Many seniors can’t live safely on their own without some daily help. If this is the case for your elderly parent, it may be time to start looking for trustworthy in-home care.

You can begin the search by asking friends and family if they are looking for a job in caregiving. If they are, you may have just saved yourself some time. Most people, however, do not know someone who is both qualified and looking for a job. With on-line databases of caregivers, this isn’t a problem. On Sittercity.com and Care.com“ providers post profiles and potential employers can look at them.

If you choose to use one of these websites, please remember that not everyone on these sites has the same qualifications. Some people are new to the job, while others have been doing it for years. Ideally you want someone with past experience, especially if the caregiver is involved in medical care, such as dispensing medicines or scheduling doctor’s appointments. When deciding who to interview, only choose people who have already had a background check. This helps you filter out anyone who has had any trouble with the law. It may also save your great-grandmother’s antique china set from being stolen when your parent isn’t watching. Also, try to avoid interviewing someone who can’t provide any references from previous employers. This is a red flag that something went wrong in the past.

When it comes time to interview your prospective candidates, it is imperative to cover certain topics. Be sure to have the candidate elaborate on past experience. This will help you determine how much training you will need to provide before this person is ready to take care of your parent. Keep in mind that is possible to hire someone who is overqualified. Someone who simply needs help in the kitchen doesn’t need a retired RN to care for him on a daily basis. Someone with dementia, however, might. Ask the candidate to describe how she responded to an emergency in her past. This can help you gauge whether they panic or take control in emergencies. Ideally, you want someone who can think on her feet when the unexpected happens. It is also important to discern how passionate this person is about the job. You probably want someone who will be attentive, forming a bond with your parent. Someone who is constantly texting or checking her email may only be doing the bare minimum for your parent.

Once the interviews are completed, you can pick your top candidate and train her. Many of the providers on Sittercity.com and Care.com“ are available to start work immediately, so you don’t have to wait for them to be ready for you.

The Holidays tend to be a stressful season for most people, and are often times even more stressful for caregivers.

Holiday visits can be a great time to check-up on your loved one and have a positive impact on their care.

Below is the complete podcast of Caregiving Over The Holidays.

As individuals age, they often need a bit more help with their day-to-day activities.The question then becomes whether or not that individual should continue to live at home or move into an assisted living residence.Home care is a great option for the elderly and has many benefits.

Below is the complete HD Video of The Benefits of Elderly HomeCare.

Long distance caregiving poses some unique challenges, as it is difficult to physically check-in on your loved one in their own home.Instead, you must rely on periodic visits and the reports of others. However, there are solutions to most concerns.

Below is the compelete Video HD Podcast of Challenges and Solutions of Long Distance Caregiving.

Long distance caregiving poses some unique challenges, as it is difficult to physically check-in on your loved one in their own home. Instead, you must rely on periodic visits and the reports of others. However, there are solutions to most concerns.

Below is the complete podcast of Challenges and Solutions to Long Distance Caregiving.

If you have a chronic illness or take prescription medication, you should consider wearing a medical alert bracelet. If an emergency arises, a Medical ID bracelet can help save your life by expediting treatment and avoiding misdiagnosis. Paramedics are also trained to look for a patient’s medical identification bracelet, and more than 95% of them do, so wearing an ID bracelet really is the way to go.

Many Medical ID bracelets can be engraved; if you have this option, be sure to take advantage of it. The three most important things to include are any chronic illnesses, life-threatening allergies, and prescription medications. For example, those with kidney disease, diabetes, and cardiac conditions should all wear medical bracelets. If emergency medical professionals know about these conditions, they can be sure to manage them while treating any other problems. In other words, knowing the full picture from the start can reduce complications later. If there’s any extra room on the ID tag, add an emergency contact that can further elaborate on your medical history.

Caregivers should also wear medical alert bracelets. If anything happens to them, the person they are caring for will still get the help he needs. This is especially important if the care-receiver does not have the means to seek additional help. Ideally, a caregiver’s bracelet should identify the person as a caregiver. It should also include the caregiver’s name, the care-recipient’s name, the caregiver’s relationship to the care-recipient, the care-recipient’s needs, and who to contact in the caregiver’s absence. That sounds like a lot of information to cram onto one bracelet, but it can be easily simplified. For example, on the front of the medical bracelet you can write, “I am a family caregiver. Helen Marie,” and on the back you can write, “Grandmother Sue has Alzheimer’s. Will need help. Call 123-456-7890.”

Medical alert bracelets come in different styles for both men and women. Charm bracelets are popular, as are stainless steel bangles. Both can be worn with other jewelry to form one cohesive look. Other than emergency medical professionals, few individuals will notice the medical emblem at all. Beaded bands are also a nice option for those who would prefer not to wear a plain silver or gold chain. Men can try medical bracelets that have leather or rubber wrist straps.

Order a medical bracelet today. It can save your life or the life of someone you love. Plus, it’s always comforting to know that you are prepared for an emergency.

Medical Alert Bracelets Save Lives Podcast

Medical Alert Bracelets Save Lives Video HD

Elderly people are more inclined to trip and fall, or otherwise injure themselves at home. Unfortunately, these injuries are harder to recover from at an older age. Luckily, there are many simple precautions that can be taken to greatly reduce the risk of injury.

There are some tasks that can be done in any living area of the home:
• All rugs and loose carpets should be either tacked or taped to the ground. This will prevent seniors from tripping on turned-up corners or scrunched rugs.
• Electric cords should be secured to the wall or placed under rugs so no one trips on them.
• Sharp corners on tables or countertops should be covered to avoid serious injury in the event of a fall.
• Staircases should have railings on both sides that are strong enough to support a person’s full body weight. Ideally these railings should extend beyond the top and bottom steps.

Bathrooms can be dangerous if they aren’t adequately prepared:
• Installing an elevated toilet seat will allow elderly individuals to get up and down easily, as will adding a railing on both sides of the toilet.
• The shower should have a bar to grab in case someone starts to slip.
• Placing a shower seat in the tub increases safety.
• The hot water faucet should be labeled or painted red to avoid scalding.
• Slick floors can be made safer by adding a no-slip mat by the sink and shower.
• If the shower door is made of glass, it should be marked with colorful tape or decals so no one accidentally tries to step through the door.

The kitchen can also be safety proofed easily:
• Make sure that all appliances are in good working order. If they aren’t, it may be time to make some new purchases or hire a repairman.
• All appliances should be placed near an outlet at waist height so seniors don’t have to struggle to reach things that are either too high or too low.
• Ensure that there is adequate lighting. This is especially important in the kitchen, where tools such knives and shredders are used on a regular basis.
• Make sure the smoke detector has fresh batteries.

Safety proofing a home may seem like a daunting task, but it is necessary, and most of the jobs that need to be done are relatively simple. Enlisting the help of a friend is a good idea, as the job will go faster and you’ll be less likely to miss anything. With the proper precautions, you can rest assured that your older friend or family member is living in the safest home possible.

Safety Proofing for Home Caregiving Podcast

Safety Proofing for Home Caregiving Video HD