Caregivers in Charlotte NC

What is Being a Caregiver Like?

December 3, 2018 by Shanele Healy

Anyone can be a family caregiver—a spouse, an adult child, a niece or nephew, or a good friend. Some caregivers end up doing the job gradually, starting by just running an errand here and there until one day they are providing hours of care each week. Others find themselves suddenly thrust into a caregiver role when a senior becomes seriously ill. Regardless of how being a caregiver comes about, most people have no idea what it is like until they are doing it.

What Do Caregivers Do?

Caregivers do a variety of tasks for their aging relatives. Some spend just an hour or two per week on caregiving duties. For others, caregiving is nearly a full-time job. Some of the things that caregivers typically do for older adults are:

Caregiver Charlotte NC – What is Being a Caregiver Like?

Schedule medical appointments and attend them with the senior.
Cook meals.
Assist with finances.
lean the house.
Run errands.
Do laundry.
Organize medications.
Refill prescriptions.
Assist with personal care, like bathing, toileting, and dressing.

While the physical tasks are time consuming, they are often not the hardest part of the job. Many caregivers find the emotional aspects the most difficult. Yet, they may also be the most rewarding. It can be emotionally draining to watch someone you care about deal with a major illness, especially if the illness is terminal. However, being a caregiver can also be a source of joy. It affords you extra time to spend with your family member, and you can feel good knowing you are helping them to live more comfortably and receive the care they need.

What Do Real Caregivers Say About the Job?

In an article posted on thecaregiverspace.org, real caregivers reported how they really feel about the responsibility. They reported everything from feeling suffocated to believing that how caregiving makes you feel depends on how you approach it. Some said being a caregiver “sucks” while others called it “inspiring and uplifting.”

How Can You Manage Your Feelings?

There’s no doubt that being a caregiver can make you feel down some days. The key to managing those feelings is to take care of yourself first. Focus on eating healthy foods and making time to exercise regularly. Also, no matter how busy you are, don’t skip your own medical appointments. Keeping up with friends and family members can also help. Make time to do the things you enjoy and spend time with others.

If you find that caregiving is having a harmful affect on your health or emotional well-being, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from counseling or medications to help with anxiety or depression.

Sources: https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/caring-for-caregiver#1

https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-101-being-caregiver

If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in Charlotte NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

Research into Alzheimer’s

July 20, 2017 by Shanele Healy

Caregivers in Charlotte NC: Research into Alzheimer’s

Family caregivers of those suffering from the affects of Alzheimer’s know all too well the toll it takes on their loved one as well as those that love them. This debilitating form of dementia affects approximately one-third of the population in America that are over the age of 84. The good news is that researchers are continually studying ways to reduce the chances of developing or slowing down the progression of this disease. Hope is the biomarker of happiness.

Biomarkers

Biomarkers are biological changes that occur in relation to the onset or progression of a disease. They are often used to help foretell its arrival or to determine its progression. Research has been extensive into the biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s and discoveries are being made every year.

One such biomarker is abnormal levels of amyloid protein found in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. Innovative tools include the use of tracers that image tau protein tangles and its interaction with these amyloid protein plaques—significant indicators of Alzheimer’s disease. This has led to evidence of who may be at risk for developing this disease as well as possible interventions in the early stages.

Iowa State has made its contribution as well when researchers discovered a new biomarker called autotoxin. This enzyme, when found in fluid around the brain, has shown promise as a predictor of both Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes. This discovery also emphasized the importance of keeping healthy through exercise and diet as this enzyme is often high in those who are obese and is known to correlate with levels of triglycerides.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine observed an association with high levels of anthranillic acid in the plasma and an increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.

While research is ongoing and there is currently no cure, knowing that the best and brightest minds are looking for and finding biomarkers that will help determine both risk and progression helps those facing their elderly years with this diagnosis remain ever hopeful. “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.”—Robert Ludlum.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are ongoing and volunteers are regularly needed. Just last fall, recruitments started for 1,200 volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative—a long-running NIH supported investigation into the brain and fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s. If you or your loved one are interested in volunteering, resources include your physician, the NIH (National Institutes of Health) as well as the Alzheimer’s Association.

In-home Care Provider

If your loved one is suffering from the affects of Alzheimer’s, consider obtaining the services of an in-home care provider. Family caregivers of those facing this disease are at an increased risk for depression and caregiving burnout, yet play an integral part in the lives and well-being of those they care for. Care for the long-haul by caring for yourself in the short-haul and taking a few days off each week to recharge and rejuvenate.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Charlotte, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

Resources

https://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2016-facts-and-figures.pdf

https://www.nia.nih.gov/newsroom/2016/09/nih-award-expands-landmark-alzheimers-biomarker-study

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/academics/article_18cd7ccc-c78f-11e6-b04d-5f1aa3c32df6.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170612115347.htm

Remembering to Take Care of Yourself during Your Holiday Season Elderly Care Journey

December 4, 2015 by Shanele Healy

Caregivers in Charlotte, NC

When you enter into an elderly care journey with your aging loved ones, you are making the commitment to devote your time, energy, and effort to making sure that your seniors’ needs are met, and that they stay healthy, happy, comfortable, and safe throughout their aging years. You love your parents and you want to make sure that they have the highest quality of life possible as they age in place, which makes it easy to put them first, sometimes to the sacrifice of the other things in your life. For many family caregivers, the first thing that gets put aside in an effort to fulfill their seniors’ needs is their own health and well-being. When you are dedicated to taking care of your seniors, it can be a challenge to focus on other things, especially yourself. Overlooking your own needs, however, can lead to a variety of serious consequences that can make a negative impact on your effectiveness as a caregiver.

Stress and busyness tend to reach their peak during the holiday season. At this time of year you are not just thinking about your parents’ usual physical, medical, mobility, and cognitive needs, but also everything that you need to do in order to prepare for the holidays. This can put you in a situation of feeling like you do not have enough hours in the day to do everything that is on your to-do list, so you start crossing off the things that you wanted or needed to do for yourself. Fairly quickly, putting yourself last can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, exhaustion, bitterness, irritability, and even increased risk of physical health problems such as infections and illnesses. Being sure to take the time out of your busy holiday season elderly care journey to take care of yourself ensures that you stay healthy, happy, and present for all of the wonderful events and experiences of this time, and remain the best caregiver possible for your loved ones, partner for your spouse, and parent for your children.

Use these tips to help you focus more on taking care of yourself during the holiday season:

• Give yourself permission. The first thing you need to do to make sure that you are taking care of yourself properly during the holiday season is to give yourself permission to do it. This sounds simple, but the reality is, feelings of guilt and reluctance are powerful forces that can make it difficult for you to go ahead with spending time on yourself. Spend a few minutes acknowledging your worth and value as an individual, and giving yourself permission to focus on yourself.

• Hire help. You will never be able to relax and focus on yourself if you are worried that your loved ones’ needs are not being met. Hiring an elderly health care services provider can give you peace of mind that your parents are safe, secure, and healthy so that you can spend more time handling other needs, including focusing on yourself.

• Schedule it in. A schedule is critical during the busy holiday season, and if you include yourself in it, you are going to have more time to focus on your own needs. Be sure to block out time for relaxation, visiting with friends, shopping for gifts, making your favorite holiday crafts, and enjoying activities with your family members so that you do not fill up all of your time with other tasks.

• Learn to say no. “No” is often one of the hardest words in the vocabulary for a family caregiver, but if you learn to embrace it, it can be one of the most freeing words you can say. During the holiday season, learn to say “no” to events that are not extremely important to you, to extra volunteer opportunities, or to doing favors that may get in the way of you being able to fulfill your elderly care or personal care tasks. Be willing to compromise and to find creative ways to see everyone who is important and to do the most special holiday activities so that you can get through the season with as little stress as possible.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Charlotte, NC, contact Caring at Heart today. Our staff will answer all of your questions about caring for an aging adult. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail. CALL TODAY (704) 837-4564.

Warming Up to the Idea of a Home Care Provider

December 14, 2014 by Shanele Healy

Caregivers in Charlotte, NC – Overcoming Reluctance and Other Obstacles to Form an Important Bond

As we all know, growing older creates challenges that affect a person’s health and well-being. Luckily, home care providers are trained to deal with aging challenges in a senior loved one. By building a relationship with a senior who may be reluctant to accept assistance, a caregiver can not only help them face these health-related challenges, they can also add to their overall well-being by becoming a friend.

At first, many seniors may not trust a new caregiver. Things like stereotypes, life experiences, or differences in culture can make it difficult to form a meaningful relationship. Usually, a caregiver can overcome these divides by remaining consistent in their support and praise of an elderly patient.

For most caregivers, a good amount of their training is focused on how to deal with sensitive people. Many home care providers are trained specifically to deal with a person’s sensitivity and how to show respect for those that are already suffering physically and mentally.

As a family caregiver, you may sometimes feel you’re in the deep end. There can be a lot to do when taking care of your senior family member, yet you’re also trying to juggle other family members’ needs, your job and your personal life. It can seem overwhelming. That’s when home care for seniors can really help you out. Knowing someone can look after your loved one while you take some time for yourself can be a huge relief to the feelings of stress.

Home care service providers offer quite a wide variety of helping solutions that can be individualized to meet the needs of each person. From help with personal care such as taking a bath, getting dressed or combing hair to everyday tasks like preparing meals or giving medication reminders, the care your loved one receives in their own home can make a huge difference in their confidence and sense of security as well as your peace of mind.

Some seniors have to warm up to the idea of having a caregiver help them out. Luckily, most elderly patients that receive home care forge great relationships with their caregivers. There are countless stories of caregivers who have exceeded the expectations of their elders and made a positive impact on those they care for. Cultural differences and many of the common stereotypes associated with caregiving can be overcome by well-trained and compassionate caregivers that put their patients first.