Always Best Care Provides Superior Home Care Assistance in Raleigh

Always Best Care is a senior care giving provider with numerous locations throughout the United States and Canada. Their compassionate caregivers have logged over three million care giving hours assisting over 25,000 seniors since 1996. The Always Best Care team in Raleigh, NC is led by Sanjay Das, who is dedicated and deeply committed to providing only the most exemplary care to his senior clients.

Always Best Care helps seniors in a couple of different ways. They provide in-home care services to those who wish to stay in their homes beyond their retirement years, and they also provide free referrals for senior living communities for those who are ready to transition from their home to a different environment. Seniors who are interested in receiving home care assistance in Raleigh are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Raleigh location for information about Apex home health care and senior care for all of the surrounding areas.

And, because they are so committed to their senior residents, Always Best Care not only provides the above services but they also go above and beyond to provide a number of special services to their clients, as well. These include:

1. Always Safe. This is a fall detection and prevention system that allows seniors and their family’s piece of mind. Falls can be fatal for seniors, and one out of every three senior falls every year. Aside from being fatal they can also cause brain injuries and severe loss of independence. Talk to your professional care coordinator about the costs associated with Always Safe.
2. Always in Touch. This is a free program designed to help seniors (and disabled people) who live remotely or alone, and don’t have much contact with the outside world. This service is for those living in both the United States and Canada.
3. Always on Call. Need a doctor at 3 am? As a client of Always Best Care, it’s no problem. They provide their clients with a network of US Board Certified physicians that can be reached at any time of the day.

If you are a senior living in the Raleigh area and would like to schedule a free appointment with Always Best Care to discuss home care assistance in Raleigh or Apex home health care, contact the Raleigh office at 919-724-4297 today.

Boost Senior Home Safety With These Tips

Seniors are at greater risk of safety issues as they get older, especially if they are living alone. Fortunately, there are ways to evaluate the risks, and to minimize them so that seniors and their loved ones can rest easier. Here are some home safety tips for seniors:

Lights, etc.

• Are there working night lights in appropriate places in the home?
• Are extension cords and rugs securely fastened and away from the line of traffic?
  Does the senior have access to a phone or other type of emergency call system in every room?
• Are all cooling and heating methods functioning properly? Space heaters should be kept away from flammable items.

Medications & Health

• Do they have access to their dentist and doctors? Are they keeping up on appointments?
• Are their glasses and/or hearing aids in good working condition?
• Have they created a medication/supplement/OTC medications list?
• Has there been any significant weight gain or loss recently?
• Are they showing signs that their eyesight is worsening?

Bathroom

• Are they able to get into and out of the bath or shower safely?
• Can they use the toilet independently?
• Is the bathtub fitted with no-skid strips or a mat?
• How clean is the bathroom?
• Are there grab bars to help keep them from falling?

General Mobility

• Are there any signs that they may have fallen recently – like bruises or scratches?
• If they still have a license, are they still able to drive safely? (Accompanying them on a trip will help determine this).
• Can they manage up and down the stairs safely?
• If they need help with walking – such as with a cane or walker, is it in good working condition?
• Can they safely get themselves out of bed?

Cognition

• Can they hold an understandable and coherent conversation?
• Are there signs of memory loss?
• Are they able to recognize friends and family?
• Have there been any episodes of them getting lost?

Always Best Care has been providing exceptional care giving services to seniors all over the United States and Canada since 1996. During that time, their compassionate caregivers have logged over three million hours assisting over 25,000 seniors. Folks living in the Raleigh area, who are interested in Apex home health care and home care services in Clayton, are invited to call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Seniors: Be Aware of Driving & Medication Side Effects

Most people equate driving with freedom. This freedom – in the form of a driver’s license – is usually obtained in the late teen years with no real specific end. Driving is a complicated task that requires extreme focus and agility and sometimes various medications that seniors are taking can interfere with their ability to drive safely.

Seniors between the ages of 65 and 79 take over 27 prescriptions every single year, and taking just five prescriptions in a day can have a huge negative impact on driving ability. Over the counter medications often come with warning labels, and prescriptions do as well. Keep an open dialogue going with your pharmacist so that they can clearly tell you about any side effects that might hinder your driving ability.

How is driving impacted by daily medications?

• Seniors may experience a slower than normal reaction time when they take certain medications.
• Seniors may experience an increase in drowsiness
• Seniors might have trouble with becoming easily distracted or trouble with concentrating
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Excitability – making reactions unpredictable

Medications that can impair driving ability

• Muscle relaxants
• Allergy medications (the ones that cause drowsiness)
• Sleeping pills
• Anti-anxiety meds
• Anti-depressants
• Pain relievers
• Certain OTC drugs
• Certain herbal supplements
• Diet pills
• Stimulants

Consider Alternatives to Driving Yourself

While it’s nice to be able to get in your own car and drive yourself to wherever you need to go, if you must take certain medications that are causing you to have troublesome side effects, there are other options available for you. Consider:

• Getting rides from family and friends
• Use the public transportation system
• Look into senior care services that are available to you
• Ubers and other taxi services

The best first step is to list all of the medications (including vitamins and OTC products) so that you can share the list with your pharmacist or doctor. From there, they will be able to help you decide on possible alternate medications and any other options you might have.

Do you live in the Raleigh area? Are you curious about elder care in Cary or about how to get free referrals for assisted living in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner or Johnston County? Call the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 to set up a free consultation. They look forward to hearing from you.

Don’t Be Fooled by These Food Substitutes

Most of us want to be healthier because we know it will lead to increased immunity, less risk of disease (lowered inflammation), and ultimately an increase in overall quality of life. So, we switch out certain foods for other foods, in the hopes that we are reducing calories, reducing trans-fat intake, and being healthier. However, most foods that we think to swap in for bad ones are just as unhealthy as the original foods. Here is a short list:

• Swapping Out: Potato Chips/ Swapping In: Pretzels. It might seem like pretzels are the healthier choice because they aren’t fried in oil like chips, however, calorically they are nearly exactly the same. A better swap? Stove popped popcorn – but don’t drench it in melted butter and handfuls of salt!
• Swapping Out: Dark Chocolate/ Swapping In: Fat-free Candy. Don’t be fooled by the “fat free” label – just because something doesn’t have fat, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have calories. A small bit of dark chocolate will satisfy most sweet-tooth cravings, and also offers a number of proven health benefits.
• Swapping Out: Soda/ Swapping In: Vitamin Drink. Anything with the word “vitamin” in the label automatically gives it a healthier “feel,” right? Sure it does. However, both soda and Vitamin Water are loaded with sugar. Try plain water instead with a wedge of lemon or lime.
• Swapping Out: Sandwiches/ Swapping in: Energy Bars. Again, the word “energy” gets people abuzz and thinking that what they are eating has got to be healthy. But, the truth of the matter is, energy bars are generally loaded with added sugar and more calories than anyone’s diet allows.
• Swapping Out: White Bread/ Swapping In: Wheat Bread. If the wheat bread you are buying isn’t 100% whole wheat bread, you’re just replacing one unhealthy bread for another. Read the label to be sure.

Always Best Care has been providing in-home senior care and assisted living referrals to seniors all over the United States and Canada for the past 20 years. If you live in the Raleigh, NC area and are interested in getting information about Cary assisted living options or in-home care in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, or Garner, call the Always Best Care Raleigh location today at 919-724-4297 or email them at sdas@abc-seniors.com to set up a free consultation.

Why Seniors are at High Risk of Developing a Gambling Addiction

Over the past couple of decades casinos have morphed into what they have become today – a place that makes people feel comfortable through discounts, a variety of options, free drinks, free meals, and for seniors, even free transportation and surroundings that are highly conducive to easy wheelchair navigation. Gambling at casinos is a big draw for many people, and seniors are not immune because they might want to supplement their retirement income, they enjoy being out with other people, they enjoy the thrill of small pot winnings (that happen much more often than landing the big win), and more.

• Gambling at casinos offers a mental “getaway” from the reality of life which might include health problems, relationship problems, and family problems. People, seniors included, may roam the casino for hours slipping coins into slots and being mesmerized by the bells and whistles (that are there quite strategically).
• There might be an underlying health issue such as dementia that causes the senior to “lose” themselves inside the casino. There are also certain medications such as dopamine antagonist medications that put seniors at risk of compulsive gambling.
• It’s now a casino’s job to make their patrons feel loved and missed, and they do this by sending them birthday cards as well as “We miss you!” cards to entice people back inside. Some casinos even have vibrating seats, screen animations, and offer patrons a full sensory encounter that they end up wanting to enjoy again and again.

It’s important to recognize the signs of senior gambling addiction which might include:

• Is the senior continually asking for loans due to various reasons like they lost their wallet or a discrepancy occurred in their bank account?
• Is the senior still engaging in other activities they usually enjoy like gardening or hiking?
• Is there less food in the senior’s refrigerator or pantry than usual?
• Is the senior taking less care of themselves hygiene-wise?
• Is the senior visiting the doctor or hospital more often than usual?

If your parent or a senior you know is exhibiting these behaviors, talk with them and contact the National Council on Problem Gambling for more information.

If you live in the Raleigh area and you are interested in receiving information regarding Apex home health care, or other options surrounding in-home care in Raleigh, you can call the Always Best Care Raleigh location at 919-724-4297 or email them at sdas@abc-seniors.com for more information and to set up a free consultation.

Assisted Living Facts You Might Not Know

In 2010, there were nearly 500,000 assisted living apartments spread among over 6,300 assisted living communities in the United States. There tends to be a lot of questions among seniors and their family before the move is made into an assisted living community, and there also tends to be some misinformation that circulates through the general public.

Assisted Living Communities are Each a Different Style

Before they make the move, seniors often worry that assisted living won’t be right for them. That they won’t “fit in” and they won’t like the atmosphere of the community. If this is, indeed, the case, all they have to do is visit another because no two are exactly alike. Even if they offer the same degree of care, one assisted living community might be small in size and offer a more cottage or homey-type setting, whereas larger communities might have a feeling of art deco or an urban setting and are perhaps more likely to offer a variety of recreational opportunities, interest clubs, etc.

Diversified Assisted Living Communities

As the United States and Canada population ages, senior cultural niches will also see an increase. Around the country more and more assisted living communities are springing up to cater to various dietary, language, religious and cultural demands of their clients. The old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together,” is a truism when it comes to assisted living, and seniors do well when they live and socialize with like-minded individuals.

Pets are Usually Allowed

Pets and seniors create a symbiotic relationship that greatly benefits them both. Most assisted living communities allow pets, while others have certain restrictions that you should look into beforehand. Many will allow birds and/or fish, and others have a weight restriction of 20 lbs or so on dogs and cats. More and more assisted living communities are allowing pets because of the fact that pets help improve quality of life (no matter what the age), so taking a beloved pet to an assisted living community will likely be approved.

Always Best Care Senior Services has been working in the senior care industry for the past 20 years. They offer exceptional personalized assistance in finding the best assisted (or independent) living community for seniors. They also provide outstanding in-home care by well-trained and compassionate caregivers. If you are interested in receiving information about senior living and assisted living communities in Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Garner or other areas of Wake and Johnston counties, give Always Best Care a call at their local office at (919)724-4297 or email them at sdas@abc-seniors.com today for information on a free consultation.