Exhausted with Shoe-Searching for Extra Swollen Diabetic Feet? Tips to Find the Right Fit

Shopping for shoes can be an excruciating ordeal for people with Diabetes due to their abnormally swollen feet.  You may have an elderly loved one who still hangs on to her favorite pair of old shoes that she’s had for over ten years because nothing else will fit and you can’t find anything cute and comfortable.  You’ve exhausted your online search and referrals to different brand name catalogs to find the perfect shoe, and the search still continues to be futile.  What do you do now?  A-1 Home Care in Altadena doesn’t promise any miracles, but we will offer these tips that will help:

1. Look for high performance shoes that have Velcro for easy adjustment and comfort.
2. For specialized fitting, consult an orthotics office where a certified prosthetist and/or orthotist will produce a custom-size shoe that will fit your feet perfectly.
3. If your elderly loved one’s shoes have fallen apart completely and the only thing she has left is open-toe sandals, find a live-in companion caregiver in the meantime to assist her with what she needs. Just make sure your loved one does not get up and walk around on her own!

It’s tempting to walk around on your own if no one is home to help you with chores.  The danger in wearing open-toe sandals for the elderly with diabetes is that the nerve endings in their feet are so damaged that they will not be able to notice if their feet are scraped or cut.  The open wound can lead to disastrous results such as health complications and even amputation if the infection is not treated properly or on time.

About A-1 Home Care

A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured agency based in Southern California.  Established in 1991, A-1 Home Care has delivered exceptional Diabetes Care and other types of in-home care services to seniors and their families all over Altadena, Pasadena, Glendale, Glendora, Azusa, Arcadia, Burbank, Hollywood, and other surrounding cities.  Affordable yet high in quality, our home care assistance programs have enhanced the quality of life for the elderly while protecting them from predators, scam artists, fraud and theft.  Our 24 hour care and live-out caregiving services are covered by long-term care insurance and veteran benefits.  We also offer easy financing options with reasonable rates for anyone paying out of pocket.

For more information, talk to one of our care managers at A-1 Home Care (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for services in your area.

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Make a Dash for the DASH Diet to Prevent Kidney Failure

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), about 10% of the American population has some form of chronic kidney disease, which also happens to be the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, based on a report from Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Symptoms of renal failure include the following:

• Reduced urine
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs, ankle and feet
• Pain and/or pressure in the chest area
• Seizures
• Nausea
• Chronic fatigue or drowsiness
• Cognitive confusion

Studies show that following a DASH diet will help prevent or delay the onset of kidney failure.  The acronym stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; although this was originally for adults with high blood pressure, researchers found that this dietary plan is just as effective in preventing kidney disease.

Too Tired for the DASH Diet?

At A-1 Home Care in Altadena, we understand that if you’re already struggling with chronic fatigue and other unsettling symptoms, you may fall by the wayside in your attempt to change your diet.  It takes time and concentrated effort to read instructions on a recipe or to go grocery shopping.  Let us do the hard work for you while you rest at home.  You can reserve your energy for more important things like spending quality time with friends and family.  Enjoy the excellent in-home care service provided by one of our live-in caregivers as they prepare a delicious meal based on DASH recipes.  A-1 Home Care offers 24 hour care as well as live-out care; we are flexible when it comes to scheduling around your needs.

About A-1 Home Care in Altadena

A-1 Home Care is a non-medical home care agency that provides the highest quality of senior care in Altadena. We are licensed, bonded and insured, which serves to promote safety and security for our clients and their families without compromising quality, integrity, and superior service that we promise to you.  For over 20 years, we have met and exceeded the expectations of families, which is why our clients continually refer their friends and family to A-1 Home Care.  We partner with local hospitals and clinics in your area to form strong collaborative relationships in order to provide your loved ones the best quality of in-home care you can receive in Southern California.ive

For more information, talk to one of our care managers at A-1 Home Care (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for services in Altadena, Pasadena, Glendale, Glendora, Azusa, Arcadia, Burbank, Hollywood, and other surrounding cities.

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Altadena In-Home Heart Care: Underactive Thyroid & the Heart

Hypothyroidism is very prevalent among seniors and more common among women than men, and the frequency increases with age.  As the term suggests, hypothyroidism is a condition of the thyroid in which the gland produces insufficient levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).  These hormones are known to relax your blood vessels and facilitate blood flow to the heart.  Low levels of thyroid hormones lead to high levels of bad cholesterol, which ultimately results in poor cardiac health.  For some, hypothyroidism is congenital, and for others, it’s a by-product of taking medications for other health conditions.  You can minimize the effects of hypothyroidism with regular medical check-ups, and if your elderly loved one does not have any reliable means of transportation, A-1 Home Care in Altadena is here to help.

24 Hour Heart Disease Care for the Elderly

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for the elderly, and if hypothyroidism is one of the factors leading to cardiovascular disease, it’s important to get blood work done on a regular basis, at least once every six (6) months.  We often hear about high cholesterol levels, unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise contributing to heart disease, but hypothyroidism is not advertised as much, though it is still very much part of the equation.  Symptoms of hypothyroidism are easily overlooked because they can be mistaken for symptoms of other conditions.  Common signs of low thyroid levels include the following:

• Extreme fatigue
• Hypersensitivity to cold
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Pain and stiffness in joints
• Depression
• Impaired memory

At a glance, don’t some of these symptoms coincide with dementia, arthritis or other conditions?  Hyperthyroidism is usually diagnosed with a blood test in addition to a patient’s report of his symptoms.  A-1 Home Care’s in-home caregiver will serve as a liaison between you, your loved one and the doctor, be it in the form of caregiver reports and/or transportation around Altadena.

About A-1 Home Care

Since its inception in 1991, A-1 Home Care has been delivering exceptional in-home care to seniors all over Altadena.  We handpick our caregivers from the cream of the crop, and we screen each and every caregiver who walks through our doors.  Because we are licensed, bonded and insured, you can rest assured that your caregiver has a clean criminal background and great DMV record.  When you call our phone lines, you never have to deal with an automated answering system because our live operators are always ready to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Round-the-clock care is available through long-term care insurance, veteran benefits and A-1 Home Care’s easy financing options.

For quality Heart Disease Care, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for details.  In addition to Altadena, A-1 Home Care also serves Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, Glendale, Glendora, and surrounding communities.

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24-Hour In-Home Care Relief from Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that persists long after the injury or disease is gone.  Mostly due to an oversensitive nervous system, chronic pain is often treated with pain killers (in the form of opiates) which have received lots of media attention due to their addictive qualities.  Many patients who take pain killers are unaware that they’re addicted simply because the medicine is prescribed.  Those who are aware of opiates’ addictive nature may decline to take the prescription pain killers, but this may also mean interference with daily functions such as cooking, writing, and driving.  A-1 Home Care offers 24-hour assistance so that your elderly loved one can rest from doing the mundane things that trigger the pain.

Affordable 24-Hour Care When You Need It

Diseases that are associated with chronic pain include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.  In addition to the physical pain your elderly loved one might experience, he may also experience anxiety and depression.  For some, their chronic pain is such that it affects their job performance because they are distracted and lose focus.  If they don’t feel well, they are less apt to cook or make nutritious meals, so their weight drops and their health gets worse.  It’s a trickle effect that eventually plummets quickly, but you can step in and help with 24-hour care from A-1 Home Care.  A live-in caregiver can help with non-medical tasks like preparing nutritious and delicious meals, clean the house, take out the garbage, and make sure that everything is in order so that your loved one will feel better.

About A-1 Home Care

You will not find better in-home care anywhere in Los Angeles County than with A-1 Home Care.  Established in 1991, A-1 Home Care has been delivering exceptional senior care services, in-home care, Alzheimer’s Care, Parkinson’s Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Arthritis Care, Kidney Care, Brain Injury Care and other types of specialized care for over two decades.  We match each senior with the perfect caregiver based on your elderly loved one’s level of care and personality.  All our caregivers are screened and verified by an extensive national criminal background check.  If you are worried about cost, you will find relief with our easy financing options and reasonable rates.  A-1 Home Care also accepts Veteran Benefits and long-term care insurance.

For a free quote, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for services in Altadena, Pasadena, Glendale, Glendora, Azusa, Arcadia, Burbank, Hollywood, and other surrounding cities.

 

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Altadena Arthritis Care: Round-the-Clock In-Home Care with Compassion

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects joints, thereby causing pain during movement such as walking, writing or other tasks that require fine motor skills.  There are different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis.  In this article, A-1 Home Care in Altadena distinguishes between two of the most common types – osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis.  If you or an elderly loved one needs affordable and high quality in-home care support, A-1 Home Care is the perfect solution for you.

Osteoarthritis (OA) vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Osteoarthritis is the type that we usually associate with aging.  Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis develops gradually over time whereas the former can begin at any age and rapidly progress in a matter of weeks or months.  The swelling, pain and stiffness in the joints are symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis; with the other type, the joints are tender but there is little or no swelling at all.  At the onset, RA affects both sides of the body but in OA, the symptoms start on one side and then spread to the other side.  Morning stiffness lasts longer for RA than OA.  Regardless of which type of arthritis you or an elderly loved one may have, A-1 Home Care in Altadena provides the perfect in-home support such as assistance with meal preparation, light housekeeping, bathing, grooming and more.  Round-the-clock senior care takes care of all the basic stuff, giving you some physical relief.

You Have Our 100% Commitment at A-1 Home Care

A-1 Home Care has been taking care of Altadena’s seniors and their families for over two decades!  When it comes to selecting someone to take care of your elderly loved ones, we take talent recruitment very seriously.  A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured agency that thoroughly prescreens every single caregiver, certified nurse aide, home health aide and licensed vocational nurse for your safety and security.  You have our round-the-clock support from a 24-hour hotline to live-in caregiver services for 365 days a year.  You can finance high quality senior care at the most competitive prices in LA County and Orange County!  A-1 Home Care also accepts Veteran Benefits and long-term care insurance.

For quality Arthritis Care, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for details.  In addition to Altadena, A-1 Home Care also serves Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, Glendale, Glendora, and surrounding communities.

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Altadena In-Home Care: Avoid Mishaps and the “Blame Game” for Elderly Falls

A lot can be said about “accidental falls” that happen frequently in residential facilities that no one wants to be accountable for.  According to an online news source, Marjorie Herron, 97, passed away six days after her fall when she slipped out of her bathing chair and hit her head on the floor.  Was anyone there to monitor her mobility or assist her with bathing?  Nobody knows.  Although the facility chalks it up to an accident, Herron’s daughter, Gwen Law, believes the fall was preventable.  “We have made many changes to staff training and bath procedures to reduce the likelihood of accidents like this happening again,” said Anna Maria D’Angelo, senior media relations officer of the facility.  It’s the family’s word versus the staff management, media experts and attorneys representing the facility.  This story that leaked out into the media is a microcosm of the bigger problem that’s occurring in residential facilities across the United States.  Can you avoid lack of accountability and increase safety for your elderly loved one?  Absolutely.  Hiring a live-in caregiver who can look after your elderly loved one 24 hours a day will dramatically minimize the chances of a fall.  A-1 Home Care in Altadena has a wonderful team of trained, certified in-home caregivers who have years of experience caring for seniors.

Nobody loves your parents or grandparents like you do.  However, can you trust that someone else can take care of your elderly loved ones like you would?  If you have an aging mother or father staying at a facility where senior residents far outnumber the staff, how can you be completely sure that your loved one is safe from making deadly mistakes?  And if an accident does happen – God forbid – will any facility staff member be brave enough to own up to the negligence?  There’s an article on AgingCare.com titled, “Dementia Training Should Be Mandatory,” which brings to light the egregious problem of inadequate staff training in care facilities.

Reduce the chances of hazardous mistakes by having a live-in caregiver from A-1Home Care in Altadena to provide individualized elder care for your loved ones.  Seniors get to receive quality 24 hour in-home care services from highly skilled, seasoned and certified nurse assistants in the comfort of their own home.  In-home care is the #1 choice for seniors because they get to be surrounded by friends and families rather than be isolated in a care facility surrounded by others who are in physical and emotional pain.  A-1 Home Care is licensed, bonded and insured, which means that your elderly loved ones are protected in case an accident happens, and there is a very high degree of accountability.  Since its inception in 1991, A-1 Home Care has become the most reputable and reliable 24 hour elder care agency in Los Angeles County.

For a free quote, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for services in Altadena, Pasadena, Glendale, Glendora, Azusa, Arcadia, Burbank, Hollywood, and other surrounding cities.

 

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Altadena Diabetic Care: Diabetes Linked with Dementia?

According to a study conducted by the University of Pittsburg Graduate School of Public Health, researchers found that individuals with Type 1 Diabetes are likely to age sooner, and doctors are recommended to screen their middle-aged patients for signs of declining cognitive faculties.  It is believed that early detection and intervention could prevent or postpone cognitive decline, according to senior author Caterina Rosano, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor in Pitt Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology. Of the various forms of Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes typically appears during the pubescent years and exhibits symptoms of blurred vision, frequent urination, fatigue and insatiable thirst.  About 40,000 new cases of Type 1 Diabetes emerge each year in the United States.  A-1 Home Care aims to provide the best Diabetic Care for adults in any age range in your home town of Altadena or neighboring cities in the Greater Los Angeles area.

What Diabetic Home Care Offers

If you have a loved one who suffers from Diabetes, you can count on A-1 Home Care in Altadena to take care of your family member 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  This includes assistance with transportation, scheduling medical appointments, monitoring medication intake, keeping a journal of health changes, and more.  Nothing beats a trained eye and skilled hands when it comes to detecting early signs of cognitive decline.  When your energy is spent and time is a luxury, A-1 Home Care comes to the rescue so you can restore balance in your life.  A great companion adds much to the life of someone with Diabetes when he’s too tired or depressed to be mobile.

Why A-1 Home Care?

A-1 Home Care has earned a solid reputation with families in Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Duarte, and other cities in the San Gabriel Valley.  Going 24 years strong, we still hear from return clients who continually refer their friends and family members because of the satisfaction they get from our caregiver services.  We take senior safety and elder care very seriously; all caregivers are required to pass an extensive criminal background check and are covered by malpractice insurance.  They also pass multiple interviews, first by our care management staff, and then by you – because we understand that just because we may like a caregiver does not mean you will like the home care aide we picked for you.  Every client gets to interview a selection of caregivers before anyone is allowed to enter their home.

 

To learn more about our Diabetic In-Home Care services, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website www.altadenainhomecare.com for details.

Cancer Caregivers Help Patients Fight Fatigue

CRF also known as Cancer Related Fatigue, can commonly be mistaken for simple tiredness. However, Cancer Related Fatigue is far more severe in the sense that the whole body is excessively tired, debilitating you from daily routines. Suddenly simple tasks such as cleaning, grocery shopping, or even driving can become cumbersome and physically taxing tasks. While no amount of sleep can fully relieve it, CRF can occur sporadically and suddenly. There is no known reason for exactly why CRF occurs, but it is linked to a plethora of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. Even after cancer, CRF can persist. Unfortunately, due to the numerous medical causes, finding a cure can be quite difficult.

At A-1 Home Care in Altadena, we provide skilled and certified caregivers that can make day-to-day tasks manageable again. Our specialized care extends beyond cancer care such as Parkinson’s care, diabetic care, dementia care, and after surgery care. We are also proudly serving in areas of Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Tarzana. Opened 24 hours, 7 days a week, we strive to guarantee caregiver-customer compatibility.

For a free in-home assessment or more information, please call (626) 287-0250 or visit www.altadenainhomecare.com Also, don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

Find A Hobby That Can Help Strengthen Cognitive Skills this Year

Some associate mental stimulation to some oversimplified computer programs where seniors click around, but improving mental agility does not have to be something that seniors might not enjoy.  Everyday activities can also achieve the goal of strengthening your cognitive skills.  For example, drawing, painting, and knitting may seem like calm and relaxing hobbies, but they can keep the brain of seniors active and alert .  Your traditional games like chess, scrabble, or jigsaw puzzles are also great to keep seniors having fun while stimulating their cognitive skills.  Not only can these activities keep them from boredom, but the can also help with maintaining a healthy brain and preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Whether it is Alzheimer’s Care, Dementia Care, or other in home care services such as Diabetic Care, Post Surgical Care, Brain Injury Care, Incontinence Care, Kidney Disease Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, and other in home care needs, A-1 Home Care in Altadena is the experienced and trusted source to find a compatible caregiver.  With expert care providers, you can have a peace of mind when you are away from your loved ones.  We cover the areas of Altadena, Sierra Madre, Temple City, San Marino, Pasadena, Arcadia, La Canada, Burbank, Glendale, Studio City, and other surrounding communities in Los Angeles and Orange County.

For service inquiries, please call 626-287-0250, or find more info on our website Alta Dena In Home Care.

Don’t Be S.A.D. during the Holidays

The University of Georgia reports that Vitamin D deficiency not only harms your physical health, but it could also have a negative impact on your mental health as well.  A team of researchers found a link between Vitamin D deficiency and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which affects about 10% of the world’s population, depending on where they live.  The biggest source of Vitamin D is the sun, and if you live in a geographical area where it doesn’t get much sunlight, you are more likely to get SAD during certain seasons of the year when less sunlight is available.  If you have an elderly loved one who is indoors all the time due to mobility issues, A-1 Home Care in Altadena can help prepare meals that are rich in Vitamin D.

Sources of Vitamin D 

Living in Southern California has its perks.  Despite the horrendous traffic everywhere you go, you have to admit that the weather in Los Angeles and Orange County is beautiful 99% of the year.  However, for the poor folks who are unable to enjoy the sunny weather outside, you can still bring Vitamin D into the sanctuary of your home where your loved one can enjoy a home-cooked meal.  A-1 Home Care’s caregivers, companions, certified nurse aides and home health aides will follow the care plan of your loved one’s dietician and ensure that your parent or in-law will receive maximum daily dose of nutrients.  Add tuna, salmon or mackerel to your meals every day.  Orange juice, fortified milk and mushrooms are also good sources of Vitamin D.

About A-1 Home Care

A-1 Home Care is a non-medical home care agency established in 1991.  For 23 years, we have provided superior elder care services for families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Getting home care support over the weekend or during the holidays is really important, especially immediately after a hospital discharge, yet most agencies are closed during business holidays.  At A-1 Home Care, our doors are always open and our phone lines will always connect you to a live operator no matter what time you call.

For live-in or live-out services, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit us online www.altadenainhomecare.com for services in Altadena, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, La Canada, and other cities in surrounding areas. 

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