The FirstLight Care Corner

Top Trends in Elderly Care That Nurse Gina is Watching

From our Care Blog

According to the US Census Bureau, by the year 2050, approximately 20.7% of the population will be 65 years or older.  This is an incredible growth in the aging population of the US, especially when compared to 2000 when the population of people 65 and older was only 12.4%.  As we enter an age with the highest number of retirees ever, the demand for aging care is greater than ever.  Improvements in home care, health care, and technology will play a vital role in improving the lives of seniors, but with these advances arises concerns as well.  A down economy and lack of financial...

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Is It Time To Take The Car Keys Away?

From our Care Blog

One of the hardest discussions you will have with your  senior parents is to recommend they stop driving. Taking the keys away can be a  very traumatic event for them, because it means a loss of independence and  freedom. Unfortunately, many older  individuals continue to drive even after they realize they are less than capable. Even in the best of circumstances and at any age, driving can be a demanding, mentally exhaustive experience! Your vision, dexterity, hearing and reflexes have to be keen. Drivers over 75 have the second-highest rate, after teenagers, of fatal crashes per mile driven, according to Federal...

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FirstLight Home Care Takes Care of Dads – Even If They Are Cranky!

From our Care Blog

My Dad is cranky. Okay, if I’m going to tell the truth, he has moments where he is downright mean. He gets easily agitated and has times of lucidity coupled with flashes where he doesn’t even know my name. It is frustrating, heartbreaking and exhausting, not only for myself – the adult daughter -- but my whole family as well. But it must be worse for him. Thirteen years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it turned his life and our lives upside down. Six years ago, right before my Mom died, I promised her I would never put...

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5 Tips For Making An Arthritic's Life Easier

From our Care Blog

My mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 20, but was able to stay mobile well into her 80s. During the course of those 60 years, I watched her take various medications, try different diets and exercise programs, and attempt various other remedies to combat her pain and fatigue. Okay, the psychic healer was the most far-fetched, but we would have tried anything to keep Mom “upright” as she used to say. Now I am in my 50s and have been diagnosed with the same illness. I know the struggles that lay before me. Some days it would be...

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Travel Companion for Seniors

From our Care Blog

Can you believe it? Summer is almost here, which means vacations and family visits are on everyone’s minds.  If you or a loved one are desiring to travel this summer but are uneasy about making the trip alone, we completely understand, as traveling can be hectic to everyone these days. At FirstLight Home Care we offer a special service called our, “Travel Companion Program.” Our “Travel Companion Program” is designed specifically for clients in need of travel assistance. Whether they are traveling nationally or internationally makes no difference. Our travel companions are here to help you or your loved one...

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Care Giving Tips For An Only Child

From our Care Blog

If you are an only child caring for elderly parents, you know it can be a handful.  In this case. you may feel the stresses of care giving are all on you. It may even start to define your livelihood.  As much as you love your parents and know they deserve the best care possible, it is okay, and will be better for all, if you continue to have a life too and feel comfortable delegating others to help.  Here are a few tips to consider. Don’t be afraid to ask other relatives for help. Many times, other family members and friends are ready...

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No One Can Take Of Your Mother Like You Do

From our Care Blog

But FirstLight Home Care comes very, very close. There is no doubt that as our mothers begin to age, it can be tough on sons, daughters and other family members to provide the level of care she needs. Whether you live close or far away, suddenly the roles are reversed and the dynamics of the parent-child relationship changes – in many cases, you take on the role of caretaker. You have to make sure your Mom is taking her medication and gets to doctor appointments. You may be responsible for meal preparation, financial arrangements, and household chores, the day-to-day activities that...

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Reducing the High Cost of Hospital Readmissions

From our Care Blog

Millions of Americans go to the hospital each year for reasons that are often necessary and unavoidable. Whether we fall, get sick, or hurt ourselves in a number of different ways, going to the hospital for medical care is something that we simply can't avoid.  However, the same cannot be said for a substantial fraction of people who are readmitted to hospitals each year.  Hospital readmission is not only extremely costly and harmful to the patient, it can be easily avoided with proper care and precaution. Although there are many factors that can play into the need for a hospital readmission,...

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Pairing Seniors and Teenagers

From our Care Blog

We all know that the teenage years can be tumultuous. We also know it can be prime time for trouble. So at FirstLight Home Care, we’d like to share with you some stories where teens can learn from senior citizens and vice versa. Maybe it will inspire you to start an intergenerational program in your area! Think about it. Many senior citizens have trouble with their mobile devices and computers. What better person to teach them than a teenager who is never far away from their favorite technological gadget? Teenagers can text faster than most of us can talk! Many...

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Meditation and Aging

From our Care Blog

For thousands of years, meditation has served as an excellent source of stress relief and relaxation. Through active practice, people can even see improvements in their health, including reduced blood pressure, a slower heart rate, and a stronger immune system.  But did you know that it might also help reduce the process of aging? Recent studies have found that people who practice mindful meditation (focusing on the present) had improved telomere health.  For those who aren’t neuroscientists, telomeres are the protective ends of our DNA that prevent the ends of chromosomes from fusing with nearby chromosomes or deteriorating.  The healthier the telomere,...

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