Safety Tips for Seniors Who Use Wheelchairs

March 22, 2025August 11, 2021 by M Lawhon

Home is where we’re most comfortable, and it’s for that reason so many older adults make the choice to remain at home through their golden years. But oftentimes wheelchairs come to be a part of life when seniors or those with specific disabilities experience decreased mobility. This can be a unique challenge when it comes … Read more

Thoughtful Responses to Common Difficult Behaviors Due to Alzheimer’s

March 22, 2025July 28, 2021 by M Lawhon

Alzheimer’s is a complex condition that often presents overwhelming issues for those providing care. As the disease continues into later stages, those with Alzheimer’s become increasingly dependent on communication through behavior rather than speech, and oftentimes these behaviors are of an inappropriate nature. For instance, someone with more advanced Alzheimer’s disease may present the following:

When Caring for Someone with Dementia Becomes Stressful for Family Caregivers

March 22, 2025July 15, 2021 by M Lawhon

Picture how it would feel to awaken in an unfamiliar location, not able to remember how you arrived there or even what your name is. Progressing into complete disorientation, then quickly leading to anger and fear, you might find yourself lashing out at the unknown person positioned beside your bed, talking to you in a quiet voice.

My Loved One Needs Professional Help at Home. So, What’s Next?

September 21, 2022June 24, 2021 by M Lawhon

You’re beginning to become concerned that Dad may possibly be in need of some professional help at home, and so obviously, you know just where to go for assistance, right? No? Take heart – you aren’t alone. Millions of people in the U.S. are facing the same predicament, and most people don’t know a lot about home care services until the need for care arises.

Contact us online or call us at (512) 338-4533 for professional home care services.

Enhancing Independence for Older Adults is Easier When Partnering with CareFor

September 21, 2022June 9, 2021 by M Lawhon

As we get older, it is common to begin to encounter challenges with daily activities, including showering, dressing, planning and preparing meals, or even driving a vehicle. This can lead to concerns that these challenges suggest that we’ll have to give up not just our self-reliance, but our home as well. However, there is encouraging news for seniors: home care services, such as those provided by CareFor, can help actually enhance independence for older adults and help them continue living at home safely where they’re most comfortable.

Is Senior Socialization the Key to Healthy Wellbeing in Older Adults?

September 21, 2022May 26, 2021 by M Lawhon

It’s intuitive to most of us that interacting with others improves health and wellbeing. It keeps us connected to other people’s experiences, beliefs, struggles, humor, points of views, and various other human occurrences. However, now scientific studies are determining that socializing with others, and most notably seniors socializing with others, actually may boost the wellness of both mind and body.

If You’re a Caregiver for an Older Adult, Consider Adding Music to Your Routine

September 21, 2022May 13, 2021 by M Lawhon

These days, music is more available than ever before. For those who bring smartphones or tablets with them everywhere they go, hundreds of thousands – if not tens of millions of tunes – are just a few taps or finger swipes away. If you are a caregiver for an older adult, your smartphone may become one of the most helpful tools in your possession in helping tap into the benefits of music. This widely circulated video clip from the Alive Inside documentary demonstrates just how incredibly effective music can be for seniors with limited capabilities and dementia.

The Benefits of Respite Care Services for Family Caregivers

March 22, 2025April 28, 2021 by M Lawhon

Meeting the care needs of an elderly or disabled loved one is a physically and emotionally strenuous responsibility, and it’s vital for family caregivers to take routine breaks to rest and relax. These are the benefits of respite care. Respite care services provide relief from the everyday duties of caregiving, allowing family caregivers to also care for themselves.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! Learn How Respite Care Services Alleviate Family Caregiver Burnout

September 21, 2022April 13, 2021 by M Lawhon

Caregiving for an aging loved one, though incredibly fulfilling, can also cause family caregiver burnout. The 24/7 pressure of taking care of a loved one’s needs can rapidly escalate to a high level of stress which can lead to a loss of patience and emotionally charged outbursts, affecting not just the caregiver personally, but his/her senior loved one as well.

Care From a Distance: Choosing Care Management During COVID-19

March 22, 2025March 23, 2021 by M Lawhon

caregiver assisting senior woman with paperwork

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly concerning for older individuals and their family members. Seniors are disproportionately affected by the virus, especially those with underlying health concerns like COPD and heart issues. In order to maintain social distancing and decrease contact with potential contagions, many older adults have become progressively isolated from their loved ones. Without routine socialization and attentive care, loneliness and depression as well as memory issues linked to dementia and other diseases can creep in. In response to these challenging circumstances, many seniors and their families are choosing to seek the help of care management during COVID-19.

How Care Management Can Help Seniors Managing Chronic Health Needs

September 21, 2022March 10, 2021 by M Lawhon

caregiver discussing medication with senior man

Managing the numerous medical appointments, treatments, tests, prescriptions, lifestyle adjustments, and more is a way of life for the many older individuals with chronic health needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 85% of seniors have at least one chronic health care need, and 60% are living with two or more. The difficulties can seem overwhelming. But there’s one essential element to help seniors managing chronic health needs: care management.

Benefits of a Heart Healthy Diet for Seniors

September 21, 2022February 24, 2021 by M Lawhon

Our senior care professionals in Austin understand that it’s tough to make the right dietary choices when guidelines appear to constantly change. We had been told that saturated fats from options like butter, red meat and fried food were harmful and could potentially impact a person’s odds of developing heart problems, but later research revealed there isn’t enough evidence that people who gave up these delicacies improved their heart health – and so, we went back to our old ways due to the go-ahead to opt for butter over margarine.

Heart Health in Seniors: Tips For Managing Heart Disease with Medications

November 17, 2022February 9, 2021 by M Lawhon

senior couple looking through medications

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, you know it is important to take your heart disease medications correctly. But what exactly does that mean? Learn about heart health in seniors and how to get the most from your meds with the following tips:

Overcoming the Hurdles of Elderly Care Technology

September 21, 2022January 14, 2021 by M Lawhon

Today’s older adults are overrun with a plethora of hi-tech products directed at improving their independence and safety and providing life enhancement. At the touch of a button or two, we can automatically pay a visit “in person” with friends and relatives through Skype, wear a pendant that responds with emergency help and support when necessary, and even remain safe from wandering with specialized sensors attached to clothes or shoes.

Home Care Assistance Following a Hospital Stay

March 22, 2025December 23, 2020 by M Lawhon

Caregiver taking client's blood pressure

A priority for hospitals currently is decreasing readmissions for patients who are at high risk. Healthcare Financial Management Association’s article “Two Ways Hospitals Can Reduce Avoidable Readmissions” explains that effective initiatives from several hospitals with minimal 30-day rehospitalizations are, to a certain extent, the result of working together with inpatient and outpatient care providers, such as CareFor, which offers trusted home care assistance.

Holidays With Seniors May Highlight Warning Signs That Home Care Is Needed

December 9, 2022December 9, 2020 by M Lawhon

Senior man eating a meal in the hospital

While of course we’d like to imagine enjoying a Norman Rockwell-worthy holiday celebration, with all of our family members spending quality time together and Grandma’s traditional holiday feast, the reality for some families instead consists of something unexpected: an E/R visit. As a matter of fact, studies show that emergency room visits for older adults jump about 10 – 20% over the holidays.

What to Do When Seniors Experience Dementia Confusion

March 22, 2025November 25, 2020 by M Lawhon

Grandson and grandfather walking together outside

Dementia confusion, a typical occurrence in Alzheimer’s, can lead to recent memories being forgotten about or distorted, while memories from the more distant past usually remain unimpaired. This can cause prior periods of time to be more realistic to an older adult with dementia than the present. A person’s alternate reality can be his or her way of making sense of the present through past experiences.

Senior Finances: a Difficult but Vital Discussion

September 21, 2022October 29, 2020 by M Lawhon

Adult children and senior parents having a family meeting

Millions of people in America are struggling with the question of whether their senior parents are able to afford long-term care. Financial issues can be a sensitive topic, and when it’s time to begin planning for long-term care needs, holding an honest and open discussion about how your parents will cover the cost for senior care services is important.

Simplifying The Complexities of Long-Term Care Insurance

September 21, 2022October 14, 2020 by M Lawhon

Friendly girl explaining some documentation to parent

Long-term care insurance can provide great peace of mind, but utilizing those benefits can wind up being a complex undertaking for seniors and their family members. To help lead families through the process, CareFor offers the following informative overview.

A Senior’s Sense of Purpose: Feeling Useful Makes All the Difference

September 21, 2022September 22, 2020 by M Lawhon

Senior woman and her adult daughter cutting flowers

Look online for the phrase “activities for seniors” and you’ll likely find a number of memory stimulation puzzles, crafts, games, and of course, the requisite bingo. What you won’t find, unless you really search much longer, are the meaningful, philanthropic activities that provide meaning and purpose to our lives. Yet, if you ask older individuals … Read more

Maintaining Meaning and Purpose for Retired Seniors With the Help of Home Care

September 21, 2022September 9, 2020 by M Lawhon

Friendly caregiver meeting a new senior client

“Here, I can help you with that.”

“Don’t over-exert yourself!”

“I’ll handle that; you just sit and rest.”

Fun and Creative Ways to Enhance Your Role as Family Caregiver

September 21, 2022August 25, 2020 by M Lawhon

Senior woman and caregiver walking home from grocery store

Millions of individuals nationwide find themselves in a role of a family caregiver to provide senior care for an older loved one, and although serving as a family caregiver is incredibly fulfilling in many ways, the daily responsibilities involved with senior care may come to be monotonous for both the caregiver and the senior. CareFor, providers of professional in home care Austin, TX and surrounding areas, wants to help you with putting the fun back into your loved one’s everyday routine. All it takes is a bit of inventiveness!

Contact us online or call us at (512) 338-4533 for professional home care.

The Benefits of Enrichment Activities for Seniors

September 21, 2022August 12, 2020 by M Lawhon

Senior woman and caregiver enjoying a puzzle together

Is your elderly loved one staying engaged with activities on a day-to-day basis, or is she stuck in a rut that mostly includes watching television, eating, and sleeping? Particularly during this time of quarantining and solitude, it can be challenging to maintain an active and involved way of life – but it is critically important for the health and wellness of older adults.

Top Tips for How to Care For Elderly Parents From Far Away

November 17, 2022July 28, 2020 by M Lawhon

Living far away from older loved ones can make the need for home care easier to miss. In fact, many adult children of older parents don’t realize that Mom and Dad need help until they return home to visit or spend extended time together over the holiday season. If you are a family caregiver who lives far away from home, managing elderly parents can get complicated, and it ends up being that much more important to have a plan in place for emergency situations and care.

How Do People Get Mesothelioma? Get Help from Mesothelioma Caregivers

October 6, 2022June 11, 2020 by M Lawhon

Caregiver reading a book to a happy senior couple

To find experienced caregivers for seniors, contact CareFor, a top in-home care and case management company. Learn more about the customized services our mesothelioma caregivers provide by calling (512) 338-4533 or emailing us. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops after being exposed to a toxic substance called asbestos. Many people were unknowingly exposed to … Read more

Tips for Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s During COVID-19

September 21, 2022May 26, 2020 by M Lawhon

Providing homecare assistance for your family member with dementia is very difficult under the best of conditions; mix in a worldwide pandemic, one that calls for social distancing, masks and gloves, and thorough sterilization of both ourselves and the environment, and the challenge of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s may seem insurmountable.

Top COVID-19 Resources and Family Caregivers for Seniors

September 21, 2022May 13, 2020 by M Lawhon

Understanding the best place to turn with regard to the most current and dependable information about COVID-19, particularly as it relates to the elderly and those who take care of them, is very important – and complicated. Due to so many resources and various viewpoints on this serious subject, we wanted to help make it easy to locate what you need by putting together the subsequent list of trusted resources and caregivers for seniors.

Keeping the Elderly Safe at Home

March 22, 2025May 6, 2020 by M Lawhon

Most elderly want to remain home, to age in place. Now, amid Covid-19, staying home has become imperative. Untold seniors have survived this pandemic as a result of remaining sheltered in their own homes. The safest place. With the world highlighting the focus on safety for our most vulnerable population, it’s an ideal time … Read more

Protection of the Elderly

September 21, 2022May 6, 2020 by M Lawhon

Protection of the elderly is top of mind in the time of Covid-19. We have all become astute on how to provide the physical protection needed. But, what about the emotional refuge? For that, we are challenged to apply protections of the heart, previously the purview of family members and friends, people who have become … Read more

How to Pay for Different Types of Assistive Devices

December 21, 2023April 16, 2020 by M Lawhon

Do you think your aging loved one could benefit from enhanced safeguards in the shower or tub? Does he/she need a walker or rollator to move around? If so, it’s quite possible that you’ll soon be looking to buy the in-home assistive devices that so many families rely on to keep senior loved ones safe. It’s also likely that you’re asking yourself how to cover the expense for these types of assistive devices, and if any of them could possibly be covered through Medicare or insurance.

Before there were gloves…

September 21, 2022April 14, 2020 by M Lawhon

At this time of COVID-19, we find ourselves in a frantic search for PPE – personal protective equipment. While you take a breath, please let me share a brief history lesson. You may not believe the story, but it is the truth. It begins with my first day of nursing school, way back in 1975. … Read more

3 Types of Assisted Living Devices to Investigate for Your Senior Loved Ones

March 22, 2025April 8, 2020 by M Lawhon

During the course of growing older, assisted living devices can make everyday life around the home simpler and less hazardous. There’s a wide selection of adaptive equipment solutions for home care on the market today that can improve senior safety and help older adults remain much more comfortable at home. At CareFor, the leaders in senior care in San Marcos and the surrounding areas, we want to provide you with some insider advice for buying and utilizing some of the most widely used types of home care equipment.

Effectively Manage Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms for Improved Quality of Life

March 22, 2025March 12, 2020 by M Lawhon

Though there’s no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are diagnosed with it – around 400,000 people in fact, and of that, 86 percent of MS patients list fatigue as the most common symptom they’re experiencing. The cause of MS is unknown; it is not a communicable disease or known to be directly inherited, but factors that may come into play include:

An Overview of Dietary Guidelines for Seniors and Why This Is Important

September 21, 2022February 27, 2020 by M Lawhon

It’s clearly no secret that a healthy diet is essential for a healthy body. What many people misunderstand, however, is that the nutritional needs for adults adjust as we age. Nutritional professionals at Tufts University have introduced the MyPlate system, which is a more advanced version of the former food pyramid, providing up-to-date dietary guidelines for seniors in particular.

Have Nutrition Concerns for Aging Parents? This Simple Evaluation Is a Good Place to Start

September 21, 2022February 11, 2020 by M Lawhon

A mother’s love for her children has no limitations. And above all else, parents of all ages wish to safeguard their children from concerns, which in some cases may mean masking their own worries. In addition to that, when family members are separated by distance, it can be difficult to really know for certain how healthy older parents are.

Post-Holiday Senior Loneliness – What To Do When The Family Leaves

September 21, 2022December 18, 2019 by M Lawhon

The holidays can be packed with a whirlwind of activities for the seniors we love, with family gatherings, holiday parties, religious services and events, picking out the perfect gifts for those they love. Yet after the holiday ornaments are packed away and family members have gotten back to the daily busyness of life, many older adults are impacted by a frequent but little-discussed condition: post-holiday senior loneliness.

While older adults who live alone are most at risk of feelings of seclusion and sadness when the holiday activities are complete, all older individuals are in danger of a case of the post-holiday blues, as they look to the approaching year while reminiscing over years past. It’s crucial for family members to formulate a plan to help their older loved ones experience a positive transition. Take into consideration the following recommendations: