Proper Nutrition for Your Loved One

Proper nutrition is always an important aspect of a persons health, but it is especially crucial as people age and begin having health issues. The elderly need to make good nutrition a priority. Good nutrition will help avoid unnecessary health problems and may prolong the amount of quality life they have.

As their body goes through the aging process many changes will be taking place. Their body needs to be taken care of in every way possible. This will keep them as healthy as possible and will give them more energy. 

Sometimes it is hard to know exactly what changes to make in nutrition and eating habits. It is overwhelming to try and figure out a diet that best suits an individual person. There are people out there who can help during this process. The articles below give some good general rules to follow when encouraging your elderly family members to have good nutrition. 

The effects of good nutrition will always be seen in the long-run and will enhance a persons quality of life. Read the articles below to see how you can implement these nutrition tips into your life or your family members life. 

Like always, if you need further assistance, do not hesitate to call/email us!

Encouraging Good Nutrition

  Helping your care-receiver develop and maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet can be a considerable challenge, especially if you’re an adult child taking care of an aging parent.

     As a body ages, the digestive system is more prone to heartburn and constipation. Dental problems may make chewing painful. Some medications suppress a person’s appetite or promote weight gain. Depression can bring on a change in appetite. Dad may simply not care about food. If Mom has memory loss, she may forget to eat or may think she has eaten. Finances may be tight. Some older people, after paying rent and utility bills, have little left over for buying food.

     It can also be difficult to eat properly when you’re alone. It’s so much easier to skip a meal or nibble on less nutritious foods when no one else is there.

     And then, too, we each develop our eating habits over a lifetime. While we may know about the basic food groups or the food guide pyramid, that doesn’t mean we always follow those guidelines. Changing lifelong habits is very difficult.

     As the adult child of an aging parent, you can encourage your mother or father to eat well. This doesn’t mean being pushy or disrespectful. It doesn’t mean ignoring a parent’s wishes. In fact, the more your care-receiver is involved in the process, the more likely it is to succeed.

     ●A first step may be to talk to your loved one’s doctor and ask for the help of a nutritionist who can tell you what he or she specifically needs.     Your care-receiver may have to keep a daily journal of exactly what he or she eats. (The results can be surprising, but we would probably all be surprised if we kept track of what we ate each day.) A nutritionist will recommend an appropriate diet — low salt, low sugar, or low fat; high in fiber or calcium; and so forth. Encourage your loved one to keep this diet. When the family gets together, make sure that foods on the diet are included in the menu. Don’t serve your loved one food he or she isn’t supposed to have. 

     ●Check with the pharmacist to find out if any of your care-receiver’s medications would react negatively to particular foods (like milk, for example).

     ●Be careful with vitamin pills. They aren’t a catchall that makes up for poor eating habits. It’s possible to take too many vitamins. And they’re expensive.

     ●Keep in mind that some older people find it easier to eat six smaller meals throughout the day rather than three regular-size ones.

     ●Make food preparation as easy as possible for your care-receiver. Freeze small portions that can be heated in the microwave. Make sure the food looks appealing.

     ●Check out local community resources to see what kinds of meal delivery programs are available. Maybe your parent would like to go to a “nutrition site” at the local senior center and have a hot meal in the middle of the day. Help arrange transportation if needed.

     ●Remember that no one likes to eat the same foods day after day. Encourage your loved one to eat a variety of foods within the prescribed diet, and make sure your care-receiver gets the items he or she prefers.

     ●When grocery shopping, realize it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying only ice cream or cookies or some other single food because “That’s all she wants” or “That’s all he’ll eat.” Like all of us, your loved one would prefer to live on a single, favorite treat; like all of us, he or she needs nutritious food for the best health possible.

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly

Try these 10 simple tips to improve the overall health and nutrition of the ones you love.

1. Serve several small meals rather than 3 large meals. Many elders have a decreased appetite and can only eat small amounts of food at a time. Serving more frequent meals helps make eating less overwhelming and can help provide the nutrition your loved ones need.

2. Provide water frequently. As we age, we lose our sense of thirst. This makes dehydration a common problem in the elderly. Make sure that water is always available and encourage your loved ones to drink even when they are not thirsty.

3. Make meals colorful and attractive. Use different colors, shapes and textures of foods to encourage elders to eat a variety of foods.

4. Use herbs and spices to add flavor. Because taste diminishes as we age, it’s important to make food taste good. Rather than using salt to add flavor, try dill, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, onions, lemon and other herbs and spices to make food taste flavorful. 

5. Encourage eating protein. Many elders do not consume enough protein. This can lead to muscle weakness, edema (fluid build-up), fatigue and a decreased ability to fight infection. Good sources of protein include chicken, fish, meat, eggs and milk.

6. Encourage foods high in omega-3 Fatty acids. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids help decrease the risk of heart disease, decrease inflammation (which can help those suffering from arthritis), and improve mood. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, sardines and walnuts.

7. Encourage eating foods high in fiber. Eating a high fiber diet can help prevent constipation, a common complaint in elders. Foods high in fiber include whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.

8. Encourage eating foods with zinc. In elders, zinc deficiency is common due to an inadequate intake of zinc, decreased absorption of it, increased needs and more interactions with medications. Deficiency can result in decreased appetite and decrease sense of taste already common occurrences in the elderly. Good sources of zinc include fish, poultry, enriched grains and beans.

9. Make mealtimes enjoyable. To encourage eating, make mealtimes enjoyable. Eat with the ones you love, invite guests or simply engage in pleasant conversation.

10. Encourage getting physical activity. Even in the elderly, activity has been shown to be essential for decreasing the risk of chronic disease, maximizing mental capacity and having healthier muscles and bones. It also results in greater flexibility, more lean body mass, a better sense of balance, increased blood flow to the brain, a stronger immune system, less falls (and therefore less broken bones) and better overall health.

Dementia and Alzheimer's

Dementia and Alzheimer's in the Elderly

Your family is not alone. The effects of dementia and Alzheimer's are devastating, not only to the one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, but also to the family members who are coping with this new reality. You may feel alone in this battle, but there are many other families who are struggling with these same circumstances in their own family. Coming to a better understanding about the symptoms and effects of dementia and Alzheimer's, may help change your perspective on this issue. Also, we will provide you will a couple resources that may help you get the support you need during this time. 

First, it is important to understand that although the terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's" are often used to mean the same thing, they are defined and diagnosed differently. Dementia refers to, "A loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living." This can encompass a wider variety of diseases, but Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. 

Although Alzheimer's is most commonly found in and associated with the elderly, it is not a natural part of the aging process. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that gets worse over time; the intensity and form the symptoms take will change as the disease progresses. For example, in the beginning stages an individual might experience minor memory loss, but in later stages an individual may experience more severe memory loss, affecting their ability to function independently. 

Some of the general symptoms of Alzheimer's include:

• Memory loss, ranging from mild to severe. 
• Disorientation.
• Mood and behavior changes. 
• Deepening confusion about events, time and place.
• Suspicions about family, friends, and caregivers.
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking.

If any of these symptoms are occurring in you or your family member, a doctor should be seen right away. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, there are a few helpful intervention methods that can slow down the process. Early diagnosis is key for Alzheimer's treatment. There are very noticeable changes that take place in the brain scans; Alzheimer's prevents nerve cells in the brain from accurately performing their job. This causes the brain to lose function, resulting in many of the symptoms seen above. 

The best way to communicate with your family member who has Alzheimer's is to meet them where they are at, and be aware that this may change from day to day. This disease is completely out of their control, and should not be handled with anger and frustration. It is important for family members to get support during this time, because it can become too big of a physical and emotional burden, especially on family members who also have the responsibility of being the main caregiver.

Here are a few helpful resources in regards to this topic and support for your family:

Support for Alzheimer's/Dementia

Alzheimer's: Dealing with Family Conflict

Affording In Home Healthcare...Can I afford to keep my loved one at home?

One of the main reasons people choose not to invest in in-home healthcare (1 on 1 care) for their loved ones is because of the possible financial burden or the lack or resources the individual has. Comfort of Home Healthcare wants to make in-home healthcare not only comforting and convenient for your family, but also financially affordable. As a business, we try to keep costs down as much as we can, but there are also resources for your family to participate in that will dramatically change your financial outlook on in-home healthcare services. 

But before we get in to some of the resources, Comfort of Home Healthcare would like to point out that if your receive in home care for two people. E.g. Parents/ grand parents
It is very feasible to financially keep your loved ones in their homes!! In a facility setting (nursing home) you will have to pay out of pocket for each person. In home care is priced by staffing and not each individual person. 

This is so important because this will allow you to; 
1. keep your loved ones in their home! 
2. You will have one staff taking care of both of them as opposed to one CNA per 10+ people!

Unfortunately this is not case for most of our clients. For those of you who are looking for care for a loved one (not a couple). Comfort of Home Healthcare has provided a list of resources that will offset costs, for you to consider. Here are several of those resources and how you may qualify to receive these benefits: 
(Not all scenarios work for every person. This simply a list of all options available)

• Veterans Benefits: If you or your loved one was a veteran.

• Veterans Widows Benefits: If you or your loved one was married to a veteran.

• Medicaid: If you meet the financial guidelines to qualify for Medicaid, they have potential opportunities for assistance. 

• Long Term Care Insurance: If you or your loved one has purchased a Long Term Care Insurance Plan.

• Life Insurance: If you or your loved one is terminally ill, a life insurance plan is a valuable resource. 

• Life Insurance (Viatical Settlement): A viatical settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy to a third party, usually a funding company owned by a group of investors. 

• Life Insurance (Loan): A policy owner may be able to make a loan against the cash value of the policy, based on what type of policy is owned. 

• Reverse Mortgage: If you or your loved one has equity in their home, they can probably qualify for a reverse mortgage.

• Area Agency on Ageing: There can be local organizations such as the Area Agency on Ageing that can help with some of the costs of in-home care.

If you have questions about the specific details (contacts and phone numbers) of these resources, Comfort of Home Healthcare would be happy to talk to you about the resources that will best fit your family and your family's individual needs. 

We care about your family and we want to provide the best possible service at the best price for your family!

Elderly Care is a Family Affair

Elderly Care is a Family Affair

Your elderly or disabled loved ones are at crucial points in their life, filled with many changes and new circumstances. During this time your loved one needs support and help in planning their future and making sure all of their needs are properly addressed. No one should walk this road alone, and so the care of your loved one needs to become a family issue. Often family members are the caregivers to their elderly or disabled loved one, so they too may be experiencing many life changes. The best way to care for your family is to make sure that you are coming together as a family, making compromises when necessary, and making decisions based on the needs of the entire family. 

"Seniors are at a vulnerable stage of life. They often face multiple health concerns and loss of physical and cognitive function. More than ever, seniors need the support and love of family members. Seniors often have difficulty expressing their needs, desires and preferences, so they must have someone to advocate for them. And who is more qualified for that than the people who know them better than anyone else in the world?"

To be able to be the advocate for your loved one during this often difficult time, is such a rewarding opportunity. If you and your loved one are able to work together and communicate effectively, this will increase the positive outcomes in both of your lives. 

It is not uncommon for family members to be the sole or primary caregiver for an elderly or disabled family member. "A new study of caregivers says that one out of three adults in the U.S. currently serves as a caregiver." Caregiving is no easy task, and takes up much of the caregivers time and energy. If you are in this position it may be necessary to consider some in-home healthcare options for your family. In addition to this, it is important to ask the right questions when you are considering a plan for your elderly or disabled loved one's care. 

Here are some questions that may be helpful to consider:

• What is the best way to talk to my parents or loved one about their healthcare needs?
• How will the care they need be funded?
• What is the safest, most comfortable, most appropriate care option for my loved one?
• Is there a family member nearby who can be of assistance at a moment's notice?
• What types of services or help does my loved one need-- for instance, bathing, eating, transportation, medications, etc.?
• How do my loved one's religious affiliation and personal preferences influence the care decisions we need to make?
• What types of senior care are available? How do they differ? How does each one address my parents specific needs?

Here is a resource that gives more statistical, and practical information on this subject:

Caring for Elderly and Disabled is a Family Affair

It's Hot out There! Tips to Battle Heat Stress...

Beat the Heat:

Tips to Battle Heat Stress among the Elderly

As temperatures rise, the elderly have to battle the effects that heat can have on their bodies and everyday activities. As a caretaker or the family member of an elderly loved one, it is crucial that you become aware of the dangers that accompany heat stress in an individual, the signs and symptoms, and the treatment or first aid options you have as a caregiver. Being proactive in this area will help you “beat the heat” when it matters the most.

Heat stress is the general term used to describe the body’s inability to cool itself down; under the umbrella of heat stress are illnesses caused by heat, which include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The elderly are more susceptible to heat stress for several reasons—the ability to recognize changes in body temperature decreases with age, they have underlying health issues that cause their body to adapt to heat at a slower rate, and prescription medications may make them prone to dehydration or unable to regulate body temperature properly. These added risk factors make the summer season a more dangerous time for seniors and their health.

Being able to recognize common signs and symptoms of heat stress will allow you to approach the hottest time of the year with caution and care for your family. Several of the typical symptoms of heat stress include, but are not limited to:

·       High body temperature

·       Rapid or strong pulse

·       Red, hot, or dry skin

·       Headaches

·       Dizziness or fainting

·       Nausea or vomiting

·       Chest pain

·       Trouble breathing

The severity and fluctuation of symptoms may indicate the level of heat stress that the person is experiencing, whether it be heat cramps, exhaustion, or stroke. The chart below helps to clarify which symptoms align with which heat-induced illness, and gives essential first aid tips for each illness. 

  Taking action and providing appropriate first aid is necessary in situations where signs and symptoms are present, but there are precautions that can be taken in order to avoid heat stress to begin with. Use these tips during high temperatures to help keep not only the elderly safe and healthy, but also yourself and your family.

•  Drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration, especially water and juice. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
• Wear appropriate clothing that allows your body to “breathe”; choose light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and hats when necessary.
•  Stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. Avoid going out for extended periods of time between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Take it easy and try to avoid strenuous activity, especially if it is outdoors.
• Watch the heat index, which will help you stay up-to-date on the current conditions.
• Seek out air-conditioned environments to regulate body temperature.
• Get plenty of rest and take a cool shower or bath to cool down.
•  Know the warning signs of heat-related illness and be quick to act when they are present.

For more information, here is a resource on this topic from the CDC:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/older-adults-heat.asp

Good Nutrition for Your Loved One

Good Nutrition for Your Loved One

Proper nutrition is always an important aspect of a persons health, but it is especially crucial as people age and begin having health issues. The elderly need to make good nutrition a priority. Good nutrition will help avoid unnecessary health problems and may prolong the amount of quality life they have.

As their body goes through the aging process many changes will be taking place. Their body needs to be taken care of in every way possible. This will keep them as healthy as possible and will give them more energy. 

Sometimes it is hard to know exactly what changes to make in nutrition and eating habits. It is overwhelming to try and figure out a diet that best suits an individual person. There are people out there who can help during this process. The articles below give some good general rules to follow when encouraging your elderly family members to have good nutrition. 

The effects of good nutrition will always be seen in the long-run and will enhance a persons quality of life. Read the articles below to see how you can implement these nutrition tips into your life or your family members life. 

Encouraging Good Nutrition

  Helping your care-receiver develop and maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet can be a considerable challenge, especially if you’re an adult child taking care of an aging parent.
     As a body ages, the digestive system is more prone to heartburn and constipation. Dental problems may make chewing painful. Some medications suppress a person’s appetite or promote weight gain. Depression can bring on a change in appetite. Dad may simply not care about food. If Mom has memory loss, she may forget to eat or may think she has eaten. Finances may be tight. Some older people, after paying rent and utility bills, have little left over for buying food.
     It can also be difficult to eat properly when you’re alone. It’s so much easier to skip a meal or nibble on less nutritious foods when no one else is there.
     And then, too, we each develop our eating habits over a lifetime. While we may know about the basic food groups or the food guide pyramid, that doesn’t mean we always follow those guidelines. Changing lifelong habits is very difficult.

     As the adult child of an aging parent, you can encourage your mother or father to eat well. This doesn’t mean being pushy or disrespectful. It doesn’t mean ignoring a parent’s wishes. In fact, the more your care-receiver is involved in the process, the more likely it is to succeed.

     ●A first step may be to talk to your loved one’s doctor and ask for the help of a nutritionist who can tell you what he or she specifically needs.     Your care-receiver may have to keep a daily journal of exactly what he or she eats. (The results can be surprising, but we would probably all be surprised if we kept track of what we ate each day.) A nutritionist will recommend an appropriate diet — low salt, low sugar, or low fat; high in fiber or calcium; and so forth. Encourage your loved one to keep this diet. When the family gets together, make sure that foods on the diet are included in the menu. Don’t serve your loved one food he or she isn’t supposed to have. 

     ●Check with the pharmacist to find out if any of your care-receiver’s medications would react negatively to particular foods (like milk, for example).

     ●Be careful with vitamin pills. They aren’t a catchall that makes up for poor eating habits. It’s possible to take too many vitamins. And they’re expensive.

     ●Keep in mind that some older people find it easier to eat six smaller meals throughout the day rather than three regular-size ones.

     ●Make food preparation as easy as possible for your care-receiver. Freeze small portions that can be heated in the microwave. Make sure the food looks appealing.

     ●Check out local community resources to see what kinds of meal delivery programs are available. Maybe your parent would like to go to a “nutrition site” at the local senior center and have a hot meal in the middle of the day. Help arrange transportation if needed.

     ●Remember that no one likes to eat the same foods day after day. Encourage your loved one to eat a variety of foods within the prescribed diet, and make sure your care-receiver gets the items he or she prefers.

     ●When grocery shopping, realize it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying only ice cream or cookies or some other single food because “That’s all she wants” or “That’s all he’ll eat.” Like all of us, your loved one would prefer to live on a single, favorite treat; like all of us, he or she needs nutritious food for the best health possible.

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly

Try these 10 simple tips to improve the overall health and nutrition of the ones you love.

1. Serve several small meals rather than 3 large meals. Many elders have a decreased appetite and can only eat small amounts of food at a time. Serving more frequent meals helps make eating less overwhelming and can help provide the nutrition your loved ones need.

2. Provide water frequently. As we age, we lose our sense of thirst. This makes dehydration a common problem in the elderly. Make sure that water is always available and encourage your loved ones to drink even when they are not thirsty.

3. Make meals colorful and attractive. Use different colors, shapes and textures of foods to encourage elders to eat a variety of foods.

4. Use herbs and spices to add flavor. Because taste diminishes as we age, it’s important to make food taste good. Rather than using salt to add flavor, try dill, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, onions, lemon and other herbs and spices to make food taste flavorful. 

5. Encourage eating protein. Many elders do not consume enough protein. This can lead to muscle weakness, edema (fluid build-up), fatigue and a decreased ability to fight infection. Good sources of protein include chicken, fish, meat, eggs and milk.

6. Encourage foods high in omega-3 Fatty acids. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids help decrease the risk of heart disease, decrease inflammation (which can help those suffering from arthritis), and improve mood. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, sardines and walnuts.

7. Encourage eating foods high in fiber. Eating a high fiber diet can help prevent constipation, a common complaint in elders. Foods high in fiber include whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.

8. Encourage eating foods with zinc. In elders, zinc deficiency is common due to an inadequate intake of zinc, decreased absorption of it, increased needs and more interactions with medications. Deficiency can result in decreased appetite and decrease sense of taste already common occurrences in the elderly. Good sources of zinc include fish, poultry, enriched grains and beans.

9. Make mealtimes enjoyable. To encourage eating, make mealtimes enjoyable. Eat with the ones you love, invite guests or simply engage in pleasant conversation.

10. Encourage getting physical activity. Even in the elderly, activity has been shown to be essential for decreasing the risk of chronic disease, maximizing mental capacity and having healthier muscles and bones. It also results in greater flexibility, more lean body mass, a better sense of balance, increased blood flow to the brain, a stronger immune system, less falls (and therefore less broken bones) and better overall health.

What you Need to Know About In-Home Care

Every day at Comfort of Home Healthcare we see and hear about more and more seniors who need professional help brought into their homes, yet they hesitate in actually making the decision to  go through with hiring an agency to provide any services.

The family needs to start taking an active role in keeping their ageing loved ones safe in their homes. Unfortunately, there isn't a "Home Care for Dummies" book at the office supply store to pick up and tell you what to do if you find yourself in this situation.

So here is some helpful information that we have picked up along the way through being in the home care business AND personally being in your shoes by needing to find a home care agency  (*see the who we are page) to provide services for our own loved ones.

Your family needs to ask this question: “Do we need to bring in a caregiver to help out?"

Here are some questions that can help you make this decision more efficiently.

•   Does your loved one need help walking?
•  Has there been a recent emotional or medical crisis with your loved one?
•  Is your loved one unable to do errands alone?
•  Have there been recent falls/injuries?
• Have you noticed any recent memory issues? Early onset of Dementia/Alzheimer’s?
•  Is your loved one neglecting their hygiene?
•  Are they wearing the same clothes each day?
•  Are medications either running out too soon or being left over?
•  Does your loved one seem depressed?
•  Is your loved one losing weight or having changes in appetite?
•   Is your loved one neglecting their home?
•   Has one loved one become the caregiver for the other?

If you can respond yes to even one of these questions, you really need to start seriously thinking about and considering in-home care for your loved one.

Once you have made the important decision to bring in help for your loved one, now you need to decide on whom. Through our (both owners) experiences before opening Comfort of Home Healthcare, we found that not all agencies are created equal.


You are going to have to interview and do research on who you are going to bring into your loved ones home to help out. We can’t stress enough how important this is. You need to feel comfortable with the agency you choose; and they should also be transparent about how they run their agency.

This is especially true in the private duty (private pay) industry. When there are no regulatory bodies, such as Medicaid or Medicare, etc. there are really no standards imposed on the industry.  You could potentially hire an unprofessional agency and unintentionally expose the home owner to a plethora of liabilities.

Here is a list of questions you’re going to want to know about the agency you hire:

1.        How long has the agency been in business?
                 a. Is it privately owned or a franchise?
                 b. If it is privately owned, why have they started the company? What’s their story?
                 c. If it’s a franchise, who are the owners and who is the Director?

2.       Are caregivers employees of your company (not 1099 contractors) and protected by workers compensation?
               
3.       Does your agency carry liability coverage?
                  a. If they do not, the home owner is completely liable if there is any accidents, etc. with                           the caregiver.

4.       Does your agency provide 24/7 telephone service?
                  a. People need help other than 8a-5p Monday through Friday.

5.       Are your caregivers bonded and insured for theft/damages?

6.       Do you conduct national and local criminal background checks and driving records of all         employees?

7.       Do you drug test employees?

8.       Do you provide backup coverage in the event a caregiver can’t make it to work? How do you     do this?
                   a. If they do not provide backup coverage, when the caregiver quits or is sick, there will                          be no one provided to help.

9.       Does your agency require a minimum number of hours per shift? If so what is it?

10.    Can your agency provide 24/7 services?

11.      How much say will the family have in your services?
                   a. Do you get a say if you have a complaint?

12.     Do your services include personal care such as bathing, incontinence care, mobility assistance and medication assistance?

13.     Does your agency provide transportation services for clients?
                   a. If so how do you bill it?

14.    Does your agency maintain a business office where I can meet you and the office staff?

15.     How does your agency document the caregivers work done in the home?
                   a. If there is documentation from caregivers, what does it look like and where is it kept?

16.     Does your agency make supervisory visits to a client’s home?
                   a. If so, by whom and when?

17.     Can you provide a list of professional references from families you have served in the past?

18.     Does your agency possess any state/local/federal contracts to provide in home care services?

19.    How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality? How?

20.   How quickly can your agency initiate service?

We hope you find this information helpful, and like always you can always call us with any question you might have. Were here to help!

In Home Care 101

Most phone calls we receive are from people who have never had never needed any type of in home care before and don't know what is out there.

From this initial conversation I have a quick talk of what I call "In-Home Care 101", or the basics. There is a very common misconception out there that Medicaid will pay for in home care. Medicare will pay for some things, but extended care is not one of them.

So here it is, a very simple and short explanation: In Home Care 101

First off, Medicare will pay for SKILLED NURSING only. You need a physician order to qualify for all skilled nursing/Medicare services.

Think of skilled nursing as task oriented; a nurse will come out to the home and perform some sort of task (E.g. bath, med set up, wound dressing, physical therapy). Once they are finished with that task, they leave.

The two main services for medicaid skilled nursing is 1. Home Health and 2. Hospice.

Here is a blog from a home health agency that explains Home Heath in further detail. 

&     Here is a article that explains Hospice in further detail.


For many people skilled nursing is not enough and they need caregivers to come out and help with their loved one for longer period of time. This brings us to In Home care; you can think of it more as time oriented rather than task oriented services.

This is the type of services that Comfort of Home Healthcare provides. We can go in and provide what is called ADL's or activity of daily living. We come in and do some of the same services such as bathing and medications etc, but we can also do some of the other tasks that your loved one can no longer do themselves such as toileting, cooking, cleaning, etc.

These services range anywhere from 3 hours a couple times a week, all the way to 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Unfortunately Medicare does NOT pay for these type of services. However Medicaid will pay for some of these services.

Since Medicaid is income based, most of our phone calls do not qualify. This leaves families to pay out of pocket for in home care services.

If your loved one was a veteran or the widow of a veteran there might be some assistance from the VA, but that is about it. There are some other assistance but too few would qualify to put in this post.

This all can get very confusing. If you need any further assistance or have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays

With  the holidays  upon us, you have probably already planned your family gatherings.  If you have a family member who needs care, its going to take a little bit of extra planning on your part and your going to have to think about some things that you might not have had to do before. 

Much of what my wife and I have learned over the years was by trial and error, just learning as we go along. Over the holidays, as relatives come and go, they usually only see the best out of Mom/Dad/Grandpa/Grandma  and leave with a nice warm feeling on how “well” they are doing.

But what they don’t see, is once everyone has gone back to their everyday life, the long day of visits has taken a toll and has left your loved one exhausted. In turn, can take days or even weeks to get their strength back.

If you have been though this yourself, or this is your first time going through taking care of a loved one, this article can be of some use. You can find it over at about.com, senior living.

I hope you find it as useful as I did. And as always, contact us if you have any questions or need any support…

10 Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays

Ensure happier holidays for seniors with special needs or health issues

By Sharon O'Brien , About.com Guide

For most of us, the holidays are a wonderful time to share the joys of family life and friendship. But for many older adults the holidays can be highly stressful, confusing, or even depressing if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into account.

If you have older friends and family members with underlying health issues, you can help them enjoy the holiday season more by following these simple tips, based on advice from specialists in senior medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine:

1.        Stroll down memory lane. Holidays provoke memories, which can be especially powerful in the later years of life. “Leading authorities have observed that memory and ‘life review’ are important parts of the aging process,” says Barry Lebowitz, Ph.D., deputy director of UCSD’s Stein Institute for Research on Aging. “Older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty remembering recent events, but they are often able to share stories and observations from the past. These shared memories are important for the young as well—children enjoy hearing about how it was ‘when your parents were your age…’.” He suggests using picture albums, family videos and music, even theme songs from old radio or TV programs, to help stimulate memories and encourage older seniors to share their stories and experiences.

2.       Plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of time they are included. The noise and confusion of a large family gathering can lead to irritability or exhaustion, so schedule time for a nap, if necessary, and consider designating a “quiet room” where an older person can take a break. “Assign someone to be the day’s companion to the older person, to make sure the individual is comfortable,” says Daniel Sewell, M.D., director of the Senior Behavior Health Unit at the UCSD Medical Center, who adds that these guidelines work well for young children as well as adults with mental, emotional and physical health issues.

3.       Eliminate obstacles. If a holiday get-together is held in the home of an older person with memory impairment or behavioral problems, don’t rearrange the furniture. This could be a source of confusion and anxiety. If the gathering is in a place unfamiliar to an older person, remove slippery throw rugs and other items that could present barriers to someone with balance problems or who has difficulty walking.

4.      Avoid embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family member who may be experiencing short-term memory problems. If an older person forgets a recent conversation, for example, don’t make it worse by saying, “Don’t you remember?”

5.       Create new memories. In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Add something new to the holiday celebration, or volunteer for your family to help others. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, or window-shopping at the mall or along a festive downtown street.

6.       Be inclusive. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members. “Older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers,” Sewell says.

7.       Reach out. Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times. “Reaching out to older relatives and friends who are alone is something all of us should do,” Lebowitz says. “Loneliness is a difficult emotion for anyone. Recent research with older people has documented that loneliness is associated with major depression and with suicidal thoughts and impulses.”

8.       Beat the blues. “Holiday blues” are feelings of profound sadness that can be provoked by all the activities of the holiday season. Seasonal blues can have a particular impact in the lives of older people, according to Lebowitz. “In some people, the ‘holiday blues’ represent the exacerbation of an ongoing depressive illness,” he says. “Depression is a dangerous and life-threatening illness in older people. Tragically, suicide rates increase with age, specifically for older men. Depression is not a normal part of aging and should never be ignored or written off.”

9.       Keep on the sunny side. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression is an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. It is important for people confined indoors, especially those at risk for winter depression, to make time for activities that will increase exposure to daylight, according to Lebowitz.

10.    Monitor medications and alcohol. If you have senior family members, be sure to help them adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays. Also, pay attention to their alcohol consumption during holiday parties and family gatherings. According to Sewell, alcohol can provoke inappropriate behavior or interfere with medications.

“Older family members with special needs can get lost in the shuffle and chaos of happy family gatherings,” Sewell says. “So, with all the hustle and bustle of the season, just remember to be sensitive and loving. And plan ahead.”