As a 24/7 caregiver for her mother, my 52-year-old patient — I’ll call her Becca — gets little rest. At night, lying on the couch next to her mother’s hospital bed, she is jolted awake by her mom’s frequent cries of pain and confused conversation with people who aren’t there. During the day, she catnaps fitfully in the chair next to her mother’s recliner as the TV blares. Becca jokes that the bags under her eyes have bags. READ ENTIRE ARTICLE AT: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-2017/4-tips-for-better-sleep-while-caregiving.html

There are many health benefits to laughing. Countless studies have proved that laughter is not only good for the soul, but good for your health. Here are some of the ways: Laughing helps relax your body – Laughing actually relieves physical tension and stress that can build up in your muscles. Some studies show that a good laugh can leave muscled relaxed up to 45 minutes. Laughter actually can boost your immune system – laughing not only decreases stress but it actually boosts immune cells and infection fight antibodies and can help you resist disease. Protect your heart health by laughing more – laughing increases blood flow and improved blood vessel function making a person less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular complications. Laughter Helps you Feel good. A good harty laugh releases endorphins and neurochemicals in the brain that allow a person to feel better. To Help You Laugh more Here are some Jokes from The Home Care Standards Bureau website JOKES OF THE MONTH

Healthy eating is especially important for Seniors. Like others, their diet should include plenty of fresh foods and vegetables, but good nutrition is often neglected because of the difficulty of preparing the food or lack of interest in eating. Good food choices can also be a tasty source of hydration, so critical for seniors. In this special program sponsored by Specialty Home Care in Hershey, personal chef Linda Wittig will share some helpful and creative ideas for assuring a healthy diet for seniors. You will learn about the importance of eating fresh foods including fruit and vegetables and how easy it can be with the availability of pre-sliced choices. She will show you how ice pops, lemon water, jello, fruits and other items can help you stay hydrated. You will see how beans, fruit and other options can provide the fiber which is so necessary in a balanced diet for seniors and reduce the need for fiber drinks and supplements. Linda will explain how your diet can have the variety which makes it interesting, but stay with a schedule, and how to use snacks and smaller meals to assure sufficient nutrition. Learn some tricks to reduce time in the kitchen by preparing and storing meals in smaller quantities to freeze. And, you will get to experience a special bean salad and Linda’s easy to prepare smoothies to brighten your day! Linda Wittig is a Personal Chef who started her business in 1990 while living in New York City. Her clients included business men and women who were too busy to cook for themselves, families who wanted to eat well but didn’t know how to include preparation in their busy schedules, and people with special dietary needs. Having grown up in Palmyra, Linda moved back to the Hershey area last year. Her clients now include physicians from HMC and friends from high school. Her focus is to provide the best quality food available served to meet the client’s needs, whether a special diet, a busy lifestyle, or a small event with gourmet quality fresh food prepared in your own kitchen.

As an A+ rated agency, Specialty Home Care provides the highest standard of senior care, personal care, and respite care. They offer a wide variety of services, including companionship, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, medication reminder, errands, doctor visits, and specialty care to clients in the Hershey PA area throughout the surrounding regions. Every Month the HCSB releases a newsletter with articles designed to help those in need of in home care as well as the loved ones who care for them. Here are some of the most recent articles.

Explaining Alzheimer’s to Your Children or Teens Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of families; awareness of Alzheimer’s is quite high in America though it still may be a difficult conversation to have with younger children and adolescents. There may be a time when a grandparent experiences trouble remembering their grandkid’s name or their behavior seems strange to the child and it will come time for an explanation. Here are some ways to help your children understand and cope: Educate your child about the disease with facts Allow them to ask questions, encourage honesty and openness Reassure your child that their emotions are normal Foster a supporting environment and create space for the child to connect with their loved one Do activities together as a family such as play a game, go for a walk outdoors, create arts and crafts, or even help your loved one with household chores You can read more about Alzheimer’s disease and find resources for kids and teens here: http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_talking_to_kids_and_teens.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Media Contact: Press Release The Home Care Standards Bureau press@hcsb.us Donald Davis Specialty Home Care (717)533-4400 HOME HOME CARE STANDARDS BUREAU RATES SPECIALTY HOME CARE IN HERSHEY, PA AN A+ RATED AGENCY: With more than 20,000 home care agencies in the United States, finding the right one can be difficult. Home Care Standards Bureau (HCSB) has made it easier to find the best care available by rating non-medical home care agencies that meet the most stringent standards. Specialty Home Care is among a distinguished and limited national group of agencies to be recognized with an A+ rating from HCSB. HCSB grants the A+ rating only to home care agencies that meet and adhere to a stringent code of standards and ethics. These standards include extensive background checks and annual training for all caregivers. Once achieved, A+ rated agencies, such as Specialty Home Care, must submit regular disclosure statements to ensure that all standards are being maintained- including proper insurance and state licensing. A+ rated agencies also are subject to planned and surprise audits by HCSB. As an A+ rated agency, Specialty Home Care provides the highest standard of senior care, personal care, and respite care. They offer a wide variety of services, including companionship, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, medication reminder, errands, doctor visits, and specialty care to clients throughout the surrounding regions. Specialty Home Care asserts, “We can provide the support and peace of mind you and your family deserve.” Their motto, “Where your family becomes a part of ours,” highlights a largely unique core value of encouraging a strong client-caregiver relationship, which provides stability and trust to your loved one’s care. HCSB is proud to recognize Specialty Home Care as an A+ rated agency for their continued dedication to meeting stringent standards that demonstrate their high level of professionalism and compassion. The HCSB Board of Directors are: Dorcas Hardy- former appointee by President Ronald Reagan as Commissioner of Social Security; Ed Pittock- founder and former President of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA); Gail Hunt- president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. Home Care Standards Bureau (855)374-9076 www.homecarestandards.net Donald Davis Specialty Home Care (717)5334400 HOME

Try these 9 Simple Tips to help keep your brain sharp as you age. This WebMD article provides some great advice for thinking your best. Excercise Eat Healthy Mental Challenges Be Social Get a Good Nights Sleep Relieve Stress Stop Bad Habits (like smoking) Get checked by Doctor Use Memory Tricks For More Detail check out the full article http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/9-brain-boosters-to-prevent-memory-loss BECOME A CAREGIVER FIND A CAREGIVER

Making a decision to hire in-home care for your loved one can often be a difficult decision. Choosing the Right help maybe even more difficult: According to an article from Seniorhousingforum.net there are some basic qualities one should look for.. here is an excerpt from that article. “…make sure you are looking for the following five qualities: Listens –It is very important that a caregiver listen to the seniors they are caring for. It has to be more than get in, get out, get on with the next person. A real caregiver wants to spend tie getting to know the seniors and supporting them physically and emotionally. Not having someone who cares to talk to is often one of the most comment complaints senior have. Follows Directions –You want to hire someone who can follow directions. Whether it is for a fire drill or just for meal times, they need to be able to understand, remember, and follow the directions that are given to them, even in a chaotic situation. A level head and a quick mind are very important. Knows the Rules – Not only should they be able to follow directions, they should also know the rules. From simple things like medication to more complex ideas like privacy issues, it is important that the caregivers understand and follow the guidelines set forth. Legal issues are a huge hardship on everyone involved. The more you can avoid, the better off everyone will be. Helpful –This is a no brainer. A caregiver should be helpful, above and beyond the call of duty. From sitting and talking to helping with physical movement to coming up with activities, a caregiver should always be willing to lend a hand and contribute to the community. Kind and Patient –There will be a lot of hard and boring times as a caregiver. They have to be able to handle slowing down and not push the seniors to move beyond their pace. A gentle spirit and a heart of kindness are also appreciated by everyone, seniors and co-workers alike.”  FIND A CARE GIVER NOW BECOME A CAREGIVER

As a caregiver you have a vital role to play in the life of another person. It can requires dedication, compassion, stamina and hard work. Despite the challenges the rewards can be unsurpassable. In fact to National Opinion Research Center 83% of caregivers looked at their experience as positive. Here are some of the reason to consider becoming a caregiver. Caring for somone who needs it Being Needed Feeling Accomplished Finding personal strength and increasing confidence Giving back to tired families Character Building Developing new skills Learning to value the present Making a real difference Making somoene smile Apply to Become a Caregiver Today