Holiday Activities for Seniors

The winter season is known as a time for celebration but some of our senior loved ones, this can be a difficult time of year.  Between inhibited traveling conditions, flu and cold season upon us and possible isolation from others, the winter months can seem even colder.  If they have lost loved ones or family pets it can be easy to feel alone.  We here at A-1 Home Care not only focus on the day to day wellness of your loved ones, we want them to be happy to!  A-1 Home Care has been proudly serving all of Los Angeles and Orange Country for over 20 years and we have some tips for Winter Holiday Activities you can share with your senior.

Amaryllis- This house plant is one of the easiest to bring to bloom and grows out at an rapid pace over an extended period of time.  The care of these plans the quick return in bloom can be a rewarding experience for seniors this time of year

Make a Gingerbread House- Gingerbread houses are a fun and creative way to get into the holiday spirit this time of year and can be done with or without expert baking skills on hand!  These steps can tailored to the individual either baking materials from scratch or using graham crackers and frosting to build.  Decorating can be a joyous for all.

Have a little Tea Party- Delightful for loved ones young and old, using the fine china and table settings can really set the stage for an enjoyable afternoon warming up with nice tea and interaction.

Our Caregivers and Home Health Aides are thoroughly screened before placement and maintain current CPR certification and First Aid Training and Malpractice/Liability insurance. A-1 Home Care is licensed, bonded and insured.  Call today to learn more about how we can help your family at 562-929-8400 or 949-650-3800!

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Do Not Miss These Annual Doctor Appointments

Each year, more than millions of people of both genders, all ages and backgrounds decease because of not taking care of themselves. A lot has to do with not following up with doctor appointments as well. This is not intended to scare anyone, but to alert others that it is highly important to not just take care of yourself but to go to the doctors when needed and for your annual checkup.

Our A-1 Home Care caregivers can assist your loved one with this. One of the mandatory job tasks for most of our senior patients is transportation. Our caretakers do so for their patients’ doctor appointments, something that cannot be missed. Unless, rescheduled for an emergency. This job task also keeps our caregivers alert because, often, they do sit in on the appointments to consult with their patients’ doctor and see what health elements are remaining the same of changing.

Some of these appointments are (Very Well, 2016):

• Routine/Physical – Blood Pressure; Height; Weight; Blood Work; EKG; Fecal Occult Blood Test; Flexible Sigmoidoscopy/Colonoscopy.
• Senior Women – Mammogram; Pap Smear and Pelvic Exam; Measurement of Bone Mass.
• Senior Men – Prostate Exam and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)/Blood Test.

Tests and other examinations will vary per senior, depending if they are recovering from a heart attack or have diabetes, etc.

If your loved one needs further assistance, beyond transportation to their appointments or running errands and online assistance, then be sure to give us a call at 949-650-3800 or 562-929-8400 so we can place you with the best fit caregiver. Be sure to check out our website www.a-1homecare.com for our offices in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the San Bernardino County.

Elder Blind Care in Irvine

Has your parent lost sight of their vision? Do they, as well as yourself, need additional help around the house?

Then, you have come to the right place! Here, at A-1 Home Care, we provide services to seniors who come from different backgrounds. Our certified, and trained, caretakers are highly skilled in each department where you might need some further assistance in. Most of our clients have said that with our in-home care, they see the changing results in their parent’s health–improvement.

Our caregivers have worked with multiple of seniors who are losing or have lost their sight of vision. We take blind patients very seriously, often turning the in-home to a live-in services for our caretakers, making certain that our seniors come first always. With our blind elders, we help out in every aspect of the senior’s home from house chores, such as cleaning, cooking, meal and medicine modernization, and more.

If your loved one has lost their vision, please do not hesitate and give our Irvine branch a call at 949-650-3800. Or, you can find more of our local listings by calling the main line at our headquarters in Santa Fe Springs 562-929-8400.

 

 

Finding The Perfect Caregiver in Irvine For The Elderly

Many complications can arise when you are a full-time employee and have a sick parent that you need to tend to. Ideally, you would love to be there for them all the time, nothing pulls at your heart strings more than your aging parents. However, you have a family to take care of and with that comes a full load of responsibility. Nonetheless, it is important and necessary to find someone that will care for your parents with the same love and patience you would provide. At A-1 Home Care we understand the importance of find a certified companion for your loved one.

Our caregivers are trained to provide excellent service and strive every day for a better tomorrow. The certified home health aides of A-1 Homecare provide assistance to the elderly, handicap, terminally ill and disabled. They have over 2 years of caregiving experience and are CPR certified as well as trained in First Aid. Some of the assistance they provide includes:

• hygiene, grooming and assistance when changing clothes
• transportation for errands or appointments
• meal preparation with dietary restrictions kept in mind
• light housekeeping and laundry

In addition, our caregivers can provide non-medical assistance such as transportation to and front the hospital, hospital sitting and keeping track of medication. Common hospitals A-1 Home care service in Orange County are USC Irvine Medical Center, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center. We also pride ourselves in providing caregiver services to clients in assisted living facilities including Newport Plaza, Atria Rancho Park, Whittier Place and Park Terrace.

A-1 Home Care services various location in Orange County including Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Villa Park. For more information about A-1 Home Care or to speak to a friendly representative, please give us a call at (949) 650-3800 or visit our website at http://www.irvineinhomecare.com.

 

Autumn Allergy Defense in Irvine

As the season begin to change and the days become shorter, for many of us this time of year can be especially bothersome with seasonal allergies.  Causes of autumn allergies are primarily blamed on ragweed.  Ragweed starts emitting pollen at the end of summer and can last into October.  About three quarters of people allergic to Spring plants respond to ragweed as well.  What’s worse is the pollen from ragweed can actually travel hundreds of miles.  Dust mites and mold are also culprits of fall time runny noses and watery eyes.  Let’s take a look at some all natural defense tactics for surviving the season.

Let’s close the door on air borne triggers-air filters designed for furnaces and ac systems can eliminate a tremendous number of particles from indoor air flow.  Keeping a healthy seal on closed doors/windows can go along to preserving air quality as well.

Cleanse away what we bring inside-whenever we return home, we bring back with us a plethora of particles from where we have been on our clothing, shoes, hair etc.  Changing clothes and bathing can keep from spreading allergens in the home.

Steam out our symptoms- breathing in steam is a time tested effective means to combat stuffy noses and make for freer breathing.  Running a hot shower and sitting in the bathroom can open up nasal passages.

Eat well to feel well-maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet yields a plethora of benefits in our lives; among them being fewer allergy symptoms.  If food groups are being neglected in your eating routine, start by including one fruit and vegetable with every meal.

If you or a loved one need extra assistance around the house with things like meal preparation, grooming or bathing or perhaps companion care-look no further.  A-1 Home Care is the home care agency of choice by doctors, case managers and social workers across southern California.  Our experienced and compassionate home care professionals can also assist with medication supervision, after surgery care and even transportation.  With the holidays around the corner, having a CPR certified, first-aid trained care provider to help with this and that can make what could potentially be a stressful time of year much more manageable.  Call us today at 949-650-3800 for free quote!

Understanding the Signs of Parkinson’s

Unless you have dealt with it on a personal level, the average citizen may not know much about Parkinson’s disease.  What are the symptoms?  Am I at risk?  How can I protect myself and my family?  The truth is, it may be difficult to tell if someone has the condition.  There are signs that may be possible indicators and if you exhibit more than one of the following, it may be time to speak with your physician about any concerns you may have

What are signs of Parkinson’s?

• Bouts of Shaking or Tremors- Have you detected any sort of shakes in your hands or parts of your face? When you are not standing, do you notice any shake in your legs?  These are common early warning signs of Parkinsons.
  • Shakes can be normal after rigorous exercise or following injury. They may also be brought on by certain types of medication
• Smaller Handwriting- Can you notice a decrease in size with your penmanship? If you have seen a change in the way you write things down, for example-crowding of words together or letters are smaller to the eye, pay close attention.  A sudden alteration to handwriting is a warning sign of Parkinson’s disease,
  • It is not uncommon for writing to change as we get older. Stiffening of the muscles in our hands or diminished eyesight may contribute to this, but the change will be gradual over time.
• Sense of Smell- Can you tell that certain aromas are not as detectable as you remember them being? A simple test can be testing the potency of scent with bananas, pickles or mustard to see if your sense of smell is in order.
  • Common afflictions such as allergies, cold or flu can affect our sense of smell, but it should return to normal once you are well.
• Difficulty Sleeping- Have your nights of peaceful rest been replaced by hours of tossing and turning? Have you fallen out of bed due to uncontrolled sleep thrashing?  Sudden movements while sleeping may be a sign of Parkinson’s
  • The occasional restless night happens to everyone. Keep wary for consistency in this pattern of behavior.
• Trouble Moving or Walking- Have you been faced with a new pattern of stiffness in your limbs you’re not used to? Feeling stiff in the muscles can often be alleviated by movement.  If unexplained stiffness persists, it could be a warning sign of Parkinson’s.  Pay attention especially to the discomfort in your shoulder and hip joints.  Warning signs have been known to include a feeling of being “stuck to the floor”.
  • An injury to the arm or shoulder may carry stiffness and this is normal. Range of motion and full function may be inhibited until fully healed.  Arthritis may also be the root of something like this.
• Constipation- Are regular bowel movements becoming a noticeable strain in your daily routine? Difficulty moving bowels is a possible indicator of Parkinson’s Disease and should be discussed with your doctor
  • A diet lacking in water or fiber has been known to create bathroom visit difficulties. There are also medications that can bring on bouts of constipation.  If your diet is well balanced and medication does not appear to be a possible reason for keeping regular bowel movements, this absolutely should be brought up to your daughter.
• Soft or Lowered Voice- Has it been brought to your attention your voice is very soft when you feel you may be speaking at a normal volume? Can you detect a degree of hoarse when you speak?  A noticeable change in vocal patterns is something to speak to your physician about.
  • A chest cold or illness can certainly alter one’s voice, but you should sound normal again once you have shaken the ailment.
• Dizziness or Fainting- Does standing up leave you with periods of disorientation or feeling dizzy? This sensation along with fainting may be indicators of low blood pressure and could be connected to Parkinson/s
  • It is normal to experience the feeling of dizziness occasionally during standing, but any sort of over occurrence needs to be brought up to your doctor.
• Stooping or Hunching Over- Has your posture begun to take on a bit of a slope? If loved ones have noticed a sudden change in the way you stand or have developed a lean/slouch, it could be a sign of Parkinson’s
  • Pain from an injury or illness may affect how straight we stand up. There are also bone related conditions that may be to blame as well.

Each and every one of the Home Care Professionals at A-1 Home care is skilled in compassion.  We understand that while you may wish to personally care for your elderly loved one, it may not be possible every hour of every day.  We are here to not only help make sure your family is cared for but to give you peace of mind knowing they are safe and not alone.  Our Parkinson Caregivers are knowledgeable and helpful in the areas of physical therapy, mental stimulation, incontinence and more.  If your loved one is going through fatigue, sleep disruption, mood changes or depression that are commonly associated with Parkinson’s, our caregivers can offer a calm and caring hand.  Call us today at (949) 650-3800 or (562) 929-8400 to learn more.  We are proud to help aid the cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach and surrounding communities.

Caregivers In Irvine Provide Online Assistance To Seniors In The Home

For many elders in Irvine and surrounding areas of Southern California, figuring out the complexities of the internet is no easy assignment.

At A-1 Home Care in Irvine, our specialized caregiving professionals are well-versed in providing lasting assistance with navigating the online world for people in the home who are just beginning to learn about their desktop or PC.

A-1 Home Care’s caregiver options are offered with live-in care services to make it easy for family caregivers who worry about their beloved elders using the computer when they’re gone. Each caregiver on staff comes fully equipped with helping hands, a golden heart, and a beaming smile for elders in need living throughout the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

Take a look below at some of the leading elder care services that are also provided in the home at A-1 Home Care:

• assistance with household chores like dusting, vacuuming, dish-washing, laundry, mopping, taking out the trash, and bed-making
• assistance with yard work and gardening tasks like watering plants, mowing the lawn, and raking leaves
• assistance with personal services like bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting
• transportation to and from medical appointments and other existing engagements
• delicious and nutritious meal preparation
• wake-up and tuck-in services
• errand running like grocery shopping and picking up clothes from the cleaners
• medication reminders and administration assistance
• “brain games” and other cognition improving activities
• enjoyable conversation and companionship
• special needs care for physical handicaps and other disabilities
• child care
• pet care

Every senior care specialist on staff is adept with helping to safeguard internet users in the home from money fraud and identity theft, among other common concerns that might go unnoticed by new users until they’ve already been burned. If you want to find out more about the hourly in-home care options provided at A-1 Home Care today, then contact a friendly caregiver at (949) 650-3800 or (562) 929-8400. A-1 Home Care also serves surrounding communities in Tustin, Orange, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Villa Park.