A New Level of Care | TrueCare Homes™
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:27:13+00:00We are excited to announce a new level of senior care to northeast Indiana.
Through TrueCare Homes™, attentive care will be provided to senior individuals in private, comfortable and well-maintained residential homes. We believe that all people deserve to live in a place of growth and meaning and that those who are highly engaged in their community, instead of being isolated from it, are much more satisfied with their quality of life and their ability to make positive choices.
TrueCare Homes™ feature twenty-four hour a day personal care by People TrueCare™ staff, receiving ongoing training and education in the fields of dementia and Alzheimer’s care. The home feature custom made meals, light-filled rooms, fully furnished living spaces, fire sprinkler systems, generator for power outages, wide doorways and level floors, private bedrooms for residents to fill with their personal items, bathrooms to accommodate all levels of care and are always immaculately maintained.
All individuals residing in TrueCare Homes™ can expect to be treated with dignity and respect while receiving a high quality level of personal care in a safe environment.
TrueCare Homes™ are equipped with TrueTraq™, a care monitoring system that includes health profiles and charts as well as an on-line family portal to see what is happening with their loved one.
Non-medical services provided include the following:
- Companionship Care
- Personal Care/Bathing
- Home Cooked Meals
- Medication Reminders
- Laundry
- Incontinence Care
- Engaging Activities
TrueCare Homes™ provide the perfect balance of freedom and assistance. Call us today for more information or to be added to the waiting list.
Golf, Tips on How to Stay Safe
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:27:07+00:00Many retirees love going golfing as they should. It is a relaxing and social way to get outside and stay active. One quality that defines golf is its leisurely pace compared to other sports which makes it a fairly low risk sport however injuries can still happen. Common injuries are to the lower back, wrist and elbow, head and eye. Causes of injury include overuse, incorrect technique, hitting the ground instead of the ball, aggravation of a previous injury and falling.
The following are tips on how to stay safe on your day out on the course.
- Do warm ups and stretch your arms and back before you play
- Take lessons to practice good technique. Good technique reduce chance of injury
- Drink plenty of water to prevent heat stroke
- Wear sun screen
- Have your equipment professionally fitted
- Wear good quality shoes and gloves
- Be sure to stand a safe distance from other players when they are preparing to swing
Have a Great day on the course!
Old Dogs Can and Should Learn New Tricks: The Internet
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:27:36+00:00Research has shown that over the last few years the percent of the elderly using the internet has been on the rise. This has researchers excited because the internet is expected to be a positive influence on the quality of life of the elderly.
Benefits that can be expect are:
- Retained mental sharpness: Having access to mentally challenging games, puzzles, and thought provoking entertainment has been a proven way to help keep people more sharp as they age.
- Financial gains: Seniors can still make money after retirement by working from home online. They can start their own online business, blog, or do freelance writing for website content.
- Shopping: Almost anything can be purchased online and delivered to your doorstep these days. Elderly people can still get access to just about anything they want without having to leave their homes. This can especially be useful in the winter when roads and walkways are slick.
- Social media: Social media such as Facebook and Skype make it possible to keep in closer contact with friends and family. This can help seniors keep up with their children and grandchildren as well as reconnect with old friends.
With so many clear benefits for seniors provided by internet know-how the future looks bright for the ever expanding percentage of seniors who can surf the web.
Drink Plenty of Water
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:20:59+00:00Water as we all know is an essential part of life as we all know. Unfortunately many of us aren’t drink enough of it. According to some studies the human body should drink between 3-5 pints of water a day.
The following list is comprised of the benefits of drinking plenty of water:
- Water can help with weight loss. While water doesn’t directly affect weight loss it is a much healthier choice than many other beverages out there.
- Water helps energize muscles. When muscles are dehydrated they become fatigued, drinking plenty of water can quench this problem.
- Water helps your skin look good. Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration.
- Water helps prevent constipation.
- Water helps your kidneys get rid of water soluble waste in your body.
Care Taker Burnout
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:27:45+00:00If you are a loved one’s care taker you probably know all the details about the health of the person for whom you’re caring. You’re on top of what medications must be taken and when, and you can probably even spot minor changes in her mood and attitude. Are you just as aware about what is going on with you?
Studies have shown that the answer is likely no. When you’re caring for a loved one, it’s easy to forget about your own needs, putting you at serious risk of burnout. Caretaker burnout is a serious and common side effect of the stress that comes with caring for a loved one. How can you tell you are burned out?
- Mood Swings, and symptoms of anxiety or depression, being on crisis mode 24/7 can leave anyone feeling stressed and hopeless.
- A weakened immune system, you are getting sick more often.
- You can’t remember the last time you met up with a friend. Being worried about a loved one all the time makes you forget that you have needs as well.
If one or more of these applies to you could be a burnt out care taker. If you are you should consider these tips to help make your caretaker job less stressful.
- Get some exercise, force yourself to get moving. Exercise is the best stress reliever. Not only will you feel better right away, the surge of endorphins that exercise triggers lifts your mood, clears your head and helps you sleep better at night. A brisk 30-minute walk or jog on the treadmill, even a 10-minute walk around the block, jump-starts your brain, soothes nerves and powers up your immune system.
- Go out and meet a friend for a social visit. Having your own time to relax and have fun can really boost morale and recharge your batteries.
- See a doctor regularly to keep yourself well.
- Ask family for help in the caretaker role or consider hiring professionals to help as a caretaker to help lighten the load and give some time to take care of you.
Tips for More Restful Nights
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:27:52+00:00Seniors don’t need as much sleep as they did when they were younger. They usually only need 7-8 hours a day. Unfortunately for many they seem to have trouble getting those hours. These are some suggestions that can help with getting more sleep.
- See a doctor if you are experiencing chronic pain, depression, or frequent urination. Getting those problems treated can help lead to a more peaceful night’s sleep.
- Don’t just lay in bed. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes or so try doing something quiet and relaxing like reading, listening to music or taking a hot shower
- Limit your caffeine intake
- Try not to eat much before bed
- Get into a routine by waking up at the same time every day
- Try exercising daily
Winter is Coming
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:19:52+00:00
Winter is nearly upon us and as the temperatures drop and the snow falls it is important to prepare for the dangers that come with winter. For seniors in the northern part of the country winter poses a number of risks we need to be on the look out for. Reports have shown much higher incidences of injury and illness due to icy sidewalks, cold and dry air, flu viruses and in many cases, hypothermia. If you are worried about the upcoming winter fear not, I have compiled a list of tips that help you stay health this season.
- Older adults are more susceptible to hypothermia, which occurs when too much heat escapes from the body. It is important to dress warmly and keep dry, but equally important to remember good nutrition. Food provides the fuel we need to keep warm. Hot food and warm drinks are best to warm the body.
- When going outdoors, remember to dress warmly. Wear layered, loose-fitting clothing and mittens. When possible, wear a hat to protect against heat loss since close to half of all body heat is lost through the head.
- You can prevent many winter hazards simply by planning ahead. Before winter arrives, check all the windows and doors in your home for cracked or worn sealants. A new application of caulking may be needed; in a pinch, staple a sheet of plastic tarp over really old windows.
- To avoid slips and falls, wear non-skid boots or other shoes with plenty of traction.
- Cold weather can put extra strain on the heart. When doing winter chores such as shoveling snow, do some warm-up exercises first and take many breaks.
- When using a portable heater, plug the heater directly into an outlet, not to an extension cord. Make sure the outlet and wiring are in good condition. Keep the area around the heater clear of furniture, newspaper or other flammable materials and take special care to avoid tripping over cords.
Pet Safety
TrueCareAdmin2016-05-12T16:28:01+00:00I have doing a lot of reading recently about the pros and cons for seniors on the topic of owning a pet and I have come out conflicted. Many studies have proven that pets are good for the health their owners Studies suggest that pet owners will commonly have their blood pressure improve, their disposition on life becomes more positive, and they seem to have more purpose in their day to day lives.
However there are other studies that suggest that pets, especially cats and dogs, are a great hazard to seniors. 240 seniors are sent to the emergency room everyday by pet caused falls. These falls usually happen because the senior tripped over their pet, a pet toy, or got tangled in a leash while on a walk. Ultimately it’s going to be a case by case situation for whether or not it’s a good idea for a senior to keep a pet based on whether or not the pet owner has a history of falls and if the pet owner has people that could help them take care of the pet more safely.
Tips for pet owners:
- Consider hiring a dog walker.
- Consider either get rid of chew toys or keep them to a minimal as they pose a tripping hazard
- Consider having your dog take obedience or behavioral training classes