You would be surprised at the wide range of activities that can help bring some fun to senior care. Your aging parents who require a caregiver are not any different than we are. They still have a variety of interests and hobbies that can be changed to meet their new level of abilities.

Easy Trips

Most malls, fairgrounds, farmers’ markets and other places now have wheelchairs or scooters you can rent for the day if necessary.

Local State Park with a Fishing Area

Fish from a handicap ramp or pier. Most states do not require seniors to have a fishing license but you should check just in case.  Call ahead and talk to the park employees. They can tell you where the wheelchair accessible area of the park is. You can reserve an area in advance and have a day at the park.  Grill hot-dogs or hamburgers or bring a picnic basket.

Raised-bed Gardening.

Planters are raised to a height so that someone in a wheelchair or using a walker can easily reach them and there is no kneeling or bending uncomfortably. Gardening provides easy outdoor activities all Spring, Summer, and Fall, and can benefit not only your loved one but the senior care caregiver as well.

Easy Crafts

You can find loads of easy crafts for your creative loved one. There are websites everywhere that give directions for crafts that most elderly can do.

Those who have a difficulty holding things with their hands might do best with crafts that use large pieces or where painting is the main activity.

What About the Wii?

You may have heard your own children or grandchildren talking about the new game called Wii. This is a device that mimics a sport, such as bowling, tennis, etc., without actually using the sport’s equipment. Wii has been a great success for senior care. Everyone gets a little exercise and it is fun. Start tournaments. A little competition is healthy and it gives your loved one something to look forward to.

Have a Singer in the Family?

Many towns have senior clubs, senior centers and gatherings…some of them include senior groups who get together just to sing!

Summary

Even though your aging parents may be using senior care, keeping them active physically and mentally is extremely important for quality of life. Anyone in the home who is providing senior care on a regular basis can easily incorporate a few of these activities into their weekly regimen.

What kinds of activities can you think of that are appropriate for aging adults who are requiring senior care?

At Synergy HomeCare, we provide senior care for many families in the Conroe TX area.  Call our caregivers today at 281-407-1200.

One of the many goals of most families is to help their relatives remain in their own home, in a safe and well-known environment.  No one wants to think about going to a facility or an institution no matter how nice the building or the staff. For a senior to stay in their own home securely, they many need as little as a couple of hours of assistance or they could need around the clock care. Elder care professionals can help to identify the best level of services.

Understanding the Cost of Elder Care Services

According to the MetLife Mature Market Annual Survey on the Cost of Care in the United States, the findings look like this:

• The national average daily rate for a private room in a nursing home rose 4.4% from $229 in 2010 to $239 in 2011.
• The national average monthly base rate in an assisted living community rose 5.6% from $3,293 in 2010 to $3,477 in 2011.
• The national average daily rate for adult day services rose 4.5% from $67 in 2010 to $70 in 2011.
• The national average hourly rates for home health aides ($21) and homemakers ($19) were unchanged from 2010.

How Much Will It Cost Your Family?

The cost of elder care services depends on the amount of services needed.  Our team of caregivers will spend time with you and will come up with a plan of care and a number of hours that is not only budget friendly, but keeps your aging loved one safe and in their own home.

Look into other options like The VA AID and ATTENDANCE PENSION BENEFIT, Reverse Mortgages, Life Settlements, and Long-Term Care Insurance. Chances are that one of those programs may be able to help with the cost.

How Soon Can Elder Care Services Start?

As soon as today in most cases. The start date is up to you, but our team is dedicated to getting a caregiver in your home as soon as you need them.

Contact Synergy Home Care today at  281-407-1200.

Fantastic Gift Ideas for Caregivers on Valentine’s Day!

If you have a friend or family member providing in-home care for a loved one, finding a wonderful treat for Valentine’s Day is a great way to say thanks. In-home caregivers empower clients to enjoy cheerful, healthy lives in the privacy of their own home and what better way to return the favor than by showing your appreciation for all they do.

Massage

A gift certificate for a massage is the perfect gift for someone who provides in-home care. Half hour and hour massages are available to reduce pressure and emotional stress.  The benefit of an intensive, hands-on massage might motivate them to make a massage a part of their monthly routine. There are many qualified massage salons in your area and who wouldn’t love a relaxing time at the spa!

Gift Basket

You can buy pre-packaged gift baskets at many retail stores, on the internet and at florists. If you already know the caregiver, you can build the basket yourself by including some of their favorite things. One example is, if you know they like to garden, fill up the basket with small garden tools, packages of flower seeds and a flowerpot. If the caregiver is a guy, fill the basket with sports-themed objects and a gift certificate for a round of golf.

Gift Certificates

Give the caregiver a Valentine’s Day card along with a gift certificate to dinner or to the movies. Attempt to find out some of the caregiver’s favorite places to eat and get a certificate to that certain place. Order movies tickets online so they will not  expire and the caregiver can use them at anytime.

Spa Treatments

Female caregivers will like a spa day or spa treatments. Provide her a gift certificate to a local spa. Some spas offer you half day and full day amenities. Another approach is to get a gift certificate to a local nail salon for a manicure and pedicure. This will allow the caregiver to spend time on herself and relax.

Tea or Coffee

If the caregiver enjoys tea or coffee, make a special gift to give them on Valentine’s Day. Fill sizeable coffee mugs with an array of coffee and a gift card to a nearby coffee shop. For a tea lover, fill sizeable glasses with different bags and boxes of tea.

Overview

In-home care takes a special person with a lot of patience. Show your caregiver how much you care about the things they do for you and your loved one by giving them a special gift on Valentine’s Day.

If you are looking into hiring a caregiver for in-home care in Katy TX, contact Synergy HomeCare. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Katy and the surrounding communities. Call 281-407-1200 for more information.

Recognizing the distinction between home care and home healthcare can be complicated at the start. When an elderly family member first starts to need support, it can be a scramble to find out which solutions are important and when. If the senior requires an injected medication or nursing care while recuperating from an operation, then home healthcare is needed. If the elderly family member requires help in bathing, cooking or housekeeping, then home care can provide the service.

Home care and home healthcare are different in two ways.

Home care offers non-medical services and is not paid for by Medicare, although some home care providers and agencies may be licensed by the states. Home care services are private pay services, meaning the patient or the patient’s family will pay personally for home care. Occasionally long-term care insurance may handle this type of care as well. Home healthcare, however, is medical care that is covered by health insurance or Medicare. To receive home healthcare, a senior or a patient must be homebound and in need of medical care as identified by a physician. Medicare might additionally handle non-medical solutions  implemented by a home health aide, but these services are only covered when other medical care at home is required. Usually these non-medical services take place at the same time as medical care visits.

Home care offers non-medical services to seniors and patients getting better from operations. Help in bathing and dressing are common home care services. Other responsibilities home care workers provide include light housekeeping, meal preparation, running errands and transportation. Help in walking or exercise and other light assistance to make life easier are offered by home care professionals. As the population gets older, home care agencies are proliferated to meet the large needs of the elderly who wish to reside in their homes, but who might require assistance to do so.

Home healthcare is doctor-prescribed, and is served by skilled medical personnel such as nurses who can dispense medication. Physical and occupational therapists may also be engaged in the health care treatment. Home health aides may be given to support with activities of daily living. These services would be covered by Medicare as long as other medical care is also obligated.

Home care workers can produce medication ticklers, but cannot administer the medication. Home care workers also assist with daily living activities such as making meals, light housekeeping, supporting with bathing, running errands and providing transportation to appointments. Home care services are privately paid by the patient, senior or their family. Long-term care insurance may also cover home care services.

Synergy HomeCare provides an extensive array of services that can help your family with home care in Cypress TX and the surrounding area, call our caregivers at 281-407-1200 for more information.

We are fortunate to live in a time frame where care at home is feasible for our loved ones as they age. Once limited to nursing homes,  home care agencies were often viewed as a last measure when family members could no longer handle the needs of their loved ones on their own. Home care makes taking care of our loved ones easy and comfortable. The ease of professional, skilled nursing assistants who go to see seniors in their, or their family’s, home, assures that the ideal care is given in cases where health or physical issues limit one’s capacity to care for themselves.

Home care agencies have popped up all over the country. The process of hiring an agency begins with proper investigation and taking the time to examine each agency in order to assess their level of quality, and their nursing staff’s experience, in relation to each family’s individual needs. It’s necessary that each family take the time to make sure the home care agency they employ are up to date in licensing requirements, and that their nursing staff are free from criminal backgrounds. This is primarily true if elder care will be provided when family members are not around to manage when skilled nursing staff comes to visit. A high sense of trust needs to be established between both parties in order to ensure a long-term, favorable, relationship.

The following five strategies are offered to those who are commencing their research into home care agencies for their elderly family members.

1. Referral Sources
Ask friends, family and co-workers for references to local companies they are familiar with. Ask about their personal experiences, good and bad. Contact the elder’s long term care insurance company and ask for referrals (if in-home care is covered by their plan.) You can even contact your family doctor and ask for local references. Your last choice is to try the web, but if you choose this route, make sure to spend extra time studying each company more thoroughly, as you won’t have personal experience to judge these companies by.

2. Background Checks
Once you’ve simplified a short list of companies you wish to investigate further, make sure to ask what types of assessment processes they put their nursing staff through prior to hiring them. Criminal background checks, credit checks, and checking individual references should be customary in all companies.

3. Staff Skills & Experience
Inquire as to what the minimum standards each company requires when hiring their care providers. Do they only hire college educated nurses? Are their care providers certified nursing assistants? Or, do they simply require that their staff have a background in helping care for the elderly? The more complex their requirements, the better care will likely be offered.

4. Company Reputation
Check with your local Better Business Bureau to analyze each company’s general rating. Do they have multiple complaints listed? Are there any remarkable criticisms? You can also try a typical search online by typing in the company’s name and the word “complaint” into any search engine to notice what comes up from the general public’s view.

5. Licensing
Be sure any company you manage has the proper city, county and state licensing up-to-date and in good standing. Eliminate the worry of hiring any company that is not legitimate in practice.

Finally, don’t be shy about asking many meticulous questions. All highly respectable companies pride themselves in customer satisfaction and should be happy to openly, and willingly, provide any and all information to prospective clients. Due diligence on your part will ensure a long-term, favorable experience for yourself and your family members.

If you and your family are researching home care agencies in The Woodlands TX or the surrounding area, contact the caregivers at Synergy HomeCare. We are a home care agency dedicated to providing quality and affordable care to our loved ones. Call  (800) 337-2273 for more information.

Are you or an aging loved one at the time in your life where you are starting out to have a look at the available choices for elder care or some form of home care services? Are you exploring your possible choices of how these kinds of home care services will be funded? Whether you are looking to hire home care today or in the near future, knowing what all your alternatives are will help you or an aging loved one be more confident knowing how these home care serviceswill be handled.

Home Care services may include daily help with feeding, dressing and undressing, bathing, light housekeeping and medication reminders.

Social Security and Medicare

Social Security is a golden age fund and disability pension for disabled workers. The total amounteach man or women will receive is influenced by the amount of money paid into the fund during his or her working years. If a spouse  passes away , the surviving husband/wife is entitled to widows or widowers pension. For nearly all of Americans, Social Security benefits will be their key means of net income when they retire.

Medicare

Medicare is accessible to most people age 65 and older. Medicare pays for home care services that belong to the category of “home healthcare” or “skilled care”. This means that the therapy must be provided by a professional, must be authorized by a physician and the care recipient must be home-bound in order to receive it. Medicare does not cover companion or private duty home care services.

Private Income

For many individuals, they may have a secure margin in their checking and savings account by which to finance home care services that they may need now or eventually. Any CDs attached to these accounts are also an added gain.

Retirement funds such as a 401(k), IRA, Keogh or other such types are options to consider also when deciding how much and which level of care is needed for the senior loved one.

Pension plans provided to employees of some companies have provided good cash flow for the retirees to live on and supplement other income they may have.

Stocks And Stock Mutual Funds

Some retirees are living off stocks or funds from the stock market. It is true that with the instability in the stock market of recent years, this is changing the way some individuals are looking at retirement income. There are still about 14 percent of retirees that have an income from this source.

Because of tax advantages for withholding stocks outside of retirement accounts and the income tax they must pay on withdrawals from the traditional 401(k)’s and IRA accounts, it is a good idea for seniors to have a good investment firm or certified financial planner helping them.

Home Equity

The equity earned on a home is another way of financing a retirement and any home care services needed in their advancing years. Sometimes the adult children are unable to provide all the care for their parents and must rely on some in-home care of their loved ones. This is just one more avenue that can be explored for possible means of financing home care services for the family. There are more advertisements than ever about reverse mortgage as a way of having a retirement fund. Most financial planners will advise this as a last resort only.

Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension

This pension allows for veterans and the surviving spouses financial support that are in need of home care services this includes individuals who are in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Medicaid or Medi-Cal

Medicaid or Medi-Cal (in California) is a state funded program for individuals that require home care services (IHSS), are in a skilled nursing or intermediate care home and do not have any other income other than Social Security benefits.

With just a little homework and financial planning, home care services for the elderly need not be a concern to the adult child. Whether the time is now or in the future, a seemingly difficult task is actually quite easy to navigate with proper planning.

If you or someone in your family has questions or needs help with home care services, contact the caregivers at Synergy HomeCare. We are a home care agency dedicated to providing the right care for your loved one. Call  (800) 337-2273.

The amazing news is that there is a remedy that can help. You and your parents should look at home care in Cypress TX. Home care is a great choice for getting supporting assistance for your aging loved ones. Home care is a type of care in which a healthcare professional or other skilled caregiver enters into your parents’ home to deliver different services and types of care. You and your parents can decide how many hours each day aid is needed and which times of day your parents need the most assistance.

You may consume a lot of time distressing about your parents when you can’t be with them. Your parents may not want to exit their home to go into a nursing home or assisted living facility. The conclusion to this issue is in-home care, which will allow your parents to stay in their own home where they are most happy and will minimize some of your worry and stress about the situation.

When you choose in-home care, the healthcare professional can relieve you of some of your jobs. The home care caregiver can guide your parents with basic skills such as bathing and getting dressed each morning. The caregiver can even enable your parents if they need help using the toilet.

As the child of aging parents, you might be concerned that your parents don’t have the ability to make meals anymore, or you might be worried that your parents aren’t eating as well as they should be. A home care caregiver can help ease these anxieties by cooking meals and making sure they dine each day. You and your parents can even chat with the caregiver to go over your issues and put together a dietary plan that makes everyone feel good about your parents’ nutritional goals.

If you choose to get in-home care for your aging parents, you can get further support in the area of housekeeping. Likelihood is that you have been trying to keep your place clean as well as your parents’ home. This can be exceptionally exhausting if you work a full time job on top of everything else. When you employ a professional in the field of elder care, that person can help with light cleaning duties, which include doing the laundry.

Perhaps one of the best features of home care is that your parents will have some camaraderie during the day when you can’t be there. Your aging parents may be feeling lonely, and you may be feeling troubled because you can’t spend the amount of time with your parents that you dream you could. You can stop feeling regretful that you aren’t with your parents and start feeling wonderful about recognizing someone is with your parents who takes care. The truth is, a caregiver can even take your parents out of the house to doctor’s visits, the grocery store, the pharmacy, or just about any place your parents wants to proceed.

Home Care may be the assistance you and your parents need. Your parents can live independently, and you can get the supplemental help you want to make sure your parents’ needs are being met. Just knowing that an individual is there with your parents can ease some of the load from you.

If you or someone in your family is interested in home care in Cypress TX or the surrounding area, contact Synergy HomeCare. We are a home care agency helping seniors, veterans and the disabled in our communities. Call  (800) 337-2273.

Caring for an aging parent who at present lives in their home is not easy. That is never more true than when the parent has substantial health issues that need constant care. Despite what age a person is, it is not easy to give up independence. That is why it is hard for children to talk to their aging parents about home care services. It is critical to find ways to talk about care services with parents in a soft tone that does not feel intimidating to them.

Caregiver Guilt- Children find it hard to  talk to parents about caregiver stress they have been experiencing since taking on the activity. Children often feel culpable over pondering care for their parents because their parents raised them and the children feel as though they are letting their parents down if they need to begin home care. The fix for these matters may be to make use of respite care to come to the home and assist for the short term. This will help test the waters to see how the parent does respond to having in-home care. The parent may voluntarily accept the offer of respite care to aid in everyday elder care. This can conveniently rid the children of a guilty feeling that is not necessary to start with.

Tackling it Head-On- Beating around the bush when attempting to talk to an elderly parent about elder care will result in not chatting about it at all. Have all the facts necessary to discuss to the parent what is involved and all the reasons that it is a good idea to hire a caregiver. The information and facts gathered should include price as well as possible plans to cover the costs if insurance does not cover it. The majority of elderly people are on a fixed income and that is a thing that children should consider before communicating with their parents about respite care. Be soft but candid when coming near the topic.

Authenticity- The Authenticity of a parent in need of an in-home caregiver is essential to stress in the course of the discussion. Parents should be told that the children work full-time occupations, have young people to care for or whatever else that raises caregiver stress levels. Stress ends in bad communication skills and ultimately resentment and bitterness over having to attempt the extra obligation of caring for an elderly parent. When children take on the responsibility of caring for an ill parent, the relationship often suffers greatly because of the stress related challenges.

Worries- Be open and truthful with the elderly parent when he or she has concerns. The worries might seem like complaints or excuses, but they are real issues that the parent is feeling and should be addressed quickly. Two of the main fears the parent might have are cost and having someone in the home who is a new person. Do not make promises that cannot be made, but present recommendations gained by talking to a specialist about it.

Adult children who are taking care of their elderly parents learn early on that it is a daunting activity at best. There are duties involved in caring for an elderly parent that are very hard to handle. Children and parents should help each other when they can. There is a time to realize that an in-home caregiver is the best option. Be well prepared to take on the extra cost if the elderly parent cannot take care of the cost themselves. Some insurance companies will cover the cost in certain circumstances. Otherwise, arrangements have to be made financially if an in-home caregiver is the only solution.

At Synergy HomeCare, we can help your family with all of your elder care needs. We are a home care agency that can provide a quality and affordable caregiver in The Woodlands TX and the surrounding communities. Call us today at (800) 337-2273.

Easing the Elder Care Burden
Written By : Gregory Weldy

For many families, the thought of caring for an aging parent brings stress and strain. After all, we don’t take Elder Care Solution 101 in school, and many of us may have not grown up in a multi-generational household. It doesn’t have to be like that though. Elder Care can and should be a positive experience.

Check out these tips for making caring for an aging parent the kind of experience that changes your life in a positive way.

1. Ask for help – Caring for an aging parent is a significant emotional, physical, and financial burden. Don’t play the martyr by doing everything yourself. Ask your daughter to sacrifice some of her social networking time to spend an hour with Grandma so you can take a long, hot bath.

2. Encourage social activities – A smart elder care solution includes helping your parent find social activities they’ll enjoy. Look in the local paper to find senior activities calendars. Adult day services are another option to consider. These centers allow Dad to stay with caregivers while you work or take a day to go fishing or shopping.

Don’t limit social activities to dropping Grandma off at the senior center, either. Institute a regular family game night, so you, your parent, and other relatives can play board games or put puzzles together. You might also invite him or her to watch your daughter’s volleyball practice.

Social activities are an important part of any caring for aging parent strategy, so don’t let transportation concerns stop your loved one from participating. Look in the city/municipal services section of the phone book to find public transportation for seniors. If those services aren’t available, ask friends and family members to pitch in and taxi Grandpa where he wants to be.

read more from www.seniorslist.com

For information about how Synergy HomeCare can help you and your family with elder care in Houston or the surrounding areas, call 800-337-2273.

Adult Children Face Reality About Aging Relatives Over the Holidays

Across the nation this holiday season, thousands of families will slam into the reality that life has changed for aging parents, and they often have little notion that home healthcare help is available, or even what is needed.

By WARREN WOLFE

Across the nation this holiday season, thousands of families will slam into the reality that life has changed for aging parents — dad is far more frail than relatives thought, mom forgot to prepare the holiday feast, the house is filthy, the refrigerator is bare, or a stack of bills has gone unpaid.

This is known territory for many of the 46 million Americans who help frail, aging relatives and friends. But for some, it comes as a shock, and they often have little notion of what help is available, or even what is needed.

Home healthcare services that provide caregivers know that their phones will light up as worried adult children begin sorting out disturbing discoveries and seeking advice and help.

“Sometimes they just want basic information, but sometimes people are very worried about a parent’s driving, or falls, or ability to keep living on their own,” said Annette Peterson, help-line coordinator at the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota chapter in Bloomington, Minn.

It’s common for families to disagree about what they’re seeing, Peterson said. Those arguments sometimes are sharpened on old family disputes, and neutral care advisers can help mediate disagreements and figure out what is needed.

read more here

For information about how Synergy HomeCare can help your family with home healthcare in Houston or the surrounding area, call 800-337-2273. We are a home care agency that is dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and the disabled in our community.