Understanding
Senior Care

8 Ways to Deal with Caregiver Stress

From our Care Blog

It can be overwhelming to take care of a loved one who is aging or one living with cognitive problems or a disability. Too much stress can be harmful to you and to the one in your care. It’s important to recognize the signs of caregiver stress and to put actions in place to manage and reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Signs of caregiver stress As a caregiver, you are “on call” almost all the time. This ongoing demand can make you become so focused on the loved one in your care, that you forget about yourself. You put...

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What Makes a Healthy Brain?

From our Care Blog

The human brain is a powerful organ. It controls how we remember, learn, play and concentrate. Practicing brain-strengthening habits every day keeps your mind sharp and can help prevent or delay cognition problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Here are six tips that could help you maintain a healthier brain and improve brain function. Exercise daily. Spend at least 30 minutes most days doing some type of activity that gets your heart pumping. Focus on a combination of cardio exercises, strength training, flexibility, and balance. Make sure you are doing activities you enjoy so that you...

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Personal or Companion Care: Which is Better?

From our Care Blog

“Sometimes asking for help is the most meaningful example of self-reliance.”— Unknown If you are caring for a loved one, whether it’s an aging parent who needs help around the home or a family member with a disability, there may come a time when you - as the family caregiver - need an extra helping hand with personal and companion care. Enlisting the help of non-medical home care and hiring a caregiver to deliver personal and companion care services can be the next step in providing respite and peace of mind for you. But home care can include such a...

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What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?

From our Care Blog

April is National Stress Awareness Month. Most people are under some level stress due to everyday life situations, and our family caregiver is not immune. In fact, caregiver burnout is more common than most families think. WebMD defines caregiver burnout as a “state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned”. Caregivers often burn the candle at both ends. They are so busy caring for their aging loved one and their own family members that they tend to neglect themselves. The demands on a...

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Why Family Caregivers Should Consider Joining a Support Group

From our Care Blog

Caring for a family loved one can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming. The family caregiver is only human, and they need both emotional and practical support to maintain a healthy self. Joining a local support group is one solution to help the family caregiver feel less isolated, and it provides the opportunity to be around people who know exactly what they’re going through. The benefits of joining a support group. Research has shown that participating in caregiver support groups has many benefits and can significantly improve the quality of life for the caregiver and their...

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Why It's Important to Manage Caregiver Stress

From our Care Blog

Family caregivers face a lot of stress. Many work full-time jobs and raise their own families on top of the responsibilities of looking after their aging parent. The demands of the job can take both a physical and mental toll on even the most resilient people, leaving them drained and exhausted. In order to be more patient and available, it’s important to keep caregiver stress within manageable boundaries. These tips reveal why it’s important for family caregivers to lower their stress levels and how to do so every day. Why is stress bad? While a little stress is natural, too...

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The Effects of Dementia on Caregivers and Families

From our Care Blog

Hiring a FirstLight in-home caregiver can help minimize the effects of dementia on caregivers and ensure peace of mind for everyone.

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The Difference Between Home Care and Home Health Care

From our Care Blog

Home care or home health care? This is a question we get asked frequently. There are quite a few differences between home care and home health care. Here we explain some of those difference so that you may determine what might be best for your loved one. And remember, oftentimes a combination of home care and home health services might be necessary and can go a long way to help improve one’s quality of life. Home care keeps individuals safe and comfortable in the place they call home. When an adult needs assistance with the activities of daily living, or...

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What is Respite Care and Why is it Needed?

From our Care Blog

Caregiving is a full-time job, and respite care is the means to provide relief for the caregiver. It is an ideal solution to give busy and often overstressed family caregivers the opportunity to relax, decompress, and re-energize while their loved one - an elderly parent, a family member living with a disability or a loved one recovering from recent surgery – continues to receive the care they need. Respite care is important for the health and well-being of the family caregiver to ensure that they can continue to provide care for their loved one. Respite care includes a variety of...

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How Smartwatches Are Changing the Face of the Medical Alert Industry

From our Care Blog

Smartwatches offer unique benefits over traditional medical alert devices Medical alert devices can be lifesaving for seniors who find themselves in an emergency situation. They also can reduce stress and anxiety for caregivers by providing peace of mind that a loved one will be able to get the help they need after an accident or injury. There are numerous medical alert systems on the market today, the majority of which are traditional in-home units and mobile options for more active seniors. In recent years, some companies have started offering smartwatch-style devices, which offer a fresh alternative for caregivers looking to...

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