Preparing to Care for

Aging Loved Ones

There are many joys families experience within the relationships they have with senior relatives. Grandma and Grandpa are often able to tell the best tales of times past. The memories they impart during family get-togethers, along with valuable family history seniors recount, become the ties that bind many families together. Our elder ancestors are the very roots that strengthen each relative’s sense of place, comfort and knowledge of how they came to be in this world.


Along with the joys seniors bring to our lives come hard decisions that may eventually need to be made regarding their ability to live alone. Some seniors suffer mental or physical limitations that make it difficult for them to safely care for themselves. In these instances, family members find themselves in the position of deciding who can provide the best care for their loved ones. Typically, this decision-making process – from recognition to solution – can take approximately a year and a half. Usually a female family member such as a daughter or granddaughter is the one who makes the final decision of care.  In families where there is no daughter, this role often falls on the shoulders of the oldest son’s wife (the daughter-in-law).


There are two types of caregiving scenarios to consider – choosing a willing family member to provide care or hiring a home care company to deliver caregiving services for seniors. Deciding to become a family caregiver can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Family caregivers often find their relationships with their senior loved ones enriched and satisfying beyond words. It feels good to give the gift of time. Even so, becoming a family caregiver can have a negative impact in some ways, as well. Many family caregivers experience financial difficulties by either having to miss work to care for their loved one or by supporting two households. Family caregivers also become susceptible to suffering depression due to the physical and emotional impact caregiving for a family member can have. Careful consideration of all parties involved should be taken before a family member takes on a caregiving role.


An alternative to family caregiving is to hire a professional and experienced agency to provide care and support. Comfort Keepers^® is one such home care agency that focuses on  serving the senior population. Comfort Keepers, which is what we call our caregivers,  perform duties ranging from occasional housekeeping to daily companionship for seniors who need close monitoring.


Comfort Keepers is an expert in helping families make these crucial decisions. As a leader in the home care industry, the company has devised a list of critical questions for families to ask when interviewing caregiving companies. That list can be found here by clicking on comfortkeepers.com.  Choosing a company that best fits a loved one’s needs and facilitates a safe environment for a senior in his or her own home is essential for successIn any event, deciding a loved one needs additional care can be a daunting experience. Deciding who can best care for a senior loved one is a very important decision. The end result should make everyone happy and provide peace of mind for all involved.

Recognizing a Stroke

You don't have to be a doctor to save a life or to keep stroke damage to a minimum.  Knowing what to look for, and acting quickly, can make all  the difference.  A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours, he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick is getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours. 

Recognizing symptoms is the key!  Read this important information to learn, and then remember, these 3 steps: S T R!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness can spell disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.


Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and speak a simple sentence coherently.
       (i.e. It is sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.


If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.


*** Another Sign of a Stroke ***
       Ask the person to stick out their tongue!


NOTE: Another possible sign of a stroke is this: Ask the person to stick out his/her tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', or if it goes to one side or the other, that can also be an indication of a stroke.

At Comfort Keepers, we provide this simple, but extremely important, information to all of our caregivers.  And, as with so many situations, good training combined with common sense can make all the difference.  Visit our website today at www.comfortkeepers.com/office-697  to read about some of our top-notch caregivers and how they make a difference each and every day.  Call us today to see how we help you and your loved one live a safer and happier life right at home!