Caring for Seniors: Need to Fall Prevention in Future
March 31st, 2020Caregiver Service, Companion Caregiver, Elderly Care, In Home Care, Long Term Care, Polish Care Services, Senior Care Services, Uncategorized,
The fear of falling at home is a major concern for seniors and their caregivers. While falls can cause injury, learning how to prevent them is key to being able to help seniors stay at home safely and receive the necessary assistance from caregivers to make their in home care experience better.
Being Aware of the Risk Factors
When it comes to fall prevention, making the home safe so that falls don’t happen is something to consider. However, there are risk factors that contribute to falls other than home safety.
– Medications impact fall risk. Some medications cause dizziness or dehydration. In some cases, two medicines might react badly with each other and contribute to falls.
– Poor balance, gait, or a visual impairment impacts a person’s ability to function normally, leaving them more susceptible to falls.
– Conditions and diseases can increase a fall risk too due to symptoms like dizziness and compromised balance .
Start Simple
Fall prevention can be as simple as asking the client about their own concerns. It’s not uncommon for a senior to be concerned due to risk factors such as the ones described above. Starting with a discussion can help a caregiver or loved one determine why the senior in question has fall concerns. By learning about them, you can create a plan together.
Poor balance and lower body weakness contribute to falls. Simply doing exercises that focus on improving strength and balance can help prevent them. Simple fall prevention measures to take include making sure areas around the home are well-lit including having nightlights in the bedroom and bathroom. Install grab bars by the toilet, shower, and bath, and move items out of the way that may be a fall hazard.
Make Staying Safe Around the House Easier
Falls can occur because of small but important things. Wearing the wrong footwear can contribute to falls. All footwear should fit comfortably and not be loose. Furniture like beds, chairs, and sofas should be a comfortable height to make them easier to get in and out of. Any loose carpeting should be properly secured and throw rugs removed. Use nonskid treads on the stairs.
The thought of falling might be scary. But they are preventable.
For more fall prevention tips, contact Polish Care Services. Our knowledgeable senior care staff will be happy to answer your questions.
Polish Care Services Essential Services COVID19- Update
March 22nd, 2020Caregiver Service, Companion Caregiver, Elderly Care, In Home Care, Long Term Care, Polish Care Services, Senior Care Services, Uncategorized,
Because of the governor’s order 7H to shelter in place slated to be in effect Monday March 23rd at 8:00 PM. Polish Care Services is postponing essential services such as cleaning and janitorial services until this travel restriction is lifted.
We will still be providing caregivers for seniors and the disabled as this is classified as essential services.
We are closely monitoring the CDC website and updating our employee training portal, as the health and safety of our employees and clients are of utmost importance.
We are constantly reinforcing the basics:
Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water often.
Use sanitizers of 60% or more alcohol.
Avoid touching face.
Practice social distancing
If there is a fever or cold, alert the agency immediately.
If there is contact with someone with the virus, self quarantine, consult a doctor and inform the agency.
Mental health: Tune out from the negative news, and social media ever so often, find some way to relax through communication, music, meditation and exercise.
Please stay safe and healthy, together we will get though this and be stronger.
Agnes,
Polish Care Service
Polish Care Services Update on COVID19- Coronavirus
March 16th, 2020aging in place, Caregiver Service, Companion Caregiver, Dementia Care, In Home Care, Long Term Care, Polish Care Services, Senior Care Services, Uncategorized,
Dear Customers,
We want to thank you for allowing Polish Care Services to make a difference in your lives with continued service, and we look forward to continued care in 2020.
As the success of our business is extremely important to each of us, we would like to provide you with an update on the Covid19 – Coronavirus, its effects and impacts on caregiver and cleaning services, our customers, employees and stakeholders.
All employees are trained on the necessary precautions, including guidelines from the CDC.
This includes:
Hand washing 20 second rule
Using sanitizers
Disinfecting areas
Use gloves when necessary
Keep hands away from face
Wear masks when necessary
Minimize use of personal space
Employees are constantly informed though their employee training portal, and updates from CDC to ensure the health and safety of themselves and our clients.
We hope all will keep healthy, safe and calm during this time.
Sincerely
Agnes
Polish Care Services
A Caregiver’s Guide To Helping Seniors Find A New Home
February 18th, 2018Companion Caregiver, In Home Care, Uncategorized,
As people get older, that big family house may not work anymore. Many seniors have trouble dealing with all the empty space in that house, nevermind keeping it clean and maintained. Then there’s the financial situation. Even if the mortgage is paid off, there are still taxes owed on rooms that may not be used anymore.
As a caregiver to seniors, you can help them find a new home when the time comes. From helping on moving day to making needed renovations, there’s a lot you can do. To begin, you need to look into different housing options for the seniors.
Finding The Right House
It’s not like housing has changed a lot since the seniors bought their house, but their lives are different now. They don’t have kids to house, and as they get older, mobility and safety can become problems for them. That’s why you need to help them explore their housing options.
LoveToKnow.com lists three popular housing options for seniors: Condos, townhomes, and senior communities. While single-family homes are always an option, smaller homes are usually better. There’s less space to keep clean and have trouble with.
When picking a place, be sure to look at the local amenities. For example, a senior community can provide social experiences and even medical support when needed. Besides that, the new place should have senior-friendly door handles, shallow steps, and proper lighting.
A Smooth Moving Day
Once you’ve helped the seniors find a great place to move into, then comes the hard part: The actual moving. Packing and transporting everything can be both physically and emotionally exhausting.
To help make this day go more smoothly, A Place For Mom recommends that you help sort and organize their belongings. Treasured keepsakes can be packed but donate anything that hasn’t been used in a while. There’s no reason to move that VCR or exercise bike if they’re just collecting dust. A yard sale would also be a great idea here.
As you declutter the seniors’ old home, start packing early. Waiting for the last weekend before the move will just increase everyone’s stress and lead to mistakes. Instead, help the seniors pack a little bit at a time.
Making Needed Renovations
The point of finding a new place and packing up the old one is to help the seniors. But what if you cannot find the perfect home? You can still help the elders move there by planning some home improvements.
The New York Times reports that an easy but important addition is the grab bar. These can be installed in the bathroom, bedroom, or anywhere the seniors might need a little help getting up. In addition, seniors often have problems with vision and balance as they grow older. That means adding some new lighting, painting high-contrast colors, and even taping down rugs can all help the seniors be safer in their new home.
Kitchens are another place where seniors might need some help. According to HomeAdvisor, the average price of a a major kitchen remodel is approximately $22,000, though smaller renovations may be under $5,000. However, the benefits can be tremendous — and it can help protect seniors from accidents and injuries.
They Deserve The Help
As a caregiver, there are ways you can help seniors find a new home. Start by exploring new housing options, and help them declutter before moving day. With some remodeling and renovations, you can turn almost any home into one perfect for seniors.
Credit: June Duncan for Polish Care Services https://polishcareservices.com