Are You A Caregiver? Are you a daughter or son caring for your aging parent? Are you a husband or wife caring for a spouse? Are you a friend or neighbor caring for an aging friend? If you are, you are not alone. Family caregivers play a vital role in providing care for their older relatives, who wish to remain home for as long as possible. In fact, 80% of non-medical assistance is provided by families. These family caregivers across the country currently provide an estimated $306 billion in unpaid caregiving services.There are many challenges facing family caregivers; they often find themselves suddenly faced with the responsibility of providing care and aren't always prepared for the emotional and physical toll. Caregivers often feel stressed and alone, trying to balance their own needs with those of their loved ones. Over and over again, family caregivers report that they are in need of information about what resources are available to themselves and the care receiver. Help is AvailableLarimer County's Office on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program is here to assist family caregivers who are caring for an older adult at home. This program is where caregivers need to start, in order to find the answers they so desperately need. The Family Caregiver Support Program can: Connect family caregivers with appropriate community resources Provide a free caregiver consultation which offers support and planning Assist in finding helpful and appropriate respite care services Help promote the dignity and independence of the person receiving careRespite CareAre you a caregiver who needs some time off from your caregiving duties for a few hours or a few days?The Family Caregiver Support Program will provide a respite grant which can be used to purchase respite care in the home, in an adult day program, or an overnight stay in a community long term care facility.What Else Is Available?The Caregiver Support Coordinator can help you connect with the following services:Adaptive / Assistive EquipmentCaregiver Education and TrainingCounselingDementia ResourcesLegal / FinancialMinor home safety modificationsCaregiver Support GroupsAre you looking for other caregivers who share the same challenges, frustrations and rewards? We can refer you to community support groups where you will learn from people in similar situations and find our you're not alone.Asking for help is a sign of strength and an acknowledgement of ones abilities and limitations. If you are a caregiver, you have a resource at Larimer County Office on Aging, Call - Lynette McGowan, the Caregiver Support Coordinator at 498-6820, or email: lmcgowan@larimer.org

Learn how our senior caregivers are helping seniors in Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor and surrounding areas in Colorado stay safe by encouraging them to incorporate healthy habits into their everyday routine.As confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aging adults and those with various chronic conditions are at a higher risk of developing medical complications from the novel coronavirus.Now more than ever, it is of vital importance that we help seniors in our community to stay healthy and safe during self-isolation by taking all necessary steps to strengthen their immunity. At Visiting Angels Loveland, were committed to helping seniors throughout Colorados Northern Front Range stay safe during this difficult time. Our senior caregivers are encouraging clients to incorporate simple changes to their everyday routine that can help them stay healthy and boost their immune system. When you choose Visiting Angels Loveland as your partner in home care, you can have peace of mind that your loved one is in safe hands.The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Routine for Seniors in Loveland and Surrounding AreasBy adhering to a healthy at-home routine, your loved one can improve their overall health. The routine itself does not have to be complicated. You can encourage your mom or dad to simply focus on:Getting a good nights sleep  While some seniors can develop different sleep patterns in their golden years, the majority of older adults need around 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, just like younger adults. Our senior caregivers can help your loved one stick to a healthy nighttime regimen and prepare for bed.Eating healthy  By eating a well-balanced diet, your loved one can keep their immune system strong. At Visiting Angels Loveland, our senior caregivers can go grocery shopping and prepare nutritious meals for your parent.Exercising regularly  Right now, staying physically active is especially important for seniors as they need to spend most of their time at home. Home care experts from Visiting Angels Loveland can assist Mom or Dad with exercises suitable for a home setting. This can include anything from stretching and low-impact weightlifting to floor exercises.Keeping tabs on medication and fluid intake  If needed, our expert senior caregivers can offer medication reminders and make sure your loved one drinks sufficient amounts of water to stay well-hydrated.Handwashing  To avoid the risk of COVID-19, the CDC recommends washing hands frequently, especially after nose blowing, coughing, or sneezing.Improve Health by Reducing StressAs the pandemic progresses, more and more people are feeling anxious and stressed. Needless to say, this constant buildup of stress can have negative effects on the overall health of people, seniors in particular.Here is how your loved one can reduce their stress levels:Connecting with loved ones through Skype, FaceTime or social mediaTaking an occasional break from the news about the pandemicTaking better care of their body through a senior-friendly exercise regimen and healthy dietFocusing on favorite activities and relaxing as much as possibleShould your loved one happen to feel overwhelmed at times, plenty of resources are available for those in need of support, advice or guidance. For example, senior loved ones can opt to reach out to a therapist and participate in online sessions or they can get in touch with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSAs) Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.Call our Loveland, CO office today to learn more about how our senior caregivers can help your loved one remain safe and healthy during the pandemic. We are happy to be your partners in home care!

In my past career as a Physical Therapist, I did a lot of Rehab on folks that had suffered a fall (or falls) at home.Many times, the falls could have been avoided by minimizing risk factors ahead of time. There are many causes of falls and many ways to minimize the risk. I want to cover just one of those risk minimizers in this short time we have: Down-sizingBy definition it means to simplify, de-clutter or take up less space. From the point of view of Rehab it might mean returning someone back to home to Age in Place. It may also encompass changing where you live.So, why Downsize?*Safety: de-cluttering your living space may reduce risk of falls. A more efficient living space may also help.*Accessibility: Modifying your current space might make it easier to move about in your daily activities OR rent/purchase something that suits your physical needs (i.e.: NO stairs; all living space on one level, etc.). A Physical or Occupational Therapist specializing in Accessibility is helpful.*Energy Conservation: less to clean. Focus on the want-tos vs. have-tos that come with a large house or tons of stuff. Spend more of your energy taking care of you (develop your hobbies, exercise, socialize, learn, travel) instead of spending most of your energy caring for your habitat.You have worked hard now, enjoy!Editors Note: This article was written by Dawn Mathis, SRES, GRI, ABR - Associate Broker @Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. She can be reached at 970-481-5263.

For many families, there comes a point when moving a loved one into a skilled nursing facility is the right decision. Even so, and even if the elder is looking forward to the move, the transition can be hard on caregivers. Knowing how the move is likely to play out and having a plan for dealing with the strong emotions that arise can be beneficial.What to Expect When Moving an Elder Into a Skilled Nursing FacilityWill you be helping a loved one select a skilled nursing facility? Will you then help them prepare for the move and ultimately get settled in their new community? If so, as their caregiver, you can expect a wide range of feelings, including:Regret about the move.No matter how wonderful an elders new community is, its very common for a caregiver to feel some remorse about moving them out of their house (or yours) and into their new accommodations. In the same way that you are reassuring them that this is the right long-term strategy, you should keep reminding yourself of that fact as well.Loss of control.While you are intentionally accepting the assistance of the skilled nursing facility, it may still feel uncomfortable to no longer have the same level of input into your loved ones daily activities. Focusing on the fact that they are in good hands will help.Guilt about enjoying yourself.As you start to think about what youll do with the additional time youll have available to pursue your own interests and activities, you may feel a strange mix of excitement and guilt. Keep in mind that your loved one surely appreciates all youve done for them to date and will want you to pursue your passions wholeheartedly.Concern about their safety.Is your loved one being cared for properly? Are staff members in their elder care community attending to their needs? Is the property safe and secure? Will you be contacted promptly if any issue arises? Because you have chosen a top-quality community, the answer to all these questions is surely, Yes!Your Partner in Enabling a Smooth TransitionOur team at Green House Homes at Mirasol understands what youre going through in moving your loved one into a skilled nursing facility. Its a very significant life milestone for both of you, and, were eager to assist with the transition every step of the way. Plus, once the elder is settled, we ensure that both you and our new resident are comfortable with their environment and confident they are getting attentive and compassionate care.