Category: Brand Specific

  • A Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease

    A Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease

    According to a recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.8 million Americans over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s dementia. This estimate accounts for the individuals, but there are many more affected, particularly families that are involved in their caretaking. When it comes to providing care to a loved one living with Alzheimer’s, there are numerous options to choose from, whether it be working together as a family, hiring in-home care, placing them in a nursing facility, and more.

    At Coastal Home Care, we want to help families and their loved ones remain comfortable and stable even while facing the challenges that health conditions like Alzheimer’s bring. Our experienced nurses are highly-trained in providing quality Alzheimer’s and dementia care, as well as providing the best caretaking services for residents throughout Wicomico County, MD for over 10 years. Here is our guide on providing care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s:

    What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

    Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that first degrades one’s ability to think, learn, and recall memory. Over time, it affects basic functions like walking and eating, and will eventually cause the patient to require round-the-clock care.

    While it isn’t always made clear, the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia is that one primarily causes the other. Dementia is a term that describes the overall symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, while the disease itself causes these symptoms to arise.

    Unfortunately, a cure for it hasn’t been found, but a regimen of certain practices and medications can help improve symptoms for a time. We discuss such practices below.

    How to Provide Proper Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

    Form a Day-To-Day Schedule

    Among the first things we recommend you do is observe your loved one’s daily habits, like when they regularly wake up and the times of day they are most lucid and cooperative. Consider these, but also remember that there may often be differences one day to the next, so be prepared to adapt as well. With that in mind, form a consistent schedule you can keep with them, ensuring you can regularly care for them in the best ways when they are most comfortable for you to do so.

    Learn How to Communicate

    One of the most important aspects of caretaking, especially for seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, is clear communication. It is important that your loved one and their caretaker have a mutual understanding and are able to discuss the patient’s needs and preferences. Some helpful things to do is:

    • Use simpler word choice and short sentences to make it easier for the patient to understand.
    • Maintain a calm, soothing tone.
    • When talking, make sure you reduce or eliminate all distractions for them so that they can concentrate on the discussion.

    Safely Maintain Hygiene

    Another challenge to address is the fact that many with dementia and Alzheimer’s often have a hard time maintaining their hygiene as they begin to have a fear of water, as well as falling and slipping in the bath or shower. First and foremost, make sure that their washing facilities have safety rails and non-slip pads installed, ensuring your loved one’s safety.

    Beyond that, you should communicate to them that they’ll be taking a bath or shower soon, particularly during the time of day when they are most amenable to perform activities. Make sure that the experience is comfortable for them throughout by providing a robe, towels, and slippers for when they get out of the shower or bath, as well as testing the temperature of the water before they step into it.

    Between showers and baths, you can simply perform sponge baths with them, allowing them to maintain better hygiene without any fear or stress.

    Provide Proper Nutrition

    A well-maintained and healthy diet is especially beneficial for elderly individuals, whether they have Alzheimer’s or not. However, it can be difficult to serve or feed patients with Alzheimer’s, as they can often be forgetful of or uncooperative during meals. Some solutions that could help include:

    • Creating routine mealtimes that are consistent, but flexible to adapt to their daily behaviors.
    • Provide a list of meal options they can choose from to foster independence and enjoyment during the meal.
    • Serve small meals throughout the day to avoid overeating while also maintaining their nutrition.

    Stay Consistently Active

    Every elderly individual should also remain active. In the case of your loved one having Alzheimer’s, this can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible to work through with patience and enthusiasm, especially when presenting opportunities for them to enjoy hobbies or activities they enjoy. Here are some suggestions:

    • Provide simple, brief activities that have few steps and requirements to them.
    • Assist them by breaking down each step.
    • Praise them as they complete their tasks, and guide them further if they start getting frustrated.
    • Consider adult day services, which offer activities and social settings for seniors, along with food and transportation. This can act as both an interesting excursion and a needed respite for you or another caregiver.

    Create an End-Of-Day Routine

    Finally, there are numerous individuals living with Alzheimer’s who experience what is called “sundown syndrome”, where they become increasingly agitated and restless during the later part of the day and toward the evening.

    In this circumstance, there are several ways you can manage your loved one’s change in mood and behavior. Primarily, you should prepare an end-of-day routine for them, ensuring they remain comfortable through the familiarity of their activities towards the end of the day.

    Some practices we also recommend include ensuring they avoid stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine, and create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere by winding down you and your family’s nightly activity by shutting off the TV as well as reducing loud noises.

    We also suggest you have your loved one perform an appropriate amount of exercise and general activity, as well as avoid taking naps, earlier in the day, as that will reduce the likelihood of them being restless toward the end of the day.

    Coastal Home Care: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Wicomico County, MD

    Caring for those living with Alzheimer’s is a challenge even for those who have done so for years at a time. However, many of the difficulties such a disease brings can be eased through the strategies we’ve provided above. Additionally, you can support your caretaking resources by hiring an experienced Alzheimer’s and dementia care nurse from a recognized service within the home care industry, such as Coastal Home Care. For over ten years, our highly-trained caregivers have provided an extensive variety of home care services to senior residents and their families throughout Wicomico County, MD. We provide hospice support, post-operative care, elder care, and other services, all suited to the needs and preferences of each of our patients through our personalized care practices.

    Contact us at (866) 687-7307 for more information about our services and schedule an appointment with one of our certified caregivers today.

  • Key Differences Between Using Home Care Agency or Direct Hire

    Key Differences Between Using Home Care Agency or Direct Hire

    Finding the perfect solution for caring for a loved one in the home is a challenging scenario for most of us. It requires finding a team of reliable, compassionate and trustworthy people you can count on to be there on an ongoing basis.

    Many people who are facing this prospect often weigh whether to hire an agency to manage this, hire caregivers directly or provide care themselves. The cost of home care is considerable commitment and often, in an effort to save money or have more control over care, the family will try to assemble a network of individuals they find on their own. Looking at the big picture early in the process it is vital in making that decision. There are aspects to home care you may have never considered.

    Locating the right people is the first task. While many people may agree to perform caretaking, they may change their minds after actually doing the work, especially if it is their first time. They may lack confidence in their own ability to deal with a person who has medical issues, or find the work not to their liking. It takes a special kind of person to do this amazing work, one with a mixture of compassion, positive attitude, education and experience.

    Also, some untrained individuals are may not have the skills and experience necessary to assist with personal care of a patient such as toileting, bathing or helping a patient transfer from bed to wheel chair especially if the patient has complex medical issues. In addition, you will need several caregivers with somewhat flexible schedules. Part of managing caregivers directly would be creating weekly schedules and filling in the gaps when caretakers get ill or cancel dates. An agency can handle all the scheduling and draw from a pool of employees to cover extra hours or days needed.

    Experience and training make a big difference in the quality of care your loved one will experience. When utilizing the services of an agency such as Care Advantage, you get employees who are trained and certified as Patient Care Assistants or Certified Nursing Assistants. CNAs and PCAs usually complete a 75 to 150-hour training program and receive classroom and field-based continuing education with their agency.

    CNAs and PCAs are ready and able to handle the varying degrees of need of home bound individuals. They know how to deal with the day-to-day needs of a client or patient as well the correct process in the case of emergencies. They are experienced in bathing, toileting, feeding, dressing and grooming patients. They can remind clients about taking medications, take vital signs including temperature, blood pressure and pulse and report to a medical professional. They can also assist with the tasks of preparing simple meals, laundry and maintaining a clean, orderly bedroom, bathroom and kitchen environment.

    Beyond these core care related issues, there are less obvious concerns that many people are unaware of.

    First, there are taxes. if you pay someone more than $1,500 a year for services performed for you, you may be considered their employer and be required to pay employment taxes. If you have ever been an employer you know this is a complex, expensive and time-consuming task. Other guidelines for employer status include whether or not you provide equipment and supplies (gloves, cleaning and other miscellaneous items) needed for home care and if you provide instruction on how and when to provide the service, including a schedule and the job details. If a home health care agency is providing you with workers, then payroll taxes, worker’s compensation and any other benefits are their responsibility.

    A second concern is liability. If a visitor or occasional worker is accidentally injured in your home, then homeowner’s insurance may provide coverage. But, if you employ people to perform certain duties on a regular basis, they can be considered employees, as is mentioned above. If they are injured while lifting, walking or bathing a patient or in some other way, like tripping on steps, homeowner’s insurance may not cover that. If you are hiring direct and a caretaker has an accident or injury while in your loved one’s home, you could be held liable for that. You might contact your insurance company and determine your risk and the cost of specific coverage for that type of occurrence. Home health care agencies, on the other hand, provide insurance that covers their employees while in your home.

    To learn more, check out our Home Healthcare Services    

  • When to Hire a Professional Companion

    When to Hire a Professional Companion

    While we are lucky to live and enjoy spending time with our dear parents and grandparents, we must prepare ourselves to assist them as they age. As we all age, we lose the ability to perform more and more of our everyday tasks that are essential to our quality of life. For us at Coastal Home Care, our focus is to ensure the elders we care for maintain their independence and comfort as well as remain healthy and safe.

    The services we provide, such as our personalized senior companion care, are tailored to fit each of our patients’ particular needs and preferences. Through Sussex County, DE, we’ve worked carefully with elders and their families to ensure they receive the best, most affordable home care possible.

    Below, we provide some instances when you should consider hiring a companion or home caregiver:

    Signs of a Lack of Proper Self-Care

    There are common signs that indicate when an elder needs caregiver assistance.

    One sign is that they are no longer performing certain personal habits, such as daily hygiene, grooming, and dressing. This may be due to them undergoing some form of dementia, or that they’re forgoing their habits because it has become too difficult to do alone.

    So, if you notice they no longer dress the same, and are less clean and tidy than before, they are likely in need of assistance.

    Other common signs include a general lack of cooking or having nutritious foods around the house, mismanaging or mixing up their medications, avoiding doctor’s appointments, and an overall absence of conversation and companionship in their everyday lives.

    While one of these signs may not entirely prove their need for companion care, several of these at once do, and we recommend watching out and addressing them as soon as possible.

    Increased Frequency of Accidents/Injuries

    Another very important signifier for an elder’s need for home companion care is an increased frequency of accidents and injuries within the home. This is especially true if they are a result of your loved one trying to perform a routine task or chore.

    When these incidents occur, most seniors will try to excuse or conceal such events as being a mistake. While it may be true, in order to do what’s best for your loved one, we suggest to remain cautious and try to courteously convince them to install various safety features within their homes, such as non-slip seats and mats in their shower and bathroom.

    To make certain that they are always safe and taken care of, hire a senior companion caregiver.

    Prevention of Sympathetic/Caregiver Burnout

    If you or another family member are the primary caregivers to your beloved elder, it’s important to know what your limits are.

    As longtime professional home care providers, we understand that providing the care your loved one deserves involves a vast amount of effort and stress.

    From our experience, this has led to what is known as caregiver burnout, which is a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by exerting vast amounts of patience and effort in caring for someone for most of their day.

    Hiring a caregiver for even a few hours every other day can provide you or your relative time that they need to regroup and maintain their own quality of life before going back in to help your elderly loved one’s needs.

    Coastal Home Care: Devoted Senior Companion Care in Sussex County, DE

    Understanding when it is the right time for you and your loved one to receive the care they need is crucial to ensuring they avoid future injuries or damage to their home, as well as maintaining your ability to sustainably provide the love and comfort you want to give.

    Coastal Home Care can help through our numerous services, including dependable senior companion care, efficient medication management, and much more. Our caregivers are fully certified and undergo rigorous hands-on training to ensure they consistently provide high-quality care to each of their patients.

    Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to get more information or schedule a caregiver today!

  • Popular Games & Activities for Your Aging Loved Ones

    Popular Games & Activities for Your Aging Loved Ones

    For years, games and activities have continuously offered people of all ages intellectually challenging and stimulating ways to keep our minds active. Not only do they improve our cognitive abilities, but they also enhance our daily functions.

    With technology constantly advancing, there’s an even wider expanse of games available. However, if you have aging loved ones, then they may need extra help finding activities to do, especially if they’re digital.

    If your family is unable to spend regular time with your elderly family members, then consider connecting with an experienced companion care provider for assistance. Coastal Home Care offers personalized companion care in Sussex County, DE, to ensure families are receiving the additional caregiving support they deserve.

    To give you a few more ideas, here’s a list of games and activities that have proven to improve the mental and physical effects of aging:

    Brain Training

    Engaging games is one of our greatest pastimes. They’re known to improve memory, daily life skills, cognitive ability, emotional wellbeing while challenging the brain to get creative to solve problems.

    Help your loved one find activities that truly speak to their interests and capabilities to ensure they’re enjoying themselves as they age. Here are a few classic brain training games that never get old:

    • Bingo
    • Crossword Puzzles
    • Jigsaw Puzzles
    • Scrabble

    Digital Game Apps

    Digital apps, such as the ones listed below, are also said to have aided in the improvement of everyday cognitive abilities and functions, which may include cooking, buying necessities, and handling personal finances.

    When it comes to digital games on mobile devices, they’ve become even more popular. Check out a few of these digital game apps below:

    Arts & Crafts

    Helping your loved one take on a new hobby like playing or listening to music, meditating, and creating art are great ways to improve their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and sustain their dexterity.

    When your elder is physically creating with their hands, it engages their mind, as the creative process, in a sense, helps them stay active.

    Staying Social

    Over 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older experience various levels of depression. Loss of independence and increased disability are often the causes of this in older adults.

    Socially engaging games or activities helps those who have tendencies toward isolation or depression.

    Social activities may include deep conversations, volunteering with various organizations in your area, book club, community walking group, and much more.

    Choose Compassionate Companion Care in Sussex County, DE

    We understand that there are times when you may not spend as much time as you would like to with your aging loved ones. At Coastal Home Care, it’s our pleasure to assist you with the additional companion care support your family needs.

    We accommodate any level of companionship your family member is open to and are looking forward to discussing it further with you to ensure we are providing you with everything you need at this time.

    We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Connect with our companion care team at (866) 687-7307 for more information.

  • 5 Tips For Providing Care To Elderly Family Members

    5 Tips For Providing Care To Elderly Family Members

    Elder care is a challenge for many individuals and families throughout the country. To properly address this challenge, we at Coastal Home Care suggest having a safety net put in place for when your parents or grandparents are no longer able to fully care for themselves.

    Our team of highly-trained nurses has provided numerous forms of care, including hospice care, medication management, companion care, and attentive post-operative care, all for residents and families throughout Sussex County, DE.

    Here are five essential tips you should follow when caring for the elders in your family:

    Establish a Support System

    The very first thing we recommend you should do is to build a support system: a group of reliable individuals besides yourself that will promptly and adequately assist in caring for your loved one. This system can include other members of your immediate family, relatives that live in the area, or close friends.

    Work together to form a potential schedule that provides adequate coverage of your loved ones’ daily activities, ensuring they always have a companion and transportation. If your support system includes many individuals, but with little time to permit in directly assisting in elder care, consider pooling your financial resources in order to hire an in-home caregiver.

    Observe Closely

    Although it may seem intrusive, be alert to potential behavioral and physiological changes in your loved one.

    This can be difficult, since nearly every elder desires to maintain their full independence for as long as possible, and may try to hide any changes that could cause them to lose it.

    Closely observing their condition can ensure you and your support system provide the appropriate care before any sort of crisis situation that might occur.

    Prepare Meals

    Proper nutrition is often difficult to maintain for older people because they no longer have the stamina or ability to shop for groceries and cook their own meals.

    This has led to many cases where they may skip meals or eat pre-made, processed foods that have less nutritional value than home-cooked meals.

    Some solutions may include having a daily companion present to help them cook or provide weekly pre-prepared meals.

    Ensure Home Safety

    At a certain point in the aging process, we may be unable to move about our own homes without risking injuries from falling or slipping.

    That is why it’s important to install numerous safety devices throughout your loved one’s home to ensure they do not end up injured.

    These installations can include placing grab bars in each bathroom, in both the shower/bath and near the toilet, so that your loved one can keep their balance.

    Also tape down any loose floor rugs to avoid slipping hazards, as well as place rubber mats in and outside your shower/bathtub. Find out more ways to ensure the safety of your loved ones by discussing your concerns with a professional elder care service.

    Maintain Activity & Independence

    While it’s important to be attentive and cautious, you should also provide ways for your elder to stay engaged and active in their daily routines.

    Have them take time each day to exercise, whether it be a walk outside or by using low-impact exercise machines. This not only helps keep their health and standard of living high but also helps strengthen their mind and liven up their moods.

    You should also allow them to maintain a sense of their own independence, whether it be giving them time to work on a hobby they still enjoy or take them out to various social, religious, or recreational events and gatherings they’ll enjoy.

    Coastal Home Care: Experienced Post-Operative Care in Sussex County, DE

    Following the tips above can significantly increase the chances of retaining or even improving the quality of life for your elder loved one. At Coastal Home Care, our trained and certified caregivers always cooperate with patients and their families, seeking ways to guarantee the comfort and contentment of their patients in living their daily lives. They are trained to provide personalized home care services, from attentive dementia and Alzheimer’s care, and sympathetic hospice support, to committed post-operative care. For over ten years, we have provided excellent home care support for elderly residents throughout Sussex County, DE, all of which have been highly-satisfied by our professional and compassionate nursing staff.

    Contact us today at (866) 687-7307 and learn more about our services.

  • What Does A Companion Care Aide Do?

    What Does A Companion Care Aide Do?

    When you are away, having a companion for your sick or elderly loved one can be very beneficial. It provides them a companion to speak with and confide in. This companion also ensures the health and wellness of your aging loved one.

    At Coastal Home Care, we provide highly-trained registered nurses that are dedicated to providing individualized support to their patients. Our company has worked in the home care industry for over ten years, providing dependable companion care services, medication management, and post-operative care to numerous residents and families throughout Wicomico County, MD. We personalize our Plan of Care services for each patient.

    Here’s how having a companion care aide can help support you and your loved one:

    Provide Companionship

    First and foremost, a companion care aide provides connection and social interaction to your loved one. Everyone has a busy schedule and may not be able to provide enough time with their loved ones to hear about each of their current issues and developments.

    A companion care aide can support your elder by spending time with them throughout the day and checking on your loved one’s overall well-being. This relieves the stress of leaving your loved one at home by themselves and gives them someone to talk to throughout the day. It will also ensure that your loved one has someone to consistently communicate with about their needs.

    Improve Quality of Life

    Companion care aides go beyond being there for your loved one. They strive to create a symbiotic relationship that helps enable them to thrive. They help resolve various emotional and physical problems, relieve your elder’s stress and discomfort they may have, and much more. They even assist with any housekeeping duties that your loved one may not be able to do on their own.

    Different Types of Companion Care Aides

    There are two different kinds of companion aides that specialize in certain forms of care.  These  include:

    • Elder CareElder care is a 24-hour service involving caring for and assisting your loved one throughout their day. They provide support in daily tasks and routines such as transportation, grooming, running errands, and more.
    • Hospice Care Hospice care companions are focused on providing comfort and care to patients with terminal illnesses, both through counseling and pain management.

    Coastal Home Care: Reliable Companion Care Services in Wicomico County, MD

    At Coastal Home Care, we understand the importance of companionship, whether it be hospice care or simply someone who your loved one can chat with daily. Our nurses are devoted to providing compassionate companionship care beyond just doing chores around the home. They want to create a true relationship with your loved one so that they feel comfortable sharing their concerns.

    Call us at (866) 687-7307 or fill out our form and learn how our registered nurses and certified caregivers can provide your loved one safety, comfort, and connection.

  • An Essential Guide to Post-Operative Care

    One of the most important factors in recovering from a surgical procedure is the quality of care you receive afterwards. While your close friends or family can provide decent support, few are more skilled and qualified than a registered post operative care nurse from a reputable service like Coastal Home Care of Wicomico County, MD.

     

    Our staff is fully-certified and thoroughly trained to ensure our patients experience few complications and easy recoveries. For over ten years, we have offered excellent, personalized services in elder care, medication management, and post-operative support. Below, we discuss the basic aspects of post-operative care and what you can do to ensure a smooth recovery:

    Prior to Surgery

    Though post-operative care describes the period of recovery after your surgery, there are certain actions you can take beforehand to return to your daily routine.

     

    The first thing you should do is contact your doctor and ask them for suggestions and information about your post-operative needs. Since each procedure requires different forms of care, ask the following questions to determine the type of care you may need:

    • How long will I be in the hospital?
    • When can I return to my normal routine?
    • What are the possible side effects of the procedure?
    • Will I need a caregiver during my recovery?
    • What should I do (or not do) to recover successfully?

     

    These questions will provide enough information to help you prepare for recovery. For example, if your procedure requires you to have a caregiver with you, you’ll have time to contact family, friends, or an outpatient post-operative care service in your area.

     

    The most important thing is that you take the necessary steps to identify any complications that may arise after your procedure and address them as soon as possible.

    After the Procedure – at the Hospital

    Immediately after your procedure, you’ll head to a recovery room where the hospital staff will monitor your condition, check your surgical site, and test your breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen levels to determine your current state.

     

    During this time, they’ll determine whether you should stay in the hospital overnight or return home to begin recovering. They can also refer to your records, which may indicate that your procedure was scheduled as an inpatient or outpatient surgery.

     

    Inpatient surgeries require you to stay in the hospital to receive postoperative care and can involve staying overnight or for several days. Outpatient surgeries can simply be described as “same-day surgery”, where you are more likely able to return home after your procedure. However, in many cases, outpatient procedures have required inpatient care due to complications from the surgery.

    After the Procedure – at Home

    Once your doctor determines your condition is stable, you’ll be able to return home and begin your recovery. This includes:

    • Closely following your doctor’s instructions
    • Taking your prescribed medications
    • Attending follow-up appointments
    • Avoiding any potential complications for your recovery.

     

    As you begin to recover at home, get a healthy balance of rest and activity so you can build up the same level of strength and energy you had before. In time, you’ll be able to perform more and more of your daily routine, especially if you have a certified post-operative caregiver working with you.

     

    A caregiver will help you recover more easily by assisting with managing your medication, properly changing your surgical bandages, or simply helping you prepare meals and completing other numerous tasks. At Coastal Home Care, we have received numerous comments about how the assistance of our post-operative care specialists results in remarkable improvements in patient health.

    Coastal Home Care: Attentive Post Operative Care in Wicomico County, MD

    The effects of surgery have an enormous strain on the body, and can take several days, even weeks, to fully heal from. Without considering the details of one’s recovery, complications are more likely to occur. However, with the help of an experienced post operative care service like Coastal Home Care of Wicomico, County, MD, you can ensure you or your loved one receives the support you need. Our personalized care involves evaluating and setting up plans that will help ensure our patients receive the proper care in any given situation. Contact us at (888) 687-7307 for more information about our services, schedule an appointment with a professional caregiver today.

     

     

  • Alzheimer’s Care Options for Elders Today

    Alzheimer’s Care Options for Elders Today

    There are many different factors to consider when choosing your loved one’s Alzheimer’s care options. Around 5.7 million people are living with Alzheimer’s in the United States and, due to this amount, programs are constantly evolving to provide aid to you and your loved one. These programs are designed to cater to the personal needs of your loved one to ease the struggles of daily tasks. At Coastal Home Care, our empathetic Alzheimer’s care support in Somerset County, Maryland, possesses an extensive understanding of how to support those living with it. With our Plan of Care, we assess each client’s personal needs and shape our care to suit them. Here are a few options when considering different types of Alzheimer’s care. 

    Elder Assisted Living

    For an elder who needs support with day-to-day tasks, such as showering and preparing meals, but does not need skilled medical assistance, assisted living may be an option to consider. The 24-hour staff in assisted living communities offer support and comfort to their residents while assisting with the aforementioned tasks. Along with the assisted living, some communities have specialized memory care units designed to support elders with Alzheimer’s. 

    Though assisted living does have its benefits, only one nursing assistant aids several senior individuals at once. At Coastal Home Care, we provide one Alzheimer’s care nurse for each of our residents. This ensures that your loved one receives the specialized treatment that they would need for their condition, without having the nurse’s focus elsewhere.   

    Home Care and Home Care Services

    A familiar space where your loved one feels comfortable enough to stay may also be an option to consider. Many elders dislike the idea of living in an assisted home and prefer the comfort that their own surroundings provide. At home, your loved one will be able to benefit from the well-known sounds and sights while still being able to receive the care that they need from the home care services. These services include companion services, home health aides, skilled nursing care, and more. 

    Socializing Community Centers 

    A busy day-to-day schedule where you cannot spend as much time as you would like with your loved one is understandable. Socializing Centers were created so that your loved ones wouldn’t have to be alone, but in a safe environment that provides structured activities and a means to socialize while you are away. These centers’ mission is to facilitate companionship between their members while offering joy and fun into their everyday lives. It also may ease your worries, knowing that your loved one is well taken care of and in the presence of friends.   

    Visit Coastal Home Care For Your Loved Ones Alzheimer’s Care Today!

    While the number of Alzheimer’s patients may be growing, so are the care options that allow your loved one to continue living safely and productively. At Coastal Home Care, our skilled nurses possess a comprehensive understanding of how to tend to those living with Alzheimer’s. With the highest levels of professionalism, compassion, and respect, we devise routines and coping strategies catered to each individual under our care. With our personalized Alzheimer’s care plan in Somerset County, Maryland, we will work with you to ensure that your loved one is receiving the care that they need in an environment where they feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. For more information on our care services, contact us at (866) 687-7307 or fill out our form to schedule a visit with you and your loved one. We, at Coastal Home Care, would love to meet you!

  • What You Can Expect From A Professional In-Home Caregiver

    What You Can Expect From A Professional In-Home Caregiver

    Depending on your elder’s personal needs and your relationship, your caregiver responsibilities may vary. Your elder may require specific support such as assistance with preparing meals, transportation, and taking medicine. Other times, if their needs are more extensive, then hiring a professional in-home caregiver may be a better option, especially if you are already spread too thin. If you are considering in-home caregiver support, get in touch with Coastal Home Care to see how we can assist you. 

    At Coastal Home Care, our in-home caregivers prioritize your elderly loved one’s every need. We understand how challenging life can be as an in-home caregiver, which is why we provide our caregivers with the necessary training to fully support your family needs. Below is what you should expect from a professional in-home caregiver. 

    Personal Care Support

    A caregiver’s responsibility is to personally tend to their assigned elder’s needs. Personal care may consist of bathing, grooming, and getting dressed regularly. In addition to that, an elder may require support with using the restroom, as their mobility is limited. This may include providing balancing support and cleaning themselves after they have used the restroom. Another responsibility may include supporting them as they exercise throughout the day, such as going on a walk or jogging depending on how mobile they are.

    Food Preparation

    When it comes to preparing an older person’s meals, an in-home caregiver is responsible for doing the grocery shopping, organizing the groceries at home, and cooking. Caregivers will also be in charge of feeding the elder as well as cleaning up afterward, as the elder may have limited mobility.

    General Health Care Information

    Keeping one’s health in the best condition possible is incredibly important. Elderly individuals may be unable to prioritize their health without proper assistance, especially if they have cognitive disabilities. An in-home caregiver ensures that the elder is taking their medications on time, that they are receiving their refills regularly, and makes sure overdosing does not occur. In addition to these general health care responsibilities, caregivers must keep track of medical appointments, making sure their elder is attending them on a routine basis.

    Personal Supervision

    It’s not uncommon for older individuals to act out as they age. This is natural and caregivers may need to supervise them on what they should wear, where they should walk, how to find a certain item, and much more. 

    Emotional Support

    Elders are often prone to feeling lonely and a caregiver must be as reliable as possible to them. Your older loved one may need to confide in you and be their companion. It doesn’t take much to listen carefully to what they tell you and it will make a world of a difference, which they will appreciate. 

    Transportation

    Providing transportation to your elder may be required of you if they are unable to do it themselves. If they have doctor’s appointments or activities they want to take part in, then a caregiver may need to provide transportation as necessary.

    Mediator

    As a caregiver, your biggest responsibility is to take note of any changes in your elder’s health and pass on the information to their doctors and vice-versa. Relaying information back to your elder is just as important as it will help you establish trust between you two. 

    Organization

    Aging loved ones may not have the strength they need to keep their homes clean and organized, so it is a caregiver’s job to assist with that. You may need to clean the following spaces: bathroom, living room, kitchen, and much more. 

    Medical Emergencies 

    When a medical emergency takes place, it can set you into panic-mode but with the right knowledge at your hands, you will be able to remain calm in any given situation. During a medical crisis, the caregiver may need to contact the elder’s relatives as well as take the elder to the hospital for immediate assistance. 

    Other Caregiving Options

    Additional responsibilities of a caregiver also consist of providing additional support when other caregivers are not available. Having a full list of your responsibilities will help you be better prepared, and not to mention, avoiding over-stepping with loved ones or relatives. If you are currently a caregiver and are looking for additional support, contact Coastal Home Care for assistance.

    Choose A Compassionate In-Home Caregiver in Worcester County, MD

    Deciding to provide support or hire a professional in-home caregiver is a hard decision to make because we know how much your loved one means to you. If you have further questions on in-home caregiving support, get in touch with Coastal Home Care in Worcester County, MD, to learn more. We specialize in Alzheimer’s and Dementia care as well, so no matter what you are looking for, we have the experience you can rely on. 

    Let’s connect today! Contact our in-home caregivers at (866) 687-7307 to see how we can assist you.

  • Senior Care Options For Your Loved One

    Senior Care Options For Your Loved One

    Over the years, senior care has improved and adapted to the various needs of each individual. There are now numerous options to choose from, for your loved one and you. If your loved one prefers to stay in a familiar environment, there are in-home caregiving services,  as well as nursing homes that will cater to the needs of your loved one while providing quality support. 

    At Coastal Home Care, we are dedicated to ensuring that your loved one is treated with the utmost respect and empathy while they are in our care. Since 2010, we have been a leader in the home care industry, administering valuable senior companion care services such as Alzheimer’s and dementia care, medication management, and more. Below are a few options that we provide to aid in you and your loved one’s safety and independence. 

    Elder Care 

    Life is an experience meant to be shared with family and close friends. That is why all personalized elder care starts with companionship. Your loved one’s Plan of Care is tailor-made to their individual needs and consists of various services to help them with the activities of daily living, such as helping them prepare meals, shopping for groceries, changing clothes, and any other common tasks they need help with. 

    Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care 

    In the case of an elderly patient with Alzheimer’s or dementia, a maintained and structured routine can alleviate any anxiety they may feel from their everyday life. Our caregivers are trained extensively through hands-on experience to gain a deep understanding of how to assist those living with severe or minor forms of dementia. Taking into account their day-to-day management, comfort, and safety, we devise appropriate routines and strategies that are optimal for each resident.  

    Hospice Support

    Terminal illness is often a difficult experience to face, for the patient diagnosed with it, and their loved ones as well. Our certified hospice care specialists will help you maintain your loved one’s comfort through proper pain management techniques, as well as emotional and spiritual support.  

    Post-Operative Care

    After surgery, patients must receive proper rest and medical support, especially for elderly patients. Our post-operative care nurses provide an array of services for each degree of recovery, whether it is minor or severe. They can provide support for your loved one in their daily chores, repositioning their bodies to ensure they are comfortable during bedrest, properly cleaning and redressing any bandages, and many more. 

    Medication Management

    Properly taking medications is extremely important for older and senior individuals. Our registered nurses can communicate with doctors to confirm your loved one’s prescriptions, as well as remind and ensure that they take each of their medications at the right time and in the correct way. 

    Personalized Senior Companion Care in Somerset County, MD

    With the improvements that senior care has gone through over the years, the ability to meet the needs of each individual has risen exponentially. We at Coastal Home Care pride ourselves on providing nearly a decade of the best elder care services, including excellent senior companion care and quality post-operative care, for families in Somerset County, Maryland. We look forward to providing the support that will help you and your loved ones live comfortably and happily. Contact us at (866) 687-7307 to schedule a consultation today!