Posts by: Editor

Seniors have many things to think about after retirement, from their physical health to the safety of their homes. For some, making sure they have the right Medicare plan can be a long and drawn-out hassle that comes with confusing terminology, and when an individual is dealing with mental health issues, time is often of the essence. From anxiety to depression, there is an entire spectrum of disorders that many seniors are living with these days, and these feelings can become problematic when it comes to staying healthy. Depression, in particular, can affect a senior over time and lead to much more serious health conditions. The good news is that there are many ways you can get help with a mental health condition through Medicare. With an Advantage plan, you can see a trained counselor or therapist as well as get the prescription medications you need. It’s important to do a little research into…

When a potential customer calls a home care agency to find out more about their services the first goal of that home care agency is to ask the client engaging questions that will prompt them to give their “download” over the phone and spend about 15 minutes doing that. In order to keep someone on the phone for 15 minutes, the home care agency must ask the right questions and say the right things when asked questions. However, the ultimate goal of this initial conversation is to schedule the all important “In Home Assessment.” This is where the real magic happens and where the relationship of trust will be established with the client.  Usually, a potential customer will only want to spend 15 minutes giving their download to one agency and therefore if you manage to get them to do that you will usually end up getting them to schedule the in home assessment.

Keeping your older adult’s teeth and mouth healthy can be challenging because aging and health conditions can make them more vulnerable to dental problems. Wisdom may come with age, but so does a multitude of problems associated with aging teeth and gums. A lifetime of chewing, grinding, gnashing, and general wear and tear combined with medications, medical conditions, and a potential decrease in dental care can cause many oral health problems in older adults. These issues may result in significant tooth pain, inflamed gums, bleeding gums, or gum infection. Here are 5 common geriatric dental problems to watch out for, plus advice on prevention, treatment, and management.

Choosing Respite Care: What You Need to Know At some point in our lives, we end up becoming the caregiver for our elderly loved ones. Be it grandparents, parents or other family members, seniors often need daily care once they reach a certain age or health issues arise. Taking care of an elderly individual can be difficult and time-consuming. You may find that you soon need assistance and respite care becomes a consideration. Entrusting the care of your loved one to someone else is a daunting task. You want to find the right person that will care for your family member and love them just as you would. Basic research can get you on the right path to hiring the perfect individual for respite care.

Tips for Planning a Vacation with an Aging Loved One As a caregiver of an aging loved one, taking a vacation may sound impossible. Who makes sure mom eats while I’m away? Will dad remember to take his needed medications? What would mom do if there is a power outage? The list of questions you ask yourself goes on and on, increasing your anxiety until you give up on the idea altogether. However, in addition to poor health, not taking some needed time away from the daily responsibilities of a caregiver can result in extreme stress and burnout.

Marketing your new non-medical home care business will be the hardest thing you do during your first year in business. This is the period of time that most businesses fail – so it is key that you know what you are doing each day and execute with accuracy and professionalism in order to stand out from the crowd and grow your business. Here are three things to keep in mind when marketing your business.

Setting your new non-medical home care agency apart from the crowd in your local community is key to getting off the tarmac and successfully launching and growing your home care business into a multi-million dollar operation. Saying the same things that everyone else is saying will usually just lead to “glazed over” looks from your potential referral sources. Having tools that no one else has can be key to winning or losing the game. In addition, proving that you can not only talk the talk – but walk the walk is key to keeping your clients and referral sources happy over the long haul. The below is a tip for keeping your clients happy and standing out from the crowd when doing so.

Starting a non medical home care business dedicated to helping seniors stay in their homes can be a daunting task even for those who have already worked in the industry. As the old saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Where do you start? What should be on your list of tasks before you open your doors for business? Does your state require a license to operate such a business? What type of legal entity should you create? How will you market your business and stand out from your already embedded local competition? How will you answer questions like: “How long have you been in business?”, or “What’s the difference between you and the other two companies I just interviewed?” In addition, operational issues like who will be answering your agency main phone line when someone calls need to be addressed so that the call doesn’t go to voicemail and lose the…

Caring for an elderly loved one can be a full-time job. When you are providing care for a senior, it can be difficult to meet all aspects of care, such as doctors’ appointments and meal preparation, while trying to maintain your own family life. When you are responsible for the care and well-being of an aging parent or another family member, it is important to recognize when you need additional help. While you want to provide care for your loved one, sometimes help is needed when the daily needs of your family member become too much to handle. Read on to see common signs of extra help needed with caregiving.

As your parent’s age, you may need to consider setting up care for them in their senior years. Whether you choose to do this yourself or have assistance, it is a plan that needs to be formulated and put in place long before it is ever needed. You can sit and discuss items with your parents on what their wishes are in the future should their need for extra assistance arise. This way they feel a part of the process and do not feel as though you’ve abandoned them. Here are some ideas and topics to consider when it’s time to plan the care your aging loved one needs.