Friday, April 19, 2013

Spring, flowers, pollen, ACHOO!

Senior care, in home care, Home Helpers


  Spring brings budding trees, blooming flowers, and fresh cut grass.  It also brings on the dreaded onslaught of outdoor allergies.  If you’re one that regularly feels the affects of allergies, there are steps you can take to help minimize the effects of the explosion of pollens:

  1. Keep doors & windows closed during peak pollen months.
  2. Use your air conditioner and replace the air filters.
  3. If you want to spend time outdoors, do it when the pollen counts are lower.  Midday and afternoon tend to be the highest.
  4. Take an antihistamine before spending time outdoors.
  5. Avoid open or freshly mowed fields.
  6. Postpone yard work, or have someone else do it.
  7. Don’t dry laundry outdoors during periods of high pollen.
  8. If you exercise outdoors, do you warm-ups, stretching, and cool-down indoors.  This minimized the time you spend outside.
  9. Wear sunglasses when outside, and don’t touch or rub your eyes.
As always, consult with your doctor with all health issues.
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 websiteFacebook and Google+!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

National Parkinson's Awareness Month

While celebrities such as Michael J. Fox have helped increase recognitions of Parkinson’s Disease, there remains a general lack of understanding about this disorder.  With an increase in the percent of the population having Parkinson’s, National Parkinson’s Awareness Month is dedicated to helping people understand this chronic & progressive illness.

Parkinson’s is a disorder of the central nervous system.  It affects nerve cells in the brain that send signals to control movement.  Progression of the disease varies by person and symptom’s may be mild or severe.  Most people associate trembling with a Parkinson’s sufferer.  Additional symptoms may include a lack of arm movement when walking, slow movement or freezing in place, monotone speech, and stiffness or rigidity of muscles in the limbs and neck.  As symptoms progress, the need for care-giving assistance increases.

The video below chronicles a Parkinson’s sufferer dealing with the disease.  We hope to have an update in the near future that will display how new treatment has made a huge difference in his live.  While there is no cure, early and ongoing treatment can help control and reduce the symptoms.  New procedures have shown incredible success in this regard.  As always, consult with your physician as quickly as possible if you or a loved one shows symptoms.


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 websiteFacebook and Google+!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Seniors & Safe Driving

Sooner or later, we all begin to worry about our parents or other seniors we know and their driving.  If you happen to live in the Lake Norman or Charlotte Metro area, Huntersville Presbyterian Hospital has a great seminar planned on this topic:

Let’s Be Safe: Seniors and Driving
We have a very special guest speaker for Senior Saturday’s
in April to talk about safety behind the wheel for seniors.
Please join us on for April’s Senior Saturday event!
Call now to register!

Saturday, April 20, 2013
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville – Community Room

Presenter: Kathy Allen, Carolina Safe Driving

This is a free program for seniors. Registration is encouraged.
Light refreshments will be provided. Call Joyce Brooks at 704-316-3872 to register.


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 websiteFacebook and Google+!