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Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Seniors

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In this post, I want to talk to you about Coconut’s Health Benefits.
The oil of the coconut offers a wide range of nutritional and health benefits which include everything from lowering cholesterol,
reducing the risk of heart disease, promoting weight loss, helping to maintain a target weight, boosting energy levels, increasing the metabolic rate and preventing wrinkles.
It also contains lauric acid, a powerful antiviral and antibacterial agent, which is believed to be a valuable in preventing routine illness and boosting the immune system. All great benefits for us, especially for baby boomers and our senior clients.
It contains calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium and a whole host of vitamins, the coconut is a real powerhouse which can be safely added to most people’s diets,
So how can you reap the benefits of Coconut Oil.
I use coconut oil in the morning to make a scrambled egg.  My wife puts a tablespoon in her smoothies, and my sister takes a tablespoon straight.(not for me)   I have also heard people add a teaspoon to their Coffee or oatmeal.
So, as busy as you are, be sure to take time and keep learning! Until next time this is …Kurt Hjelle with Safe at Home Healthcare.

Home Care in Naperville, IL Helps Seniors Remember to Take Their Medications

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As people grow older, their bodies start to develop complications. For the majority of these complications, there is a medication that will either fix the problems or at least alleviate the symptoms. If you look in the medicine cabinet of a 30 year old person, it may contain a couple of over the counter medications such as aspirin. If you look in the medicine cabinet of a senior, you will more than likely see a different story altogether.

Seniors typically take more medication for problems such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol issues as well as many other conditions. It is also normal to see medications for pain management as a person ages. Family members sometimes have to make the difficult and painful decision to move their loved ones into an assisted living facility when they are no longer able to manage their own medications. Sometimes, this is the only reason they must change their residences.

There are other alternatives which will leave both the senior as well as the immediate family feeling much better. A home care companion is a trained professional who routinely comes into the senior’s home to assist with duties that the senior can no longer do on his or her own. These duties can include cleaning, cooking and helping the senior with activities and errands outside the home.

One of the most valuable duties that a home care companion can assist in is medication reminders. If a senior takes medication twice a day, a home care companion can be there to make sure the senior remembers to take exactly what has been prescribed. Another benefit to having a home care companion assist a senior in this way is to help manage pharmacy refills. Some seniors may forget to call the pharmacy or the doctor for a refill, but a home care companion monitors every prescription to ensure that not even one dose is missed.

If the senior needs to go to the doctor before a refill can be given, a home care companion can also assist with this duty. This allows family members to have peace of mind in knowing that their loved one is being taken care of. Rather than juggling schedules to ensure that someone is at the senior’s home every time a medication must be taken, family members can now spend quality time with their loved one at a time that is convenient for everyone.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Naperville, IL. For more information about home care call us at (888) 703-5287.

Home Care Services in Oswego, IL Can Relieve Caregiver Stress

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Nothing can be quite as stressful as being a caretaker for someone who needs frequent assistance from a family member to live independently. Often aging parents require some kind of assistance around the house, too go shopping, or make medical appointments. However, licensed home care services can take some of the burden off family members or friends who are feeling the pinch of too many demands and not enough time.

Symptoms of caregiver stress include:

• Frustration and anger;

• Guilt because you may have to spread yourself too thin and it doesn’t seem like you can do anything as well as you’d like;

• Lonely because you have less time for a social life; and

• Exhaustion because you are too busy and don’t have enough time for your own needs.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the responsibility of providing more support than you have time for, it may be time to research what options exist for home health care and personal assistance.

Almost all communities have some kind help for the elderly or disabled, whether they’re community-sponsored or come from private health agencies. Medicare and Medicaid provide some limited benefits, while private insurers may have a wider scope. Meals and Wheels has meal delivery programs in many locations across the U.S., and other public agencies direct caregivers to local supporting agencies that provide specialized caretaking services for a specific clientele.

A licensed home care provider typically does full background checks before bringing on new employees, and these companies are often bonded and insured. They can take people shopping, to doctor visits, help with cleaning and cooking, or simply provide companionship for someone confined at home. You can turn some or all of the chores that you’ve been doing over to a care giver, or just those that you’re uncomfortable providing or don’t have the time to do.

Taking some of the burden off you may be enough to remove the caregiver stress you feel, whether it’s in the short term or for the foreseeable future. In any case, reaching out for support from home care agencies is the first step to living a more balanced, enjoyable life when you have many responsibilities for another.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your home care services including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing home care services in Oswego, IL. For more information about home care services call us at (888) 703-5287.

Home Care in Aurora, IL During the Holidays: Should You Give a Gift to Your Caregiver?

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With the holidays approaching, people who receive home care service may wonder if it is appropriate to give their caregiver a gift.

In fact, there is no set protocol for giving gifts to caregivers on special occasions. Some people feel comfortable buying a present for their home care workers; others believe that giving a gift is inappropriate and too intimate of an action. Ultimately, it is up to each client to decide whether or not he or she wants to give the caregiver a present for the holidays. If they do decide to buy a present, they may enjoy knowing that they do not have to buy something fancy or expensive to convey their appreciation for the caretaker’s services.

Sometimes it is the simplest of gifts that show a person’s genuine gratitude for this worker’s care.

Because a caregiver spends hours each day helping others, this individual might enjoy receiving a gift certificate to a local salon or spa. He or she can get a haircut, pedicure, massage, or some other service to make him or her feel better. These gift certificates generally do not cost a lot, but provide the gift’s recipient with hours of enjoyment.

Likewise, caregivers may enjoy receiving gift cards to their favorite stores or restaurants.

Gift cards can usually be purchased for any dollar amount and are good for up to a year after they are purchased. People who get gift cards for the holidays enjoy using these gifts at their convenience and at places they prefer. Clients who want to show their gratitude may choose to buy a card to their caretakers’ favorite restaurant or retail store.

If they want to give a present that can be wrapped up in gift paper, people might consider buying their caregivers favorite shampoo, cologne, or other body care product. Such a present shows that the client has taken effort to choose something that will appeal to the caretaker and that this present is something that can be enjoyed outside of work. Similarly, during the winter months, people’s hands and faces become dry because of the cold weather. Clients may buy lotions for their caregivers to use to take care of their skin during the winter months.

Giving a caregiver a gift during the holidays can be a way to appreciation for this home care worker’s services. The gifts can be simple and affordable.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Aurora, IL. For more information about home care call us at (888) 703-5287.

Elder Care in Lisle, IL: November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

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November marks National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Whether this disease has affected you personally or you know of someone who is currently a caretaker of someone with the disease, it can be a difficult situation to deal with at times. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 69 seconds.

That means that nearly 15 million family member and friends are currently providing unpaid elder care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases. The disease also goes beyond just memory loss. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States today.

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month works to provide the information people need to help better take care of those already diagnosed.

The awareness campaign also provides information for people who may suspect that a friend or loved one may be suffering from the disease. The organization provides a range of resources, from what you need to discuss after a diagnosis to educational programs for those who provide elder care.

When you want to support the efforts of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, there are a number of things you can do.

The easiest action you can take is a make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. If you also have some time to give, you can volunteer at your local chapter, participate in fundraisers held throughout the year or volunteer for a clinical trial as a healthy control subject. This is the only way that advancements in Alzheimer’s treatments can be made.

If you are passionate about the rights of Alzheimer’s patients and their caretakers, you can also become an advocate for the cause. You can help to find new ways to speak up for the rights of these patients so they can get better care and their caretakers can get the support they need.

The Alzheimer’s Association runs various activities and fundraisers throughout the year, but puts a special emphasis on getting the word out during the month of November to support all that are going through this disease as well as honoring those who give their time to assist them every single day.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your elder care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Lisle, IL. For more information about elder care call us at (888) 703-5287.

November is National Family Caregivers Month – Time to Celebrate Family Caregivers in Naperville, IL!

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In the United States, there are 65 million unsung heroes. These heroes take care of the sick and disabled. They do this not for money or recognition but for love. These heroes are family caregivers, and November is their month to shine.

During Thanksgiving week in 1994, a celebration began to recognize these hard-working, dedicated family members who care for their loved ones nonstop. Then, in 1997, President Clinton signed a bill proclaiming the entire month of November as National Family Caregivers Month. This tradition has been carried out every year since then to salute these courageous and important members of any patient’s healthcare team.

A family caregiver is of the utmost importance when it comes to their loved one’s care. He or she spends the most time with a patient, ensuring treatments and medicines are carried out as needed. The caregiver also acts as an advocate for his or her charge, being in the best position to know what is best for the patient. After all, this person is not just another patient. This person is someone he or she loves.

In recognition of these home-front heroes, the month of November is dedicated to them. During this time of celebration, awareness of caregiver issues is highlighted. It is also a time of educational opportunities, not only for the caregiver but also for the public. And providing support for these vital members of a person’s healthcare team is of key importance. They are made aware that they are not alone, but there are millions just like them in this country going through many of the same issues and trials.

Most people in the United States know at least one family caregiver, if not more. These kind, dedicated, and loving people give there all year round to take care of their loved ones. During the month of November, be sure to give a pat on the back or a round of applause to these unsung heroes who work day and night to care for, protect, and love their sick or disabled family members. They have most definitely earned the praise and recognition.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing caregivers in Naperville, IL. For more information about caregivers call us at (888) 703-5287.

Senior Care in Oswego, IL: Open Enrollment for Medicare –Now through Dec 7, 2012

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Medicare provides senior care coverage for millions of older Americans. The program offers a variety of coverage selections through the various “Parts” of the program and through advantage policies. These plans offer a combination of the Medicare coverage with private insurances.

Medicare beneficiaries can review and change their Medicare plans from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, each year.

Know Your Current Plan

You may not have had any problems with your current Medicare coverage, but that doesn’t mean it is the best option for you. Know what is covered by your current coverage and what your responsibilities are for co-pays or deductibles. Know what you pay in premiums and what you pay out of pocket for medical care. This can include prescription drug costs and coverage for non-covered services as well as deductibles.

Research Other Options

Would a small increase in premiums result in a large reduction in health care costs you pay? Check, for example, what coverage is available for prescription drugs you take? Medicare representatives can create a report containing the costs and benefits of various insurance products if you supply them with a list of your drug prescriptions. Ask questions about participating doctors and clinics. Some Medicare Advantage plans limit which physicians a patient can visit.

The staff at the local Medicare office can provide reports based on your location. You may want to research coverage costs and benefits for multiple locations if you reside in different parts of the country during the year. This is of particular importance to northern residents who travel south for the winter.

The other variable is difficult to predict. What medical problems will you suffer next year? Will you need senior care services? Most Medicare recipients base their choices for next year’s coverage based on their current medical situation and prescription drugs. If you have reason to believe your medical condition will change, you may want to include that information in the Medicare decision process.

Make the Change

Once you determine which policy provides you with the best value in senior care make the change. This can be arranged through a representative of the company offering the Medicare Advantage Plan or through the Medicare representatives for standard Medicare coverage. Changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Oswego, IL. For more information about senior care call us at (888) 703-5287.

Learn More About Assistance for Caregivers in Wheaton, IL through the “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center Online”

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Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that generally affects elderly individuals over 60. It is the most common type of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia effect a person’s memory, visual perception, language skills and thought processes to the extent that they have a difficult time functioning. dementia can cause them to forget how to perform basic functions, such as getting dressed or eating.

Most patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia require total care, which means that their family members, spouses or others need to be with them at all hours of the day. Caring for patients with different forms of dementia can be emotionally and physically draining. Many people taking care of these patients feel overwhelmed and alone.

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center provides different tools for caregivers to get information and connect with others in similar situations.

Being a caregivers doesn’t always come naturally. The caregiver center looks to educate individuals on how to take care of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or another type of dementia.

On the website, people can find answers to common questions about Alzheimer’s Disease, tips for caring for someone with Dementia, advice on training resources and an online calendar for families taking care of dementia patients.

On the website, alz.org/care/overview.asp, a person caring for an Alzheimer’s patient can also find information about different stages of dementia; ways to take care of patients as they start to lose their ability to function and suggestions for caregivers to engage and entertain patients.

Caring for a patient with dementia or being in the early stages of dementia often causes a person to feel isolated or frightened. The center’s website features message boards where people taking care of patients or suffering from dementia can communicate with each other.

The forums provide special areas for patients, spouses and partners, young people with dementia and people who have lost loved ones. On the forums, people can reach out to others to talk, find out information, share poems or learn about recent clinical trials.

Sometimes people who care for dementia patients want to meet people experiencing similar challenges and emotions. The center’s website provides links to local Alzheimer’s and dementia support groups, where people can meet in person and chat with others who are also caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease.

During the support group meetings, people can talk about common issues, share their feelings and find out more about resources available to caregivers.

Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing caregivers in Wheaton, IL. For more information about our caregivers call us at (888) 703-5287.