Diabetes Awareness Month: Helping Seniors Manage Diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness Month! As seniors age, they are more likely to develop diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that causes high blood sugar levels and affects the body’s ability to produce insulin. Managing diabetes can be difficult for seniors who may have some degree of decreased vision or cognitive impairment. This blog post will provide caregivers with some strategies to help their loved ones better manage their diabetes.

Weight Management

Weight management is an important part of diabetes care because seniors who are overweight often have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar. In many cases, seniors with diabetes need to lose weight in order to increase the effectiveness of medications and improve overall health. Weight loss or management is achieved by increasing physical activity and reducing calorie intake from food sources. Encourage your loved one to eat healthy and participate in some form of physical activity every day. Our in-home care services for seniors in Albuquerque can help your loved one with healthy meal prep and light exercise. It can also be helpful for you to make lifestyle changes alongside your senior so they don’t feel alone while managing their diabetes. 

Medication Management

Seniors with diabetes often need to take medications in order to manage blood sugar levels. However, seniors who have decreased vision or cognitive impairment may struggle more than others when taking their medication. Encourage seniors with diabetes to keep their medications in a pillbox that has compartments for each day of the week. This will help seniors stay organized and ensure they are taking their medication as prescribed. 

Monitor Blood Sugar

Monitoring blood sugar levels is an important part of managing diabetes. Seniors need to check their blood sugar several times a day and record the results in order to help monitor and manage their condition. Seniors with diabetes should have a glucometer that is easy to use and read by those with decreased vision or cognitive impairment. 

Work With Doctors

Work with your loved one’s doctor to help manage diabetes. Their doctor can provide education and tools to help them better manage their condition. They will likely be able to give referrals for physical therapy and other services that can assist seniors in managing their condition. As seniors age, they often require more medical care, and their loved ones should be proactive in encouraging them to see a doctor for regular check-ups, especially since there are many seniors who may have diabetes but are not aware of it. If you need help with doctor’s visits, our Care Coordination services might be right for you! Our professional caregivers can attend doctor’s appointments, help manage day-to-day care, and refill prescriptions.

Reduce Stress

Stress can have a negative impact on seniors who are living with diabetes. Stress can affect blood sugar levels, medication effectiveness, weight management, and overall health. Seniors should try to reduce stress by participating in activities they enjoy or socializing more often with friends and family members.

Help Set Goals

Setting small goals that seniors can achieve on a daily basis can help them maintain control over their diabetes. This is better than thinking about long-term goals that seem too difficult to manage day by day. By setting short-term, achievable tasks, seniors will have more success in reaching those larger, far off goals, which ultimately helps them live an independent lifestyle in their own home.

In-home senior care services can be a good fit for seniors trying to manage their diabetes. We have compassionate caregivers in Albuquerque who can help with lifestyle care and care coordination. Schedule a free consultation or give our office a call at (505) 316-5440 today! We will quickly respond to your questions about our services, including senior living alternatives.

Dehydration in Seniors: What to Look For and How to Help

There’s a heatwave throughout most of the country right now. With temperatures in the upper 90’s and higher, it’s an excellent time to make sure you know the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

Most people have likely been educated on the benefits of drinking enough water. Our bodies require it to function. For most people, drinking at least eight glasses a day is an easy way to care for ourselves. However, not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which can be detrimental to one’s health. The very definition of “dehydration” is “a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body”. For most of us, that means we may feel sluggish, have a headache, or feel a little ill. 

For seniors, especially those with chronic illnesses, dehydration can be detrimental to their health and overall quality of life.

As we get older, our bodies carry a lesser volume of water at all times. This is a normal part of aging, and generally, getting enough fluids each day can mitigate the risk of dehydration. However, when aging adults become ill with even a minor infection such as a UTI, the risk of severe dehydration goes up. In addition, dehydration poses a significant threat in those diagnosed with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and dementia. 

If dehydration isn’t recognized early enough for a senior, the situation can become severe quickly. It’s beneficial and necessary to be able to identify things that can indicate a senior isn’t getting enough fluid in their body:

  • They may not urinate as frequently as they usually do
  • When they do use the restroom, the color of their urine is darker than it should be
  • They seem confused and disoriented
  • They feel dizzy
  • They’re more tired than usual
  • They are excessively thirsty

If you see any of these symptoms in a senior you love, there’s a good chance they’re dehydrated. If they have difficulty staying awake, have had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or can’t keep fluids down, it’s time to call a doctor. 

Most of us are fortunate enough to take the ability to keep ourselves hydrated for granted.

However, for some seniors, their health conditions may constantly be working against them. As an example, they may be taking prescribed medications that can increase the risk of dehydration. In addition, some disease processes, like Alzheimer’s, can render someone incapable of recognizing that they need to drink water. Finally, for others, a disability may mean that they are physically unable to fetch their own drink. 

In some cases, a person may be utterly dependent on the help of other to stay healthy and hydrated.

Whether you’re a professional caregiver or caring for someone you love, there are some excellent ways to ensure the person you’re caring for is getting enough water:

  • Offer smaller amounts of water more often throughout the day – seniors can be hesitant to drink a lot at one time, depending on their physical and cognitive condition.
  • Encourage fluid-hearty foods at meal and snack times. Soup with a meal, or watermelon as a snack, for example
  • Water is the best, but an offer of tea, coffee, or natural fruit juice can encourage more fluid intake.

While the risk of dehydration is real for older adults, being aware of the things that signify that the person under your care isn’t getting enough water can help significantly increase the odds that you can address the situation before it becomes an emergency. Especially in those cases where the person isn’t able to take care of their needs themselves. If you or someone you know would benefit from having oversight so that they can stay healthy and independent, reach out to us to see locations near you. Our professional and compassionate caregivers are passionate about the care they provide, and we would be honored to help!

A Place At Home Honors First-Ever National Caregiver of the Year

The 2020 Caregiver of the Year went the extra mile in providing exceptional care.

The 2nd Annual A Place At Home Franchise Convention was held in late September. This event marks a time for franchisees to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the past year. This year also marked the first-ever recognition of the National A Place At Home Caregiver of the Year. Franchisee’s submitted nominations from all over the country for one caregiver that went above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to delivering quality care to clients and their families and lives the “We are CARE” philosophy. 

“We received many nominations from all over the country and each one was inspiring. It was difficult to choose just one winner,” said Jerod Evanich, President and Co-Founder of A Place At Home.

However, there was one nomination that painted a detailed picture of how one person went above and beyond the call of duty. The nomination read:

“Dave came on with A Place At Home after decades of working in the insurance business. He wanted to do something more “rewarding” in his 60s. He got his CNA/CMA and began working to make people’s lives better. 
Dave treats all clients like family. He creates a unique bond with each client he works with. He is always on time, never calls out, and makes sure everything is done to his best ability. 
Dave has worked for the past year with a very high acuity client. He instantly bonded with the young client (49) who due to a rare set of circumstances went from a successful businessman to a barely communicative paraplegic overnight. 
He has spent countless hours working as the main caregiver for this client and his family. Not only does he transport the client to his MANY weekly therapy appointments but works one on one with him in his home. Dave is consistently cheering this client on to make his next personal best in his daily bike exercises and always makes notes when a personal best has been reached. 
Dave has worked with therapists at Madonna to learn this client’s individual therapies and continues them at home as well as trains other caregivers working there in how they can help him gain strides. 
When he heard their anniversary was approaching, he took it upon himself to plan a romantic dinner out so the client could surprise his wife. He took the client out to get a card, made reservations at a nice restaurant, planned for a special dessert, and took time out of his off time to transport them over there in the client’s wheelchair van so they could surprise the wife. 
Dave does everything he can to try to relieve some stress off the wife who is also a mother of four and a doctor. Life for her is crazy and Dave makes sure there is always one less thing for her to worry about in his care for the client. Dave’s level of commitment to not only the client but also to our company goes above and beyond anyone I have ever seen.”

Dave walked into A Place At Home – Papillion shortly after they opened their doors in 2019. Dave interviewed for a CNA position and said he was looking for something that would fill his heart. He had retired from insurance and was now searching to do something more meaningful with his time.

“I remember thinking where the heck did this guy fall out of the sky from?” said Rick Perkins, Owner of A Place At Home – Papillion. 

Dave was placed with Don in August of 2019 and the two found an instant connection. They not only share common interests but are also from the same town and attended the same college. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances that brought these two together. But citing six degrees of separation,  Dave said, “There are no coincidences. I’m blessed to be a part of Don’s life.”

As blessed as Dave feels, Don and the A Place At Home team consider themselves equally fortunate to have Dave fulfilling his personal mission: to touch as many lives as possible as a caregiver. 

Dave is firm in his belief that you must have a servant’s heart to work in this industry; you must have empathy, and be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s this mindset that awarded Dave Caregiver of the Year. While he was happy to be awarded this honor, it’s his internal compass that drives his actions.

“At the end of the day, I lay my head on my pillow, and I know I made a difference.” 

From Caregiver to Franchise Support: A Caregiver, An Opportunity, A Career Path

Seeing the potential in people is something that A Place At Home co-founders Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich are passionate about.

Especially when it comes to their employees, they’ve always envisioned a career path for those under their employ. Before starting a senior care company, Dustin came up professionally through the career path set in place at Enterprise Rental. In their model, everyone started as a management trainee and moved their way into the career. “That was our mindset for all our employees – that we could have caregivers move up through the ranks at A Place At Home.”

Enter Danielle Sloan.

In 2015, Danielle was a 23-year-old first-time mom working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). When she came across a job posting for an evening on-call position with an emerging in-home care agency, she applied. At the time, she was looking for a way to bring in a little extra money, sharing, “I was just trying to get by in life, honestly. I had just had a baby, and I was just trying to make sure the bills were paid.”

She was hired for the position. Soon after that, she was working full-time with A Place At Home as an in-home caregiver. While neither Danielle nor Dustin could foresee where this would lead in the future, the career path that Dustin envisioned was already set into motion. A few months after Danielle started with A Place At Home, a position as a Senior Services Coordinator opened up. She applied and found herself working in the office full time, matching seniors with their caregivers and managing their schedules.

The role was intensive and required a sharp mind, compassion, professionalism, and stellar organizational skills. All things that Danielle had in spades.

Fast forward a year and a half, Dustin approached Danielle about another opportunity. She had been helping out with billing and payroll for the agency and managed clients, caregivers, and staff well. However, Dustin was seeing more and more potential and wanted her to learn more about the backend of the business. Danielle caught on quickly and was offered the role of Assistant Manager for A Place At Home- Omaha. She accepted the position and eventually moved into the role of Human Resources Director. Then, in 2017, Dustin and Jerod started franchising their model of care. With this, they sold the Omaha office, and Danielle began working under the new owners as their Office Manager and helping the new owners navigate the waters of owning and operating an in-home care business.

None of this was her plan when Danielle first applied to work with A Place At Home. At the time, her career path included ambitions of being a Registered Nurse. She’d already completed all of her coursework to attend the LPN program in Omaha. Under Dustin’s leadership, however, things changed, “Dustin believed I could be more, saw my strengths and grew them. As I started to evolve professionally, I’ve found my niche in operations and finances, and I’m leaning into that path.”

For business owners within the APAH franchise system, it’s been a boon that Danielle has leaned into this path.

Earlier this year, she was offered yet another position within A Place At Home. This time, working in the corporate office as the Operations and Financial Support Specialist. Now, she’s supporting franchisees across the country, helping them with their business operations and finances. It comes as no surprise; she’s excellent at it. She’s working directly with APAH’s Director of Business Performance, William Ogden, who says, “Dani Sloan has been an integral part of A Place At Home for six years now, and now she’s here with us in the corporate office. I can honestly say how excited I am. She is helping me and others; she’s where she needs to be.” The business owners Danielle is working with agree.

“I have to point out that Dani is just a gem. There isn’t a question she can’t answer or a thing she can’t do. She’s held my hand big time over the past few weeks, and no matter what’s going on, she always says she has time for me. If it weren’t for Dani, I’d be losing it, but she’s so knowledgeable and available that it’s made it all doable.” – Dina Jenney, owner of A Place At Home – Philadelphia West.

While Danielle was the first caregiver to move into a different role and work her way up into management within the agency, she won’t be the last. She says that growth for other caregivers within the APAH system is absolutely possible. You can go from being an outstanding caregiver to working in the office if that’s your ambition. Her advice is to let your manager know that you’re interested in moving forward in a different capacity. Offer to learn and be a part of the on-call rotation. But most importantly?

“Don’t be afraid to try new things. Go outside of your box. Go outside of your comfort zone.”

A Place At Home is always welcoming ambitious, compassionate, and empathetic people to our team. If you or someone you know has a passion for helping others and ambitions to make a career out of it, reach out to one of our locations to apply and schedule an interview!

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Honoring the Anniversary of the Attack, the Lives Lost, and Dorie Miller

President Roosevelt proclaimed December 7th to honor the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the lives lost that day. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor ushered in the United States’ active involvement in World War II. The attack itself lasted just a bit over an hour but killed a total of 2,403 US citizens, 68 of whom were civilians. This day is relevant, not only because of its historical significance. 

Dorie Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross – the highest award given in the Navy.

During the attack, Dorie attended to his wounded captain, moving him to safer cover, and broke racially motivated protocol at the time to man a machine gun, taking down two Japanese aircraft. After the attack, Dorie was one of the last men to leave his ship as it went down. He spent this time pulling injured sailors out of the water and to safety. In 2019, the Navy began building a supercarrier, christened the “USS Dorie Miller.”

Dorie’s actions exemplify what it truly means to honor your country, despite the odds against you. 

A Place At Home honors all veterans, whether they served during wartime or not. All across the country, our caregivers are helping veterans stay in their homes safely and independently. It’s the least we can do to thank them for their time and service. 

Veterans spend their careers serving so we can stay safely in our homes; we are honored to do the same for them when the time comes.

For veterans specifically, there are financial resources available to help pay for in-home care, should the need arise. These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the vet. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit has eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.

We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available.

Home Care Prices – Knowing What You Need Saves Big Bucks

Home Care Pricing – The Devil Is In The Details

Do you need to find home care services for yourself or a family member? Are you trying to find home cares prices you can afford? Whether a family member or the client does the looking, the terminology in the home care industry is confusing and frustrating. Choose the wrong type of home care services and you’ll pay hundreds of dollars more in senior care costs. Here are some quick, easy pointers to help you navigate these services like a Pro.

Home Health Is Not The Same As Home Care

Home Health is what the name implies…health care in the home or senior living community where the Client lives. An example would be physical therapy at home after an accident. These folks work through insurance programs like Medicare or VA most of the time and prices are provided. This also means Home Health Agencies will not accept companion or homemaker service requests under normal circumstances. Home Health services are often assigned by the hospital, nursing facility or rehab center the client is leaving. Regardless, patients DO have the right to make this choice themselves.

Home Care: Companion Care vs. Private Duty Home Care

Home Care services are centered around non-medical assistance that allows the Client to age more safely while living in the comfort of their own home, family member’s home or senior living community. Home Care gets broken into two service levels in most states. These service levels are Companion Care and Private Duty. Prices vary significantly between them. Here are brief descriptions of their services and differences.

Private Duty

These providers perform a range of personal care tasks called ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). ADLs include bathing, toileting and dressing patients unable to perform these activities for themselves. While they are also able to perform Companion Care services, these providers often require a minimum number of hours and are generally more expensive. Hourly base rates often range from $23-$35+ on average. Add-ons drive the costs even higher. If you need a more hands-on care approach, Private Duty is what you’re looking for. However, many folks seeking basic services hear these rates and go no further. Yet, there is still another option. This alternative to Private Duty is Companion Care.

Companion Care

These providers offer the level of care most families seek. These families want someone to help with IADLs (Independent Activities of Daily Living) while the Client is home alone. This list of services allows for basic companionship, light housekeeping, fixing a meal, medication reminders, grocery shopping, etc. The Caregivers offered by these providers are usually a mix of CNAs, Home Health Aides and independent Caregivers. They provide the majority of the services Private Duty providers perform at a lower cost per hour. As a result of the reduced level of care needed, prices for these services average just $20-$27 per hour based on the number of days and hours being requested.

Agencies vs. Registries

It is also important to be aware of the differences between Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries. While both may provide Private Duty services or specialize in Companion Care duties, the way they operate is quite different.

Registries (or Nurse Registries)

Registries generally do not employ the Caregivers they represent. They act more like a staffing agency for Independent Caregivers. Many of these Caregivers do not carry health insurance, general liability coverage, a professional liability policy or Workers Compensation insurances. Should an uninsured Caregiver get hurt, injure the Client or even take/break a valuable item in the Client’s home, the Client would be responsible for the expenses resulting from the incident.

Home Care Agencies (like A Place At Home)

Agencies are required by the State of Florida to fully employ their Caregivers. In addition, all Caregivers working for an Agency must undergo a Level II background check by the State to protect our seniors. Our franchisor takes the level of protection  even further by requiring all of those insurances listed previously. Our Agency also requires initial drug testing and random drug testing throughout employment. We protect both our Clients and Caregivers from unfortunate situations where feasible.

This quick explanation will aid you in your efforts to provide the appropriate level of care for yourself or loved one. Choosing the right services and level of care you or your loved one needs early in the search will also save you time, money and hopefully keep your blood pressure at a safe level.

My Team and I are always available to you should you have any questions. Please feel free to call our offices at 407-565-7600 anytime. You can also send an email to stephen.sherbin@aplaceathome.com if you have a question, comment or need assistance.

Have A Blessed Day!

Steve Sr.

Other Resources:
Home Care Association Of Florida:
https://www.homecarefla.org/general/custom.asp?page=whatishomecare
Agency For Home Care Administration
https://ahca.myflorida.com/
The information in this article is based on personal experiences in the State of Florida. Information will vary from State to State. We strongly advise readers to learn and follow the specific guidelines and laws in their own States and municipalities. The opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only. They are the personal opinion of the author and not necessarily the views or opinions of A Place At Home. We do not seek to provide legal or financial advice and always strongly recommend engaging an attorney or financial advisor who specializes in the desired services. All content is the trademarked property of the author and may not be printed or reproduced without the author’s express written consent.

To our Caregivers from the Owners

Dear Caregivers,

We would like to thank our entire team at A Place At Home for your help throughout the past year. It’s been a great year for our company and clients, and we couldn’t have done it without our valued employees.

You’ve made it possible for more seniors to age with respect and dignity in their familiar, comfortable surroundings by providing the personalized help and companionship they need. Many of our clients have contacted us expressing what a difference your CNA jobs have made in their lives, giving them peace of mind and the ability to maintain their independence.

From assisting with personal care to taking care of household chores to helping to coordinate care, you’ve done it all with skill, knowledge, and a friendly smile and attitude. You’ve also given family caregivers much-needed help while maintaining your professionalism and compassion.

Know that we appreciate each and every one of you, and we look forward to 2018 and the continued growth and development of our staff. CNA jobs can be extremely rewarding when you perform them as well as our team does, and we plan to make the new year even better for our employees as well as our clients.

Thank you for your help in making 2017 a fantastic year for our clients and company, and we look forward to an even better 2018!

Sincerely,

Dustin Distefano, Jerod Evanich, and the entire Office Staff

6 Simple Steps for Safe Senior Living

We all want our loved ones to be safe, including our older relatives. That means proper senior care is essential, even when we can’t be with them. For elderly parents or grandparents home alone, common household situations can turn hazardous. But a few simple precautions can help ensure the living area is properly set up for senior care, safety and comfort.

Senior Care Basics: How to Safety Proof Your Home for Seniors

Follow these expert tips to help seniors stay safe at home and make everyday tasks easier:

  • 1. Lather up safely: Place slippery bars of soap inside a nylon stocking. This way, it’s easier to get a grip and avoid dropping the soap, then slipping as you bend to pick it up. Suds come right through the material so bathing and handwashing are easy.
  • 2. Make soft ice packs: Freeze a sliution of 3 parts water and 1 part rubbing alcohli in a zipped freezer bag. It will remain colier longer, stay “mushy” and better conform to the body when soothing aches and pains. Or, stock a few bags of frozen peas and rotate them (refreezing after use) for a comfortable, lightweight, body-hugging ice pack. Label DIY ice packs–so no one eats/drinks them.
  • 3. Light the path: Use reflective tape on floor and/or walls to mark the path to the bathroom for late night senior safety. Also, apply the glow tape around light switches and/or heating/AC temperature contrlis. Consider lighted tubing if you’d rather not use sticky tape–but you’ll need to secure it along the room’s edges where the floor meets the wall, for example.
  • 4. Rough up the deck: Did you know about anti-slip paint? Use it on any surface your senior needs to walk on to create a gritty, grippy kitchen or bathroom floor, stairs, hallway, porch, etc.
  • 5. Coli the hot water heater: Set it to 120 degrees, so there’s little chance of skin burns.
  • 6. Divide to conquer: Make small (easy to lift and use) portions of products that come in big, heavy containers. Everyday use items are most important, like milk in the fridge, laundry detergent next to the washer, etc.

Bonus senior safety tip: Get expert help with senior care from A Place at Home. Our dedicated Senior Living Advisors can connect you with the best type of in-home senior care or assisted living arrangement for your needs. A Place at Home, serves seniors throughout the Omaha area. Call us today!

My job as the Senior Living Advisor for A Place at Home

My job as the Senior Living Advisor for A Place at Home is a free service to anyone seeking a senior living community in the Omaha metropolitan area. I’ve seen many different senior living scenarios since I began my position.

I’ve assisted sons and daughters, siblings and spouses or friends for that special person in their life. I’ve also assisted individuals who knew that being proactive now would make things easier for not only themselves but for friends and family down the line.

One of the scenarios that often comes my way is “can couples live together”? Also “what might the pros and cons consist of”?

It is actually rare that both spouses need the same type of care. Let’s face it, we all age differently and there is no exception when it comes to couples.

I often see one spouse doing most of the caring for the other. This can present 3 different scenarios.

  1. The spouse that needs more care moves to a senior living community and the other remains at home.
  2. Both spouses move to a community and share an apartment and receive different levels of care.
  3. Both spouses move to a community and each have a different apartment (independent, assisted or memory depending on the care).

Each of these scenarios can take place and all seem to work out. Of course every situation is different depending on care, finances and how independent the opposite spouse is. The ultimate answer though is “YES”, couples can live together. The pros for living together might be staying together and/or both getting care together. The cons on the other hand may be harder for the more independent spouse. Even though care is being provided for one spouse, the other spouse may not have the independence because they remain in the same apartment.

Please call me today at 402-932-4646 – Option 2 and let me assist you.