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Be Prepared for Unexpected Emergencies

Many people around the world are fascinated with television drama series depicting severe medical emergencies, tragedies, suffering, and rescues. But experiencing sudden health complications or fighting off natural disasters approaching your own home is not a fictional problem. Unforeseeable crises can happen at any time. Sudden or severe physical symptoms can be endangering to your life, particularly for a senior who lives alone and cannot call for immediate help. Living in an at-risk area susceptible to tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, blizzards, or other weather-related events requires readiness even before an emergency happens. How can you be prepared?

Here we will discuss a few things you can do to be more prepared for unexpected emergencies.

 

Set Up a plan.

Choose a group of people who can offer hands-on assistance in emergencies, family members, friends, professional caregivers, relatives, neighbors, or business associates.

Work with them to arrange an emergency plan. The plan should include emergency medical treatment options, relevant emergency documents/health information, home escape routes, transportation needs, community response and evacuation plans, and family/friend communication contacts.

List safe places to shelter in the home and note where to secure safe lodging within the community and outside the area.

Select the main contact person who will check on you during an emergency. Consider means of communication (knock on the door, etc.) if telephone service is down.

Determine an action plan for those with health limitations who may need physical assistance during an emergency.

 

Prepare emergency supplies.

Be aware that in an emergency, you may not have time to collect essential supplies. Basic services such as water, gas, electricity, and communications may be disrupted. Grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies may be closed or overwhelmed with lengthy lines.

Organize your emergency supply kit now before any medical alert or disaster situation arises. Here is a list of some things to include:

  • First aid kit.
  • Flashlight, radio, and spare batteries.
  • Sufficient supplies of water, nonperishable food, medications, toiletries, etc. for at least three days.
  • Blankets, a change of clothing, and sturdy shoes or warm boots.
  • Credit cards and cash.
  • Copies of important documents such as financial records, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and passports in a fire-proof container.
  • Cellphone with a portable charger.

Keep the emergency supply kit in a safe accessible place and be sure to include contact information for family and friends.

Stock a vehicle supply kit that includes jumper cables and a tire repair kit. In summer, your vehicle supply kit should include sunscreen, a shade-providing hat, and extra water. A wintertime kit should include an ice scraper/snow brush, and warm clothes, gloves, and boots. Review and update supplies every six months or as the seasons change.

 

Identify community resources.

It is important to know how your community will alert you of an approaching disaster and stay in contact with you during and after an emergency. Find out which local television and radio stations will broadcast emergency messages via the Emergency Alert System. Know in advance which community first responders will go door to door with emergency warnings and evacuation orders.

As communities expand and offer more medical facilities, you may not realize which hospital or emergency room is nearest to you. To find a nearby hospital, you can visit ushospitalfinder.com.

Preplanning will reduce stress when a medical emergency or disaster alert arises. No one wants to be caught off guard in times of crisis. Every action you take now can determine the outcome of emergencies in the future.

 

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Why Consider Home Care as a Career?

We live in an unusual time. With the most noteworthy joblessness rate since the Great Depression, it is a time of uncertainty for several individuals and families. As we all try to stay safe amongst COVID-19, the added stress of financial and career uncertainty can be overwhelming.

For those of you who are struggling financially right now or have lost your job and are not sure what to do, we suggest considering a career in home care.

We all are having to deal with sheltering in place and staying home as necessary. But, for older ones and others at high risk, staying home could mean their life. As we continue to battle this virus, any other health challenges people are facing unfortunately remain. Particularly for seniors, small tasks around the house, picking up groceries, and getting to medical appointments are especially difficult.

Trusted home care professionals are keeping these ones safe, happy, and healthy at home, and are relieving stress and burdens for the families of those needing extra care. So, whether you are working in healthcare, or you are seeking to transition from another field, a career in home care is particularly gratifying.

Current Healthcare Workers
All those working in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and clinics. We know that your jobs are now more stressful than ever. Yet, your desire to help people is just as strong. Here are a couple of reasons why a becoming a caregiver may be appropriate for you:

Flexibility- Perhaps you have family members to take care of, or maybe you just need more control over your schedule. When working in home care, you can often set your schedule to make certain that you can take care of the important matters in your life.
A change in scenery- We cannot imagine all that you have seen and dealt with at this time we are living in. It is more than understandable if you are burned out. Whether you are burned out, or simply need a change in scenery, making the switch to home care offers a new way to use the skills and training you have acquired during your career.
A closer relationship with your patient- Many nurses feel that it is rewarding to provide long-term care for patients. In a home care career, you will be joining your patients in their homes. You will get to know them and get to see their successes and help them when things become challenging.
Develop skills- Here at Help Home Care, our employees continue to develop existing skills, as well as learn new ones. You will have plenty of opportunities to grow.

Career Changers
Hospitality, retail, and other industries have taken a massive hit as the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic. A new career in home care as a caregiver is perfect for those who are interested in transitioning to an exciting, and rewarding role. It is an especially good fit for those who enjoy working with people. Why?

You Get to Make a difference- Every job is important, but it is incredibly rewarding to be personally involved in the health and happiness of those who need our help. The help of a caregiver keeps many older ones happy, healthy, and comfortable at home, rather than in a nursing home.
No day is the same- When you have a career in home care, every day is different. Your workplace is the home of your clients. Rather than having to sit in front of a screen all day, you are on the road and visiting with client patients, chatting about their day, and making a major impact.
Companionship in a time of physical distancing- The effects of the current pandemic have come down especially hard on all of us who are physically distancing from friends and loved ones. Not only will you be providing companionship to seniors who are often lonely, but the company of your clients will also be good for your mental health.

Join HHC and you will become part of a passionate group of home care providers who genuinely care about having a positive influence on the people in our communities. We would love to have you on our team.

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Biggest Fears of Retirement – “Fear of Failure to Finance”

Needles. Heights. Spiders. The dark. All these are things many people are afraid of. However, if you are nearing the age of retirement, what may scare you might not be any of those things. A top concern many individuals approaching retirement have is outliving their savings. Let’s take a look at why this worries many, and a couple of tips to help with this issue.

Affording to Live Through Retirement

Retirement is supposed to be a peaceful time to finally relax and begin living life your way. For many, though, it’s the exact opposite. Most adults over 65 years of age who are living alone cannot afford to pay for their basic needs. No matter your age, the fear of not having enough money is real. We spend most of our lives working to save for the future. When it becomes time for us to rely on what we’ve saved, it can be scary. Most people are afraid that they will not have enough money saved to last through the latter years of their life.  One recent U.S. News & World Report, for example, revealed that in the city of New Orleans, 69 percent of the population over the age of 65 have incomes lower than the poverty line. Little wonder why for many, outliving their money would be a primary concern.

What can be done to address this rising issue? Financial planning well in advance is paramount. Wise money management starts with establishing and maintaining a realistic spending pattern based upon your current income.  For instance, … While many have plans to help them transition into retirement, few have a plan for making it through retirement. That concern is heightened by statistics indicating that people are living longer due in no small part perhaps to advancements made in modern medicine and an increased interest in making healthy lifestyle choices. How is one under the circumstance to determine how much in the way of financial resources is enough? …

It’s important to remember that you will no longer have a steady paycheck with overtime opportunities. The expression, “fixed income” will now become part of your post-retirement vocabulary. Maintaining a daily budget of your living expenses will be something that you will inevitably be forced to do in your new-found circumstance. Doing this can relieve you of long-term financial anxiety. 

Retirement can be a stressful time if you are not properly prepared. The sooner you realize your savings are not where they need to be, the more time you have for adjustment. Start early… the more thought you put into planning your retirement the more you will enjoy it.

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Biggest Fears of Retirement – “Feeling Lonely”

 

Loneliness

Loneliness is another problem you may face as you increase in age. It is common for many to feel unwanted or unloved. You might also feel lonely because you’re physically distant from your social group. We as humans, yearn for meaningful relationships and social connections. People who are lonely decline faster in mental health than those who have more social relationships. When you feel a part of something, and you see that you mean something to others, it’ll help you succeed in having a more positive life. We need to interact with people, especially the ones in our lives who love us. Not to say that living alone will always lead to loneliness, neither does living with others guarantee happiness. You can keep your independence as you age while still developing solid social connections. But if you are feeling lonely here are a few things that can help…

Tackling loneliness

Stay connected – Spend time with and stay connected to family and grandchildren. Especially if you have mobility issues, keeping people around can lift your spirit. Preserve relationships you have already established. Get in touch with old friends you have lost contact with and build up stronger relationships with the people who live close to you. Joining social sites that are designed to help you keep up family and friends could be something you may want to look into as well. Get out more, go where people are. Even going out to run errands, can help you feel more connected.

Explore new hobbies – Embrace your freedom the best you can, take up a new hobby, spend time doing things you enjoy doing instead of only what you must do. You can join a book club, learn to play an instrument or sign up for an art class

It doesn’t matter so much what it is you do to keep yourself entertained but what is most important are the connections and friendships you’ll make while doing the things you love.

Get a pet – Dogs and cats are known to help with loneliness. They are able to provide a solid companionship. They can also display a variety of human-like behaviors. A dog can show you their love by jumping into your lap and embracing you. Pets can force you to participate in some healthy activities that can improve your feelings of being alone. For instance, getting you to go outdoors and get some exercise

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Coronavirus and Seniors

 

COVID-19 – Seniors Stay Safe

When it comes to the new coronavirus disease, seniors are particularly at risk to become severely ill. This could be because our immune systems change as we grow older, making it harder to fight off illnesses. Study shows that those with underlying medical conditions, particularly heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or cancer are more likely to have a severe, perhaps deadly, reaction to coronavirus than that of other age groups. Here are a few practical recommendations from doctors and other public health experts to protect not only yourself but the community as well.

  • Practice social distancing

All are urged to put into practice “social distancing” by avoiding crowds and staying at least 6 feet apart from people while around the public. The highest risk of infection is in those who have close interactions with people who have COVID-19. This can mean family members and health care workers who take care of people who are infected with the virus. 

  • Stay at home

If you live where cases have been reported, take precaution and reduce your exposure. Keep updated on what is going on in your area. Be sure you have all your needed medications, such as those for blood pressure, diabetes, etc. and any household supplies that you may need to remain in the house.

  • Clean and disinfect

A study found that coronavirus stays in the air for up to 3 hours and can live on surfaces like cardboard for up to 24 hours and stainless steel and plastic for up to 72 hours. Something you should be doing daily to lower your chances of getting sick is thoroughly clean and disinfect commonly touched items and surfaces. This includes countertops, tables, cabinets, door handles, and light switches. Keep your hands clean by frequently washing them with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

  • Obey your state’s guidance

Listen to suggestions from your public health department in your area. Decisions about community procedures are made by local and state officials, in communication with federal officials based on the extent of the outbreak and the seriousness of the illness. You need to be aware of the instructions provided by your state.

Following these simple tips can help reduce the spread and impact of this virus. Learn more information at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

 *Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to replace professional medical advice or to diagnose or treat. 

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