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Being a primary caregiver is similar to having a full-time job where you’re always on the clock. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, over 65 million people provide care for an elderly loved one and spend around 20 hours per week doing so. While some of the caregivers just focus on caring for a loved one, others have jobs and their own family to take care of as well. In other words, being a primary caregiver can be stressful and finding peace can be challenging. You have to take care of yourself as much as you do your loved one, and here’s how you can safely access what you need while minimizing trips outside the home.

Utilize Online Resources

It may be part of your routine to go grocery shopping weekly for your family or your loved one. However, the more you go out, the more exposure you have to bacteria, germs and viruses that you could catch or pass on. Now is a great time to utilize online resources like delivery and curbside options to get the grocery shopping done and take care of other necessities. Many prescriptions can be ordered and filled online without needing to step foot into a medical facility. 

Technology Can Keep You Socially Connected

The aging population may not be in tune with the technology available today, but you can teach them how to use it. Staying socially connected is necessary for your health and wellbeing, as well as for your loved one. When caring for a loved one, consider using FaceTime, Skype or other applications to check in on them to reduce the number of times you have to go to their home. You’ll be minimizing exposure as well as saving valuable time to allow you to do other things to help your sanity.

Discover What You Need For Your Mental Health

It’s easy for a primary caregiver to think about the well-being of their loved ones and neglect their own health. You have to find peace, joy and happiness somehow, and you don’t have to leave the house to do so. Use technology to organize group chat sessions about topics you care about. This could include book clubs, volunteering opportunities, worship services and more. Your mental health is important for your overall health, so take the time to discover exactly what you need to improve yours.

Next Day Access has a high level of respect for caregivers caring for a loved one. They put forth so much effort to ensure their loved one is taken care of and the selfless acts daily do not go unnoticed. Making life at home as simple as possible is what we are all about. If a mobility product or solution can help make a senior’s life easier, then we know the benefits trickle down to the primary caregiver as well. If there’s anything we can do to help bring you peace of mind, Nous contacter today. 

Caregivers have a difficult enough job ensuring patients have what they need to live a healthy and safe life. What makes the job even more difficult is when the patient weighs more than the caregiver, and the patient requires assistance when getting up from their chair, bed or other places. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the biggest risk factor when it comes to an overexertion injury in a healthcare worker is manual patient handling. If you’re caring for a loved one at home, you’re exposed to similar risks. These safe-lifting caregiving tips can help make the experience better for you and your patient.

Lifting Should Be A Dual Effort

To the extent it’s possible, your patient needs to do their part in helping you move them from one place to another. This could be difficult with senior care since many seniors have limited mobility. However, every little bit of help they can provide could be the difference between moving them safely or one or both of you getting injured. Your goal as a caregiver is to assist them rather than lifting them entirely by yourself.

Communicate Your Plan For Safe Lifting

Any time you’re getting ready to move your patient, communicate what the plan is going to be for doing so. This seems like one of the most obvious caregiving tips, but it can make a huge difference in safely moving the person. Both of you could get seriously injured if the patient thinks you’re doing one thing and shifts their weight to the left, while you’re thinking something else and try to move them to the right. When you’re both on the same page, the lift can go much more smoothly.

Use Your Leg Strength Rather Than Your Back

You may have heard before in other scenarios to lift with your legs rather than your back, and the same is true when handling a patient. Use your leg strength as much as possible to prevent a back injury. Even a minor back tweak can make senior care very difficult since you don’t have as much strength to help them move. Practice your lifting technique with your legs for a more effective process.

Invest In A Patient Lift

A patient lift offers one of the safest, most effective and most comfortable methods for lifting a patient. The patient simply sits in the lift and you can move them safely from one place to the next. It’s one of the most popular products for senior care if the senior is unable to move around safely to do routine actions in their house. Caregivers often indicate a patient lift is the most useful and helpful assistive device they have for providing the highest and safest level of care.

Next Day Access is a leader in providing high-quality mobility and assistive devices for caregivers and people with mobility limitations. If you need assistance safely lifting your patient, Nous contacter today to see how our patient lift can create a safer environment for you and your patient.

Whether it’s your parents moving in with you or your in-laws, chances are you may not have been planning to live in a multigenerational household. While it can be nice to have other helpful hands in the house, there still has to be some boundaries set to make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved. Plenty of reasons may have led to family members living with you now, so try to be as accommodating as possible. Understand they don’t want to be a burden to their children, even though it may seem like they are at times. Here are some tips for providing senior care to your parents or in-laws as they live under your roof.

Set Expectations And Boundaries

Every family situation is different. Some people may not have to tell their parents anything and they will understand boundaries and respect your space. However, if you feel like your expectations aren’t being met, then the earlier you can talk to them about it, the better the living situation will be. If your parents are physically able to help around the house, don’t hesitate to ask them for help with certain things. You shouldn’t feel like you are serving them at all times unless they are physically unable to do most things and require a high level of senior care. Setting expectations and boundaries upfront will help your own mentality and hopefully make the living arrangement easier to cope with.

Understand Your Parents’ Situation

Most of the aging population doesn’t think they will have to live with their children until it happens. Keep this in mind when you talk to them and continue treating them like your parents rather than like your kids. They could be in a tough spot as they lose their independence by not living in their own home. With their roles being changed, they may need some guidance to know what is off-limits in your home. Understanding that your multigenerational household is going to be the new normal for a while can help everyone feel more comfortable. And if they have limited mobility, a great way to show you care about and understand their situation is to install a wheelchair ramp or other assistive devices to help them get around.

Take Advantage Of The Benefits Of Multigenerational Living

Living with your elderly parents will bring plenty of challenges. However, you don’t know how long the moments will last, so try to make the most of them. If you have kids, they likely love the fact that they get to spend more time with their grandparents than ever before. And if they are physically able to help around the house, use their time and effort to your advantage by sharing some of the responsibilities. Living in a multigenerational household probably isn’t the ideal situation for anyone involved, but your happiness level is all about how you approach it.

Next Day Access can help make multigenerational households more accessible for everyone. We can install a temporary or permanent wheelchair ramp, porch lift, stairlift or other product to make mobility a breeze. You have plenty of challenges on your hands with more people living in your home, so Nous contacter today to ease the burden in some aspects.

Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common types of surgery performed throughout the United States every year. Most patients have to stay in the hospital for at least a few days, but can then be released to recover at home for the next several months. The National Center For Biotechnology Information published a study indicating recovering from home yields similar results as recovering in a rehabilitation facility. However, the recovery time and experience can be made much better by preparing the home ahead of time. Here are some of the most effective ways to prepare for a successful recovery from hip replacement surgery at home.

Create Open Space In The Home

One of the simplest things to do is take a look around the common areas of the home and make open space. This could involve moving tables and chairs around, removing thick rugs and eliminating potential trip hazards. If you plan on using a wheelchair or a mobility scooter to help you get around for the first few months following your surgery, you want the space to be as clear and open as possible. Even the slightest incline or different surface can be problematic when you’re first recovering, so there’s no such thing as being too safe.

Invest In Mobility Aids 

A mobility scooter is a popular device hip replacement patients use during the recovery process. However, it’s still important to follow the guidelines set by your doctor for strengthening your muscles and not relying solely on mobility aids.

A lift chair is also a popular item for those having hip-replacement surgery to bring into the home. These chairs can take the burden off chairgivers and allow patients to more comfortably sit.

Installing a wheelchair ramp is a great idea as well since it provides a safe way to walk and helps you regain your balance. Picking your feet up to climb stairs is going to be challenging following your surgery, so a wheelchair ramp and stair lift or platform lift can help tremendously. Other helpful aids include raised toilet seats and long-handled grabbers to prevent bending down as much as possible.

Grab Bars Can Provide Safety And Confidence

One of the biggest setbacks when recovering from hip replacement surgery is slipping and falling. It’s hard to know exactly how your balance is going to be once you regain your strength, so prepare accordingly by installing grab bars in strategic locations. The bathroom is likely the riskiest room in your home, so having grab bars by the toilet, the sink, in the shower and anywhere else can prevent an unfortunate accident. You’ll have much more stability and can feel safe and confident walking even when the surface may be slightly slippery.

When you contact Next Day Access in advance of your hip replacement surgery, we will do a complete home evaluation and make recommendations to keep you safe. We offer mobility products for rent and for sale depending on what you believe your needs will be. Preparation is the key to recovering successfully at home, and we are here to help. When you have an upcoming surgery, Nous contacter to get your home ready for your return from the hospital.

The spring and summer seasons are the most common times of the year for people to enjoy the outdoors, take vacations, sit by the pool and other similar activities. As you get older, you have to monitor your health a little more closely and take preventative measures to ensure your body doesn’t get overheated. The National Institute on Aging suggests that too much heat can be risky for anyone, but especially for older adults or for people with health problems. Practicing great senior care is essential during the warm weather and these tips can help you stay on track.

Wear Cool Clothing

Wearing lightweight clothing as much as possible is ideal when going outside during the spring and summer. If you typically spend your senior living hours indoors in a controlled environment, consider bringing along a few lightweight layers of clothing so you can add or remove them to make you more comfortable. It can take several minutes for the body to adjust to the differing temperatures, but the main thing is to stay cool and keep your body temperature regulated.

Keep Your Body Hydrated

Hydration is critical for people of all ages, but especially when it comes to senior care. The older you get, the less water gets conserved into the body, which can lead to accidental dehydration. And when you’re spending more time outdoors in the warm weather, dehydration can happen quickly. Drink plenty of water and reduce caffeine intake as much as possible since those products act as a diuretic and can naturally dehydrate you even more.

Exercise Strategically

Exercising outdoors may not be the ideal option for senior living during the late spring and summer months. If you have a treadmill or other indoor exercise station, consider using it more during these months so you can reduce the risk of getting overheated. Sometimes exercising indoors isn’t motivating, though. If your preference is to exercise outdoors, then be sure to do it early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are at their coolest.

Ask For Help When You Need It

Above all else, ask for help when you need anything done outdoors that could be strenuous on the body. Just because you have a mobility ramp providing access to different areas of your outdoor living space doesn’t mean you should do everything on your own. Heat exhaustion can happen quickly, so call a neighbor, friend or family member if you need help tending to your garden or anything else you need to accomplish.

Next Day Access makes senior living easier by offering the highest-quality accessibility products on the market. Struggling to go up and down your stairs can be even more difficult during the warm spring and summer months. A mobility ramp can make your life much easier, as can a stair lift, vertical platform lift and other products. When you Nous contacter, we will provide you with a free home assessment and let you see how easy senior living can be.

Whether you have a surgical procedure planned or if you need to accommodate a guest with mobility limitations, temporary solutions are available. You can start by evaluating your home and assessing what points may be difficult for a person in a wheelchair to navigate. Anything from rugs on the floor, stairs, raised entryways and more can be a burden and create a dangerous situation. Accessibility products are available for rent and are a perfect option for providing temporary accommodations for people with limited mobility.

Consider A Temporary Wheelchair Ramp

A temporary wheelchair ramp can be used for the entryway of the home, the backyard and anywhere else stairs are normally present. Even a small threshold ramp to make raised entries smoother can go a long way in having a safe environment. These can be installed in a matter of minutes, depending on the size required, and can be removed just as quickly when you don’t need it anymore.

Make Using The Stairs A Breeze

It can make a homeowner feel uneasy when they see someone with mobility limitations use their stairs. Take this worry and fear out of the equation by having a temporary stair lift or vertical platform lift installed. Either option can be used for indoor or outdoor accessibility and create a safer way to navigate your home. The benefit of a vertical platform lift is if your guest uses a wheelchair or scooter, they won’t even have to get off to use it. They simply ride their device onto the platform and are raised and lowered to the next level safely.

Improving Bathroom Accessibility

Bathroom accessibility is one of the main things to consider, as it can be dangerous for people with balance issues. Installing Barres d'appui next to the sink, toilet and other areas offer a little more stability and can help your guest feel more confident. Consider also installing a non-skid mat in the bathroom to prevent slipping-and-falling. Anything you can do to improve the safety of accessing the bathroom will be much appreciated by your guests.

Remove Clutter And Rearrange Furniture

Once you’ve taken care of the details of making specific rooms and entryways accessible, do a general assessment of the layout of your home. It’s easy to pick up a rug and rearrange furniture to make your area more wheelchair accessible. If you have any wires or cords in common areas, move them to another location. When you always see things in your home, it can be difficult to identify potential problems for a person with mobility limitations, so consider having someone over to have another set of eyes look around.

Our experts at Next Day Access can provide you with a free home assessment to ensure your home is ready to accommodate guests with mobility limitations. Our temporary solutions are safe and simple to install, and your guests will appreciate the extra effort you went through to keep them safe. When you Nous contacter, we will evaluate your needs and make recommendations based on our experience as well.

Spring is in the air and there’s no better time than the present to get some serious house cleaning done. Your caregiver providing senior care may do a lot of the dirty work for you, but there are still some things you can do to prepare. Anything from unorganized cabinets to dusty surfaces and expired products can be easily addressed during your spring cleaning efforts. Here are a few simple tips to help you get started.

Make A Spring Cleaning List

Even if you have mobility concerns limiting you from doing a lot of cleaning yourself, you can still use your stair lift to access different areas of your home and take inventory. Consider making one list for each room in the house that needs work done. It could be that one room needs to be decluttered completely, while others may simply need to be dusted and wiped down. Once you have your list made for each room, you can put together a gameplan of how you’ll tackle each one.

Be Honest With Yourself When Decluttering

As you’re decluttering closets, cabinets, pantries or anything else, be honest with yourself when considering throwing items out. If you come across a shirt you always liked, but haven’t worn it in a couple of years, chances are you won’t wear it much going forward. Items like those take up space and can be easily donated. And when it comes to cleaning out cabinets and pantries, get rid of anything that’s broken or expired so you can make room for new items or to just make the space seem less cluttered.

Make Your Furniture And Devices Shine

Wiping down your furniture, appliances and devices can give them a certain amount of shine that looks better when you walk into the room. Even your light bulbs get dusty and could be wiped down to enhance the lighting in each room. And don’t forget about your stair lift, vertical platform lift or any other mobility device you have in your room. Cleaning them will make them look brand new and also potentially prevent mechanical issues. Walking into a room with shiny and clean items boosts the mood more than you think, and all it takes is a damp washcloth to get the job done.

Get Your Accessibility Products Cleaned And Serviced

If you have a stair lift or other accessibility products, having them regularly cleaned and serviced is ideal to extend their lifespan. However, if it has been a while since yours have been professionally cleaned, then spring is a perfect time to have someone do it. The professional will wipe it down, shine it up, add oil or grease to the components and ensure it’s working properly. The primary goal is to make sure you’re safe when you use any accessibility product, and one way to do that is to keep them as clean as possible.

At Next Day Access, we want to help people under senior care in any way we can. Whether you’re in the market for new accessibility products or need your existing ones cleaned or serviced, Nous contacter today to schedule an appointment.

When families have an elderly loved one that requires caregiving services, tough decisions have to be made. Some families don’t have the luxury of being able to be there for their loved one as a primary caregiver, so they have to look at other options. For seniors living at home, you have to find a caregiver or caregiving company you trust 100%, which means you have to ask a lot of questions to build that trust. You can start by searching for caregivers in your area by referring to the Medicare website. Here are the questions you should ask potential caregivers before hiring them.

Do You Have References You Can Share?

The more people you can ask about a particular person or company, the better feel you’ll get for the level of service they provide. You can also relate your specific needs to the needs of the person you were referred to. If the company or caregiver is hesitant to give you contact information for any references, it should be a red flag that they may not be the right primary caregiver for you.

Is Your Company Stable?

The duration of a caregiving company has been in business isn’t necessarily as important as the experience of the employees. On that note, stability starts at the top of any company, so do as much research as possible on them. Ask them if they are bonded and insured so both you, your loved one and the company are protected in case something goes wrong. You want to work with a company that goes the extra mile to ensure everyone involved is safe and protected.

What Are The Requirements For Employees?

It’s not out of line to ask a company what they expect from their employees, what type of background checks they do and more. Full-time employees typically provide better senior care because their own livelihood is at stake. Plus, most of the time a full-time employee will be more dedicated to doing their job correctly since it’s what they have a passion for, rather than just collecting a paycheck. It’s not a deal-breaker if the company just hires contract workers, but full-time employees providing senior care usually works out better.

Will We Have To Sign A Contract?

You shouldn’t have to sign a contract for a primary caregiver. The needs of your loved one can change rapidly, so being stuck in a contract can be a significant financial burden you don’t want to find yourself in. If the company makes you sign a contract, it may be ideal to consider other options.

How Flexible Are Your Senior Care Services?

Flexibility is required for seniors living at home. Different situations may arise that create unexpected needs, so you need to feel confident the company you hire will be able to adapt. When you talk to the potential primary caregiver, be sure to gauge their reaction to this question since it can tell you a lot about how they feel about the fluid nature of senior care.

Selecting a primary caregiver is a major decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and these questions can provide a good starting point. Next Day Access is here to make living at home easier for seniors, so Nous contacter today to see how we can assist.