Alzheimer's Care Greensboro: Helping Your Family Cope

By Joanne Pizzuto
Alzheimer's Care Greensboro and Senior care and elder care in the Greensboro and Burlington area often bring on extra stress when Alzheimer's or dementia are involved. Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition with which millions of people must cope. But the families of seniors who have this illness are also impacted by the disease, which can be difficult for many people to understand. Alzheimer’s affects the personality, judgment, and memory of seniors, creating situations in which they may believe they are living 20 years in the past, or they may not recognize their loved ones. The dementia care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance, serving Alamance and Guilford counties, as well as the communities of Burlington, Southern Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, and Roxboro, know that Alzheimer’s disease is very difficult for caregivers and other family members to accept. These senior care professionals have offered the following tips to help you and your family cope with this illness.

Teach Family Members about the Disease

Understanding why your loved one is acting in a certain way is key in recognizing the impact that Alzheimer’s has on an individual. For instance, this disease can cause rapid mood swings and can even change the personality of a senior. When family members are faced with such alterations in their loved one, it is important that they understand that the disease has caused this change and that, if their senior is acting angry or mean, they are not doing so on purpose.

Encourage Family Members to Make the Most of the Time They Have

Because Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, it gets worse over time. As soon as your family is aware that the illness is present, it is important to spend as much time as possible with your elderly loved one. This will allow family members to create memories with their senior before their loved one’s condition progresses to the point that they do not remember the people who matter the most to them.

Explore Treatment Options

One of the most devastating aspects of watching a family member suffer from Alzheimer’s disease is feeling helpless. With no cure, the condition gets worse until seniors pass. But there are ways in which doctors can treat the disease and, if it is diagnosed quickly enough, even slow its progression. Understanding the treatment options available to your senior will allow your family to choose the care plan that best matches your loved one’s wishes.

The dementia care professionals at Always Best Care know that taking care of a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease is emotionally difficult. But with these tips, you can help your family better understand the illness and get the most out of the time they have with their loved one.

Visit our video page where you can find senior care videos that may help in the decisions you are facing.

Our Resources page may also provide needed information.

We at Always Best Care are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to  make the transition to elderly care easier on you.  It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.  If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately.  Joanne Pizutto, the owner of Always Best Care, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.

Call today (336) 512-6744

By Joanne Pizzuto

Senior Care Greensboro: Long-Term Care Insurance - How Can It Benefit Your Family?

By Joanne Pizzuto
Senior Care and elder care in Greensboro - As individuals age, it is only natural that they will start to need assistance with activities that they could once perform on their own. Although the transition from complete independence to needing a bit of help may not be easy, home care providers are available to assist elderly individuals in retaining as much of their independence as possible by allowing them to continue aging in place, rather than having to move into an assisted living or nursing facility. But the expenses associated with any kind of senior care, be it basic or skilled, can add up over time. For families that are on a budget, these mounting expenses can become stressful. For this reason, it is recommended that you look into the benefits of long-term care insurance.

Long-term care insurance was designed to assist families in affording the care that their elderly loved ones need. Most policies will cover basic home care costs, such as those associated with assistance regarding bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, etc. The long-term care policies offered by different insurance companies, and even the range of policies within a company, may vary. As such, it is recommended that you speak with an insurance professional to determine which policy is best for your elderly loved one.

In fact, there are many questions that you are encouraged to ask your insurance professional. It is clear that a long-term care policy can provide numerous benefits to your family. Without it, you might not be able to afford the care your senior needs. But you can only collect these benefits if you understand exactly how your policy works.

Some insurance companies may communicate directly with care providers, enabling you to benefit from the policy without having to do any extra paperwork; however, others may require you to submit a claim personally. Because the claim and benefit distribution processes may vary from one policy to the next, it is important to ask your insurance professional exactly what you will need to do to get the most out of your loved one’s long-term care coverage.

Senior care providers encourage you to investigate the long-term care insurance options available to your loved one. This form of insurance may alleviate a great deal of financial stress from your family.

We at Always Best Care are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to make the transition to elderly care easier on you.  It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.  If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately.  Joanne Pizutto, the owner of Always Best Care, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.

Call today (336) 512-6744
By Joanne Pizzuto

Elder Care In Greensboro: Engaging Your Siblings in the Care of Your Elderly Parents

By Joanne Pizzuto
When dealing with elder care or senior care in Greensboro and Burlington, families often band together to provide the care that their elderly loved ones need. In fact, it is common that siblings will work together to support their parents in their desire to continue aging in place. Oftentimes, though, it takes a great deal of effort to get siblings working together to provide such care. From geographic distance to the emotional strain of watching a parent age, there are many factors that may discourage some siblings from becoming involved in the care of their parents. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance, serving Alamance and Guilford Counties, as well as the communities of Burlington, Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, and Roxboro, know that getting your siblings engaged in the care of your elderly loved ones is not always an easy task; however, they are certain that the following tips can assist you in your efforts to pull your siblings together and support your aging parents.

1. Ask your siblings to assist in the care of your loved ones in a personal way. Consider the strengths that your brothers and sisters possess and how, with these strengths, they may benefit your parents. For example, if your mother and brother share a love of theater, encourage your brother to assist with care on the days that he can take your mother to see a show.

2. Consider the ways in which your siblings can, individually, be of help. For instance, your sister who lives three states away may feel as though she cannot do much. To get her involved, ask her to schedule doctor’s appointments and call in prescription refills. Additionally, she may be able to handle financial responsibilities and help manage your parents’ bank account.

3. Remain sensitive to the things that your siblings value and try to find ways for them to assist without having to sacrifice the things they love. For instance, ask your sister to help with running errands and housecleaning while her kids are at school so she is free to spend time with them when they are home.

The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance know that winterizing your elderly loved one's home is an essential part of your duties as a caregiver. By creating a warm, energy-efficient living space, you can improve the quality of life of your loved one. Additionally, checking the various vents, water heaters, furnace filters, and spigots can help you enhance the safety of their property.

We at Always Best Care are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to make the transition to elderly care easier on you.  It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.  If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately.  Joanne Pizutto, the owner of Always Best Care, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.

Call today (336) 512-6744

By Joanne Pizzuto

Senior Care Greensboro: Get Your Senior's Home Winter Ready!

By Joanne Pizzuto
The winter season has just started, so NOW is a great time to start preparing for the colder weather! In addition to dusting off coats and boots, it's a good idea to winterize your elderly loved one's home to ensure their comfort during the upcoming season. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance, serving Alamance and Guilford Counties, as well as the communities of Burlington, Southern Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, and Roxboro, recommend following these tips to get your senior's home winter ready.

1. Inspect windows and doors for any leaks, gaps, and cracks. For windows, caulk any cracks or holes that you may find to improve the ability of your loved one's home to retain heat. For any gaps that may be present in door jambs, use weather stripping to ensure a snug fit.

2. Close any vents that are located in rooms that your elderly loved one does not use. For instance, the spare bedrooms are not in need of heat, so improve the energy efficiency of the home by closing the vents in those areas. Make sure, at the same time, that heat is flowing well into the rooms that your loved one uses regularly.

3. If your senior's home loses heat easily, try applying a clear insulating film to the windows. This should help keep the heat in and reduce energy costs while, ultimately, creating a more comfortable living space for your elderly loved one.

4. Change the furnace filter to ensure that it will work at an optimal level. You may also consider wrapping an insulation blanket around the hot water heater. If you are unsure how to do this, or what kind of blanket you need, talk to a home maintenance professional at your local hardware store. They should have everything you need to winterize your senior's home.

5. Make sure all of the spigots are turned off outside. Leaving the water running can cause it to freeze in the pipes and create expensive damage to the home. Additionally, a dripping spigot can create patches of ice that may prove dangerous to your loved one. 

The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Alamance (http://www.abc-seniorservice.com) know that winterizing your elderly loved one's home is an essential part of your duties as a caregiver. By creating a warm, energy-efficient living space, you can improve the quality of life of your loved one. Additionally, checking the various vents, water heaters, furnace filters, and spigots can help you enhance the safety of their property.

We at Always Best Care are attuned to your needs and equipped with the knowledge and experience to make the transition to elderly care easier on you.  It is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.  If you decide to contact us to assist you care for your senior, we will discuss your needs and capabilities so that the change in their life is handled delicately.  Joanne Pizutto, the owner of Always Best Care, awaits your phone call or email, whether it is today or farther down the road.

Call today (336) 512-6744

By Joanne Pizzuto