Understanding
Senior Care

Caregiver Burnout VS. Compassion Fatigue

From our Care Blog

For many, it’s hard to tell the difference between caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue, but there is a difference. Compassion fatigue occurs initially when caregivers cannot remove themselves from their loved one’s condition long enough to recover from the stress they feel when attending to another person’s needs. The caregiver can feel trapped and overwhelmed and can experience guilt, trauma, and depression. Compassion fatigue can come on suddenly and often includes: Exhaustion (physical and/or emotional) Feelings of dread or guilt Irritability, anxiety or anger Difficulty sleeping Difficulty making decisions Feeling disconnected Trouble finding meaning in caregiving Self-isolation Caregiver burnout, however,...

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Activities Seniors Can Do at Home

From our Care Blog

If you’re caring for a senior at home and venturing out less in order to keep them - and you - safe and healthy, we know it may be difficult to keep them entertained and engaged. But do not fear! Thanks to some excellent sources out there, we found tons of activities you can do with your loved one while you’re social distancing and staying indoors. Some of these may also be fun for the kiddos who need a break from their non-traditional school work. Take a Virtual Tour Zoos, aquariums, museums, and theme parks are offering virtual tours. Seniors can...

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Top Challenges When Caring For An Elderly Family Member

From our Care Blog

A family caregiver will spend more than 24 hours a week providing care to a loved one, although many will report spending more than 40 hours per week on caregiving duties, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving study in 2019. Family caregiving can be a genuinely rewarding experience, but it can also come with challenges. FirstLight Home Care has been serving local communities for the last 10 years and we have found that caregivers face these common top challenges when caring for elderly family members: Financial burden. Some of the financial consequences of supporting aging parents include the need...

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Our Commitment to You: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

From our Care Blog

There is no doubt we are in unprecedented times. With the ongoing and increased uncertainty of coronavirus (COVID-19), and the tremendous speed in which things are changing, caring for our clients, families, caregivers and team members continues to be our top priority. We want to ensure you that every member of our FirstLight family is informed daily of what is happening around us. And we are prepared for these types of situations. FirstLight® Home Care continues to actively monitor the progression of coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure that we have the most accurate, updated information. The infection control practices we have...

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How Coronavirus Could Affect Seniors

From our Care Blog

We have been closely following Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates and reports from the CDC, the World Health Organization and other state and local entities, and our thoughts have undeniably been with all those affected. Recent news of the virus starting to spread in the U.S. is unsettling. While it's natural to worry and wonder what could happen if the spread of the virus gets worse, it's also important not to panic… but instead to be armed with helpful information from the experts. Of course, we at FirstLight Home Care are deeply committed to the health, safety and well-being of all our clients,...

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5 Surprising Ways Stress Can Impact Senior Health

From our Care Blog

Everyone experiences stress to some degree. Yet, it can be a silent factor of overall well-being, especially for seniors. Often, senior stress can mask itself in a number of ways, and cause serious issues that may be attributed to other senior health issues. Therefore, it’s important for seniors and their caregivers to understand the symptoms of stress, as well as the different ways to address and prevent it. Overeating When people get stressed, their body releases cortisol, a hormone that readies the body for a fight or flight response. This is why appetite increases during stressful situations: the body is...

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WHAT ARE THE EARLY SIGNS OF HEART DISEASE?

From our Care Blog

Heart disease describes a variety of conditions that affect your heart. The Mayo Clinic places heart disease under an umbrella of different types of heart or cardiovascular diseases, including blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects one is born with (congenital heart defects), among others. Early signs of heart disease depend on what type you have. And, these diseases and symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain; women are more likely to have other symptoms along with chest discomfort, such as...

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How to Help Your Parents Safely Manage Their Medications

From our Care Blog

Your parents may be taking multiple medications throughout the day and it can be easy for a mix-up to happen. Studies conducted by the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists have reported that 87% of seniors take at least one prescription drug, while 36% take 5 or more; and 38% use over-the-counter medications. Taking medicine correctly is essential to your older adult’s health and wellness! That’s why helping your parents with medication management is so important. Understanding what your parent is taking will help to avoid common medication mistakes like taking the wrong drug, missing doses, or taking more than prescribed....

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Common Causes of Vision Loss in Older Adults

From our Care Blog

January is National Eye Care and National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Vision changes can occur as you get older. Based on statistical data from the American Optometric Association, approximately 142 million U.S. citizens age 40 and older have vision problems. It is important to know the most common age-related eye and vision problems, the signs and potential treatment options in order to retain good vision as you age. GLAUCOMA is a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in loss of peripheral (side) vision. It often affects both eyes, typically one eye before the other. If...

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Prevent Falls in Seniors with These Home Safety Tips

From our Care Blog

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. The facts are alarming: Ninety-five percent of the 250,000 hip fractures that occur annually are the result of a fall. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room due to a fall. Every 19 minutes an older adult will die from a fall. However, falls are often preventable. Our team at FirstLight Home Care has outlined the most common causes of falls in the elderly, as well as what to do to...

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