Creating Memory-Safe Spaces: Homemaking Tips for Seniors with Cognitive Decline

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As we age, it is common for our cognitive abilities to decline. This can lead to challenges in daily activities and even safety concerns within the home. For seniors living in Norristown, PA, finding a reliable elder care service that understands these unique needs is essential.

At River Oaks Home Care, we understand the importance of creating memory-safe spaces for seniors with cognitive decline. With our elder care services in Norristown, PA, we strive to provide our clients with a safe and comfortable home environment.

Below, we will share some helpful homemaking tips for seniors with cognitive decline.

Streamline and Organize Living Areas

Arranging furniture strategically can significantly enhance the safety and accessibility of living spaces for seniors. Place essential items like frequently used dishes or medications in easily reachable areas. This setup minimizes confusion and reduces the risk of falls or accidents. Keeping walkways unobstructed and furniture against walls ensures clear paths for easy navigation.

Using labels and color-coded systems can significantly aid in organization. Clearly label drawers and cabinets with words and pictures to simplify finding items. Color coding different areas or items can provide visual cues that help seniors remember where things belong. These methods promote independence and help maintain a sense of order within the home.

Integrate Personal Memories

Embedding personal memories into a senior’s living environment can foster emotional well-being and a sense of connection to their past. Thoughtful integration of these memories can enhance cognitive function by stimulating recollection and encouraging conversation.

Here are some strategies to incorporate personal memories effectively:

  • Create a memory wall featuring framed photos of family gatherings, milestone events, and vacations.
  • Use scented candles or essential oils that evoke pleasant memories, such as lavender for relaxation or citrus for energy.
  • Incorporate music that holds special significance to the senior, like their favorite songs or music from their formative years.
  • Display a small collection of personal memorabilia, such as awards, diplomas, or travel souvenirs, in prominent locations.

These elements create a nurturing environment where seniors can feel more at ease and engaged.

Leverage Safety Technology

Technology is something our elder care service in Norristown, PA, uses quite frequently when interacting with clients. If you want to help an elderly loved one with cognitive decline, leveraging safety technology is important. Not only can it reduce the risk of accidents, but it can also provide peace of mind for family members.

Installing motion-sensor lighting and automated medication reminders can significantly enhance safety within the home. These technologies reduce the need for manual tasks and lessen the chances of errors. Emergency alert systems with wearable devices or voice-activated features allow seniors to quickly call for help in case of an emergency.

By implementing these smart home technologies, seniors can have a more secure living environment, and their loved ones can rest assured that they are safe and well taken care of.

Contact our Elder Care Service in Norristown, PA!

River Oaks Home Care is dedicated to providing high-quality elder care services in Norristown, PA, and surrounding areas. Contact us to learn more about the services we offer!

How Homemaking Services Can Enhance Daily Life for Seniors

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Seniors deserve to live comfortably and independently in their own homes. However, daily tasks can become challenging as they age. That’s where home care services in Philadelphia come in, specifically homemaking services. These services offer additional support to seniors for everyday activities, easing any burden or stress they may feel.

From grocery shopping to light housekeeping, homemaking services can enhance the daily lives of seniors and allow them to maintain their independence for longer. In this blog, we will explore how these services can benefit seniors and contribute to a more fulfilling and comfortable lifestyle.

Improved Nutrition and Health

As seniors age, it can become more difficult for them to prepare and cook nutritious meals. This can lead to malnutrition or reliance on unhealthy convenience foods. With homemaking services in place, seniors can receive well-balanced and nutritious meals that cater to their dietary needs and preferences.

Homemaking services contribute to better health outcomes by ensuring seniors are properly nourished. Proper nutrition can help prevent chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes and improve energy levels and overall well-being. With improved health, seniors may also experience increased mobility and independence, allowing them to live comfortably in their own homes.

Reduced Stress and Social Isolation

Aside from physical health, homemaking services can also improve a senior’s mental well-being. By taking care of daily chores and errands, these services alleviate the stress and burden on seniors, allowing them to relax and enjoy their day. This can lead to reduced feelings of anxiety or depression, as well as an improved overall mood.

Homemaking services can also provide a social aspect for seniors feeling isolated or lonely. Caregivers not only assist with household tasks but also offer companionship and conversation. This can have a significant impact on a senior’s mental health by providing them with regular social interaction and preventing feelings of loneliness.

Increased Home Safety

Regular housekeeping and maintenance help reduce hazards in the home, minimizing the risk of falls and accidents. With homemaking services, caregivers can assist with cleaning floors, decluttering and organizing living spaces, and ensuring that all areas are well-maintained. This creates a cleaner and more comfortable living environment for seniors and reduces potential safety hazards.

Support For Independence

Homemaking services help seniors maintain their independence in their own homes. This includes assistance with grocery shopping and laundry tasks, which may become complicated or overwhelming as they age. By having someone else handle these daily activities, seniors can continue living at home comfortably without feeling like a burden on loved ones.

Increased self-reliance is important for seniors’ mental well-being and overall quality of life. With homemaking services in place, seniors can retain a sense of independence and control over their lives while receiving the necessary support to remain safe and comfortable at home.

Contact Us For Home Care Services in Philadelphia!

At River Oaks Home Care, we understand the importance of maintaining independence and comfort in one’s own home. Our home care services in Philadelphia provide seniors with personalized support to enhance their daily lives. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

Great Place to Work - River Oaks Homecare

River Oaks Home Care Certified as a Great Place to Work®

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22nd April, 2024

Norristown, PA – Great Place to Work Institute and its senior care partner Activated Insights have honored River Oaks Home Care with certification as a Great Place to Work. The certification process involved surveying 100% of employees and evaluating more than 60 elements of team members’ experience on the job. These included employee pride in the organization’s community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees’ experiences, no matter who they are or what they do. 

Our team members are the backbone of the company, and we deeply care about the well-being of our Employees. We are proud to be recognized for being a great place to work. Our rich history of diversity, hard work, and passion for seeing seniors continue to experience the richness of life make us who we are.

“We applaud River Oaks Home Care for seeking certification and publicly sharing its employees’ feedback,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Kung of Great Place to Work’s senior care partner Activated Insights. “These ratings measure its capacity to earn its own employees’ trust and create a great workplace for high performance.”

About River Oaks Home Care:

River Oaks Homecare was founded in 2016 and is committed to helping Seniors continue to experience the richness of life. We provide high-quality, client-centered Home Care Services, allowing seniors to live healthily and with dignity in their chosen residence and the community.

River Oaks Home Care is a Best of Homecare “Provider of Choice,” “Employer of Choice” and also “Leader in Experience.”

About Activated Insights and Great Place to Work

Activated Insights is the senior care affiliate of Great Place to Work, the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its aging services certification program, Activated Insights helps Great Place to Work recognize outstanding workplace cultures in the aging services industry and produce the annual Fortune “Best Workplaces for Aging Services™” as well as other Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small & Medium Companies, and various regions. Through its employee engagement platform, Activated Insights helps clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, and retention. 


Learn more at ActivatedInsights.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Senior Wellness: How Physical Assistance Care Promotes Health and Longevity

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As we age, focusing on our health and wellness becomes increasingly important. Physical assistance care is vital for seniors, providing the support they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This type of care includes help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and moving around.

By receiving this assistance from a home care service in Philadelphia, seniors can stay active and independent, ultimately promoting their overall health and longevity. Physical assistance care also offers companionship and social interaction, which are crucial for a happy and fulfilling life.

This article will explore the many benefits of physical assistance care for seniors, including how it promotes physical and mental well-being.

Personalized Mobility Exercises

Caregivers play an integral role in enhancing the physical capabilities of seniors. Introducing tailored exercises helps seniors strengthen their muscles, which is crucial for maintaining mobility and independence.

Improved balance is another goal of these custom routines, reducing the risk of falls that could lead to serious injuries. Flexibility exercises are equally important because they increase the range of motion, making daily activities easier and less strenuous.

These exercises, tailored to a senior’s specific needs and abilities, promote longevity by keeping their bodies strong and resilient. Additionally, caregivers provide support and guidance throughout the exercise routines, ensuring safety at all times.

Engaging Mental Activities

Mental stimulation is as essential as physical exercise, especially for seniors. Activities like puzzles and book clubs offer fun ways to keep the brain active. Puzzles can sharpen problem-solving skills and attention to detail while reading expands knowledge and imagination.

Both are simple yet effective methods to reduce feelings of loneliness and maintain mental sharpness. With the help of home care services in Philadelphia, you can provide an elderly loved one with this much-needed mental stimulation.

These activities also offer opportunities for social interaction, which is crucial for mental well-being. By engaging in them, seniors can stay connected to the world and feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Providing Personal Hygiene Care

Caregivers provide essential personal hygiene assistance to seniors, ensuring their well-being and dignity. This help includes basic tasks such as bathing, brushing teeth, and other aspects of grooming.

These actions are respectful and crucial in preventing skin infections and oral health problems, which can significantly affect a senior’s overall health. Proper hygiene care is fundamental for maintaining both the physical and mental health of elderly individuals, allowing them to feel their best day-to-day.

Personalized Nutrition Plans

Proper nutrition is fundamental for the health and longevity of the elderly, providing the necessary vitamins and minerals their bodies require. It’s not just about avoiding certain foods for health reasons; it’s about including the right foods to help seniors stay strong and healthy. Caregivers coordinate with healthcare providers to tailor these plans to each senior’s specific health requirements, aiming for optimal nutrient intake with every meal.

Looking for a Home Care Service in Philadelphia?

If you have an elderly loved one who may need help with daily activities, consider physical assistance care. With the support of a home care service in Philadelphia, your loved one can maintain their independence and promote overall health and longevity. Contact River Oaks Home Care to learn more about our services.

River Oaks Homecare Receives 2023 Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience Award

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15th February 2023.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 484-231-1462

Email: [email protected]

River Oaks Homecare Receives 2023 Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience Award

Norristown, PA – River Oaks Homecare announced today that it received the distinguished 2023 Best of Home Care –Leader in Experience Award from HCP, the leading firm in experience management for home care. The Leader in Experience Award is the highest recognition awarded by HCP and is given to select home care businesses that consistently rank among the very highest in 10 or more quality metrics. As a Leader in Experience, River Oaks Homecare is now recognized among the top 10% of home care providers participating in the nationwide HCP Experience Management Program.

This accomplishment demonstrates River Oaks Homecare’s long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for this award, 10% of River Oaks Homecare’s clients and caregivers were interviewed each month by HCP. Over a 12-month period, River Oaks Homecare received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, client/caregiver compatibility, and more. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from HCP, the River Oaks Homecare management team set goals to reach the highest level of experience possible.

“We are truly blessed to be able to serve our senior population. We do not take this responsibility lightly. We appreciate all the hard work of our team members – the administrative staff and all our amazing Caregivers. This award demonstrates our dedication to providing excellent in-home care; helping seniors continue to experience the richness of life” says Bolanle Akingbade.

The Best of Home Care – Leader in Experience Award highlights the top-performing home care businesses in the nation. HCP believes that by honoring these providers, families looking for in-home care for a loved one will be able to recognize and choose a trusted home care provider.

“At HCP, our mission is to help home care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations,” says Todd Austin, President of HCP. “When we see agencies like River Oaks Homecare that have so effectively provided outstanding care and employment experiences, we know we’re on the right track. River Oaks Homecare has worked extremely hard to prioritize high-quality care and employment, and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed. This award allows them to show proof of quality to potential clients and caregivers.” 

To find out more about River Oaks Homecare’s commitment to experience, please visit www.riveroakshomecare.com or call 484-231-1462.

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About River Oaks Homecare

The company was founded in 2016 with a mission to help Seniors continue to experience the richness of life in the comfort of their own homes.

About HCP

HCP leads the home-based care industry in experience management, training, and reputation management. Through its Care Intelligence Platform, HCP empowers providers in home care, home health, and hospice to attract and retain employees during workforce shortages. HCP also conducts the annual Benchmarking Report, the most comprehensive survey of providers in North America, and administers Best of Home Care awards to agencies that achieve best-in-class satisfaction scores.  For more information, visit https://www.homecarepulse.com/. 

Care Plans And What’s Possible

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How can a senior person stay in their own home and get the best possible home care, rather than moving to a facility?

We’re used to talking to families about this in detail as they make choices about care for mom or dad, or some other family member. Each of these cases is unique, and you have to look at it on a case-by-case basis. Some people may have to go to a facility – others may be able to stay at home.

There’s often a kind of risk analysis that applies to these questions. But by filling in care gaps, you help keep seniors safe while they are aging at home.

Collaborative Visitation

Of course, the prime component of home care is visits from either qualified clinical providers or other caregivers who are hired by a company to make the trip.

But then you can also combine that with visits from family members. When all of this is coordinated, you may be able to come up with a workable plan that addresses reasonable risk factors by making cooperation work!

It’s like the old saying “many hands get the job done quicker (or better).”

At-Home Support Systems

You obviously have to have conversations about outfitting a home for someone who is elderly and might have mobility challenges.

The ADA bathroom installations and things like that are often part of the discussion, and components of home safety. You can also have certain types of alarm systems that can be used if the person in question falls and is not able to get up, or if he/she encounters some other challenge and can’t get to a telephone.

Proactive Planning

Family members and caregivers can help plan for keeping the elderly person more autonomous with activities and connections to the community.

They can also look practically at how to pay for these types of care.

Some people can use a state waiver system to pay for home care. In other cases, long-term care insurance might cover these types of support. A third option is veteran’s benefits, if this applies to the person in question.

A Capable Company

River Oaks has a great track record of working with seniors and their families. We have not only a very high rate of customer satisfaction, but a high rate of satisfaction from our employed caregivers as well. We’re proud to report a 93% positive rating from the people who do the work to keep seniors safe every day!

Talk to River Oaks Homecare about care for seniors you care about. We are proud to be among the premier care providers within the state, a company with the resources and the acumen to help your family plan for the future. When you call and talk to us, you’ll see the principles of elder care in action and be confident that your planning is good. 

Three Ways a Home Health Aide Can Care for Seniors

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Most senior citizens aspire to live alone for as long as possible. Seniors may also engage in healthy lifestyles that could help them to live independently during their declining years. However, seniors can develop certain health conditions that require them to get assistance from trained home health aide professionals. Some common age-related issues that a senior may suffer from include depression, dementia, hearing loss, osteoarthritis, and other conditions. A senior could also need assistance recovering from a surgical procedure.

 

Are you making the right decision to hire home care professionals to attend to your loved one? This article explores three top ways a home health aide can care for your loved one.

 

Daily Convenience

 

Is your elderly loved one in need of special care 24 hours each day? You may not have the right knowledge to provide personal care or enough time every day to devote to taking care of your loved one. If a senior in your home is dealing with health issues, hiring a professional aide is a practical option that you must consider. This option gives you the peace of mind that your loved one is well taken care of around the clock when you’re not around. 

 

Home health aides specialize in providing one hundred percent maximum care and personalized attention to elderly patients. They may also provide social and emotional care to your loved one. 

 

Grocery Shopping and Meal Preparation

 

A senior’s daily caloric and nutritional intake are most important. Meal preparation provided by hired professionals is an enormous benefit to a senior who is struggling to move around. A senior could also be too ill to do their own grocery shopping. Home care professionals can help to prepare all types of nutritious and enjoyable meals that your loved one will enjoy. These professionals may also focus on helping a senior stick to a specific diet to lose weight or prepare well-portioned servings of food that aligns with a senior’s health needs. By getting help from home care professionals, you’re ensured that meals are always ready on time.

 

Light Housekeeping

 

As a senior becomes older, housekeeping chores can become more challenging. Older adults are known to have difficulty cleaning hard-to-reach places. They may also have struggles moving around to perform daily housekeeping chores. The aide can complete daily tasks that are too difficult for a senior to manage. 

 

So, what type of chores can be characterized as light housekeeping? Light housekeeping help for seniors may include clearing dishes after meals, drawing baths, sanitizing and dusting surfaces, sweeping, and taking out the trash. 

 

Key Takeaway

 

You might not consider hiring anyone to take care of your loved one until a situation occurs. Fortunately, you can hire a caring professional to help your loved one with daily activities.

 

You have the advantage of reaching out to an experienced team of professionals that you can trust. You can contact River Oaks Home Care to learn more about our range of services that might be suitable for your loved one. We are passionate about helping seniors continue to experience the richness of life. 

Getting Paid To Take Care Of Your Elderly Loved One

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When a family member gets older or becomes too sick to care for themselves, we naturally want to do everything we can to care for them. However, even our best intentions can be overshadowed by the realities of caring for an aging person. Being a family caregiver is challenging work, and the emotional and financial tolls may be unsurmountable on your own. 

 

According to the AARP, family caregivers provide upwards of half a trillion dollars each year in unpaid labor to care for their loved ones. As the costs of living continue to rise for everyone, taking care of a loved one increases families’ emotional and financial stress unless there is some outside relief and support. If you are currently taking care of an elderly family member or considering doing so in the future, it pays to know about programs that may help you get paid. 

 

Medicaid

If your loved one receives Medicaid, they may be able to hire you as a paid caregiver in some states. The Medicaid Waiver Self-directed Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) programs allow Medicaid participants to have decision-making authority over who cares for them and how the supplemental funds are spent. Depending on the type of Medicaid plan and the state’s requirements, you may be able to receive Medicaid funding to care for your loved one. 

 

Administration On Aging & Department Of Aging Services

Each state has several local governmental agencies with programs that may be able to help you offset some of your caregiving costs. The Administration on Aging (AAA) may provide resources like:

  • Meal plan
  • Respite care
  • Mobility assistance
  • Housing
  • Caregiver training
  • Other supplemental services

You can visit Eldercare.acl.gov for contact information for your local AAA Agency to learn more about available services and how to apply.

 

Veterans Programs 

If the loved one you are caring for is a veteran, they may qualify for the Veteran Directed Care Program. Designed for veterans who require daily assistance and their caregivers, the Veteran Directed Care Program provides a budget to help meet the expenses of an aging place. With this budget, the veteran can hire a family member or another person to provide in-home care and purchase necessities for care management. 

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also provides Aid & Attendance, which increases veterans’ monthly pension if they need treatment, are bedridden, are visually impaired, or need a regular caregiver to help with daily activities. This caregiver can be a family member as well as any other person. 

 

Medicaid Waiver: What You Need To Know

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Medicaid provides a provision under Medicaid law that is a Medicaid waiver. The federal government waives certain rules under specific circumstances that usually apply to the Medicaid program through a Medicaid waiver. The Medicaid waiver intends to allow states to accomplish particular goals like expanding coverage, reducing costs, or improving care for target groups like the elderly. With the help of Medicaid waivers, states can provide residents with services otherwise uncovered by Medicaid, such as in-home care for people.

 

Home And Community-Based Services (HCBS) Section 1915c Waivers

While several different types of Medicaid waivers exist, the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers offer people an alternative to long-term care. The HCBS waivers are designed to allow individual states the ability to provide home and community-based services to people who need long-term care and otherwise would be in a facility. This waiver is critical as it means people can remain in their own home, a relative’s home, or a community setting like a supported living community instead of a nursing home facility. The HCBS waiver helps people access quality care and services while remaining at home. 

 

What Services HCBS Waiver Covers

Beneficiaries of HCBS waivers may live in a home setting or community care environment and receive a range of medical and non-medical in-home care services. Depending on the state guidelines and an individual’s needs, these services may include: 

* A home health aide

* Personal care supervision and services at home

* Nursing

* Medical equipment and supplies

* Hot meal delivery 

* Homemaking services and personal care/ errands

* Respite care for the primary caregiver

* mental health services

* Home improvement/safety modifications

* Case management support

* Access to senior and adult group daycare

* Non-emergency medical appointment transportation

* Personal emergency response systems

* Nursing home transition services

 

When considering Medicaid waivers, it is essential to note that services covered will vary on a case-by-case basis and are affected by the state in which the beneficiary lives. 

 

Benefits Of A Medicaid Waiver

Studies show that seniors who can remain in their own homes or the home of a loved one or community setting respond better to care. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), close to 90% of people over 65 report they rather stay in their homes for as long as possible as they age. The Medicaid waiver provides pathways that allow beneficiaries to remain safely at home and receive the care needed to thrive. 

 

How To Make The Home of a Visually Impaired Senior Citizen Safer

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Keeping a senior loved one safe and happy is the concern of millions of Americans. If you have taken charge of making the home of your senior loved one safer, you need to consider a few factors when devising a plan. The more you know about the ailments a senior citizen has, the easier it will be to figure out how to make their home safer and more functional. 

Nearly 34% of the elderly people in the United States have a vision-reducing eye disease. People that have difficulty seeing are at a higher risk of falling in their homes. Vision problems can also pose other dangers that can put a senior citizen at risk of injury. 

Work On Removing Trip and Fall Hazards

Aging in place is a goal of many senior citizens in the United States. If your elderly loved one is adamant about aging in place, you need to do all you can to help them out. When trying to make a home safer for a visually impaired senior, start by removing any trip hazards in the home. The injuries that arise from slipping and falling can put a senior citizen in the hospital. 

When trying to reduce the trip and fall hazards in a visually impaired senior citizen’s home, focus on doing things like:

  • Remove cords from walkways and secure them to the floor
  • Push desks and chairs closer to the walls of the home
  • Invest in taller end tables and coffee tables
  • Secure area rugs with carpet taps
  • Remove and replace worn carpeting

By making these changes, you can lower the risk of a trip and fall accident occurring in the home of a visually impaired senior citizen. If you want to ensure your senior loved one can get help in the event of a slip and fall accident, providing them with a medical alert system is a good idea. 

Lighting Modifications Are Important

Having diminished vision will require a senior citizen to have plenty of light in their home. Leaving the rooms in a vision-impaired elderly person’s home dim can be very dangerous. This is why investing in things like overhead lamps and nightlights is important. 

You also need to think about trading out the incandescent bulbs in a senior citizen’s home for LED bulbs. These bulbs provide more light and are more energy-efficient. 

Rearranging the Furniture

Another important thing you need to focus on when trying to make the home of a vision-impaired elderly person safer is the furniture. By removing furniture from the walkways of a senior’s home, you can drastically reduce the chances of slip and fall accidents occurring. You also need to think about putting furniture near windows that can provide natural light. This natural light can help to illuminate a vision-impaired senior’s surroundings and will make it easier for them to navigate the interior portion of their homes. 

While making the home of a vision-impaired senior citizen safe is a lot of work, it is definitely worth the effort you invest.