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How to Use Distraction in Alzheimer’s Care

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As a trusted Vancouver Alzheimer’s care provider, we know one of the greatest challenges in caring for a senior loved one with the disease is a lack of caregiver control, particularly in regards to aggressive or otherwise negative behaviors. Fortunately, family caregivers can change the outcomes of unwelcome episodes by simply altering their own behaviors. Instituting a different, unexpected and even distracting response to an episode gives caregivers a little more power in how things turn out. Dealing with Aggression It is not uncommon for seniors with Alzheimer’s to exhibit signs of suspicion and aggression. In these instances, they may become fixated on items that they believe have been lost or stolen. Offering a senior family member a favorite treat…

Post-Easter Assessment: Does Mom or Dad Need Help?

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Easter gatherings are an exciting part of springtime that can provide your family with an opportunity to bond over egg hunts, brunches and outdoor games. Yet, many families discover new concerns about their senior loved one’s health during such events that may require follow-up in the upcoming weeks. If you noticed that mom or dad just wasn’t quite him or herself this holiday, then use this post-Easter assessment from Vancouver Home Care Assistance to help determine if he or she may need additional help at home. Has Their Weight Changed? One of the first things many families notice about their loved one’s health is significant weight changes. If your loved one has lost or gained weight, then they may be…

The Benefits of Regular Exercise for Seniors with Parkinson’s

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As a trusted Parkinson’s care provider in Vancouver, our caregivers know that regular exercise not only helps seniors manage Parkinson’s symptoms as the disease progresses, but it can also give them a better sense of wellbeing, not to mention a much-appreciated boost of self-confidence. Research further supports the importance of regular exercise for seniors with Parkinson’s disease citing the following benefits. Increasing Ability to Handle Symptoms Symptoms of Parkinson’s change as the disease progresses. However, regular exercise can help seniors with PD perform daily activities like climbing steps or going for a casual walk around their neighborhood with greater stability. Regular exercise may even help with Parkinson’s-related tremors and similar issues with motor coordination. Slowing Disease Progression Parkinson’s disease has…

Senior Care is Key Election Issue in Canada

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Canada’s premiers have a new platform that’s garnering more and more attention as elections approach: senior care. In the wake of study published in January that revealed medical treatment of elderly Canadians is lacking compared to other developed countries, Canada’s premiers have sought to place senior care in the limelight. This is no doubt in part due to academics protesting new changes to federal healthcare funding– changes that essentially punish provinces whose populations are mainly comprised of elderly adults. The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s How Canada Compares report showed that Canadians aged 55+ wait longer for healthcare than their counterparts in eleven other equivalent countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Over 50 percent of elderly patients wait…

Music Therapy & Positive Effects for Seniors with Dementia

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Does your loved one with dementia have trouble interacting with you and the rest of the world? Does he or she find it difficult to complete simple daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating? According to dementia and Alzheimer’s care specialists, music therapy may be able to help. What is Music Therapy? Music therapy is the clinical use of music to help a patient reach his or her individual goals, and is a program that is carried out by a credentialed music therapist. A music therapist will work with your loved one to assess current abilities, determine needs and see what types of music and which exercises may be able to help. Benefits of Music Therapy for Dementia Patients…

The Impact of Stress on Senior Health

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Stress is commonly attributed to hectic work and family schedules in adults. However, despite the fact that a senior’s schedule may be “slowing down,” this doesn’t mean that the adults in this age group are any less stressed. As a local Vancouver home care agency, our caregivers have seen how stress can impact a senior’s daily life. From concerns about finances to changes in physical abilities, life after retirement is often filled with many unknowns that can result in feelings of stress and anxiety. While our caregivers assist seniors with daily activities to help minimize stress by promoting independence and stability, it’s important that families learn more about the impact of stress on senior health, and how they can look…

The Best Foods for Senior Diabetics

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Seniors need to consume fewer calories since metabolism tends to slow with age. At the same time, older adults also need essential nutrients like calcium and vitamins B, C and D. Throw diabetes into the mix, and seniors are faced with a difficult balancing act when it comes to the foods they can – and should – eat. Knowing that diabetes is a prevalent problem among seniors, the live-in and hourly Vancouver caregivers from Home Care Assistance share some of the best foods for seniors with diabetes. Knowing this information can help you better care for your loved one with diabetes. Fruits and Vegetables Bright fruits (apples, oranges, berries) tend to have more essential nutrients and are low in fat…

Handling Dementia-Related Agitation

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Seniors who have dementia often experience episodes of agitation as their condition progresses. Impaired cognitive functioning leads the older individual into falsely perceiving reality, which oftentimes can lead to aberrant behavior. If you provide home care for a senior loved one with dementia, recognizing factors that may be triggering agitation can help you implement strategies that can provide feelings of safety and prevent or diminish the behaviors. Encouraging Rest Agitation in older adults with dementia is often triggered by physical factors. Fatigue can precipitate events, and people who consume foods and drinks that contain caffeine or high amounts of sugar tend to experience an increase in agitation. If a senior is suffering from insomnia, the physician may want to prescribe…

Why Families Fight about Senior Care

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Every family has its share of conflicts, and sibling rivalry can continue on indefinitely into older adulthood. When issues arise about caring for parents as they age, strong personalities tend to take over and old, unresolved problems can become exacerbated. Disagreements about who should care for the parents and how it should be done are the most common dilemmas that create conflict. At Home Care Assistance Vancouver, we understand the challenges that families and siblings face when providing care for aging parents. Along with offering families support and reliable in-home care in Vancouver, we wanted to share a bit of insight as to why families fight about senior care. Knowing some of the common topics of disagreement may help you…

Home Care Assistance Receives 2015 Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice Award

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Media Contact: Kathryn Zakskorn Director of Franchise Marketing 650-462-9501 [email protected]homecareassistance.com Home Care Assistance Vancouver is recognized for the third year as one of the top home care agencies in the country based on client satisfaction Vancouver, BC – February 12, 2015 – Home Care Assistance Vancouver, a leading provider of in-home care for seniors, is honored to be recognized as a 2015 Best of Home Care Provider of Choice. This prestigious award is given to home care providers who rank in the top 50th percentile in one or more client satisfaction categories, based on monthly satisfaction interviews conducted by Home Care Pulse. “The Best of Home Care Awards recognize the leading home care businesses, the best of the best!” says Home…