Robin Elario, Owner of Assisting Hands Home Care, Talks About In-Home Health Care

MILWAUKEE - May 13, 2019 - PRLog -- I'm Robin Elario, owner of Assisting Hands Home Care in Brookfield, WI.  My passion for helping others guided my decision in purchasing an existing Assisting Hands franchise in June of 2017. Many people are faced with the reality, either for themselves or a loved one, that performing basic activities of daily living are becoming more and more difficult. However, moving to a facility is certainly not the desired outcome. In those instances, in-home care may be an excellent option.

In this post, I'm going to talk about a common and serious topic – falls.

Falls are a serious issue for seniors. The American Geriatrics Society estimates that fall injuries are responsible for medical costs of up to $50 billion annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that these injuries claim the lives of almost 30,000 older adults each year. There are many obvious side effects from a serious fall, but one we don't often think of is creating the fear of falling.

The thought of a fall causes a great deal of anxiety for family members and the elderly themselves. In order to protect our loved ones, we often try to limit the amount they move about, and their activity level, by offering to fetch things for them or take on simple tasks for them. Unfortunately, this compounds the senior's fear of falling causing them to want to stay put. This can create a downward spiral into loss of muscle strength and reduced cardiovascular health as well as emotional instability.

If you are worried about a loved one falling, a trained, professional caregiver can greatly reduce the risks associated with falls by providing assistance which will instill a level of confidence rather than fear.

Supervision – A professional caregiver can provide an extra set of eyes and a helpful hand while seniors try to navigate up and down stairs, and room to room. However, many times, laundry facilities are in the basement and trash cans are in the garage/outside which is certainly not the safest places for an elderly person. A caregiver can get those tasks accomplished reducing unnecessary adventures for seniors which pose great risks.

Home Safety Modifications – There are very simple ways that a senior's home can be made safer such as installing grab bars in the shower/tub, converting a tub to a walk-in shower, a raised toilet seat, improved lighting (as well as in closets) and non-slip surfaces. These all make a home safer but there are additional precautions that can be taken, and that's where a professional caregiver can help by making sure any spills are cleaned up, loose rugs are secure, items are removed from floors/walkways and assistance is given getting in and out of the shower or tub.

Post-Hospital Assistance – Sometimes someone needs assistance post-surgery or after a hospital stay. A recent study published by the British Geriatrics Society found that a senior's fall risk is much higher for at least six months after they are discharged to home from the hospital, no matter what they were in for. A professional caregiver can provide the extra support needed during this critical time of recovery.

Dementia/Alzheimer's Care – The American Geriatrics Society recently noted that seniors with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia have twice the risk of suffering a fall. And if they do fall, they are at higher risk of fractures, head injuries and death. Even seniors with minor memory and thinking problems are more likely to fall. A caregiver who is trained in memory care can help your loved one avoid dangerous situations when they lack the cognitive ability to make good decisions on their own.

Peace of mind for family – If you live apart from your loved one, the anxiety that is felt wondering if they are safe can be overwhelming. Did dad try to change that light bulb he mentioned? Did mom attempt to wash the kitchen floor?  These situations are the reality and pose serious threats for seniors. Having a professional caregiver on-hand to assist with these seemingly simple, but dangerous, tasks can greatly diminish threats for seniors, providing peace of mind for family members.

It's important to help seniors overcome their fear of falling and provide peace of mind to family members and in-home care is a viable option in a lot of cases.

Assisting Hands Home Care provides caregivers to assist with non-medical activities of daily living (ADL's) in a client's personal residence, senior living community or while staying with a friend or family members, for as little as 3 hours once per week, to seven days a week. A free consultation is always available to help determine if in-home care is good option.

For more information about Assisting Hands Home Care, call Robin Elario at 262-212-0114, email at relario@assistinghands.com or visit our website at www.assistinghands.com/menomonee