Senior safety is key to keep in mind while stay-at-home orders are lifted.

After months of quarantining, isolating, and distancing from loved ones, stay-at-home orders have been relaxed. But for seniors in particular, can it be safe to consider heading out?

Unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dry answer, and a number of criteria need to be considered to arrive at the best decision for every person, balancing senior safety with mental and emotional wellbeing. For example:

What health problems is the senior loved one encountering?
How challenging has it been for her or him to be isolated from loved ones?
Is the incidence rate of the virus subsiding or spiking within your town?

As a family caregiver, the best place to get started is sitting down and having a one-on-one conversation with the older adult. If your senior loved … Read More »

Be sure to ask these questions when hiring a caregiver to ensure senior safety.

Let’s be honest; inviting an individual who is basically a stranger into a senior loved one’s home to help with care needs can be nerve-wracking. The top priority is ensuring senior safety for your loved one, of course, but determining whether a caregiver meets that criteria isn’t easy.

At Hired Hands Homecare, the provider of the most trusted San Rafael home care and senior care in the surrounding areas, we understand that finding an appropriate and trustworthy caregiver that you and the senior you love will feel comfortable with is not a decision to be taken lightly. To help in your care journey, we’ve compiled the following questions you can ask to make sure you’re hiring just the right person.

Are your agency’s caregivers employees of the … Read More »

The home care experts at Hired Hands outline simple exercises to improve senior safety.

The CDC reports that as many as one-third of all seniors fall each year, and surprisingly, less than half of those seniors talk to their doctors about it. When a senior experiences a fall, even if it does not cause serious injury, she can develop a heightened fear of falling, which may result in limited activities, reduced mobility, loss of physical fitness, and in turn, an increased risk of falling again.

In our last blog post, we discussed some home modifications you can make to improve senior safety and reduce the risk of falls. In addition, there are a number of exercises that seniors can do on a regular basis to increase muscle strength and improve balance, which will not only help reduce … Read More »

It’s not uncommon for families to have conflict over honoring senior independence vs. safety.

It’s a conflict that occurs for numerous families: seniors are adamant about wanting to age in place in their own home, while their relatives worry about their safety and well-being. And there’s an argument to be made in both scenarios. Seniors, specifically individuals who live alone, confront multiple risks: falls that could possibly result in significant injury, trouble in maintaining the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed as aging progresses, even a susceptibility to scam artists. Nonetheless, senior independence is one of the keys to self-worth. 

Identifying a balance that fits the requirements of both sides may be challenging, but there are several important factors to consider that can make a difference.

Let go of ageism. While there is credibility to worries over safety for … Read More »

Determine the safety of elective medical procedures with these tips.

The COVID-19 pandemic put our world on pause, including, among many other activities, medical appointments and procedures. In fact, nearly half of all adults either cancelled or put off routine medical care and elective medical procedures since the coronavirus crisis began, leading physicians to become concerned about the consequences.

As we tentatively strive for a new normal, it’s important to talk with your doctor about any procedures you might have been considering pre-pandemic, and to get answers to the following questions to help you gauge the safety of following through with them now.

Is the medical facility where I’ll be treated also treating COVID-19 patients, and are the same medical staff who will care for me also taking care of them? If so, what precautions are in place … Read More »

Learn how to strike a balance between safety and independence for senior parents.

It’s a disagreement that develops for a number of families: senior parents adamantly like to age in place in their own homes, while their relatives are worried about their safety. And there’s a debate to be made in both scenarios. Seniors, especially those who live alone, confront many different risks: falls that could bring about serious injury, challenges in preserving way of life to which they’ve become accustomed as aging advances, even a susceptibility to fraud artists. Yet independence for senior parents is vital to self-worth, regardless of age.

Defining a balance that suits the requirements of both sides may very well be difficult, but there are several important factors to bear in mind that will help.

Let go of ageism. While there is certainly credibility to worries … Read More »

The holiday season presents a unique chance for you to visit with a senior loved one and spend some good quality time together – something that can be difficult during the rest of the year. Additionally, it is a very good time to be sure that your senior loved one’s holiday is safe in addition to being merry. Whether your senior loved one is enjoying the season in your household or his or her own, taking into consideration these holiday safety tips for seniors can assure that everyone’s holiday is joyful and bright.

Safe Decorating:

In your loved one’s home, or your own if he or she will be spending time there:

Use very simple decorations that don’t cause clutter. Always make certain that there is sufficient space to walk.
Keep extension cords out of the way of walking areas to prevent stumbling over … Read More »

Decisions about home care are rarely straightforward. When your parent is still living independently and managing most daily routines, it can be difficult to know whether bringing in help at home for seniors is truly necessary or whether it somehow means “things are getting worse.”

That uncertainty causes a lot of people to wait longer than they probably need to. But home care is often most beneficial before daily challenges become overwhelming. Starting support earlier can help your parent remain safe, comfortable, and independent at home while also reducing the growing pressure you may be carrying yourself.

Part of the hesitation usually comes from misunderstandings about what home care actually looks like. If you’ve been unsure whether now is the right time, you may recognize some of these common concerns.

You May Assume Home Care Is Only for Serious … Read More »

Power outages for seniors can be especially troubling.

For many of us, power failures are nothing more than a minor inconvenience, but power outages for seniors can cause a genuine safety concern. The best way to handle unexpected power outages is through advance planning to ensure older loved ones are prepared and equipped to ride out the storm, giving you the peace of mind you need.

Help older family members stay prepared and protected during unexpected electricity emergencies by first assessing their specific circumstances. Consider mobility limitations, medical needs, and daily routines. Develop an emergency plan that addresses these factors, ensuring it’s straightforward and easy to follow. Include clear instructions on what to do and where to go if there’s a need to evacuate quickly.

Maintain a Well-Stocked Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit that includes essentials such as … Read More »

It’s important to recognize the signs of PTSD in a senior loved one and know where to turn for help.

A sudden crack of fireworks booms overhead, and the person next to you stiffens. A song drifts through the room, and you notice a shift in their expression. For someone who has lived through trauma, everyday sights, sounds, and smells can be powerful reminders of painful experiences. What might appear to be nerves, stress, or even age-related changes can actually be something much more complex: PTSD in a senior loved one.