Helping seniors remain in their homes safely and comfortably is our mission at Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston.  We moved for several reasons – Home Care Southeast Houston:

• Give you more useful tips
• Home care savings
• Home care packages to help you save
• A national connection of senior service providers
• Home care videos
• Home care podcasts
• and much more to help better guide you to caring for an aging parent or relative in Southeast Houston, Texas.

Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston appreciates our readership and hope you join us at Home Care blog on Carebuzz.com.

Thank you for your loyalty and trusting your elder loved one’s care with us!

Q3 – When should a caregiver seek treatment?

A3 – If any of the above systems persist, then a caregiver should seek the advice of a medical practitioner, such as a physician or someone who specializes in mental health. A health care provider can help you evaluate your situation and propose any necessary treatment programs.

Q4 – What if I just need a break?

A4 – Many caregivers feel like they are alone, or feel guilty if they need to step back and take some time for themselves. Ask for help from family or friends and engage in any activity for your own enjoyment. If you don’t have anyone capable of taking your place as a caregiver, contact an organization like Home Instead Senior Care, for professional caregiving assistance.

Q5 – Is there anyone that I can talk to about what I’m dealing with?

A5 – Your local community should have support groups for caregivers where you can discuss your situation with other people living through similar experiences. If you don’t have access to local resources, contact a Home Instead Senior Care office in your community.

Q1 – Why do family caregivers experience such high levels of stress?

A1 – Many family caregivers have a lot on their plates, and have to balance their responsibilities as a caregiver while continuing to build their careers and provide for their own family and children.

Q2 – How can a caregiver tell if they stress that he/she is experiencing is getting to be excessive?

A2 – There are a number of physical and emotional changes that may occur to indicate that the stress is taking its toll on the health of a caregiver. A caregiver may not be sleeping well; have muscle tension in the back, shoulders or neck; have frequent headaches that increase in severity; stomach or digestive problems may develop. Digestion problems are; upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea.

Stress may also result in weight fluctuation (excessive gain or loss); hair loss; fatigue; high blood pressure, irregular heart beat or palpitations; chest pain; increased levels of perspiration; skin disorders including hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics or itching; periodontal disease or jaw pain; reproductive problems, infertility or sexual dysfunction; or a weakened immune system which might result in more colds, flu and infections.

Emotional changes may include anxiety, depression, mood swings, butterflies, irritability, memory problems, lack of concentration, feeling out of control, substance abuse, the development of irrational phobias, a need to be argumentative, feeling of isolation and job dissatisfaction.

•Having severe chest pain:  The sudden onset of severe chest pain that radiates into the shoulders arms and back and is accompanied by nausea, sweating, and possibly shortness of breath my be a sign that you are having a heart attack.  Seek medical attention immediately!

If you are experiencing a dull pain that follows physical exercise or heightened emotions and disappears when you have rested and calmed down, then you may have angina, a sign of arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries.  You should consult with a physician when possible.  An increase in severity or frequency of any of these symptoms is important information and should be relayed to your doctor!

• Severe headache:  A tumor may be indicated if the headaches are accompanied by blurry or double vision, loss of peripheral vision, loss of balance, nausea and/or vomiting.  If the headache has a sudden onset and is “the most painful thing you’ve ever felt” it is possible you are having an aneurysm or a mild stroke.  Immediate medical intervention is required.  Go to the nearest emergency room!

Home Instead Senior Care Houston asked a geriatric physician in Southeast Houston - which complaints they receive from patients most frequently.  Here is a list of common “worries” and some instances when seeking medical attention is advised.

• Unexplained weight loss:  If your elder is also unable to sleep or has a lack of motivation - this could be depression.  If the weight loss is due to diabetes, your elder will have an increased thirst and more frequent urination. If they are suffering from an upper-abdominal pain – it may indicate the presence of a stomach ulcer.

• A persistent cough:  If the Houston elder has recently recovered from a respiratory ailment such as the flu, yet your cough has persisted and worsened, they possibly could have pneumonia. 

• A rash:  If there’s an onset of an itchy rash followed by swelling of the lips and face and have an appearance of hives – this could be a life-threatening allergic reaction to a medication, food, or insect sting, known as anaphylactic shock.  You need immediate medical attention.  Go to the nearest emergency room!

• Regularly inspect your hallways and staircases for objects that will obstruct your path.
• Add non-slip backing pads to any floor item (such as throw rugs) that move on a regular basis, especially if you have hardwood floors.

  Be sure to keep your bathroom, bathtub or shower stall safe by installing grab bars and non-skid mats.

• Remain active on a day-to-day basis to keep yourself used to movement.
• Exercise to build strength and bone density, fortifying yourself against fall related injuries.
• Most trips happen in the home, so keep your home clean and free of clutter to avoid tripping over haphazardly placed items.
• Outdoor activities such as long walks or gardening will help you improve your stability and balance.
• Keeping alcohol consumption low and retaining a good diet will help your medications act according to their needs.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston & Bay Area – please call 281-484-0200.

The calendar tells us – it’s that time of year again! We’ll soon be visiting the malls and Houston markets! Here are tips you can share with your elder loved one to help make their shopping experience delightful and easier. 

Home Instead Senior Care Houston’s CAREGivers enjoy shopping with their senior clients.  If you, the family member are too busy to shop with your mom or dad.. we can help do that for you. But when you do shop with them, consider these tips from Home Instead Senior Care and the Mall of America:

Determine the time of the day to go shopping when your relative has the most energy.  If the individual has health issues or is not very active, don’t plan an entire day away from home.

Think about what your relatives needs are when away from home at the mall.  It might be oxygen or a cane, make sure you have those items before leaving their home, bring along their medications. If they need extra help, you can call ahead to the mall and find out what’s available.  Many of them rent scooters and wheelchairs.

Get a map of the store or mall.  You can do this by calling them ahead find out where you can obtain maps and directories.  Ask them for shopping tips.

Don’t shop ‘til you drop. This is not ideal when you’re with older adults.  Match your pace with theirs, and take frequent bathroom, refreshment, snack or lunch breaks. This will make it easier and more fun for them.

Don’t try to get it all done in one trip to the mall. Space out the trips over time. If you cannot make time to make smaller and shorter trips, contact Home Instead Senior Care Houston – we can be there shopping with mom or dad when you cannot be.

Remember, for many seniors you may provide the only opportunity to get out and about.  Make it a good day.

The Stress Assessment Tool, available at http://www.caregiverstress.com/assessment.html was designed by eldercare and caregiver stress experts to evaluate the impact that your family caregiving responsibilities and other lifestyle factors has upon your personal stress levels.

Questions included on the questionnaire consider the amount of time you spend caring for a senior, your proximity to the senior, the type of assistance your care recipient requires, the assistance you receive from friends and family, the impact your responsibilities have upon your relationship with a loved one, the impact upon your immune system, changes in your sleep patterns, and effects upon your mood and family.

Once you have completed the series of short questions included on the questionnaire, it provides feedback upon your personal situations and provides recommendations on what might make your responsibilities more manageable.

All outcomes of the Stress Assessment Tool do mention the benefits that non-medical senior care can have upon your own well-being as a caregiver; however, the quantity required, from a few hours per week, to many hours a day, may vary dependent upon your personal and family situation.

The results page also provides additional resources for caregivers, which provide both tips and information about various senior ailments, caregiver stress, and further information about non-medical senior care and Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston.

Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston & Bay Area – please call (281-484-0200.

Southeast Houstonians – Legally prepare the appropriate documentation to address your medical care and distribute your assets after death.

A Last Will and Testament is meant to dictate wishes after death, with regards to a division of assets and finances, disposal of their body, and appoint guardianship for minor children. There are a number of varieties that can be prepared, but the most efficient is a Simple Will, which can divide assets amongst any number of individuals.

Preparing a will of this type also ensures that if you have debts, your loved ones are protected, because creditors cannot attempt to collect from the beneficiaries once assets have already been transferred.

Unfortunately, many people do not even think about creating a will, until a tragedy hits; however, can be developed at any point after an individual has turned 18. This is the best way to ensure that seniors have a voice even once they are no longer physically able to speak, or from beyond the grave. It also alleviates the additional pressure from loved ones in having to deal with legal issues on top of coping with the death of an important person in their lives.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/25914/creating_a_legal_will.html?page=2&cat=17

Home Instead Senior Care Southeast Houston & Bay Area – please call (281-484-0200. 

As a geriatric nurse, working in a busy hospital, I unfortunately witness the challenges faced by families when a loved one falls ill or dies tragically; while it is a difficult and trying time in itself, it is only made more difficult when their loved one has not legally prepared the appropriate documentation to address their medical care or distribute their assets after death.

If the senior has not created a Living Trust or Last Will and Testament, decisions cannot be legally left to a family member, and fall to the jurisdiction of the government; who unaware of the individual’s wishes, may not make decisions that are consistent with those of the party in question.

The purpose of a Living Testament (also referred to as a Living Will) documents an individuals wishes with regards to medical care, once a situation occurs where they are unable to voice their own desires. It can appoint a Power of Attorney for Health Care, who then has the authority to make decisions that relate to care that are not listed on the document, and can include wishes with regards to long-term care, resuscitation etc.