At LiveWell Elder Care Management, we understand the pressures you are under as a family caregiver. This blog is designed to support you in the incredibly important work that you do. As northern Worcester and Middlesex counties expert in family caregiving, we have resources, tips and information that can make your life much easier. If you would like help, give us a call at: 978-660-7835.
Does your loved one need to downsize? Move? Does the prospect seem overwhelming? Perhaps not just physically, but emotionally too? Enter the senior move manager: Part mover, part interior decorator, part compassionate friend. These professionals take a holistic approach. They handle the physical logistics. They are also skilled at assisting older adults with the emotional side of a move.
This is World FTD Awareness Week. People with FTD often exhibit sudden changes in behavior or personality. FTD is frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, or some psychiatric disorder. It is the most common form of dementia for people under 65 (early-onset dementia).
National Stepfamily Day falls in September. To honor these special families, we are featuring an article about working with stepsiblings. It could be that you have hardly met your “brothers and sisters,” yet you may be called upon to work together in an eldercare crisis.
September is Pain Awareness Month. Consider addressing your loved one’s pain with tips from music therapy. No drugs. No side effects. Simply drawing on the mind-body connection to lift mood, enhance relaxation, and distract from pain.
A difficult or abusive childhood makes for a very uncomfortable caregiving situation when your parent begins to need help in their later years. You don’t have to do it all. Consider these strategies for doing what feels right while also taking care of yourself.
Support your loved one’s independence with simple but important low-vision adaptations in the bathroom: Color contrasts, a magnifying mirror, a shower caddy, etc.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports we have a loneliness epidemic. Like smoking and obesity, social isolation creates a greater risk for poor health. It’s been associated with a 48 percent increase in “premature death” (a death where a change in lifestyle could have resulted in a longer life). Our social health affects our physical health.
It will likely take one to three months for you and your loved one to get used to the new living situation at memory care. Strong emotions are to be expected. But there are strategies to ease the transition and promote a resilient recovery for both of you.
Have you spent years encouraging a loved one to steer clear of salt or avoid fat? There is no doubt that a healthy diet can promote longevity. But there does come a time when quality of life is more important.
Is being selfish always bad? Is it possible to be too altruistic? Take the survey to see where you stand. It could be that you and your loved one would benefit from your being a little more selfish—in a healthy way.
LiveWell Eldercare helped me transition my mother to Assisted Living. Their expertise and collaboration with Drs helped to bring my mother’s diabetes under control. Angela and Trish are kind, compassionate and worked tirelessly to ensure that my Mom’s final days were the best they could be.
Angela has been a godsend for our family!She truly understands seniors and is skilled at connecting and communicating effectively with them. She has been managing key healthcare tasks for our aging parents, including coordinating specialized medical procedures for our Mom.This has been extremely valuable for us since we live time-zones away.It is obvious Angela has a passion for elder care given her level of expertise. She has gone above and beyond for us, even sacrificing her personal time to help us.It takes a special person to provide this kind of care for seniors, and we thank Angela tremendously for her services.
Angela is actively involved in overseeing our father’s care allowing him to continue living safely in his home even as his cognitive abilities and physical health continue to decline.She monitors his medications, in-home care services while also transporting him to and attending all medical appointments. Angela keeps us well informed of interactions and communications with his team of medical professionals.Our family is profoundly grateful to have Angela’s knowledge and understanding to guide us. Her experience is invaluable and has helped prevent re-hospitalizations.Angela’s calm presence, professionalism and compassion give us all peace of mind knowing our father is in very capable hands.
Angela is great, very easy to work with. Her clients' well-being is her top priority. She contacted us here at Visiting Angels of Leominster to provided in-home visits for one of her clients, and I have been impressed with her compassion and professionalism. I would highly recommend Angela's services to anyone looking for elder care for a loved one.
This past year has been an interesting year for and with an older relative, dealing with hospitalizations and cognitive issues. Because she lives along, there were concerns that she may have had to leave her home and go into an assisted living facility. But then we found LiveWell Elder Care Management. With Angela Ashton’s guidance and help to arrange home care services, Angela has made it possible for our relative to continue to live in her home. Thank you for helping us to make sure our relative has an even better quality of life living safely at home.
LiveWell Elder Care Management has been a total lifesaver for me. I live on the opposite side of the country from an elderly parent. When there was an urgent situation in the middle of the ongoing pandemic and there was no way for me to safely fly to the east coast, they jumped in on a moment's notice and alleviated the concerns greatly. They have provided great ongoing support ever since as well!