Home Safety Tips to Help in Caring for Someone with Parkinson’s Disease

It often begins so subtly, it’s almost imperceptible – a mild, passing tremor; trouble sleeping; slight changes in handwriting. These little symptoms could be the result of a variety of conditions, but if they gradually begin to become more noticeable, and are combined with other hallmark symptoms, the doctor may determine a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. (more…)

How to Have the “Personal Home Care Talk” with a Senior Loved One

The relationship between parents and their children is cemented in a lifetime of clearly designated roles. Parents have, after all, been responsible for the health and wellbeing of their children from the time they were born – teaching, instilling values, offering unconditional love, advice and support. What happens when those roles begin to shift, and adult children find themselves in a position of caring for their aging parents? (more…)

Valley of the Sun Home Care Agency’s Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

Close your eyes and listen for a moment: children laughing and playing, lawn mowers humming, birds singing. Summertime’s longer days are filled with wonder, but for older adults, the extreme heat of summer in Arizona can be dangerous. (more…)

The Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and How Dementia Care Can Help

If a typical day in your life is anything but typical, if solving one challenging puzzle leads to another even trickier one, and if you feel like your patience meter is beginning to run on empty, then perhaps you’re one of the more than 15 million family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. (more…)

The Benefits of Hiring an Arizona Home Care Agency vs. an Independent Caregiver

We’ve all seen them: ads in the paper from individuals touting their elderly caregiving skills, promising low rates, glowing references, and around-the-clock availability. Sounds ideal, right? But before grabbing the phone to see how soon this person can start, there are some serious concerns to be aware of that could result in grave consequences for your senior loved one. (more…)

How Senior Care Services Can Help Non-Driving Seniors Feel Like “King of the Road”

Perhaps it’s time for one of the discussions that many seniors most dread: giving up the car keys for safety’s sake. You may have begun to notice a lessened sense of focus in your senior loved one, such as driving a bit over the dividing line at times or stopping a bit too far beyond the stop sign. Or maybe a disease such as Alzheimer’s is beginning to progress, medication side effects are a concern, or vision problems have come into play.

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Uncovering the Hidden Patient: Alzheimer’s Caregivers

If you’re like most family members serving as Alzheimer’s caregivers for a loved one, your day is consumed from sunup to sundown with a variety of tasks and duties, and may look something like this: (more…)

Home Modification Tips for Seniors with Arthritis

Grandma used to swear by it: a spoonful of cod liver oil taken twice a day and that arthritis pain just goes away! Today, however, arthritis sufferers know that it takes more than old wives’ tales and home remedies to manage the challenges of arthritis. When arthritis pain is at its worst, it can be hard to complete simple tasks such as opening doors, picking up dropped items, or stirring a pot of soup.

Try these tips to help ease the aggravation of arthritis and make daily activities a little easier: (more…)

When It’s Alzheimer’s and When It Isn’t

Perhaps you’ve begun to notice some subtle changes in Mom: She’s misplacing her reading glasses more often. She’s called you by your sister’s name several times. Once, she even left the stove on after fixing dinner, and didn’t notice until she began cleaning up the kitchen afterwards. Signs like these are concerning, and it can be natural to assume the worst – that Mom’s in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

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“Joy is increased by spreading it to others.” -Robert Murray McCheyne

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it is easy to get wrapped up in the frenzy of activity that can go along with it. From planning vacation to Christmas shopping, life is bound to become hectic in the upcoming months. (more…)