“Hospital readmissions are not only detrimental to a patient’s mental and physical health and expensive, but they can result in hospital penalization. Readmissions may be the result of inadequate support and supervision following the patient’s discharge orders upon returning home. Having a structured, professional Hospital to Home program like the one offered by Home Care Assistance promises benefits to the patient and the hospital by working in conjunction with the patient’s medical team to ensure discharge orders are followed and intervention occurs before a readmission is necessary.”

Dr. David B. Carr, MD
Clinical Director, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science,
Washington University School of Medicine

“I work frequently with older adults. Many need help with activities of daily living, especially meal preparation, so I am excited to learn about the Balanced Care Method™ for caregivers. The information in the training manual about a healthy diet reflects the latest research, and the fact that it is based on the habits of the long-lived elders of Okinawa is very inspiring.”

Laurie Steinberg, Registered Dietitian at Stanford School of Medicine

“But beyond creating strengths for elders, families that emphasize Balanced Care will come to work together and understand more clearly how to cope with medical problems and illnesses. The secret is in the strength of the foundation of care. The rest then comes into clearer perspective; complex situations and decision-making during this time of life are better understood and engaged. Home Care Assistance is about foundation-building–for elders, families, supportive friends and, ultimately, for your health care team.”

Dr. Dennis McCullough, MD
Author, My Mother, Your Mother
Founder, Slow Medicine Movement in Geriatrics

“Home Care Assistance provides a very high level of service to patients and their families. As health care professionals, we most appreciate the quality and experience of their staff. We look forward to continuing to work with Home Care Assistance.”

Nancy Houston Miller, RN, and Kathy Berra, ANP
Nurse Care Managers of The LifeCare Company

Source: Professional Reviews

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

It’s holiday time and easy to neglect elderly relatives who are confined to a nursing home or assisted living facility in the holiday celebrations.  Show them how much they’re appreciated and that they’re an important part of the family with the following activities and ideas:

1. Schedule a time to get together that works for them – the holidays can be strenuous for some seniors when they are forced to abide by schedules that are outside of their routine. Plan a visit at a time that works with their specific needs, like napping and medication administration

2. Do something to make them feel special and pampered – if visiting a woman, bring nail polish and paint their nails, or bring shoe polish to make an elderly male feel like the center of the universe

3. Spend some quality time together – take your senior out for a walk, visit with their friends and those most important to them, and remind them how happy you are to be together

4. Talk and listen – during a visit, make sure that you talk to them openly and make them feel like an important part of your life. Also make sure that you really listen to what they have to say as well. Remember, older generations have a lot of life experience and can share great advice!

If your loved ones are celebrating the holidays at home with you, here are some things to remember when planning for festivities:

Menu. Make the traditional meal a group effort. Your parent can supervise the younger family members – they will learn all the secrets to preparing favorite family recipes.

Do it differently. Plan a holiday brunch rather than a lunch, or attend a daytime religious service instead of the evening one.

Make it simple. Hauling traditional decorations may be impossible for aging relatives to handle. Instead, have a family gathering to decide which traditions to keep and what to let go.

Be the eyes, hands and feet for the loved one. Arthritis prevents seniors from writing cards or macular degeneration damages eyesight and makes it difficult to shop for gifts – offer to take on those tasks.

Home Care Assistance wishes everyone a safe and happy holidays!

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

“There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” – Rosalyn Carter

In observance of Family Caregivers Month, we are offering a FREE download of our award-winning book, “The Handbook of Live-In Care: A Guide for Family Caregivers.”

Family caregivers fill a vital role in the care team and ensure continuity of care. They are the most familiar with the care recipients’ medicine regimen; they are the most knowledgeable about the treatment regimens; and they understand best the dietary and exercise plans. However, family caregivers also have extremely high burnout rates, with stress-related physical and emotional impacts such as back pain and depression. In fact, around 55% of family caregivers exhibit depressive symptoms. Further, a lack of formal training can prevent a loved one from receiving the best possible care.

The Signs of Burnout

• Feeling pessimistic and dissatisfied

• Decreased energy or emotional exhaustion

• Withdrawing from friends or social interactions

• Loss of interest in work or enjoyable activities

• Increased use of alcohol or medication to relax

• Becoming impatient, irritable, or argumentative

• Lowered resistance to illness

Evaluate the impact that caregiving has on your life with this assessment – Click Here for Assessment.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

Home Care Assistance Franchise owners, Lori and Mark Wengerd, of Central Ohio received The Outstanding Operations and Achievement Awards for 2012. They were honored the award for the best senior home care franchise that best exemplifies the company’s mission to “change the way the world ages. The fact that the Wengerds received three of the top awards at the 2012 Convention speaks volumes for their leadership ability and dedication to the highest standard of care for both employees and clients.

The Home Care Assistance in Central Ohio received the award for having the highest combined score for:

Client care

Employee care

Marketing and operations

Lori spent 25 years in the communication field before deciding to chase her long-time dream of working with older adults. With the support of her husband, she opened the Columbus location in June 2009. In just three years, her location has become one of the top-producing companies across the Home Care Assistance network. Lori is very involved in her community, serving on the boards of the National Parkinson Foundation Central and Southeast Ohio and AWARE, the women’s organization for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio. She is committed to the company’s mission to “change the way the world ages,” while also giving back to those in need.

“I am passionate about the study of aging, wellness and quality of life, so it only feels natural to extend my involvement around these important issues beyond our client base,” said Lori.

In the past three years, she has presented a program called “Happy to 102″ to dozens of church, community and civic groups. New in 2012, Lori will be presenting “The Conversation,” aimed at helping seniors and their adult children hold extended, meaningful conversations about end-of-life wishes.

When frailty, chronic illness, or forgetfulness make living alone too difficult, there is an alternative to assisted living or other facilities. With full-service or part-time assistance, we help older adults live life on their own terms.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

The Home Care Assistance Hospital to Home Care guide includes this discharge planning checklist to help make sure you and your family are prepared for the transition home. It is important to make sure you have the care you need at home and you can prevent avoidable hospital readmissions.

Do you have friends or family members who will be helping you after your discharge or who you want involved in the discharge planning process?

Do you have a strong preference regarding where you will go after you discharged? Please make notes below on where and why.

There are a number of common concerns hospitalized individuals have about being discharged, please put a tic next the ones that apply so that you can remember to speak to the discharge planner about them:

___ I have pets

___ I need help being transferred and I weigh ______________lbs.

___ I have work/school obligations

___ I have parenting/family caregiving obligations

___ I will need medical support (e.g. injections, wound care)

___ I do not think I can do the following alone:

___ Cooking, shopping, driving, paying bills

___ Bathing, dressing, using the restroom

___ Transferring, moving

___ Physical/speech therapy exercises

These are my medications/vitamins/supplements (include dosage) that I was taking before I was admitted.

REMEMBER: Ask the medical team if you should make any modifications/discontinue any medications after you are discharged.

Home Care Assistance is also happy to provide copies of our free patient guides to you and your families. Our patient guides address the specific concerns of individuals being discharged from the hospital after specific conditions:Stroke

• Cardiac Event or Condition

• Fracture or Joint Replacement

• Pneumonia

• Diabetes

For your free patient guide, please contact Home Care Assistance or call 1-866-4-Livein

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.