The FirstLight Care Corner

Non Medical Home Care versus Medical Home Care

From our Care Blog

Because FirstLight Home Care provides non-medical home care, we are often asked about the difference between medical and non-medical care. What Is Non Medical Care? Non medical care is often referred to as “assisted living”, “transitional care”, or “private duty” care. Non-Medical home care is usually provided by caregivers, certified nursing aides (CNAs), and home health aides (HHAs). With non-medical in-home care, our caregivers provide personal and companion care in the comfort of our client’s homes, wherever home may be – a residence, assisted living facility, retirement community, etc. Too often seniors are lonely and need someone to talk to, someone who can...

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Are Your Aging Parents Behaving Badly?

From our Care Blog

There are many stresses that people deal with as caregivers for their aging parents, but few are as difficult to handle as aggressive and negative behavior.  At FirstLight HomeCare, we receive countless questions and concerns about what to do with an aging parent who is abusive and hard to control.  The problem that many people face is the difficulty in confronting their parents about these behaviors saying things like, “they are stuck in their ways” or “they will get defensive if I bring up their behavior.”  Although these concerns are valid, you can and should address your aging parents behavior since it is...

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5 Great Senior Activities

From our Care Blog

Keeping busy can be a difficult task for aging adults.  Our entire lives have been run by schedules, whether it be homework as a kid or real work as an adult.  As aging adults enter the next chapter of their lives, they find themselves with more free time than they have experienced in a long time, and this leads to boredom, decreasing health, and lack of daily enjoyment.  In order to make sure your parents are maintaining a fulfilled life, introduce some activities in their lives.  Below we have listed 5 great activities that will not only help keep aging adults...

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Cost of Caregiving

From our Care Blog

Many of us are caregivers – for our parents, brothers or sisters, or other relatives – and don’t even think about the financial demands it places on us. Maybe you are a caregiver who provides “hands on” care right now, but may be called upon to provide financial assistance for your care recipient in the future. In addition to the emotional demands placed on caregivers, it’s important to consider the financial consequences. If it’s possible to plan ahead, this helps to avoid some costly mistakes so you don’t get yourself in a financial bind. If you’re taking care of a...

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Senior Care To Keep Parents Active

From our Care Blog

Grieving the loss of a parent is more than difficult, and seeing your living parent live alone can also be hard.  Many times, your living parent is still able to take care of him or herself and moving into an assisted living center is out of the question. In a situation like this, it may become a responsibility of yours to help keep your parent active.  With the hustle and bustle of your own life, including children and work, this can be a very difficult task and much guilt may start to arise. It is important to remember that as...

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Test your memory for Alzheimer's

From our Care Blog

Are you concerned that you or or a loved one might be showing early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer's is a progressive form of presenile dementia that is similar to senile dementia; however, Alzheimer’s generally begins to appear in people’s 40s and 50s.  The good news is that with early detection you can have a better chance of managing the disease and living the fullest life possible for years to come. One of the best ways to determine if you are showing early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease is to do self-basement tests.  Self-basement tests are a great way to test your cognitive ability...

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Five Tips for Long Distance Caregiving

From our Care Blog

Caring for a loved one that lives locally can be stressful, yet caring for one that is long distance can extenuate the circumstances immensely.  There are a number of responsibilities in both situations, and in a long distance situation it is imperative that you feel comfortable delegating some of these responsibilities to others.  With that said, it is necessary for you to embrace communication among the family and those that are able to help locally.  Each family has unique situations, and something that works for one family may not work for others.  We have provided five tips that may be...

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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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5 Best Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy

From our Care Blog

Lifestyle and family history both play an important role in the health of your heart.  As we all know, living with heart disease or any other heart condition may be ultimately debilitating and decrease your life span.  The good thing from all this, is that most heart conditions can be prevented and/or managed if you know the proper lifestyle adjustments required.  Explained, are five of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Know your family history.  Heart conditions do run in the family, and the earlier you know there is history of heart conditions, the sooner you can work to...

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Six Mistakes Adult Children make when Parents are Aging and Sick

From our Care Blog

As an adult child, caring for an aging or sick parent is a major responsibility.  While there are many factors and decisions to consider, there are also precautions the adult child must prepare for and seek to avoid while caring for their aging parent.   Failure to plan ahead. Be sure to take proactive steps for long-term care in regards to your parent. Research the different living options that are available and what the best option may be for them; in-home care, adult daycare, assisted living, etc. Also, seek background information and survey results from residents or clients. Meet with healthcare or senior care specialist...

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