Changes, and actions to take...

Many of us traveled home for the holidays to visit Mom and Dad. This time spent together comes once a year and is a special time, filled with holiday excitement and cheer. But, did you notice signs that something may be slightly off?

Here's a starting point for evaluating what you're seeing:

-    Changed eating habits, resulting in losing weight, having no appetite, or missing meals.
-    Neglected personal hygiene, including wearing dirty clothes and having body odor, bad breath, neglected nails and teeth, or sores on the skin.
-    Neglected their home, with a noticeable change in cleanliness and sanitation.
-    Exhibited inappropriate behavior, such as being unusually loud, quiet, paranoid, or agitated, or making phone calls at all hours.
-    Changed relationship patterns, causing friends and neighbors to express concerns.
-    Decreased or stopped participating in activities that were once important to them, such as bridge or a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious services.
-    Exhibited forgetfulness, resulting in unopened mail, piling of newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missing appointments.
-    Mishandled finances, such as not paying bills, losing money, paying bills twice or more, or hiding money. Made unusual purchases, such as buying more than one subscription to the same magazine, entering an unusually large number of contests, or increasing purchases from television advertisements.

Now What?
  We all want our parents to remain in their home for as long as possible, and most people feel this way.  In fact, 89% of seniors say the ability to age in place – or live independently and remain in one’s home – is very important, but more than half of those surveyed (53%) are concerned with their ability to do so.
  If a large distance separates you from your aging loved one, or if you don’t have the chance to spend time with them as often as you’d like, hiring an in-home caregiver can ensure that they receive the daily care they need. A little extra help with housework, cooking and errands may be all that the senior in your life needs, or they could need a more intensive care plan that includes personal care.  Whatever the needs, Home Helpers can provide solutions to keeping your loved one happy, healthy and at home.  Call us today.  We'll be happy to talk work with you through these challenges.

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+!

Seniors & Credit Cards - Family Advice

We were recently approached by someone who's parents credit card habits were creating grave concern.  The debt was piling up just from the interest, and they were at a loss as to anything that

could be done.  There are some steps you can take to help get the ball rolling in the right direction.  Let's look at a few of the most common:
1) Make sure your parent isn’t still using the cards so that they don't accrue additional debt.
2) Review every credit card to see if any other individuals besides your parents are associated with each account. If so, request that their names be removed from any applicable accounts if possible – this will help the other person(s) to retain or salvage their own credit rating.
3) Call each credit card company and request a settlement, which would allow your parents to repay less than what they currently owe, and to do so within a reasonable payment structure.
4) If you’re unable to reach a settlement, seek legal advice. Since your parents are in debt and likely cannot afford a lawyer, you can look for pro bono assistance.  Senior Centers and the local Council On Aging offices are a great place to start with this.
Open and frank discussions will be needed, but remember to not be harsh.  Credit card spending is a temptation that is easy to succumb to.
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+!

Spring, flowers, pollen, ACHOO!

  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 website,  Facebook and Google+!

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 website,  Facebook and Google+!

Having a Great Day with Alzheimer's

Have you ever wondered why people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia suddenly have a “good” day?

Why are they so bad one day and not so bad the next? The family may think- Mom is getting better, the Doctor must have diagnosed her wrong, her memory is fine today, she’s in a great mood!

The truth is that once the brain damage has occurred, it’s permanent. Our brains have about 100 billion neurons with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points. These neurons help us to retrieve stored memories, and signal our thoughts and feelings. Alzheimer’s disease destroys these neurons.

So why do we experience “good” days and “bad” days? If you think of the neurons in the brain as a very complex road map of streets and intersections and suddenly a bridge is out, consider what your GPS does. It recalculates! Occasionally the brain will be able to reroute or recalculate and find an alternate route to retrieve that information. The brain is remarkable and will try to find a back door to get that information if possible. Some days it works, and some days it doesn’t. So when someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia is having a great day, that’s just what it is.  A great day.

Reprinted with permission from Debra Kostiw.
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+!

Blow the whistle on Skin Cancer

The following information provided courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman and Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or contact us at 704.909.7958 .

Do you love the warm feeling of the sun on your skin, that warmth you feel all the way to your bones? Do you like being outside walking, gardening, or just reading a book on a park bench? OF COURSE YOU DO! Everyone enjoys being outside and living an active and vibrant life. But what about the harmful effects? Did you know that up to 90% of skin changes that people think are related to aging are actually from the sun?

By now we all know that too much sun can cause skin damage. But what is "too much"? "Too much sun" equals a lot of sun exposure over your lifetime, or more than one bad sunburn. That's right, ONE.

Skin damage, called photo-aging, not only contributes to wrinkles, but can also cause loose skin, a loss of elasticity, as well as lack of firmness. It may also cause your skin to have a leathery texture as well as spots and unevenness in color.

The good news is that your dermatologist has treatments to help you actually repair skin damage. Some options are: laser treatment, dermabrasions, chemical peels, and wrinkle fillers. A dermatologist can also prescribe topical creams or serums that help to reverse some sun damage.

While appearance of your skin may be your primary focus, you should always remember that excessive exposure can lead to skin cancers. There are three common types of skin cancers:

1. Basal cell carcinoma. The most common, rarely fatal, but can be dis-configuring.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma. Another common form with about 250,000 cases and 2,500 deaths per year.
3. Melanoma. The most serious skin cancer, and less common than the first two. Melanoma occurrences are growing faster than any other type. Often found on white males, but affects anyone with fair skin and moles. Early detection can produce a 99% survival rate.

Protect your skin when you are outdoors!
Always check your skin for new moles. A dermatologist can "map" your moles by taking photographs of your skin, and then comparing these over time for changes.
Avoid too much sun. Always use a sunblock with at least SPF 15, wear a hat and long sleeves.
Finally, get a check by a professional and ask questions about your risk, skin type, and any treatments that may be right for you.

Until next time, enjoy your summer!!