Home Care News

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. 

Diabetic Diet: 5 Tips to Successfully Manage the Holidays

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This season of holiday celebrations is the perfect time to spend time with family and friends, but let’s be honest: it’s often also a time for overindulgence in unhealthy meal choices. With a plethora of rich, fatty, and sugary delicacies to choose from at every turn, it’s challenging to abide by a healthy diabetic diet, which can lead to serious health issues for diabetics. These guidelines, however, from the leaders in home health services in Beaumont, TX and nearby areas can help diabetics remain safe during the holiday season while avoiding feeling deprived of enjoyable treats. Be sure to first consult with the doctor for his or her approval on any meal choices that stray from an approved nutrition plan. 

  • Decide on your top choices. Review choices during a holiday meal, and identify your top two carbs to enjoy. For example, figure out if you’d like to have stuffing or rolls, or select between mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, as opposed to indulging in all of the choices. 
  • BYO. If attending a holiday gathering at someone’s home, speak with the host about your nutritional constraints, and offer to bring a healthy dish to share, such as a tray of vegetables or a sugar-free dessert. 
  • Snack first. Enjoying a healthy snack prior to the holiday meal will help keep blood sugar levels consistent and aid in preventing the temptation to go overboard. Good snack choices for diabetics include nuts, veggies with hummus, celery with peanut butter, string or cottage cheese, or an egg. 
  • Stay hydrated. Having a bottle of water before sitting down to enjoy the meal will help create a sensation of fullness, making it less likely that you’ll be tempted to overindulge.  
  • Remain active. Following a heavy meal, defy the urge to settle into the recliner and watch TV shows or nap; instead, provide help with washing dishes, play an active game with the children, or take a walk in the brisk fall air.  

If in spite of these strategies you end up overindulging or making less-than-healthy selections, be kind and forgiving to yourself. Bear in mind that tomorrow is a new day to pick up healthy habits again. Keep a close watch on your blood sugar to make sure levels stay in the appropriate range and to avoid the potential for serious health issues for diabetics, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, which could cause a hospitalization and surely put a damper on the holiday spirit. 

Reach out to one of the top home health agencies in Beaumont, TX, Montebello Home Care, to learn more diabetic diet-friendly tips, for assistance with preparing healthy meals, providing medication reminders, support to engage in physical activity programs, and much more! We’re here for you throughout the holiday season and beyond to empower seniors to live their best possible lives. Email or call our care team at 409-276-7576 to request a free in-home consultation today or to learn more about how our award-winning services for home health in Beaumont, TX and the surrounding areas can help! Visit our Service Area page to see all of the Texas communities we serve.

Answers to Your Top Elder Home Care Services Questions

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You’re concerned that Mom may be in need of some help at home, and so naturally, you know exactly where to turn for assistance, right? No? Rest assured – you’re not alone. Millions of people in the U.S. are facing the same dilemma, and most people don’t know much about elder home care services until the need for care occurs. If you’re in the initial stages of considering home care options, it’s helpful to have some insight into what exactly senior home care is and how it works. To help you through this process Montebello Home Care has put together some frequently asked elder home care services questions, along with the appropriate answers to help you make better, more informed care decisions for a senior loved one.

Q:        Can Medicare pay for long-term in-home care?

A:         No. While it’s true that Medicare may help in paying for some home health care costs within very specific parameters, it was never meant to cover long-term in-home care.

Q:        Is it more cost-effective to hire a caregiver privately than utilizing a professional senior home care agency?

A:         No. While initially it may seem that hiring an independent caregiver is more affordable than hiring a caregiver through a professional home care agency, there are many unrevealed expenses when hiring a private caregiver. For example, with a privately hired caregiver, you are the person’s employer, meaning it’s your duty to cover taxes, worker’s compensation, and more. When working through a senior home care agency, you do not have to worry about or cover the cost for any of these items.

Q:        Is home care an appropriate choice for a senior with Alzheimer’s or dementia?

A:         Yes. Montebello Home Care provides highly skilled, compassionate Alzheimer’s and dementia care in Beaumont, TX and the surrounding areas. Our caregivers are provided with ongoing training on how to provide the highest quality services to seniors, offering families much-needed breaks from care and peace of mind.

Q:        What do ADL and IADL mean?

A:         ADL refers to Activities of Daily Living, or activities that occur on a daily basis, such as showering, dressing, moving from the bed to a chair, walking, etc. IADL refers to Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and addresses such activities as managing household expenses, shopping, using the phone, etc. ADLs and IADLs are assessed when determining which level of care is most appropriate for an older adult.

Montebello Home Care’s caregivers in Beaumont, TX and the nearby areas can help seniors with both ADLs and IADLs, leading to safer, more comfortable, and more independent lives at home.

We know you likely have some additional senior home care services questions, and we’re always here to provide the answers you need. If you need Beaumont home care in the nearby areas, contact us any time at 409-276-7576 to learn more about why we’re head and shoulders above senior care centers for caregivers for the elderly in Beaumont and nearby areas.

Improving Life At Home: The Benefits of Senior Home Care

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As we grow older, it’s common to begin to experience difficulties with everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, or even driving a vehicle, which can bring on concerns that these challenges mean that we’ll need to give up not only our freedom, but our home as well. And while there are reliable senior care centers in Beaumont, TX, there are also other options such as the professional senior home care provided by Montebello Home Care, one of the top home care agencies providing Beaumont home care services throughout the surrounding areas. Montebello Home Care can actually enhance self-reliance for older adults and help them continue to live at home where they are most comfortable.

A majority of older individuals are now recognizing the benefits of senior home care but many people still do not know what it can include. The information below explains what home care can include and how is it different from care at a facility:

  • In-home senior care services are provided on an individual basis, resulting in more personal attention than in a nursing home or assisted living facility. There is no need to have to wait your turn when care is needed.
  • A caregiver providing help at home can encourage a healthier lifestyle. In-home caregivers are competent in preparing healthy and delicious meals that are appetizing to the individual and can also help track the amount of food consumed.
  • A personalized, ongoing exercise plan can be put in place and followed through with the help of an in-home caregiver, offering the extra safety measure of a qualified professional being on hand during exercising.
  • Senior home care improves dignity and freedom, vital factors for a contented life. Home care (particularly private pay home care) assures personalized care specific to the requirements of the family and senior on any given day, whether the need is as simple as companionship, or more complex, such as assistance with personal care needs.
  • The extra benefit of accompanied transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, social events or running errands means that families have the chance for more quality time together.

As you look into your options for home care services, we welcome the opportunity to talk with you and your family more about the advantages of professional help at home from the caregivers at one of the top-rated home care agencies providing exceptional options for Beaumont, TX senior care in surrounding areas. Contact Montebello Home Care today at 409-276-7576 to learn more about senior home care services.

The Importance of a Well-Balanced Diet for Cancer Patients

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Diet for Chemo Patients

For more tips on diet for chemo patients, call on Montebello Home Care!

Maintaining a well-balanced diet is particularly important for those undergoing chemotherapy or another type of cancer treatment, but one of the leading side effects preventing patients from eating well is a change in how food tastes. It’s necessary to alleviate this and other obstacles to healthy eating in order to preserve the strength needed for chemo treatments and guard against infections. A well-balanced diet for cancer patients may perhaps even help them better cope with increasing levels of certain types of medications.

When suffering from challenges with changes in taste that prevent adhering to a suggested dietary plan throughout cancer treatment, the following cancer nutrition tips from Montebello Home Care, one of the premier home care agencies in Beaumont, TX, and the surrounding areas, can help:

  • Try varying food temperatures. For some people undergoing cancer treatment, cold food is more palatable, providing less fragrance than hot foods, which might increase feelings of nausea.
  • Experiment with a variety of seasonings. Marinades, herbs, and spices can make food more enticing. Several options to try include mint, garlic, rosemary, lemon, dill and basil.
  • Focus on oral health. Taste buds can become inflamed by chemotherapy, and bacteria amounts may become out of balance. Cleaning the teeth with a soft toothbrush and mild toothpaste a few times throughout each day, along with visiting the dentist for further suggestions, can be helpful.
  • Consume smaller portions. Smaller, more frequent meals are generally easier to digest. Be sure to include plenty of fluids, both during and between meals, as well.
  • Try gum and mints. Sugar-free gum and mints, or other flavored hard candy, can help decrease the metallic or bitter tastes in the mouth that can occur from chemo treatments. They can also stimulate production of saliva to relieve a dry mouth.
  • Partner with a dietitian. A professional dietitian who has expertise in cancer nutrition can help with advising food choices specific to the person’s particular difficulties. The dietitian can also recommend applicable vitamin supplements, high-nutrition liquid shakes, etc.

For more tips to overcome changes in taste or other side effects of chemotherapy while maintaining a healthy diet for cancer patients, contact Montebello Home Care, the top provider of Beaumont, TX senior care. Our care services can help those going through cancer treatment in numerous ways, such as planning, shopping for, and preparing healthy and delicious meals, supplying accompanied transportation to medical appointments and procedures, and serving as a comforting companion. Contact our team of caregivers at 409-276-7576 to discover more about our professional in-home care services, to request an assessment in the comfort of home, or to learn more about why we’re one of the top-rated home care agencies in Beaumont, TX and the surrounding areas we serve.

Acupuncture for Hot Flashes Following Breast Cancer

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Best Treatment Option for Hot Flashes

At Montebello Home Care, we offer a full range of ways to help breast cancer survivors.

For so many survivors of breast cancer, the irritation of ongoing hot flashes – sometimes as often as multiple times each day – makes day-to-day life a struggle. And even though there are various treatment methods available, one surprising treatment is starting to gain acceptance: acupuncture for hot flashes following breast cancer.

In a recent study, 120 women were given a variety of treatments, reporting the frequency and intensity of their hot flashes over periods of 8, 16 and 24 weeks. Not only did acupuncture for hot flashes surpass medications in its ability to give sustainable relief, but even a “mock” version of the acupuncture scored almost as high.

Right now, it’s unclear whether acupuncture is recommended (and effective) for menopausal hot flashes. The symptoms are usually more severe in breast cancer survivors, who also do not have the alternative of hormone replacement therapy that other women may be able to use. Anyone considering acupuncture for relief from hot flashes following breast cancer should first check with her physician on whether or not it could be the best treatment option for hot flashes.

Montebello Home Care is knowledgeable and experienced in bringing relief in a full range of ways to breast cancer survivors, and anyone else who’s recuperating from an operation or experiencing difficulties from the effects of a chronic illness or aging. Just a handful of examples of how home care services can help include:

  • Transitional care from hospital to home
  • Assistance with personal care needs, such as bathing/showering, getting dressed, and using the toilet
  • Planning and preparing healthy meals
  • Medication reminders
  • Safe transfers and ambulation assistance
  • Household chores and laundry
  • Companionship
  • And many others

Contact the in-home care experts at Montebello Home Care, for care anytime, including senior overnight care in Beaumont, TX and the surrounding communities, or to schedule an assessment right in the comfort of your home. Call us any time at 409-276-7576. To learn more about all of the other areas we serve in Texas, please visit our Service Area page.

Dementia Caregivers Benefit From Professional Help At Home

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Although scores of older adults are dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, a far greater number of family dementia caregivers are struggling to care for them. Surprisingly, nearly 75% of caregivers are caring for a loved one with dementia by themselves, with only 26% reaching out for professional care services.

Naturally, families want to do all they possibly can to fulfill their loved ones’ needs, but dementia caregiving can bring about an incredibly high level of both mental and physical stress. This takes a toll on the caretakers’ own health and wellness in the long run, especially once the disease progresses. And a lot of family dementia caregivers think there’s an all-or-nothing strategy: either oversee their loved one’s needs in the home, or confront moving the senior into residential care.

Montebello Home Care, fortunately, has an alternative that is good for seniors with dementia in addition to their family caregivers: a knowledgeable in-home dementia caregiver to give as much or as little respite care as necessary. Here is why we believe that professional dementia caregivers in the home are best:

  • Highly skilled care. Because our caregivers are both trained and experienced in the many intricate aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, they are in a position to proactively cope with and more easily manage even the most challenging of behaviors, like wandering, aggression, sundowning, and much more.
  • Improved safety. The possibility of accidents is heightened for those with dementia. Even something that appears as uncomplicated as helping your senior loved one into the shower or onto the toilet can add a dangerous fall risk. Professional care providers know exactly how to watch out for and avoid falls, keeping both you and your family member safe from injury.
  • Sustainable aging in place. Oftentimes, family caregivers become so stressed with wanting to meet every one of a senior loved one’s needs in tandem with their own that a transfer to a residential dementia care facility appears inevitable. However, working with a professional dementia caregiver opens up the possibility of long-term, effective care at home.
  • Peace of mind. Knowing your loved one is in competent hands means that you can take a breath, relax, and step away from the challenges of caregiving for the essential breaks that decrease stress along with the prospect of caregiver burnout and depression.

It is a good idea to investigate home care as early into a loved one’s dementia diagnosis as you can, to allow for a more seamless transition and to be sure that your loved one has the most beneficial care from the very beginning. Contact us at 409-276-7576 to ask about a consultation in the comfort of home, where we can design a highly customized plan for caring with a loved one with dementia to improve his or her quality of life. If you need a caregiver in Beaumont or if you are looking to learn more about our services for home health in Beaumont, Texas and the surrounding communities we serve, please visit our Service Area page.

What You Need to Know About the Current Treatment Options for Alzheimer’s

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The most up-to-date Alzheimer’s statistics are worrying. The illness has become the sixth leading cause of death, overtaking both breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And even though deaths from several chronic conditions, like cardiovascular illnesses, are decreasing, those from Alzheimer’s have increased in excess of 100%. The toll the disease takes on family caregivers is equally astonishing, with over 16 million Americans delivering over 18 billion hours of caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Though we have yet to find an end to Alzheimer’s disease, there are a couple of distinct kinds of treatment options for Alzheimer’s that may help ease a few of the more prevalent symptoms. If your parent is identified as having Alzheimer’s, there are a few options your doctor may propose:

  1. Cholinesterase inhibitors: By blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical required for memory, attention, learning and muscle activity, these treatments can offer some benefit in the mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s for many patients. Dr. Zaldy Tan, medical director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program, cautions, however, to be aware that results are going to be modest at best. “The best-case scenario is that the patient’s memory and cognitive function may improve slightly to what it was six months to a year ago – it’s not going to turn back time,” he makes clear. Included in this class of medications are galantamine (Razadyne), donepezil (Aricept) and rivastigmine (Exelon).
  2. Memantine: In the moderate to severe periods of the disease, the physician may recommend memantine (Namenda), which takes a unique approach in comparison to cholinesterase inhibitors, preventing the overstimulation of glutamate NMDA receptors which in turn often helps regain limited memory functionality. Doctors will frequently add memantine to a patient’s care plan combined with a cholinesterase inhibitor when the disease progresses.

Determining the effectiveness of these treatments calls for patience, as both take 4 – 6 weeks before benefits may be realized. And, it is imperative to weigh the benefits versus any adverse side effects, which may involve confusion and constipation in memantine, and nausea, vomiting and a reduced heart rate with cholinesterase inhibitors.

One of the most effective ways to support individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in living life to the fullest is by employing the services of a specially trained dementia caregiver who understands the disease and who will help manage the varied struggles of dementia. Contact Montebello Home Care for more information about our highly trained, compassionate Alzheimer’s care services for seniors and to learn more about our memory care in Orange and the surrounding areas.

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.

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