SYNERGY HomeCare Blog

Sometimes an aging parent will recognize their need for help and ask for it. But more often, they don’t ask. Some do not speak up out of fear they will be pressured to give up their independence and move to an assisted living facility. Or they may worry that they will be a burden to family members. Sometimes they don’t even realize that they need help. Learn the signs that they need help before it's too late.

New technology can make it easier to communicate, remember things, and get around safely. 
Most adults over age 50 say they’d like to “age in place”—that is, safely grow older in the comfort of their own homes rather than in an assisted living facility. There are multiple benefits to aging in place: it is often more cost-effective, allows you to keep your long-time social connections, doctors, and other service providers, and provides more independence.

While baking can be an overwhelming task for older adults, there are several reasons for taking the time in the kitchen. The biggest reason being diet and nutrition. Store-bought snacks and boxed/frozen food may not have the nutrients that the body needs. Luckily, baking easy, healthy foods doesn’t have to take a lot of time and energy. Plus, it's a great way to stay busy during the lonely times of COVID-19 isolation or in between books or Netflix shows.

The health, safety, and well-being of our clients and their families is always our top priority. We continue to closely monitor information about the virus as it is released by reputable public health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We are committed to providing best practices for prevention and the most up-to-date information available.

If you’re like me, the pandemic has left a hole in your heart. It’s a void filled by simple conversation with others, especially strangers who generously share a slice of their lives to remind us we’re human and alive. Details of others’ experiences, rich upon comparison, subtly teaching us without a classroom or a textbook. We learn through others’ visions; it’s no wonder, today, and almost every day during the pandemic, that I hunger for your story or his story or their story.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one-third of all seniors live by themselves. That means that one-third of our senior population is attempting to take care of themselves while suffering from age-related challenges, medical problems, and, in some cases, mental health problems. Many cannot drive to get where they need to go and even struggle with managing their finances and medication.

Family caregivers have been struggling with caregiver burnout for longer than most can remember. “Compassion fatigue” was penned decades ago to describe the physiological effects experienced by professional caregivers. Today, the term has resurfaced in the health care field as the buzzword to describe the toll it has taken on caregivers as they battle the ups and downs of COVID-19. 

An estimated 5.8 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2020. This American population is dependent on family and other caregivers to live safe and healthy lives. The overall quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia can be influenced by the type of care and support that they receive. While it may be difficult to imagine that people living with cognitive diseases can live happy lives, it does happen. One of the best ways to support these adults is by establishing a safe and impactful in-home care program designed to meet individual needs.

With the proliferation of COVID-19, parents of school-age children are scrambling to secure safe child care as they go back to school, either online or in the classroom.  Parents who work from home seek uninterrupted workdays, and those who go into their office need to know their children are in good hands and are taking safety measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.

If you’re a mom or a family member stuck in the sandwich generation, it’s vital to realize the importance of not letting stress destroy your family.

When Lisa and Mark Piegza moved to the Lowcountry from New Jersey to begin a new venture, they envisioned Mark’s parents would also make the move someday, as his mom, now 84, has shown a slow cognitive decline over the last ten years.

Four years ago, Mark’s mom, Helen, fell and fractured her hip. The surgery and recovery from the fall significantly exacerbated the decline in her memory. Life was becoming more challenging for Mark’s mom and dad, who were too far away for them to provide hands-on help or care.

No one in the family was ready for what took place last spring. Helen fell again and fractured her other hip. Complications led to three surgeries within five weeks, causing her dementia to accelerate faster than the family could have imagined.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit our lives like a runaway train, you probably worried about your aging parents living alone, wondering, “Are they healthy? Taking care of themselves? Eating enough? Taking their medication on schedule?” What about the guilt of not visiting them as often as you probably should?

As we age, the fear of falling becomes top of mind. Often this fear keeps older adults from everyday activities such as visiting with friends, shopping or going for a walk. 

While the fear is real, it can lead to a reduction in activity that affects your health. The good news is you can ease this fear and remain both physically and socially active by practicing a few fall prevention guidelines.

Whether you live close to your parents or are keeping tabs on them from afar, it may be difficult to recognize when they are in need of support at home. Facing the reality that your parents are aging and vulnerable can be hard and you may find yourself in a state of denial for a period of time.

With the uncertainty of living with COVID-19, the considerations for transitioning from hospital or rehab to home have changed considerably, particularly for seniors. Similarly, with safety in mind, many seniors are voluntarily transitioning from assisted or skilled nursing facilities to home under the care of a single caregiver to minimize exposure to the coronavirus. 

Often, adult children and other family members fail to consider how caring for an aging parent or loved one can impact the dynamics of their family relationships until they are face to face with the situation. Siblings and close family members can live next door to one another, in the same city or across the country, but the challenge of providing care and what it will mean to them as family caregivers can be stressful. Even the strongest of relationships can become strained when roles change and people become more than sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters and take on the role of caregiver.

The impact of COVID-19 has hit different people in different ways. For many, fear of contracting the virus has made daily activities like grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions a challenge. Some families have lost childcare due to the closure of childcare facilities. And every day public interactions have become scary and risky. 

With the proliferation of COVID-19, parents of school age children are scrambling to secure safe child care as they go back to work. Parents who once depended on camps and day care are questioning how safe it is to have their children attend programs with many children enrolled. Some camps and day care centers are weighing steps to open—but others aren’t certain if or when they’ll reopen their facilities.  Parents are challenged with the “what ifs” of allowing their children to be exposed to other kids.

While the average 105-year-old man might be slowing down, “Lucky” Lucchi is vibrant and thriving.

Hospital aftercare in your own home offers a safe alternative to rehab or a nursing facility where exposure to COVID-19 is higher and caregivers have several patients to attend to which means your needs may lag attention.  Post-hospitalization, recovering from a car accident or surgery—SYNERGY HomeCare home care ensures a speedy recovery, reducing the risk of readmission.

The best reasons for choosing in-home care for hospital aftercare are one-on-one care, faster recovery time, and reduced risk of exposure to coronavirus.

A return to the hospital shortly after discharge is an indication that the patient was not prepared to go home.  In-home care provides one-on-one care for faster recovery by following discharge instructions. SYNERGY HomeCare can help with a caregiver who will take care of you and your home.

It is a widely recognized fact that the flu can be extremely dangerous. But, as people age, the body’s natural immune system weakens, and viruses like the flu can be deadly. People 65 and older are at a much greater risk of developing complications from the flu than younger adults. In fact, the CDC has reported that in recent years, an estimated 70-90 percent of flu-related deaths occurred in people 65 years of age or older.

Today’s youth are not the only people who enjoy and benefit from taking and posting selfies! In fact, selfie-taking has become a fun and advantageous activity for the older population. Selfies are “technically” a social-media commodity. People enjoy taking pictures of themselves, getting “likes” and “comments” on their photos or commenting on another person’s  photos. Social media has made it incredibly easy for family and friends to stay connected even if they live hundreds of miles apart.

Senior citizens with prescription medications, outdoor workers and individuals without air conditioning can be at risk during the heat. Here are some tips to stay safe and cool.

Staying hydrated is important for everyone, especially seniors! With the summer months upon us and as the days get hotter, not getting enough fluids in your body can cause serious health problems. Older adults, in particular, have a higher risk of suffering from dehydration.

When we think about traveling, we typically don’t think about day-to-day travel needs. Because local travel happens much more often, it is a great idea to get ready in advance for any upcoming outings.

People over the age of 65 are more prone to heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses because of the way the body temperature is regulated. Sweat production and body fat are related to how the body cools itself off. Seniors don’t sweat as much as the younger generation and often store more fat. These factors can cause dehydration and other heat-related issues when the body is not being hydrated correctly.

Heart health is a vital part of healthy aging and healthy living. These simple tips will help improve and/or maintain a healthy heart!

We're making some changes for 2018!

Aging comes with a variety of physical problems. To alleviate these challenges, seniors often move to nursing homes or have in-home care to help them with their ailments and day-to-day activities. 

Winter is an incredible opportunity to curl up with a great book, read a magazine or watch a movie with the family. We're building Family Resources so you can exactly those things while you beat the winter chill indoors.

How are your loved ones doing? Here are some things you can be mindful of during holiday visits with family to answer this question.

Tired of making money for someone else, Jay Kiley cashed in his career in the banking business and invested in himself - opening a SYNERGY HomeCare franchise.

Dale Dalbey is a Super Dad who’s been doing it all — on his own. After adopting his son as a single dad, Dalbey decided to become a business owner. He now owns SYNERGY HomeCare Emerald Coast.

When family caregivers get overwhelmed and feel like they aren’t doing enough or that they don’t want to do it anymore, it’s nice to not feel alone. Some of these statistics help by working as a coping mechanism.

John. James, Mary and Linda. If you are part of the baby boomer generation, you likely know a lot of people with those names. As the times change, so do the popular names. So what would your name be if you were born today?

Growing old is inevitable. Doing it right is a choice. Here are some ideas to grow old gracefully. Cheers to #8!

Five ways to take care of YOU while taking care of someone else without feeling selfish - because you’re not!

If you are having a hard time getting your parents to part with their possessions, here is a step-by-step guide to help you clean up their past.

Is your elderly parents’ house packed with possessions, but they don’t want to part with a single piece? Here are some ways to get them on board with a plan to declutter.

While caring for your aging parent is a labor of love, it is still labor. You may find yourself giving up favorite hobbies and vacations, feeling distracted at work and getting more stressed with your spouse and children. Here are some suggestions on how to take care of yourself while taking care of someone else.

Every caregiver needs to create a detailed list of medications for his or her patient. Here’s a look at what exactly needs to be on it.

As a caregiver it is up to you to manage your loved one’s medications so the patient stays healthy and is not harmed by a potential deadly mistake.

Sleeping is a key component to good health. There are several factors to may interrupt one’s ability to get a good night’s rest and ultimately impact their overall well-being.

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. A look at what you can do to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies

Skin cancer is treatable if caught early. Here are the signs to look for so you can get to the doctor in time.

A look at the ways to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer, including tips on finding the right sunscreen and applying it correctly.

Taking care of elderly parents is even more difficult if you live far from each other. This article explains what you need to do to get organized, so things go as smoothly as possibly.

You’ve heard the saying, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. The same applies to our bodies as we age. Weakness and mobility issues can be linked to a person’s lack of moving in the first place. Exercise is important, no matter what your age. Start moving again with these six workouts for seniors.

It used to be that love used to make us weak in the knees, but as we age, pain is the likely culprit. Try these proactive ways to keep your knees strong and healthy:

It’s time to take advantage of your chronological credentials and use your senior discount. If you saved a dollar a day by asking for your 50+ benefit, you’d have over $300 at the end of the year. Check out this website that lists more than 250,000 businesses that offer discounts to people over 50.

Talking about death is never easy. Here are five important questions to ask your aging parents before it’s too late.

Eating too much sugar can put seniors at risk for a variety of health problems, and most of the sugar they consume is hidden in foods they may eat every day.

1 in 4 people over age 60 have diabetes. A look at how one senior’s handling his diabetes diagnosis, and some warning signs of the disease to be aware of.

What is Sundowner’s Syndrome ? How does this form of Alzheimer’s Disease impact the sufferer and the family responsible for his/her care.  

There is a new push to make sure seniors get immunized for devastating diseases like pneumonia, shingles, and whooping cough. Caregivers can play a vital role in making sure seniors get these important shots.

Whether healthy or unhealthy, Baby Boomers will live longer and will need someone to take care of them.  That burden will fall to the family unless professional caregivers step in to help.

An estimated one in 10 older people experiences some form of abuse every year.  The far-reaching health effects of elder abuse can be devastating.

One woman’s story of how she suddenly became a caregiver to her aging father - a role she wasn’t quite ready to accept.

A look at six of the challenges caregivers face – some when they are first starting out, some after they have been caregivers for a while.

There are so many different diets today catering to many different people depending on their goals. The MIND diet focuses on eating “brain healthy” foods, like berries and green vegetables.

Forget flowers and jewelry, here are some suggestions for age appropriate and useful Mother’s Day gifts for the elderly mother.

When riots broke out in the streets of Baltimore, SYNERGY HomeCare made sure clients were served, and caregivers were safe. 

“Dad’s hearing has gotten so bad that I have to shout.” “Mom forgets even having conversations with me – never mind remembering what we talked about.” Sound familiar? Communicating with elderly parents, whether they are suffering from dementia or not, can be frustrating.

A 73-year-old widow wrecks her car. Her adult son, realizing it is no longer safe, insists she stop driving. His stubborn mother argues she’s perfectly capable and doesn’t need a chauffeur. It takes a long time before she grudgingly admits he was right.

It’s not always easy to recognize the time has come for your aging parents to stop driving. And seniors often refuse to give up their keys, even when it’s obvious they should.

Kyle’s 84-year-old father called with good news: He had won a sweepstakes! He just needed to pay a fee to collect a very large cash prize. Kyle was instantly suspicious. “Dad, this sounds like a scam. Did you even enter a sweepstakes?”

With more than 10,000 people turning 65 every day for the next 10-20 years, and most of those people hoping to stay living at home for as long as they can, it’s no wonder businesses catering to the senior market are booming.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” The line from a classic television commercial about a senior safety device has been the butt of jokes for years. The reality is that falls among seniors are a serious danger, and the consequences can be life threatening.

Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. The disease is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people by 2050.

According to thestreet.com, elderly people with no family to care for them were often faced with the only option available -- a nursing home -- once they were unable to live independently.