There are many ways seniors and caregivers can stay fit together. The list that is provided below contains some useful tips and resources. Caregiver health is just as important as the health of the senior. By engaging in programs and activities together, seniors and their San Francisco Caregivers can stay fit and have a great time doing so.

1. There are many programs available through AARP that will be helpful when trying to get in shape or stay fit. These programs offer some great ideas on starting points and can also provide structure for those who are already active and wish to follow a schedule or set a regimen each day. Seniors can also join in with many of the activities provided, allowing another opportunity for the caregiver and senior to have special time together.

2. The benefits of exercise far exceed just toning the body and staying fit. There is a mental and emotional component to it as well. The Fat 2 Fit journey is a great program for seniors and caregivers to do together. This program will walk you through the steps to losing weight and keeping it off. It also provides some daily exercise that will benefit seniors and caregivers.

3.  Make sure to take time for mental breaks. If you have a negative thought about the way you are exercising or your weight at the current time, it may be time to take a break. There are links on the source page that contain useful information for keeping your mind as healthy as the rest of your body.

Source: aarp.org

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Our San Francisco Caregivers allow seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Type 2 diabetes is a common form of the disease that can affect seniors. There is no particular time of onset. Diabetes can affect people of all ages. This is why it is important to be aware of the risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes. Below is a list that contains risk factors that all seniors should know.

1. If you are over the age of 45, you are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Family history also plays a large role in the risk factor.

2. If you are over-weight, you will be at a risk. Individuals who are not physically active will be at risk. Try to exercise daily and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Females who have had babies weighing more than 9 pounds, or who have had diabetes during a pregnancy will be at a higher risk.

4. High blood pressure is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. If your HDL cholesterol level is below 35 mg/dL, your risk factor is increased.

5. Previous diagnoses of metabolic syndrome and an impaired glucose tolerance both play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes.

6. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and acanthosis can affect Type 2 diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with either of these conditions, you will be at a high risk of developing the disease.

Do you have a parent with diabetes? The American Diabetes Association offers these tips on how to help your parent manage their diabetes.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

One of the biggest decisions that families need to make relates to choosing home care for an elderly loved one who is beginning to exhibit signs of requiring assistance to remain independent at home. Families first need to understand the various types of home care available, but from there they can begin the process of finding help:

1. Talk about it – while family might believe a senior requires home care assistance, their elderly loved one might not feel the same. Talking about it gently is essential, and not all seniors are likely to simply accept the suggestion of help. A family counselor can intervene if necessary.

2. List the help needed – talk together and determine specific things that a senior care provider like Home Care San Francisco could assist with. Whether it’s grocery shopping, help with bathing and dressing, or other tasks.

3. Do research – talk to friends and family about home care agencies they’d recommend, but during that process as costs are addressed, it’s also essential that any funding or insurance coverage that may be available is investigated

4. Don’t jump into a decision – even once a specific agency is narrowed down, it’s okay to interview them and ask questions about their history and their policies. Ask if they’ll spend time with the senior first to assess comfort level, and also verify that a replacement caregiver will be provided if one doesn’t work out

Via: The Family Caregiver

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Valentine’s Day can be lonely for seniors, particularly those of you who are reminded of romantic activities that you may have done in the past with a spouse that’s no longer with you. But that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to those feelings; instead get out there and have some fun!

• Attend a community event – visit a senior’s center or community center hosting Valentine’s Day celebrations. Performances like concerts by choirs, plays and poetry readings can be fun to attend and great for the whole family

• Try doing some crafts – seniors who are already part of craft groups are likely to be beginning themed activities for Valentine’s Day, but do them at home as well. Seniors can also make cards and decorations with their family members

• Do some baking – Valentine’s Day is often associated with treats. Chocolate and goodies are usually a feature of the holiday. For seniors that can eat these items without any health repercussions, they can do some baking with family members. Otherwise healthier recipes can be tried incorporating food coloring of heart shapes to get into the spirit!

Via: Suite101

Image: daylife.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

It doesn’t matter from what walk of life we come from; most of us know a family caregiver who is responsible for caring for an older member of their family, and these are people that are not always recognized for their efforts or appreciated.  It’s National Family Caregiver’s month this November, and there is no better  time than now to show caregivers that they’re appreciated, and here’s some ways that you can:

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Does an older adult in your life have a San Francisco caregiver come into his/her home to help with day-to-day tasks so they can get through the day in safety and comfort? You might not know much about the background of your caregiver sent from Home Instead Senior Care, so here are a few details to help you feel even more confident about your choice.

Home Instead Senior Care looks for specific traits in each of their caregivers, and even in their administrative staff so that teamwork and a healthy work environment is promoted.

The traits of  Home Instead Senior Caregivers:

• Dependability - work history and employment reference checks are completed for all staff members
• Honesty - drug test and background checks are completed by HISC
• Experience – personal or professional experience in the senior care industry or dealing with senior citizens is considered
• Compassion – a sense of compassion for giving seniors a better quality of life is looked for during the interview process
• Motivation – someone who is motivated in everything they do is better suited to ensuring that seniors are provided the highest quality of care

HISC also has a Caregiver Leadership Training Program that focuses on creating a fantastic caregiver experience by focusing on the following elements:

• Treating CAREGivers with dignity and respect
• Nurturing positive relationships
• Showing appreciation
• Humanizing and professionalizing the caregiving journey
• Connecting CAREGivers to Home Instead, its mission and other CAREGivers
• Dealing with issues openly and honestly.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

San Francisco home caregivers are constantly looking for ways to keep their elderly caregivers both active and entertained. A fun new activity to introduce to them is ballroom dancing, which has proven benefits to seniors’ auditory, visual, mental and social abilities. Since it’s unlikely that very many home caregivers have specific experience in ballroom dancing, they can find a community, recreation or senior center in San Francisco that offers free or inexpensive dancing lessons for senior citizens to help them get started. Seniors can attend these lessons with their caregivers to learn how to do popular dances like the fox trot, cha-cha, salsa and tango; then they can go home and practice their recently acquired skills, or even put on performances for their family and friends.

Of course, as with any physical activity, seniors need to be conscientious when ballroom dancing. It’s recommended that for the optimal benefits, seniors have a 5 minute warm up, followed by 10 minutes of dancing, and they should be aware of any signs and symptoms of physical strain or exertion; seizing activities if they become short of breath or feel any pain in their muscles or joints.

Seniors and caregivers; get your dancing shoes on and have fun!

Sources:

1. Suite 101
2. Global Action on Aging

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

While there has been a long-standing misconception that the best place to provide care for a San Francisco senior suffering from Alzheimer’s is in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the reality is that not only would these seniors prefer to stay in their own homes, they receive greater benefits by living in a familiar environment. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming, and require you to make sacrifices in your work and family life in order to keep up with the senior’s growing needs. However, there are other options available to help keep seniors with Alzheimer’s living with some level of independence in their own home environments.

Home Instead Senior Care offers home care services which can help seniors deal with the areas of daily living that they struggle with, or with tasks where safety may be an issue due to the Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caregivers can help seniors with dressing, cooking, cleaning and more to preserve their safety and ensure their needs are being met. For those seniors who are suffering from more advanced Alzheimer’s and dementia, Home Instead Senior Care even have caregivers that are trained to deal with the specific needs presented by someone with Alzheimer’s, so families can rest assured that their elderly loved ones are receiving the highest level of care available.

Sources:

1. Web MD

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

We know that the lives of family caregivers are forever changed and touched by their experiences caring for an elderly member of the family, so Home Instead Senior Care is partnering with Caring Today; providing assistance to family caregivers in exchange for their stories. San Francisco family caregivers can share their caregiving experiences by submitting a 500 word essay to Caring Today’s essay writing contest. If your entry in the writing contest is chosen, as a family caregiver, you may be eligible for the grand prize of $5,000 in caregiving services; one of two second place prizes worth $2,500; or one of twelve Extraordinary Caregiver Awards worth $500 each to give you a much deserved break; respite from your caregiving responsibilities. Caring Today knows that as a caregiver, you’ve made many sacrifices and have earned the opportunity to step back and focus on yourself for a change; and by sharing your story as a caregiver, you will bring inspiration to other family caregivers who are looking for knowledge and insight for the role they play in senior care.

Submit your 500 word essay to Caring Today’s essay contest; tell us, tell them, and tell the world how you’ve embraced your role of a caregiver, the impact caring for a senior has had on your life, how you’ve inspired others, and how you hope to be an inspiration to other caregivers through your writing. The “Giving a Caregiver a Break” essay contest, is waiting for you to share your San Francisco home care story.

Sources:
1.    Caring Today
2.   About.com: Alzheimer’s Disease Blog, Carrie H

Image: City of Lake Oswego, Oregon website

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.