Navigating the Path of In-Home Nursing and Senior Care with Helen Anderson of HelloCare

10/10/23 • 26 min

Season 01 Episode 06

How do we ensure our aging loved ones are receiving the best care possible? From choosing the right caregivers to navigating the complex world of in-home nursing, we grapple with these pivotal decisions in our latest conversation with Helen Anderson, owner of HelloCare.

How to Hire an In-Home Care Agency

Helen equips us with the necessary knowledge to tackle this often-overwhelming task. She enlightens us on the advantages of hiring an agency, such as the crucial oversight provided by an RN on staff. The necessity of asking agencies about their hospital care capabilities is also emphasized, as it can play an integral role in offering your parents optimal care.

We dive deep into the intricate layers of senior care, focusing on the different levels of care and licensing available for in-home aid, particularly for parents with diabetes or dementia. Helen shares her insights on planning both short-term and long-term care needs, the potential risks of administering insulin, and the role of nutrition in blood sugar management.

Dementia Care Management

Our discussion also sheds light on dementia care, stressing the importance of understanding an individual's needs and triggers for a peaceful environment. We share strategies on how to introduce caregivers in non-disruptive ways and manage anxiety triggers to ensure a comfortable experience for your loved ones.

(0:00:03) - In-Home Nursing and Senior Care

(0:08:42) - Senior Licensing and Care Levels

(0:18:44) - Dementia Care and Home Care

Podcast Resources

Caring For Your Aging Parents on YouTube

Visit us to find out more on Caring for Your Aging Parents

Give me a call to locate a senior placement specialist in your area 503.830.1812

Caring for Your Aging Parents

Season 01 Episode 06

Navigating the Path of In-Home Nursing and Senior Care with Helen Anderson of HelloCare

How to Hire an In-Home Care Agency

Dementia Care Management

(0:00:03) - In-Home Nursing and Senior Care

(0:08:42) - Senior Licensing and Care Levels

(0:18:44) - Dementia Care and Home Care

Podcast Resources

Caring For Your Aging Parents on YouTube

Visit us to find out more on Caring for Your Aging Parents

Give me a call to locate a senior placement specialist in your area 503.830.1812

Previous Episode

Four Attitudes that Affect the Aging Experience

Caring for Your Aging Parents

Season 01 Episode 05

Four Attitudes that Affect the Aging Experience

Did you know that mindset plays a significant role in the quality of our aging experience? Mindset is an essential piece of the puzzle if you want to age well and have a quality experience later in life. Listen to today's episode, where I talk about the four attitudes that affect the aging experience, including age denial, age adaptation, age irrelevance, and age affirmation.

Attitude is One of the Many Factors that Influence the Aging Process

Attitude is just one of many factors that can influence the aging process. While maintaining a positive attitude is beneficial, it's not a guarantee of immunity from the challenges that come with aging - genetics, lifestyle factors, and overall health also play significant roles in how well we age.

Psychosocial Aging

The notion that attitude affects how you age is united with the concept of psychosocial aging. Research suggests that psychological factors, including attitude and mindset, can significantly impact and influence how people experience and perceive aging.

A positive attitude can help individuals cope with stress more effectively. Chronic stress has been linked to various health issues, including cardiovascular problems, weakened immune function, and cognitive decline. By maintaining a positive outlook and adopting effective coping strategies, individuals may reduce the detrimental effects of stress on their overall health and well-being.

Resilience refers to an individual's ability to bounce back from adversity and adapt to life's challenges and is highly correlated with better psychological and physical health outcomes. A positive attitude and optimistic outlook can contribute to resilience, allowing individuals to successfully navigate the aging process.

Your attitude can greatly influence health behaviors like exercise, diet, and self-care. A positive attitude towards aging may motivate individuals to engage in healthy habits, leading to better physical and mental well-being. Conversely, a negative attitude or belief that aging is a decline or loss may discourage individuals from adopting beneficial health behaviors.

A positive mindset can foster higher-quality social connections and maintain a strong social support network. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to various negative health outcomes, including increased mortality rates and cognitive decline. By maintaining positive relationships and engaging in social activities, individuals can mitigate the effects of social isolation and age more positively.

While cognitive function can decline in older adults, research has found that older adults with positive attitudes toward aging tend to perform better on cognitive tests, have a reduced risk of developing dementia, and experience a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those with negative attitudes.

Podcast Resources

Caring For Your Aging Parents on YouTube

Visit us to find out more on Caring for Your Aging Parents

Give me a call to locate a senior placement specialist in your area 503.830.1812

Next Episode

Loneliness and Self-isolation in the Elderly Population

Caring for Your Aging Parents

Season 01 Episode 07

Loneliness and Self-isolation in the Elderly Population

When was the last time you checked on your parents? Loneliness and isolation can not only degrade mental health in older adults, but can also lead to a sharp decline in physical health, especially in older Americans. Listen to today's episode, where I talk about statistics on the number of older adults who experience loneliness and what you can do for your parents to encourage them to be more social as they age.

Addressing Loneliness in the Aging Process

Addressing loneliness among older Americans requires a multi-faceted approach, including promoting social engagement, providing resources for technology literacy, creating age-friendly communities, offering mental health support, and encouraging intergenerational interactions. Recognizing and tackling the various factors contributing to loneliness can help improve the overall well-being of older individuals.

Factors that Can Lead to Loneliness

Social Isolation can be a factor in retirement or with the loss of a spouse or close friends. Physical limitations that restrict the ability to engage in social activities lead to reduced opportunities for interaction can lead to feelings of loneliness. Older individuals may face challenges in terms of transportation, making it difficult to access social activities and events. This physical barrier can further isolate them from social interactions.

Changing Social Networks such as friends and family members might move away or pass away, reducing the frequency of social interactions. Additionally, older adults may face challenges in making new friends due to a smaller pool of potential connections. Retirement often leads to a shift in daily routines and a potential loss of purpose that work provides. Without meaningful activities and engagements, older adults might feel disconnected and isolated. Changes in societal norms and family structures might mean that older adults have fewer opportunities to interact with younger generations, leading to a sense of disconnection.

Technology can be a connection for some, but older adults may not be as comfortable using digital tools and platforms. This can lead to a sense of exclusion from online social interactions, exacerbating feelings of loneliness.

Health challenges can limit the ability to engage in social activities. Chronic pain, mobility issues, and other health conditions can make it difficult for them to participate in community events, meetups, or even simple outings.

Loss of loved ones becomes more common as people age. The death of a spouse, friends, or family members can leave older adults with a profound sense of grief and loss, leading to increased feelings of loneliness.

There can be a stigma associated with admitting to feeling lonely, particularly in older generations. This can prevent individuals from seeking help or reaching out for support. Loneliness can also contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Podcast Resources

Caring For Your Aging Parents on YouTube

Visit us to find out more on Caring for Your Aging Parents

Give me a call to locate a senior placement specialist in your area 503.830.1812