-Care?

From our Care Blog

Self-care is any activity that we do purposefully in order to take care of our emotional and physical health. It is a broad concept that incorporates nutrition, lifestyle, physical activities, and personal awareness, to name a few. Self-care is a way for our bodies to refuel. Make no mistake…it is not a selfish act. Good self-care is key to improving mood, reducing anxiety and maintaining a good relationship with oneself and others. Practicing self-care isn’t always easy. Most people, especially family caregivers, have busy schedules managing the care of a loved one and the needs of their family, friends, and...

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Happy Veterans Day!

From our Care Blog

We would like to honor and thank all our military veterans on this Veterans Day. And a special thanks to our many FirstLight Home Care veteran franchise owners across our franchise system.

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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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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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