Give an “Angel” for Christmas!

If you are looking for a special gift for your aging loved one, why not give them an “Angel”?

We are offering special four-hour packages of care at a discounted Christmas rate.

The “Angel” service you give your loved one can include:

• Personal hygiene
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Medical reminders
• And of course  great companionship from our caring and compassionate caregivers.

So many times the loved one is resistant to receiving any ongoing care and this gift of care might be just what they need to see the benefits of Visiting Angels.

This four hours of care is $80 but we are offering this as a special Christmas gift to new clients at a 25% discount  for a total of only $60.

The gift certificate will include four-hours of continuous care and conforms to our normal standard care policies.  The four hours are good for only one care recipient and must be used as a single four hour block and may not be used on holidays.  Additional hours may be purchased.  This gift certificate is offered by and only valid at Visiting Angels of NW Valley and is for a limited time only.

Please email us at visitingangelsaz@gmail.com for more info or other conditions which might apply to your needs.

Or telephone Teresa at 623-266-9304 and arrange for an “Angel” to visit your loved one soon.

Reverse Mortgages are Changing.

I am in the middle of exploring all avenues of income generation for one of our clients.  She is approaching 90 and is in remarkable health and her mind is still sharp as a tack.  She lives in a nice home, almost 2,000 square feet and feels comfortable and safe there even though she lives alone.  She looks into the future and sees that there is a possibility of running out of money and needs to lower her expenses.

Since  I am also a licensed real estate agent we have explored the possibility of selling her home and moving into either an independent living or assisted

What Happens Next?

This is something that I have been thinking about for a long time.  In fact, all my life.  What happens next on this page is that you will be asked to participate.

Many events happen in our life without us having the opportunity of seeing it coming.  Some of these events are positive like an unexpected bonus at work, an upgrade at a hotel or a long lost friend calls you.  But sometimes they produce depression like the loss of a job, an illness or the loss of a loved one.

Is Sodium a Hidden Problem?

from Jeffrey Johnson

Most of us are pretty darn tired, even to the point of hysterics, at the never-ending onslaught of information and misinformation handed out by the multiple “expert” sources regarding what foods are good for us, which cause cancer, and which prevent any number of diseases. For example, red wine was once thought to be very good for people, but only if we have a glass or two a day (that’s 7-14 per week). Yet, we all know that alcohol is poison and therefore bad for our frail human systems. And that is only the beginning of the discussion on red wine . . . It never ends. So, what if anything, can we glean from all these words of wisdom on food? The easiest and most useful approach is to find a common denominator and begin your food research from there. From my perspective, there are two areas of major, bottom-line concern: salt (sodium) and sugar. Let’s look a bit at salt today.

Son Kills Dad with Alzheimer’s

Bobby with his dad

This is a recent AOL News article on the events that led up to a son being charge with the murder of his father.   The son was the only caregiver for the Alzheimer’s inflicted father and their relationship was increasingly strained.  It doesn’t have a happy ending for anyone but there might be some lessons learned here.  If a professional caregiver would have been called in to give some respite to the son this might have never occurred.  In the later stages of the disease the patient can become explosive, combative and violent, so maybe the situation was beyond external help, it is hard to tell.

I think it is incumbant on all of us to recognize if a friend or family member is getting overwhelmed and to strongly suggest external help.  In situations like this caregivers not only provide care and support for the elderly loved one but gives such relief to the overworked family caregiver that it borders on rehabilitation.

Spend a little time on this article and please leave a comment.

http://news.aol.com/health/article/son-allegedly-killed-dad-with-alzheimers/759079

Ongoing Alzheimer’s Research

According to the National Institute for the Aging and the National Institute of Heath a cure for the debilitating and fatal disease of Alzheimer’s is achievable.  This is a short video from HBO Films about new developments in research.

Do you get dizzy?

Here are some very simple exercises that you can do to help with the symptoms of vertigo.  My mother-in-law suffered from terrible episodes of dizziness and there was more than one occasion where we called the ambulance and had her transported to the hospital.  After she was diagnosed with vertigo we found theses exercises.  This along with some chiropractic care has totally eliminated the symptoms.

Blueberries as the “Magic Bullet”

How I love to go into Sam’s Club and see those little deep blueberries in a large container.  I love to put them in cereal, on ice cream, in pies, in cheese cakes or just pop a handful in my mouth as a snack.  I have heard that they are very rich in antioxidants (are there any pro-oxidents?) and I really don’t fully understand what that is all about but I know it is good for me.  So here is a reprint about that magical fruit from someone who knows a whole lot more than I do.

By C.J. King

Blueberries are not only a low-calorie snack; they are also a great source of nutrients. New research suggests blueberries are a great way to naturally

Tips For The Long Distance Caregiver

from Jeffrey Johnson In today’s world, the reality of caregiving is that many family members have moved away from their childhood homes, often times more than several hours away. This creates a new level of independence for those that move away, but it can develop a true burden when it comes time to care for mom or dad. Today we will look at the basic issues and solutions involved in long distance caregiving. As with all problems, it is important to identify if the situation is actually problematic, and what are the

Easy Exercises for Seniors

Hi everybody.  I found these great and simple exercises for seniors that will  increase flexibility, strength and balance.  Loss of those three or deminished capabilities can increase the possibility of a fall and that could lead to a hospital stay.  Do these only after you have talked to your doctor and have your caregiver assist you.

The Knees Up Exercise

 

Seated Chair Squats for Seniors