For this episode of #AskTheExpert, we sit down with Kimberly Mitchell, President of Home With Help, a provider of in-home care to the senior community in Arizona since 2002.
Kimberly explains what makes Home With Help so unique and what seniors can expect when using their personal care services.
To get access to Arizona’s best-rated senior resources, advice and guidance, get in touch with our team.
For this installment of #AskTheExpert, we catch up with Scott Fischer, Founder and CEO of Options for Senior Living, a professional referral service for seniors looking for long-term care.
Scott gives some background to how Options for Senior Living started and how they uniquely serve Arizona families and their vulnerable seniors.
For more information on Options, and how they can help you find the right #seniorcare or #seniorliving arrangement for your elderly loved one, get in touch with us at Senior Resource Connectors today.
In this week’s episode of #AskTheExpert, we sit down with Dawn Fiala, Director of Recruitment and Marketing at Devoted Guardians.
Devoted Guardians provides #medical and non-medical services to seniors from the comfort of their own homes. Dawn explains the differences between non-medical and medical care and how they cater to these aspects.
For more information about Arizona’s top-rated home health services for seniors, get in touch with us today in the following ways:
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
In our latest #AskTheExpert series we chat with Krystal Wilkinson, the Founder of Adultcare Assistance Homecare.
Krystal chats to us about the reasons why home care is so important to seniors today, as well as what makes Adultcare Assistance Homecare unique from other home care providers.
For more information about Arizona’s best-rated home care services for seniors, get in touch with us today in the following ways:
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
Watch as we hear from Certified Placement Expert Tammy Luna, CDP, CPRS, about the great service Options for Senior Living provides Arizona seniors and their families.
Since 2003 Options for Senior Living has helped place thousands of seniors in various senior living communities and specializes in referring and placing your aging loved ones in Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care, and Group Homes, to name a few.
We also hear from other team members at Options for Senior Living about what makes Options different from other placement agencies and what families can expect when embarking on the journey to total peace of mind with the Options team. For more information about Arizona’s highest-rated senior placement services for seniors, get in touch with us today in the following ways:
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: www.seniorresourceconnectors.com
Explore how MD Senior Living caters to seniors and their unique healthcare needs at this physician-owned and operated assisted living community. For more resources, advice, and guidance, get in touch with our clinical concierge today..
It can happen overnight. Or it can creep up gradually over a long period of time. What started as a simple helping hand for your aging loved one doing shopping, laundry, and chauffeuring to doctor’s appointments has now turned into a full-time job. Suddenly, you’re a caregiver.
It can be overwhelming, frustrating, and exhausting all at the same time. Whether your parent has had a major health event like a stroke or is suffering from cognitive issues like dementia, it’s important to understand the full scope of caregiving. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, here are some good caregiving 101 tips to act on if you’ve made a commitment to take care of someone else.
For many caregivers, this isn’t their only job. Often, they have a professional daytime career as well. They might have children or grandchildren that they care for as well.
That’s why self-care is critical to mitigating fatigue, stress, depression, and the other side effects of too much caregiving. Remember, it’s one thing to gear up for a short-term health crisis with your aging loved one, but it takes another level of energy and tenacity to provide care over a longer period.
So, here are ways to be a successful caregiver by making it a top priority to care for yourself, too, along the way.
Most importantly, remember that taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of someone else.
A great place to get the support you need is by letting us help you. Senior Resource Connectors is here to provide trusted resources for all of you caregivers out there. Promise. We’ve got your back.
Your roadmap for determining the best care plan for your senior loved one in Arizona – at any age or stage. View our business directory, or connect with us below.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin
It’s easier to solve a problem if you know the cause. In medicine this means understanding why people get sick and treating the disease itself, not just the symptoms. For nearly 100 years, the medical community had limited knowledge about why people develop Alzheimer’s disease. Recent scientific discoveries are uncovering clues about what causes Alzheimer’s and how to stop symptoms before they start. To understand how far we’ve come, let’s look at a brief history of Alzheimer’s research.
In 1906 a German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer presented the case of a “peculiar” disease at a conference. The patient, a woman in her early 50s known as “Auguste D.,” showed signs of memory loss, mood changes, paranoia and disorientation.
After her death, Dr. Alzheimer studied sections of Auguste’s brain under a microscope and reported that her brain had shrunk in certain areas with abnormal “depositions.” For most of the twentieth century, researchers studied the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s and explored potential causes of the disease. As technology improved, experts began to use brain imaging, such as CT and MRI scans, to identify the microscopic plaques and tangles (what Dr. Alzheimer referred to as “depositions”) associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Interested in supporting this research? Learn more at TestforAlz.com.
In the mid-1980s the medical community created guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. At the time, experts believed that Alzheimer’s had only one stage, known as dementia, where patients showed clear signs of cognitive decline. Once someone showed evidence of dementia, they could receive treatments for their symptoms. The 1980s guidelines assumed that only people with identifiable
dementia symptoms had the disease.
Researchers later discovered that Alzheimer’s can start affecting the brain years before symptoms
start, and that certain biological clues may indicate if someone is at risk of developing the disease.
In 2011, experts revised the guidelines for diagnosing dementia. New research showed that Alzheimer’s could lie dormant without symptoms for years, during a “silent” period known as “Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease.” Experts were exploring ways to detect Preclinical Alzheimer’s by looking for early disease signs in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and other sources.
Researchers are currently investigating new ways to detect and treat Alzheimer’s in its early stages. The FDA recently approved the first drug designed to address the causes of dementia.
There are many more clinical trials in progress (the number of dementia studies has doubled in the past ten years) as well as increased funding for dementia research from the US government and private donors.
To learn more about dementia research and how you can get involved, visit TestforAlz.com.
This fantastic article was supplied courtesy of Leah Berk, Senior Content Writer at CareAccess.com
Fill in the below contact form to get in touch with our clinical concierge at Senior Resource Connectors. Our services come at no cost to families.
Are you looking for information on Phoenix senior living?
You’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about where to live.
We’ll discuss topics such as cost, location, amenities, and more.
So whether you are just starting your search or you have already narrowed it down to a few options, read on for everything you need to know about Phoenix senior living!
The cost of living in a Phoenix senior living community varies depending on the type of community you choose.
Independent living communities typically have lower monthly fees than assisted living or memory care communities.
However, the overall cost of care will be more expensive if you need to move into a higher level of care later on.
It’s important to note that most Phoenix senior living communities offer all-inclusive pricing, which includes utilities, meals, and other amenities.
Phoenix senior living communities offer a wide variety of amenities, including:
It’s important to note that amenities can vary from community to community, so be sure to ask about the specific amenities offered at each one.
The climate in Phoenix is hot and dry.
The average temperature year-round is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can get as high as 115 degrees in the summer.
However, there are also many days during the winter when temperatures reach into the 70s.
So overall, Phoenix is a very mild climate for seniors who are used to colder winters.
There is no one “best” neighborhood to live in Phoenix.
It really depends on what you are looking for in a community.
Some of the most popular neighborhoods include Camelback East, North Central Phoenix, and Scottsdale.
These neighborhoods offer a mix of urban and suburban living, as well as a wide variety of amenities and activities.
For more information on the different neighborhoods in Phoenix, Senior Resource Connectors can assist with this decision.
When choosing a senior living facility, there are several factors to consider:
It’s important to weigh all of these factors and find the right community for your individual needs.
If you need assistance with this decision, our team at Senior Resource Connectors can help! We offer free consultation services and can connect you with the best communities in Phoenix.
The best way to decide if Phoenix Senior Living is right for you is to schedule a tour of a few communities.
This will give you the opportunity to meet the staff, see the facilities, and ask questions.
It’s also important to talk to your family and friends about their experiences with Phoenix senior living communities. Ultimately, you need to make the decision that is best for you and your loved ones.
If you have any other questions about Phoenix senior living, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We would be happy to help. Thank you for reading!
For more information on senior living in Phoenix, visit our website: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
Are you a senior who is looking for information on Phoenix Senior Living? You’ve come to the right place.
We’re a trusted coalition of Arizona companies committed to providing your senior loved ones with the best care resources in Arizona, at any age or stage. You can reach out to us for help directly, or submit an application to become part of our trusted coalition.
Our coalition of trusted Arizona companies answers critical care questions and provides the appropriate services, plans, and products for seniors and their families in need of guidance. Whether families need financial services, legal advice, moving assistance, or in-home help, Senior Resource Connectors is here to help.
Home health vs home care? Have you heard these two terms and just assumed they meant the same thing? Or have you been confused about what the difference was? Don’t worry; you are not alone. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things in our industry.
Home With Help® , a coalition member of ours is a home care agency. So, we get asked a lot of questions about what services they offer, because most people don’t know the difference between the two types of companies. We totally get it as our family didn’t know how they were different before we got into this line of work.
Hopefully, this will help…
Home care is a term people use to describe non-medical care provided by a caregiver in someone’s home. If a company says they are an in-home care (or home care) agency, then they have caregivers that will provide non-clinical services for people who need help with activities of daily living.
Below is a list of services that Home With Help® and most other companies offer as a home care agency. We pride ourselves in being able to offer a concierge approach to in-home care. So, this is not a comprehensive list of our services, but will hopefully give you a better understanding of what home care companies offer.
Most seniors think if they hire a home care company, it takes away their independence. But, it is actually the opposite. It is a great preventative tool to allow them to stay in their homes as long as possible.
Home care services are perfect for anyone who needs a little extra help with activities pertaining to daily living. Hiring a caregiver is a great idea for someone who has had a recent surgery or hospital stay and cannot perform all of the normal tasks at home. If you have an elderly loved one in another state, you could hire a home care agency to check on them and help around the house.
Home health is defined as in-home medical care and/or skilled services. Companies that offer in-home health care have licensed professionals on staff to help with acute or chronic health conditions.
This is a general list of services offered by home health care agencies…
If you or a loved one has recently been released from the hospital, rehab center, or skilled nursing facility and still need clinical help, you would hire a home health care company. Or, if an elderly loved one has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, home health care may be ordered by a doctor.
By Laura Wayman from The Dementia Whisperer
A diagnosis of any cause of dementia symptoms, while life-changing, marks the start of a new chapter and transition. It does not, however, indicate the beginning of an end. Individuals living with dementia symptoms continue to engage in daily life, interactions, relationships, tasks, goals and more. In life’s intricate mosaic, dementia symptoms do not diminish one’s humanity, either.
This fresh chapter is not devoid of transformation. The nuanced interplay of physical, mental and emotional shifts reshapes how individuals navigate life, especially as the disease progresses over time. To navigate this unique chapter with resilience and embrace the evolving narrative is to be “dementia aware.” A passage of notes or musical melody can induce a range of physical and emotional reactions. Being dementia aware is like acknowledging that one can’t change the melody, but you can learn to harmonize with the tune.
Addressing the multifaceted challenges of caring for someone with dementia involves overcoming the communication barriers that arise – to find a semblance of harmony when no one thought it was possible. Being dementia aware requires caregivers to adopt a nuanced mindset, filtering their interactions through a lens attuned to the everyday experiences of the person with memory impairment.
Here are five harmonious approaches to dementia awareness that enable caregivers to navigate challenges and foster positive connections with their loved ones and the people in their care.
Establishing trust with those in your care involves stepping into their perspective and consistently expressing understanding. When you imagine and validate their feelings—whether frustration, fear or misunderstanding—you can magnify their emotional experience. This is not always ideal though. The next time around, soften the experience by connecting with them and acknowledging their internal experiences instead. Share in how they feel on both the surface and heart-string levels to make better connections.
Excessive details overstimulate and confuse individuals with memory impairment. Simple tasks many people don’t think twice about, like body movement and balance, are more challenging. That’s why it’s important prioritize and limit the information shared to preserve cognitive bandwidth. On some days, a simple cadence is all you need.
Prioritize positive action statements for effective communication. Questions can create a barrier whereas these statements act as answers, encouraging immediate engagement. This straightforward approach skips the process of answering questions, replacing it with clear and positive language. For example, instead of asking for help, say, “Let’s make lunch together,” proceeding with the action, followed by some hype.
And avoid asking too many questions. Even seemingly simple inquiries can trigger challenging responses from individuals with cognitive impairment. They may find it difficult to process and responds appropriately, leading to increased frustration, anger and anxiety.
Individuals experiencing dementia symptoms may face challenges in processing information that others handle routinely. By participating in the thinking process, you can fill these cognitive gaps, providing support that eases their frustration and fear often associated with challenges in grasping and processing information. Some hand holding can make the world of difference in so many ways.
By being Dementia Aware, we can foster cognitive, physical, spiritual and psychological well-being in a secure, supportive and loving environment.
To learn more about Laura, and what she does, click here.
If you’re an adult child in need of a trusted referral, advice or senior-centric resources of any kind, contact us at Senior Resource Connectors today. Our services come at NO COST to you.
By Laura Wayman, The Dementia Whisperer
Choosing a care facility for an aging loved one is an emotional decision, a delicate balance between love and practicality. Beginning the search for a top-notch facility signifies a commitment to ensuring that evolving needs are met with compassion and support. You seek a place where your loved one can experience dignity, comfort and the empowering opportunity to thrive and fully embrace the richness of life.
When navigating through different facilities, consider asking questions that delve into the level of personalized care, staff training in providing compassionate support, available amenities fosterin comfort and the programs in place to ensure residents can thrive and engage fully in their lives.
Here are some essential questions to ask during your exploration, so you and your family can land on a place that prioritizes compassionate care, comfort and the opportunity for your loved one to thrive.
When searching for a memory care community for a loved one with dementia symptoms, it’s imperative to pose vital questions so you know the priority is optimal care.
Gain insights into the community’s leadership, inquire about executive engagement and ask about measures for issue resolution, staff training, certifications and resident security to make an informed decision.
Next, learn details about the community’s size and amenities. Get informed about the capacity of resident rooms, whether they are private or companion rooms, and the availability of dining rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor activity spaces. This will give you insights into the living conditions and communal facilities that your loved one will experience.
When evaluating a memory care community, inquire about the presence of 24/7 medical staff, especially registered nurses or licensed nurse practitioners.
Explore the training protocols for staff in dementia care and their approach to managing dementia-related behaviors, such as wandering. Additionally, seek clarity on the consistency in assigning caregivers to residents, which fosters a stable and comfortable living environment.
Look into the meal setting, cleanliness level and the approach to individual nutrition needs. If companion rooms are an option, ask about the compatibility assessment process and whether a resident can remain in the same room as their condition progresses.
When finalizing your decision, learn about regulatory compliance by asking about the community’s oversight and the state entity responsible for ensuring compliance.
Explore financial considerations, including overall costs, potential Medicaid support and any consequences tied to financial decisions. These questions will serve as valuable guides. Opting for the right community offers relief. Once you know expert care is tailored to your loved one’s comfort and need, you can begin to refocus on relationship-building and spending valuable time once again.
To learn more about Laura and what she does, click here.
If you need resources, advice, or a trusted referral, then Senior Resource Connectors is your go-to. We can help get your senior the care or advice needed to offer you complete peace of mind, at no cost to your family. Contact us today.
We’re back with Season 3 of the Senior Resource Connectors Webinar series!
Today, we’re talking to Dana Kupper, owner of Prime IV Hydration & Wellness in PHX.
Dana shares what led to her journey in the world of IV Therapy and explains how seniors, specifically, stand to benefit from getting regular treatments.
If you’re an adult child responsible for Mom or Dad and need resources to help lift the burden of aging, then Senior Resource Connectors is here for YOU. Get in touch with us in the following ways:
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: www.seniorresourceconnectors.com
Every week, we have the pleasure of welcoming a new guest, and this week is no exception.
Don Irish is from Family Home Care, a homecare agency in Tempe, Arizona. Don brings decades of knowledge from what he aptly calls his ‘PhD from the school of home care.’
Together, Don and Scott recall the events that formed PASRS as we know it today. Don further explains how crucial ethics and adherence to industry standards are, especially when caring for a vulnerable senior. If you’re an adult child grappling with the challenges of caring for a senior loved one, then Senior Resource Connectors can help.
We provide professional advice, trusted referrals and local resources for all things aging. Our services are 100% free and you can get in touch with us in the following ways:
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: www.seniorresourceconectors.com
In one of our most endearing episodes yet, Scott chats with Debbie Gross, owner of Home Instead Surprise.
Debbie bravely and honestly shares her personal experience with her dad’s mild cognitive impairment diagnosis and how things quickly escalated from difficult to almost impossible without the proper resources or information available to Debbie and her family.
Debbie also touches on how this experience impacted her career and, ultimately, her chosen life path going forward. Debbie’s story is so familiar, and it is the exact reason why Senior Resource Connectors was formed in 2021.
Our aim is to ensure that all families are supported, informed, and assisted during the tricky journey of aging. Call our team or contact us online for advice, a trusted referral, or a patient ear.
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: www.seniorresourceconnectors.com
This week, Scott has a chance to sit down with Oliver Milencovici, who owns American Dream Home, I & II, Assisted Living Homes here in Phoenix.
Oliver stresses the importance of having families involved as much as possible to ensure their seniors are receiving the best care and underlines how impactful care can be when families and caregivers work hand-in-hand.
Furthermore, Oliver discusses a common concern among families-how to finance senior care. Thanks to the innovative approach of Senior Resource Connectors, Oliver was able to collaborate with S4 Real Estate to create a program specifically designed to address this need.
We understand your unique situation and are here to help.
If you’re an adult child in need of resources to help Mom or Dad in their aging journey, reach out to us at Senior Resource Connectors. We can help with trusted resources, a vetted referral, or a patient ear. Our services are 100% FREE to families.
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
This week, we’re honored to talk with Kimberly Mitchell from Home With Help, an Arizona-based home care company specializing in structured non-medical home care services for seniors.
Kimberly shares how her journey in senior care started and how her personal experiences shaped her view and fuelled her to provide families with better care for their vulnerable seniors.
Kimberly and Scott delve into the concerning issue of the lack of regulation in their respective industries. They highlight how this can lead to disastrous care for seniors if best practices are not adhered to, raising our awareness about the potential risks.
Furthermore, Kimberly and Scott discuss the importance of paying caregivers fairly and how many workplaces are not adequately equipped to support a workforce that is increasingly needed for care at home.
If you are an adult child responsible for a senior parent or aging loved one, contact us at Senior Resource Connectors for vetted advice, a trusted referral, or a patient ear.
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
Watch as Scott chats with the owner of Devoted Guardians, Aaron Sinykin.
Aaron discusses the difference between home health and home care and how devoted guardians can help in both instances with trained professionals.
The primary aim is to provide a dignified, comfortable, and safe environment for seniors, allowing them to age in place in a familiar setting for as long as possible.
Aaron touches on how families can approach paying for home care and how families can benefit from long-term care policies or ALTCS. Aaron also shares some of his essential advocacy work and how he hopes to improve healthcare to be seen as a team sport where all roleplayers are in frequent, cohesive communication with seniors at the center.
If you’re an adult child navigating the aging journey with a senior loved one, reach out to us at Senior Resource Connectors. We can help with advice, a trusted referral or simply a patient ear.
Call Us: (602) 698-9720
Visit Us Online: https://seniorresourceconnectors.com/
To provide Arizona seniors and their loved ones easy access to the most trusted and highly professional resources for care as they encounter the many physical and emotional challenges that come with aging today.
