If your aging loved one wants to maintain their independence by living at home, their safety is no doubt a concern for you. According to the National Council on Aging, one in four older Americans falls every year. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among people over 65. You want your mother or father to be safe. Safety is one of our top priorities at FootPrints In-Home Care, here are some of our tips for making sure your senior’s home is safe.

Caring for aging seniors is a job that requires compassion, dedication, and hard work. While it’s a challenging job, caring for the elderly is rewarding. If you are considering a caregiver career with FootPrints In-Home Care, here are some reasons to fill out that application!

When your loved one requires care and assistance with daily activities, you no doubt want to look into all of your options to provide them with the best care. You may begin to look into assisted living, in-home care, and other options to find the highest quality care within your budget. At FootPrints In-Home Care, we pride ourselves on making superior care accessible and affordable. Here’s a cost comparison of our services in contrast with other care options.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) causes a slight decline in cognitive ability. Family and close friends may notice differences as a senior ages. Once sharp and easily able to recall information, a senior may find that their memory is slipping. To some extent, this is a normal age-related change, but in some cases, mild cognitive impairment can progress to dementia. The caregivers at FootPrints In-Home Care have experience working with dementia clients and seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Here are the main differences:

As your aging loved one’s care needs increase, you may realize that you can’t do it all on your own. As much as you want to be there for them 24/7, obligations and responsibilities prevent most of us from providing round the clock care to our elderly parents or family members. Hiring an in-home caregiver is an excellent solution for many families that want to make sure that their senior is cared for and able to live a satisfying, independent life, but selecting a caregiver can be an overwhelming task. You want to choose a caregiver that will care for your loved one as much as you do. At FootPrints In-Home Care, we hire only the best caregivers. Here’s what we look for in the caregivers that work for us, you’ll find that these are the qualities you want in the person caring for your senior:

Caring for someone with dementia can be demanding. As much as you care for your aging family member, memory loss can make communication difficult and frustrating. Understanding what your loved one is going through and modifying how you speak with them however, can make communicating with them easier and more enjoyable for the both of you. The caregivers at FootPrints Home Care have extensive experience in providing medical and companion care to seniors, we’re experts in communicating with those who have dementia, here are some of our simple communication tips:

If you’re caring for an aging family member, their comfort is likely top of mind. You want your loved one to be happy and comfortable, but now that the weather’s warming up, an issue for many seniors is arthritis. Hotter temperatures can aggravate arthritis and make summer unbearable! FootPrints Home Care provides these tips on how to deal with the heat:

FootPrints Home Care has done it again! We’re proud to announce that we’ve received the Top Work Place 2017 award. FootPrints is dedicated not only to providing excellent care and service to the clients and families we work with, but also to creating an environment where our employees know that they are valued and appreciated. Our employees are important to us, and we are always going out of our way to make sure they love coming to work every day.

Your mother or father has saved enough for retirement, but have they saved enough to cover the cost of long-term care if there’s a possibility they might need it? The majority of adults over 65 will require some sort of long-term care services at some point in their life, whether it’s in-home care or accommodations in an assisted living community. FootPrints Home Care knows that the cost of senior care can be astounding if you aren’t prepared for it, so we’d like to offer some helpful information about long-term care insurance. Here’s what you need to know!

Everyone knows that exercising is good for you, but did you know that exercise can actually reverse some of the physiological signs of aging? A recent recent study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, suggests that working out may counteract some of the cellular damage we experience as a result of aging. Even at 70 or 80, it’s a great idea for seniors to stay busy. FootPrints Home Care encourages seniors to stay active and our caregivers enjoy spending time with seniors, helping them with their daily activities.

Talking to mom or dad about aging can be an overwhelming and stressful conversation to have. Your aging parent may resist the fact that they now need assistance with their daily activities - no one wants to lose their sense of independence. But openly discussing in-home care with your elderly loved one can be easier than you think if you know how to approach it. At FootPrints Home Care, we’ve compiled these tips to make this subject easier to breach.

According to a 2012 study published in the US National Library of Medicine, loneliness in older persons is a common source of distress and suffering, and can negatively affect daily living and overall health. The study also showed that nearly half of people over 60 feel lonely.

You’ve determined that it’s just not feasible for your aging mom or dad to continue living alone. You want them to be safe, and they want their independence, but it’s clear they need help going about their daily activities. Living at home alone is no longer an option. Many families struggle with the decision to put mom or dad in an assisted living community or to seek in-home care. At FootPrints, we understand that every situation is unique and that you and your family need to decide what’s best for your aging parent. If you are trying to weigh your options, here are some factors to consider.

As a clinical supervisor at FootPrints Home Care, Kathy Wagner ensures that every caregiver is upholding FootPrints high standards of professionalism, compassion, and care. She came to FootPrints with 25 years of experience in nursing. Kathy loves working at FootPrints and recommends home care to other nurses that are looking for a flexible and fulfilling career path.

FootPrints Home Care is honored to announce that we’ve recently received the 2017 Best of Home Care Provider of Choice award. We work hard to provide the best in medical and non-medical care to all of our clients, as well as a pleasant and positive atmosphere for our nurses and caregivers. We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to our clients and our employees!