2024 is shaping up to be the hottest summer on record.  Even in a normal summer, heat illnesses are a big problem for seniors.  More than 80 percent of the people in the U.S. who die of heat-related causes are over age 60. As we age, our bodies become less sensitive to changes in temperature.  To make matters worse, many...

Assisting Hands is excited to highlight Jodine A., who just reached her one year anniversary!  She has been all over the North Metro area helping us take care of clients, and everyone has told us how much of a godsend she is.  We can’t agree more! Congratulations Jodine and keep up the great work!

As I wrote about a few weeks back (https://assistinghands.com/93/colorado/broomfield/blog/beat-the-heat-senior-hydration-essentials/), proper hydration for seniors is difficult to achieve, but makes a huge difference in their safety and overall health. This topic struck a chord with a lot of people, so we developed a fun seminar to present to senior community residents.  Crossroads Senior Living (http://crossroadsalc.org) in Northglenn was the first to...

The AARP reports (https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2018/loneliness-social-connections.html) that “about one-third of U.S. adults age 45 and older report feeling lonely.”  Loneliness and social isolation have serious health consequences for seniors.  According to the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html), “social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.”  Heart disease and stroke also had huge increases in prevalence. A 50% higher risk for dementia! ...

Assisting Hands is excited to announce that Amy M. is our Caregiver Champion for July! Amy has only been with us a few months, but she jumped right in!  She has helped us out a lot recently as we have taken on new clients; Amy is eager to add visits to her schedule and meet these clients and their families....

At Assisting Hands, our mission is to help our clients achieve their maximum potential for independence.  One of the biggest challenges to that is mobility. Mobility challenges take many forms.  The most severe instance is the potential for falls, which are a leading cause of injury and hospitalization.  Difficulty walking is also common, whether it be from muscle weakness, joint...

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that dehydration is associated with an increased risk of falls and hospitalizations among older adults. This is certainly something we at Assisting Hands have seen anecdotally with our clients.  Dehydration can be difficult to spot because its symptoms in seniors mimic those of other conditions.  It has caused a...

Assisting Hands is happy to announce that Sydney B. is our Caregiver Champion for June! Sydney has been with us for over two years now, but will be leaving soon as she completes her nursing degree.  She has been working hard and is interested in the hospice field once she completes her studies.  Sydney really stepped up in June to...

Many of our clients are struggling with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  Everyday life can become a tremendous challenge in these situations. Take ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) for example.  Since ALS affects the brain cells that control muscles, getting around the house and accomplishing the activities of daily life becomes extremely difficult.  We cared...

Burnout is a big problem for Caregivers, both professionals and family members.  It’s actually endemic in the healthcare industry in general.  A survey published in JAMA (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813914) this past January found that 70% of health care providers performed patient care-related tasks while on vacation. Self-care and taking time to oneself as a caregiver is vital.  Without that ability to recharge,...