How to Keep Your Loved One Safe for the Winter Season

When Winter comes through in full-force, it can make life much harder for everyone – especially senior citizens. The cold weather and slippery ground can lead to slippage or other serious injuries.

At A-1 Home Care Agency, our caregivers understand the detrimental effects of leaving the elderly in a position where they can potentially fall and severely injure themselves. Our seasoned team of caregivers provide an assortment of Elderly Home Care & Non-Medical Home Health Care for those that require extra assistance

Keep your loved ones Winter-ready and safe with these easy-to-follow tips:

Stay Away from Slippery Areas

This might sound like a no-brainer but for the sake of your loved one, keep them away from icy, snowy roads and sidewalks. As you are already likely aware, falls are a common occurrence for senior citizens during the Winter season. The injuries sustained can range anywhere from hip and wrist fractures to major lacerations.

All seniors must wear shoes that have good traction and non-skid soles if they are planning to go out for a walk. Another emphasis should be placed on the cane tip. Replacing a worn tip will provide them with a trustworthy option to lean on without having to worry about any slippage.

Staying Warm

Needless to say, low temperatures can lead to severe conditions like frostbite and hypothermia. You can counter this by keeping indoor temperatures within a comfortable range for the individual. Note that your body temperature should never dip below 95 degrees – if you do happen to notice this, seek medical assistance immediately.

Avoid Isolating Your Loved One

Winter can be a relatively lonely season as many seniors will have less contact with others due to the difficulty and danger of getting around. This doesn’t just lead to a sense of isolation, but it can also exacerbate depression within the elderly.

To avoid these issues, check in on your loved one as often as possible; even a small chat on the phone could mean the world to him/her. Additionally, you can opt for 24 Hour Home Care, that we at A-1 Home Care Agency, offer to provide round the clock services for families that are unable to care for their loved ones for extended periods of time.

Feel free to contact us at our Santa Fe Springs Office (562) 929-8400 or at our Newport Beach Office (949) 650-3800 to inquire about any of our premium services that we offer.

A-1 Home Care Agency is proudly licensed, bonded, and insured.

 

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How to cope with the holidays

The holidays are not always a time of cheer and joy. Often, the holidays are the days in which most people will avoid due to the absence of a loved one or ones.

Our in-home care agency, A-1 Home Care, has worked with many senior patients who have a hard time getting through the holidays. It is our duty to make sure that our seniors are comfortable when it comes to the holidays, both physically and mentally. Often, our seniors’ loved ones come down to their home to spend some quality time.

Your loved one should not dread the holidays, or the holiday itself when it finally arrives. Here are some tips to cope with the holidays, coping with depression and stress, something that you can go through with your loved one as well if further assistance is needed (Mayo Clinic, 2014):

1. Make plans ahead of time – understand that putting something off will only delay time. Make plans for the holidays. Your loved one deserves to be around loved ones.
2. Acknowledge your feelings – it is okay to be sad or angry.
3. Reach out – send a text, call, or ask someone to keep you company. Talk it out.
4. Bake.
5. Color.
6. Say “no,” if something seems too overwhelming.
7. Take a deep breath.

If you would like to hear further of our in-home and twenty-four hour services, including companion care, then do not hesitate to give our Malibu branch 310-657-8780 or our Santa Fe Springs headquarters 562-929-8400 a call.

 

 

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Breast Cancer Symptoms for Women in Malibu

Every October, we see this hanging around on almost every board, door, fence, wall, and more–

Breast Cancer is one of the top cancers that affects millions of women, and even men too, each year. Although, it is treatable with radiation and chemotherapy, a majority of people are rediagnosed with it a second or multiple times, until it hits Stage Four Cancer.

Women over the age of forty are encouraged by their doctors to get a breast examination (mammogram) each year to detect any potential signs of breast cancer, which anyone can get, including many women in their twenties.

A-1 Home Care continues to work with many seniors who have battled, or currently are, breast cancer. Our caregivers treat this cancer very cautiously, understanding the side effects that many diagnosed individuals have faced. Although, most doctors recommend a self-examination of the breasts, primarily for women, you can take extra precaution by paying attention to these details (2017, American Cancer Society):

• Discomfort
• Inverted nipple
• Lumps
• Nipple discharge
• Redness or swollen lymph nodes

A-1 Home Care is an agency who strive to go above and beyond for our senior patients. If you would like a representative to further assist you, please be sure to contact our Malibu branch 310-657-8780 or our Santa Fe Springs headquarters 562-929-8400.

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Fibromyalgia Care for Seniors in Malibu

Undetectable in lab tests and x-rays, fibromyalgia does not lend itself to concrete diagnoses, but the physical symptoms such as a constant dull ache in the muscles, heightened pain and sensitivity to touch, nerve pain and tingling sensations are very palpable to the sufferer.  An estimated 8% of the American population is afflicted by this disease of the nervous system, most of whom are women.  The myth that fibromyalgia is “just a disease that doctors make up when they can’t figure out your diagnosis” is rooted in the fact that it cannot be supported by lab test results, but in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology came up with guidelines on identifying fibromyalgia based on patients’ reports.  If you or a loved one is suffering from fibromyalgia, count on A-1 Home Care in Malibu to help you in your time of need.

Are you caring for a spouse who has fibromyalgia?  Living with an elderly loved one with this health condition can take a toll on your relationship, especially as the disease worsens over time and she loses the ability to work and do basic things for herself.  Her depression, pain, and impaired cognitive function may make your life difficult but an attentive caregiver from A-1 Home Care in Malibu will know exactly what to do so you can rest.  In-home care entails cooking, cleaning, transportation to medical appointments and more.  Even respite care will teach you how to be more in tune with your loved one’s needs.  There’s nothing like having a personal assistant around with years of experience.

A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured agency that was established in 1991.  For a quarter of a century, A-1 Home Care has been providing services all over Los Angeles County, including cities like Malibu, Agoura Hills, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Century City.  Our highly skilled caregivers have won the hearts of families all over Southern California.  We take great pride in our caregivers, certified nurse assistants, certified home health aides, and hospice care workers because they have an uncanny ability to connect with the elderly.

 

For quality elder care, call A-1 Home Care today (310) 657-8780 or visit www.malibuinhomecare.com for more details.

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Malibu Home Care: Beware of Caregivers in Sheep’s Clothing

It’s no secret that the elderly get lonely around the holidays, especially if their family members are either geographically distant or are no longer around.  For kind, unsuspecting seniors like Donald Hodgins, an 84-year-old widower, the holidays can be excruciatingly gruesome when predators seek out vulnerable older adults in the least expected places.  Hodgins met his senior predator, a 24-year-old waitress, at a restaurant where they began an ongoing rapport.  The young lady eventually took advantage of Hodgins’ kindness and scammed over $100,000 out of him.  If you need a trustworthy caregiver for an elderly loved one, don’t hire an in-home caregiver without doing an extensive criminal background check.  A-1 Home Care in Malibu is a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency that conducts thorough background checks, including verifying professional references and DMV records.

 

24-Hour Companion Care with Senior Safety in Mind

Inviting a complete stranger into your home and having her perform menial tasks in your personal space require trust.  But trust takes time, and those who need live-in or live-out caregivers don’t have a lot of time to build trust with potential caregivers who might be able to look after your elderly loved one in some distant future.  This is why numerous families turn to A-1 Home Care in Malibu, a reputable company that’s been around for 24 years and is still going strong, thanks to its reliable and seasoned caregivers.  Sometimes the need for in-home care is immediate due to the unforeseen event of your loved one falling.  Other times you see it in the near future, when you notice that your parent is unusually forgetful lately.  A-1 Home Care does all the hard work for you so you can be reassured about the competence and character of your caregiver.

 

Quality Elder Care at Unbeatable Rates

Let’s face it: A-1 Home Care offers the most competitive in-home care rates in Malibu and all of Los Angeles County!  You or your loved ones can enjoy senior care in the comfort of your own home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without having to worry about the motives of your companion care aide.  Customer satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!  With a huge pool of caregivers to choose from, you have the freedom of ease to change caregivers if they don’t perform to your standards.  A-1 Home Care has an exceptional standard that all caregivers have to meet, but we understand that things change and personalities may clash over time; we work with you and for you to ensure your happiness.  Easy financing options are available, and A-1 Home Care accepts Veteran Benefits and long-term care insurance.

 

For senior care you can trust, call A-1 Home Care today (310) 657-8780 or visit our website www.malibuinhomecare.com for services in Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Agoura Hills, Culver City, Manhattan Beach, and other cities throughout Los Angeles County.

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Special Needs Children Receive Lasting Care In Malibu

Do you have a special needs child who requires additional supervision and care than you have available?

At Malibu A-1 Home Care, we sympathize with your situation and understand the worry you might have about your child outliving you and not receiving the care he or she needs by that time. That is why we provide exceptional, compassionate home helpers who have years of specialized training in working with people who have a variety of different disabilities. Our special needs care providers are proud to serve both adults and children with special needs in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, blending the years of professional experience they possess with their loving hearts to form the perfect recipe for productive and long-lasting in-home care services.

A-1 Home Care is built around an in-depth understanding that even the most loving family members are oftentimes unable to care for their special-needs loved ones the way they wish they could, whether because of their own family obligations or other daily responsibilities that make it impossible for them to be two places at once. At A-1 Home Care, we offer special needs care solutions for people with both physical and mental disabilities, including Down’s Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger Syndrome, Tourette’s Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dyslexia, Epilepsy, and many more.

If you’d like to know more about the leading personal care services we provide at A-1 Home Care, contact one of our live-in care givers today by calling (310) 657-8780 or (562) 929-8400. We are proud to serve people with special needs living throughout Southern California, including cities like Corona Del Mar, Century City, Diamond Bar, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills.

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Caregiver Assist with Drug Addiction Treatment

One of the top reasons that people abuse drugs or alcohol is because of stress.  The individual may experience stress during the recovery, or after because the body and mind needs to adjust to all the changes.  It may be easy to revert back to drugs to cope with such stress, but there are ways to relieve the stress without the need of drugs.  The following are a few strategies for quick stress relief. Exercise is good for your body, but it is also good for managing stress as it releases endorphins within your body, which help promotes stress relief.  Next, your furry best friends are great for a relaxing time, so play with your cat or dog more.  Another way could be listening to calming music and listening to scented candle.  While this may be new to you, trying something new and different could mean a new outlook in how you can approach stress relief.  Other strategies include remember fond memories, soaking in a hot bath, and possibly drinking a cup of steamy hot tea.

There are many other ways to help cope with stress, and A-1 Home Care in Malibu has the experience to provide support for your drug treatments.  Our home health aides, in home caregivers, and companions are highly qualified and dedicated to offer their service in Short-Term Care, Companion Services, Home Helpers, Hourly Home Care, Live-In Care, Respite Care, Personal Services, and much more.  Our coverage areas include Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Hollywood, Culver City, and other cities around Los Angeles and Orange County, and we hope we can provide you the support on your road to sobriety!

For more information, contact us at 310-657-8780, or go online and visit our Facebook or our website www.malibuinhomecare.com today!

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Cancer Prevention Tips for Seniors in Malibu

One of the best way to fight cancer is to prevent it, or even just by discovering it early, that is why early screening is important for many types of cancer.  So here are some guidelines provided by the American Cancer Society to help you understand more about the different time interval and age that you should begin screening.  For seniors and elderly, as long as they are in good health, these screenings should still be performed. In the case for breast cancer, mammograms and clinical breast exam should begin at around age 40 every year. For those younger, a clinical breast exam should be done every three years.  Beginning at age 50, screening for colorectal cancer and polyps are recommended to both gender.  Lastly, reduce your risk by staying away from tobacco, regular exercises, and eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  But all in all, have an open discussion with your doctor about the type of screenings that is right for you or your loved ones, and live a healthy lifestyle.

A-1 Home Care in Malibu supports and offers the best and affordable caregivers around Los Angeles and Orange County, and each are certified in CPR and First Aid in case of emergency.  Our caregivers specialize in After Surgery Care,  Cancer Care, Post Stroke Care, Diabetic Care, Alzheimer Care, Parkinson Care, and other In Home Care for Elderly.  We are proud to hire diverse caregivers. In fact, we have caregivers from Jewish, Middle Eastern, Asian backgrounds and more. For over 20 years, our company offers our service in Malibu, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Marina Del Rey, Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Hollywood, Culver City, and other cities around Los Angeles and Orange County.  We guarantee compatibility and are confident that we can be your trusted source for in home caregivers.

Call us at 310-657-8780 to speak about our low cost in home health care or visit www.malibuinhomecare.com today. Be sure to check out our Facebook!

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Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy The Holidays Better

Older adults and seniors have been there and done that, and it may be more difficult to get them excited about the holidays.  As a result, we want to share a few tips that you may use to help your elderly loved ones enjoy the holidays this season a little more.

1. Provoke old memories – Strolling down the memory lane with seniors is probably one of the most powerful ways to see emotional reaction to the holidays.  Even with cognitive impairments, patients can have clearer memory of older events compare to more recent events.  Use pictures, videos, and music to best stimulate these old memories.
2. Be inclusive – Don’t prepare the holiday feast alone.  Get everyone to participate and help, including them can make them feel part of it and enjoy the holiday spirits.  On top of that, it helps you relieve stress!  If the seniors are limited physically, create simpler tasks for them to participate with.
3. Avoid embarrassments – Joke around is fine, but if it is directed toward a senior about their lack of memory, or other limitations, it can be out of line and embarrassing for them.
4. Detailed planning –  Be courteous when it comes to seniors.  Be mindful that many of them could be on medication, and make sure nothing can create unwanted reactions with the drugs.  Moreover, make sure mobility is not a problem during the party.  Allow seniors to sit at the end of the tables for easy in and out.

If you are able to include these tips this season, then your elderly loved ones can surely enjoy the holidays without any problems.

Having a in home caregiver can dramatically improve the quality of life in a senior depending on the severity of their limitations.  A-1 Home Care in Malibu has over 20 years of experience in matching caregiver with clients for any home care scenarios, making sure each one is compatible with one another.  Moreover, our caregivers have at least 2 years of experience, CPR certification, criminal background checked, and more importantly, the dedication and compassion to become a quality caregiver.  All our caregivers, nurse aides, home health aides, and senior companions are expert in Alzheimer Care, Diabetic Care, Brian Injury Care, Parkinson Care, Kidney Disease Care, Incontinence Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, and home care scenarios.  With coverage of areas such as Malibu, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Redondo Beach, Westwood, Century City, Studio City, Marina Del Rey, Culver City, and other cities around Los Angeles and Orange County.

For more information, contact us at 310-657-8780, or go online and visit our Facebook or our website Malibu In Home Care today!

 

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Home Care for Seniors in Malibu

There are many type of home care services that you can find for your aging loved ones. Finding the right kind can provide the best support, as well as saving time and money in the search process.  Here are two main types of home health care.  First there is short-term home care.  This usually ranges from a few weeks to a few months, and usually for those recovering from certain illness or surgery.  However, for those with chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, a long-term home care solution may be more fitting.  Many of the long-term caregivers can be live-in caregivers, which means they stay for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Because every situation is different, it is best to ask as many questions as you can in order to find the appropriate type of care services for them.

A-1 Home Care in Malibu offers quality and reliable caregivers for seniors.  We also have other caregivers with expertise in diabetic care, hospice care, cancer care, postpartum care, and other in home care for elderly.  As an industry leader for over 20 years, we can provide caregivers in many areas in the Los Angeles County, like Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas, and much more.

For more information, please call us at this number 310 657 8780, or visit our website at Malibu In Home Care today.

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