Things to consider after a visit

There’s just no substitute for a face to face visit.  It’s not uncommon to get a wake-up call after visiting aging parents.  You typically will see something that’s just not noticeable in a phone call.  Things like weight loss or the appearance of neglect, or just looking more frail than you remember from your last visit.  What to do?

1. Everyone has probably heard this before, but it’s critical and should be repeated.  Are all legal documents in order? Durable power of attorney, healthcare documents, living wills, etc., need to be current and easily located. If possible, make copies for yourself, especially if you are named in the document.
2. Are there plans for managing at home with help if needed?  If grocery shopping, cooking, transportation,  or bathing is getting difficult, discuss how help will be arranged.  Consider different In Home Care options, and how this will be financed.
3. Being isolated at home without help and without social contacts is can lead to withdrawal and depression.  Check out alternative living situations or activity centers.  If In Home Care is retained, make sure this is on the list of things that need attention.
4. If bills are languishing, or keeping track of finances is an issue, offer to help with money management.  If possible, have your name added to bank accounts.
5. Know what to do if a health emergency arises.  Establish records of doctors information, medications, recent diagnoses, and day to day health issues.  It’s almost inevitable with aging parents that a health crisis is going to come up sooner or later.  This is a good time to discuss the topic of end of life wishes.

Holiday visits can be a busy time, and it’s easy to want to ignore obvious signs of problems.  Don’t wait for someone else to mention it.  Take a deep breath, and discuss issues up front.  If you need guidance, call us.  We help clients with these challenges daily. It helps everyone in the long run.

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+!

Have a Safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

From all of the staff at Home Helpers of LKN and Central NC, we wish you a safe & joyous Thanksgiving Holiday...

Scientists studying Alzheimer’s disease are increasingly finding clues that the brain begins to deteriorate years before a person shows symptoms of dementia.  Recent studies found that the brains of people destined to develop Alzheimer’s clearly show changes at least 20 years before they have any cognitive impairment.  They found suggestions that memory-encoding parts of the brain were already working harder than in normal brains. And there were indications that brain areas known to be affected by Alzheimer’s may be smaller than in those who do not have the Alzheimer’s gene.  One reason for this may be that portions of the brain are already impaired. Another possibility, experts said, is that these brain differences may go back to the young developing brain.
The bottom line in all of this is that early diagnosis and recognition of symptoms can lead to enhanced treatment.  If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s, or know someone who does, ask your doctor about these findings.  It could make a difference in treatment of the disease.
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+!

What causes high blood pressure?

 Any time your blood pressure is greater than 140/90, you are considered to have High Blood Pressure, or Hypertension.  It’s believed that genes, lifestyle, diet, exercise, etc., all play a role.  It’s a serious problem that can lead to stroke, heart disease, and other conditions.  Common contributors are:

• Being Overweight
• High Salt Intake
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise

What can you do to lower your blood pressure?  Obviously, exercise and cutting out smoking are first steps.  Also, experts recommend using salt in moderation, less than 2300mg per day.  Check food lables on processed foods such as canned soups or frozen foods for sodium content.  Avoid smoked or cured meats, and always choose lean cuts instead of meats with high fat content.  For seasoning, use oregano, garlic power, vinegar, lemon juice, or other salt-free seasonings instead of salt.  And the easiest way to limit salt intake is to taste your food BEFORE you pick up the salt shaker!

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+!

Identity Theft!

We recently learned of a scam in our area that targeted seniors living alone.  It not only tried to take financial advantage of them at their residence, there were efforts to obtain sensitive identity information that could have been devastating.  With that in mind, we’d like to offer some prevention tips that can be used by persons of all ages to protect against identity theft:

• Always shred documents of a personal nature.  If it has nothing more than your name & address on it, shred!
• Minimize the number of credit cards that you have.
• In the signature box on the back of credit/debit cards you use, print “ASK FOR ID”.
• DO NOT carry your Social Security Card with you and do not give the number out over the phone.  Lock the card in a safe place!
• Do not discuss private business in public places, such as on a cell phone.  It’s too easy for someone close by to overhear information.
• Get a free credit report yearly. (https://www.annualcreditreport.com)
• Never share personal information with someone at your door or over the phone.

If you do become a victim, contact the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, & Equifax).  Also, notify your bank, the local police, and any creditors you may deal with as quickly as possible.

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+!

Getting Out To Vote!

For the upcoming elections, our agency will offer eligible seniors free transportation to and from the voting locations in Huntersville and Cornelius, NC.  Participants must be 60 or older, and be unable to drive themselves.  This offer is limited to citizens living within the Huntersville/Cornelius city limits at this time.  Eligible seniors or family members are encouraged to call our main office at 704-909-7958.  Please contact us prior to October 31st to schedule election day transportation.  For early voting, please call our office as soon as possible.  All calls will be taken on a first come, first served basis.  Availability may be limited by demand, as well as individual limitations, so please call as soon as possible! Visit our website for more information.

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+!