Improve communication with someone you love by learning what people with Alzheimer’s want you to know. If you’ve ever wished you could look a senior with dementia in the eye and understand exactly what they’re thinking, we just might be able to help you with that! Communicating effectively with someone with dementia isn’t easy, especially as the disease progresses. Following are several statements provided by people with Alzheimer’s to give you some insight into what it feels like to live with the disease. You haven’t lost me. A diagnosis of dementia does impact a person in many ways, but i ..read more

“You are always free to choose what you do with your life. To make changes in your future, make new choices today.” – Brian Tracy Learn about the latest innovations in senior technology and how they can help someone you love. Selecting where to reside in our older years isn’t easy. Nearly all older adults prefer to remain at home for a lifetime, but it is not without challenges. Will it be safe? What about mobility issues or other physical limitations? What happens if the person falls and is unable get up? The good news is, there are a wide variety of solutions that make aging in place possi ..read more

It’s not easy to know how to help a loved one who is grieving, but these tips are a great place to start. In his documentary about grief, George Shelley uses an analogy of glitter. Toss a handful of glitter into the air, and it’s going to settle into all the cracks and crevices of the room, impossible to fully sweep up and remove. Those who have lost a loved one can relate. Yet in certain instances, grief could be so overwhelming that it could result in a serious and aptly named condition: broken heart syndrome. Broken heart syndrome is a very real physical condition from the intense stress ..read more

The Hired Hands Homecare team recently had the honor of celebrating Terra as our most recent Caregiver of the Month.  Terra is not only an amazing Caregiver, but an amazing person as well, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team. She is kind, professional and has a very gentle approach when working with our clients.  Terra has a strong background with disabled adults and does amazing with our dementia clients as well.  Terra is always willing to help, is a very good communicator and very reliable.  All of her clients think very highly of her and always express ..read more

Understanding the link between hearing loss and dementia is crucial to know the steps you can take to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Are you finding the need to turn the TV up louder for someone you love? Speaking more loudly? Repeating things the person missed hearing the first time? Hearing loss in older adults is not uncommon. But new scientific studies are pointing to a startling link between hearing loss and dementia. How Hearing and Cognitive Functioning Are Linked There are a number of hypotheses scientists are exploring to explain the connection between hearing loss and an inc ..read more

The Hired Hands Homecare team is very excited to celebrate Ms. Mere V. as our most recent Caregiver of the Month! We have had the pleasure of working with Mere for a little over a year now. She is a highly skilled Caregiver and is actively working as a member of both our Hospice and Demetia specialty teams. Mere provides extremely compassionate care for our clients and is always reliable- both of which make her an excellent Caregiver. She is professional, always willing to help, and is a great reporter- assuring that the entire care team is updated about her clients after each shift. All ..read more

The highest quality LGBTQ+ senior care begins with understanding and implementing cultural competence practices. As we strive to create compassionate and supportive environments for seniors, the concept of cultural competence takes center stage, particularly when addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in their later years. In the context of LGBTQ+ senior care, embracing cultural competence is essential to ensure that each person receives the respect and understanding they deserve as they navigate the intricacies of aging. What Is Cultural Competence? At its core, cultural competen ..read more

Older adults in the LGBTQ+ community face a number of hurdles that we all need to understand. When it comes to growing older, the experiences of seniors are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. Within this spectrum, older adults in the LGBTQ+ community often face unique challenges that warrant our attention and understanding. As a leading home care provider in Novato and the surrounding areas, we know that fostering inclusivity is crucial for providing support to all members of our community. It begins by understanding some of the hurdles specific to the LGBTQ+ population that need to be ..read more

If you’re feeling overloaded with caring for a loved one, we have three simple steps you can take to ease the strain. If today’s to-dos seem like a lot more than you are able to possibly squeeze into 24 short hours, you are not alone! Family caregivers frequently are feeling overloaded with caring for a loved one and the daily required tasks: Personal care and hygiene. Planning and preparing meals. Medical appointments. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the older adult. Shopping and other errands. Housework and laundry. And all of this is on top of meeting the require ..read more

Taking too much or too little of a medication or taking it the wrong way can lead to adverse medication reactions in seniors. The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have morphed into “take two of these…and two of these…and maybe one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of seniors are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. It is easy to understand why overmedication and adverse medication reactions in seniors are extremely common. Take these actions to avoid medication problems for someone you l ..read more