Summer Has Arrived!

In case you’ve not noticed, summer has arrived in all of it’s glory.  That includes the scorching days, high humidity, and sultry nights.
For persons aged 65 or older, the risk to heat related issues is higher since their bodies are not able to adapt to temperature changes as well as a younger person.  This typically is related to medications that interfere with the body’s ability to perspire or regulate temperature.
It’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the sun’s powerful rays. If not treated promptly and properly, some of these complications can cause irreversible damage and even death. The following tips will help you stay cool while you enjoy the warm weather with family and friends!

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of cool fluids, especially water. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. The daily recommended amount is about eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day; however, you should always check with your physician about any prescriptions or vitamins that may interfere with your fluid intake.
• Take it easy: Enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation, and don’t overexert yourself.
• Enjoy air-conditioning: If you don’t have AC, visit a shopping mall or public library to escape from the heat for a little while. You can also take a cool bath or shower to help you cool down.
• Dress smart: Wear light-weight, light-colored clothing that breathes easy. Hats, long sleeves and pants can help add an extra layer of protection between you and the sun.
• Wear sunscreen: Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Apply at least 20 minutes before going outside so it has a chance to be absorbed by your skin, and reapply regularly throughout the day, especially if you’re perspiring or swimming.
• Avoid sun during peak hours: The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Opt to eat lunch indoors in AC and seek shade if you are outside.

Most importantly, listen to your body! If you’re ever concerned about how you’re feeling, call your doctor immediately. Summer is meant to be enjoyed, but you don’t have to melt doing it! For more tips and information on summer safety, visit www.redcross.org.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Sleep & Good Health

What would you guess to be the most pervasive health problem for the elderly? If you answered sleep, you would be correct. Sleep, or more accurately, lack of sleep is the major cause of poor physical and psychological health for the elderly. Without proper quality of sleep, everyone, especially senior citizens, will suffer from loss in concentration and poor memory. Also, the body’s ability to effectively repair physical ailments and prevent disease are diminished.
More than half of men and women over the age of 65 complain of at least one sleeping problem, and many elderly individuals experience insomnia on a regular basis. Generally, seniors sleep less frequently and experience more fragmented sleeping patterns, spending less time in deep sleep than when they were younger. The following list shows some common problematic habits:

• Irregular sleeping hours.
• Consuming alcohol just prior to bedtime.
• A frequent need to urinate.
• Pain from various ailments, including arthritis, diabetes, etc…
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Napping too much during the day.
• Stress.
• Life changes, such as the death of a loved one, a move, or physical limitations.
• Sleep breathing disorders, including sleep apnea and snoring.

Poor sleeping habits can relate directly to poor health. Caregivers can work with loved ones to reduce the symptoms of poor sleeping habits. Sleep is important to all of us, and is essential to physical health and emotional well being.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Why In Home Care

Many people prefer home care over any other option, and for good reason. We all enjoy being at home, right?  Home is a place of emotional and physical associations, memories and comfort. Though many people are happy in assisted living facilities, retirement communities or nursing homes – and in some cases this is a better option – for others leaving home can be disruptive and even depressing.
There are a variety of different home care options-offering everything from light housekeeping to skilled nursing. Because of the many options that are available, people in all sorts of situations can now make it their first choice. Here are ten reasons why home care is a popular choice:
1)    Independence:  Who doesn’t want independence? This is, perhaps, the greatest plus for receiving care in one’s own home.
2)    Family and Friends:  Unlike the restricted visiting hours at hospitals and nursing homes, home provides a place where family and friends can be close to the person at all hours, whenever needed.
3)    Comfort:  Being at home is simply more comfortable for most people than being in an unfamiliar place. At home, we have all the things we’re accustomed to. Everything is in its place, which in studies has proven to be an effective emotional healer.
4)    Faster Release from the Hospital:  With home care, older adults might be able to go home sooner from the hospital. Since the services of nurses, doctors, therapists, social workers and caregivers can follow patients home, hospital stays can be shortened.
5)    Quick Recovery:  Research has shown that recovery can be faster at home than in the hospital, particularly if there is good quality, skilled home health care available.
6)    Substitute for Hospital or Nursing Care:  In some cases-depending on the severity of an illness or disability – home care can substitute for other forms of institutionalized care, including hospitals, skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
7)    Involvement with Treatment:  Both the person being served and family members can be more intimately involved with the treatment at home-helping to administer medications, working with physical therapy and coaching on recovery.
8)    Morale:  Patients tend to have a greater sense of well-being and overall greater morale when they are in the surroundings of their own home.  Dorothy had it right in The Wizard of Oz – “there’s no place like home.”
9)    Promotes Healing:  Older adults enjoy a much better quality of life which many families have said helped to extend the lives, health & happiness of their loved ones. They are in a familiar environment around their family in both their home and community in which they’ve lived for many years. This is particularly true with individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia.
10)  Cost:  Depending on the hours needed, home care can be much more affordable than a skilled nursing facility or other institutions.
    Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on Facebook and Google+,  or visit our website at http://www.homecarehuntersvillenc.com .