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Lockport, IL 60441

When you're a caregiver, finding time to take care of your own health can be challenging — but doing so will help both you and your loved one.

By Krisha McCoy, MS

Do you provide assistance for an older person who needs care? People of all ages can be caregivers, but it is very common for older people to become caregivers to their spouses or other loved ones, and – too often – they begin to neglect their own health at an age when they should really be paying more attention to it.

Caregiving is both mentally and physically stressful, and caregivers are considered to be at increased risk for physical health problems and depression. If you are a caregiver in your senior years, it is even more important that you take care of your own health.

The Health Effects of Caregiving

Whether caring for an ailing spouse or another loved one, many caregivers become so concerned with their care-providing role that they neglect their own health, putting themselves at increased risk of:

• Poor physical health: 16 percent of caregivers say that their health declined after they become caregivers.
• Psychological stress: Approximately half of all people who provide Alzheimer's care, a common type of elder care, report experiencing distress. The effects of psychological stress can be widespread and may include depression, burnout, alcohol and drug use, and other problems.
• Self-neglect: Caregivers are more likely than non-caregivers to eat poorly, be sleep deprived, not exercise, not rest when ill, and postpone medical appointments.
• Death: Caregivers are at higher risk of dying than the general population.

Caring for Yourself While Providing Care

When you’re involved in the stress and chaos of providing elder care, or any type of caregiving, it can be difficult to take a step back and focus on yourself. Keep in mind: The loved one you are caring for will be the first to benefit when you make your own health a priority.

continue reading from everydayhealth.com 

For questions about live in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Home Helpers. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time in home care in Chicago and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 890-2228 for more information.

Many people say they’ll never put Mom in a nursing home.  This is easy to do when she’s healthy, but if she gets Alzheimer’s disease it becomes much more difficult.

The first thing you need to take into consideration is the safety of your parent.  

Thinking “it’s my responsibility” can cause you to try and do too much.  While your intentions are good, this can lead to accidents.  And all too often injury is the first sign a caregiver is in over their head.  Then you try and react to the situation and scramble looking for solutions.  So how can you avoid this trap?  The best thing to do is become proactive and educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease.

Ask for help.  Don’t try and do too much by yourself.  An Alzheimer’s patient requires a great deal of care and no one person can do it alone.  Receiving help from others is good for both you and your parent.  Overworking yourself will cause high stress levels and with Alzheimer’s you will need patience.  For example, your Mom may ask the exact same question ten different times – only she will think it’s the first time.  So you can’t get upset.  Communication in general will become more difficult as a person’s ability to express thoughts and emotions becomes harder as
the disease progresses.  And there will come a time when it’s simply not possible to provide all the care at home.  So plan ahead.  You’ll want to explore what options exist in your area and these will include: assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and Alzheimer’s special care units. 

Visit these facilities to learn about the services provided and the costs of care.  This should be done as far in advance as possible.

Having a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be difficult both from a caregiver and emotional standpoint.  Always think safety first when determining the course of care and try to anticipate future needs instead of reacting to current ones.  Planning ahead is crucial.  Do what you can for your loved one, but understand you cannot do it all.  I wish you the best of luck.

Source

For questions about live in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Home Helpers. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to homecare in Lockport and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 890-2228 for more information.

The frantic 911 call came in to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department at 12:40 AM.  Sandy Watkins had awakened to find her husband Paul, a 69-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer, missing from their Palm Harbor home. Less than an hour later, sheriff's lieutenant Kevin Bennett had located Watkins at a bus stop a few miles away in the town of Clearwater.

Thanks to a wristband Watkins was wearing, a search that could have ended in disaster or taken days and cost tens of thousands of dollars was resolved promptly and with little manpower. Watkins is registered with the Project Lifesaver program, and wears a transmitter bracelet which emits a signal that can be picked up by a locating device. It was the third such rescue since the Pinellas County Sheriff's department began using Project Lifesaver in 2009. Nationwide, more than 2300 people have been located since the service was implemented 12 years ago.

Caregivers and family members realize that wandering off or getting lost is a problem for people with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive conditions. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 60 percent of those with dementia will wander at some point. This is the problem Project Lifesaver founder and CEO Gene Saunders set out to address when he helped establish the non-profit in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999.

"We wanted to identify Alzheimer's and dementia patients who may wander off and become lost," says Saunders. "After we got started, we got calls from all around the country wanting to start the program. In 2001, I retired and took it on full-time. The system is now in 1175 agencies in 45 states, three provinces in Canada, and one government agency in Australia."

Project Lifesaver is set up through law enforcement, fire departments, search and rescue agencies, VA hospitals and some private care facilities, all of which are trained to use the equipment. Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer's area. The technology works via a radio transmitter instead of GPS which Saunders says is more reliable because the signal can not be blocked.

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At Home Helpers, we recognize that there are many reasons why a loved one may need home care. From seniors with Alzheimer's Disease, to patients with disabilities, to caregivers needing respite care, we are here to provide quality and affordable home care in Lockport IL and the surrounding communities.

What busy midlifer hasn't blanked on a name, forgotten why she walked into a room, or totally missed a meeting because he didn't remember it? Memory lapses affect nearly all adults. Wondering if it's Alzheimer's disease is only natural, given that someone develops Alzheimer's every 69 seconds, including a growing number of baby boomers as well as 200,000 people in their 40s and 50s.

But not all memory loss is caused by Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. In fact, the following five common conditions for overstressed or overworked adults can all create symptoms of memory loss that usually have nothing to do with dementia.

1. Memory loss culprit: Basic chronic stress

Stress of any kind — worry about a deadline, eating poorly, moving too fast, having a bad day — causes the body to secrete "alert" hormones. When the stress passes, the body returns to normal. Unless, that is, the crazy hours or worry or whatever the stressor is persist, as is often true when a major life issue, like caregiving, is layered on top of a busy work schedule.

In that case, hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline don't turn off. They wreak havoc in the hippocampus of the brain, damaging cells needed for memory storage and retrieval. Net result: memory lapses galore.

Keep reading from caring.com

Alzheimer’s home care counselors at Home Helpers are available to talk with you and your family about care needs for your loved one, including, how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. Home Helpers is a home care agency providing Alzheimer’s Home Care in Homer Glen and the surrounding communities.

Almost half the people who care for an elderly, disabled, or chronically ill family member or friend are men. But the way they cope is different from women.
 
By Richard Trubo  WebMD Feature Reviewed By Michael Smith

Marty Beilin plays many roles in his day-to-day life — from breadwinner to husband to father of two daughters. But for the past five years, he has also found himself thrust into a new and unanticipated role — as primary caregiver for his wife, Debbie, who has multiple sclerosis.

"It changed everything," says Marty, who teaches school in the Philadelphia area. "There's shock, denial, anger, guilt, and then finally acceptance."

Marty has assumed a long list of responsibilities in caring for his wife who must use a wheelchair or a motorized scooter when she leaves the house. "Debbie has chronic, progressive MS, but luckily she has not been so impaired that I've had to stop working," says Beilin. "At this point, we try to live as normally as we can. The key is to find a way to be a caregiver, but also to go beyond just coping skills and to have a life."

According to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), there are more than 54 million Americans like Beilin who have provided care for an elderly, disabled, or chronically ill family member or friend during the past year. Even though caregiving is often thought of as a role assumed primarily by women, an NFCA survey found that 44% of caregivers are men.

Beilin is president of the 14-year-old Well Spouse Foundation, which provides information and support for spousal caregivers. "There hasn't been enough attention to the needs of family caregivers," says Beilin. "People see the person in a wheelchair, but they don't really focus on the person pushing the wheelchair."

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If you or someone you know needs help with caregiving in Lockport IL or the surrounding area, contact the caregivers at Home Helpers. We provide quality and affordable in home care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (888) 890-2228 for more information.

Last week, one of our own, Michael Oliveri from Homer Glen, was brought home after losing his life serving our country in Iraq. The community of Homer Glen reached out to the family, and showed our support by lining the streets as the Hurst carried our young soldier to his final resting place at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery.

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FISH Pantry raises more than $1,000 at annual block party

by Jon DePaolis

June 20, 2011

Amidst a beautiful summer day, the Lockport FISH Pantry held its annual block party at Central Square, 222 E. Ninth St. in Lockport.

The event was held on Sunday, June 5, in order to raise food and monetary donations for the pantry, which FISH President Bruce Davis said tends to dwindle in the summer months.

The event, while coupled with an open house for Rich's Yamaha, was geared at raising food items for the food pantry that serves not only Lockport, but also Homer Township.  In only its second year, Rich's Yamaha was joined by Home Heplers to try and fill two trucks worth of donations.

Ed Kerfin, president of Home Helpers in Lockport said that he found out about the event through the Lockport Rotary when he spoke with Rich's Yamaha manager Mike Venziano.

"We're all about the community, so any event that we can help with, we are there and we want to be involved," Kerfin said.  " We knew that the FISH pantry was dying for food. They were in trouble.

Kerfin said that if businesses could find one charity to get involved with and help that charity throughout the year, the business could do a lot of good.

"We're going to make sure they get a big amount of food from us," he said.

Source: Lockportlegend.com
 

A young man in our community, Michael Oliveri from Homer Glen, recently died in Iraq. The community of Homer Glen has reached out to the family, and to show our support, everyone will be lining the streets, as the Hurst carrying our young soldier to his final resting place at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery, makes its way through our town. Everyone will be standing on the streets waving American Flags, and showing their support of Mr. Oliveri's efforts overseas, and to show support to his grieving family. Home Helpers, along side just about every other business and family in the community will be there today (Thursday) at 10:00am. The community has really pulled together for him, as well as neighboring towns, including New Lenox.

Please join us in supporting this family and our community today!

For more information about how the caregivers at Home Helpers can help your family with your home care needs, call (888) 890-2228. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable live in home care in Homer Glen and the surrounding communities.

Seniors are twice as likely to sustain injuries or death in their home. June is home safety month for seniors and a good time to make sure a home where a senior resides is as free from risks as possible. Falls at home may cause serious injuries to the elderly. While every fall or potential hazard cannot be prevented, there are some precautions that can be taken to make sure seniors at home are as safe as possible.

Start With A Conversation

Home safety for seniors starts with a simple conversation. Basic home care can help to make a home what it should be, a comfortable place to live and enjoy life. Adult children are generally the best ones to bring up the subject of home safety. Most seniors feel they can handle their own home care. While this may be true for the most part, people of all ages sometimes overlook things that help prevent a serious injury or worse.

Unfortunately, as we age it is not as easy to recover from an injury or fall and seniors at home do face certain hazards. Some of these may be avoided. When having a conversation with seniors about safety in the home it is best to remain calm and explain that efforts to keep a home safe will be beneficial not only for them, but for those who love them as well.

Have A Home Inspection

Take a walk through the home and take note of any potential hazards. Everything does not need to be corrected at once, but it does help to be aware of potential risks in the home. Once potential risks are identified, sit down and discuss options to correct these issues and make the home a safer environment for all. Here are some main areas to look at when pinpointing potential safety issues at a senior's home.

Fall Prevention

For questions about in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Home Helpers. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time in home care in Homer Glen and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 890-2228 for more information.

Cancer survivors share a common thread of victory over a significant health threat. Most of these people have learned to take it one step at a time and one day at a time. They have learned to celebrate life more and criticize less. They have learned to be more educated about themselves, their healthcare, their diet and their lifestyle. Additionally, survivors have often learned to take better care of their life. The National Cancer Survivors Day is a day that is designed to help a survivor celebrate these milestones in their life. It is a great way to recognize and honor the individual lives of people that have been affected by this disease. This celebration has grown in popularity and purpose and is now celebrated across not only The United States and Canada, but in many countries across the globe.

Surviving through the discovery, removal of and treatment for a cancerous growth can be emotionally, financially and physically taxing on a person and their life. As most survivors will tell you the disease can and often does affect all areas of enjoyment and productivity. The journey towards healing can be very multi faceted and filled with highs and lows. Coping with the diagnosis is the first part of a long process of discovery to recovery. The final stage for patients is to learn how to stay always mindful of their health care and remain positive. This is often key to a patient’s long term prognosis and healing.

The National Cancer Survivors Day is a great way for survivors and their loved ones to celebrate with a community of survivors from their own area. This is a time for renewed commitment, continued education and building bonds and community with others who know exactly what it’s like to survive the disease. For people who are new to the healing process this day is an exciting beginning as they become surrounded by hundreds of survivors and their personal testimonies. For those people who have been in long term remission it is an excellent opportunity to provide inspiration to others. As people who have recovered from the disease will tell you, health care is always a personal journey. For those who have battled and overcome the disease their stories often provide a deep inspiration for others. Local events may focus on bringing in famous celebrities who they themselves have battled with the effects of this disease. These celebrities often provide great hope, laughter and meaning for survivors and their families. Most everyone knows you can’t do it alone. This day is meant to celebrate the greater community of survivors so no one ever feels they are battling the disease alone.

The day’s events focus on celebration, inspiration and education for the survivor and their loved ones. Often these events provide survivors with a whole host of local and national resources to aid them in their long-term health care. Events are generally held from the first Saturday in June to the middle of the month. Survivors are encouraged to check with their local communities to see what is offered in their area in honor of this day. Frequently many states will be hosting multiple events throughout different areas. Each event has a special focus meant to enrich and celebrate the life of being a survivor.

For questions about live in home care for your loved one, please contact the caregivers at Home Helpers. We help seniors, veterans and the disabled with everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time elder care in Homer Glen and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 890-2228 for more information.