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Respite Care for the Greater Miami-Dade Area’s Elderly
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving, elderly care | 0 comments
Being the primary caregiver of a senior loved one can be mentally and physically exhausting, and a time-consuming task for busy working families. For families who desire a temporary break and some assistance, there is a solution: senior respite care. Respite care is a type of senior care that provides a temporary respite for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon, it can occur weekly, or it can happen multiple times per week.
Advancare is a senior respite care provider that serves the entire greater Miami-Dade area. We offer personalized and affordable respite care for seniors that is available seven days per week and can range from a few hours per day to 24-hour live-in care.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is another name for a short-term break for primary caregivers. When you’re looking after somebody who is physically disabled or sick, it can be a full-time job. To avoid burnout and to look after your own needs, you need a break from time to time. This is where respite care comes into play. Respite care can take place in your home, at special senior day-care centers, or at residential centers that offer overnight stays. Respite care is highly personalizable and is set up for a few hours, a day, or weeks.
Who Provides Respite?
If you’re going to trust a respite care provider to take care of your loved ones, you likely want to ensure that they are in good hands. Respite care providers are:
- Qualified caregivers
- Experienced and trained professionals
- Matched personalities
Here at Advancare, we employ only the most committed, highly qualified, and carefully selected caregivers to provide home care assistance to our clients. We screen every caregiver thoroughly to ensure that we work with only the best. For extra reassurance and peace of mind, all our caregivers are fully bonded and insured.
What to Consider
When you are considering hiring a respite care service to help take care of your loved one, you likely have a lot of questions. The type of respite care services that will need to be provided depends on a variety of factors, including:
- In-home versus dedicated facility
- Mental disorders or decline
- Age
Common examples of conditions that require respite care include:
- A brain injury
- Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- A stroke
- Blindness
- A brain injury
Who Benefits
Respite care can benefit both seniors and their caregivers. Taking care of a homebound senior can be exhausting and lead to burnout for busy family members. Also, seniors can benefit by having a different person to provide companionship and trained assistance.
Types of Respite Care Services
So what exactly do respite care services entail? These are some of the services provided by Advancare:
- Bathing and grooming
- Help with medications
- Exercise
- Enjoying the outdoors
- Light housekeeping
- Meal planning and preparation
Get in Touch and Get Assistance and Much Deserved Break in Miami
Contact Advancare today at 305-441-9794 to schedule a needs assessment or consultation so that our senior caregivers can learn more about how they can help.
What Are Skills Of A Caregiver in Miami Metro
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving, elderly care | 0 comments
An elderly caregiver is a person who cares for the health and well-being of a senior who needs help with daily tasks and activities. These responsibilities often fall at the hands of family members, who are busy with work and other family activities. We know that the decision to hand over the care of a senior loved one to a professional caregiver can be a difficult one to make, which is why we only hire the most qualified and experienced elderly caregivers at Advancare.
If you’re wondering what are skills of a good caregiver in Miami, the caregivers at Advancare are here to answer your questions. Whether it’s helping with bathing and grooming, providing care and companionship, or something else, our caregivers can make life easier for both seniors and their loved ones.
Types of Elderly Caregivers in Miami-Dade
When a senior citizen ages, they sometimes find it difficult to complete daily tasks that they once found to be second nature. In cases such as these, a family may decide to have a member of the family complete caregiver duties, or in some cases, they may instead hire an outside caregiving company such as Advancare. Thus, the two main types of elderly caregivers are:
- Family Members: Family members know their elderly loved ones the best, including their comforts and discomforts, how to handle their mood changes, and when they need to take their medication. However, taking care of a senior loved one can be a lot of work that is difficult for busy family members to take on.
- Professionals: Whether you’re getting professional help from an HHA, RN, or LPN, a professional caregiver can be of tremendous assistance. Here at Advancare, we only employ the most committed, highly qualified, and carefully selected caregivers. They are all bonded and insured for your protection and peace of mind.
What You Need a Caregiver For in Miami
The duties that a senior caregiver will perform are highly dependent on the senior and their individual needs. Thus, the caregivers at Advancare are qualified to perform a wide variety of different senior care services. Our caregivers perform the kinds of tasks that are essential for seniors who wish to age in place, but, due to illness or chronic conditions, need support to remain at home safely. Caregivers improve the lives of seniors by providing compassionate one-on-one care in the comfort of their own homes. Here are some of the services that we perform:
- Alzheimer’s and dementia carefully
- Bathing and grooming assistance
- Food safety
- Meal planning and preparation
- Supportive care
- Short-term disability
- Running errands
- Assistance with bill paying
- Care companionship
- Light housekeeping
- Assistance with memory care (games, learning exercises)
Hire Caregivers You Can Trust in Miami!
When you hire a caregiver to work with your loved ones, they must be highly qualified, trained, and experienced. Every caregiver at Advancare is committed to providing compassionate in-home senior care, and each one is bonded and insured.
To learn more about how we can help, contact our company at 305-441-9794.
7 Ways Seniors Boost Memory in Miami
Posted by Scott Cantin in elderly care, Senior Health | 0 comments
Loss of memory is a common complaint among seniors. While everybody forgets things occasionally, memory loss accelerates when people age, often causing frustration and confusion. If you’re wondering how to improve memory retention and recall, there are no guarantees and sure ways to prevent dementia and forgetfulness from occurring, but there are easy ways for seniors to strengthen their memory recall.
At Advancare, we have a team of dedicated in-home senior caregivers serving the entire Miami-Dade area. When spending time with your senior loved ones, we make sure to engage them with these memory-boosting exercises, though most of them can also be completed on their own. Here is how to improve memory and concentration.
#1 Get Enough Sleep
There is a strong relationship between the amount of sleep that a person gets and their memory recall. Sleep triggers changes in the brain that solidify memories, and it also strengthens connections between brain cells and helps in transferring memories from short-term to long-term memory. So how much sleep should a senior get each night to boost memory? It depends on the person, but six to nine hours should be adequate.
#2 Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet can be as critical for your brain as it is for your heart. There is evidence that suggests that foods high in saturated and trans fats, such as beer or steak, dairy, and fried foods, cause high levels of LDL cholesterol. These unhealthy, artery-clogging foods can cause damage to the brain and increase the risk of memory loss and stroke.
#3 Stay Physically Active
Regular physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your brain, which can help keep your memory boosted. According to a study conducted by the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas, seniors who engaged in physical activities such as using a stationary bike or treadmill for only one hour three times per week for 12 weeks resulted in higher resting blood flow to the brain. Improvements in mental health were seen in as few as six weeks afterward.
#4 Stay Mentally Active
Learning new skills and keeping your brain active can play a major role in improving cognitive function and memory. Consider engaging in mental activities such as playing an instrument, learning a new hobby, or performing mental exercises. Keeping your senior’s mind active with new challenges and activities can keep their memory strong.
#5 Socialize Regularly
Regular social interaction helps to ward off depression and stress, both of which are negative factors that can contribute to memory loss. Take advantage of opportunities that allow your senior to meet up with friends and family members. Consider helping them join a social club with their peers.
#6 Role of Toxins
Sometimes toxins such as lead, mercury, and aluminum can contribute to memory loss and dementia. If your senior has been exposed to such toxins, they may be at a higher risk for memory loss.
#7 Recall and Retention
A large part of boosting memory is working on recall and retention of information. This is something that the staff at Advancare helps out with when they are completing memory-boosting exercises.
Need a Caregiver to Help You Reach Your Goals for Improving Memory and Retention?
One of the many services performed by the caregivers at Advancare is caring companionship. Having a caregiver visit who can provide socialization and boost mental well-being can play a positive role in boosting memory in seniors.
To learn more, contact us at 305-441-9794.
Does My Insurance Pay for Senior Home Care?
Posted by Scott Cantin in elderly care, home care, Senior Care | 0 comments
How to Qualify for Home Health Care in Miami
A variety of senior health care treatments that were once only available at a doctor’s office or hospital can now be done in your home. This type of senior home health care is sometimes called in-home care, and its advantages include being less expensive, more convenient, and the care being of the same quality that you would find in a hospital or doctor’s office. One question that many people ask is, does insurance pay for senior home care?
The short answer to this question is yes, assuming you meet certain eligibility criteria and if the services are considered reasonable and necessary for the treatment of your illness or injury. Here at Advancare, our caregivers would like to provide a guide on the home health care services that Medicare covers.
Requirements
If you’re wondering how to qualify for home health care for home health care, here is an overview of the eligibility requirements. If you have medical health coverage, you can use your home health benefits if:
- You’re under the care of a licensed medical professional, and you’re getting services under a plan of care established and reviewed regularly by a doctor.
- You need, and the doctor certifies that you need, one or more of the following:
- Intermittent skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Speech-language pathology services
- Continued occupational therapy
- The home health agency caring for you is approved by Medicare
- You’re homebound, and a doctor certifies that you’re homebound. Homebound can be defined as:
- You have trouble leaving your home without help, such as a cane, wheelchair, walker, or crutches because of an illness or injury
- You’re normally unable to leave your home, but if you do, it requires a major effort
- As part of your certification of eligibility, a doctor, or certain health care professionals who work with a doctor must document that they have had a face-to-face meeting with you and the meeting was related to the reason you need home health care.
What Home Health Care Services are Covered?
If you are found to be eligible for home health care services under your insurer, most will cover a number of different aspects of home care. These include:
- Skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services
- Home health aide services: This includes the personal care services provided by Advancare. Some health coverage plans don’t cover home health aide services unless you’re also getting skilled care
What to Expect
It is important to understand that Medicare will not pay for home health services such as meals delivered to your home and homemaker services. It also will not pay for custodial or personal care like bathing, using the bathroom, and dressing if those services are the only things that you require.
Tips from Miami Caregiver
If you have any questions about whether Medicare will pay for your home health care services, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Advancare. Understanding and qualifying for Medicare can sometimes be a challenge, but our caregivers are here to help.
Contact us at (305) 441-9794 for more information.
Guide To Finding Senior Transport in Miami
Posted by Scott Cantin in elderly care, Senior Care | 0 comments
As people age, many of the daily activities that they used to do without a second thought can become dangerous and difficult. This includes completing everyday errands, such as grocery shopping, going to the store, and visiting friends and family. The common denominator with these three activities is that they all involve driving, a skill that becomes dangerous as seniors lose their eyesight and develop slowed reaction time.
Need help driving or finding transportation in Miami?
We understand that for seniors, driving is one of the most difficult things to give up. People do not like losing the independence and freedom that comes with being behind the wheel, but at the same time, seniors can get to the point where driving causes them to get traffic violations, run out of gas, get lost, and even get into an accident. For seniors who do not want to give up the freedom that comes with leaving their home, there is a middle ground: a senior errand service. Here is an overview of the senior errand service provided by Advancare.
What is an Errand Service?
If you are the primary caregiver of a senior, you’re likely juggling both their needs and your own needs. We know that this is a lot for some family members to take on, which is why our errand service for seniors assists with taking care of everyday errands that you do not have time for, such as picking up prescriptions, going to the post office, or getting groceries. Some errand services can also include things such as house cleaning, home organization and cleaning, or security checks. Sometimes the senior can come along on the errand; other times, they may choose not to.
What to Look for in a Senior Errand Service
- Types of Errands Provided: When searching for an errand service, you’ll want to ensure that they can do the types of errands that your senior requires. Types of common errands include rides to recreational activities, picking up gifts for family members, grocery shopping, going to the post office, and driving to the doctor or pharmacy.
- Customization: A good senior errand service should be able to adapt to your needs. They will put the needs of your senior first and foremost, no matter the type of errand you are running.
- Area of Service: In your search for a senior errand service, you should make sure that they provide senior errand services in your area of residence.
- Caregivers: The caregivers that complete the errands should be screened, certified, and trained to work with seniors and run errands.
Our Miami, FL Senior Errand Service
Advancare is a Miami, FL senior caregiver company that also focuses on completing errands for seniors. We run a wide variety of different errands for seniors, and our areas of service include Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Aventura, North Miami Beach, and Miami Beach. We only employ the most committed, highly qualified, and carefully selected caregivers to provide in-home assistance and run errands. To provide additional peace of mind, all the caregivers are fully bonded and insured.
To get started with our senior errand service, contact us at (305) 441-9794.
Tips For Miami’s Seniors on Keeping Cool During Summer
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving tips, elderly care, Senior Care | 0 comments
Summertime in Miami brings blazing heat, bright sun, and uncomfortable humidity, three things that can cause heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke. While everybody should take precautions in the hot Miami summer, seniors face an especially high risk in inclement weather. According to a CDC report, 36 percent of heat-related deaths in the United States were among people over age 65, but there are ways to prevent heat-related illnesses and keep seniors cool.
Looking for home care services or companionship in the Greater Miami area?
Our professional caregivers have plenty of relevant experience keeping seniors cool in the hot Miami summer. Here are a few tips.
What is Heat Stroke and Why Are Seniors Susceptible?
Before going over our tips to stay cool, our senior care in Miami professionals think it’s important to share an overview of what heat stroke is. Heatstroke happens when the body overheats, typically to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If not treated, heat stroke can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. The longer it takes to get treatment, the higher the risk for serious complications or even death.
While everybody can experience heat stroke to some degree, seniors are especially vulnerable. This is because their bodies do not adjust as well to sudden changes in temperature, chronic medical conditions can change their body responses to heat, and prescription medications can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature or could actually prevent sweating.
Tips to Help Seniors Avoid the Heat
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- Encourage water intake: Remind your loved ones to drink water throughout the day. A body that is hydrated feels cooler and regulates temperature better. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
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- Understand their health conditions: Check with their doctor to find out if medications or treatments could increase the risk for heatstroke by affecting the way that their bodies regulate temperature.
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- Cool washcloth: If the senior is feeling hot, encourage them to place a cool washcloth on their back and a pan of cool water close by to periodically re-cool the towel.
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- Wear lightweight clothing: Convince them to wear as little clothing as possible and make clothes as light, breathable, and loose as possible.
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- Use solar curtains: Inexpensive solar curtains can play a large role in keeping your senior’s house cool during the hottest days by blocking out the sun.
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- Visit a public cooling center: If the house does not have air conditioning or if the system does not work well, a senior can stay cool by visiting a public cooling spot such as a senior center, library, coffee shop, or recreation center.
- Stay on the ground floor: Because heat rises, a house is cooler in the main level and the basement. Discourage them from spending too much time upstairs.
Miami’s Most Compassionate Caregivers
Our team of friendly in-home caregivers provides senior care services in Miami. We improve the lives of seniors by providing compassionate, one-on-one care in the comfort of their own homes.
If you would like additional tips on how to keep your loved ones cool during summer, call us today at (305) 441-9794.
House Cleaning Tips & Decluttering For Miami Seniors
Posted by Scott Cantin in elderly care | 0 comments
House Cleaning 101: Decluttering Tips For Miami Seniors
Spring is a great time to give your home a deep clean regardless of your age. Rolling up your sleeves and giving your home a thorough cleaning is a great way to ensure the doldrums of winter are truly behind you.
However, if your home is cluttered, mopping the floors and washing the windows may not be enough. Getting rid of at least some of that clutter may also be a good idea. If you’re reluctant to give up some of your belongings, consider this – decluttering means you’ll have less to clean and keep organized! It also means your home will look nicer and feel more welcoming to you and anyone who might stop by for a visit.
Are you in need of assistance with your house cleaning chores in Miami?
Create a Checklist
Before you start to physically declutter your home, make a checklist. Having a checklist will enable you to keep track of the progress you’re making as you declutter. It will also keep you motivated because you’ll look forward to crossing off each task on your decluttering to-do list as you complete them.
Start Slowly
Decluttering can be overwhelming, particularly if years have passed since you last attempted it. To avoid feeling that way, start slowly. At the start of the process, devote just five or ten minutes per day to decluttering. As you make progress, you can dedicate more time to the process every day.
Alternatively, set a goal to clear one surface or area per decluttering session. When that’s done, cross it off your checklist and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. By breaking the overall decluttering process down into doable steps, you’ll build momentum and keep your motivation up as you make your way through your home.
Separate Your Things
In general, every item you own will fall into one of four categories: trash, donate, keep, or relocate. To keep your possessions separated in their respective categories, get four boxes and place each item in the appropriate box. When a given box is full, don’t hesitate to take action. For example, if your donate box is full, take it to a non-profit that can benefit from the contents.
If you’re struggling to fill your boxes, you may want to take the 12 x 12 x 12 x 12 challenge. As you probably guessed, winning this challenge requires you to put 12 things in each of your four boxes. While this challenge may not be enough to get you through an entire closet or room, it will help you make noticeable progress.
Ask for Help
Even with all the decluttering tips in the world, some people still struggle with cleaning and organizing their home. If you or a loved one is having difficulty, you’ll be happy to learn that our Southern Florida home-care agency offers housekeeping for seniors.
Our light housekeeping services for seniors include assistance with decluttering. Our talented service providers will even help you organize your things as they help you declutter your home.
If you or your loved one needs help with decluttering and housekeeping, assistance is just a phone call or email away. Advancare proudly offers housekeeping services for seniors throughout Miami-Dade County.
Long-Term Care Options For Seniors & Elderly in Miami, FL
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Miami’s Long-Term Care Helps Prevent Health Issues in Elderly
You don’t need to be a retiree to know that senior social isolation is a growing problem. Many younger people know it’s a real issue whenever they reach out to their senior family members or contact their favorite teachers from elementary school.
Request a FREE evaluation today!
Sadly, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that about 28 percent of individuals who are 65 years-old or older lived alone at the time the last census was conducted. As time passes and Baby Boomers exit their caregiving years, things may get even worse.
According to AARP, the population aged 45-64 years-old will only increase by one percent between 2010 and 2030 while the subset of the nation’s population that’s 80 or older will grow by 79 percent. The glaring disparity between those numbers means radically fewer caregivers will be available to tend to the country’s aging population.
The Risks of Social Isolation for Seniors
Social isolation and the resultant feelings of loneliness can have serious consequences for seniors. Whether they’re alone because they’ve retired from the workforce, their spouse has passed, they’re childless or their kids live far away, they have mobility issues, their friends have passed on, or something else limits their ability to socialize, seniors may grapple with loneliness for any number of reasons.
Here are some of the risks that social isolation and loneliness pose for too many senior citizens in the United States and around the world:
- Premature death: Studies indicate that loneliness is closely linked to life-threatening conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and obesity. When acute symptoms of any one of those conditions or another present themselves, someone who is socially isolated may lack the contacts to recognize them and/or seek help, which could result in premature death.
- Poor health: Loneliness can have a negative impact on a person’s physical and mental health. Cognitive decline, depression, and the onset of dementia are just a few of the possible neurologic impacts that may result from social isolation.
- Loneliness spreads: While it might not seem possible since it’s not a virus or germ, research shows that loneliness can be passed from one person to another. In other words, one lonely person can cause others to feel socially isolated and put them as risk for the negative consequences that feeling lonely can produce.
Advancare: Your Source for Home Help for Seniors in Miami-Dade County
Making sure seniors have the long-term care they need to remain engaged and social is vital to the well-being of your senior family members. Advancare is proud to provide in-home services for seniors located throughout Miami-Dade County.
Our talented team provides all sorts of senior home care in Miami, FL and surrounding areas every day. We offer help with bathing and grooming and assistance with paying bills, meal preparation, transportation, light housekeeping and more.
When you reach out to Advancare to arrange long-term care for an aging family member or friend, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the care necessary to prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness. And your loved one won’t just benefit from care today. Your family member or friend will receive loving, informed care to keep them social over the long-haul.
To make arrangements for long-term care for yourself or someone else, contact Advancare now.
Grandparents Babysitting Grandchildren Could Lower Risk for Alzheimer’s
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving, elderly care | 0 comments
Your children love spending time with grandma and grandpa, which is great for everyone involved. Now, new scientific research has revealed that grandparents babysitting grandchildren could actually lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Tips on Long Distance Care
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiver stress, caregiving, caregiving tips, depression, elderly care, home care, Senior Health | 0 comments
Tips for Long Distance Senior Care
Caring for far away loved ones can be quite the challenge. If you live far away from someone that you care about and they need constant attention, then check out some of these helpful long distance senior care tips. It is always important to understand how your loved one may feel about being cared for from a distance. The most crucial thing you can do is put yourself in their shoes and take into account how they feel about the situation. Your life will be affected, but theirs will be affected even more than yours. Always keep this in mind, even when caring from someone close by. These things are not always easy to deal with and it is important to remember what matters most to you and your loved one: being there for each other and loving one another.
