10 Tips to Choosing Your Home Care Service Provider near Jupiter FL

-->

If you are the Primary Caregiver for a family member, your Home Care Services choice could improve your quality of life

You mom wants to stay at home and you really want to accommodate her. The reality is that if she's going to be at home, there is going to have to be some level of help from a home care service provider.  This post is for the caregiver who, like you, has made the decision to bring in a companion, aide or nurse, depending on the level of care needed.  Now what?

If you've already tried a couple of people, or if you've only heard bad stories from others, you know that there are plenty of challenges in the selection of a Home Care Agency.  

You can avoid all of the headaches by hiring an agency to provide you with a home caregiver.  The advantages of using an agency are many:

• If  your mom doesn't like the caregiver,  request another one 
• You can provide the agency with your specific requirements and the agency will meet them 
• All insurance, government issues, employee benefits and payroll taxes are handled by the private agency
• If the caregiver misses a day, the agency will provide back up
• The agency will require a background and drug check. before hiring the applicant

How do you select an agency to insure that the points in Tip 4 are going to be routinely handled, efficiently and in a timely fashion?   

• Ask friends and family if they have had experience with any local agencies.
• Check online for Home Care in your area.  

What are the resources that the agency is offering?  Will they be able to provide you with skilled nursing if necessary?  A top agency should be able to offer all of the following:

• Nurse oversight on every case
• A Nurse Assessment and a Plan of Care created to start every new client
• A Nurse reassessment completed approximately every 60 days to monitor any changes with the client
• Guarantee caregiver/Client compatibility
• Being available 24/7 to answer questions or open a case
• Sitter/Companion Care
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Registered Nurse
• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapist

Don't hesitate to call BrightStar Home Care in Jupiter. We are passionate about caring for people needing assistance in our community.  We are a Joint Commission Accredited Private Duty Home Care Agency that offers unskilled and skilled services to Northern Palm Beach and Martin Counties.  Bright offers quality care in your home or a facility. We can be reached 24/7 at 561-741-1200 to answer questions or open a case.

Take a Break from TV, Mom. Let's Play a Game

Memory Games and Activities for Seniors in Jupiter FL

As we age, our eye sight might weaken, our sense might not be as strong as they once were, our bodies change. One of the most recognized changes in some seniors and adults as they age are cognitive. So what if there was a way to “exercise” to promote brain fitness? Here are some helpful activities that are geared toward doing just that.

 
Memory Games and Activities for Seniors from BrightStar Care

Caregiver Resource List for Assisting Home Health Care Needs

 12 Great Resources for Caregivers Near Jupiter FL

Having a handy list of trusted resources can be very helpful.  Whether you are a senior, or one who is providing care for a senior, the following great organizations can help you with issues you are facing today.

12 Resources for Caregivers from BrightStar Care

If we can be of any assistance to you regarding any of these resources or just help out by listening to your needs and concerns.  Do give us a call. 

-->

When you are considering care options for a loved one in need of assistance we are happy to guide you through the different opportunities available. Our goal is to help you get to the point where you can make the right educated decision that will produce the most positive results … even if that decision ends up being something other than Home Care. What is best for you and your loved one is our number one priority. We are available 24/7 to take your call (561-741-1200) and there is no charge or obligation.

BrightStar of Jupiter/Martin County 

Address: 725 North A1A suite E-104

Jupiter, FL 33477

11 Ways to Make Any Home More Senior-friendly

George Burns really knew how to turn a phrase, and he somehow managed to live it out to the ripe old age of 100 on the nose.  So, if we are trying to use fewer steps, and take those steps more carefully in our dotage, what can we do to make the home more convenient, safer, easier?

According to disabled-world.com, there are simple things to remember to make your home more senior-friendly:

1. Carpeting in the home should be low-profile. The padding should be no more than 3/8″ thick. This makes it easier to navigate with a walker or wheelchair and makes up for poor balance.
2. Doors should be wide enough to allow access for a wheelchair or walker.
3. If the home has stairs, make sure there’s at least one handrail that goes the full length of the stairs. And the stairwell should have adequate lighting.
4. A walk-in shower is preferred to a standard tub. If a standard tub is used, a tub bar clamp can be securely attached to the side of the tub and help with going in and out safely.
5. Toilets that are a few inches taller are becoming the standard in newer homes.
6. Look for storage space and cabinets that are within easy reach. A suction tip “reacher” can help retrieve items out of reach.
7. A side-by-side refrigerator is often a good choice, as many more items can be placed within easy reach and the doors are not as wide.
8. Islands for food preparation are typically taller than the counters, which allows for better access while standing.
9. A front-loading washer and dryer mounted on stands takes the bending and lifting out of doing laundry.
10. Electric stoves are safer to use than gas stoves, as people often lose the ability to smell as they age.
11. If there are steps going into the home and a walker or wheelchair is needed, a ramp, either temporary or permanent, can be used.