Lately I’ve had a lot of families ask me about medical alerts for a loved one living at home alone. Type “medical alert” into Google and you get thousands of results for medical alerts that you can purchase online. These devices have come a long way since those “I’ve Fallen and I can’t Get Up” videos you remember from your…
We had a groovy time this week doing trivia with the seniors at the Wheeling Senior Center. They are always so welcoming to us and trivia gives me a chance to catch up on my knowledge. Plus, we had a chance to try some tootsie pops, dots, and wax mustaches. These guys were so much fun and schooled ME a…
When a lot of people are searching for a caregiver or home care company, it is the first time and they have no idea how to select a company. They all seem to provide similar services and it’s hard to tell which one will provide the best quality of care for the price. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we encourage…
I often receive the call from the families at a crucial decision point –the family realizes that mom or dad is not safe living home alone, but is it time to move to an Assisted Living Facility or is it best to stay at home with the help of a home care worker? The answer really depends on a number…
5.4 Million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease 15 million people care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease costs us $200 BILLION annually 1 in 3 has a family member affected by Alzheimer’s The numbers are staggering. Where is the outrage? Where is the outcry? Those statistics, pulled directly from the US Against Alzheimer’s foundation website speak loudly and clearly. …
Our Ribbon Tying Ceremony!!! What could be better than a room full of your closest friends, family, colleagues, and the mayor of your town? I’m pretty sure only a wedding can top the excitement and warmth that was felt at 1020 S. Arlington Heights Road last Wednesday evening! Last May 24th marked the launch of Assisting Hands in Arlington Heights. A…
‘The 24-Hour Rule: Living with Alzheimer’s’ by Cheryl Levin-Folio My friends have always teased me about the reading material I choose to bring on vacation. Last week was our annual Assisting Hands retreat down in Cancun, Mexico. We spent the morning in lectures and workshops learning from experts and other owners around the country about how to improve our home…
Losing the keys for many older adults means a loss of independence. I have always been an advocate of older adults’ right to make their own bad decisions, provided they are mentally competent, however; this week a series of events made me change my mind on one important issue: driving. I attended an EPWNG panel on Navigating the Odyssey of…
The language in the aging network can be confusing (Home Health, Home Care, Assisting Living, Nursing Home, CCRC, NORC, CNA, Caregiver, Home Aide!) and those within the field forget that new patients tend to use certain words interchangeably (as I did before owning my own home care). So, what is the difference between home care and home HEALTH care and…
“We only have one father and one mother, so chances are, that when you go through this experience, it’s the first time. It’s normal not to understand what to do or who to trust, but I want my home care agency to be the place where people can go for answers.” I always knew that documenting my father’s legacy was…
