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Good evening followers! Here is a little though that we would like to leave you with this weekend. It is very important to keep believing in yourself and make sure that you stay motivated because everything will fall in the right path eventually. Have a great weekend!#FridayMotivation #HHA #CNA #caregiver #Homecare 

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Good Morning Followers! Here is a little something to help start your morning on the right track! Never settle for anything in life and always look for ways to improve yourself and take yourself to new heights! #ThursdayThoughts #HHA #Homecare #CNA #Caregiver

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Today HHA honors those who bravely and courageously fought for our country. We thank all those who were wounded and paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. We do offer discounts for all veterans for the services we provide. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE!! #PurpleHeartDay #HHA #Homecare #USArmedForces #cna #caregiver

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Am I Doing Everything I Can To Be Successful?!

Have you ever taken a second to reflect on your accomplishments and determine what you can do better? Are you content with what you’ve done with your life? If not, do you have an idea of what you need to do to satisfy yourself? These are a few questions you should ask yourself before determining whether or not you have done everything in your power to reach your goals and the ultimate ending of success. 

There are a lot of people who chose to just settle once they become comfortable but that is sometimes okay. However, what most people need to change is their way of thinking that even when you are comfortable it doesn't mean that you should just stick with it. There are always ways to improve and challenge yourself a little more. When you face a challenge and come out on the other side you get a feeling of content and excitement because you were able to overcome those obstacles that were placed in your way. 

Its important that everything you do has a purpose in the end. If what you are doing has no purpose then how do you know what the end game is. When you have a purpose then it is easier to scale out and determine whether what you have done will ultimately lead to a successful sense of feeling. Yes there are highs and lows but its you inner being that will help you overcome everything and get to the other side. We wish you all the very best of luck with all your future goals and continue to push yourself cause in the end you will be glad you did so! 

Until Next Time!

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International Self Care Day

Hello HHA followers! Today is International Self Care Day and we wanted to share with you a few tips on how to maintain your health. There are two major steps when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and they include keeping healthy habits and taking minor and long term conditions which produces self care. Some of the top diseases of the 21st century include heart diseases, strokes, and type 2 diabetes. Along with cancer being another one of the top problematic diseases. Below are listed 7 self care habits that can help reduce the risk of these horrendous diseases: 

1. Health Literacy- There are loads of information on the internet and text that can provide you with an adequate amount of information to reduce the possibility of picking up unhealthy lifestyle habits that on return can result on one of these diseases. 

2. Self Awareness of Physical and Mental Condition- Just being aware of your progress and taking notice of areas of improvement can help individuals pin point areas of their lifestyle that they need to place more effort on. 

3. Physical Activity- Being physically active is another good way to maintain your health. It is very important to stay in shape or just maintain a physically active lifestyle. 

4. Healthy Eating- This is one of the most important and highly crucial ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is very crucial to have healthy eating habits and to have the mental control to say no to bad foods.

5. Risk Avoidance- The power of “No”, you must have the mentality to be able to say no when you are faced with instances that may put you in a bad circumstance. These can include tobacco products, alcohol consumption, and drugs. 

6. Good Hygiene- You need to always make sure you are staying clean. It is very crucial to constantly wash your hands after a long day at work. When you constantly stay clean this can reduce the risk of receiving germs and passing on diseases.

7. Rational Use of Products and Services- It is never good to over use and abuse special products and services provided for maintaining good health. This can ultimately lead to drug abuse and a high dependability on these products and services to get them out of their current situation. 

I hope this helps and causes a few of you to change your lifestyle practices!

Until Next Time!

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Choosing The Right Long Term Care Facility

When it comes to selecting the right long term care facility for a loved one it can become a very extensive process. You should always gather as much information and research as possible so you can be content with the decision you have made.

The first step involves determining the right care that is needed for your loved one. There is a few options and all include different qualifications. There are Skilled Nursing options which include nursing homes and convalescent hospitals that offer 24 hour nursing care. These facilities range from anywhere between $5000-9000 a month. The other option is Residential care/Assisted Living facilities and they offer 24 hour non medical care and supervision for individuals that need help doing daily activities. These activities can be dressing, bathing, and medications. The pricing for this option is a little more flexible and may appeal more to low income families. They can range from $1800-6000 a month depending on the facility. 

Once you have made a decision on what type of care your loved one needs, you must consider all the options and scale them based on conveniency. Some resources to make this decision easier will include: 

1) Location- This is not only important for the family but also for the loved ones senior physicians and medications whether or not the location will be an issue. 

2) Costs- Does the place go in line with your financial situation? The costs must match up with what you are expecting to get from the services. If you are paying a substantial amount of money and your loved one doesn't need 24 hour supervision then you should look for another option. 

3) Food Service- Is the food good? It is a good way to judge the way things are handled when you visit a facility during meal time. Not only do you get to see cleanliness of the facility but you also get a first hand look at how the employees interact with the residents. 

4) Activities and Special Services- Look at all the extra little things that you can get out of utilizing that facility. Most senior facilities offer special events for their residents to keep them active and make their time there a little more worth while. 

It is very important that you look at every component of the facility to ensure you are placing your loved one in the right hands. You need to feel comfortable putting them in the facility of your choosing. We hope that this information will help make that process a little easier for you!

Kind Regards!

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Tips On How To Be A Better Caregiver/CNA

Here are a few tips for our employees to make sure they take notice of when providing services for our clients. 

1. Make Eye Contact- It is always important to maintain face to face conversations. it is very important to make sure that their attention is focused on you during your operation of services.

2. Tell Them What You Are Going To Do Before You Do It- It is always better to give them a heads up so they will be better prepared to respond to a call to action. 

3. Speak Slowly- It gets to a time where seniors start to lose a little of their senses. It is vital to make sure the connection and communication between the two of you is smooth and free flowing.

4. Turn Negatives Into Positives- Do not talk down to them like you would if you were talking to a child. it is important to respect them as an adult and treat them in such a manner. Always try to brighten the mood and make the day that much better for them.

5. Never Argue With Them- This will get you absolutely no where if there are any issues. This will just make matters worse. You need to let things settle before you can go by approaching them if there is a sense un happiness with your services. 

6. Only Ask and Tell Them One Thing At A Time- You need to let them respond to a request or answer a question before moving on to a different concept. If you tend to throw too much at them this will irritate and frustrate them. 

7. Speak Calmly- You need to make your clients feel comfortable and talking in an arrogant and aggressive manner will not create that sense of comfort. You need to talk in a tone that makes your clients feel that you are approachable and willingness to be there for them. 

I hope these tips will help and continue to offer excellent care and quality service!!

Until next Time!!

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It’s always easy to get side tracked especially when things tend to get difficult. Thats why its always important to focus on the good and not the bad. The more emphasis you place on the good the better you will be at making those bad concepts perish. We hope this helps with getting through life’s constant barriers and traps. 

#CNA #HHA #Caregiver #Homecare 

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How To Maintain An Active Lifestyle

One of the best ways to help ones body remain healthy is by consistently staying active. Being active can drastically improve ones way of life by incorporating many behaviors that directly constitute to a healthy way of life.  These behaviors however aren’t just something that comes with being active it has to be taught and done through a process that makes it become second nature. The steps to incorporating  healthy lifestyle include:

1) Plan Ahead and Write It Down- This is a very important step because this allows you to plan out the whole week ahead. You get the opportunity to see it all planned out so that you can easily tally each step of the way based on the manner in which you completed it. Each week you have a goal so a detailed plan will make that outcome easier to achieve.

2) Have A Goal- It is important to have something that you are working towards. this is your motivation and without something making you want to do your best then how is it that one can find enough perseverance to proceed with the task at hand.

3) Keep It Fun- The moment it becomes a chore or something that you HAVE to do then you will lose interest. if you continue to look at the activity as a way to have fun and learn more about yourself and your body. 

4) Its About Quality, Not Quantity- Quality workouts are great and thats the biggest point that I want to make. You wont get much out of a workout everyday if you don’t at least have a few really good ones. The better a workout is then the more you will get out of it.

5) Listen To Your Body- Your body is always telling you whether it can take more or not. It is very important to take rest days because these are the days where your focus is on primarily the physical and mental recovery stages. Rest days are great for a full body recharge along with lowering of stress levels. 

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Fitness Tips for Seniors

When it comes to those who have limited mobility and those of senior sub-sector, it is very important to be extremely careful when pursuing any type of physical activity. It is very important to stay physically active especially when it comes to maintaining ones health. it can even improve the overall quality in the manner in which one lives their life. Here are a few tips to make sure seniors must take in order to safely pursue their physical activity.

1) Start Slow- Especially with old age it is very important to make sure that the body begins to get used to the movements you are making during exercise. Too much exercise will cause the body to feel burnt out and ultimately will lead to many injuries. It is very important for elders to gradually increase their exercise intensity at a rate where their bodies can comfortable handle the intensity. 

2) Do It Everyday- Keeping a consistent schedule will allow the body to become used to the movements and a lot looser. This can in the long run result in a decreased risk of injury. It is also important that not only do they do it everyday but also that they make the right movements. It is important that as people get older that they go certain movements in order to maintain posture and shape. 

3) Stretch- Flexibility. Don’t forget to do your stretching! NIHSeniorHealth recommends 12 flexibility exercises aimed at helping seniors improve their flexibility and enjoy more freedom of movement (Sayegh). 

4) These 4 Exercises- Light Weights, Water Aerobics, Yoga

5) Be Aware Of Your Body- Everyone has their limits. It is very important that before an elder pursues an exercise that they movements will not affect any part of their body that may have faced previous injuries. An elder must know what type of movements are safe and how intense the exercise is. They can then make better executive decisions of wether or not a certain exercise would benefit them or not. 

Thank you and until next time !!

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Elder Abuse- Should We All Make This A Concern?

One of the biggest recurring problems with elders has to do with elder abuse. Elder abuse is defined as the physical, psychological or sexual harm, neglect (self-neglect or by a caregiver) or financial exploitation of vulnerable older people. Elder abuse in all of its forms is just simply wrong (Besdine). One of the biggest and most underlying concerns with this issue is that it is under-reported.  

One of the reasons for this is because of the whole saying that abuse flies under the radar. This means in instances that people make up excuses like she bruises easily upon contact. It could be rationalized and just plain and simply just missed by people in high positions that just don’t know what to look for or how to go about the whole process. 

Elder abuse has some serious consequences and deteriorating health issues that go along with it. Those who do face elderly abuse are three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital and four times more likely to be admitted to a nursing home. Along with that elderly abuse has been know to triple the risk of premature death (Besdine). 

Who’s At Risk?!

Women typically are more at risk due to the psychological and physical toll abuse takes on them compared to men. Those who are older are more inclined to higher potential of risk as well possibly due to lack of mobility and everyday lifestyle habits. Other groups of people who are at a greater risk involve those who are socially isolated. The people typical lack the required motor skills to bathe themselves, dressing, and even using the bathroom. Along with that, those who live with other family members or friends who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse are at an increased risk of suffering from elderly abuse. 

Who Are The Abusers?!

A staggering 90% of abusers are those who are closely and directly related to the victim. These can include a spouse, older/grown children, and family friends. The amount of time and complexity of caring for someone with these health issues can become very stressing causing the person to lash out on the elder. In a caregiver scenario the problem could be due to how well the two of them get along in previous instances and situations. Possible reasons for this could be passed on how good of a job the caregiver is doing. If the elder is not satisfied with he service this can cause a line of tension between the two parts and ultimately results in the caregiver taking advantage of the situation and their superiority. 

Solutions?! And Where To Find Help!

Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, the incoming president of the John A. Hartford Foundation has begun to conduct research with multiple health care professional to dissect the different signs of abuse and neglect. They have been consistently trying to incorporate these ideas nationwide to help identify these victims and to immediately satisfy their needs. However, the funding for such programs is very low compared to others such as violence against women programs who raised about $649 million compared to the $11.9 million for elderly abuse (Besdine). This is something that needs to change in order to help the quality of life for our elders. 

For those who do face these issues there are two programs/corporations that are readily available for assistance. These include:

1) Adult Protective Services

2) National Center on Elder Abuse 

I hope you all learned a little something and lets begin to make a new change and help our Elders!

Until Next Time!

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Top CNA Skills That All Caregivers Should Utilize

There are a lot of skills and tasks that need to be executed by CNA in order for them to be truly successful in their position. It is important for them to be willing to always grow more by enhancing and growing their skill set. Each of the skills piggy back off of each other. There are a multitude of skills that are needed to excel in this position. However, here are the 5 most desirable set of skills according some insider knowledge. 

1. Excellent verbal and written communication. CNA’s must be able to effectively communicate with their clientele as well as their family members and other doctors. Written skills are highly important especially for when it comes to reporting and documenting a client’s well being.

2. Great observational skills. It is very important for a CNA to effectively observe and notice the well being of their clients. They must be able to keep an eye out for an big and drastic changes in their client’s well being. A CNA must also have keen eye on the environment and facility their client is in to ensure their safety. 

3. Ability to follow set rules and protocol. Each patient has a detailed care plan that must be executed to perfection by the CNA. If they fail to do this all execute all the protocols then they are putting their client’s health and well being at risk. 

4. Time management and organizational skills. There are a lot of CNA’s who are self employed meaning that they receive little if not any supervision. This means that top of the line time management and organization skills are highly important for them to complete all tasks they are given.

5. Empathy and compassion. These two traits are very important especially when it comes to one on one with the client. It is very important to show the client that you are there for their needs and that you truly do care for them. 

I hope this helps for any of you who wish to become a CNA!

Until Next Time!

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Tips For Finding In Home Help Through Agencies

When it comes to finding a Home Care agency for your loved one, you always want to be sure that you find the right match for their needs. You always want whats best for your loved ones. Although all agencies seem like good fits some people are caught off guard when they hear about elderly abuse and undertrained staff members. We have provided you all with a few tips to help make sure that you make the right choice when hiring through an agency rather than self employed caregivers and CNA’s. 

1. You need to know your loved one’s needs. You must know exactly what you're loved one is in need of before making a decision. Once you have done this you can better match their needs with an agency who has employees that can execute those tasks accordingly. 

2. Ask for background checks. You always want to be 100% certain that they are a reputable agency and that their employees have been carefully screened prior to employment. You may also want to ask for reviews to see if any previous clients had any issues with that specific caregiver or agency. 

3. Inquire about the CNA or caregiver’s training. Some caregivers have different qualifications and certifications than other. Most have the basic certifications like first aid and CPR. This allows the clients to have comfortable feeling that if anything were to happen that the caregiver would be able to handle the situation.  

4. Make sure that the agency is up top date with all their paperwork. It is always important to double check and make sure that the agency has meet all of their local certifications and that they are up to date with all their documentation. 

5. Ask to meet the potential caregivers. Most agencies do a meet and greet where the client can meet the caregiver or CNA to get an idea of what to expect from them. They can then determine whether or not that specific caregiver is the right fit for their needs prior to scheduling a care plan. 

6. Determine a care plan that fits within your budget and schedule. it is very important that you find a Home Care agency that is both flexible and assured that you will receive the care you are paying for. When you begin making a care plan you must ask the agency how they keep track of the progress and completion of these plans. Once you have created a good plan, you can be 100% sure that your loved one will be having all their needs met. 

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How Can You Increase Your Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is measured by using millimeters of mercury. A low blood pressure typically reads below 90mmHg over 60mmHg. Low blood pressure can usually mean that there is not enough blood that is getting to all the organs in your body. This can be a cause of some very sever effects such as:

1) Shock

2) Stroke

3) Heart Attack

4) Kidney Failure

There are many ways to improve your blood pressure. Sometimes you may be given a prescription but there are however plenty of lifestyle changes that can raise your blood pressure.

1) Eat more salt!- This may come as a surprise because most of us are told to lower our sodium intake and that this type of diet is healthy for us. In this case when you suffer from low blood pressure, it is very important to moderately  increase your intake of sodium.

2) Avoid alcoholic beverages- People who consume alcohol regularly are always putting themselves at risk for having low blood pressure. Alcohol has been linked with blood pressure as an immediate reason as to why some people face lower readings. 

3) Drink Water- This can help increase blood volume which is one of the causes of low blood pressure. 

4) Eat smaller meals- Eating smaller meals can help reduce the risk of having your blood pressure fall like heavier meals do. Heavier meals are said to have a drastic impact on the level of your blood pressure due to denseness of these larger meals. 

Until Next Time!!

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Top Places To Bring Your Love Ones To This Spring

Where to go? This is one of the biggest questions we all face when we are trying to prepare for a trip during our breaks. There are so many places to choose from but all of them have their pros and cons. The biggest criterium that is used when processing what is a good pace to go is definitely the “cost” of the trip. I have attached a link with a bunch of cheaper ideas to plan your trip. I will be discussing a few of my favorite other local’s favorites that are located within the United States.

New Orleans, the so called “year round party” is one of the biggest tourist attractions. New Orleans is known for its European-style architecture, mouth-watering Creole cuisine and all-around good-time vibes (Travel Guide). The architecture and style of the town has created a immense amount of satisfaction for all their visitors.

One of the other top places to plan a vacation in has to be Daytona. They have plenty of attractions there with over 20 miles of sandy beaches and even the big Daytona 500 race. Fans can get a first person view of all their favorite drivers. One thing to keep in mind is you must get your tickets ahead of time. They tend to go out very quickly. The atmosphere at Daytona is perfect for anyone due to its very laid back style and comfortable/free flowing sense.  

Savannah has got to be one of the prettiest  little towns in the Southeast. It is a compact city with just over 22 squares. The people here are very well mannered, friendly, and polite. If you want to fit in, then I would recommend dressing up a little like you would if you went to Charleston. The city thrives in tradition and upholding its heritage, so you might encounter a slower pace than you are used to in a big metropolis (travel Guide).

I hope that these places will reach your list of places to visit this upcoming year. As a reminder there is a link for other cheap vacation options. Until next time! We hop you all have a safe Spring Break and fun vacation!

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Who Knew Apps Could Improve Your Mental Health?

Applications nowadays are extremely universal. they can be used for just about anything. There are even apps that can help with mental health. YES, you are hearing that correctly, there are actually apps that can help with your mental health. 

There are about 48.3 million adults in the US that suffer from mental health conditions every year and of that amount about 9.8 million are limited to the activities they pursue everyday (Nichols). 

Some ways to reduce symptoms of depression include exercising and eating a healthy diet can boost mental health and your well being. Apps that tend to focus on meditation, hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and providing valuable support network can improve a persons overall mental health. Some of these Apps include:

1. Calm- This app was used to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and help you feel a lot happier. It focuses on 4 categories meditation, breathing, sleep, and relaxation to help bring joy and peace into your life (Nichols). 

2. Moodpath- This app helps set a clear step by step process through which you can guide yourself to the “other side”. It asks you questions daily to overall assess your well being and screen for any symptoms of depression. After 2 weeks it produces a detailed document that you can bring to a healthcare professional to review your status. 

3. SuperBetter- This is a game that focuses on creating the ability too remain strong and optimistic during times of great challenges. This app will a person adopt and create new habits, improve skills, and strengthen relationships to help achieve your life long dreams (Nichols).

4. 7 Cups- This App creates online therapy and emotional support for anxiety and depression with over 160,000 trained listeners and licensed therapists who will be there for you to vent out all your issues and problems you are facing. Do not be afraid of being judged, they are there FOR YOU!! 

5. Happify- This is a space where someone can overcome and disturbing negative thoughts, stress, and build resilience. This app helps you regain control over your thoughts and feelings. This goes to show that 86% of the app’s users reported feeling better about their lives after 2 moths of using it (Nichols).

Until next Time! #caregiver #cna #homecare #hha #sitters

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How To Select A Home Care Agency For You Or A Loved One

It is very important that during this selection process you find the right fit for not only your needs but also your budget. It is always best to make sure that you interview multiple companies to ensure that you have seen different options because some companies may offer more than others or may just fit within your budget. Your interview questions must be well thought out and should be formulated to get the right responses you are looking for. We will make another blog in the upcoming week discussing the interview questions and the right questions to ask for those of you who are interested in that. 

Here is the process through which you should go by when making a decision on a in home care agency.

1. You Must Start Doing Your Research For A Home Care Company. It is highly important that during this process you notice the differences between a home health care and a non-medical home care agency. A simple way to think of the difference between the two is that Home health care is medical in nature meaning that the services are provided by registered nurses, physicians, etc. Non medical home care agencies like us at Heavenly Helpers Assistance offer services such as laundry, transportation, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders.

2. Request Cost Information!! Home Care Agencies whether they are medical or non medical are personalized for each client they work with. All companies should provide a different range of hourly rates depending on the client and their service needs. That is because some clients may need more than others and it only makes sense that the rates will fluctuate depending on those needs that they wish to be met. Some other questions you may want to ask should include how often does the company bill and how do they want you to pay for the bill (via credit card or cash deposits). 

3. Verify That Your Home Care Company Is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured. The licensing laws will vary by state. If you are seeking home care services in a state that requires licensing then you must make sure the company has the paperwork provided. Home Care companies may bond the employees as a means of coverage from themselves if a client reports a theft. This is means of peace of mind for the consumers knowing that the commitment of the company is to it’s clientele. A business should have insurance coverage so you as the client should request a copy of the company’s insurance declaration page as a proof of coverage (Huntsberry-Lett). 

4. Certification, Accreditation, and Background Checks.  There is a wide range of certifications and accreditations that a company and their caregivers can receive. It is always nice to know what they have received and from who did they receive it from. Some states don’t require background checks but many companies still conduct them to make sure that who they are hiring can be trusted to deliver the right customer service. A good question to ask would be how do companies vet their employees, are all employees expected to meet the same standards,how often do they conduct drug screenings (Huntsberry-Lett). 

Until next Time!!

HHA