Eldercare Library & Tips

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for people over the age of 65? As many as one in three older Americans falls every year. Falls can result in hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries. And even falls without a major injury can cause an older adult to become fearful or depressed, making it difficult for them to stay active.

The fear of falling becomes more common as people age, even among those who haven’t fallen. It may lead older people to avoid activities such as walking, shopping, or taking part in social activities.

Many things can cause a fall. Diminished eyesight, hearing loss, and reflexes not being as sharp as they once were are all factors. Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect balance. Some medicines can cause a person to feel dizzy or sleepy, making them more likely to fall. Other causes include safety hazards in the home.

Elderly home care services recognize several personal risk factors for falling, including muscle weakness, problems with balance and gait.

The dangers of falls for seniors are numerous. To avoid falls and broke bones the elderly should: stay physically active, have their eyes and hearing tested regularly, be aware of the side effects of medication, get enough sleep, stand slowly, and use a cane or another assistive device to feel steady when walking.

For older people, a broken bone can be the start of more serious problems, such as a trip to the hospital, injury, or even disability. If you have an aging parent or grandparent in your life, helping them reduce their risk of falling is a great way to help them stay healthy and independent as long as possible.

Aging parents want to continue to live at home, we know this. But we also know that there are concerns that come with elderly parent(s) being alone when their health or mobility is jeopardized. A family member can’t always be there to help them with daily tasks, but they also can’t do it all themselves. That leaves you two options: home care or nursing home care.

According to AARP, more than 95% of seniors want to stay in their home as long as possible, even if they need help with day-to-day activities; but there also comes a time when staying home may no longer be a realistic option. Utilizing this information you can make a better, more informed decision with your loved one about which elderly home care services option is best for them.

Home Care
The major advantage of home health care is that seniors get to age in place among their friends and surroundings that make them feel secure and happy. They can maintain their freedom. Home care allows for a more personal, one-on-one relationship with the caregiver. Also, seniors are able to remain as independent as they are able.

Assisted Living Care
Seniors who require more assistance than what can be provided in the home may need to consider an assisted living facility. Assisted living care provides a wide range of services to individuals who want to maintain some level of independence but require support with daily activities.

Nursing Home
Nursing homes, commonly known as skilled nursing facilities, serve as licensed healthcare residences for individuals who require a higher level of medical care than can be provided in an assisted living facility. Nursing homes are typically staffed with a variety of medical professionals and are secure facilities, ideal for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia who might be prone to wandering.

There is no magical age or one-size-fits-all solution when a senior may need help. It is our goal to provide the highest quality elderly home care services. Call today to schedule a free consultation with our qualified staff to discuss your needs.

Home care providers are special people, full of love and compassion for the elderly and disabled regardless of age. Whether their role in a senior’s life is as an aide, providing assistance with everyday living tasks like bathing, dressing and eating; or as a homemaker, helping with household chores like, cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping; or as a companion, offering a friendly smile and an ear to listen for those who don’t need hands-on assistance, home care providers are compassionate and dedicated to their jobs.

Caregivers do more than just look after their clients and attend to their needs. They are more like part of the family, sometimes seeing them more than their own loved ones. Therefore, it’s important for families to find home care aides who will treat their loved ones like their own.

Here are some of the attributes that one should look for in a quality caregiver:

•  Honest and trustworthy
•  Supportive and encouraging
•  Committed and dependable
•  Patient and flexible
•  Knows how to empathize
•  Puts the needs of his or her client first and is able to take charge when necessary
•  Passionate about what he or she does
•  Good communicator

Aging in place is made possible with assisted living at home services provided by the staff at Arcadia. Together we’ll customize a care plan to fit your loved ones needs, whether that’s a home care aide, homemaker, or companion. For more information, visit our website to find a local office in your area or call toll-free at 866-224-7541.

Winter weather can be tough on everyone, but older people face an especially higher risk when temperatures drop. As the body ages, it becomes harder to regulate body temperature, respond to environmental changes, and recover from illnesses or injuries. These challenges make cold temperatures and icy conditions more than just an inconvenience; they can create serious health problems.

Seniors are more vulnerable to heart attacks, risk of falling, frostbite, and hypothermia during the colder months. Low indoor temperatures, poor circulation, and chronic health conditions can all increase the danger of winter. That’s why families and caregivers must pay extra attention to cold weather safety. With thoughtful planning and everyday precautions, you can help protect your loved one all season long.

Why Cold Weather Poses a Risk to Seniors

Aging affects the body’s ability to stay warm. As body temperature drops, seniors may not notice right away, which can quickly lead to hypothermia. Warning signs like shivering, slurred speech, confusion, and pale skin indicate the body is in distress.

Exposure to cold air outside, or even cool indoor temperatures inside, creates an increased risk of hypothermia, frostbite, or respiratory illness. Seniors with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or circulation issues face additional dangers. Even short periods in extreme cold weather can have lasting effects on older adults.

Another concern is mobility. Ice, snow, and wet floors all raise the risk of falls, which can cause broken bones, hospitalizations, and require long recovery times. Since many family members already worry about their loved ones losing their independence, preventing falls should be a top priority in winter.

Winter Safety Tips for Older Adults

The good news is that small changes make a big difference. Use these strategies to keep your loved one safe and comfortable:

1. Dress in Warm Layers

Encourage seniors to wear several light layers instead of one heavy coat. A hat, scarf, gloves, and thick socks reduce heat loss. Layers trap warmth and can be added or removed easily depending on indoor temperatures or activity level.

2. Maintain Safe Indoor Temperatures

Keep the home at 68°F or warmer. Seniors may try to save money by turning down the heat, but this can be dangerous. Provide warm blankets and safe space heaters if necessary. Be sure heating equipment is working properly to reduce fire hazards and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

3. Encourage Mild Daily Exercise

Movement improves circulation and helps maintain body temperature. Activities like walking indoors, gentle stretching, or chair exercises keep seniors active while reducing stiffness. Even small amounts of daily exercise help prevent falls and improve mood during the shorter, darker days of winter.

4. Support Immune Health

The colder months bring flu and other seasonal illnesses. Schedule flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, and COVID-19 boosters when recommended. Vitamin D supplements can also help offset limited sunlight exposure during winter, supporting bone and immune health.

5. Prevent Hypothermia

Know the signs of hypothermia. Signs include intense shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness, and confusion. If you notice these symptoms, act immediately and get the person to a warm space, wrap them in blankets, and call for medical help if needed. Early intervention can save lives.

6. Reduce the Risk of Falls

Falls are one of the most serious threats to senior health. Make sure your loved one wears slip-resistant shoes or boots. Clear driveways and sidewalks promptly and apply salt or sand to reduce ice buildup. Inside the home, remove clutter, secure rugs, and keep pathways well-lit.

7. Stay Hydrated

Even though seniors may not feel as thirsty in cold weather, dehydration remains a risk. Encourage regular water intake throughout the day. Warm beverages like herbal tea can provide both hydration and comfort.

8. Stay Connected

Winter storms and power outages can leave seniors isolated. Regular phone calls or visits help ensure safety. Create an emergency plan that includes blankets, flashlights, non-perishable food, and a way to contact loved ones if the power goes out.

The Role of Caregivers in Cold Weather Safety

Caring for an older family member during winter takes vigilance. Caregivers should monitor clothing, hydration, and indoor temperatures daily. They should also check for early warning signs of illness, such as coughing, fatigue, or shortness of breath.

Professional in-home caregivers play a crucial role as well. They provide companionship, help with errands, prepare warm meals, and ensure seniors take medications on time. Most importantly, they reduce the burden on families while offering expert support in spotting risks like hypothermia, frostbite, or the risk of falls.

Helping Seniors Stay Safe in the Colder Months

The colder months can feel overwhelming for seniors and their families. Between icy sidewalks, limited sunlight, and the challenge of staying warm, older people face unique obstacles. But with consistent attention to cold weather safety, your loved ones can stay secure and comfortable all season long.

At Arcadia Home Care, we provide trusted in-home caregivers who help seniors maintain independence while staying safe in every season. Our compassionate team understands the special challenges of winter and tailors care to meet each client’s needs. From daily assistance to occasional support, we offer families peace of mind with award-winning care backed by excellent client reviews.

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It’s a fact that the majority of older adults do not want to leave their homes. “Aging in Place” is becoming more common than ever before. Unless there is a medical reason, the best option for an elderly person is often the chance to stay at home for as long as he or she wants. Being in a familiar environment plays a large role in contentment. You may find that the family member in your life wants to hang on to the feeling of independence for as long as possible. He or she likes the idea of eating when they want and making other small decisions that add up to a lot in the long run. It is also easier to stay in touch with friends, neighbors, church groups—which allows them to keep certain routines they might not otherwise be able to.

When you choose elderly home care services from Arcadia Home Care, your loved one can have the care help he or she desires. Arcadia offers all of the following from which to choose for in-home assistance:

• Help with bathing, dressing, and feeding.
• Assistance with light exercising.
• Transportation to medical appointments and shopping.
• Care with toileting and incontinence.
• Housekeeping, including laundry.
• Assisting with self-administered medication
• Correspondence and making phone calls.
• Companionship.

Visit ArcadiaHomeCare.com to find out about all the services provided. Request a free in-home consultation for more information.

It’s a fact of life that as we age we experience the world a little differently. People over 65 are often dealing with health issues such as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses. These conditions result in reduced eyesight, poorer balance, less flexibility, and weakened muscles. Others may be suffering from osteoporosis or diabetes. No matter how routine the activity or how familiar the surroundings, at some point all senior citizens are at risk for accidents as a result of these changes in their bodies.

According to Consumer Affairs 80% of falls in the home are in the bathroom. These accidents most often occur at the following times:

• Climbing into or out of a tub or shower.
• Sitting down or standing up from the toilet.
• Using shower chairs that are not slip resistant.
• Grasping counters or towel bars for balance.
• Slippery floors.

Arcadia has been providing elderly home care services for over 40 years. We know from experience how essential safety features are for seniors. We recommend adding the following safety features to a bathroom used by an elderly person:

• Bath Chairs
• No-Slip Mats
• Built-In Safety Bars
• Anti-Scald Faucets

From medication safety to properly equipping a bathroom, we recommend you shore up the ways you protect the well-being of your family member or friend.

When it comes to non-medical in-home care, not everyone has the same needs. That’s why Arcadia Home Care offers three different types of trained personnel to help with geriatric care for your loved one.

Home Care Aides

Home Care Aides are for seniors who require more hands-on assistance in their everyday lives. These caregivers can provide assistance with bathing, using the restroom, dressing, walking, moving in and out of chair or bed, and eating. If you have been looking into assisted living options for your senior, consider hiring a home care aide to help them in the comfort of their own home.

Homemakers

If your loved one needs assistance with everyday housekeeping tasks like laundry, vacuuming, kitchen and bathroom cleaning, meal preparation, shopping, or other home management activity, hire one of our homemakers. A homemaker will help your senior manage their home so that they can continue living there more easily.

Companions

Companions are perfect caregivers for seniors who do not require hands-on assistance. So often, seniors are alone in their homes with few visits from friends and family. Companions provide supervisions and companionship in the comfort of their own homes.

Contact our team today at ArcadiaHomeCare.com to discuss your options.

Home sweet home. It’s a familiar place that feels safe because it’s what you are used to. The recognition of your surroundings provides comfort. If you or a loved one needs services due to an illness, surgery, or symptoms of aging, rely on our caregivers to assist you just like a member of your family would. With over 35 years in the home care industry, you can rely on our caregivers.

According to a study done by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes, often referred to as “aging in place.” In addition to medication management, companionship, and relief for family members, other benefits of receiving in-home care include:

Affordability, Feelings of Independence, High Levels of Comfort & Familiarity, Safety in Same Routines, Maintaining Quality of Life and Confidence in a Personal Caregiver

Aging in place with a caregiver from Arcadia adds a level of convenience for everyone involved. Together, we’ll customize a care plan to fit your personal needs, everything from meal preparation to transportation to doctors’ appointments. In addition, families are kept abreast with regular updates as to how their loved ones are doing.

The assisted living at home services we provide are available in three types of non-medical caregivers: home care aides, homemakers, and companions/sitters. For more information, visit our website to find a local office in your area or call toll-free at 866-224-7541.

Once you have made the decision to entrust your loved one’s life with an in-home caregiver, how do you work with Arcadia to select the best caregiver? There are a number of considerations in order to ensure we build a positive relationship for, you, your loved one, and the caregiver.

Arcadia Home Care is able to match a caregiver specifically with the tasks you need. For example, you may want someone who can prepare meals and drive your loved one to doctor appointments. Or, if social interaction is a priority, you could request a caregiver who is energetic or one that is quiet. When you work with us, we select a caregiver based on the home care needs of your loved one.

It’s best to start by giving Arcadia as much information as possible about your loved one. Be sure to emphasize what is most important, both in terms of technical skills as well as other social or environmental considerations. Here are a few things to consider when looking for personal care aides.

• Loved one’s level of functioning
• Food preferences
• Activities they enjoy

Contact Arcadia Home Care for more information. Call us toll-free at 866-224-7541 to speak to a friendly, knowledgeable staff member. We have been serving families for more than 35 years at a number of locations throughout the country.

It’s almost that time of year again folks! There’s going to be a chill in the air, a crunch under our feet, and a big spike in home care management inquires coming your way. As people get together with their families visiting relatives they haven’t seen throughout the year, some things may become apparent. Your Uncle still can’t slice a ham, but maybe this year you notice that mom and dad aren’t getting around as easily as they used to. These seasonal get-togethers are the reason we see large increases in inquiries for home care staffing services, specifically non-medical home care, after the holidays. This is a time for everyone to come together, and out of these meetings can come shared observations and mutual ideas about how to care for the aging members of the family. This is such a common phenomenon that according to Senior Housing News, the first weeks after Christmas are the busiest time of the year for home care management inquiries. Is your office prepared? If not, here are our three “target areas” where you should focus to make the most out of upcoming flood of curious callers.

Dedicated Phones

Odds are, your company is not the only player in your market. When a potential client is going through their list of companies, it is likely that a busy signal or voice mail prompt will simply allow them to cross you off their list and move on to the next one. To prevent these clients from falling through the cracks there should be dedicated people using dedicated phone lines to handle inquires for home care staffing services. We put so much effort into getting potential customers to call us, doesn’t it make sense to have someone there to answer the phone?

The Pitch

Is your company still reading off the same script its used for the last five years? Ditch the script and start working a new fresh sounding pitch. As much as we’d like to believe that our callers aren’t talking to our competition, believe me, they are. It is important to set yourself apart right from the start. Make sure the person answering the phone is the person the customer needs to talk to, no one likes to be passed around until someone can help them. Don’t assume your customer is ignorant, instead of explaining what non-medical home care is, use that time to explain what sets your company apart from all the other home care management companies out there. If your pitch is the same as the competition’s, how is the customer supposed to tell you apart?

Initial Visit Staff

If we’re doing our jobs right, an increase in calls should translate into an increase in customer acquisitions. First impressions matter more in this business than they do for most. An increase in the amount of client first visits shouldn’t put a strain on your staff. Make sure you have people trained and ready to handle the uptick in appointments. The last thing you want is to make your new client feel rushed, or let them see you struggling with workload on the very first visit. The busiest time for home care staffing services coincides with some of the most popular travel times, make sure your entire intake team is not on vacation!

This year, be prepared for the post-holiday rush. Have a plan to handle customer calls, use a successful pitch to get yourself in the door, and then give that customer an all-star initial visit that lets them know they made the right choice with your company!