Newsroom

Watch for Symptoms of Melanoma on Elderly Adults

March 5, 2019 by Shanele Healy

Elderly adults have a greater risk of developing melanoma than ever before, but it’s increasingly difficult for them to spot the warning signs of the disease. Whether it’s from poor vision, memory loss or simply not being flexible enough to do a good self-examination, aging adults face challenges in looking out for telltale symptoms of melanoma. Family caregivers and home health care providers need to do periodic checkups of the aging adult’s skin as they shower and dress them to identify anything unusual.

Home Health Care Statesville NC – Watch for Symptoms of Melanoma on Elderly Adults

What are the Risk Factors for Melanoma?

The best way for elderly adults, family caregivers and home health care providers to detect possible melanoma is to do a serious mole check a couple of times per year. If the aging adult meets several of the risk factors, a more frequent assessment may be needed. Risk factors include a history of melanoma, having red or light blond hair, freckled, blue eyes and a lifetime of exposure to sunlight, such as working an outdoor job. While melanoma can develop in anyone, these characteristics are most likely to lead to problems.

Symptoms of Melanoma in Seniors

Most melanoma appears as a mole on the skin. It could be from an existing mole or a new one could develop. Family caregivers and home health care providers should be on the lookout for any moles that change their appearance. The change could be in the color, size, shape or symmetry of the mole. Pre-cancerous moles often have irregular borders and may itch or bleed. Another warning sign is the sudden appearance of new moles around an existing mole. If any area of the skin looks suspicious, family caregivers should arrange for a doctor’s visit soon.

Options for Treating Melanoma

If melanoma is suspected, the doctor will most likely do a biopsy to take a closer look at the skin in question. They will remove much of the suspicious skin and send it to a lab. Technicians will be able to see if there are any cancer cells using a microscope. If there are cancer cells detected, treatment will depend a lot on the depth of the cancer cells into the skin, the size of the affected area and the elderly person’s overall health. Once the doctor knows the stage of the cancer, they can plan an effective treatment. When detected early, most people recover fully from skin cancer.

Family caregivers are responsible for the health and wellness of their aging relative. It makes sense that they pay attention to a number of skin and mole symptoms that could indicate the presence of melanoma.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care Services in Statesville NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

What Are the Most Common Obstacles to Aging in Place?

February 19, 2019 by Shanele Healy

Look at the challenges of moving. Realtors take a cut of the sale’s price. Movers, if needed, cost money. Packing supplies, repairs to pass state codes and sales requirements, and legal fees add up. When you factor in the cost of selling a home and moving with the cost of buying a new home, it’s not surprising so many elderly men and women want to age in place.

With aging in place, the neighborhood and home are familiar. Neighbors are known and possibly long-time friends. Favorite restaurants, stores, and services are already narrowed down. Often, the biggest obstacle to aging in place is the house itself.

Homecare Indian Trail NC – What Are the Most Common Obstacles to Aging in Place?

These are the areas where most homes fall short.

Bathroom Fall Risks

Some of the most common falls in a bathroom occur while getting in and out of the bathtub or shower. Slippery wet tiles or linoleum flooring can lead to a fall. Making a bathroom accessible with grab bars in the shower/tub stall, outside the shower, and near the toilet is important.

Flooring could be changed to be less slippery. Some of the more modern vinyl planks are textured to help keep it from becoming slick when wet. Switching to walk-in shower instead of a bathtub also makes it easier to get in and out of a shower without falling.

Laundry Room Locations

Many older homes have laundry rooms in the basement. An unfinished basement often has a concrete wall and floor at the bottom of steep stairs. If a senior falls in that area, the injuries can be serious. Walking down the stairs while carrying a hamper or laundry bag adds to the fall risk.

It does take some rearrangement and it costs money to redo the plumbing and vents, but moving a laundry room to the kitchen or closet on the main level is smart. An apartment-sized stacked washer and dryer or the European-style washer and dryer in one machine can save space.

Narrow Doorways

Wheelchair or walker users often cannot fit through a door that is narrower than 36 inches. It’s uncommon for doors to be that wide in an older home. Resizing doors requires the help of a contractor to make sure you’re not messing with the home’s support walls. Consider sliding barn-style doors or pocket doors if space is tight and there’s limited room to fully open the wider door.

Stairs

Falls on stairs are another big factor with aging in place. Many stairs have a handrail on one side. You should add a second. Make sure stairs going outside and down the deck also have rails. Check that all rails are sturdy and not splintering.

Pair changes to the home with assistance from homecare services. Homecare allows your parents to have the help they need with housework, meals, transportation, personal care, bathing, reminders, and more. To learn more about our services available to them, make a call.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare Services in Indian Trail NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

Spreading love and Laughter on Valentines Day

February 18, 2019 by Shanele Healy

Home Care Charlotte NC – Spreading love and Laughter on Valentines Day

Caring At Heart wants to Thank the following communities for inviting us to their communities: Curis of Charlotte, Monroe Rehabilitation Center and University Place Nursing and Rehab.

Shanele Healy and Jamie Ingram had a blast spreading a little love and cheer to their residents on Valentine’s Day. So many smiles and lots of laughter seeing Jamie dressed up as a tender hearted teddy bear delivering carnations to such deserving seniors.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Charlotte NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

Five Little Changes to Improve Life as a Caregiver

February 7, 2019 by Shanele Healy

When you’re feeling stuck as a caregiver it’s time to start implementing some small changes. Little changes are much easier to put into place than big ones are and you’ll start to see results much sooner than you expect.

Caregiver Waxhaw NC – Five Little Changes to Improve Life as a Caregiver

Take Small Breaks Throughout the Day

Taking even five minutes as a mini-break throughout your day can help so much. No one goes through their entire day without taking some down time. If you’re trying to force yourself to keep going constantly as a caregiver, you’re being needlessly cruel to yourself.

Check in with Yourself More Often

When did you last ask yourself what you need right now? Take a moment to do that and really listen to the answer. You might feel silly at first, but when you check in with yourself like this you’re going to start hearing the answer more readily. Really up the ante by giving yourself what you need.

Move a Little More

Exercise and movement do so much more for your body and your brain than you might think. Even if it seems like a hassle to try to figure out when to work out, you can start adding movement more frequently into your day. This might be as simple as walking in place for five minutes while your coffee brews. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Give Yourself Time to Be Creative

Creating lets you learn to use your brain in different ways than anything else in your life. You can create in all sorts of ways from journaling and writing to knitting or making art in other ways. Even if all you do is color a picture, that’s something creative for your brain to enjoy.

Master the Art of Asking for Help

Caregivers are kind of bad at asking for help. Whether you think you should be able to do everything yourself or you feel as if no one ever helps anyway, start being more assertive about asking for help. Everyone needs help now and again, which is partly why you’re a caregiver in the first place. As you keep asking, you’re going to get better and better at requesting assistance.

Pick one or two of these tips to start implementing each day. Gradually you’ll start to feel more in touch with life, with yourself, and with your responsibilities as a caregiver. Keep adding new little changes to continue enriching your experience while caregiving.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in Waxhaw NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

How Can Your Senior Eat for Strong Bones?

January 23, 2019 by Shanele Healy

One of the best things that your elderly family member can do to help strengthen her bones is to eat the right types of foods. When she’s getting the nutrients that she needs, she can gradually improve bone strength and hopefully avoid osteoporosis.

Home Care Services Concord NC – How Can Your Senior Eat for Strong Bones?

Diet and Exercise Can Work Together

Changing your senior’s diet is only a part of winning the battle for healthier bones. Weight-bearing exercise, like walking, is the other part. Talk to your senior’s doctor about whether it’s okay for her to start exercising. Her doctor can recommend an exercise plan for her to start out with and what she needs to do in order to increase her activity even further.

Calcium Is the Old Standby

Calcium is the mineral that’s been recommended for bone health most often over the years, because it’s the mineral that keeps bones strong. Most of the calcium that your senior needs she can get from what she eats, as long as she’s eating the right foods. Dairy products, foods fortified with calcium, and greens are all great choices. So is fish, such as salmon, and nuts.

Vitamin D Is Also Important

Vitamin D is a newer player on the bone health scene and it’s just as important as calcium. While calcium helps to build strong bones, vitamin D makes it easier for your senior’s body to absorb the calcium that she needs. Salmon and other fatty fish are a great choice because they’re a great source of both calcium and vitamin D. Other foods that are high in vitamin D include whole milk, fortified cereals, and egg yolks.

Cooking May not Be an Appealing Activity

Depending on your senior’s health and energy levels, cooking may not be all that enjoyable for her. And when you’re changing up the types of foods that she eats, that provides another level of challenges for her. You might want to think about hiring home care services providers to help out in the kitchen. They can take the aggravation out of cooking so that your senior can focus on eating healthier meals.

Your senior may not want to make all of these changes at one time and that’s okay. Making changes that last and that help her to be stronger and healthier is the key, not that these changes are immediate. Pick one or two tips to work on and then add others as you both feel comfortable focusing on something new.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Concord NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail.

CALL TODAY (704) 379-7510