Regular Cleaning and Disinfecting

As seniors age, it gets tougher to do even the most basic cleaning, much less sanitizing and disinfecting the house. Elder care providers can take care of a lot of these basic tasks, like dusting, vacuuming, mopping floors, and keeping surfaces clean and disinfected. This can have a direct impact on reducing issues like allergies and keeps germs in check.

Decluttering for Fall Prevention

Falls are one of the biggest health risks for seniors. Removing clutter goes a long way toward helping seniors to avoid a fall, but this is a big job. Home care providers can clear pathways, help seniors rearrange furniture, and removing unnecessary items. Afterward, senior care providers help aging adults keep clutter to a minimum.

Maintaining Clean Bathrooms

Bathrooms in particular have a lot of hazards in them, and they also need to be as clean as possible. Some of the ways to make the bathroom safer include installing grab bars, putting shower chairs in the tub, and making the toilet more accessible. Once the bathroom is safer, it’s crucial to keep it clean as well, and home care can help with that.

Keeping Up with Laundry

Laundry takes up a lot more time and energy than many people realize until it starts to get difficult. When seniors aren’t keeping up with laundry on their own, that can mean they’re unable to change into clean clothing. This leads to skin issues that can worsen and become bigger problems. It’s also important for seniors to have access to clean bedding and other linens, both for hygienic reasons and for comfort.

Performing Regular Safety Inspections

Home maintenance isn’t just about keeping a home looking good. It’s also about keeping the home safe to inhabit. For seniors, these tasks become more challenging and they might not even notice when a situation is becoming riskier for them. Home care providers notice potential safety hazards and ensure that family caregivers are aware of what’s going on.

Managing Hazardous Chemicals and Supplies

Medications, cleaning supplies, and other hazardous substances are a huge potential problem for aging adults. Some of these chemicals and supplies might even need to be locked away in order to keep seniors safe. Home care providers can help with this task, keeping seniors safer in their homes.

Paying Attention to Kitchen Cleanliness

When the kitchen is dirty or food is stored improperly, seniors are at a greater risk of accidents and illness. Home care providers help to keep the kitchen organized and clean. Home care assistance also helps seniors to eat healthy meals regularly, ensuring the food is stored properly and cooked to proper temperatures.

Senior safety is the key to successfully aging in place. Home care helps aging adults to have the support they need with the tasks that might be getting too difficult for them to handle alone, like cleaning and recognizing safety issues.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Danville, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Cleaning for Senior Safety: Seven Ways Home Care Helps appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Here are a few things to know about improving air quality for seniors aging in place:

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Seniors?

When your house has poor indoor air quality it can have several impacts on your health as a senior. It can lead to more allergies especially if you have animals, extra fatigue throughout the day, irritation of your lungs, headaches, and eye aches. Keeping your house clean is one part of controlling the air quality but there may be more that you or in-home care can do to keep the indoor air quality better. Here are tips you can use to get your air cleaner!

Use an Air Filter

Your home may come with HVAC which has an air filter but you may need to buy an additional one if you have more animals. These can be places around your home to purify the air and keep it cleaner. It will remove dust, dander, hair, and other allergens that could be bothersome. This is crucial to maintaining a clean home. On the other hand, these do require maintenance. You need to change the filter occasionally or clean them out to ensure they are empty and usable. If you don’t clean these out they become clogged, dirty, and may not help the air quality around the house.

Clean Your Vents

Your house will have vents that help the airflow of your home. They will usually push out hot or cold air to keep your house at a lovely temperature. However, these also need to be maintained especially if you own your house, no one else will do it. You need to dust the outside of them regularly, but you may also need to clean the insides of them too. It’s important you dust them to keep your house from spreading allergens. A quick dust on the top of each vent can be done once a week and a deep clean should be done once every few months. This may be something an adult child or house cleaner needs to help you with.

Keep The Carpet Clean

Carpet and rugs can be the best for your home because they trap any dust, dander, and dirt, and it truly won’t spread in the air. But that is good and bad news. Yes, it traps things for you, but that also means you have to clean your rugs and carpets regularly. You should be vacuuming your carpets as often as one time a week. If you have animals you may need to clean the carpets like two or three times a week. In-home care may help you do small areas once a week if you ask them for help!

If you or an aging loved one is considering in-home care in Walnut Creek, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post How to Improve Indoor Air Quality appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Talk to Medical Providers

The first step is always to talk with the person’s doctors about what’s going on. There may be underlying health issues that are worsening or other variables to consider. The cause of the mobility challenges can help to inform the solutions that need to be in place. If there are medical treatments that can help, seniors may find that they’re better able to handle the challenges they’re facing with walking and mobility in general.

Talk about Mobility Aids

Mobility aids can offer tremendous support to seniors who have trouble walking. Different mobility aids offer specific types of support, but they need to be used regularly and properly for the best results. When seniors do use mobility aids correctly, they may find that they’re more confident and stable. Home care providers can help seniors to remember to use these devices when they need them the most.

Create a Safe Living Space

A safer living space is crucial when seniors develop mobility challenges. There are degrees of safety to consider, too. Personal care at home can help families to understand what safety issues their seniors are facing and what steps they can take to resolve some of those issues. Home care providers also help to maintain safety over time.

Encourage Exercise if Exercise Is Recommended

Some seniors may find that they can improve their mobility by moving a little more and growing stronger. They should always follow their doctors’ recommendations around exercise, including frequency and intensity. Caregivers can help aging adults to exercise safely, as well, offering support and stability while seniors practice moving more.

Offer Support Safely

Often fear makes mobility challenges worse for seniors. Because they’re worried about falling and injuring themselves, they may be less inclined to move, even around their homes. It can help a lot for seniors to have a supportive arm to lean on as they walk. The physical connection can also help to soothe fears around moving more.

Consider Personal Care at Home

Elder care providers can offer a wide range of support to seniors who are having more difficulty walking. Caregivers offer support with daily activities like bathing, toileting, and grooming. They can also offer mobility assistance, companionship, and safety advice. All of these different forms of support ensure that seniors have the experienced assistance they need to remain safe and live their lives happily.

When seniors are having more trouble walking, they need a supportive approach. Personal care at home offers practical hands-on help as well as emotional support that keeps seniors grounded when they’re facing big challenges. Home care personalizes care plans to ensure that aging adults have exactly the help they need when they truly need it.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Orinda, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Six Tips for Helping a Senior Who Has Trouble Walking appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Strong Passwords

Seniors should create strong, unique passwords for their social media accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information, such as birthdays or names, and consider a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Use a password manager to keep track of your login details securely. Seniors also can ask a home care provider to write down their passwords and keep them in safe space so that seniors can access them if they need to.

Use Privacy Control Settings

Most social media platforms offer privacy settings that allow you to control who can see your content and engage with you. Adjust these settings to limit your information’s visibility to only friends and family, rather than making it public. Seniors who are unsure of how to use their privacy control settings should ask a home care provider for help.

Be Careful When Accepting Friend Requests

Be cautious when accepting friend requests. Ensure you know the person personally or have a mutual connection before adding them to your friends’ list. Fake profiles and scammers often target seniors. Even if a profile says it’s someone that you know verify that the account really belongs to that person before accepting their friend request.

Avoid Oversharing

It’s essential to avoid oversharing personal information on social media. Refrain from posting your full name, address, phone number, or other sensitive information that could be exploited by cybercriminals.

Phishing Awareness

Be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. Phishing attempts are prevalent on social media, and they often trick users into revealing their personal information. Never click on links in emails or direct messages. Instead, go directly to that website in a secure browser.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Enable 2FA on your social media accounts whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to provide a code or use a second device to log in, in addition to your password. Many seniors find two-factor authentication annoying, but it does provide protection.

Recognize Scams

Seniors should be aware of common online scams, such as the “grandparent scam,” where scammers impersonate a family member in distress and ask for money. Always verify the identity of the person making such requests through other means.

Think Before You Post

Think twice before posting anything online, as once it’s out there, it can be challenging to take back. Always consider the potential consequences of your posts, especially if they contain personal or sensitive information.

Report Abuse and Harassment

If you encounter any abusive or harassing behavior on social media, report it to the platform administrators. They take these matters seriously and will investigate and take appropriate action.

Limit Third-Party Apps

Be cautious when giving access to your social media accounts to third-party apps. These apps can potentially access your personal information and post on your behalf. Only use apps and services from reputable sources.

Regularly Review Friend List

Periodically review your list of friends or connections on social media. Remove or unfriend individuals you no longer wish to stay connected with.

Be Skeptical of “Too Good to Be True” Offers

Scammers often entice victims with offers that seem too good to be true. Whether it’s a lottery win or an unbelievable deal, approach such offers with caution and verify their legitimacy.

Don’t Share Financial Information

Never share your financial information, such as credit card details or social security numbers, on social media. Legitimate organizations will never request such information through social platforms.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Lafayette, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Social Media Safety Tips For Seniors appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Twenty percent of Americans 70 or older have been diagnosed with skin cancer. When melanoma is caught early, there’s a 99% five-year survival rate. Self-checks and regular skin exams with a dermatologist are the best ways to catch skin cancer early.

Sun safety has to be a priority as your mom gets outside in her gardens, at the pool, on outings to the beach, or when sitting on her deck or patio. What can she do to stay safe when she’s outside in the sun?

Wear Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must when your mom is outside in the sun. Protect her face with sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. Clothing that protects against UV rays is also beneficial.

When she applies sunscreen, she needs to use plenty of it. A shot glass full of sunscreen is typically the proper amount if she’s in a swimsuit. She might not need that much if she’s in capris and a T-shirt, she won’t need as much.

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 35 or higher. A mineral product is best for coral reefs and aquatic life. When she’s outside, she wants to reapply it every two hours.

Cover Her Porch or Patio With a Sunshade

If you can create a protective space for your mom to sit, it’s worth it. If she has a patio, you could get a pop-up canopy to put over her patio. Invest money in a roof over her deck and create a shaded place.

Put comfortable seating in the shaded area. If she has plenty to drink and a shady place, she can spend some time outside.

Stay Hydrated

When she’s outside in the sun, your mom has to stay hydrated. A small glass of water each hour is a good goal. If she’s sweating a lot, she might need more than that.

If your mom isn’t big into water, add slices of lemons, limes, or oranges for flavor. Frozen grapes and strawberries make great ice cubes and flavoring agents.

Know When to Go Inside

One of the harder aspects of sun safety is to know when to go inside. Your mom does need to know when to head inside. If she’s been working in her gardens for two hours, it’s time to take a break.

Older adults can love the feel of the heat on their aching joints, but safety has to come first. On very hot days, limiting her time outside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is important.

Arrange Home Care Aides to Help Out

If your mom cannot do simple things like properly applying sunscreen or remembering when to reapply it, she needs someone to help with that aspect of personal care. Home care assistance is a good service to ensure she’s taking care of herself.

With home care assistance, your mom has a caregiver to accompany her on trips outside. Her caregiver can make sure hard-to-reach areas are covered with clothing or sunscreen. Learn more about the benefits of home care by making a call.

Sources:
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Moraga, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Sun Safety Has to Be a Top Priority for Seniors appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Scams that target seniors have increased in the last year or so. Right now there are a variety of new scams targeting seniors that are more sophisticated than ever. But there are some things that seniors can do to stay safe. Getting home care is one of the best ways for seniors to protect themselves against scams. With home care seniors will be able to have someone else answer the phone or ask if something seems suspicious. Home care can help seniors avoid scams like these:

Wrong Number Scams

In this increasingly common scam seniors will receive a text from a number they don’t recognize talking about something urgent like a wedding, a party, or a meeting. When the senior texts back that they have the wrong number the scammer will start engaging in conversation and may start sending links that will trick the senior into giving up their personal or financial information. Then the person texting will use that information to steal from that senior. To avoid this seniors should just delete texts and block numbers they don’t recognize.

Business Relationship Scams

Not that seniors are getting wise to romance scams the scammers are trying business relationship scams. They will approach seniors by messaging them on LinkedIn or professional sites and claim to be looking for a mentor or a business teacher. They will try to build a relationship with a senior over a shared job or industry. Often they claim to have gone to the same college as the senior, because all of that senior’s information will be in their professional profile or public resume. Then they will start asking for money for various things or asking for things like gift card that they can use to get a new phone, a new computer, or clothes for a job interview.

One Time Passcode Scams

Scammers have figured out how to get around the two-factor authentication that is designed to help people safe from scams. A scammer will try to log into your account, which will trigger the two-factor authentication. Then they will text or call the senior who owns the account claiming to be from the bank. They will say they need that senior to verify the passcode that was texted or emailed to them. When the senior gives them the code they are able to log into that senior’s account and take their money. Seniors should never give out codes or other information other the phone when someone calls them. If they are concerned about their account security they should call their bank directly.

Package Delivery Scams

In this scam a senior may get a text from someone saying they are delivering a package, groceries, or food and ask where the house is. When the senior gives them the address and direction they can use that information to steal that senior’s identity or wait until that senior does get something delivered and steal it. Seniors should never give out their address to strangers.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Danville, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post 4 Scams That are Targeting Seniors Right Now appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

When seniors are aging at home, there is a risk that they will become the victims of a scam. Many seniors fall for scams that are cleverly designed to trick them into giving up their personal information, bank account information, or credit card information. Scammers have created very sophisticated scams that anyone could fall for, especially seniors who may not be very tech savvy. If your senior loved one is the victim of a scam they may not realize it, or they may be too embarrassed to tell you about it. But if you see any of these four signs you should act as if your senior loved one has been scammed and take action immediately to try and mitigate the financial damage:

Money Disappearing

If you are a signer on your senior parent’s accounts or if you keep track of their finances for them and you notice that money is disappearing that could be a sign they have been scammed. Carefully check where the money is going. If the money is going to the pharmacy or to local businesses then it could be money that your senior loved one is spending. But if the money is only going to online businesses and the amounts are more than your senior loved one usually spends you should freeze those debits and credit cards and look into those purchases.

Your Senior Loved One Skimping On Things

Is your senior loved one not keeping as much food in the house? Or have you noticed that they have cut back on cable TV or other services that they used to have? If your senior loved one is skimping on things they may have lost money to a scam and they are too embarrassed to tell you. If your senior loved one has senior home care as the provider why those services are disappearing. And ask the home care provider to keep an eye on things like how well the pantry is stocked and to let you know if it seems like your senior loved one is worrying about money.

Bills Not Getting Paid

Many seniors set up automatic payments for their bills to make sure that the bills are paid on time. If you notice that your senior loved one is getting bills in the mail that haven’t been paid even though they are on automatic payments check to make sure that the automatic payments are going through. If there is low money in your senior parent’s accounts the bills could be bouncing because of that.

Debt Collection Calls

If your senior loved one is starting to get debt collection calls but they don’t owe any debts that could be a sign they were scammed. If scammers opened up accounts in your senior parent’s name using their personal information your senior parent could get calls from collection companies when the scammers default on the debt. Ask the debt collectors for information like account numbers and any evidence of the debt. You may need that documentation to fight the debt and prove that your senior parent never opened the account.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20050516/why-elderly-people-may-be-more-easily-misled

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Lafayette, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post 4 Signs Your Senior Parent Was Scammed appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

As your loved one has gotten older, you might be noticing that she’s avoiding the kitchen a bit more, even if she once loved to cook and prepare meals. While there are plenty of reasons why your loved one may be slowing down in this area, one of those reasons may be that she doesn’t feel safe in the kitchen anymore. This is not illogical reasoning. There are plenty of danger zones in the kitchen that your parent may not be able to safely navigate anymore. Here are a few of them and how senior home care can help seniors stay safe in the kitchen.

Recipes

While recipes are not dangerous, following a recipe is important and for those seniors who are perhaps at the beginning stages of dementia, they may find themselves unable to follow a recipe anymore. While most times it’ll just end up in some poorly made food, not preparing food properly can result in a foodborne illness or some severe stomach upset. Having a senior home care help your parent follow a recipe might be a great way to eliminate this danger.

Cabinets

If your parent has cabinets that are higher up than she can reach, trying to get that heavy mixing bowl from the top shelf could be a real danger. To help reduce this hazard, it might be time to rearrange the cabinets so that all of the items your parent would want are in easy reach. While a step stool can help as well, it can also produce another hazard of a misstep.
If your elderly loved one is wanting to use a mixer that’s out of her reach, senior home care can get it down and ready for her to use.

The Stove

The stove has always been a dangerous place but with less stability and even with depth perception issues, it can become even more dangerous for your senior. Bending down to pull a heavy casserole dish out of a hot stove may cause your parent to fall or stumble into the hot stove. Or she may drop the dish once it’s out, breaking the dish and/or stove door.

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness can lead to many kitchen accidents and while it can happen to anyone, seniors often struggle with remembering little things that can harm them in the kitchen. Your aging parent may forget to turn off a burner which may burn her when she puts her hand too close, or if she forgets it for hours after leaving the kitchen, could generate enough heat to start a fire.
She may also forget how hot a pan may be and burn her hands when reaching for it by not using oven mitts or a towel.
Finally, she may forget about a meal she’s placed in the oven to cook. While the hope is it just ends up being an over-cooked meal, leaving something in the oven for hours longer than it should be might ruin the oven and even cause a fire.

The good news is that senior home care can help your parent safely navigate the kitchen and take over many of the tasks she can no longer do. Be proactive and look at which parents your aging loved one needs help with today.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/keeping-seniors-safe-in-their-own-homes

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Concord, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Cooking Dangers for Seniors Aging in Place appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Your senior is particularly vulnerable when she’s getting into or out of her bed. That can mean that her fall risk is much greater. There are some steps that you and your elderly family member can take that can help her to be safer in her bed. It’s important to start from the beginning and make sure you’re not missing anything that could help avoid an injury. Home care assistance can play a vital role in improving your senior’s safety at home.

Assess Her Fall Risk in Her Bedroom

How likely is your senior to fall from her bed or to fall in her bedroom at all? There’s a lot to consider in terms of risk factors, ranging from health issues to the environment in your senior’s bedroom. Many of those risk factors can overlap with her overall fall risk, too. So it’s vital to consider all of the variables that might make a fall more likely for her. That might be easier to do with some help.

Talk with Your Senior’s Doctor about Her Fall Risk

The first step if you’re starting from scratch with assessing your senior’s fall risk is to talk with her doctor. Her doctor can help your senior and you to understand more about what she needs in order to avoid a fall from her bed. There might also be health-related factors that you both need to consider.

Find Practical Solutions that Address Risk Factors

When you’ve got a full picture of your senior’s fall risk, you can take action. Simple things, like making sure that her bed is the right height and that she’s got easy access to lighting, can all help quite a bit. Think about things like midnight bathroom trips, and how you can make those safer. Things like adding bed rails may be a good idea, depending on your senior’s fall risks.

Consider Home Care Assistance

Something else to add to your senior’s list of practical solutions might be elderly care providers. Home care assistance can be invaluable in providing hands-on help for your elderly family member right when she needs it the most. If she’s reluctant to accept help, explore the different ways that caregivers can make life easier and safer for your senior. Offering a trial run can also be a really good idea.

Safety at home is always a huge concern for aging adults, and that’s never more obvious than when you’re looking at fall risk. Putting real solutions in place helps your elderly family member to feel more confident in her home.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Danville, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post How Can You Help Your Senior Avoid a Fall from Her Bed? appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

The FTC surveys millions of people regarding fraud. The October 2019 survey found that 40 million adults were victims of at least one fraudulent activity. Older adults were less likely to admit it, but those that did admit to losing money tended to have lost the most money.

While all ages were at risk of being scammed, the survey found that older adults were more likely to fall for these scams.

• Contest/lottery scams
• Family/friend impersonation scams
• Government agency impersonation scams
• Romance scams
• Tech support scams

Has your mom been caught in a scam? If so, she needs to report it. She can’t let embarrassment keep her from calling the police. If she hasn’t yet, scammers are out there. Make sure she knows these tips to prevent scams from happening to her.

Never Give Money or Gift Cards to a Stranger

Your mom cannot give any money or gift card numbers to someone who calls. The police, IRS, and other government agencies will never demand payment through gift cards. They’d also never require money to be packaged and sent to them using UPS or another courier service.

Verify Grandkids Really Have Been Arrested or in an Accident

The grandparent scam is one of the easiest for grandparents to fall for. The scammer uses social media to find personal information, which makes the scam believable.

If your mom is the victim of a grandparent scam, she needs to hang up and call family members to verify that there really is an issue. Your mom must always be suspicious of a caller in this situation.

Call Spoofing Makes It Hard to Know if a Call Is Legitimate

Call spoofing is a technique scammers use to get people to answer the phone. Instead of calling from a foreign or out-of-state number, they make it look like a local business is calling.

Make sure your mom is aware that call spoofing exists. When someone calls her, it may not be a legitimate call. If she gets a call from a local store that she’s never shopped from or been in, she shouldn’t answer the phone. If it is legitimate, they’ll call back.

She Doesn’t Have to Answer Her Phone

Some older adults are more likely to pick up the phone. While younger generations tend to let unknown calls go to voicemail, older adults often feel obligated to answer. It goes back to common etiquette where you answered a ringing phone by the third ring and had to be engaging and polite.

Make sure your mom knows she doesn’t have to answer the phone. It’s acceptable to let the call go to voicemail and call back if it was a legitimate call. By doing that, she avoids calls from scammers.

If she answers the phone simply because she’s lonely and wants to hear another person’s voice, it’s time to talk about caregivers and companionship visits. Instead of talking to a stranger on the phone, she can talk to the caregiver who stops by.

With companionship visits, your mom has caregivers to engage with over movies, a game of cards, or a meal. Call a home care agency to schedule caregivers.

Sources:
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/protecting-older-consumers-2019-2020-report-federal-trade-commission/p144400_protecting_older_adults_report_2020.pdf

If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Danville, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Easy Ways to Keep Your Mom From Getting Scammed appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.