Category: In-Home Care

When we see our loved ones aging or experiencing health challenges, it’s only natural to want the best care for them. Home care is one of the most viable options, as it allows our loved ones to receive the aid they need while staying in their familiar environment. However, discussing home care can be tricky, as it involves acknowledging certain realities that might be hard to accept for all parties involved. Here are some steps to make this significant life decision painless. 

1. Create a Safe and Comfortable Atmosphere:

Ensure the location you have chosen is familiar and private. You are preparing to delve into a new chapter of life with your loved one; it’s a significant conversation that can substantially impact your loved one’s life. 

2. Include All Key Players:

While discussing home care, it is important to involve all relevant parties. Depending on your loved one’s social circle, this includes siblings, spouses, and even close friends. Doing so ensures different perspectives and reduces the chances of misunderstanding or feelings of exclusion. 

3. Communicate with Empathy and Respect:

Approach the idea of homecare with empathy and respect. Ground your conversation in concern for your loved one’s well-being, and ensure that home care is not a means to strip them of their independence. Active listening is vital. Talk through your loved one’s concerns. 

4. Provide Clear Information and Reassurance:

Do your homework and be prepared to answer questions and concerns about home care. At Private Home Care, we know that one-size-fits-all plans leave room for shortcomings or unnecessary services; we aim to tailor our care plans to your loved one’s needs and support them with the best caregivers. 

5. Involve Them in the Decision-Making Process:

This step is crucial. Remember, this is about your loved one’s care, so their input should be the deciding factor. Please encourage them to weigh in on the decision and ensure they feel heard.

6. Take Your Time:

Lastly, do not rush this process. Allow your loved one time to absorb the information, ask questions, express their feelings, and eventually make a decision. Patience and understanding are paramount during this time.

Approaching your loved ones about home care is a delicate process. However, it’s possible to navigate this conversation effectively with empathy, respect, clear communication, and ample time. And remember, seeking professional advice can also be very helpful in this process. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that your loved ones receive the best possible care in a setting that offers them comfort, familiarity, and a sense of dignity.

Many older adults who desire to maintain their independence and autonomy receive personalized, professional care from the comfort of their own homes. Let’s explore five reasons why aging at home with the help of a caregiver can be a valuable option for individuals:

1. Familiar surroundings

Aging at home allows individuals to continue living in their own homes, creating a sense of comfort and control. Moving to a long-term care facility may be intimidating for many older adults because it threatens their independence. Aging at home under the watchful eye of a caregiver maintains a client’s autonomy and dignity while still living independently. Additionally, aging at home allows them to remain in a familiar environment—a home that offers comfort and familiarity. This becomes particularly significant for those dealing with cognitive impairments. 

2. Tailored Care

Care should never be one size fits all. Aging at home enables individuals to receive care-tailored plans that optimize their quality of life, needs, and preferences. At PHC, we prioritize the perfect match for every client. We work closely with caregivers and families to develop care plans that accommodate a client’s personal, medical, and social needs, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, as well as more specialized care like medication management and mobility support. 

3. Cost-effective 

For those requiring minimal assistance with daily activities, aging at home can be cost-effective compared to moving into a long-term care facility. In-home care arrangements offer flexibility on an as-needed basis. For instance, caregivers may provide support during specific times of the day or week to help with bathing needs or mobility assistance. A caregiver’s help reduces the burden on family members or loved ones. 

4. Flexibility

Aging at home provides greater flexibility when choosing the proper care provider for each unique situation. Each individual has distinctive needs and preferences to consider when making these decisions. The ability to select the most suitable caregiver allows for a more personalized care experience. 

Aging at home with the assistance of a caregiver offers numerous advantages for older adults. It promotes independence and autonomy, provides tailored care, maintains familiar surroundings, and is cost-effective. These reasons make aging at home a valuable and desirable option for many individuals seeking to maintain their independence as they age. The flexibility offered by receiving care at home should be noticed, as it allows adjustments based on individual needs. Notably, the availability and variety of options for aging at home have grown significantly over time. For those seeking a more comprehensive discussion, please contact us today. At PHC, we are prepared to go the extra mile to make this critical transition as easy and manageable as possible. 

What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD occurs when the macula of your eye starts wearing down because of age. The macula is the central part of the retina, which is a light-sensing nerve tissue present at the back of our eyes, and it helps us have clearer, straighter vision.

AMD impacts close to 5% of Americans who are 65 years old and older and is the leading cause of vision loss in America. Although there is no cure, intervention from an ophthalmologist can aid in slowing down the condition in the diagnosed. The pest way to screen for and in some cases prevent degenerative eye diseases similar to ADM, such as glaucoma and cataracts, is to have eye exams on a yearly basis which will include dilation. Any change in sight is alarming and a cause to make an appointment for comprehensive testing. 

AMD usually doesn’t result in blindness unless it’s the rare kind of AMD, called Wet AMD. However, it does get progressively worse and can result in severe, in some cases, cause debilitating damage.  Below are some main points about AMD as well as some information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment options. 

There are two types of AMD affecting adults over 65: 

• Wet AMD
• Dry AMD

Between 85 and 90 percent of people with AMD have dry form, with wet AMD is rare. Dry AMD can lead to wet AMD.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Everyone’s retinas contain a yellow deposit called drusen which are largely comprised of fatty proteins, located in the macula. As we age, the deposits increase in quantity and size. Initially, they don’t cause any changes to sight, but over time, and especially with age, you might start exhibiting distorted vision and blind spots. Consequently, as we age, the drusen deposits coupled with macular thinning can make the condition worse, with the loss of vision depending on the amount of thinning of the retina. Many with dry AMD experience some difficulty reading smaller print, almost always have trouble seeing at night and may experience reduced vision quality overall. Dry AMD develops slowly and overtime. 

Wet Macular Degeneration 

This kind of AMD is caused when the blood vessels start leaking fluid and blood into the retina. This leakage distorts your vision, creates blind spots, forms scars and eventually leads to permanent loss of central vision. Wet AMD develops quickly and is rare.

Stargardt Disease or Juvenile Macular Degeneration

Stargardt muscular degeneration is an eye disorder that results in progressive vision loss. The condition is genetic, but onset typically occurs before late adolescence. The retina breaks down prematurely in Juvenile Macular Degeneration, and the person may exhibit symptoms like color distortion and blurry vision. Both conditions get progressively worse but early intervention and therapies can often prevent blindness.

The Signs and Symptoms 

The challenge with AMD is that it’s hard to catch it – until it gets worse. That’s why regular examinations are so necessary as we age. Usually, AMD gets diagnosed when it has already affected both eyes and the person is exhibiting the following symptoms:

• Vision blurry enough to deter them from reading or driving
• Dark edges in the center of your vision
• Altered color perception

The Causes and Risk Factors for AMD

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the major causes of vision loss in people over 60. This risk increases exponentially when there’s a genetic, gender-specific, and physiological factor involved. 

1. Age

As the namesake suggests, age is the most significant factor that contributes to AMD. Over 2% of older adults and a third of seniors develop AMD.

2. Smoking

Smokers have a four times higher risk of AMD because smoke reduces the oxygen absorption abilities of the eye.

3. Heart Problems

High cholesterol levels, beta-blocker usage, a history of stroke, and a higher BMI contribute towards a higher risk of developing AMD.

If you think that you or your loved one is at a higher risk of AMD, you can still prevent the onset of the disease by quitting smoking, getting regular physical exercise, maintaining a nutritious diet of seafood and leafy greens, and managing your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels.

Diagnosing AMD

Dilated Eye Exam

The earliest sign of AMD is the yellow drusen under your retina clumping together. This can be diagnosed by a painless but comprehensive dilated eye exam. A regular visit to the ophthalmologist might pre-emptively catch AMD before it gets worse. 

Amsler Grid Test

Another way to diagnose AMD is by the Amsler Grid Test, a pattern of straight lines that look like a checkerboard. The doctor might ask you to look at those lines, and if they seem irregular or distorted, it might be a sign of AMD.

Angiography or OCT

The Angiography or OCT as a diagnosis for AMD only happens when the doctor has conducted the physical exam on your eye and suspects macular degeneration. 

In an angiography, your doctor will insert a dye into your veins and take pictures of the leakage of the blood vessels in your retina, which will be more apparent due to the color of the dye. On the other hand, an OCT will be able to see the fluid underneath your retina without using a dye.  

Treatment can start once the diagnosis has been confirmed by physical exam and diagnostic tests

Treatments for AMD

Some studies have shown that Vitamin C and E, zeaxanthin, zinc and copper can help prevent AMD; unfortunately, there is no cure. However, some treatments slow down the degeneration:

• Anti-angiogenesis drugs which block the fluid leakage into your retina, in case of wet AMD
• Laser therapy destroys excess or abnormal blood vessels in your eye
• Photodynamic laser therapy, where a light-sensitive drug is injected into your bloodstream, and a laser is used to trigger the medicine into damaging the abnormal blood vessels
• Visual aids that create larger images of nearby objects help cope the older adults or seniors with the vision loss

There are also surgical treatments such as retinal translocation for AMD. 

At Private Home Care, we offer hourly and live-in services with caregivers familiar with AMD and other vision conditions. We also understand the importance of consistency with following vision medication routines.