Senior Care Blog

Falls among the elderly can have devastating effects, many times resulting in a chain reaction of health complications.

One of the most frightening aspects of aging for many seniors is the thought that at some point, a move to a nursing home or other institutional living arrangement will be unavoidable. After building a lifetime of memories in a family home, including raising children, caring for grandchildren, perhaps losing a spouse, home is a place of unparalleled comfort and nostalgia for seniors.

As we shared in our last blog post, home care can be a viable option for many seniors who require some extra assistance with day-to-day living but prefer to remain at home rather than move to a nursing home. Although in-home care is preferred by seniors, it still can be a bit disconcerting at first to consider allowing a caregiver to come into their personal space.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive illness that affects as many as as one million people in the U.S., according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. It affects more people than multiple sclerosis (MS), muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—also called Lou Gehrig’s disease—combined. There are five stages of Parkinson’s that range from mild symptoms (Stage 1) to severe stiffness, making those with the disease unable to care for themselves (Stage 5).

Did you know that every year about 50,000 to 60,000 people in the U.S. are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, according to the National Parkinson’s Foundation? Usually the disease affects people who are over the age of 60, although Parkinson’s disease can strike young people, as it did to actor Michael J. Fox.

In our years of providing California in-home senior care, one common thread we see over and over again is the struggle with meeting nutritional requirements. For a variety of reasons, maintaining – or starting – good dietary habits in later years is a struggle. Below are some of the most prevalent dietary challenges for seniors, and tips to overcome them.

Parents’ love for their children is ageless. And parents of any age want to protect their children from worries and concerns, which often leads to covering up their own worries and concerns. And when family lives at a distance, it can be hard to gauge how healthy senior parents actually are.

At Hillendale we employ caregivers with a wide variety of skill sets, experience levels and professional licenses. Many of our clients need highly trained CNAs, HHAs and LVNs, BUT a lot of them do not require such a robust resume for their day to day care.

Parkinson’s disease affects one in 100 people over the age of 60, and the U.S. sees around 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Because April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, the senior care experts at Hillendale Home Care want to help raise awareness of the warning signs of this disease, as seeking help early is crucial.