Center 4 Women program YOU CAN DO IT! program
June 16, 2010
Care For Life and Mary Peters are proud to sponsor the monthly YOU CAN DO IT! programs for the Center 4 Women. Check the calendar at
http://www.c4women.org
Adult Day Care Centers
June 3, 2010
The following is from Author Lynn Ivey from www.agingcare.com about Adult Day care centers.
Adult day care centers provide a safe, secure environment for adults who are unable to stay alone during the day. They serve people challenged with the effects of aging, such as Alzheimer’s and other types of memory loss, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or other ailments.
Adult day care centers provide socialization, community, stimulating activities, healthy meals and snacks, and support with activities of daily living. Some centers also offer nursing and healthcare services.
Adult day care centers can be an essential aid to caregivers. They allow caregivers to hold a job, take care of household responsibilities, see friends, and pursue other activities, knowing their loved ones are safe and entertained during the day.
Your elder may truly enjoy the stimulation of seeing other people as well as the programming of many centers, and you, the caregiver, will know your elder is being cared for while you work or run errands.
It’s important to note that adult day care centers are typically open during weekdays. Some offer additional evening or weekend care. But participants do not live at the centers; they live at home.
[Note: Care For Life ~Experts in Eldercare since 1995~ provides geriatric care management and homecare by experienced, monitored caregivers. Families often combine adult day care for daytime with additional homecare for evenings and overnight care and assistance so that seniors can remain in their own homes safely and independently for as long as possible. Call for a free telephone consultation today at 843-852-9090.]
Essential Tips for Home Maintenance & Safety
May 27, 2010
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
Home maintenance is critical to seniors who want to remain comfortably at home for as long as possible. Our nurse’s home assessment will help you decide what you need to do. A fall with injuries can open the doorway to impaired mobility and decreased independence. A head injury can alter your cognition. Any injury that limits mobility can make the body more susceptible to infections.
1. Talk to your doctor home safety. Have a comprehensive home assessment by Care For Life’s nurse to help you with your long term plans for remaining at home.
2. Tell your doctor and your family when your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.
3. Install proper lighting throughout your home. Use night-lights in the hallways between the bedroom and bathroom.
4. De-clutter your home. Keep floor and stairs free of clutter & do not use small throw rugs. Check that stairs are in good repair and are slip resistant. If any stairs are broken, have them fixed promptly
6. WEAR PROPER SHOES inside and outside. Use a cane or walker for better balance.
7. Install grab bars in all bathrooms by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower. If you need extra support, get a shower seat. Install a hand-held shower device.
8. Consider getting a Medical Alert System to call for help if you fall
Five things that cause aged adults to fail at home Part III
May 25, 2010
The following is Part III in our series on the five things that cause aged adults to fail at home. When families know the signs of decline in their loved one, they can takesteps to solve problems well before they become a crisis
In May, we talked about medication errors as one of the five things that can cause elderly people to fail. The others are nutrition, unaddressed medical problems and home safety & proper hygiene & home maintenance. Our caregivers empower the elderly to remain at home by offering solutions to these 5 problems. This month we will talk about the need for proper hygiene and home maintenance.
In May, we talked about medication errors as one of the five things that can cause elderly people to fail. The others are nutrition, unaddressed medical problems and home safety & proper hygiene & home maintenance. Our caregivers empower the elderly to remain at home by offering solutions to these 5 problems. This month we will talk about the need for proper hygiene and home maintenance.
“My Dad just isn’t taking care of himself, and the
house is cluttered. He gets upset when I ask to
help him get a bath. I need your help!”
Elders living alone are less likely to keep a schedule of dressing, bathing, and personal grooming. Widowed spouses often lose all motivation for home cleanliness and personal appearance.
Household tasks are postponed or abandoned.
Care For Life Solution:
A few hours of homecare several times a each week by a trained caregiver can help remedy this problem. Caregivers assist in keeping a routine in place for bathing, dressing and grooming. Light housekeeping assistance will help maintain the home and keep it safer. The aged person’s outlook on life will likely improve with a fresh start each day. Give us a call to discuss care for your loved one at 843-852-9090.
Discussion on radio show Senior Focus Radio Show
May 10, 2010
Shery O’Neal from Care for Life was on Senior Focus Radio Show on May 8th. The discussion is hosted by Dennis Christensen, an attorney who specializes in elder law and estate planning. Shows cover issues and concerns on aging, legal matters affecting seniors, benefits, planning and community resources for seniors. John Quincy is the announcer.
Click here to listen the radio discussion
Care For Life Open House
April 15, 2010
Mary Peters, Founder of Care For Life, welcomes the Executive Association of Greater Charleston
Members of the Executive Association of Greater Charleston enjoy breakfast at Care For Life Open House.
My mom has Alzheimer’s and does not have Long Term Care Insurance
April 9, 2010
Here is a recent questions we received about Alzheimer’s care.
My mom has Alzheimer’s and does not have Long Term Care Insurance. Does Medicare pay for care at home?
Currently, Medicare does not pay for personal care at home. Alzheimer’s is a very debilitating and frightening disease. Family members suffer with its frustrating affects while trying to give loving care. Our caregivers receive additional training in caring for the Alzheimer’s client. Getting the right information on the best resources is a major part of the what we do for you.
What is Elder Law
March 9, 2010
Elder law refers to several areas of elder law and estate planning legal practices as they relate to the elderly. Because older people are faced with difficult, end-of-life decisions involving retirement, estate planning, and long-term care, elder law focuses on wills, trusts, tax issues, Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, nursing-home care, in-home care, powers of attorney, medical directives, and other legal matters of particular concern to them such as elder abuse law. Please call Care For Life for an attorney referral in the Charleston Tri-County area. 843-852-9090
Elizabeth Spencer for First Responder Healthcare Hero 2009
December 7, 2009
Care For Life was proud to nominate Elizabeth Spencer for First Responder Healthcare Hero 2009
Mary Peters (left) with Elizabeth Spencer
Charleston’s Elizabeth Spencer has labored with passion and dedication for eighteen years in the City of Charleston as the Coordinator of the Elder Support Line services. Her education is broad in its reach, but the work she does involves a great deal of her character that shines through in her conduct and demeanor. She is a dynamic public speaker and strong advocate for the elderly.
Everyone connected to local police departments, hospitals, the mental health department, every homecare agency, and the Probate and Criminal Courts knows to call Elizabeth when any kind of abuse is suspected.
She is quick to instruct that every adult in South Carolina is required to report abuse of any kind: emotional, physical including neglect, or financial exploitation which usually involves a relative stepping over boundaries of propriety.
Elizabeth Spencer is one of a kind. Our community owes her a great debt of gratitude for the seniors she protects in her work, and for all the hours she has spent educating the rest of us. Elizabeth was a Finalist in the 2009 Healthcare Hero First Responder category. Kudos, Elizabeth!