Heart health is an area of grave concern among healthcare professionals, policy makers and the government. Heart disease has killed more Americans than any other diseases or chronic illnesses. It is the leading cause of death among patience of all race, gender and age. About 785,000 patients in the nation suffer their first heart attack every year and 470,000 of them have recurring heart attacks in a year. It has been estimated that heart attack affects one patient in every 34 seconds in America, costing a whopping healthcare bill of $316.4 billion a year. The risks of heart disease also dramatically increases with age affecting one in every five women above the age of 65 as compared to one in every 10 women between ages 45 and 65. For 37 years, the American Heart Association tirelessly organized and campaigned for the fight against heart disease. February is the ‘American Heart Month' where efforts are spent to increase awareness and raise funds for research and education on heart disease. Heart disease is a lifestyle-related condition. Risk factors that can lead to heart disease or stroke are physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and alcohol. As more elderly patients tend to have high cholesterol, high blood sugar or high blood pressure conditions coupled by weaker immunity systems, healthy living to promote elderly health is one of the primary concerns during American Heart Month. Good heart health can be attained by adopting change in lifestyle, diet and regular monitoring of one's blood sugar level, cholesterol level and blood pressure. The following are five healthy living tips to good senior health that not only help keep heart disease at arm's length but also increase one's quality of life. Regular Exercise or Physical ActivityModerate exercise on a regular basis is the best remedy for elderly health and wellbeing. Walking, jogging, yoga, swimming, golf, dancing and others help to build strong healthy hearts and help to improve blood circulation. In fact, statistics show that a sedentary lifestyle is a leading threat to heart health; those who are physically inactive and seldom participate in regular exercise program are 39.5 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke. Balanced DietHealthy living starts with balanced diets rich in fiber and low in trans fat, sugar and sodium. Elderly patients should also consume high nutrient foods that are good for the heart and body as a whole. Greasy food and food high in trans fat found in cooking oil and meat should be avoided to prevent gradual formation of blockage in the arteries especially among elderly patients' whose body metabolism decreases with age. Control blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levelSenior health checks should never exclude regular monitoring of seniors' blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar level as these are among the top risk factors to cardiovascular disease. Senior patients can perform regular monitoring of their conditions at home and take precautionary measures such as diet and prescribed medication if levels are higher than normal. Maintain Healthy Body WeightBeing overweight can also lead to heart disease or stroke; it is as unhealthy to one's heart as it is to one's bones and joints. Excessive fats in the body can strain the heart and cause additional stress on the bones and joints. Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial to good senior health as it helps to prevent adverse conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol that can potentially lead of heart disease. Stop Smoking and excessive Alcohol intakeSmoking and excessive intake of alcohol are harmful habits that are especially damaging to elderly patients. Smoking increases the chances of blood clot and accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries, hence increasing the risks of coronary heart disease. It can also increase the chances of a relapse or recurring heart attack. Smoking is also linked to many elderly health conditions such as cancer, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. ...read more

As people age, they may find they are unable to do everything for themselves as they normally would. Adult children or other family members may try to take on daily tasks in order to help. Caregivers may start giving small amounts of assistance, but this can grow almost daily until it becomes overwhelming, at which point, they begin to realize something more needs to be done. One solution is to seek professional help from an in-home health care agency. If this is something the caregiver has never encountered before, he or she may not know what to expect from a good home care agency.The decision to hire a home care agency may be met with some resistance, since no-one wants to give up their independence, or feel they are losing control of their daily lives. Many older people will allow a family member to help, but really do not want a stranger to come into their home and "take over." Professionals understand this, and are normally willing to meet with the caregiver and the older person first, to explain their services and reassure the individual that his or her wishes will be accommodated as much as possible.Home care agencies provide a variety of services for senior care, and most will work with the person in need of help and the family to create a care plan that will meet the needs of the individual, and be within the person's budget. The elder care plan should provide the proper support while preserving the dignity of the senior, as well as allow as much independence as possible. Even though it may be difficult at first, once the senior care plan is in place and the senior gets to know some of the workers who will come to the home daily or weekly, a transition will happen, and the person will start to look forward to seeing their new caregivers on a regular basis.Sometimes it is just necessary to have a little help with meal preparation or light housekeeping, long before any personal care is actually needed. That is really the best time to engage a home care agency, when the family members see that their loved one needs more help than they will be able to provide, and before a crisis arises. The home care agency will be willing to start slowly with certain services, and then their help can be increased as it becomes necessary.In order to be properly informed and to know what to expect from a good in-home care agency, the person or persons who will be in charge of hiring the agency needs to research online, if possible, and be ready to ask the right questions of the agency in consideration. Ask first of all if the agency screens all workers and does criminal and other background checks on their employees. Ask about the credentials of the employees and what type of training they have had. Ask if the agency will replace a worker if she is not a good fit for the senior.Interview a representative from more than one local home care agency in order to find the one that you believe will be the best one to work with. Remember that your local Area Agency on Aging is a great referral service and that agency is willing to help you in your search for the best elder care for your loved one.Home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordable care. We are anelder careagency providingHome Care in Santa Rosa.       ...read more

Aging is a natural process, but for many of us, the recognition that our parents are in need of assistance can take time. It can be difficult to accept that your mother or father is no longer able to handle everything for themselves, but it is important to make sure you don't miss the signs. Elder care can allow your aging parent to live a reasonably independent life for many more years, and not risk the injuries or troubles that living alone brings with it. Especially when in-home care is the right option, the life of your parent doesn't have to be drastically altered. Instead, you can implement some basic changes to make sure that your loved one is safe, secure, and well looked-after, without taking away the familiar surroundings and sense of autonomy they've grown to find so important. But when is it time to start looking into home care? Each case is individual, but it is essential that anyone with an aging parent be aware of potential dangers of seniors living by themselves. Here are some areas to keep in mind when thinking about elderly care: FoodAre they able to cook for themselves, or if not, is there a standard way for them to receive healthy meals? Some seniors may deny having difficulty, but you may notice weight loss, or vagueness when discussing food. This can be addressed in other ways, before moving on to full senior care, but it is a good indicator that capacities are becoming limited when your parent is no longer comfortable or able to handle basics in the kitchen. MobilityAre they able to drive, walk, carry small things, and otherwise manage to get around their neighborhood? If you notice that your parent rarely leaves the house or has difficulty walking without assistance, consider that home care provides companionship as well as professional care. Staying indoors alone every day is not beneficial to most elders, so limited mobility can be very hard on some people. HygieneIs your parent able to wash themselves, and handle basic bathroom necessities without a problem? Making sure the shower has a bar and a grip mat is a good start, but at some point looking into homecare may be the best bet. Remember that falling in the shower is a common cause of injuries among the elderly. Mental AcuityAs people age, they commonly complain about minor memory and mental issues, but it is vital to stay aware of how much this progresses. If your parent has episodes of confusion or gets easily lost, looking into aging care makes sense. Not only will they be safer, but regular interaction with another person is thought to be a good resistance against things getting worse. Sometimes theelder careoption is on the table for years, and in other cases, a sudden event changes everything, but the choice can be hard either way. Still, senior care, and especiallyin-home care, can be freeing rather than restricting. Alzheimer's home care counselors atAt Your Serviceare available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordableelder careagency providinghome care inSanta Rosa. ...read more

By Maria M. Meyer and Paula Derr, Contributing Writers Discuss chronic care needs with the person's medical team to learn what treatments; adjustments and other changes may be necessary. For some people, training to provide medical treatments, advice on coping with the challenges of chronic illness, and some long-range financial planning will be enough. For others, in-home personal assistance is the best option. In making the decision for home care, it is important to be realistic about what the person in your care needs, and what you, the caregiver, can provide in terms of time, kinds of care, and financial responsibility. For example, deciding to hire an in-home attendant may be necessary if the primary caregiver works full time. Before this happens, it's important to look at the financial and emotional issues that go along with this decision. Source: Caring.com Continue reading… Alzheimer's home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordableelder careagency providinghome care in Santa Rosa. ...read more

What Families Should Consider Deciding onhome carecan be tough. The time when a respected matriarch or patriarch must step aside from his or her own affairs is an incredibly emotional time for all involved, and there are many tough decisions that must be made. Aside from the logistics of taking care of an aging parent or loved one while maintaining a life of their own, the children must also consider the feelings of the people that have given them advice and guidance throughout their entire lives. The role reversal itself can sometimes be overwhelming to a family. However, the strength of the family is enough to carry them through if they consider the following things: 1. Finding the righthome careprovider. Privateelder careproviders must be thoroughly vetted through their references and resume. A good way to find a qualified, personablein-home careprovider is through private home health agencies, who require that their senior care professionals meet certain requirements before they are allowed to perform service. The one good thing about Medicare and Medicaid is that they require governmental certification of their homecare providers. 2. Budgeting forhome health care. Perhaps the most difficult decision for a family to make is to get the absolute best care for their elder loved ones while staying within the cash flow limitations of the family. As with any service, you get what you pay for, but there are many options for families living within a budget, including time shared, on call emergency care, assisted living, and peak hour home care. 3. Keeping the integrity of your loved ones intact. One of the most important traits that anelder careprovider can give a patient is the dignity of living as independently as possible while providing the best care when needed. This takes a special provider, and one truly dedicated to the discipline. Throughout the process of home care, the provider must be continually monitored. Family should consider themselves in a management relationship with the home care provider, and continually evaluate their performance. Home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordable care. We are anelder careagency providingHome Care in Santa Rosa. ...read more

Home carefor seniors is currently an industry experiencing almost explosive growth, resulting in a multitude of choices for those who are looking for someone to provide elder care for an aging friend or relative. While choice can be good, it is important to make sure that you make the right choice. This leads to a dilemma for most Americans. The average person has little experience in the medical field and is at a disadvantage when trying to evaluatein-home careagencies. How can you make sure that the senior care organization you are considering will deliver services that are safe, reliable, and appropriate? Hiring and Supervision One thing to verify is the diligence that a home care agency exercises with regard to hiring and supervisingcaregivers. It is important to ask questions and get answers that are clear and understandable. If ahomecareagency seems to be reluctant to freely disclose information, eliminate it from consideration. You don't want to trust your loved one to a business that appears anything less than completely trustworthy. Some of the most important questions to ask are: * What state certifications do you require fromcaregivers?* How do you make sure that employees actually possess the certificates or credentials they claim?* Do you run a criminal background check on all caregivers prior to hiring them?* How often do you repeat such background checks for existing employees?* What additional training and retraining do you require ofcaregivers?* Are all caregivers periodically tested to guarantee that important procedures such as first aid and CPR remain mastered?* How do you supervise your employees?* Do you conduct periodic announced visits to sites where in-home care is being provided? If so, how often?* Do you conduct unannounced visits as well? If so, how often?* How do you deal with an employee who has been discovered providing a substandard level of care Employment Considerations The bestelder careagencies will be able to provide you with a consistentcaregiver, or at the very least, a team of a few individuals who will work closely with your relative in need of elder care. This is important because senior care in the home environment works best when an atmosphere of trust has been established. Your aging friend or relative does not need the additional stress of greeting a stranger each day, or having someone unknown enter the home premises to provide services that are very personal in nature. It is therefore vital that thein-home careagency you engage has a stable relationship with its own employees instead of an ever-changing roster of short-term workers. Asking questions about the caregiver staff to see how long the average employee has been engaged is a start towards gaining some peace of mind on this topic, but there are some other issues you can check that will help in this area. One of the most important is to verify that caregivers are true employees, not independent contractors. Employees receive benefits such as workers' compensation insurance; this makes them more likely to remain with the agency in the long term. Alzheimer's home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about yourin-home careneeds including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing better, affordable elder care agency providinghome care in Santa Rosa. ...read more

  When I first started working at an interpreting services agency in Sonoma County, there was no cohesiveness of services. Businesses and institutions that needed interpreting more often than not, called individual interpreters to try and set up services. In doing this, they had no idea how to discern between a qualified and unqualified interpreter. For example, many of the area hospitals had a list of "signers" posted near the phone in their emergency room intake area. The staff person would start at the top and call each person hoping to reach someone who was available to come "help." The only qualification for inclusion on this list was stating that you knew sign language. This lack of qualifications was not intentional, the ER staff just did not know any better. The person on the list could be a certified interpreter or could be a parent with a deaf child who learned just enough vocabulary to communicate instructions to a child such as "brush your teeth, "we are going to the store."           Unlike other languages, ASL (American Sign Language) is often not the primary language spoken in the home. 90% of deaf children are born to parents who hear and of those approximately 60% will learnsomesign language. Contrast that with a Spanish-speaking household where parents were born in a Spanish-speaking country and the language is spoken fluently in the home. Businesses went through the same process to find interpreters for their meetings and trainings. Once they reached an available person, they booked him/her. And once he/she was seated in the chair at their meeting, seeing hands move and hearing a voice, they assumed that the Deaf person(s) had access to the meeting and that all parties involved whether they spoke English or ASL (American Sign Language) would now be able to communicate well. Given the lack of native ASL-speakers, this is not a safe assumption.  One of my goals in 1992, when I began coordinating interpreting services was to get the word out about our services and to make sure that when people called us, they would know for certain that the interpreters I sent had the necessary credentials to do the work. I weeded out the unqualified people and worked to level up the working interpreters with ability and at least some training, to reach certification level. An interpreting agency can and should act as a gatekeeper and a guarantee of quality guaranteeing this with professional malpractice insurance for errors and omissions as well as background checks, resumes, and other appropriate interpreter credentials on file.  With concerted effort, because of the assurance of pre-screening, and the ease of arranging interpreting, the idea of calling for services, an interpreting company rather than individuals caught on. In the last fifteen years the trend has shifted from hiring directly to favoring a centralized hub for interpreting. However, in the last couple of years I have noticed an alarming shift back in the direction of interpreters working directly with businesses and other institutions. When this first came to my attention, it was with a medical client that my company had worked with for over five years. Suddenly they were not calling us for services so I called them to check in. When I was informed that they were now hiring directly, my heart began to pound. I had to ask myself why.  Aside from the fact that they hired a person I would not send into that setting there were other concerns. There is of course, the obvious reason, fear and upset at the loss of business. I would be dishonest not to acknowledge that. But behind that, and of greater concern to me, is a shift back to the old days, when anyone could represent themselves as an interpreter and customers had a false sense of security in thinking they had the appointment covered and at a much cheaper cost. First let me say, many of the interpreters working directly with clients are eminently qualified. But a great number are not. I receive calls every day from people aspiring to be interpreters who unwittingly inform me that based on their "credentials" of two ASL classes, have been hired by companies to interpret. They then contact me to see how they can sign up to work with my company. Would you hire someone who took two Spanish classes to interpret your medical appointment? In my mind there is nothing wrong with interpreters picking and choosing whom they work with including working directly with clients. I do however, believe that once they get used to hiring directly (money talks), clients will continue to do so. This is fine as long as qualified interpreters are available. But what happens when the interpreter of choice is not available and the client is able to find a much cheaper "interpreter" and begins to work with that person. Because many clients do not have the resources to evaluate the difference between a qualified interpreter and someone who is incompetent, the breakdown in services begins. Interpreting agencies protect you by screening and vetting professionals. Since often interpreters are not called in except for essential meetings such as attorney/client meetings, medical appointments, and job reviews, their ability to accurately represent what is being said is paramount.     ...read more

The majority of people are most comfortable in their own environment where they feel safe and close to the things they love, and home care is the long-term care option that promotes the individual's independence and ability to continue with the normal, daily routine as long as possible. The goal of home care is to provide in-home care for those who need it, and to allow an individual to remain living at home as long as possible, regardless of age or disability. Home care services cover a wide range of needs, from homemaking and companionship to meal preparation and medication reminders. They may also include personal care services, or those that help with the activities of daily living, including home care services like bathing, dressing, and grooming. To promote a safe and functional lifestyle, a caregiver can help you brush your teeth, secure the buttons on your shirt, or stand-by while you bathe to make sure you do not fall. Often, skilled services that utilize the expertise of a nurse may also be grouped within the home care category. Services include checking vital signs, coordinating with doctors and other healthcare professionals working with the individual, and performing comprehensive evaluations of health and community needs to keep individuals safe at home. Source: American Association for Long Term Care Insurance Continue reading... Alzheimer's home care counselors are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable home care in Santa Rosa.  At Your Service is an elder care agency providing Home Care in Santa Rosa. ...read more

"Wishing you and yours all the Best in 2011 May you enjoy health and prosperity throughout the New Year!"   From All of Us at At Your Service Home Care   TheAt Your Servicecaring staff can help answer all of your questions abouthome care, including how to reducecaregiverstress while providing tender, quality care to your loved one.At Your Serviceis ahome careagency providingcaregiversandin home care in Santa Rosa CAand surrounding areas. ...read more

Home Care for the Holidaysby Edyth Ann KnoxThe Holidays are times of great joy, feasting and family traditions that fill us with secure and warm feelings. They are times to reestablish family ties and bonds. The Holidays are days we remember and cherish for years to come.Yet for those caring for a family member with Alzheimer's Disease the Holidays can be filled with trips to the doctor or the emergency room. They can be times that our loved one may show frustration, agitation or aggressive behaviors, instead of being filled with joy and good will. This can destroy the Holidays for thecaregiverand the rest of the family. Many caregivers often cease participating in the Holidays altogether after a horrendous holiday.The Holidays are times that can bring great stress for many. When you add a loved one who has Alzheimer's Disease into the mix often the stress can become too much for both thecaregiverand the loved one. You do not need to dread the arrival of the Holidays.There are ways you can still celebrate the season by making adjustments and considerations to improve your chance of a safe and happy holiday for both you and your loved one.Source: ElderCare Onlineâ„¢continue reading...... ThecaregiversatAt Your Service Home Careare available to answer any questions you might have abouthome carefor your loved one. We are ahome careagency providing qualityin home care in Santa Rosa CAand surrounding areas. ...read more

A Guide to Choosing the RightIn-Home CareService andCaregiverfor Seniors By: Kori Irons What Seniors Can Expect fromIn-home Care It can be incredibly difficult for a senior to allow a stranger into his home to help with household tasks, personal care and/or transportation. There is a great deal of confusion and anxiety around what exactly "in-home care" and an "in-home caregiver" might involve and entail--not to mention how to go about hiring and supervising the help. Here are some suggestions for what seniors can expect from in-home care and some advice on how to search for the perfect assistant: An in-home caregiver can have a variety of qualifications, depending on the depth and intensity of personal care they are able to provide. Some take care of household tasks and hep with errands and transportation, while others have medical credentials and are able to help with more medical details and nursing needs. The most popular services required of in-home caregivers for seniors include: assistance with mail and correspondence, housekeeping, laundry and ironing, help with grocery shopping and other errands, coordinating and reminding about medications, cooking and meal panning, transportation and mobility assistance, and companionship and other personal assistance needs. Even seniors who may have special needs such as those who are recovering from an accident or illness, or those with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or those with other more permanent disabilities can benefit from the services of an in-home care provider. A senior may need assistance on a daily or weekly basis, or something in between. It is not necessary to hire a caregiver to be present for every hour of every day if that is not what is needed or required. Source: Associated Content Continue reading... Alzheimer's home care counselors at At Your Service are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable home care in Santa Rosa. At Your Service is an elder care agency providing Home Care in Santa Rosa. ...read more

Gift Ideas For Nursing Home ResidentsBy Vivienne MontagueSeveral things should be considered when choosing gifts for nursing home residents. How much room does the resident have? Do they have room for the gift you have in mind? Are they physically able to use the gift? Will they need help to use the gift and, if so, is the help readily available?Popular gifts that have stood the test of time for nursing home residents are books and magazines.. A new book by a favorite author is always welcome. A subscription to a favorite magazine is also a good idea.A box of candy is another popular choice but before giving candy, check with thecaregiversto see if this is something the resident can have or can be doled out occasionally.If the resident enjoys writing letters and cards, a box of all-occasion cards or notepaper would be welcome. Add some postage stamps and pre-printed labels for the people they write to and they can write cards and letters whenever they want to.Coloring books and crayons are fun for both residents and visitors. If the resident has difficulty conversing, just sitting and coloring with them, occasionally patting their hand or making comments about coloring is a relaxing way to spend time together and is appreciated by the resident.A lap-desk with a raised border around it is useful for writing and coloring.If the resident is able to go out, the promise of a trip to a favorite restaurant or movie would be appreciated but check with the nursing staff to make sure they are physically and mentally able to handle such a venture. Ask about any medications or treatments that might need to be taken into consideration.Source: Eldercare ABC BlogContinue reading…  At Your Service Homecareis ahome careagency providinghome care in Santa Rosa CAand surrounding areas. For information about our caring services, please call 707-573-1003. ...read more

It is a safe assumption that many caregivers who work outside their homes are aware of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA.)  Even if some American workers are not aware of FMLA yet, this blog steers you in the right direction and shares one caregiver's perspective on when and whether you wish to invoke your FMLA rights, *if eligible. FMLA is Federal Law FMLA requires *eligible employees to take an unpaid leave up to 12 work weeks in any 12 month period. *The 12-month window is defined by the employer's prevailing practice or policy. With *required medical certification, *subject to employer approval the eligible employee is allowed to take the approved leave for the birth of a child, to care for a family member who has a serious medical condition, or, if the employee has a serious medical condition which requires such leave. *The above layperson's descriptive of FMLA does not constitute legal advice by this blogger and/or the owner of this website and/or any third parties involved in the publication or dissemination of this blog.Comprehensive information on the FMLA is available through the U.S. Department of Labor's website at <www.dol.gov>. Caregivers at Work Some workers view FMLA as an all-or-nothing package. Nothing could be further from the truth. FML can be a strategic work and life decision if you so choose and are eligible under the law. Timing is Everything If the person in your care is chronically ill with multiple chronic diseases requiring primary physician, specialized medical, and other healthcare intervention, using FML for one serious medical condition may preclude using FML for other equally serious medical conditions. Such a scenario would hold true if the caregiver exhausts the 12-week FML entitlement through consecutive leave use. I cannot and would not tell anyone else how to handle your FML eligibility. I am happy to share the conscious decision I made for 10+ years in my then-part-time caregiver-worker bee roles. I chose tonotinvoke my FML for one reason only. My mother has multiple chronic illnesses as medically diagnosed. I mindfully considered worst-case outcomes for each of her medical diagnoses. I decided that brief hospitalizations, major surgeries without medical complications, and post-surgical weekly follow-ups were best managed through advance planning, scheduling, and careful management of my accrued (paid) leave benefits at work. Non-emergency surgeries were scheduled in advance, allowing me ample time to take an approved vacation day, or 2, while I actively monitored and evaluated whether I might need to apply for FML, or not. For me, only, it really was that simple. I never invoked my FML right nor did I use all of my accrued leave for caregiving in any year. Think strategically is all I can say. Alzheimer's home care counselors at At Your Service Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable home care in Santa Rosa. At Your Service Home Care is an elder care agency providing Home Care in Santa Rosa. Isabel Fawcett, SPHR Isabel has been a full-time, stay-at-home caregiver to her 85 year old mother for 2 years, and counting. She is a regular Contributor at ElderCareLink, a blogger and Twitterer. Isabel is an independent human resources consultant and former HR management professional with 20+ years of HR experience, including FMLA, workers' compensation and the Americans With Disabilities Act. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certified and last worked for the Office of the Governor in Texas before her most recent eldercare choice.  Isabel also has worked in healthcare as Assistant Director of Volunteers at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City, and Manager of Staffing and Recruitment, Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut. She has also worked at Marriott International Headquarters in HR. Isabel is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has been a patient care volunteer for the American Red Cross overseas. ...read more

Caregiving and Family Hostilities By Isabel Fawcett, SPHR If it seems likecaregivingto aging parents with chronic health issues brings out the worst in some individuals, it happens. The family's communication gridlock may not be due to the stress of eldercare, however. Deep-seated individual and/or family dysfunction in communicating and relationships may have remained unresolved over the years. Unresolved family issues will not magically disappear. Family Dynamics Mirrors Social IssuesIn 2010,healthcarereform legislation passed in the form of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA.) Some Americans were gung-ho about the passage of PPACA and the need to radically reform healthcare in the U.S. Other Americans were and may remain vehemently opposed to PPACA. Some individuals are in favor of having PPACA repealed. One nation America shall remain regardless of individual viewpoints. Consider family dynamics in context of the PPACA social analogy. One family remains recurring dysfunction notwithstanding. To have and express strong emotions is to be human. Tip of the Family'sEldercareIcebergCommon sticking points for families facing eldercare life transitions include: estate disagreements; eldercare decision disagreements; financial disputes; medical treatment issues for elders; funeral, burial and memorial decisions; wills and powers of attorney, and more Even the most trivial matters can trigger major family disputes or lead to a total breakdown in a family's communication and relationships. FeelingsFeelings will ebb and flow at-will. Some feelings may be repressed and surprise us in when, and, how they re-emerge during the most stressful times in our lives. Stressful times - as in caring for ouragingand chronically ill parents who once did a dismal or, not so dismal job of caring for us when we were children. Remember those occasional (normal) vulnerable feelings you and I had as children? Some of our childhood feelings were real. Other feelings we may have experienced in childhood may have been based on imagined or misinterpreted signals. Those childhood and young adulthood feelings that we may not have been able to express due to: age, immaturity, language development, cultural influences, fear, or any number of reasons, remain intact only to re-surface when least expected. It may be that the most important step acaregivercan take when eldercare makes its debut in a family's life is recognizing that disputes will occur in the best of families, as in society. Similar to social disputes and heated public discourse family disputes boil over or slow-simmer. A caregiver's handling of family disagreements may ease angst and help thecaregiver, elder, and the entire family achieve healing over time. Somecaregiversdo so without outside help. Others may need a friend, counselor, mentor, or licensed professional to help. It's all good.Isabel Fawcett, SPHRIsabel has been a full-time, stay-at-home caregiver to her 85 year old mother for 2 years, and counting. She is a regular Contributor at ElderCareLink, a blogger and Twitterer. Isabel is an independent human resources consultant and former HR management professional with 20+ years of HR experience, including FMLA, workers' compensation and the Americans With Disabilities Act. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certified and last worked for the Office of the Governor in Texas before her most recent eldercare choice.  Isabel also has worked in healthcare as Assistant Director of Volunteers at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City, and Manager of Staffing and Recruitment, Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut. She has also worked at Marriott International Headquarters in HR. Isabel is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has been a patient care volunteer for the American Red Cross overseas. ThecaregiversatAt Your Service Home Carecan help answer all of yourhome carequestions. Contact us at 707-573-1003. We are ahome careagency providingelder care in Santa Rosa CAand surrounding areas. ...read more

As Baby Boomers prepare to visit their aging parents and/or in-laws for the holidays, some may be in for a rude awakening in caregiving.Home care in Santa Rosamay be looming large on their elderly parents' horizon. Some boomers don't see the need forelder careuntil they're literally scrambling to findin-home careoptions for their parents and/or in-laws. "Too late, too late shall be the cry?" It was bound to happen – or, was it? In 2011, now less than 2 months away, the first wave of Baby Boomers will hit the magical age of 65. Naturally, boomers' parents have already transitioned into their senior years. Other parents have died. Some parents are trying to cope with their chronic health conditions, widowhood, a spouse's or domestic partner's chronic health issues. Each relationship has its own family and couple's dynamic. With aging and health decline, very little is new. Time marches on. Why, then, do some adult children wait until our backs are against the long-distance caregiving wall? Unless you thrive on high stress in your life, avoid procrastination and denial about your parents' and/or in-laws' golden years life transitions. Pre-Travel Eldercare Assessment&Tips for Long-Distance Family Members If you haven't seen your parent(s) in more than a year, brace yourself. Prepare by planning ahead and thinking strategically. Ask yourself tough questions. Do my parents have a clean bill of health, or, are there medical conditions I need to know about? Are my parents still able to drive safely? How will I know if they should not be driving? Assuming worst case scenarios in my parents' health, physical and cognitive abilities, what would it take for my parents to age in place, with dignity? What am I prepared to do to help or lead my parents and/or siblings in our family's eldercare strategy? Long-Distance Caregiver Cheerleader Calls Strongly Recommended If you've never made time to engage your parents or in-laws in candid conversations, pave the way with  a couple of scouting-the-caregiving-terrain calls. Let your elders know that you're looking forward to visiting. Ask whether there are chores or errands you may assist in doing. If no information is forthcoming, mention examples like cleaning the yard, raking leaves, cleaning or organizing the garage, attic, and/or making or scheduling general home and/or equipment repairs. Anything that would save your parents time, money and/or physical effort should be on the table. Do they need to stock up on basic supplies? Use the current economy concerns as a springboard for this discussion. Be chauffeur, handyman and executive assistant while visiting. Let them know that you don't have much money to spend on gifts and decided to make your holiday visit a hands-on gift of caring. When you arrive, wear a Santa or other festive hat. Tie a gorgeous red ribbon around your neck, or arm, as a visual symbol that your assistive service is their holiday gift 2010, with love. Better to wrap yourself as your parents' holiday gift than to pull teeth about what you think they need to be doing at this stage to help them transition to assisted living, adult day care services, or, in-home care. Avoid depressing your parents and/or yourself. Be good tidings and cheer. If this all sounds like it's too much work, the alternative is more work, possibly heartache, if you ignore your aging parents' and/or in-laws' declining health and social need for assistive care support. Mom, Dad, I'm Home! Here are a few long-distance caregiver tips to help you make the most of your holiday visit. Park on the street a few blocks away from your parents' home. Scan the environment. Look for vacant lots and homes for sale. Both tell a story about the local economy, neighborhood, property values, and more. Observe pedestrian and vehicular traffic. How busy, and safe, is the street on which your parents live? Do you feel safe in the community, or not? Noticed any suspicious activities? Park curbside in front of your parents' home.Take notes describing what you see, from the roof, to the driveway, windows, front door, lighting, paint, etc. If your parents' car is in the driveway, is there external damage to the car? Is the yard overgrown or littered? By comparison to other homes on the block, how does your parents' home look? Is it a fixer-upper? Once inside your parents' home continue sleuthing. Invite your parents to go grocery shopping - on you, if you can afford it.Note their grocery and other selections. Are the purchases balanced, or, mostly convenience and non-nutritional? Back home, are your parents able to safely lift the bagged goods? Are they short of breath? Allow them to drive you to church, stores, or sightseeing.Evaluate driving safety and reflexes. Have "the talk.""Mom, Dad, I am impressed by everything you accomplish independently. I support your continued independence in living. There are many resources available these days to support us all in sustaining independence in living now that we are all older…meal service delivery, home and health aides, house cleaning services…Even one service would allow you more time to enjoy your lives…." Be a resourceful caregiver. Your aging parents may benefit fromhome care in Santa Rosa. Alzheimer's home care counselors at At Your Service Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable home care in Santa Rosa. At Your Service Home Care is an elder care agency providing Home Care in Santa Rosa. Isabel Fawcett, SPHR Isabel has been a full-time, stay-at-home caregiver to her 85 year old mother for 2 years, and counting. She is a regular Contributor at ElderCareLink, a blogger and Twitterer. Isabel is an independent human resources consultant and former HR management professional with 20+ years of HR experience, including FMLA, workers' compensation and the Americans With Disabilities Act. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certified and last worked for the Office of the Governor in Texas before her most recent eldercare choice.  Isabel also has worked in healthcare as Assistant Director of Volunteers at Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City, and Manager of Staffing and Recruitment, Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut. She has also worked at Marriott International Headquarters in HR. Isabel is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has been a patient care volunteer for the American Red Cross overseas. ...read more