CarePlus

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  • 9 Benefits of Home Health Care

    1. Professionalism. You may be uncertain about handing over care of your loved one to a stranger, but our home health caregivers are certified and thoroughly screened, and receive regular ‘in-service’ trainings to keep their professionally-trained skills sharp. All of our caregivers are also bonded, licensed and insured through CarePlus.
    2. Personalized care. We have licensed RNs on staff to oversee the caregivers and our cases, and each patient’s home health care is tailored to suit their specific needs.
    3. Medication control. With a professional caregiver monitoring your loved one’s health, there’s no need to worry about whether or not they’ve forgotten to take their medication; our Certified Nursing Assistants carefully chart all medication and health information.
    4. Nutrition and food preparation. Malnutrition can be a problem for older adults living on their own, either because they’re unable to cook for themselves or can’t get out to the grocery store. A home health caregiver can help prepare healthful, tasty meals, and thereby stave off easily avoidable health problems.
    5. Transportation. A home health professional can make sure that your loved one makes it to all of their appointments ready and on time, and can pick up groceries and prescriptions—all the ingredients for a healthy life at home.
    6. Company. Lack of social interaction can not only lead to depression in the elderly and disabled, but can also contribute to the deterioration of their mental capabilities. Friendly conversation and company will improve the emotional and mental state of your loved one.
    7. 24/7 support. Our clients can reach the CarePlus staff at any time, even outside of office hours; we understand that often the adult children who are setting up care live out of town and even out of state, and rely on us to be available any time.
    8. Peace of mind. There’s little that causes more worry than the thought of a loved one with diminished physical or mental capacities home alone; knowing that one of our friendly, professional home health caregivers is there can give you some peace of mind in knowing that your parent isn’t alone.
    9. Family togetherness. The stress of caregiving can wreak havoc on family bonds, and hospitalizing a loved one can leave family members at the mercy of visiting hours and having to travel to spend time with their spouse, parent, or child. Hiring a home health professional allows your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home, and can eliminate much of the stress and promote harmony within a family during difficult times.

  • Three Easy Steps to a Healthy Heart

    February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in American society today—in 2006, 81 million Americans had one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke or heart failure. That same year, over 831,000 of those suffering from cardiovascular disease died.

    What can we do to stop heart disease? Even on a personal level, it seems daunting—how do we undo years’ worth of too many sweets, too many fats, too many days spent inside on the sofa instead of out in the world? How can you make your heart a healthy heart?

    The good news is, you don’t need to completely revamp your lifestyle to get a healthy heart and cut your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Here are three easy steps you can incorporate into the life you already live that will do just that—without requiring too much of a sacrifice.

    1. Go for a walk. You don’t have to purchase an expensive gym membership or pick up a fad exercise class, and you don’t need to load up on confusing exercise equipment. All you need to do is tie on a pair of sneakers and walk—just half an hour a day can cut your risk of developing heart disease!
      For added encouragement, tips and information, explore the American Heart Association’s Start! program, which encourages Americans to get out and stretch your legs while improving your health.
    2. Pay attention to what you put on your plate. Eating a healthy diet doesn’t necessarily mean giving up all the tasty treats that we enjoy, and it doesn’t mean cutting out all fat and sugar. Try making heart-healthy substitutions—for instance, go for fats and oils that are in liquid form, rather than solid form. Solids—like stick butter—tend to be full of bad fats, the saturated and trans fats, while liquids—like vegetable oil—are usually monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can not only help lower your bad LDL cholesterol but also give you omega-3 and omega-6 oils.
    3. Take a deep breath. Stress can contribute to the development or exacerbation of cardiovascular disease—so relax! Eliminating stress may sound easier said than done, but there are some easy ways to do it. Watch your favorite comedy—laughter is an instant stress-reducer—or go for a walk with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Use to-do lists and prioritize tasks to reduce anxiety, and go to bed early to get that good night’s sleep. Giving up alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine can also bring your stress levels down—and improve your physical health at the same time.

    For more information on how to keep your heart healthy, visit the American Heart Association’s site at www.heart.org.

  • The Best Service in the Worst Times

    Last week, a large snowstorm crippled our community, turning local commutes into hours-long ordeals and depriving thousands of electricity. Among those without heat or electricity were some of our clients, including Mr. and Mrs. W., 96 and 90 respectively, who live in the Bethesda area and both receive round-the-clock home health care from our Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) as well as additional oversight from Registered Nurse and Geriatric Care Manager, Cathy Lonas, of Advocate 360 since they have no family in town.

    Upon losing power, CarePlus’ CNAs did their best to keep Mr. and Mrs. W. warm and safe, but when the electricity hadn’t returned the following morning, they called Tom Najjar, owner of CarePlus Home Health, Inc, for advice about what to do. As both husband and wife have medical problems, taking them to a warming station was not the best option. Compounding this was the fact that the city of Bethesda was buried under snow, making transportation even more difficult than usual.

    Tom, working with Cathy Lonas, contacted Mr. and Mrs. W.’s son, who lives in Colorado, and obtained his permission to get his parents a hotel room in the area. Unfortunately, many area hotels had also lost power, and many of those that hadn’t were full. Finally Tom and Cathy found a hotel in Germantown that had one room available; the only problem that remained was how to get the W.’s to the hotel.

    Despite treacherous road conditions, Tom himself drove to Bethesda to pick up Mr. and Mrs. W. and their caregivers, and transported them to the hotel in Germantown, where he stayed to make sure that they were getting settled well; he then went to pick up dinner for them and brought it back to the hotel. By the time he left, the W.’s were in good spirits and much warmer.

    After their scheduled two-day stay at the hotel, Tom discovered that the power was still out at the W.’s house, so he arranged for them to stay for an extra day. On the third day, Tom returned to pick them up and take them back to their home in Bethesda, where the electricity was back—but the heat was not! After 45 minutes of troubleshooting, Tom discovered that the problem was with the thermostat; a quick change of batteries and the house started warming up right away.

    When you sign on with CarePlus, you’re not just getting a personal care agency; CarePlus provides you with a staff who cares enough to go out of their way, and is willing to go the extra mile for you and your loved ones without hesitation.

  • 8 Easy Winter Mood Boosters for Seniors

    When the weather gets colder and the days grow shorter, our moods can plummet. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a legitimate mood disorder related to major depression, but even for those who don’t suffer from this more severe disorder, the winter months can be—well—a bummer.

    What to do when the snow and the early sunset have you down? There’s a strong belief that the strength and duration of daylight has an effect on our brain chemistry, and can lead to “the winter blues”—that’s why many sufferers of SAD use special light boxes to treat their depression with light therapy. For those of us without SAD, though, spending a little bit of time outside on a sunny day can do wonders!

    Here are some more simple tips that can boost your mood–some of them immediately!

    1. Eat your breakfast. Remember when your mom told you it was the most important meal of the day? Research has proven her right. Eating a healthy, filling breakfast can improve your mood and give you plenty of energy for the rest of the day.

    2. Keep your plate colorful. The most colorful fruits and vegetables are often the ones with the highest incidences of vitamins and antioxidants that not only keep your body running, but improve brain function–and therefore your mood! Some superfoods include blueberries, oranges, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

    3. Take those omega-3s. Fish oil may sound less than appetizing, but studies show that it has holistic health benefits; omega-3s can help your joints, your heart and your brain all in one go! There’s even evidence to suggest that they can help treat depression.

    4. Get social. Have errands to run? Don’t go solo! Call a friend or invite a family member to accompany you; friendly conversation with someone you care about is an instant mood-booster.

    5. Work up a sweat. It’s no secret that a workout–even a moderate one–can increase the release of mood-improving endorphins. If it’s too cold to go for a run, bring your workout inside or take it to the gym! You’ll feel the benefits even more if you include a workout buddy! Remember that seniors should always consult a physician before starting any exercise regimen.

    6. Drink up. A vast majority of Americans don’t get all the water they need. What’s the connection to your mood? Dehydration can cause fatigue and low energy, which can exacerbate those winter blues! Make sure you’re getting enough water in your daily routine.

    7. Get in tune. Music can be a major mood-booster; listen to your favorites throughout the day, while you’re at the office, the gym, or just doing chores around the house. For an added benefit, up the tempo–and feel free to dance!

    8. Get a good night’s sleep. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but in today’s busy world it’s also a mood-booster that often gets jettisoned in favor of productivity. The upside of getting a full night’s sleep–you’ll feel the effects immediately!

    Seniors are more prone to depression than many other groups, thanks to increased isolation, a loss of friends and loved ones and a feeling of having lost their usefulness or purpose in life, among other things. Depression can also be a symptom of more serious illnesses that plague the elderly, including nutritional deficiencies and Alzheimer’s disease. If an aging loved one or an elder you care for is showing signs of depression, talk to them about seeing a doctor.

  • The Many Advantages of Hiring Home Care Help

    If you have an aging parent who can no longer take care of herself at home, you are all facing some very serious decisions in the very near The Many Advantages of Hiring Home Care Help imagefuture. There are many options available for this type of situation, but many of those options are cost-prohibitive in these difficult times. Many children of aging parents either live far away or simply do not have the means or time to attend to their parents’ daily needs; fortunately, there is a solution that falls somewhere in between these two extremes: Here’s a brief look at how and why home care has become the answer for many.

    Flexibility

    Some seniors need a lot of help, whereas some need much less. Home care help is flexible enough to meet virtually every single need! Whether your parent needs assistance four hours a day, or 24 hours a day, there is a solution for her particular circumstance. Many providers specialize in live-in care: you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your parent is never alone and will always be safe.

    Variety of Services

    Home care providers offer the same types of services as an assisted living facility, but your parent can remain in the home that she knows and loves. Some of the most common services include:

    • Helping with personal hygiene/bathing/dressing
    • Incontinence care
    • Medication assistance
    • Shopping
    • Housekeeping/laundry
    • Meal preparation
    • Light exercise programs
    • Companionship

    Professionals

    When you hire a reputable home care provider service, you can be assured that your parent will be in good hands. The service will conduct extensive screening processes which include drug/background checks, training verification, personality assessment, and so forth. The service will work hard to match your parent with the right professional who will become a real blessing in her life.

    When the time for decision finally comes, consider getting quality home care services for your aging parent.

  • Options For Taking Care of Elderly Parents

    Watching our parents get older is one of the hardest things that we have to go through. It can be difficult watching them get to stages where Options For Taking Care of Elderly Parents imagethey cannot take care of themselves anymore and need basic care. For many of us we are accustomed to having our parents available to help us and take care of our needs. This can be a real change for everyone involved and it can be difficult for our parents to realize they can’t take care of themselves.

    Many of the things that they need can become very time consuming and difficult to keep up with since for many they have their own children and grandchildren at this point. For many they start looking into options for help for their parents, especially if they live far away from us. There is the option of a rest home, but that can be the most difficult thing to do to a parent. They like to stay independent as long as they can.

    Another option is home care. There are several different companies that offer different services at different times of the day, but the best scenario is to have a home health care service that is available 24/7. Then you or your parent can contact them for anything at anytime. It is also nice to have them offer services such as laundry, grocery shopping, general housekeeping, friendship and even basic hygiene care. This provides a way for your parent to develop a companionship and something to look forward to.

    There are several things to consider and it is important to do what is best for all involved.