A LOOK AT OUR ELECTRONIC IN-HOME MONITORING SYSTEM

Elder Care Services in Arizona

Here at Endeavor Senior In Home Care, we’ve listened closely to the concerns expressed by our clients and their families. We understand that the safety of your loved one is of the utmost importance. That’s why we’ve invested considerable time in researching the best emergency response systems available in the U.S. Our senior in home care team is pleased to recommend The Electronic Caregiver, which we’ve found to exceed the expectations of our clients who receive home care assistance.

The Electronic Caregiver is an affordable medical emergency response system that is monitored 24/7 by professional EMTs. It offers quality protection for your family’s peace of mind. Should you choose The Electronic Caregiver, it can be shipped right to your door with no long-term contract or upfront costs. Our senior in home care team can set up the system for you.

To hear more about our compassionate senior in home care services in Phoenix, AZ, call (877) 584-6162. At Endeavor Senior In Home Care, it’s our mission to help our clients live life well in the comfort of their own homes.

Arizona Summers and the Truth About Senior Dehydration

Arizona Senior CareSeniors in Arizona typically reduce the intensity level of their exercise as they age, and they may feel they do not have to be concerned about dehydration. However, as many as 31% of older adults are diagnosed with dehydration, partly due simply to the normal aging process. And there are incredible benefits when seniors are able to stay hydrated: less tumbles, a reduced risk of bladder cancer and they can even achieve better orthopedic rehabilitation.

Protect your Arizona senior loved ones from dehydration by paying attention to these early warning signs:

  • Dry, sticky mouth
  • Feeling thirsty
  • Reduced urine output

It is important to take care of the issue as soon as you can because increased dehydration can lead to:

  • Hot, dry skin – or, cold, clammy skin
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • Rapid, weak pulse
  • Confusion and anxiety
  • And eventually, loss of consciousness

Especially during the warmer summer weather in Arizona, it is important to ensure senior loved ones are drinking a lot of clear, uncarbonated, non-alcoholic liquids throughout the day – in particular, plain water – and contact the doctor right away if dehydration is suspected. Looking for someone to assist your senior loved ones in Arizona with staying properly hydrated and with healthy meals? Contact Endeavor Home Care. We welcome the opportunity to get to know you and your loved one’s care needs.

Dementia Care Tips: Handling Mean Dementia Behavior

Dementia Care Scottsdale

Those providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia know all too well the varied and complex behaviors associated with the disease, and one of the most challenging is the change in temperament – the Jekyll and Hyde transformation from that sweet, gentle person into an angry, offensive bully. The emotional trauma those personality shifts can cause are often devastating, particularly for a family member who has been providing dedicated, selfless dementia care for the senior.

Trying not to take these troubling behaviors personally, as hard as that may be, and to remember that the person is usually reacting out of fear or frustration, is very important. These dementia care pointers can help soothe an angry situation and restore peace:

  • Stay calm. Your loved one may pick up on your heightened agitation and become more agitated in turn – and likewise, is more apt to calm down himself if you keep your cool. Keeping your focus and trying to move the person’s attention to a different topic or activity can be helpful.
  • Comfort the person. Refrain from arguing with your loved one, even though it may be a first instinct, and use a quiet, comforting and slow tone of voice. Think about what may be triggering your loved one’s feelings of anger so you can deal with those triggers, such as pain, overstimulation, or anxiety.
  • Keep notes about behavioral triggers. In order to help avoid, or at least minimize a similar situation in the future, learn from the experience. Keep a diary of what happened, when it happened, and what worked (or didn’t work).

It’s of utmost importance for family caregivers to also save some time for themselves to renew energy and refresh their minds, especially after agitating episodes with their loved one. Endeavor Home Care is available to provide patient, compassionate, experienced Alzheimer’s and dementia care in Scottsdale as well as several other cities in Arizona. We offer valuable respite care for families. Call us at (480) 535-6800 to learn more.

Key Documents to Include in Your Estate Plan

By the Phoenix area lawyers at Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker PLLC.

Estate PlanningThe older you get, the more important it is that you create an estate plan that addresses everything from distribution of your assets to expression of your health care wishes.

For those who have yet to form an end-of-life plan, here are a few important Arizona estate planning documents that you should consider creating as soon as possible:

Health Care Powers of Attorney

If you cannot make decisions about your health care towards the end of your life due to a tragic accident or because of a disease or illness, having a health care power of attorney will be important. A health care power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint another person to make those critical health care decisions on your behalf.

Financial Powers of Attorney

Just like a health care power of attorney, a financial power of attorney allows you to appoint another person to make important decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. In this case, the person you appoint will have the power to manage your financial affairs such as paying your bills.

Living Will

A living will is a document that allows you to express your health care wishes to doctors should you ever become incapacitated to the point that you are unable to communicate those wishes. Also known as an advance directive, a living will can address your feelings about pain medications, life-saving measures, life support, surgeries and more.

Last Will & Testament

A last will and testament is a document that dictates what will happen to your possessions and other assets when you die. It also names an executor, who is the person responsible for distributing your estate upon your death. If you die without a will, your estate will be distributed by the Arizona laws of intestate succession and not according to your wishes.

Do I Need an Estate Plan?

You are not legally required to create an estate plan. However, in practical terms, you should engage in estate planning. If you do not have an estate plan, you will have no control over what happens to you and your assets as you approach the end of your life.

When a person falls ill or dies without an estate plan, the person places a very large burden on the shoulders of their loved ones. This can lead to guilt, stress, and disputes between members of the family.

In all cases, it is always best to make these decisions yourself in advance. Express your wishes to all members of your family and put those wishes into writing. You must also make sure that all of your documents are legally valid.

Do I Need an Arizona Estate Planning Attorney?

Just like there is no requirement to create an estate plan, there is no requirement to work with an attorney. However, creating an estate plan can be very difficult, especially from a legal and tax perspective. For this reason, most people choose to work with an experienced estate planning attorney who can guide them through the process.

IN-HOME CARE FOR SENIORS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Elder Home Care

Parkinson’s disease brings unique challenges. This neuro-degenerative disease is progressive in nature and affects both body and mind. It’s often necessary to contract with a senior in home care agency that offers specialized services administered by caregivers who have been highly trained to work with these patients. In the beginning stages of Parkinson’s disease, the signs and symptoms may only be a minor inconvenience. As the disease progresses, the individual will require a more intense level of senior in home care.

For example, patients with Parkinson’s typically need assistance with personal care tasks, such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. In the latter stages of the disease, these individuals might require reminders to use the toilet. In-home care can even help with the mental and emotional challenges of Parkinson’s disease. A specially trained caregiver can support patients and their families as they seek to adapt to the psychological challenges of this chronic disease.

At Endeavor In-Home Senior Care, you’ll find specialized home care in Mesa and the nearby areas for those with Parkinson’s disease. Our in home care agency in Mesa, AZ, can be reached at (877) 584-6162.

THE RISK OF POST-SURGICAL INFECTIONS

Every surgery carries some risks, including the risk of infections. The risk of an infection is particularly high while a patient is still in the hospital, but a surgical site infection can also occur in the home. If you or a loved one is recovering from surgery, consider arranging for in-home assistance. These services allow the patient to focus on his or her healing.

Hear more about preventing infections by watching this video. You’ll learn how the surgical team will maintain a sterile environment in the operating room and you’ll get some tips on preventing infections after the procedure.

After a surgery, it can be helpful to have home care assistance from a qualified caregiver. Call Endeavor Senior In Home Care at (877) 584-6162 to arrange for home care assistance near Phoenix, AZ, and be sure to ask us about our senior in home care services.

Ways to Help Seniors Achieve Their Life Goals

Senior care“One day…”

At Endeavor Home Care, we’re sure you can imagine a lot of interesting ways to conclude that thought – perhaps with activities and adventures you’ve always dreamed of pursuing, but just haven’t had a chance to turn into reality. But what about older loved ones? Don’t the seniors in your life still have dreams, aspirations, and hopes for the future as well?

Everybody has some sort of a bucket list, and older loved ones are no exception. If a senior you care for seems unwilling or unable to dream up ideas to live life to the fullest, try these suggestions to stimulate his or her wishful thinking:

  • Visit the town where he or she was born and raised
  • Volunteer with a favorite charity
  • Try a new hobby, such as scrapbooking or painting
  • Create a legacy to pass down through writing memoirs
  • Learn something new, such as a foreign language or musical instrument
  • Adopt a new pet

It is important to consider that the things should be ones the senior is interested in, not just activities you feel he or she should try regardless of what he or she would like to do. Endeavor Home Care can help get a bucket list conversation started with your senior loved one, and then devise plans with you to fulfill those wishes. Give us a call at (480) 535-6800 for more senior care tips, or for hands-on assistance with turning “one day” into today.

DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT HOSPICE CARE

Elder Home Care AZ

If your loved one is already receiving senior in home care services, then you probably already have a clear idea of the benefits of having a professional caregiver attend to your loved one’s needs. Toward the end of life, your loved one may need additional services from a local hospice program. Your in home care provider can partner with the hospice program to ensure that all of your loved one’s needs are met.

Myth: Choosing hospice care is equivalent to giving up hope.

Many families delay seeking hospice care for as long as possible because it’s widely considered that choosing hospice means giving up hope that the patient will recover. Later, families often regret that they didn’t choose hospice sooner. The mission of hospice programs is to help the individual achieve quality of life despite a terminal diagnosis. Hospice programs also greatly assist family members by connecting them with much-needed resources like hospice support services and spiritual care providers.

Myth: Hospice care must be delivered in a hospital.

Many hospice patients receive care within the comfort of their own homes, although some hospice programs do operate out of hospitals or long-term care facilities. Often, the families choose to continue receiving senior in home care services along with the hospice services to better meet the needs of their loved one and the whole family.

Myth: Hospice care is only appropriate for seniors.

Seniors toward the end of life do comprise a significant percentage of hospice patients. However, hospice care is appropriate for anyone who has received a terminal diagnosis.

Myth: Choosing hospice means that the end is imminent.

When a patient enters into hospice care, he or she has received a terminal diagnosis for which a cure is unlikely. Hospice patients typically have a life expectancy of six months or less. However, there is simply no way for a doctor to truly know how long a patient has. Some patients are in hospice care for a matter of days, while others receive care for years.

If you’re looking for hospice care in Mesa, AZ and the surrounding communities, reach out to Endeavor In Home Care today. We work in partnership with a handpicked group of hospice organizations in Arizona, providing services such as transportation, light housekeeping, companionship, and meal preparation, and much more. To discuss your loved one’s in-home or hospice care needs in Mesa, AZ, reach out today at (877) 584-6162.