The FirstLight Care Corner

Holiday Presents Time to Assess Care Needs

From our Care Blog

The holiday weekend is almost upon us! As families prepare to celebrate the upcoming 4th of July with picnics, fireworks and a few rousing games of Bocce ball, it’s also an important time to remember the people who make these moments so special. With burgers on the grill and good times abounding, it may not seem like the most practical moment to start a conversation about whether an elderly individual in your life is a candidate for long-term care; but having the talk before any problems arise is actually the smartest thing to do, because it allows both parties to...

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Summer Driving and Senior Safety Tips

From our Care Blog

Summer is now in full swing and that means one thing—road trips! Last April I blogged about how dementia can impact driving among senior populations. While FirstLight Home Care remains passionate about our client companionship services, which include transportation, we also want to encourage seniors to remain independent, active and alert when enjoying the summer season. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to read a survey released on June 22 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that revealed seniors are actually doing a lot of right things when it comes to their driver awareness. The survey showed that fatal...

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New Study Indicates Home Care is on the Rise

From our Care Blog

While franchising in the home care industry only began in the last 20 years, the past 10 years alone have yielded some tremendous growth. A new study released by the web portal Franchise Direct indicates that the increase in demand for home care is not only the result of an aging population; now more than ever people desire to age in place surrounded by the comforts of their home and loved ones. According to the study, 70 percent of American seniors spend the rest of their lives in the place where they celebrated their 65th birthday—even though an overwhelming number...

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Summertime Tips for Seniors

From our Care Blog

Summer is finally starting to heat up, which means our seniors need to be even more mindful of how they handle their health. Each year, thousands of seniors succumb to dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. How can you help the senior in your life live out their summer season to the fullest? Check out some of my quick tips, as gleaned from a helpful article in California’s Alameda Sun. If you are providing in-home care for a senior with limited mobility, a loved one or in-home care giver should make sure he or she has a properly functioning cooling...

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Low-Tech Market Yields High Returns

From our Care Blog

From Blackberries to Droids to iPhones, the world of cell phone technology continues to outdo itself. But this week, I noticed that Tigard, Ore.-based phone company Consumer Cellular has opted to buck the trend and steer its mission in the opposite direction. Recently, The Portland State Daily Vanguard ran an engaging piece on how Consumer Cellular is marketing its stripped down cell phone models to the senior citizens. Instead of touting oodles of multi-functionary applications, the company has designed phones with bigger buttons that are easier to see and push. And in addition to being hearing aid compatible, basic plans...

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Reflections on Senior Health and Fitness Day

From our Care Blog

Summer has not officially started, but this coming Memorial Day Weekend may as well be its kick-off. It also presents an opportune time for seniors to get out and stay active with families and friends. In fact, many already got a jumpstart on their plans this past Wednesday when an estimated 100,000 seniors across the country participated in the 17th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day. As a result, I was inspired to read about how community centers and YMCAs across the country hosted events that promoted wellness for participants of all fitness levels. In Westchester, N.Y., it was...

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The Importance of Independence for Seniors

From our Care Blog

This week, I read an article about the increasing number of seniors having joint replacement surgery. The article, “Old Patients, New Joints,” written by Paula Span for The New York Time’s blog, The New Old Age, featured a series of individuals who have recently experienced hip or knee replacement surgery as well as useful advice from a number of doctors. What I found really endearing about this article, is how much people value their independence – their ability to live their lives – no matter their age and no matter what they have to do to achieve it. One woman...

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Article from the Cincinnati Business Courier

From our Care Blog

FirstLight Home Care was featured in the April 16 issue of the Cincinnati Business Courier. In the article, we discussed the in-home care market, and the different strategies we are taking to make us a major contender on a national level. You can check out the full article here. The senior in-home care market is growing rapidly, yet no business holds more than 1 percent of the market share. With the need for these services on the rise, Medicare dollars are not so quick to keep up. FirstLight is looking to change this -- and give the public a franchised...

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Driving and Dementia

From our Care Blog

The American Academy of Neurology issued a new guideline to help doctors and families determine when someone diagnosed with dementia is no longer able to safely drive. Unfortunately, the release was a bit softer than many would hope.

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