Are You Safe in Your Home?

According to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of home injury death among older adults, accounting for 52.5% of all home injury deaths for adults between the ages of 65 and 74. And yet, falls are often preventable with the proper information and simple, inexpensive home modifications.  A home safety inspection by a knowledgeable provider of home care services to seniors will often eliminate dangerous conditions before a mishap.

As part of our free in home nurse assessment service, Carefree Homecare will reveiw your home for dangerous conditions that could lead to an un-necessary fall.

 

www.carefreehomecare.com  Carefree Homecare Companion Service provides premier non-medical home care for seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.  Call us today at 480-483-8531

Summer Heat

As we age, our ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become a serious problem. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has some advice to help older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months.

Hyperthermia can include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. The risk for hyperthermia is a combination of the outside temperature along with the general health and lifestyle of the individual.

Older people, particularly those at special risk, should stay indoors on particularly hot and humid days, especially when there is an air pollution alert in effect.

People without fans or air conditioners should go to places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, libraries or cooling centers which are often provided by government agencies, religious groups, and social service organizations in many communities.

Heat stroke is an advanced form of hyperthermia that occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature.

Someone with a body temperature above 104 degrees is likely suffering from heat stroke and may have symptoms of -
   ● confusion,
   ● combativeness,
   ● strong rapid pulse,
   ● lack of sweating,
   ● dry flushed skin,
   ● faintness,
   ● staggering,
   ● possible delirium or
   ● coma.

Seek immediate medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult.

 

www.carefreehomecare.com  Carefree Homecare Companion Service provides premier home care for seniors in Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale.  Call us today at 480-483-8531

Long Distance Care IS Available

In earlier times, it was common for families to live in the same community generation after generation. They could share the responsibilities that go along with caring for older family members. But today, we live in a much more mobile society. Families are often spread out from one end of the country to the other. They still stay in touch, but they do it by phone, e-mail, and occasional visits.

So, when an older loved one needs care and support or when a care crisis occurs, family members come face to face with the challenge of long distance care giving. If this describes your situation, it’s important to understand your loved one’s needs and to work with other family members and professional service providers to make sure those needs are met.

Professional service providers like Carefree Homecare in Scottsdale, AZ show their commitment to excellence in care giving by the compassionate and capable staff that they hire. Agencies like Carefree Homecare can help your loved one and all family members—near or far—experience the peace of mind that comes from knowing that help is at hand. As a family assesses their needs and contacts a home care service, they can arrange for a qualified home care agency to send a caregiver every day of the week, or occasionally as needed. The agency will keep in touch with family members of the loved one as often as they would like updates. For more information about Carefree Homecare call (480) 483-8531 or visit their website at www.carefreehomecare.com.

 

www.carefreehomecare.com  Carefree Homecare provides premier non-medical home care for seniors in Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale.  Call us today at 480-483-8531

Conference for Long Term Care Professionals ’09

Carefree Homecare Companion Services sponsored the sixth annual Conference for Long Term Care Professionals for the second year in a row on Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Topics such as Continuing Education for all Healthcare Professionals, Mediation for Seniors, and Strategies for Seniors to Survive and Succeed in a Challenging Economic Environment, among others, captivated the auditorium at Pueblo Norte Retirement Community. The speakers shared a plethora of knowledge to focus on health, social, financial and spiritual issues that Seniors face today.
Carefree Homecare also hosted an open house after the conference at their on-site Pueblo Norte office to close out the day.
For more information call 480-483-8531 or visit Carefree Homecare’s website at www.carefreehomecare.com

 

www.carefreehomecare.com  Carefree Homecare Companion Service provides premier non-medical home care for seniors in Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale.  Call us today at 480-483-8531

Ne’er To Be Lonley

For many people thinking about retirement does not conjure up thoughts of loneliness, according to Anna Banks. Instead they are busy planning about going on cruising trips, or using their time to finally pursue their interests or hobbies, or spending more quality time with their partners and other members of the family. However, for singles, facing this stage of their lives alone can often seem bleak. A spouse’s death or a divorce can leave people at the latter half of their lives feeling unsure and lost, wondering how to go on from there. However, being single and retired need not mean the death knell of life. There are many ways that you can beat loneliness after retirement like learning new things, making new friends, adopting a pet or just relaxing with a Companion. Home care agencies like Carefree Homecare Companion Service in Scottsdale, AZ, offers top quality companions that can help seniors beat that loneliness by playing games with them, watching movies, going shopping, attending social activities together or just sitting in the park. The caregivers at Carefree Homecare provide compassionate care to complement lifestyles and to enhance well being. For more information visit www.carefreehomecare.com or call 480-483-8531.

Exercise for Seniors

Exercise plays a very important role in the general health and the quality of life of everyone, but especially in seniors. Seniors who walk tend to look younger, sleep more soundly and have fewer visits to the doctor. According to Christine Dobraowolski, podiatrist and author of Those Arching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems, walking for 30 to 60 minutes four to six days a week will help improve osteoarthritis and decrease the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Walking is the top recreational sport for seniors.
Dobraowolski suggests,”Although many seniors may be scared to start an exercise program because they are worried about injury, the health benefits of exercise outweigh the risk of injury”. Walking is considered one of the best forms of exercise because it’s safe, cheap and easy. Unfortunately, foot problems can prevent seniors from starting or continuing with a walking program.
In order to avoid foot problems, she states that choosing the right shoe can make a big difference and make sure to buy them in the afternoon, to get the best fit. Start your walk slowly and at an easy pace and if you are a beginner and walk on a flat, soft surface like a dirt path. Other important factors to remember are to warm up before you walk with light stretching, avoid walking in bad weather and walk in well lit places. Last, but not least, Dobraowolski tells us that we should examine our feet after the walk and never walk through the pain. All these suggestions will help to prevent slips, falls and injury.
Happy Walking from Carefree Homecare!
www.carefreehomecare.com

Around the World Hotdog Event

Carefree Homecare Companion Services of Scottsdale, AZ., hosted an “Around The World” hotdog luncheon last Tuesday at Pueblo Norte Senior Living in Scottsdale, AZ.
The triple digit temperature did not prevent over fifty residents from visiting the brightly decorated lawn to join Carefree Homecare to indulge in four different types of hotdogs that consisted of: Southwestern dog, Italian dog, Polish Dog and the ever popular American Dog. The food was wonderful (with carrot cake for dessert) and the company was even better. A great time was had by all!
Carefree Homecare Companion Service can be reached by visiting www.carefreehomecare.com or calling 480-483-8531.

Arizona’s only Senior Approved Home Care Service provider

Arizona’s only Senior Approved Home Care Service provider*

In an article dated January 17, 2009, reporter Heidi Homa of the Scottsdale Republic reported that Carefree Homecare was Arizona’s only Senior Approved Home Care service provider. Carefree Home Care provides non-medical home care service through out the valley. Care plans are designed and care is monitored by a licensed nurse.

The article went on to explain how Carefree Homecare submits application to “Senior Approved Services” each year and allows them to conduct annual surveys of Carefree Homecare’s clients. The survey results are tabulated by Senior Approved Services without any involvement of the applicants. Survey results are available to the applicant about 3-4 weeks after the process begins.

Carefree Homecare is the only companion service in Arizona that has successfully passed the application/survey process with Senior Approved Services by attaining the required minimum of 90% client satisfaction. Carefree Homecare first passed the survey in 2005 and then again in 2007 and 2008. In 2006 the company forgot to apply for the accreditation process. Many other companies have applied, but all but Carefree Homecare have failed to meet the 90% minimum customer satisfaction level.

Carefree Homecare Companion Service can be reached by visiting www.carefreehomecare.com or calling 480-483-8531.

For more information about Senior Approved Services, or for validation of Carefree Homecare’s accreditation, please visit www.seniorsapprove.com or call 1-877-620-6448.

Carefree Homecare Teams with Alzheimers Association at State Conference

Carefree Homecare Companion Services of Scottsdale,  AZ. will be participating in the Alzheimers Conference being presented at The Chaparral Suites, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road on Friday, February 6th, 2009 . The theme of the conference is, Embracing Today, Anticipating Tomorrow, focusing on Building Skills for Todays  Alzheimers Caregivers.

All attendees are urged to visit our booth to learn how Carefree Homecare can assist them in caring for their loved one at home; temporarily, short term, or long term. Carefree Homecare has extensive Alzheimers experience, and has many qualified caregivers to assist you in your time of need.

We look forward to visiting with you on Friday.

www.carefreehomecare.com

Carefree Homecare Receives Praise from its Clients

Carefree Homecare Companion Services , provider of non-medical home care for the elderly, has received Senior Approved status  for the third time in four years. Carefree Homecare was one of five homecare businesses in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area that applied for certification from Senior Approved Services, but  Carefree was the only business that qualified for the certification.  Senior Approved Services is an organization that creates  and conducts consumer surveys to determine how well a company serves its senior clients, said Barbara Mascio, founder of  Senior Approved Services.

Carefree  Homecare first achieved Senior Approved status in 2005. The survey was not conducted in 2006, but was conducted in 2007, and 2008, when Carefree again qualified  for approval in both years.  Fifty surveys are distributed by mail to past and current clients, and a ninety percent approval rate is required to qualify for approval. The other four Arizona companies that applied for approval, failed because of poor feedback from their  surveyed clients . “Every year we receive a glowing report,well above 90%, with a high of 95% in 2007″, says Richard Sauncy, Director of Marketing for Carefree Homecare. With over 200 home care businesses in the Valley, the fact that we are the only qualifying company to reach Senior Approved Status, says volumes for the quality and professionalism of our outstanding care-givers. To qualify for certification, a company is required to be in operation for 36 consecutive months,  have no civil law-suites, or state violations pending against the company concerning “quality of care” issues. This stipulation leaves many of the 200 plus companies in the Valley unqualified to pursue Senior Approved Status.

 The goal of Carefree Homecare  is to become the area’s best and most trusted option when it comes to a choice having to be made regarding homecare for a loved one or a family member. Carefree Homecare seems to be  well on track  toward their goal.

Originally published January 17, 2009 in The Arizona Republic

For more information, go to www.carefreehomecare.com  or call 480-483-8531