November is National Gratitude Month

What a fitting and timely idea to celebrate this month in 2021!

Gratitude, as defined by Webster's Dictionary is: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

My own favorite is this one found on the Internet by googling: What does gratitude really mean?

Gratitude is a warm feeling of thankfulness towards the world, or towards specific individuals. The person who feels gratitude is thankful for what they have, and does not constantly seek more.

National Gratitude Month began in 2015, an initiative spearheaded by Stacey Grewal. She believes gratitude to be an essential ingredient of a happy and fulfilling life. When one embraces gratitude, they immediately shift their focus from the negative to the positive things in their lives.

For all of us this November, gratitude, with a capital G, should have been our foremost thought as we gathered around the table for a Thanksgiving feast with family and loved ones. It was probably not be like the ones we celebrated pre-COVID but it was also probably unlike last year when COVID-19 was deadly and widespread, masks and social distancing were watchwords and encouraged practices. Celebrations outdoors were strongly recommended. Many of us shrunk the size of our typical Thanksgiving gathering and maneuvered to keep the gathering outdoors as the safest way to celebrate last year.

What a difference a year can make! Looking back to November 2020 to now, November 2021.

Now we have approved safe vaccines that protect us from the deadly, still present COVID-19. Even though this virus has a more contagious version in the Delta variant, we are in a much safer place to keep ourselves healthy because of the vaccines that have been available since early this year. For fully vaccinated Americans, holiday gatherings indoors with family, loved ones and friends could be almost a return to "normal" as we remember or a new "normal'' of living with the virus but having protection. The vaccines are a miracle of today's technology--mRNA-- that was the foundation for the rapid development and deployment of a protective vaccine for us in the USA. And it is truly miraculous because typically a vaccine takes years from development to authorization and approval.

The ability to be vaccinated and even have already had a booster for the vaccines at this time enables us to enjoy a happy and safe holiday season in an environment that is so very different than just one calendar year ago.

Although COVID-19 is still with us, and we have lost more than 700K Americans, we now have a choice of not one but three effective vaccines that are widely available. And as of 11/19, the CDC has announced that a booster shot is now available to all adults over 18. That means that this holiday season can be a return to almost normal for those vaccinated and even boosted to enjoy as close to pre-COVID as is safe.

So let us be grateful for the existence and widespread availability of these vaccines and the boosters that will provide us longer term immunity and safety from contracting COVID-19.

And let us be grateful for the health care workers on the frontline day in and day out who are tirelessly treating those who are hospitalized with COVID. They have been through so many peaks and valleys with those needing care since the pandemic affected Americans.

And let us be grateful for essential workers who continue to provide services and products through all of this. Before and since the vaccines have become available they are the restaurant workers serving us as we dine out, helping in grocery stores for our food shopping, managing public transportation and the list continues. But they provide necessary services for all us to carry on in our lives.

And lastly on a specifically home care situation, a huge shoutout of enormous gratitude to our dedicated home care caregivers who show up daily to care for and support our clients in these most challenging of times. They keep our valued clients safe and healthy in their homes.

Even if November is Gratitude Month, everyone can start living with gratitude each day. It is said that living with gratitude contributes to better health. Mental and physical. A more positive outlook on life.

Gratitude month suggests 3 activities to engage in to grow your gratitude:

--Start a Gratitude Journal. Record three to five things you are grateful for each day. It can be an excellent coping mechanism throughout your life journey when things are not going as we want them to or even dealing with stress, disappointments, heartache, loss etc. It gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you are grateful for despite setbacks.

--Spread Gratitude. Thank your family, loved ones, friends and let them know you appreciate them and are grateful to have them in your life. A sincere compliment to an essential worker thanking them for their services is a simple, easy way to spread it as well.

--Give back to the community. Helping others in your community is a way of helping someone else and you will most often find that giving back time and/or donations helps you as much as those you are helping.

Keep safe! Keep healthy! Have an attitude of gratitude! And have a happy holiday season!

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

The Importance of Selecting A Licensed Home Care Agency

Over the years there have been stories about the abuse and mistreatment of older adults by their caregivers. A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle documenting the abuse by an unscrupulous caregiver has prompted a revisit of this topic and a discussion of the critical reasons for selecting a licensed agency to provide non-medical home care for your family and loved ones.

In 2016, the California Department of Social Services added the Home Care Services Bureau to its vast organization (For more information about the Bureau and its mission and goals click here).  With the legislation that created the Bureau, consumers are now able to ensure that the agency they hire to care for their elder family members is now licensed by the state. This HCSB has oversight of and enforces the requirements that allow licensees to operate legally in California. 

Licensing Demands Higher Standards

Home care agencies that are licensed, like Alice Home Care, are subject to regulations that aim to ensure a high standard of care and accountability. Some of the more critical requirements are that licensed agencies must be bonded, insured, and each of its caregivers must also be licensed by the state. Caregiver licensing requires a thorough background check performed by the DOJ and FBI, health clearance, and she/he must receive annual training. Additionally, both agency and caregiver licensing are subject to bi-annual renewals. 

A Red Flag

When searching for agencies, one of the first questions you should ask is whether the agency’s caregivers are W-2 employees. Many agencies will market themselves as a typical agency, but deploy contractors instead of W-2 employees. Simply put, agencies that deploy contractors are not subject to the same standard of accountability for their caregivers, i.e., bonding, insurance, worker’s compensation, etc. In contrast, having W-2 employees forces an agency to carry insurance, pay payroll taxes and worker’s compensation. Hiring a contractor exposes clients to extraordinary liability in the event the caregiver is injured on the job, among other operational risks. So in selecting a home care agency to care for your loved ones who need a little bit of help, the only choice is the one who can verify for you they are licensed to operate in the state of California.

Checking Licensure

All licensed home care agencies have a license/facility number. This number is required to be displayed on the agency's website, marketing collateral and all advertisements. In turn, the CDSS provides a search tool on its website for you to check the licensing status of any licensed agency.

When the time comes to identify a home care agency to support someone who needs help to continue to live in their home with some outside help, only choose a licensed Home Care Agency. That will be peace of mind for you and your family.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Preparing for Fall: it’s Falls Prevention Awareness Week!

For older adults, falls are a dangerous occurrence as it is often severe and serious enough that it can vastly change one's life. Some statistics from the CDC tell the story about the impact of falls, especially for elders.

• 1/4 of Americans aged 65 plus falls each year

• Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury as well as the most common cause of non-fatal hospital admissions for older adults.

• Falls result in more than 3 million injuries the Emergency Departments treat annually, including more than 800,000 hospitalizations.

• Each year about $50 billion is on medical costs related to non-fatal fall injuries and $754 million is spent on fatal falls. This is expected to increase as the population ages and is projected to exceed $101 billion by 2030.

However, falls are not inevitable as you age. Falls prevention is the watchword. The National Council on Aging website is full of information about Falls Prevention. And a recent valuable addition is a new digital tool called, Falls Free Checkup. You can access it here at and take the check up to gauge your risk of falling.

To avoid becoming a fall statistic as our country's population ages, you individually can take some preventive lifestyle steps to minimize your risk of falling:

• If you are on several medications, be sure to understand their possible side effects as well its interaction with the full complement of medications you have been prescribed. There is a very informative article by a Bay Area Geriatrician, Dr. Leslie Kernisan, that is referenced here.

• Exercise. This cannot be emphasized enough as making it a lifelong habit will keep your body in good shape so that you will minimize your fall risks. With a strong, in shape body the impact of a fall may not have as serious consequences as if you had a sedentary lifestyle of little to no exercise. A walk for 20-30 minutes several times a week will make a huge difference in your health. It is easy, free and you can do it anywhere, at any time of the day.

• Hydration. As the previous month's blog entry about Seniors and Hot Weather states, a UCLA study found that more than 40% of older adults suffer from chronic under-hydration. Drinking water constantly to keep you always well hydrated is very important in falls prevention. Even if you do not feel thirsty a few sips of water can only help replenish your body throughout the day. Also ensuring that your diet is full of fruits and vegetables easily adds to the hydration as many of them contain a high percent of water. Fruits such as watermelon--its name is the giveaway--strawberries, cantaloupes, peaches, oranges to name a few fruits. Vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, celery, tomatoes, bell peppers and cauliflower are some vegetables easily available for meals that have a high water content.

The NCOA website also has an in-depth flyer that lists helpful tips to help older adults avoid falls:
https://www.ncoa.org/article/6-falls-prevention-steps-to-help-your-older-loved-ones

While Falls Prevention Awareness Week is from September 20th to the 24th, preventing falls should be a priority to keep you healthy and safe the entire year.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Seniors and Hot Weather

We are in the midst of a hot, dry summertime with wildfires in parts of California. It is a very dangerous time for older adults and there are things their loved ones who care for them can do. Often seniors may not understand the bad outcomes this kind of weather can have on their well being.

A UCLA study states that 40% of older adults suffer from chronic under hydration. With the ongoing hot days and nights, dehydration becomes even more of a concern. You may ask why hot weather is detrimental for seniors and why the risks to their health are huge. They can suffer from heat stroke, fainting, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and hospitalizations and of course, falls.

Three reasons seem to drive this concern:

• They may not always know when they are thirsty.

• As we age, the kidneys are less efficient.

• The side effects of prescription medications can contribute to bad outcomes during a heat wave.

What can you do to protect yourself if you are an older adult or are caring for one?

• Drink water throughout the day. Don't wait until you are thirsty as you may be dehydrated by then so keep sipping and drinking all day. Besides liquids, some fresh fruit and vegetables contain water.

• Eat light, cold dishes such as pasta salads, fresh vegetables; avoid heavy meals like pot roast, ribs.

• If one gets really warm, place a cool washcloth on the neck and replenish it with a cool rinsing of the washcloth throughout the day.

• Keep your house cool if you have no air conditioning by keeping shades drawn and the hot air out as much as possible.

• Dress in light colored clothing in layers.

Warm weather is expected for summer but when it is extremely hot remember that there are things you can do to keep healthy and enjoy a sunny day.

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

May is Older Americans Month

Designating May to celebrate Older Americans Month began in 1963 and was originally called Senior Citizens Month. Americans were not living as long as they do currently and there were very few programs and supports to meet their needs.

Over the years it has evolved and May is now a month that we celebrate and acknowledge the huge contributions that senior citizens have made to our country in the past and at present. The White House issued a proclamation earlier this month that May is Older Americans Month.  

The proclamation states that “older adults have comprised the majority of deaths from COVID-19, with more than 80% of all deaths to date occurring in persons 65 and older.” What a startling statistic.

Yet for this year, the theme is fittingly “Communities of Strength” as it alludes to building strong communities for older Americans who have survived and even thrived during this very tough past year of the pandemic. As we join together and support each other in recovery, it is important to remember the strength of working together as a community and collectively including older adults who have contributed much and continue to do so.

Older Americans play a significant role in supporting and connecting communities whether they are retirees, volunteers, donors, essential workers and first responders. In a myriad of ways they are and have contributed to the efforts of getting through and past this pandemic year.

To support Older Americans Month, there are several ways to be resourceful in continuing to build strong communities by engaging and connecting:

• Share joy in any way, every day. Celebrate moments, both large and small, with your neighbors, friends, and members of your family - especially the seniors in your family.

• Connect with your neighbors, particularly if you think they may be isolated and have no family nearby. Walking in your neighborhood and greeting your fellow older adults can make their day.

• Build new skills. With all the time we have spent in our homes, this is the best time to explore and get into new activities, or rediscover hobbies and skills that may have been put aside.

• Share your life story. Connect with others in a personal and meaningful way by sharing your story. You will be surprised how our lives are more alike than different.

We have all been through a year like no other fighting a new and deadly virus. Lessons learned, life changes, and new directions shared with each other can enrich our communities to be strong and resilient moving forward.

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Caregiving for Your Parents, No Support from Siblings

Many of you may find yourselves being the sole or primary caregiver for your elderly parents. Know that this is a huge transition for the family and that because you are the primary sibling involved, it could be an uncomfortable position if you do not have sibling support.

Before convening a family meeting which will be an intense, difficult discussion think through these things to help the meeting be as productive as possible.

• If you are feeling frustration, disappointment or anger at them: What do you want from your siblings?

• Is it physical, emotional, financial or another kind of support? Be clear about what ways you need them to help you.

• Define a goal for all of you to have a frank, honest conversation about caregiving as your parents age. Avoid guilting your brothers/sisters as each may have complex reasons they may be unaware of for why they are not supporting you.

• As a last resort if the conversation/discussion devolves into an impasse or hurt feelings, look to outside help for navigating the care needs of your parents.

There are senior care providers, case managers, family counselors, trusted friends available to help the family with this emotionally-laden topic. All of you know that your parents will continue to need more, not less, caregiving as they age so the family being in sync is critical.

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Important Tips for Choosing a Quality Senior Care Provider During the Pandemic

If you know that your aging parents or loved ones need home care to remain safely in their home, one of the biggest concerns during this pandemic is the choice of a senior care provider who will keep your parents/loved ones safe and healthy.

Here are some key areas to consider as you make your choice:

--Is the agency licensed, bonded and insured in the state? In CA, the Home Care Services Bureau is the licensing authority and all licensed agencies are approved by them. Check for the license number which is often on the provider’s website. That is your assurance that the senior care provider is authorized in the state.

-At this critical time, what safety protocols does the provider agency practice to ensure the safety of its clients as well as caregivers? Ask to have them discuss the matter in depth with you. Be prepared with your concerns for your parents/loved ones.

-What kind of training and communication do caregivers receive as they are assigned clients to keep them safe and healthy? Caregivers of a licensed provider will be in the State Aide Registry and will have undergone a background check before employment.

 -If an urgent situation arises, are there procedures in place to manage it and ensure positive outcomes? If either a caregiver or client is suspected of having COVID-19 what is the provider’s plan? Are caregivers clear about their role and responsibilities in the situation?

-What about pricing, minimum number of hours per visit, assignment of caregivers? If a long term care insurance policy is available, what does the provider require to be able to commence it?

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Alice Home Care featured in San Francisco Chronicle

Alice Home Care was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle article, “Bay Area caregivers face physical, financial peril assisting elderly clients“:

While doctors and nurses have been on the front lines fighting for patients infected with the coronavirus, other caregivers have played an instrumental role in helping the elderly and infirm stay out of an already overburdened medical system.

That comes with personal risks for some home health aides. Others have had to stop working to protect their clients.

Some in-home caregivers like Wei Xie are licensed to assist people in their homes, but not to administer medication or perform other medical duties. Wei has continued to see clients who can’t do activities that many take for granted, like eating and bathing.

“Without us, they have nobody to help them,” Wei, who works for Alice Home Care in Alameda, said through a translator. “In this line of work, we go to work because our clients need us.”

Wei said one client is severely weakened by late-stage cancer and needs help with showering and other essential activities. In the past that patient slipped and fell during a shower, Wei said, a dangerous incident normally but more so now that hospitals are brimming with COVID-19 patients and have little room to spare.

A need to be physically there for clients also creates vectors for infection. Wei said she wears a mask, washes her hands frequently and cleans her clothes when she gets off work to avoid passing the infection to her clients or her husband.

Continue reading the article from the San Francisco Chronicle here.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Holiday Alert: Managing or Avoiding Diabetes

The holidays mean not only time with your family to share memories and garner more, but it is also usually accompanied by major food feasts as you gather around the table. Whatever favorite dishes you look forward to — pumpkin pie and other desserts, casseroles, breads, side dishes — being mindful during eating while consuming food and beverages at this time of year will carry you a long way to good health for the coming year. It may be cliche but the motto, Everything in Moderation, is such an important guideline as we enter the holiday season and discipline ourselves from going overboard at these feasts.

November is National Diabetes Month and it’s important to have a healthy diet, especially during the holidays, to manage Type 2 Diabetes. If you do not have it but may be on the pre-diabetes scale with identified risk factors then you will understand why this message at this time of year is a timely one.

Diabetes Facts from the Centers for Disease Control which reflect the alarming statistics about diabetes in our country:

• More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it.

• More than 84 million US adults—over a third—have prediabetes, and 90% of them don’t know they have it.

• Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States (and may be underreported).

• Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes; type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5%.

• In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese.

• People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as people without diabetes—and at an earlier age.

• Medical costs for people with diabetes are twice as high as for people who don’t have diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association has an excellent website so whether you or a loved one has this disease or you are working on prevention, the wealth of information here is helpful.

Let us celebrate the month of November and the start of a joyful holiday season with family time over memorable meals but with a focus on healthy eating and...in moderation.

When you reach for that second helping of your favorite dishes, make sure you are consciously aware that what goes into your mouth. Food ingested does indeed have consequences on your well being for the future. Enjoy the holidays while maintaining good health!

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

A Veteran’s Day Gift: Friendship

Henry Petersen and Willie Prewitt

Veterans Day is always an ideal time to reflect on the incredible sacrifices our military veterans have made in service to our country. For me, that means honoring two veterans I am proud to have known since August, from co-teaching an eight-week fall-prevention class at Mastick Senior Center.  

This is where I first met 95-year-old Henry Petersen, who served in the Navy during World War II, and 75-year-old Willie Prewitt, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. Despite the 20-year age difference, these two gentlemen are the best of friends, in part because over the last few years since they first met at Mastick (while Petersen was working on crossword puzzles), Petersen has helped Prewitt come out of his long-standing shell. The two have enjoyed countless conversations and activities together.

“Henry has opened doors to me for a fuller life,” Prewitt said. “And I am walking through those doors with him.”

In fact, Prewitt told me that Petersen saved his life, and brought him out of his self-imposed “dungeon,” which developed as a result of physical and psychological injuries he suffered in Vietnam, including an exposure to the toxic chemical Agent Orange. Throughout the years, he became more and more isolated, consumed by loneliness and nightmares, venturing out of his house only to have meals with his family.

In part because Petersen is a fellow veteran, and an excellent listener, Prewitt felt comfortable opening up to him. Petersen first convinced him to attend a water aerobics class with him at Coast Guard Island (in Alameda.) That’s become a regular activity for both — three times a week — after which they enjoy coffee together at Peet’s.

“Sharing my life with Willie is enjoyable,” Petersen said. “And it fills my calling, which I believe is to help my fellow man — something I have been following for a long time.”

For me, the main thing here is that there are veterans who need help, and veterans who can offer help. Being active and being with friends and loved ones are necessary ingredients for a healthy life.

Prewitt has just recently been invited to join the Elks Lodge, having been sponsored by Petersen, a member for more than 30 years.  They also are members of Trinity Lutheran Church and remain active at Mastick Senior Center.

This guest column appeared in the Alameda Sun on November 14th, 2019. Alice Lai-Bitker is a partner in Alice Home Care, a former Alameda County Supervisor and a long-time Alameda resident.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

When Aging Parents Need Help: Seven Steps to Take Now

If your aging parents need help to stay safe and healthy, you might feel overwhelmed by all the decisions that need to be made. Here are seven steps to take now so you can help mom or dad be as happy and healthy as possible.

1. Assess their needs

   Take a step back to understand how much help your parents needs with everyday tasks. Think about: family support, medical needs, home safety, mobility, cognitive health, personal hygiene, meal preparation, social interaction. How much support are they already getting and how much help do they realistically need? From there you can figure out what services are needed.

2. Think about your needs and abilities

   We all want our parents to be healthy and safe, and it’s okay if you’re not the best person to care for them. Do you live close enough? Would you want to live with them? Do you have the personality to provide the needed care? It’s better to make an honest assessment early in the process.

3. Include your parents

   Having conversations with your parents will help them see you more as a partner, instead of someone making all the decisions and changing things. There will probably be resistance at first, so be prepared for multiple conversations.

4. Understand the financial situation

   Caring for an older adult will cost money, no matter what route you go. Think about what type of medical care they will need, cost of potential living situation, and everyday costs such as food, medication, caregiving supplies, etc.

5. Take care of home safety

   Fixing safety hazards in the house and preventing potential falls will go a long way in keeping your parents healthy and independent for longer. Simple fixes include updating lights, adding grab bars, and making sure walkways are clear. For more ideas, click here.

6. Ensure communication is accessible

   It’s important for your parents to be able to easily call for help and keep in touch with friends and family. Make sure the phone is easy to reach and use. In addition to safety, loneliness can have a serious negative effect on health.

7. Explore care options

   Caring for your parents can be an overwhelming responsibility,. Luckily, there are many resources and care options out there, including in-home caregivers. We believe our home care services provide peace of mind for both our clients and their families, which leads to a higher quality of life.

Source: “7 Steps to Take When Aging Parents Need Help” from DailyCaring

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Bone and Joint Action Week

Although October 12-20th is Bone and Joint Action Week, sponsored by the US Bone Joint Initiative (USBJI), why only think about our bones and joints one week of the year? 

Not only that but the US effort is part of a worldwide movement to keep our bones and joints healthy for all our lives, as it coincides with an international movement named Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health. Its overall theme resonates with those of all ages: Keep People Moving!  

Our musculoskeletal foundation is key to our well being year round and throughout our lives, so with data about the importance of keeping our bones and joints healthy, let’s strive for strong ones all the time. 

Did you know?

• More than half of Americans over 18—54%--are affected by bone and joint conditions, per the Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the US.

• Long term pain and physical disability that affects millions of people worldwide are a result of bone and joint conditions.

• Examples of these painful conditions include arthritis, osteoporosis, back pain, spinal deformity and traumatic injuries.

• These conditions are expected to affect millions more people because of the increasing life expectancy worldwide.

Since 2011 when the first Baby Boomers began receiving Medicare benefits in the US, the cost of treating bone and joint health conditions has increased and is expected to go up for a long time.

The USBJI in partnership with the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health is holding its annual Action Week now:

October 12 — World Arthritis Day  

October 16 — World Spine Day      

October 19 — World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day

October 20 — World Osteoporosis Day    

For more information about the US Bone and Joint Initiative Movement beyond this Action Week, head over to Facebook and learn more about what is being done to combat and prevent this debilitating condition that can affect every person.

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Five Tips for Talking with Parents About Aging

You may have noticed that your parents are starting to show signs of needing extra help. Perhaps the house is more dirty than before, medication doses are being missed, or they are losing their appetite. Talking with parents about aging is difficult, but it’s definitely better to have these important conversations before something drastic happens.

Here are five tips to help make talking with parents about aging a bit easier and more productive.

1. General guidelines

   An outline will help you organize your thoughts and make sure you don’t forget your important points. Focus on the most important considerations: safety, peace of mind, freedom and social connection.

2. Be respectful

   Put yourself in their shoes and let them know you care about their feeling and wants. Let them talk and listen to what they have to say. Even if your relationship may change, don’t consider yourself the “parent”.

3. Who and where?

   Include everyone in the family that should be there. Have the conversation in a quiet place where your parents feel comfortable.

4. Practice!

   If you’re feeling nervous, run your ideas past someone who is impartial to the situation.

5. Use conversation starters

   Start with casual conversations to get the thoughts rolling. Consider an ice breaker:

   • “I’ve noticed that some things take more energy for you these days. What are the main things that you really want to do?”

   • “What are your priorities? How can we make it easier for you?”

   • Reference an event in the news or a story about an aging friend or family member.

Source: “How to Talk With Parents About Aging: 5 Tips and Conversation Starters” from DailyCaring

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Chair Yoga for Seniors

Chair Yoga enables you to practice yoga no matter your age or physical condition. And the benefits remain the same:

• Mindfulness as a tool for stress relief

• Maintain your strength, balance and flexibility

• Key to your well being and self-care

• It is fun as you can do it at your own pace

This type of yoga is available at many yoga studios but also at many Senior Centers. In fact, Mastick Senior Center in Alameda offers chair yoga in addition to standing yoga poses. Try the 30 minute chair yoga sequence below from YouTube; you may enjoy it! Instructor Sherry Zak Morris makes the class engaging and explains the benefits behind each movement.

I have been practicing yoga for nearly 20 years and the benefits I listed above are what I have gained and then some. There is a community when you are doing the poses and everyone in the room is doing this to help their quality of life. It is heartening to know that when my physical condition makes it tough to do standing yoga poses, chair yoga is available to me. There is a woman in my class who must be in her mid-80's and always mentions that yoga has kept her in shape and healthy. Watching her do the poses with such ease is inspiring to me when I take a class with her.

Written by: Gayle Uchida, Community Relations

Source: Chair Yoga for Seniors: Reduce Pain and Improve Health (Video) from DailyCaring

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Five Ways Cooking Can Keep You Young

Cooking for yourself has been shown to improve your physical, cognitive and emotional well-being as you age. In fact, it just might be the secret ingredient to aging successfully. Here are five ways cooking can keep you young.

1. Increases physicality

Before any cooking starts, the health benefits already kick in! You need to shop for your ingredients, which is a great way to add exercise into the day. Additionally, food preparation has been associated with increased levels of physical activity and self-reported health status. If possible, shop for ingredients on a daily basis, which will not only increase your daily physical activity, but also ensure you are using the freshest produce.

2. Helps social and emotional health

Cooking classes can help sharpen kitchen skills, while also improving psychological well being and sense of self. This is especially true when connecting older adults to the aspect of their heritage. Try cooking and sharing some traditional dishes with your community.

3. Improves diet quality

Cooking classes can also improve the quality of your meals. Older adults enrolled in cooking classes include more vegetables and fiber in their diets, which are associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Cooking for yourself also means you control what goes into your food, which can improve your quality of health throughout your life.

4. Maintains mental fitness

Cooking can also help improve your cognitive functioning, which generally decreases as you age. Paying attention to cooking times, following a recipe, and setting a table forces you to use your prospective memory. Try cooking a brand new recipe with multiple steps for an added challenge!

5. Adapts to your unique situation

If you are no longer living independently, there are various cooking modifications that may be beneficial for you. Updating your kitchen technology, such as oven sensors and safety systems that can shut off power when needed, may offset physical limitations and other possible hazards. Meal delivery programs, such as Blue Apron or HelloFresh, provide pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to your doorstep so you don’t need to leave the house. Caregivers can also help with the shopping and meal preparation, and cook alongside with you to make things easier.

Have you been spending time in the kitchen? Share your favorite recipes with us!

Source: “What is the Recipe for Success? 5 Ways Cooking Can Keep You Young” from Psychology Benefits Society

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

Falls Prevention Awareness Month with Alice Home Care

Image from National Council on Aging

To celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness in September (Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 22), Alice Home Care is hosting the following FREE events:

Medication Management and Falls Prevention (for Cantonese speakers)

Speaker: Kam Tam, Retired Pharmacist at Children's Hospital, Oakland and co-owner of Oakland Pharmacy

When: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Time: 11:00AM-12:00PM

Where: Harbor Bay Community Center, 3195 Mecartney Road

Medication Management and Falls Prevention (for English speakers)

Speaker: Larry Poon, Retired Pharmacist at Sutter Health's Eden Hospital

When: Friday, September 21, 2018

Time: 11:00AM-12:00PM

Where: Alameda Free Library, Stafford Room, 1550 Oak Street

Evidence-Based Matter of Balance (MOB) Workshop

With the Alameda Fire Department Senior Safety Program

When: 8 week session starting Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Time: 10:00AM-12:00PM

Where: Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue

For more information on these events, contact Alice Home Care at 510-924-8529 or visit www.alicehomecare.com.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts. 

To learn more about Falls Prevention, visit the National Council on Aging.

Alzheimer's End of Life and Dementia Assessment

Did you care for a person with dementia who died in the last 2 years?

Did this person live in Alameda County or receive services in Alameda County?

If you answered YES to these questions, we would like to hear from you.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada is working to assess the ways healthcare and community service providers in Alameda County work with people with dementia and their caregivers to make end-of-life care decisions.

They have developed a survey that will take approximately 30-45 minutes and can be completed online at this link. After successful completion, respondents will receive a $100 gift card for their time. Responses will remain anonymous.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada is also looking for Alameda County Providers who serve people with dementia to share their experiences with them.

They have developed a survey that will take approximately 15-25 minutes and can be completed online at this link. Please complete this by: Friday, July 27, 2018. Responses will remain anonymous.

The information learned will be used to improve services and systems that help people with dementia and their caregivers choose person-centered options that honor their end-of-life wishes.

If you are interested in learning more or prefer to complete this survey on paper, please contact Rachel Main at the Alzheimer’s Association, Rmain@alz.org or 415-463-8505.

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts. 

To learn more about the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada, click here.

Tips for Promoting Social Interaction to Combat Loneliness in Seniors

Did you know that loneliness may be as significant a health factor as smoking? This is according to Vivek Murthy, the former United States surgeon general, who has written that loneliness is “associated with a reduction in life span similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity.”

Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) discovered that 43% of older adults report feelings of loneliness, and a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences even found that loneliness is linked with a higher risk of mortality. Additional epidemiological studies have associated loneliness and social isolation to heart disease, cancer, depression, diabetes and suicide.

It is clear that prevention needs to start early by understanding the serious problem of loneliness in seniors. Along with caregivers, older adults and family members should have a clear understanding of the available services in their area.

Tips for Promoting Social Interaction

Local Senior Programs

Many local communities have programs for older adults to engage with others and try out new activities or hobbies, such as gardening, board games, exercise or painting. Activities may be held on a weekly or monthly basis. Make sure to reach out to local community groups, senior centers, or churches, as well as local agencies on aging.

Technology

There are a variety of types of technology to can help engage seniors, such as something to remind them to take their medication, a personal emergency response system around their wrist, or a simple, senior-friendly, pre-programmed device.

Telemedicine offerings, such as wellness calls, can also help with feelings of loneliness. The Friendship Line, provided by the Institute on Aging, describes itself as "the only program nationwide that reaches out to lonely, depressed, isolated, frail and/or suicidal older adults." This free service was founded, and is still run, by Dr. Patrick Arbore. In 2017 alone, the Friendship Line had 148,000 calls nationwide staffed by a team of trained volunteers. How does it work? Participants choose whether they want to call in or be called by a friendly voice who will chat with them reminding them to take medication, check in to ensure they are safe, check to see if they have proper meals, or even just to chat.

Staff from Alice Home Care attended for 45th Anniversary of the Friendship Line in May 2018. Dr. Abore imparted some key words of wisdom in his speech, saying a lot about the heart and soul he has poured into this program.  

“Connection with others binds us to life.

Service is the rent we pay for being human.”

— Dr. Patrick Arbore

Companion Caregivers

Caregiving comes in many forms, but one important caregiving service is companionship. This can include grocery shopping, meal preparation, visits to friends and neighbors, conversation and fun activities. Regular visits from a companion caregiver can keep seniors mentally active and engaged, reducing the risk of loneliness. The relationship between the senior and caregiver can be truly heartwarming.

Loneliness is seniors is a serious problem, but one that can be preventable. Making social engagement a priority early on will have a long-term impact on mental health and happiness.

Sources: "How to Combat Loneliness and Isolation as We Age" from Forbes; "Is Loneliness a Health Epidemic?" from New York Times

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.

A Matter of Balance: Reflection

Every Tuesday for the past eight weeks, a group of older adults with concerns about falling gathered at the Alameda Main Library. They were joined by Alice Lai-Bitker from Peace of Mind Home Care and David McGuinness Senior Services, hosts of A MATTER OF BALANCE - a national evidence based program, sponsored by Alameda County Senior Injury Prevention Program, designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. 

This group of older adults learned how to:

• view falls as preventable
• set goals for increasing activity
• make changes to reduce fall risks at home
• exercise to increase strength and balance

What were some reflections from the workshop?

--The workshop was really good. It taught me how to get up when I do fall and gave me safety tips on how to avoid falls.

--This was an eye opener for me and now I am more aware of falls and their danger. I even took steps to make my house more age friendly and safer for me to live in. It was beneficial for me to attend.

--It was very good and has helped me plan for actual life situations so I can be prepared.

--Excellent workshop. I learned how to exercise properly, proper standing poses and some procedures to use to get up from a fall. Very helpful.

--It made me pay attention to how I can avoid falls.

--When I go on trips I will be more conscious of my actions so I will be safe and enjoy my travel injury-free. (Fenstermachers)

When asked what changes have already been made as a result of the class, this is what was shared:

--I learned to be more serious about my physical activity.

--I feel more accepting of using aides- cane, walker, grab bar. 

--I rechecked my home for safety.

--I put bars in my bath tub, and I am aware of what I am doing and watch where I am walking.  The class has opened my thoughts to improve my balance and prevent falling.

--I discipline myself, set a goal and accomplish as much as I can, but not over exhaust myself to fall. 

--I made safety corrections at home.  I walk more with greater care and exercise more. I am more aware of hazards.  

Lai-Bitker really enjoyed leading the workshop. "It's wonderful to see them participate honestly" she explained, "sharing their own experience of falls and strategize together for solutions and how to handle embarrassing moments."

We are currently accepting sign ups for our next session in the summer, beginning August 1st. Sign up here.

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Peace of Mind Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with Peace of Mind. 

To learn more about A MATTER OF BALANCE, visit the National Council on Aging or check out our previous blog post.

Fall Prevention at Home

Did you know that more than 75% of falls take place at home? There are some quick and simple changes you can make to help reduce your risk of falling. When assessing your home, remember to pay attention to these three things:

1. Good lighting
2. Clutter
3. Easy access to things used most

You also want to ensure you have THREE POINTS OF CONTACT for whatever you are doing (i.e. getting out of the shower, walking up stairs). This means having two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in contact with something sturdy.

The front door:

• If you have steps at your front entrance, make sure they are not broken or uneven. Fix damaged steps as soon as possible.
• Make sure entryways are well lit so you can see where you are walking. 
• Consider installing a grab bar to help with balance.

Kitchen:

• Organize your commonly used items, such as plates, cups, bowls, and even seasonings, within reach. This will help you avoid using a step stool to reach higher items.
• Scatter rugs are tripping hazards, so replace any with rubber backed rugs that will stay in place.
• Clean up spills right away.

Stairs:

• Keep stairs free of clutter.
• Add strips of colored tape to on the edges of each step to help you visualize the stairs better.
• Have lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Add a second handrail to help with balance.

Hallway:

• Check your lighting, but don't change lightbulbs yourself. Ask family members, friends or neighbors to help you.

Bedroom:

• Ensure the light near the bed is easy to reach.
• Keep the path from the bed to the bathroom clear of clutter and well lit. 
• Consider installing a bedrail to provide support while getting in and out of bed.
• Keep the phone at arm's reach of your bed. 

Bathroom:

• Add a non-slip rubber mat to the shower, as the traction will help prevent slipping.
• Install grab bars by the toilet and tub. Remember that towel racks are not proper grab bars. 

Have you made other changes to your home that we didn't mention? Please share them with us!

Source: National Council on Aging

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Alice Home Care is here to help provide compassionate care for your loved ones who struggle to remain independent in their homes. Give us a call at 510-924-8529 and let us provide you with helping hands and caring hearts.