Western Mass & Greater Springfield home health care Resources
Our Home Health Care Resources
Everybody Needs Somebody
For older adults, social isolation is an all too common part of life. Many elders have lost spouses and live alone or have children and other family members who do not live close and cannot easily visit on a regular basis. Others are housebound due to injury or...
Respite Care Can be a Lifesaver – Yours
There are hundreds of thousands of loving family members whose primary responsibility every day is to take care of those who need them to survive. They are most often elderly parents, but sometimes more extended branches of the family tree. Knowing that meeting the...
What Does Dementia Look Like?
When caring for a loved one that is exhibiting “different” behavior, it may be helpful to understand the characteristics of dementia as opposed to less serious behaviors that are associated with natural aging. If the older adult in your care exhibits one or more of...
PTSD Among Family Caregivers
We most often hear the acronym PTSD as it relates to those returning from the stresses of battle in a time of war. As a caregiver for an older adult, you may have recognized some similarities in your own emotional response to your situation. They are similar in many...
How Much is “Enough” Therapy?
Many seniors receive therapy at home for various physical, occupational, speech or cognitive issues. Are they ever “done”? How much is “enough”? The answer to this question clearly varies from person-to-person, but the simplest answer comes from the recipient. If...
Are Pets Your Best “Medicine”?
Many seniors feel isolated as they get older. They may have lost close friends or family members and there are fewer opportunities to make new friends as they age. Owning a pet can change that – particularly dogs. Since dogs are pack animals, most welcome social...
Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores) Represent Real Risk for Seniors
Pressure ulcers, more commonly called "bed sores", represent a preventable and treatable issue for seniors, but caregivers must be vigilant to monitor for the potential of this malady. Further, these wounds can happen in places other than beds. They can appear and...
Your ‘Need-to-Know’ Book
In a previous column we talked about the challenges of being a long-distance caregiver. The subject matter dealt with knowing as much as possible when the caregiver is not local. One key component that should be added to the list of things a long-distance caregiver...
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: Depression During Covid
Even as the vaccine is now available to an increasing number of seniors, logical protections are still in place that have kept seniors isolated over the past year. The psychological distress that has been a by-product of isolation due to necessary social distancing...