Understanding
Senior Care

A Great Gift For Your Aging Parents

From our Care Blog

Because we live in Denver, to say it is cold in the winter is an understatement. Of course, due to frigid temperatures and cars that sit outside, it’s exactly the time of year our batteries seems to go dead.  Go figure. As I watched me elderly father try to jump his battery in the freezing cold, a brilliant thought hit me … why not give him a gift membership to AAA? I am always looking for gifts for my aging parents and I am often stuck for ideas. I have a basic AAA membership which costs me only $75/year and...

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Being a Long Distance Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Caring for aging parents can be difficult, and when you live thousands of miles away, it can come with a whole new set of complications.  How do I make sure they are cared for properly?  How will I respond to (or even know about) medical emergencies?  How will I know if they pay their bills on time? These questions can eat away at you; worse yet, you can’t visit them whenever you wish to calm your fears.  If you are worried about your parents' well being far away, read our tips below to calm these fears and provide the best...

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How To Work With The Nursing Home Caring for Your Elderly Parent

From our Care Blog

Taking the step to move your parents to a nursing home is very much like sending your child to the first day of school.  There are mixed emotions, as you are so excited for your loved one to be cared for by professionals, the worry of losing control also sets in.  More importantly, the worry of your loved ones safety is always a concern and rightfully so. Once you have decided on a place fit for your parents’ needs, it is important to stay involved in their care but to also begin to trust those tending to your  parents.  Most...

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Coping With The Loss Of A Parent

From our Care Blog

Losing a parent is a traumatic experience and hiding under your blankets may sound like the best idea for you…or simply wish that it all went away.  However, we all know that this may work short-term, but it is important to have long-term plans on how to cope with the loss of a parent.  The most important thing to remember is that everyone grieves differently.  You can find a million and one ways to cope and grieve but it is important to find coping skills that work for you.  Also, be aware that your coping skills may be different than other...

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How to be the Best Long-Distance Caregiver

From our Care Blog

Caring for loved ones from far away isn’t always an easy task. Many times, they need stay-at-home care that can’t be given from miles away. Sometimes you can feel helpless not being able to provide personal home care for those in your life who need it the most. Know that these feelings are valid, and you are not alone. In fact, there are about 7 million Americans providing long-distance home care to their loved ones. Like you, they are in charge of arranging doctor appointments, coordinating all the healthcare and insurance, working full time and taking care of their own families....

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Knowing Your Parent's Last Wishes

From our Care Blog

Talking with your parents about their last wishes can be a touchy subject. Chances are, it’s harder on you than them! It’s a subject that can’t be avoided, however, because there are some very important financial and emotional implications. The more you plan ahead -- before someone is in a hospital bed or incapacitated – the better. A study by the Hartford insurance company revealed that seniors are much more comfortable discussing estate planning than their boomer kids are! The study also revealed that 70-something year-old parents are more financially savvy when it comes to protecting their children and grandkids financially than boomers realize. They’re also more open...

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How to Reduce Your Stress Over the Holiday Season

From our Care Blog

We all look forward to Christmas, right?  It is a day of relaxing, possibly watching the annual Christmas parade and/or football, eating too much yummy food, being thankful for all that we have and being surrounded by family and friends. Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be in a perfect world. But, we all know that holidays aren’t perfect and neither are our families. Unfortunately, there can be a lot stress that comes with the holidays too.  For one, traveling (whether it’s by car or plane) can be taxing on one’s patience, especially if there are kids involved.  And, as much...

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2012 Best Holiday Gifts For Seniors

From our Care Blog

It’s that time of year again when I rack my brain for what to get my parents and loved ones for the holidays. If I ask them what they want. I get the standard reply: “nothing, I have everything I want”. So I decided to do some research on the Internet to find out what’s hot, what’s new, and some standard tried and trues. I knew that I wanted a gift that would keep them engaged and active. Definitely no dust collectors as our family home is chock full of doo dads and mementos! Wii. Who said video games are...

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Home Care For the Holidays

From our Care Blog

When we talk about home care at FirstLight Homecare, we are usually referring to our home healthcare services. However, as the holidays are upon us, I began to think of the other “home care” services I could get my parents for the holidays. Every year I wrestle over what to get my parents. They are in their late 70s and have virtually everything they want. They live in the same home I grew up in and if I even mention the word “upgrade” or “remodel”, they shush me. My Mom likes her well-worn furniture, because it is comfortable. And that’s...

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The Sandwich Generation...The New Normal?

From our Care Blog

Have you heard of the term “The Sandwich Generation?”  Well, if you haven’t up until now, then you’ll probably start to hear it more and more.  Heck, you might even be a member of The Sandwich Generation and you don’t even know it. It’s a term that I find extremely accurate and descriptive once you understand the context of which it’s used.  So what exactly does it mean? The Sandwich Generation is a generation of people who care for their agingparents while supporting their own children. Dorothy A. Miller coined the term “sandwich generation” back in 1981, and Carol Abaya has...

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