How to Reduce Seniors’ Fall Risk During the Winter

It is common for seniors to suffer injuries from slipping or tripping due to poor body balance that can be part of aging. Studies show that 1 in 3 seniors falls every year and suffer from both fatal and non-fatal injuries. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of falls during the winter season, such as ice and snow. How can you reduce the risk of falls? Here are some tips that can help.

• Have the necessary winter items ready – You should be ready with all the necessary items that you may need during the winter season. This includes a shovel in case you are stuck in the snow and need to get out of the house. Proper fitted boots with traction. De-icer in case of lasting ice. In addition, always have flashlights handy in your most common rooms, along with extra batteries.
• Improve the lighting system – Make sure both the indoors and the outdoor areas of the house have a proper lighting system. The pathways should be well illuminated to protect your loved one from falls or slips.
• Ask for help – As people age, it may become difficult for them to carry out their daily living activities, especially during the winter. If you cannot be there to provide assistance, ask your family members or friends to help you.

You can also consider moving your loved one to Assisted Living, if you feel they are not safe alone. At an Assisted Living facility, your loved one will feel safe with other residents and can enjoy spending their twilight years peacefully. They will also get a chance to participate in different indoor activities and social programs, which will help improve their physical as well as mental health. Activities they may not have had access to before.

When looking for a Assisted Living community in Cecil County, contact Always Best Care. They have experienced care coordinators that understand the needs of each client and can assist in finding suitable senior living options. For more information, call (410) 877-3787.

Important Considerations While Choosing Assisted Living in Fallston

Are you looking for an Assisted Living Facility for your aging loved one in Harford County? Assisted Living is a popular option for seniors who can’t live on their own, requiring assistance with the daily living activities, including bathing, grooming, cleaning, eating, meal preparation, and medication management. Assisted Living facilities have experienced staff members who offer 24-hour care.

       

Finding an ideal Assisted Living Facility can be a challenging task. There are many points to consider when looking for the best facility that matches your elder’s needs. Here are a few.

• Visit the facility. Make sure it has a clean and hygienic surrounding. This is important for the overall health and well-being of your aging loved one. Don’t be afraid to ask about cleaning procedures, both in the individual living quarters and in the communal areas. Many senior citizens have weakened immune systems and the staff understands the concern.
• Learn more about the staff members of the community. They should be helpful and friendly, especially with the seniors. Watch how they interact with, not only the residents, but everyone at the community.
• Inquire about the activities they offer. To keep your loved one active, make sure there are activities he or she will enjoy.
• Consider the overall cost of the community. Shortlist a few reputed communities in your area and compare their services to the cost, then choose the one that best suits your budget and requirements.

Contact senior care organizations, such as Always Best Care, for quality Assisted Living placement services in the Greater Baltimore Area and surrounding communities. Their experienced care coordinators understand the needs of each client and assist in finding a suitable senior living option. To know more about the services, call (410) 877-3787.

In-Home Care and Why It May Be for You

In-home care has become a popular option for senior citizens who do not wish to leave their home, but at the same time, requires professional care and support. This is an affordable option for the care of our elders. There are a number of reasons why you should consider in-home care for your aging loved one. Here are just a few.

• Older adults often prefer to age in place rather than move into an Assisted Living Facility. Choosing in-home care is an ideal choice because the experienced in-home caregiver will provide the required care and support, plus promote a better quality of life.
• In-home caregivers will not only look after their safety, but also assist them with the daily living activities such as bathing, grooming, cleaning, meal preparation, and medication management. They can also help with transportation to doctor’s appointments, fun social events and outings.
• By hiring in-home caregivers, you can create a customizable care plan according to the needs of your aging loved one. The care provider will take care of all their needs and ensure that they are fulfilled on time.

  

It is important for you to find a reputed caregiver to provide compassionate care giving services. If you are looking for an experienced in-home care provider in Baltimore County, contact Always Best Care today. They are a leading senior care organization with highly trained, bonded, and insured caregivers that offer high quality senior care services in the region.
For more information, call (410) 877-3787.

Growing Old Gracefully: The Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

Humans were born with muscle for a reason – to use it! Whether the person is four years old or 84, using muscles via exercise is vitally important to their good health. While the body needs exercise at those different ages for different reasons, the overall idea is the same – to stay mentally and physically fit and capable.

Seniors encounter a whole host of issues regarding exercise as they grow older. Seniors tend to suffer from chronic pain, stiff joints, fatigue, etc. So, even though exercise is quite beneficial for seniors, it might also be much harder for them to accomplish it on a regular basis.

But, did you know that exercise can help you to:

1. Reduce your risk of falling? Exercise helps to improve your balance and strength.
2. Keep your bones strong? It helps ward off the onset of osteoporosis.
3. Lower the risk of various cancers, type 2 diabetes, and stroke?
4. Improve your joint flexibility and muscle strength?
5. Reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease?
6. Slow down normal aging mental decline? Even improve cognitive abilities?

All of these enormous health benefits can be achieved by exercising as little as 30 minutes every day. Don’t let that half an hour cause you dismay, studies have shown that those 30 minutes don’t have to be done all at once, in fact, you can exercise in short bursts and still gain wonderful health benefits.

The Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors:

1. Recumbent Cross Trainer. These are specifically designed for people who are recovering from surgery, are frail, and/or aging.
2. Chairmaster. This is a comfortable reclining chair that has built in exercises for easy training and eliminates the risk of falling.
3. Treadmill. Always use the pull-catch when using a treadmill. A treadmill eliminates the need to walk outside if the senior lives in a climate prone to inclement weather.
4. Stationary Bikes. Seniors can go as fast or slow as they like, and they are able to be in a seated position while working out.

Seniors living in the Fallston area are encouraged to contact Always Best Care for information regarding home care in Cecil County and assisted living in Harford County. Call them today at 410-877-3787 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Social Media Benefits for Seniors

It’s funny how times change because just twenty years ago, nobody would have thought that social media would be such a powerful force in society. While there are certainly good and bad points to social media, there are many benefits that being involved with social media can offer to seniors. One of the biggest issues among seniors is loneliness and depression, social media fosters the opposite of this, encouraging connections and re-connections, basically fostering outside interests.

Ways that Social Media Benefits Seniors

• People move every day, and that usually means that grandparents are left behind. Being involved with social media means that the senior can keep in consistent contact with their children and grandchildren via messaging and photos.
• With so many sites today focused on reconnecting old friends, it’s easy for seniors to locate that long lost love or that long lost friend that they knew 40 years ago. This can be an especially exciting time for seniors and give them a brighter outlook on life.
• The internet is such a powerful educational tool. Social media is chock full of special interest groups. Seniors can find others who are interested in the same things – gardening, running, swimming, dancing, writing, reading, pottery, biking, hiking, etc. and join in real-time groups (if they like) to further enhance their quality of life.
• A picture is worth a thousand words. It’s easy for seniors to see what their friends and family are up to on a daily basis over social media and stay connected even though they might not be able to attend birthdays, graduations, etc. because they live too far away.
• Social media is not just for individuals to communicate with one another, it’s also a great way for people to stay in tune with what’s happening in the world. Whether these happenings are political, environmental, entertainment, etc., seniors involved with social media will stay “in the loop” of what’s going on around the world.

Always Best Care has been a well-respected senior caregiver company for the past 20 years. With locations all over the United States and Canada, they hire only the most highly-skilled and compassionate caregivers who are dedicated to their craft. Seniors living in the Fallston area, who are interested in learning about assisted living homes in Harford County or in-home care in Cecil County, are invited to contact the Always Best Care Fallston location at 410-877-3787 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

How You Can Help a Loved One Who is Hoarding

If your loved one has dementia, there is a chance that they will develop an inclination toward hoarding. This aspect of the disease can take place whether the senior is living in a senior living environment, on their own, or under the care of a caregiver. While it’s usual for people to want to hold on to their beloved possessions, hoarding behaviors cross that line into collecting things that have no real sentimental or financial value.

Hoarding is symptomatic of mental illness such as dementia, and can lead to unsanitary conditions, physical and (further) mental impairments, isolation, loneliness, depression, etc. It can disrupt the senior’s daily life, as well as the lives of his or her caretaker, medical personnel, friends, and family.

Common hoarding characteristics include:

1. Items that the person is collecting have basically banished them from entire rooms, causing them not to be used as they were intended or once were. For example, a dining room – which in the past might have been utilized quite well for family Sunday dinners, etc., is now so overrun with items (clothing, trash, newfound possessions) that it can no longer be used for Sunday meals.
2. The person suffering from hoarding will keep things that other people don’t understand. A band aid, a piece of trash, a used paper plate, a scrap of paper with something unintelligible written on it.
3. Even though the individual wants to keep these items close by, the presence of the items aggravate the individual and cause them stress.

When it comes to people suffering from dementia, if they are going to develop hoarding characteristics it generally happens during the first or second stage. In addition to hoarding as described above, the person with dementia might also hide items and rummage through items in an effort to locate “lost” things. This only increases their disorientation, confusion, memory loss and impaired judgment.

How you can help someone who is hoarding

1. Offer to take pictures of the items that they “love” but don’t want to throw away.
2. Remove items that pose a safety or health hazard while the person is occupied with other activities.
3. Take all removed items off the premises, because the senior might rummage through the garbage looking for them.
4. Be patient and encourage the senior to “say goodbye” to items they have agreed to give to charity, etc.

Are you a senior living in the Fallston area and would like information about in home senior care in Aberdeen or about assisted living homes in Baltimore County? Contact the Always Best Care Fallston location today at 410-877-3787 to set up a free care consultation today.

Curious about In Home Senior Care in Bel Air? Contact Always Best Care Today

For the past 20 years, Always Best Care has built a solid and well-respected reputation in the senior care giving industry. They specialize in providing exceptional and compassionate in home care to seniors who are in need of varying levels of care whether it’s one hour every day or 24/7 live in care. Their caregivers are highly-skilled, well trained, and are always updating their skills and knowledge base. Seniors who live in the Fallston area, who are interested in learning about in home senior care in Bel Air or home health care in Harford County are invited to call the Always Best Care Fallston location to set up a free care consultation.

What happens during a care consultation? A professional care coordinator will visit with you and your family and help you determine if you are more interested in in-home care or if you are leaning toward transitioning into a senior living environment. Choosing one over the other depends largely on available budget and the senior’s needs. If you are thinking about moving into a senior living environment, the professional care coordinator will help you narrow your choices down to three or four and then will accompany you on tours of each facility.

Another aspect of the care consultation is the creation of your customized care plan. This is an outline of all of your needs – medical, dietary, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, it includes everything that any caregiver will need to know now and into the future. Plus, it is constantly updated so that your needs at the time will always be met.

What kind of services can you expect from in home senior care in Bel Air? The Always Best Care caregivers provide a number of services that fall on a wide spectrum. These services include personal care services, home helper services, and companion services. These services entail everything from light housekeeping, preparing and serving meals, playing cards and board games, plant and pet care, supervising home maintenance to escorting to various locations like worship services and medical appointments, as well as evening tuck ins and morning wake ups.

For more information about home health care in Harford County and in-home senior care in Bel Air, contact the Always Best Care Fallston office at 410-877-3787 to set up your own free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

A senior’s home is their castle. Usually, seniors want to stay in the comfort of their home for as long as possible. And who can blame them? It’s where their memories are, along with memorabilia, and the comfort of their surroundings. However, a senior’s home is also where a lot of accidents take place. These accidents usually tend to be related to fire, falls, and medication mistakes.

Preventing Dangerous Falls

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of death among seniors. One out of every three seniors takes a fall every year, and over half of them will fall again the next year. It’s also one of the most common reasons why seniors end up in the emergency room. Here are some ways seniors can prevent falls in the home:

• Make sure steps are free of clutter and are even, both inside and out. Also install extra handrails in stairwells if necessary. Install lights in stairwells and outside, too.
• Wear an alert button. If a fall does occur, it’s best to get medical technicians involved as soon as possible.
• Keep up with your eye exams. Being able to see is one of the most crucial ways to prevent falls.

Preventing Medication Mistakes

• Many seniors take as many as five medications or more, so it can get confusing what to take and when to take it. Add cognitive decline and it can be extremely dangerous.
• Talk with doctors and pharmacists about all of the medications you are taking and if there are any possible adverse drug interactions.
• Check the expiration dates of your medications before taking them.
• Check to make sure that there aren’t any food or alcohol warnings for the medication.
• Store all medication in a cool, dry place – the bathroom is not the best place!

Fire Safety Tips

• Never smoke in bed. Consider quitting altogether; keep in mind that home fires that start in the bedroom account for 25% of all fire deaths.
• Make sure all of the smoke alarms have fresh batteries and are in good working order.
• Never place space heaters by flammable material or objects.

If you are a senior living in the Fallston area and would like information about in-home senior care or assisted living in Baltimore County, you can call the Always Best Care Fallston branch at 410-877-3787 to set up a free consultation. They will be happy to discuss all of the options with you including what level of in-home care you might need, or if you’re interested in getting free referrals for assisted living in Bel Air. Call today, they look forward to hearing from you!

Want to Find Out About Senior Veterans Care in Harford County? Contact Always Best Care Today

For the past 20 years, Always Best Care has been serving seniors in locations all over the United States and Canada. Seniors living in the Fallston area are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Fallston location for information about senior veterans care in Baltimore County, as well as senior veterans care in Harford County. When they call, they can set up a free care consultation. At this time, a professional care coordinator will visit and answer all of their questions about in-home care assistance, as well as what is involved with transitioning into a senior living environment.

There are different levels of in home care and they are defined by how much care the senior requires based on health status. The Always Best Care caregivers provide a whole spectrum of care that range from personal care, home helper services, and companion services. Some of these services include things like supervising home maintenance, arranging appointments, changing linens and making beds, providing respite care for family caregivers, maintaining calendars, assisting with evening tuck-ins and morning wake-ups, escorting for errands, appointments, and shopping, companionship and conversation, and many others.

Not sure how you can fund in-home care assistance or senior veterans care in Baltimore County? There are a variety of ways clients can finance in-home assistance including family funds, Medicaid waiver programs, personal savings, retirement savings, home equity loans, reverse mortgages, Veterans administration programs, long-term care insurance, and others. All of these options will be discussed during the free care consultation.

In addition to the care giving services and free referrals to assisted living communities, Always Best Care also provides other services to their senior clients. These services are designed with peace of mind and safety in mind.

• Always on Call: This 24/7 physician access service allows seniors and their families to get in touch with a doctor at any time of the day.
• Always in Touch: This is a daily, friendly telephone call to seniors who are immobile or live remotely.
• Always Safe: The Philips Lifeline System is a fall detection and prevention system that enables seniors who have fallen to receive quick assistance.

If you are interested in finding out more about senior veterans care in Baltimore County, or senior veterans care in Harford County, call the Always Best Care Fallston location today at 410-877-3787 to set up your own free care consultation. They look forward to hear from you!

Could There Be a Formula for Living Longer?

Most people would like to live well into their 80’s and beyond, provided they are in good health mentally and physically. And although there isn’t a tried and true formula that will help you live longer, there are some aspects to life that researchers have found will increase your longevity. What are these pearls of good long living?

• Maintaining social connections. Humans are social animals. We need other people just as they need us. This is proven in the fact that people with very few, low-quality social connections have a higher (an entire 50%) chance of dying than those with strong social connections. Reasons include good friends help us to remain active both mentally and physically, they laugh with us, and they help reduce stress levels.
• Religion. Practicing a religion, especially in the form of being of service to others through community involvement, is known to increase longevity. The social involvement aspect, as well as feeling a part of the community eases stress.
• Cleaning the house… or gardening. Staying active on a daily basis reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke enormously. Whether it’s through exercise, or through playing with grandchildren, or vacuuming, staying active leads to a longer life.
• Obesity is catchy… Did you know – you are what your best friends eat? It’s been proven that when an individual gains weight, their closest friends tend to as well. This is likely due to sharing meals together and the normalcy of the situation (their weight gain) because acceptable.
• Live near the green – whether it’s the golf green, a park, trails, people who live near green spaces are less likely to die from cancer or respiratory illnesses. There’s less air pollution in green spaces, and they promote more physical activity and social connections.

  Always Best Care has provided exceptional and compassionate care giving to over 25,000 seniors in the past 20 years. They have locations all over the United States and Canada, and are highly-experienced in both in-home care giving and providing assisted living recommendations. If you live in the Upper Chesapeake area and are interesting in learning about assisted living in Cecil County or Baltimore County, contact the Always Best Care Upper Chesapeake location today at 410-877-3787 today!