How much weight do you think you can lift? Maybe 50 or 60 pounds at a time? The National Institute on Occupational Safety and Hazards states that one person should not lift more than 35 pounds when moving another person on their own. You may know that you are not able to physically lift your loved one and worry about what you will do when they need your help. It is important to know how to move another person without hurting yourself. When you take on the responsibility of caregiving for a loved one, you can face many unique challenges. There may be situations you have never considered before ..read more

While no one dreams of a trip to the hospital, sometimes it’s necessary. If and when this happens, there are many things we can do to make the hospital stay more comfortable and less stressful while encouraging a rapid recovery.  Remember, if you can’t head home from the hospital right away, the benefit of remaining there for recovery includes continuous support from nurses, care assistants, and daily face time with the physician. Yes, it’s true that hospitals aren’t very conducive to a restful time. During a hospital stay, it’s common to: Be awoken in the middle of the night for medica ..read more

By Kyrié Carpenter Thoughts of winter holidays come with brainstorming presents for loved ones. If one or more of your loved ones is living with dementia knowing the perfect gift can be challenging. At its best, a gift is a way of showing a dear one how we see them and reminding them of our care throughout the year.  Eminent dementia researcher Tom Kitwood, quoted throughout, identified five core psychological needs. We will let them be our gift-giving guide. His work focused on improving the quality of life and care for people living with dementia. Yet, his wisdom is not exclusive to th ..read more

By: Kyrié Carpenter Do you have a family member who is bright and doing a good job managing their day-to-day, but seem to forget things like, “Did I eat breakfast today?” or “What is your name?” If this sounds like your loved one, it’s possible that he or she may be experiencing what is called MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment). If you couldn’t find your car keys this morning, do not panic. As ageism activist Ashton Applewhite says, “When we lost our car keys as teenagers, we did not call it a junior moment.” All of us, at every age, have forgetful moments.  Globally, only 6% of people in th ..read more

Is the caregiving role a two-way street? While caring for a loved one, caregivers must also care for themselves. As any caregiver can attest to, caregiving can be a huge job. Helping and supporting aging loved ones physically, emotionally, mentally and financially involves assuming unfamiliar responsibilities, balancing time and coping during loss – all issues that can be immensely difficult to manage. Throughout this time, it’s vital to recognize that aging loved ones aren’t the only ones needing care …. your own health must also be a priority. Caregivers can feel immense obligation when cari ..read more

If you or someone you love has a diagnosis of dementia, you are probably feeling overwhelmed. This is not your fault. Our world is ill-equipped to support those with different cognitive and physical limitations. One of the single most important things you can do to help create a dementia-inclusive home. According to AARP’s policy book, “The physical features of a residence can be critical to a person’s ability to age in place. Unfortunately, much of the nation’s current housing stock may prove inappropriate as the population ages …accessibility features permit people to age in place rather tha ..read more

It just happened so suddenly. This is what many of us say when we fall. It is unexpected and jarring. One minute you are on your feet and then in the next second, you are down. Often you can experience traumatic injury in that one second. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fatal falls in older adults are on the rise. Falls are now the leading cause of injury in Americans over the age of 65. You can probably think of a loved one who has recently been injured in a fall. It could be a friend who slipped on black ice or a loved one who fell coming out of the shower an ..read more

As we grow older it is nice to have a trusted and educated advocate to help guide ourselves and our family through the stages when we might need more questions answered. Aging Life Care Professionals, also known as Geriatric Care Managers, can work with the client and their families to reduce stress and give expert advice when questions arise, guiding and helping the families build an aging life care plan that can put everyone at ease. Working with an expert such as an Aging Life Care Professional when creating an Aging Life Care Plan can help take the stress off issues such as: Financial Que ..read more

Holidays are a great way to get an aging adult involved in family traditions and this definitely includes the 4th of July. Everyone likes to feel included and having your family member join in on the July 4th celebration is a great way to brighten the festivities.  Follow these easy helpful senior care tips for 4th of July celebrations to ensure everyone has a great time and enjoys the day.  ~ Make sure you have plenty of beverages on hand to beat the heat. As we all know, July can be a hot month. Make sure to limit sun exposure for your aging loved one and keep them hydrated through ..read more

Eldercare Services is going through a transition, as am I, as the founder of this fantastic organization, led by professionals, who only care about one thing: the “quality of our client’s lives”. Graduating from High School is one of the first major life transitions that we as adults make. We leave the safety of having our needs met on most levels, and not having to worry about rent or most other expenses, to facing new challenges as individuals. There is also the emotional transition of going from child to young adult and having the expectation that you are instantly a responsible person. It ..read more