Maintaining Heart Health in Long Beach

Heart health is certainly a key to overall health and this is true at any age.  There is always time to try and adopt healthy habits and patterns to nurture our heart and with commitment to healthier living we can all better treat our bodies as we get older.  Heart Attack and Failure Care is available for those in need and our Home Care Professionals are available on both Hourly and Live-In schedules.  As our loved ones progress to their elder years, stress can arise if they are taking proper care of themselves or if they taking the steps to stay happy and healthy.  At A-1 Home Care in Long Beach, we offer a range of services to families in need of Non-Medical Home Care and we provide In Home Care for those recovering from illness or injury, may be possible fall risk or in need of Companion Care to stay on top of dieting or medication reminders.  Here a 5 Factors that can determine our future heart health:

• Blood Pressure
• Exercise
• Body Mass Index
• Fruit and Veggies
• Smoking

With the exception of blood pressure, these are largely lifestyle elements that can we can control and with the assistance of a friendly and caring In Home Caregiver, you never have to worry if your loved one is taking precaution when it comes to their heart health.

A-1 Home Care is a proud CAHSAH Member and State Licensed Home Care agency.  All of our qualified Home Care Professionals are thoroughly screen before placement and here to help you!  With offices in Santa Fe Springs, Newport Beach and Pasadena, A-1 Home Care is proud to serve all of Los Angeles and Orange County.  Call us today for free quote at 562-929-8400 or 949-650-3800.

When it’s Time to Retire

It is tough to say goodbye, regardless of the number of hours spent year after year and becoming comfortable to the work atmosphere. But it is the inevitable when “retirement” is brought up or the time to do so gets closer and closer.

Our seniors at A-1 Home Care agency are retired citizens; however, most are placed in retirement due to health conditions that can be progressing. It is important to not avoid any physical and even mental state signs when it comes to our health. Each year, many people end up in critical condition if they do not check in with themselves from time to time. Our caregivers are skilled in these areas to assist our seniors with physical and mental modernization. This goes for all ages, especially for those who start to experience any of these symptoms because if so, maybe it is time to retire (Investopedia, 2017):

1. Debts are paid off — Finally! Now, go take some time and relax and celebrate, but with caution, depending how heavy the debts were…or still is.
2. Healthcare is covered for life.
3. Your budget is livable and retiring will not affect that.
4. Burned out — Whether this may be physical or mental, burning out is certainly a sign to take a step back or reconsider things if it becomes frequent. Long term affects can occur if it is not taken care of sooner than later.

If your loved one has just retired and/or is needing further assistance with their day-to-day tasks from getting up in the morning to personal hygiene, then give our Long Beach office (310) 657-8780 or Santa Fe Springs headquarters (562) 929-8400 a call and our agency will place you with one of our certified caregivers, who are screened extensively from drug to sex offender background before they are brought on. You can also visit our main website to locate a office closest to you www.a-1homecare.com.

A-1 Home Care Delivers the Best Live In Care Options in Long Beach

Finding a live-in caregiver can be a straining task. It is important to find candidates that are qualified and certified to take care of your loved one. Whether the person that needs care is handicapped, elderly, or suffers from a terminal illness, it is crucial to find someone professional and patient to take on the responsibility of caregiver. A-1 Home Care facilitates the job of finding a caregiver by narrowing down the best candidates and distributing them to homes with clients they are highly compatible with. No matter the situation, our caregivers provide a service unlike any other!

It is in your best interest to find a caregiver agency that is state licensed, bonded and insured. Luckily, A-1 Home Care has these certifications and in addition only hired caregivers that have a minimum of two years of experience, are CPR certified and First-Aid trained. In addition, we narrow down the caregivers that are best suited for your family and allow you the opportunity to interview the candidates to find the best fit for you. We also have certified nurse assistants that double as hospital sitters in the Los Angeles area such as Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Garfield Medical Center, and Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Our certified home health aides provide assistance in the following areas:

• Meal Preparation
• Transportation to Religious Events
• Transportation to appointments and errand
• Light Housecleaning and Laundry
• Assistance with exercise and self-care

A-1 Home Care prides themselves in providing the best possible service when finding caregivers for your family. We service the greater Los Angeles area including Long Beach, Gardena, Los Angeles, Pasadena and Burbank. For more information, give us a call at
(562) 929-8400 and (310) 657-8780. You can also visit our website at http://www.longbeachinhomecare.com.

Ways to Ensure a Good Night’s Sleep for Seniors with Incontinence

Incontinence is a symptom of the body’s inability to control excretion of the body’s wastes.  More common in women, urinary incontinence is caused by weak bladder muscles and nerve damage, especially during pregnancy, after childbirth, during onset of menopause, and after surgery.  For seniors, incontinence may be associated with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, strokes, multiple sclerosis, or physical injuries.  One of the major problems with urinary incontinence occurs at night when the dampness wakes up your elderly loved one and makes it uncomfortable for him or her to go back to sleep.  To help your loved one get a better night’s sleep, try these suggested products:

• Booster pads
• Heavy-duty, extra-long liner pads for pull-ups
• Incontinent underwear with extended overnight super absorbency
• Presto absorbent products
• Tranquility Premium Pull-ups

If your elderly loved one feels more comfortable using the restroom rather than going in his pull-ups, an overnight caregiver from A-1 Home Care can assist him and make sure that he doesn’t fall on his way to the bathroom.  In addition to vigilant overnight care, A-1 Home Care also provides assistance with meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, companion care and more.

About A-1 Home Care

Established in 1991, A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency based in Southern California.  As one of the few state-licensed agencies, A-1 Home Care offers you safe and superior elder care, protecting your loved ones from fraud, theft, scam artists and predators.  Each caregiver is extensively screened for criminal background clearance and all references are verified.  With our easy financing options, anyone can enjoy 24 hour in-home care in Long Beach, Torrance, Palo Verde, San Pedro, Carson, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and other parts of LA County.

For high quality 24 hour care, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for services in your area.

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5 Tall Tale Signs Your Caregiver Is a Scam Artist

If you ever get the gut feeling that your elderly loved one’s caregiver is overstepping her boundaries, don’t ignore it.  Senior predators are on the rise, and elder abuse is unfortunately extremely common.  In the United States, an estimated one in 10 seniors experience elder abuse in some form, but only one in 14 cases are actually reported, according to the National Council on Aging.  Risk factors for abuse include physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities.  How do you know if you’re overreacting?  Here are some signs of a live-in caregiver overstepping her boundaries:

1. Deliberate exclusion of close friends and families from visitation
2. Forceful effort to take over all of your elderly loved one’s affairs, especially if they’re financial
3. Claiming to “know” the senior within a very short amount of time (e.g., one month)
4. Harsh treatment towards your elderly loved one
5. Inexplicable bruises or other injuries on your loved one’s body (i.e., when excuses and explanations don’t add up)

Don’t allow a caregiver to walk all over you or your loved one.  You have the right as the son, daughter or Power-of-Attorney to fire the caregiver if things get out of hand.  If the caregiver insists on having access to the senior’s financial accounts to help him “pay the bills,” don’t yield.  If she tells you that your loved one is sleeping and cannot be disturbed, visit him anyway.  You’re the boss; you’re in charge.

The Advantage of a Licensed, Bonded and Insured Agency

Live-out and 24-hour caregivers who come from a licensed, bonded and insured agency are thoroughly screened for their criminal backgrounds, DMV records and sex offender checks.  Their professional references are all verified.  As one of the few state-licensed agencies in California, A-1 Home Care in Long Beach also includes the entire family in the caregiver selection process.  Just because we think a certain caregiver is right for your elderly loved one does not mean that you’ll agree.  You get to interview as many caregivers as you wish from our culturally diverse pool of certified nurse aides and licensed vocational nurses.  Your satisfaction and safety are 100% guaranteed!

For in-home care you can trust, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for information about services in Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos, Carson, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and other cities in Los Angeles County.

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Pros and Cons of Paying a Family Member to Care for an Elderly Loved One

When the time comes to choose between different types of elder care options, most families naturally go with the money-saving option of having a family member take on the responsibility of a caregiver.  According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2015), about 34.2 million people provided unpaid care to an elderly loved one over age 50.  Although it’s popular for families to turn to relatives for help for economic reasons, studies show that 57% of family caregivers feel that they do not have a choice about performing clinical tasks; 43% feel that caregiving tasks are their responsibility “because no one else can do it”; and 20% of family caregivers feel pressured by relatives to provide elder care.  A-1 Home Care in Long Beach examines the pros and cons of having a relative care for an elderly loved one:

Pros

• As a family member, the live-in caregiver has a strong attachment to the elderly loved one and will naturally do his or her best to provide quality care.
• In terms of deliberate harm, you don’t have to worry about your loved one’s safety.
• If you have a large family, relatives can take turns taking care of the elderly loved one.
• You save money.
• You and your family share similar or identical values in terms of elder care.

Cons

• Without formal training, you or your family members will experience high levels of stress with elder care.
• Without formal training, the family member may not meet the crucial needs of the elderly loved one, and this might result in more harm than good.
• If you have a small family and one person has to make most of the sacrifices (in terms of cutting back on work hours, providing care at home for the elderly as well as for the kids with little or no support), caregiver burnout is inevitable.
• Close family relationships may be strained as you work out negotiations about responsibilities, expectations, safety limits, guidelines, etc. This puts you in an awkward position because you are not paying them yet you are asking them for all this support, so feelings of guilt may overwhelm you.
• If the elderly loved one lives far away from everyone, someone will have to uproot his or her life to move closer and sacrifice their livelihood. If you move your loved one in with you, he or she will have to leave behind their social network and support.

A-1 Home Care offers you a variety of senior care options in Long Beach to choose from, ranging from 24 hour senior care to live-out respite care.  If you ever feel like you need a little extra help around the house, like assistance with meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, companion care, bathing, grooming, and personal care, we are here for you.

About A-1 Home Care

Since its inception in 1991, A-1 Home Care has been delivering exceptional in-home care services to seniors and their families all over Long Beach.  We are a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency that provides senior care and specialized in-home care services such as Parkinson’s Care, Lou Gehrig’s Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Cancer Care and more.  Each caregiver is thoroughly screened for their criminal background and all professional references are verified.  We make senior care affordable for every family so that you can enjoy spending time with your loved ones instead of scrambling about with menial tasks.

For quality 24 hour care, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for information about services in Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos, Carson, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and other cities in Los Angeles County.

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What It Means to Have Overnight Care for Seniors

Insomnia in the elderly is a very common disorder shared by various illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, depression and other ailments.  Some seniors stay active all night, while others have vivid dreams that they act out, and it’s very possible to walk out of the house without realizing it.  When you have an elderly loved one who can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep, and you’re up all night worrying that your parent may wander off, it’s time to get a highly skilled companion aide to watch over your loved one.  A-1 Home Care in Long Beach provides affordable, high quality overnight care for seniors 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Flexible 24 Hour Care

Keep in mind that when you hire 24-hour care, an agency might assign one caregiver for a few days straight, which means that at some point, the caregiver has to sleep.  How do you communicate your elderly loved one’s needs to the home care agency?  Consider the following info:

• Do you want two caregivers a day to ensure that someone will stay awake through the watches of the night?
• What are the peak hours for your loved one?
• If you want only an overnight caregiver, would you want an 8-hour shift or 12-hour shift? Will there be anyone at home during the day to look after your elderly loved one?
• What are the most urgent needs of your loved one? How severe is his personality?  Is he physically aggressive (i.e., pinching, hitting, screaming, etc.)?  Does he experience incontinence while sleeping?
• How often will the live-in caregiver have to change the linens?
• Does your loved one take short naps during the day or night?

A-1 Home Care can provide one or two caregivers for overnight care, depending on your preference and your elderly loved one’s needs.  If the scheduling doesn’t work out for one week, we can keep adjusting until you find your comfort level.

About A-1 Home Care

A-1 Home Care is one of the few state-licensed agencies in California.  For over two decades, we have been serving seniors and their families all over Long Beach, delivering the highest quality of elder care in Southern California.  Because we are licensed, bonded and insured, your elderly loved ones are protected from fraud, scams, and predators.  Every single caregiver from A-1 Home Care is thoroughly screened for their criminal background, DMV record and sex offender check.  Our in-home care services are covered by long-term care insurance and veteran benefits.  Paying out of pocket?  We have something special in store for you too; talk to our care managers about a high quality elder care plan that fits your budget!

For quality overnight care, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for information about services in Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos, Carson, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and other cities in Los Angeles County.

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5 Reasons Why In-Home Care Trumps Other Types of Senior Care

It’s that time of life when you know the question of senior care will emerge sooner or later.  Your parents have been visiting the doctor’s office a little more often these days, and they are becoming visibly frail.  Your elderly loved ones have worked hard all their lives and though they are at retirement age, they have refused to leave their careers because they are holding on to a huge part of their identity – especially if they have enjoyed a long, successful career.  The work load and stress levels are finally taking a toll on your parents’ health, and you’re worried that if they don’t retire soon, their health will decline quickly rather than slowly.  And here you are, looking at this computer screen and faced with so many different types of senior care – live-in care, assisted living, residential care, nursing homes, convalescent homes, memory care facilities, adult day care centers, 24 hour in-home care, independent living, etc.

In-Home Care Meets Senior Priorities

As we age, certain things become important to us – family, friends, enjoying life in the moment, and excellent medical care in the most comfortable form possible.  We want to stay far, far away from hospitals, and if we become physically dependent on another person to care for our needs, such as assistance with bathing, oral hygiene or cooking, we don’t want to be committed to an institution to have those needs met.  In-home care meets the needs of seniors in ways that other elder care forms do not.  Consider the following:

1. In-Home Care means you get undivided attention – in the comfort of your own home

2. You are not confined in an institutional setting where you have to share one caregiver with at least 10 other fellow residents, meaning soiled diapers don’t pile up, you’re not sharing germs with a roommate whose health condition you do not know, and you get companionship when you want, on demand.

3. In-Home Care follows you wherever you go, whether you live alone or with family. Live-in care means 24 hour on-demand assistance with meal preparation, light housekeeping, bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, dressing, garden care, pet care, grocery shopping, medication reminders, transportation and more.

4. Specialized senior care services for Alzheimer’s, Cancer Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care and other types of in-home care are available for your elderly loved ones.

5. Long-term relationship bonding is healthy for seniors and their caregivers, as they adjust to one another and grow in their trust toward one another. Emotional stability is important for the elderly, especially if they are receiving care from professional caregivers who are not family.  Consistent, long-term home care services with the same caregiver breeds trust and receptivity to home care assistance.

About A-1 Home Care in Long Beach

Established in 1991, A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency, delivering high quality in-home care services to seniors and their families in Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Santa Monica, Culver City, Pasadena, Malibu and other parts of LA County.

As one of the few home care agencies to successfully receive state licensure, A-1 Home Care is committed to enhancing the lives of the elderly while promoting senior safety and security.  We thoroughly screen every single caregiver for their criminal background clearance; we check their DMV records and all professional references are verified.  Our 24 hour care services are covered by long term care insurance and veteran benefits.  Low-cost financing options are also available for those paying out of pocket.

For quality senior care, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for information about services in your area.

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Long Beach In-Home Cardiac Care: How Old Is Your Heart?

Your heart’s age is usually older than your actual age, and this is determined by a number of factors such as age and family history, lifestyle choices, diet, physical activity levels, and smoking.  Approximately 25% of deaths are caused by heart disease in the United States, but the good news is cardiovascular disease can be largely prevented by practicing a healthy lifestyle.  If you have an elderly loved one at home who needs assistance with that, A-1 Home Care in Long Beach has an invaluable team of certified nurse assistants, licensed vocational nurses and certified home health aides who will implement a “heart-healthy” elder care plan for your parents, in-laws and/or grandparents.

How will A-1 Home Care help?

Shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea are part of heart disease, and if your elderly loved one has these symptoms, it will be difficult for her to manage basic tasks like house cleaning, pet care and gardening.  Our home health aides are there for you 24 hours a day to help with meal preparations, light housekeeping, bathing, grooming, personal care, running errands, and more.  If you are too tired after a long day at work, our live-in caregivers can always assist your loved ones by taking vital signs and helping them with physical activities like exercise to manage their weight or lower their blood pressure.

Flexible and Affordable In-Home Care

As one of the few state-licensed agencies in California, A-1 Home Care offers non-medical senior care services in communities around your area, such as Long Beach, Torrance, San Pedro, Los Alamitos, Lakewood, Cerritos, Carson, and Palo Verde.  You can reap the benefits of our hard work after we have screened every single caregiver for their criminal background, DMV and sex offender clearance.  Thanks to our dedicated team of culturally diverse caregivers, our clientele continually refer friends and families to us because they know the quality of our elder care.  Our 24 hour care services and live-out care services are covered by long term care insurance and veteran benefits.  If you are paying out of pocket, you will be happy to find that our rates are the lowest in Southern California.

For affordable and high quality heart disease care, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for more information.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease in Seniors

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.  By the year 2050, experts project the numbers to explode to 7 million seniors over age 85.  Is Alzheimer’s an inevitable fate for everyone, or are some seniors more prone to develop it than others?  Among the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are family history, the Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-e4 Gene, mild cognitive impairment, age and cardiovascular disease.  In this article, A-1 Home Care in Long Beach delineates these risk factors.

Age

It is wrong to assume that just because you’re getting older, you will get Alzheimer’s disease.  Although age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, this form of dementia is not caused by aging alone.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-e4 Gene

Everyone has some form of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Gene, whether the form is e2, e3 or e4.  If you inherited the e4 form of this APOE gene, a protein that plays an important role in transporting cholesterol in your body, this increases your risk of developing Alzheimer’s at a later age.

Family History

An individual with an immediate family member, such as a parent or sibling, with Alzheimer’s is more likely to develop this disease.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

If your elderly loved one has had mild cognitive impairment, he or she is more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who do not have MCI.

How 24 Hour In-Home Care Helps

Caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s can take a toll on one’s physical, mental and emotional health.  Leave it to trained, seasoned and certified nurse aides and licensed vocational nurses from A-1 Home Care to help you with chores, cooking, cleaning, bathing, grooming, personal care and more!  Having a live-in caregiver will greatly reduce your stress levels and thereby improve your overall health while your elderly loved one is taken care of.  It’s a win-win situation!

About A-1 Home Care in Long Beach

A-1 Home Care is one of the very few home care agencies in California that has received state licensing.  Since its inception in 1991, A-1 Home Care has served seniors in numerous communities all over LA County, including Long Beach, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu, Hollywood, and Pasadena.  Our caregivers are thoroughly screened for their criminal backgrounds, DMV records and professional reference verification.  When your elderly loved ones receive 24 hour in-home care from our caregivers, you can rest assured that they are in good hands!

For a personal care aide, call A-1 Home Care today (562) 929-8400 or visit our website www.longbeachinhomecare.com for more details. 

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