Nurturing from Afar: A Guide for Long-Distance Caregivers

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Caring for a senior loved one from a distance presents unique challenges. You’re constantly juggling the need to ensure their well-being with the reality of not being physically present. This guide presented below by Montebello Home Care aims to equip you with strategies to effectively support your senior family member, ensuring they remain healthy, happy, and well-cared for, even from afar. It’s about finding the right balance between being involved in their lives and respecting their independence.

Check In Regularly

Establishing a consistent routine for phone or video calls is crucial. These regular check-ins are more than just social calls; they’re an opportunity to gauge a loved one’s health, mood, and daily needs. Use technology to your advantage, ensuring that these interactions are as personal and informative as possible. Regular communication helps in identifying any changes in their condition and keeps you actively involved in their day-to-day life.

Stay Engaged with the Community

Isolation can be a significant issue for seniors. Encourage loved ones to stay engaged with their community. This could involve participating in local clubs, attending events, or joining online groups. Being socially active is not just enjoyable but also essential for mental health, providing a sense of belonging and reducing the risk of loneliness and depression.

Look Into Senior Living Options

Sometimes, a senior living facility might be the best option. This decision involves weighing factors like care needs, costs, and the loved one’s preferences. Research your options thoroughly, considering aspects such as facility quality, pricing, and payment options. Transitioning to a senior living facility can significantly enhance their quality of life by reducing everyday

stressors.

Take a Close Look at Healthcare Coverage

It’s imperative to ensure that the loved one has appropriate healthcare coverage. This might involve navigating through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. Understanding their coverage helps in planning for both routine and unexpected medical needs. Familiarize yourself with the specifics of their insurance plans, including coverage limits and out-of-pocket expenses, to better manage their healthcare finances. Regularly review and update their coverage as their health needs evolve over time.

Get Help with Daily Living

Daily tasks can become challenging for seniors. Arrange for local services or caregivers to assist with cleaning, grocery shopping, or transportation to appointments. This support not only eases their daily burden but also provides you with peace of mind. Consider hiring a professional caregiver service such as Montebello Home Care for more personalized care and assistance with medication management. Regularly assess their needs to adjust the level of support as necessary.

Medical Alert Systems and Safety Tech

Invest in technology to enhance a loved one’s safety. Medical alert systems and home monitoring devices can be lifesavers, providing immediate assistance in emergencies and continuous peace of mind for both of you. These technologies can range from fall detectors to GPS trackers, ensuring help is available at the push of a button. Regularly test and maintain these devices to ensure they function correctly.

Engaging with the Community

Maintain contact with  the loved one’s neighbors, friends, and local family members. They can offer valuable insights into a senior’s well-being and provide a local support network. This community connection is vital for both practical support and emotional well-being. Their local network can alert you to any changes or concerns, acting as your eyes and ears in the community. Foster these relationships to create a robust support system for the older adult you love.

Preparing for Emergencies

A thorough emergency plan is a must. Ensure the loved one knows who to contact in emergencies and how to access help. This plan should include local emergency contacts, a list of medications, and any important medical information. Regularly update this plan to reflect any changes in their health status or living situation. Make sure the loved one is comfortable and familiar with the plan, ensuring they feel confident and prepared in case of an emergency.

 

Long-distance caregiving is a journey filled with concern, love, and dedication. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure that the senior you love remains healthy, happy, and well-cared for, even when you can’t be there physically. Remember, your effort makes a significant difference in their lives, bridging the gap between distance and care.

 

Guest Author: Elder Freedom

Montebello Home Care Receives 2023 Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience, Top 100 in Experience, Provider of Choice, and Employer of Choice Awards

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HCP 2023 AwardsBeaumont, TX – Montebello Home Care announced today that it received the distinguished 2023 Best of Home Care – Leader in Experience and Top 100 in Experience awards from Home Care Pulse (HCP), the leading firm in experience management for home care. These awards are the highest recognitions awarded by HCP and are given to select home care businesses that consistently rank among the highest in 10 or more quality metrics. As a result of earning these achievements, Montebello Home Care is now recognized among the top 10% of home care providers participating in the nationwide HCP Experience Management Program.

This accomplishment demonstrates Montebello Home Care’s long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for these awards, 10% of Montebello Home Care’s clients and caregivers were interviewed each month by HCP. Over a 12-month period, Montebello Home Care received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, client/caregiver compatibility, and office support. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from HCP, Montebello Home Care’s management team set goals to reach the highest level of experience possible.

Montebello Home Care concurrently received The Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards, highlighting their commitment to both high quality care for their clients and their caregiving staff as well. HCP believes that by honoring these providers, families looking for in-home care for a loved one will be able to recognize and choose a trusted home care provider.

“We are so honored by these awards that showcase our unwavering dedication to providing the exceptional care our clients deserve, while caring for our outstanding caregivers as well,” shares Mark Montebello, owner of Montebello Home Care.

“At HCP, our mission is to help home care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations,” says Todd Austin, President of HCP. “When we see agencies like Montebello Home Care that have so effectively provided outstanding care and employment experiences, we know we’re on the right track. Montebello Home Care has worked extremely hard to prioritize high-quality care and employment, and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed. This award allows them to show proof of quality to potential clients and caregivers.”

To find out more about Montebello Home Care’s commitment to high quality care, please visit MontebelloCares.com, or call 409-276-7576.

About Montebello Home Care

Montebello Home Care is a locally founded, owned, and operated private duty home care provider serving older adults and their loved ones in Beaumont, Texas and the surrounding Southeast Texas communities with high quality home health care services. Montebello Home Care thoroughly understands the challenges facing older adults and their loved ones when it comes to finding the best in-home care services and solutions.

About Home Care Pulse (HCP)

HCP leads the home-based care industry in experience management, training, and reputation management. Through its Care Intelligence Platform, HCP empowers providers in home care, home health, and hospice to attract and retain employees during workforce shortages. HCP also conducts the annual Benchmarking Report, the most comprehensive survey of providers in North America, and administers Best of Home Care awards to agencies that achieve best-in-class satisfaction scores. For more information, visit HomeCarePulse.com.

Download the press release.

Game Makes End-of-Life Decisions Easier for Mesothelioma Hospice Care

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A new tool, Go Wish, may be able to help cancer patients and caregivers discuss an uncomfortable topic: end-of-life care or mesothelioma hospice care. Predicting life expectancy can be challenging for most doctors, especially with a rare cancer like mesothelioma. Go Wish is a card game about end-of-life decisions, focusing on a patient’s goals and priorities no matter the life expectancy.

For patients, it is a great way to understand what is most important to them. For caregivers, it is a great way to understand how patients wants to be treated, who they want by their side, and what matters most to them. For family members, it is a way to understand how to comfort their loved one.

There are a few simple ways to play Go Wish: you can play by yourself, with a loved one, or for free online. Each deck of the game contains 36 cards, one being a wild card. The other 35 cards describe things that patients often say are important when they are faced with illness or cancer. The cards are easy to understand and are written in a positive tone.

The patient sorts through the cards and places them into 3 piles:

  • 1 Very important to me
  • 2 Somewhat important to me
  • 3 Not important to me

The wild card can be used to write down a wish that isn’t listed. The next step is to take the “very important” pile and to rank those in order of priority, choosing only 10 cards. This is the patient’s top 10 list to share with his or her loved ones and doctor.

The creators of the game, Coda Alliance, stated, “The key is to identify the 10 most important things you want to make absolutely sure are clear to anyone who might have to speak on your behalf or make decisions for you.”

Mesothelioma Hospice Care & Palliative Care

End-of-life discussions should be taking place whether or not a mesothelioma patient is enrolled in palliative or hospice care. Palliative care prevents or treats symptoms of disease or treatment. Palliative care may be given at any time during a person’s diagnosis, whereas hospice care is given to patients who only have a few months to live.

Due to the nature of the disease, many patients are given palliative care options as their treatment options for mesothelioma. This is common among stage 3 and stage 4 patients. The goal of each type of care is to improve the patient’s quality of life by controlling the physical and emotional pain of the disease.

Psychological, social, and spiritual distress are often additional symptoms among mesothelioma patients at these stages. Playing a game of Go Wish helps patients decide on what they need and what they should focus on, relieving some of the stress of making end-of-life decisions.

10 Most Common Go Wish Results

MD Anderson Cancer Center recently held a randomized trial with 100 cancer patients who all played the Go Wish game.

The 10 most common wishes that were part of the “very important” pile were:

  1. Be at peace with God
  2. Pray
  3. Have family present
  4. Be free from pain
  5. Not be a burden to my family
  6. Trust my doctor
  7. Keep my sense of humor
  8. Say goodbye to important people in my life
  9. Have my family prepared for my death
  10. Be able to help others

Partner with Montebello Home Care for Mesothelioma Hospice Care and Other Options

If a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or another life-limiting illness and needs an overnight elderly caregiver in Beaumont, TX or the nearby areas, let the professionals at Montebello Home Care help. We offer award-winning Beaumont senior care and care in nearby areas that can be customized to meet your unique care needs. Whether you’re looking for companionship care, assistance with personal care needs, help with light housekeeping, transportation to and from medical appointments, or more, our team of professional caregivers is here to help. Call us today at 409-276-7576 to learn more about our top-rated home care services.

Senior Care Tips: Best Ways to Avoid Post-Holiday Depression

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The holiday season can be loaded with a whirlwind of busyness for the seniors we love, with family gatherings, holiday parties, religious events and services, selecting the ideal gifts for the ones they love. Yet after the holiday decorations are packed away and families have gotten back to the everyday busyness of life, many older adults experience a prevalent but little-discussed issue: post-holiday depression.

Although older adults who live alone are most at risk of feelings of seclusion and sadness when the holiday celebrations are complete, all seniors are prone to a case of the blues as they look to the approaching year while reminiscing over years past. It’s crucial for family members to formulate a plan to help a senior loved one enjoy a positive transition. Give some thought to the following post-holiday senior care tips: 

  • Plan for the next get-together. Determine a date in the coming weeks for another family event, providing the older loved one as well as the rest of the family with something pleasing to anticipate. For instance, schedule an informal New Year’s resolution check-in gathering for the last week in January, where each person can report on his or her progress towards resolutions that were made, and each bringing a dish to share a potluck meal.   
  • Set up a chain letter. Split the family up into teams of five, and specify a number to each person who would like to participate, i.e., #1 – 5. The person with #1 begins by writing a short letter in the first week of January, mailing it to the #2 person, who reads and then adds to that letter and then sends to the #3 person – and so on. The final person in the chain adds to the letter and sends back to the first person to read, and then a new chain can be initiated. Receiving ongoing mail with news about family members is a great pick-me-up for seniors.
  • Partner with Montebello Home Care. Montebello’s trained and experienced care companions are the best solution to senior loneliness! Our caregivers provide companion care in Orange  and the surrounding areas and are adept in encouraging seniors to stay socially and physically active through a wide array of interesting activities, according to each person’s interests:  
    • Reminiscing and conversations 
    • Puzzles, games, and crafts 
    • Exercise programs 
    • Transportation and accompaniment to fun outings 
    • And much more! 

Let us help relieve post-holiday depression for the seniors you love, and retain a sense of community, purpose, and connection all throughout the year. We’re available for once-weekly visits, all the way up to  full-time senior overnight care in Orange and the nearby areas. Contact us at 409-276-7576 to learn more about our home care in Orange and the nearby areas, or to request an in-home evaluation to determine what will work best in your particular situation. To learn more about the other areas that we serve in Texas, visit our Service Area page. 

Keeping Fit As You Age: Fall Prevention Exercises for Seniors

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The CDC shares that upwards of 1/3 of all older adults fall every year, and surprisingly, fewer than half of them discuss those falls with their doctors. When an older adult falls, even if it does not result in serious injury, he or she can develop an increased fear of falling, which can lead to limited activities, reduced mobility, reduced physical fitness, and eventually, an enhanced risk of another fall. However, keeping active and incorporating fall prevention exercises for seniors into your daily routine can help.

In our previous article we discussed tips to reduce the risk of senior falls, outlining some home alterations you can make to give senior safety a boost and lower the risk of a fall. Additionally, there are certain exercises that older adults can do regularly that will increase muscle strength and improve balance, not only helping to reduce the risk of falls, but also providing the senior with more confidence and overall improved wellbeing. Check with your loved one’s doctor first, and then try the following fall prevention exercises for seniors, as suggested by the team in at Montebello Home Care:

  • Leg Lifts: Raise the knee as high as your hip (if possible), using a sturdy object such as a chair to maintain balance. Hold the leg up for three seconds or more.
  • Flex and Point: In a sitting position, point the toes and then flex them. Repeat with both feet.
  • Toe Taps: While seated, simply tap the toes, repeating with alternating feet.
  • Sit-to-Stand: Use a chair for support to stand and then return to a seated position. Attempt to gradually decrease reliance on the support as legs are strengthened.
  • Calf Muscle Strengthening: Hold onto a wall, chair or the kitchen counter, and then repeatedly raise up and down on tiptoes. As strength increases, try to go higher up on the toes and eventually attempt the movement on one foot at a time.
  • Shin Muscle Strengthening: Stand and lean against a wall with heels placed 7 – 8” from the wall. Lift the toes of both of feet off the ground as high as possible.
  • One-legged Stand: Holding onto a secure object, raise one leg off the ground and maintain balance on the standing leg.

A fall at home can be devastating for an older adult. Contact Montebello Home Care, experts in at home care for seniors, to learn more about fall prevention and how to help a senior you love safely improve mobility. Call us any time at 409-276-7576 or complete our simple online contact form to get started and learn more about our top-rated Beaumont home care services, as well as the surrounding communities we serve.

Tips To Reduce The Risk of Senior Falls

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Falling down can be painful, but for an older adult, falling can have devastating effects, including a fractured hip, which can lead to a wide range of additional health concerns. A full one-fourth of all seniors who experience a fractured hip die within six months of the fracture; a disturbing, yet preventable fact about the risk of senior falls. Contact us online or call us at 409-276-7576 to learn how we can help with in home senior care services.

Making a few simple alterations to the senior’s home can help foster a safer environment and help prevent dangerous senior falls. To follow are some easy home modification suggestions from Montebello Home Care, the Orange, TX senior care experts for the surrounding areas, to help reduce the risk of senior falls.

  • Lights:
    • Replace all light bulbs on a regular basis to ensure there is plenty of lighting in the senior’s home
    • Use nightlights or motion detector lights for enhanced visibility at night
    • Be sure there are no electrical cords stretched across walking areas
  • Floors:
    • Use low pile carpet or slip-proof tile
    • Remove all throw rugs, or secure them with non-slip tape
    • Utilize contrasting colors with paint, furniture and carpeting to designate changes in surface types or levels
    • Do not use floor polish
  • Bathroom:
    • Add grab bars to walls around the tub and beside the toilet, sturdy enough to support an adult’s full weight
    • Add slip-proof strips or mats in and around the bathtub
    • Use a wall-mounted liquid soap dispenser on the shower wall
    • Utilize a portable, hand-held shower head
    • Add a padded shower or bath seat

In addition to these ideas, there are plenty of products available to help with preventing senior falls at home, such as:

  • Door Alarms: If your loved one has a propensity to wander, particularly at night, door alarms can alert you or the senior’s caregiver that he or she is moving about and could be in danger of falling.
  • Monitoring Systems: Monitoring systems are a popular and efficient way to keep track of a senior’s movements in the home. Sensors can be positioned throughout the home, and some even include calling capabilities for the senior to alert a caregiver if a fall or other emergency is experienced.
  • Fall Management Footwear: These products feature rubber grips on the bottom to help prevent slipping, and are suitable for seniors who are at a heightened risk for falling. There are even water-proof, slip-resistant socks that can be worn in the bath or shower.
  • Bedrails: Many elderly falls happen during the night as seniors move about in their sleep or get up to go to a different room in the house. Bedrails can keep older adults from falling out of bed and provide something to grab onto when standing up to get out of bed.

With so many older adults deciding to age in place at home rather than moving into a nursing home, it’s imperative to ensure the home is as safe as can be. The professional home care team at Montebello Home Care can help families evaluate the risk of senior falls in the home, make home alteration recommendations, and provide the skilled, compassionate care seniors need. Contact us today to learn more about our services for home health in Orange, TX and the areas we serve at 409-276-7576. To find out if our home care services are available in your community, please visit our Service Area page.

Choosing Between Home Care Agencies and Private Caregivers

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When the decision is made to find in-home care help for a senior loved one, beginning the search for care can be overwhelming. Should you work with a professional home care agency or respond to a classified ad from someone who claims…

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