Skilled Nursing Del Mar, CA ☎ 858-456-7600 In Home Care

No one likes the thought of placing a loved one in a senior living facility, but sometimes it’s just the right thing to do. When do you know when that time has arrived? Here are some signs it’s time to begin your search for a senior living facility:

Personal Care - When your loved one seems to be slacking in the area of personal care and hygiene (bathing, grooming, and brushing teeth, for example), it may be time to search for a living environment in which necessary help will be provided.

Memory loss - Memory loss can cause some serious consequences for seniors. These problems may range from forgetting to turn off the stove to driving to an unfamiliar place and getting lost. If your loved one is showing signs of memory loss, you may be doing the best thing by choosing a senior living facility for placement.

Medication - Many seniors are on a strict medication regimen. If your loved one has a difficult time keeping up with a medication schedule, then you may need to enlist the help of professionals at a senior living facility.

Eating and nutrition - It is all too easy for less-abled seniors to forego proper eating habits—sometimes ignoring doctor-imposed dietary restrictions altogether—without guidance. At senior living facilities, residents are given the eating and nutrition guidance they need.

Mobility - Seniors may suffer mobility problems for any of a number of reasons, from arthritis to failing eyesight. This presents many dangers, in the form of slip and fall accidents. If your loved one has a difficult time rolling out of bed, sitting, standing, or climbing stairs, then you may need to consider placement with a senior living facility.

Skilled Nursing Poway, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the Firstat’s company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

The sad thing about senior citizens and the younger generation is that they seem to ignore each other. A lot of people think that since older individuals have lowered activity tolerance and are not as mentally active as before, they do not really need much stimulation. The fact is, these people are constantly searching for attention. Here's what you can offer.

Start the Day Right - Seniors wake up earlier than before, since they need less sleep than regular adults. A typical night's sleep lasts anywhere from 4 to 6 hours for most. You can expect them to wake up at around 5am to 7am in the morning. It will be good to give them a hearty breakfast once they open their eyes. Greet them warmly and have the table set up. A good menu will include items like oatmeal, a piece of apple or orange, coffee or juice and a tall glass of water. While eating, give him or her an itinerary of the activities for the day so they can prepare well.

You can assist the elderly get ready for the day's actions, by helping them dress, shower and do their other bodily routines. Some will prefer doing things independently, so it will be better to just hand them items like the brush, the towel and slippers and let them do everything else to promote independence and feelings of self-confidence.

Some Physical Activity - Start the day with some form of exercise to improve muscle strength and condition. Some of the activities that you can offer include a round of golf, swimming, walking to the nearby mall, doing yoga and hitting the gym for some lightweight training. Do activities according to the preference and physical capacity of the individual. The session should last anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes at a time, even if the person believes that he or she can tolerate or do more.

Take time to warm up for 5 to 10 minutes through stretches and cardiovascular exercise. Cool down in the end as well by stretching and flexing. Make sure you bring a bottle of water for the elderly to consume throughout the exercises. They tend to become dehydrated sooner than others, so stay prepared especially on very hot days. If the senior experiences anything painful or uncomfortable about the activity, stop it immediately and find the source of the problem.

Buying Them Toys - Seniors want to hold on even to small material possessions as a way to ease boredom. Some of the "toys" or items that you can give them to stay mentally alert and focused are a book, a cross stitch set, a sewing kit, a drawing book or a canvass. Take the elderly to the local department store, mall or bookstore and have them pick a couple of things that they would like to keep at home. You can ask the people too, the particular hobbies and activities they used to do when they were younger. Try to find things that they can associate with easily.

Ensuring Safety - Make sure that the senior is fully secure and safe throughout all the activities done. If the weather is hot, provide an umbrella, sunglasses and hat. For colder seasons, give gloves, a jacket and boots. Protect the elderly from potential dangers while doing activities like going up the stairs, playing sports and cooking. Always be right beside the person to assist and have some materials prepared such as the emergency hotline and first aid kit.

Skilled Nursing Coronado, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Seniors should not be taken away from the scenes as they still have a lot of strength and tenacity to indulge in the things as they used to when they were younger. You can provide a wide array of activities, depending on their personal preferences and capacity. You may be surprised on how the elderly can boost endurance and strength with just a few routines.

Finding a Hobby - There are a variety of hobbies and crafts that seniors can indulge in to improve their physical and mental capacities. A good example is drawing, sketching or painting where they can freely express themselves in art and color. Ask the senior what type of platform he or she is most interested in working on, then provide the materials such as a charcoal or pencil and paper, a canvas and paint or some markers. You may teach them how to make cartoons too, which can be very entertaining and fun.

Another hobby that can exercise the mind includes the creation of model cars and airplanes. This is one hobby that the senior citizens of today used to enjoy when they were younger. There are a variety of models to work on, such as vintage cars, tanks, vintage planes and even ships and bicycles.
For the Women - Female senior citizens enjoy sewing and working on cross stitch patterns. You can provide the right materials like embroidery kits, t-shirts, dresses, caps, socks, etc. and let them start getting creative. Some even enjoy fixing loose buttons, holes and putting patches, so feel free to ask and let them start on their way to occupational therapy.

Music Matters - Other senior citizens are highly adept and never lose their touch on music. Try to ask their specific instrument of interest or type of music, then provide them the right tools like a pen and paper, music book, speakers, amplifiers and the particular tool like a guitar, violin, flute, trombone or drums maybe. One of the best things about music is that you can always do it with a group or partner. Feel free to bring your own musical instrument and begin making beautiful melodies together.
Form a band of senior musicians and introduce some fun genres like modern, jazz, hip hop or even techno. Singing and dancing are also essential activities for seniors that are good for boosting morale and confidence and improving relationships among individuals. If they can get better in these, they can always gain a renewed sense of fulfillment and continue to progress, thereby sharpening their mental and physical skills.

Occupational Therapy - Even though seniors are well into their retirement age, it is still important that they stay capable of performing various tasks and functions that will maintain independence and enhance self-confidence. Allow them to perform activities of daily living or ADL like eating, brushing their teeth, bathing, getting dressed, etc. Also introduce them to certain minor tasks like cleaning their room, fixing their bed, creating works of art like pottery or sculpture, reading books and staying updated via the internet.

Occupational therapy is good also for older individuals to encourage them to stay independent for the rest of their days. You can accomplish this by forming a buddy system, so they always have someone to rely on, during cases of emergency and difficulty. Activities for seniors can be done both indoor and outdoors.

Skilled Nursing Coronado, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Not all senior living facilities are created equal, and on top of that, there may be things that you don’t know about how facilities are run that can affect the care your loved one gets. This is truly a case in which what you don’t know can hurt you. Here are some things to be cautious of when it comes to senior living facilities:

Pharmacy Costs - Pharmacies associated with senior living facilities typically charge more for prescription drugs than private pharmacists would. Therefore, you should make it a point to rely only on the services of a private pharmacist that is local to the facility.

Special Needs - If your loved one has a serious health problem that requires a considerable amount of personal care, then it is likely that the average senior living facility is simply not equipped to provide that care. That’s right—you may have to hire outside care to meet your loved one’s special needs. Be sure to ask the facilities you are considering exactly how much one-on-one care they provide to each resident, and be prepared to make other plans for needs that fall outside of those limitations.

Changing Prices - Assisted living facilities have the option of changing their prices at any time, and without giving you much notice. Of course, this is never to benefit the paying customer, so you will have to consider the possibility of higher rates down the line when weighing out your senior living facility options.

Staff May Be Insufficiently Trained - This is especially true if your loved one has special needs. The senior living industry experienced a boom in the 1990s, leaving businesses to rapidly expand to meet that need. Consequently, senior living facilities were staffed with mostly unskilled employees. Most of the employees who will be providing care to your loved one in a senior living facility are personal aides who work for minimum wage. It is easy to see how this level of care might not suffice for seniors who need special attention.

Choosing a senior living facility is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make in a lifetime. Only the utmost of thought and care should go into deciding who is fit to look after those you love the most. You need a senior living facility that can provide a caring staff and a comfortable environment, backed by a longstanding reputation you trust.

Skilled Nursing Chula Vista, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Even before you reach the age of 40, your body starts to experience all sorts of problems. Senior citizens so much more help and attention to keep their bodies fit, healthy and free from disease. It is important to focus on physical fitness as one of the mainstays of activities for the elderly. Here are some proven guidelines that boost wellness and life.

The Right Exercises - The right exercises should always rely on the senior's personal capacity and current condition. It is best to have a physical check up and thorough assessment to make sure that the activities can be well tolerated and complications are avoided. Seniors who have been sedentary for several years or months need to break into an exercise program or regime slowly. A physical therapist can best provide the right movements and warm up techniques that will stabilize joints and strengthen muscles. Seniors are not advised to immediately join group sports or enter a weight-training program without warming up their muscles well.

They should check how their body responds to various movements first, before embarking on any strenuous exercise. You should also get enough nutrition rich in vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates for fast recovery and optimum resistance. Sleep adequately days before your first exercise routine to gather strength and stick to the program longer. What a Typical Program

Consists Of  - The regular program includes physical fitness exercises, complete with the right equipment, trainers and machines. The elderly may be placed on exercise machines like stationary bicycles, treadmills, elliptical trainers and the like. They may also be asked to walk around the senior center grounds. Those who are more capable can try mild jogging. There are classes as well held on schedule, which includes yoga, aerobics, martial arts, tai chi, etc.

Seniors may join these programs as they please. Sessions are typical 2 to 3 times per week. There are also therapeutic sessions where individuals are gathered into groups to communicate, play games and share their experiences. This is a good opportunity for seniors to discuss their concerns and current conditions and problems, if they have any. Seniors will be formed into pairs or groups as well, depending on their preference.

Objectives of the Exercises - Exercises are provided to senior citizens to attain the following: flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. Stretching exercises greatly boost flexibility, which can prevent injury should seniors fall or trip. To enhance endurance, seniors can do cardiovascular activities like running, jogging, walking or bicycling to get their heart rate up. This is especially good for lowering cholesterol levels, stress and blood pressure. To enhance strength, weight-training exercises may be provided according to the physical capacities of seniors to minimize pains and aches. Balancing is highly important for elder individuals to prevent accidents. There are balancing exercises like walking with eyes closed, lifting one leg up, etc. These can minimize the occurrence of falls.

More Benefits - There are several benefits that you can get from activities for seniors. These can reduce depression and stress, lower risk for heart and cardiovascular ailments, boost flexibility, reduce diabetes, produce endorphins that make people feel better, prevent disease, maintain the ability to do various activities and enhances range of motion. The advantages among individuals may differ, depending on their age, response to the activity and current condition. Overall, physical activity always renders positive results. Choosing the right in-home care provider is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make in a lifetime. Only the utmost of thought and care should go into deciding who is fit to look after those you love the most. You need find a Home Care Agency that can provide caring in-home care backed by a longstanding reputation you trust.

Skilled Nursing Del Mar, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Seniors need regular exercise to maintain muscle tone, boost endurance and gain independence. There are several other benefits that workouts render, that keep the elderly living longer and staying away from disease. You should draw the perfect exercise program that adequately suits their capacity and needs. Here are some tips to get your started.

What They Can Do - The primary rule is to only provide enough exercise that will stimulate adequate blood flow to all the vital organs, as well as maintain muscle mass. Muscle tends to atrophy during the later stages of a person's life. You should keep hard-earned tissues through both cardiovascular exercises, stretching routines and weight training. In the beginning, it is important that you do an overall assessment of the senior citizen first, to ensure that he or she can do all the exercises without much trouble.

Very strenuous exercise can be detrimental to the overall condition of seniors. You need to check their response by listening to their verbalizations and observing how they cope. If you find some negative signs such as heavy breathing, profuse sweating, loss of balance, droopy eyelids and mild to severe pain, immediately stop the activity.

Being Flexible - Exercise routines should be individualized, which means that one program is only meant for a single individual. The specific approach is highly recommended since it takes away much of the risk of overtraining. You can also map out progress more efficiently by giving the exact type of exercises, number of repetitions and sets and duration of each workout. Use a log book and fill in all the details of every workout.

Exercise programs should be very flexible, in the sense that the routines and kinds of movements change every week or so, depending on the response of the patient. Your goal is to maintain or boost strength, flexibility and strength, if possible, so the exercises need to be upped as the individual gets stronger and better.

Getting a Professional - If you happen to be a concerned son or granddaughter taking care of a senior citizen in your home, it is always useful to get the opinion of a professional when creating your exercise plan, so you can select the right type and intensity that suit the needs of the patient. Professionals include dieticians, gym instructors, physical therapists, nutritionists, nurses and physicians who will check if the program is acceptable or too strenuous.

During the first few sessions, you can ask the professional to help you in assisting the senior go through the different movements. Proper execution is crucial to attain the various objectives and goals. Professional help is important every now and then, especially during the times when you're already supposed to evaluate the senior's response to treatment.

Other Sources - When defining the exercise routine, you can refer to exercise DVDs that caters to seniors, visit online forums and watch videos online. You can also visit senior centers to have an idea how a typical routine goes. Take some tips from instructors and the experts about evaluation and adjusting the routine for the patient. Over time, you will develop the skill in keeping the senior comfortable while giving him or her a truly sensible workout. Be reminded that diet and rest are the other two components that will sufficiently support the exercise program for seniors.

Choosing the right in-home care provider is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make in a lifetime. Only the utmost of thought and care should go into deciding who is fit to look after those you love the most. You need find a Home Care Agency that can provide caring in-home care backed by a longstanding reputation you trust.

Skilled Nursing Rancho Santa Fe, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

No one likes the thought of having to rely on outside support for the care of a loved one. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances in which there is no better thing to do. In this case, your best option is to find a senior living facility that meets your family’s needs. How do you know when to begin your search? Here are some signs it is time to look into senior living facilities:

Personal care- If your loved one displays an apparent decline in personal care and hygiene, then it may be time to consider placement in an assisted living facility. Personal care issues can not only make it difficult for your loved one to interact in society in a healthy way, but they can also pose considerable health risks.

Dementia - This is a common condition among the elderly population, and it only worsens with age. Those suffering from dementia may forget the people they know, suffer extreme lapses of short and long-term memory, be unable to care for themselves, and even get lost. If your loved one’s dementia seems to be worsening, then assisted living may be your best answer.

Loss of mobility - Many elderly people suffer from mobility issues that hinder their ability to climb stairs, sit, stand, or walk even short distances; in some cases these issues can even lead to frequent falls and injuries. If mobility problems are standing in your loved one’s way of a healthy lifestyle, then it’s time to research your senior living options.

Decreased appetite - If you can’t trust that your loved one is eating a healthy diet—or eating at all—then you might need to rely on the professionals at an assisted living facility to ensure your loved one’s proper eating habits.

Medication management - As your loved one gets older, it is likely the medication regimen will grow in breadth and importance. If medication management is a concern of yours, then you should look into how a senior living facility can help.

Choosing the right in-home care provider is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make in a lifetime. Only the utmost of thought and care should go into deciding who is fit to look after those you love the most. You need find a Home Care Agency that can provide caring in-home care backed by a longstanding reputation you trust.

Home Care Rancho Bernardo, CA

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/

About Firstat Nursing Services
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

It’s scary to feel light-headed or like you’re spinning out of control and are going to fall - especially if you fear breaking a bone or losing consciousness. There are a number of medical issues that could cause balance problems, but luckily there are tests that can determine why you have this concern and ways to control it.

You may have a balance disorder if you feel like you’re moving even though you aren’t. It’s a sense of floating or spinning that makes it seem as if you’re going to fall. Our sense of balance is controlled by a place in the inner ear called a labyrinth, connected to an elaborate structure called the vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for some of our sensory perceptions such as our eyes.

When this intricate system gets out of sync, a balance disorder may occur. It could be caused by a viral or bacterial ear infection, problems with blood circulation or a head injury. Various medications can also cause dizziness and aging can also cause balance problems. Balance problems can begin suddenly and there may not be a reason that you can pinpoint.

That’s why it’s important that you see your health care provider right away so that he can diagnose the problem and help restore your balance. Some types of balance disorders include:

• Vertigo - Vertigo may occur when you merely turn your head. That’s because part of your vestibular system, the cupula, doesn’t tilt as it should. This malady sometimes happens as one ages or the cause could be a head injury.

• Vestibular neuronitis - You may experience vertigo (dizziness when you turn your head) because of an inflammation of the vestibular nerve caused by a virus.

• MdDS (Mal de debarquement syndrome) - Sometimes simply called sea-sickness, MdDS affects some people on an ocean cruise. It causes nausea, feelings of rocking to and fro and can last a few hours, days or even months after returning to land.

• Leakage of inner fluid (Perilymph fistula) - You may experience balance problems if you have a leakage of inner ear fluid into the middle ear. Many situations can cause the disorder - change in atmospheric pressure, ear infection, head injury or ear surgery. Nausea and dizziness may occur.

• Upper respiratory infection (Labyrinthitis) - An infection of the inner ear that can cause dizziness or loss of balance.

These are some of the most common causes of balance problems, and if you’re experiencing some or all of these symptoms you should see your health care provider immediately before a fall occurs.

If you see a general practitioner, he or she may want you to see an ENT doctor - a physician who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Depending on your health status, the ENT doctor may order tests to better diagnose the cause of your balance problem. Once diagnosed, your doctor may simply give you a prescription for medication or suggest ways to deal with chronic balance problems on a daily basis.

Home Health Kensington San Diego, CA, In Home Care 

People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/ 

About Firstat Nursing Services

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both state licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

Our ability to taste is one of the most pleasurable senses we have and even though the ability to taste as we once did may decline as we age, most of the time there isn't a huge change and we should be able to enjoy foods as we age as much or more than before. Taste sensitivity helps us enjoy our food and drink and helps us determine if food is good or bad for us.

Seniors with a serious taste sensitivity problem may experience loss of appetite, which leads to weight loss and less socialization. Depression may occur and the person may find it more and more difficult to eat - or enjoy what she's eating. If the problem gets this serious, the immune system may suffer and she may be more susceptible to diseases.