How Grief Can Affect Us

Purely by the numbers, as people age they are more likely to experience grief. Whether it’s the loss of a parent, child, partner, or good friend, grief is a process that needs to be addressed and worked through before life can regain some semblance of normalcy. People go through grief differently, and every loss takes a different toll on the individual. However, there are some emotions that can be predicted beforehand and they are:

• Shock. Shutting down is sometimes the best way a body can cope with traumatic news or events. Not feeling anything is a defense mechanism that gears us up to be able to cope with the grief.
  
  
• Intense emotional pain. Once the shock wears off, the pain sets in. The pain is too much for the body to bear emotionally and periods of uncontrollable crying are common.
  
  
• Depression. The traumatic loss shakes us to the core. God’s plan is often questioned as loneliness sets in.
  
  
• Illnesses with no apparent cause. Sometimes grief manifests in the body through sickness, aches and pains that have no real cause.
  
  
• Panic sets in. The reality of the painful loss is obvious and clear, and because of this we panic because it’s unclear to us whether we’ll ever be happy again.
  
  
• Anger sets in. Feeling angry about the disastrous event is common, also. It’s okay to be angry at the person that died, feeling as though they left you behind. If this feeling persists, it’s best to see a therapist to help work through it.
  
  
• Inability to engage in life again. We might feel as though we are betraying our deceased loved one by partaking in activities we enjoy.
  
  
• Hope. Eventually, the sun shines through the clouds and there is the tiniest feeling that you can, in fact, experience joy and happiness again.

Always Best Care has been providing exceptional senior care for the past 20 years. Since 1996, they have been employing only the finest caregivers to care for their senior clients.If you live in the Greenwood and Anderson area and are interested in learning about referrals for assisted living in Anderson, or you would like information about senior home care in Greenwood, call the Always Best Care Greenwood location at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com today. 

Get Quality & Compassionate Senior Care in Abbeville with Always Best Care

Over the past 20 years, seniors in the United States and Canada have benefited from the quality and compassionate care provided by Always Best Care Senior Services. They have, in fact, assisted over 25,000 seniors in that time with daily tasks such as housecleaning, meal preparation and clean up, pet and plant care, as well as assistance with grooming, eating, walking, etc. Seniors living in the Greenwood and Anderson area can call the Always Best Care Greenwood location to set up a consultation.

The Always Best Care caregivers are licensed, bonded, insured and undergo a thorough criminal background check.Because of this, seniors and their families can have peace of mind knowing that the Always Best Care caregivers are always performing their job with the utmost level of respect and dignity.Some of the other tasks that Always Best Care caregivers perform include escorting to various locations such as doctor’s appointments, worship services, etc., discussing current and historical events, organizing mail, changing bed linen, accompanying to lunch or dinner, arranging appointments, medication reminders, playing games and cards, and many others.

The Always Best Care Greenwood and Anderson location also serves Abbeville, McCormick, Saluda, Edgefield, and Laurent Counties. They have been a part of the Always Best Care family since 2009 and take pride in their non-medical care and assisted living referrals which they provide free of charge. They have developed strong relationships with the area nursing facilities, senior communities, social workers, area hospitals, and all of the other area senior resources.

Once you set up a Care Consultation, a Care Coordinator will visit you and help you create an individualized Care Plan. This Care Plan outlines all of your personal needs including emotional, physical, medical, intellectual, social, etc. This Care Plan will be updated as your needs change, so you never have to worry about getting the very best care available to you.

If you live in the Greenwood and Anderson area and are interested in learning more about senior care in Abbeville or about the Always Best Care caregivers in Greenwood, call the Always Best Care Greenwood location today at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com to set up the care consultation.

Seniors: Babysitting is Good for Your Health

Raising children is a difficult task. Your life is changed by having children, and you adjust to become a great mother or father so that your children will grow up happy and with a sense of purpose. And then time passes and grandchildren enter the world. It’s not known who said it, but the quote, “If I’d known grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!” is a common sentiment among grandparents. And now, studies have proven that when you babysit your grandchildren, you might actually be improving your health, and boosting your brain power.

Grandchildren Keep You Young

When you engage with your grandchild in activities that they enjoy – coloring, playing on the playground, singing songs, making music out of non-musical items, you are stimulating your brain. Studies show that by stimulating your brain, you improve cognitive functioning and stave off dementia. Music, itself, has been proven to keep dementia at bay as well as to help those who suffer from it return to lucidity.

Maintain Moderation

Just like everything, moderation is the key to success. You don’t have pizza every single night, and you wouldn’t sleep twelve hours a night, either. Grandparents who babysit five times a week or more actually exhibit a negative response to it. This is likely due to exhaustion and loss of identity, less time for themselves, etc. So, while babysitting your grandchild can have great cognitive and well-being benefits, don’t overdo it. You’ll likely know if you are by how you feel at the end of the day.

Other Ways to Stave off Dementia

Are you curious about other ways you can keep both your mind and body active in your senior years?

• Take a hike with a buddy. Walking through nature is one of the most relaxing, peaceful, and soul enriching activities you can engage in.

• Stay busy. Don’t be a couch potato, get up and walk around, do some yoga, walk the block with a friend, your brain will love you for it.

• Avoid alcohol and say yes to water! Never pass up vegetables, fruits, or nuts.

If you are interested in receiving information about in-home caregivers in Greenwood or other home health care options in Anderson, contact the Always Best Care Greenwood and Anderson location today at 864-229-1211. They will help you set up a consultation so you can get started on your future!

Get Outstanding In-Home Care in McCormick with Always Best Care Senior Services

Since 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services has been providing seniors all over North America with outstanding in-home care, as well as suitable referrals to assisted living communities. They employ only the finest caregivers who are well-trained, highly-skilled, licensed, insured and undergo a thorough background check. The Always Best Care caregivers are compassionate and carry out their services with respect and dignity for their senior clients. Some of those services include companionship and conversation, escorting for shopping, appointments, errands, reminder appointments, assisting with walking, dressing, etc., supervising home maintenance, preparing and serving meals, and many other helpful services.

If you live in the Greater Greenwood area and are interested in finding out more about in-home care in McCormick, or other options in senior care in Anderson, you can call the Always Best Care Greenwood and Anderson location at 864-229-1211 and set up a consultation. The initial meeting with a Care Coordinator from Always Best Care will be when you create your own individualized Care Plan together. This Care Plan specifically outlines all of your needs including spiritual needs, intellectual needs, and medical needs. Plus, once the Care Plan has been drafted, it will be continually updated as your needs change.

In addition to the helpful services provided by the Always Best Care caregivers, the company also has a number of Special Services that they provide to their senior clients. These include:

• Always Safe – This is a fall prevention and detection program that allows the senior and their family to rest easy. It brings peace of mind because the senior is monitored 24/7 for any fall that might take place.
• Always in Touch – This is a telephone reassurance program for people who have very limited contact with the outside world. It’s free for all seniors and disabled adults who live in the United States and Canada.
  
  
• Always on Call – This is a 24/7 physician access program that lets seniors contact a physician any time of the day. This is especially helpful for problems that occur outside normal doctor’s hours and for filling non-narcotic prescriptions.

If you are interested in learning more about in-home care in McCormick, or options surrounding senior care in Anderson, call the Always Best Care Greater Greenwood and Anderson location at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com to set up your consultation.

See a Doctor Easily with These Tips

Nobody wants accidents to happen, but let’s face it, they do. And when the time comes, you want to see a doctor ASAP, instead of waiting for hours in a crowded emergency room, or possibly days to see your general practitioner. Health care options are continually expanding (to the benefit of the public) and now there are ways to easily see a doctor without waiting what seems like a lifetime.

• Immediate and Urgent Care Centers are springing up everywhere. These locations are perfect for injuries and illnesses that aren’t life threatening. There is likely an urgent care location in your area and you can see them for things like sprains, falls, back problems, cuts (and bleeding), the flu, fever, sinus infections, etc.
  
  
• PAs, or Physician’s Assistants, are a practical and reasonable alternative for when you aren’t able to get in to see your own doctor. PAs can take down medical histories, they can order tests and perform them, and they can create treatment plans and even give advice to patients about the medications they’re prescribing. Plus, if it’s something very serious, they have direct access to a physician.
  
  
• “Big Box” Clinics, also known as Retain Clinics, are located within grocery stores, pharmacies and some big department stores. With no appointment necessary to see a nurse practitioner or even a doctor, this alternative can help you with bronchitis, conjunctivitis, etc., but not more serious injuries like fractures and sprains.
  
  
• Group Visits involve several people suffering from one condition such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. The advantage here is obvious – communicate ideas with one another, learn, grow, benefit from others successes and failures in treatments. Plus, there is more time allotted to group visits than single visits (over 5x as much time). There are usually psychotherapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, etc. staffing these visits, as well as access to nutritionists and behaviorists.
  
  

Always Best Care has been in the care giving industry since 1996. During that time, they have provided their compassionate care to over 25,000 seniors in Canada and the United States. If you are interested in learning about senior care options in Abbeville and Greenwood, or about assisted living communities in the area, call them at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com.

Get Quality & Compassionate Senior Home Care in Greenwood and Anderson with Always Best Care

Always Best Care Senior Services has been in the caregiver industry since 1996. During that time, they have provided unparalleled skilled and compassionate care to over 25,000 seniors around the United States and Canada. Their licensed and insured caregivers have logged over 3 million hours of care giving time, and they are proud to employ caregivers that are dedicated and enthusiastic about their careers.

If you live in the Greenwood and Anderson, South Carolina area, which also includes counties such as Edgefield, Abbeville, Saluda, etc., and are interested in receiving a free consultation for senior in-home care, call them at 864-229-1211 today. There is a mere two hour per day minimum, and every caregiver is an employee of Always Best Care, they do not contract out the work to other companies, so you know exactly what to expect.

Another service that Always Best Care offers is assisted living community referrals. If you are interested in transitioning into an assisted living community, but aren’t sure which one suits your requirements best, you can contact Always Best Care and their Care Coordinator will go over the options with you. They will even accompany you and your family to the top three or four assisted living community choices on your list, to help you decide which one is right for you.

Always Best Care also provides other services to their senior clients including:

• Always Safe – This is a fall prevention and detection program designed to keep seniors safe 24/7. Featuring Lifeline with AutoAlert, which detects more than 95% of falls. If the senior falls, they will automatically connect to the response center, which is always open. 
• Always on Call – The doctor is in! Always! This program provides 24/7 telephone access to physicians, and is free to clients and their families. Live consultations are available every day of the year, every hour of the day. The average wait time is less than three minutes, which sure beats waiting in the doctor’s office.
• Always in Touch – A telephone reassurance program that connects with seniors (and disabled adults) who live in remote locations or don’t otherwise have much contact with the outside world.

If you would like more information about how to obtain information about senior in-home care in Greenwood and Anderson, South Carolina, you can email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com or call them at 864-229-1211 today.

Dealing with Anosognosia

It’s difficult enough when a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia, or other illnesses like strokes, brain tumors, or mental illnesses. But when they aren’t aware that they have the condition, it can be doubly worse. This is called Anosognosia, and it can make caring for the affected individual quite challenging.

A historical case of anosognosia involved President Wilson.His stroke in 1919 left him more mentally than physically impaired. This was noticed by his staff and close associates, but the President himself didn’t realize that they were acting strangely due to the fact that he was acting differently.He became suspicious and even paranoid because of their change in attitude and personality, without ever realizing that the stroke had caused his brain to change. 

Anosognosia happens because the frontal lobes are affected during the course of the illness.This part of the brain plays a crucial role in problem solving and understanding social experiences. This part of the brain detects when problems within our bodies happen, and processes that information accordingly. If something happens to this part of the brain, the individual can no longer process that information and they don’t realize that they are impaired.

If you suspect someone you love has anosognosia coupled with dementia, there are some things to look out for:

• They’re having a difficult time managing money or bills
• They become angry when you confront them about their lack of self-care, poor decisions, or forgetfulness
• They aren’t keeping up with their normal daily tasks or hygiene
• They aren’t concerned about their behavior during conversations, they seem uninhibited
• They fabricate answers that they seem to believe are true, but pieces of that truth are imaginary, they read it somewhere, or they recall it from their past.

If someone you love has anosognosia, try being gentle and encouraging with them. Give them a schedule of tasks so that they stay on track with their personal care. You can work with them to pay bills and manage their money, and think about employing an in-home caregiver to help.

Are you located in the Anderson and Greenwood South Carolina area and are looking for quality home health care or other personal care services like an in-home caregiver? Contact the local Always Best Care office at 864-229-1211 or email them at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com today to find out how you can get a free consultation.

Telemedicine: Yes, the Future is Here & Seniors Can Benefit Greatly

The term “house call” back in the day meant that doctors would come to your home, evaluate you, treat you, pack up and leave. Now, with telemedicine, doctors can do largely the same thing from a distance. This can prove to be greatly beneficial to seniors who live in rural areas, or who find it difficult to get transported to doctor’s offices, or have other mobility issues.  

Also called “telehealth,” this two-way method to medicine creates other benefits, as well.While being a blessing to seniors who can’t get around well, or who live in remote locations, it also benefits those living in assisted living communities. By being in contact with their physician via video, phone, and text, seniors can stay independent longer, instead of having to move into long-term care homes so their health can be more closely monitored. With telemedicine, visits to hospitals are reduced, readmissions are reduced, and prescription costs are reduced. The future for telemedicine is bright, too, there are plans to implement biometric monitors that will allow doctors to receive high-def pictures that their patients will provide to them electronically.

The costs of telemedicine can be pricey. However, the benefits that come from it are too numerous to ignore. Between coordinating better care for seniors, allowing a faster response time to falls, other injuries, and sudden medical issues, and less frequent hospital and ER visits, the program can be invaluable.

What makes telemedicine so exciting is the fact that seniors can truly enjoy their independence in a way that was meant to be – rather than dragging themselves from one doctor’s appointment to the next, they can have the opportunity instead to talk one-on-one with their physician from their phone, their tablet or computer, right from the comfort of their own home.

If you are interested in In-home care in Abbeville, SC, or other types of senior care in Edgefield like assisted living communities in the area, contact Always Best Care Senior Services today.They can be reached at 864-229-1211 or bkapperman@abc-seniors.com.

How to Prevent Falls in Seniors

It’s been proven: one out of every three seniors falls one time (or more) every year. This equates to two and a half million trips to the emergency room and nearly ¾ million hospitalizations. A senior’s risk for falling can be determined, but unfortunately many primary care physicians just don’t have the time to measure this risk.

How can you help decrease a senior’s risk of falling?

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  Check for postural – or orthostatic – hypotension. When an individual’s blood pressure drops dramatically after changing position or going from a sitting to standing position, this can lead to falls. Make sure the senior isn’t being over treated for high blood pressure.
  
• Obtain a home safety assessment. If possible, get an occupational therapist to modify the senior’s home so that it is safe for them. Some items that will be covered include handrails on both sides of stairs, adequate lighting, electric cords safe, etc.
  
• Check the senior’s medications. Some medications are more likely to cause falls than others. These include antipsychotics, night-time sleep drugs, medications that cause drowsiness like antihistamines, and sedatives like lorazepam.
  
• Evaluating balance and gait. Does the senior seem unsteady when they walk? This is the first clue that they are at risk for a fall. Balancing exercises can be recommended, or even the use of a cane or a walker to help steady the senior’s balance.
  
• Taking Vitamin D every day. What’s the recommended dosage for most seniors? Best to consult the doctor, of course, but 1000 IU per day is the usual dosage. It has been found that Vitamin D reduces falls, so ask the senior’s physician if this would be suitable for them.

Are you interested in obtaining information about in-home health care in Anderson or senior home care in Greenwood, South Carolina? For a free consultation, call (864) 229-1211 today or email Beth Kapperman at bkapperman@abc-seniors.com.

How to Prevent “Sitting Disease” in Seniors

Sitting disease. It is, pretty much, how it sounds. It basically means that the more sedentary we are, the higher our risk will be for certain illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal issues, cancer, chronic kidney disease, circulatory problems, and more. And the facts are, when individuals get older, they tend to be more sedentary, whether it’s because they are tired, or because of various aches and pains, seniors are most likely to have “sitting disease” than any other age demographic.

Always Best Care Senior Services, an in-home senior caregiver provider, also provides information on senior living services, including the various senior living communities and their exercise and socialization programs. If you are looking for in-home care information in Anderson, South Carolina, or other types of senior living services in Greenwood, South Carolina, call (864)229-1211.

Preventing Sitting Disease

Whether you or your loved one lives in an assisted living community or not, there are ways to combat sitting disease, not just in seniors, but in all ages. Some of these include:

• Start a new hobby with family or with friends such as gardening, biking, regularly visiting the museum or planetarium, etc. Anything that gets people (and seniors) off the couch and outside moving will help prevent sitting disease.
  
• Engage in low impact activities with family or just by yourself. Activities like tai chi and yoga are perfect for stretching and endurance. They are always more fun when you do them together!
  
• Pick one day a week to engage in a bike ride together, or walk, to catch up on what’s been going on in everyone’s life. Stick to that day and don’t divert. If it rains, walk the mall and catch up!
  
• Whatever your destination, whether it’s the movie theater, the grocery store, or some other location, park at the far corner of the parking lot to force yourself to walk.
  

If there isn't enough family around to encourage and sustain these activities, an assisted living community is perfect for the senior who wants to stay active. With so many activities in place, the senior will not only get in exercise, but also socialization which has been proven to enhance quality of life. If you are interested in more information and you live in the Greenwood or Anderson, South Carolina area, call (864) 229-1211 today.