Missed medications...a decline in the home environment...loneliness - there are many signs it's time to hire a an in home caregiver, but how do you know which home care agency to choose? Whether you take a home care recommendation from a friend, check out online reviews, or consult your physician for a referral, there is no substitute for doing your own research. While policies and procedures vary from agency to agency, these are the questions you should be asking every home care provider you interview:
7 Important Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Home Care Agency
Posted on September 6, 2019 by Gina Intoppa in home care, in caregivers, in older adults, in seniors, in independence, in aging in place
Understanding Your Options: What is the Difference Between Homecare & Home Health?
Posted on July 30, 2019 by Gina Intoppa in home care, in older adults, in seniors, in home health, in geriatric care management
What is home health? Who pays for homecare services? If you find yourself asking these questions, you're not alone. Before you make decisions about providers and what care is needed, it's important to understand the difference between homecare and home health. While both of these services are dedicated to supporting the health and well being of older adults, they serve different functions and have different regulations.
Gratitude: Wire Your Brain for Happiness
Posted on July 17, 2019 by Gina Intoppa in older adults, in seniors, in gratitude
Naomi Williams wrote, “It’s impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.” While we often hear about the power of gratitude for creating a more positive and happy mental state, research from UCLA shows that gratitude has the power to transform your brain.
In fact, regularly expressing gratitude literally changes the brain’s molecular structure, keeps gray matter functioning, improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and makes us healthier and happier.
Caregiver Resources: A Guide to Chicago Area Adult Day Care Centers
Posted on February 26, 2018 by Gina Intoppa
Whether it's to promote health through social interaction or to provide supervisory care to those with Dementia & Alzheimer's, adult day cares are becoming a popular option for seniors throughout Chicago and suburbs. Through group activities and engagement, these adult day cares in the Chicago suburbs offer safe spaces that support the health, nutritional, social, and daily living needs of older adults. In addition, they offer needed respite to family caregivers.
At LifeStyle Options, we understand how important options are to the families we serve. We've compiled a list of local, Chicago adult day care centers, so you can compare and make the right choice for yourself or your loved one.
Please note: LifeStyle Options is not affiliated with any of the adult day care centers listed. Please contact the facility directly for more details.
Celebrate the New Year with a Positive Outlook!
Posted on January 4, 2018 by Gina Intoppa in Staying Healthy, in older adults, in seniors, in positive aging
As the Huffington Post points out, positive thinking sounds useful on the surface. After all, most of us would prefer to be positive rather than negative, but positive thinking is also a fluffy term that is easy to dismiss when faced with serious, real-world issues. However, research shows that positive thinking is about much more than wearing a smile and displaying an upbeat attitude. A study by the Yale Public School of Health suggests that having a more positive outlook on the aging process could have an effect on how one experiences it. When older adults view age as a time of wisdom, self-realization and satisfaction their positive mindset opens them up to seeing more possibilities in their own lives, and that brings with it a host of benefits, both physical and emotional.