Oklahoma Professionals for Home Care
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safety matters!

6/30/2020

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I have a family member in a facility but would they be safer at home? That is a question many are asking themselves during these uncertain times.
Headlines from around the country tell a grim story of high infection and mortality rates inside of some nursing homes. It is important to note that many nursing homes have done an amazing job of keeping their residents safe.  However, the headlines do raise an important question. Would my loved one be Safer at Home? What is the emotional toll on my loved one at being isolated and not able to interact with other family members?
Every family’s situation is different which means there is no standard one size fits all answer. To answer these questions many factors need to be considered. I have listed a few here, this is by no means a comprehensive list.
1.       Do we have a safe place for our loved one to reside, one that is conducive to providing care?
2.       What level of care do they need? Medical or non-medical care?
3.       Do we have family, friends, or paid staff to assist with their care?
4.       Will this put an undue strain on the rest of the family?
5.       What are the financial ramifications of bring our loved one home?
You don’t have to go this alone, our member agencies can help you think through these questions and help you come to the decision that is right for you and your family. We can also view your home and make recommendations and suggest assistive devices that will make caregiving easier. For more information contact one of our member agencies today.
 
Bob Osborn,  Grace Care Personal Care
www.gracecareok.com
 

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Love matters!

6/15/2020

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More than 40% of seniors experience loneliness, according to a recent University of California, San Francisco study. Many seniors, regardless of whether they live at home or in a senior living facility or skilled care facility, may go the entire year without a personal visit from a family member or a friend. How can this be?!

We all need love! We all need relationships! We all need to know that we matter, and that someone out there cares about us! Many times it is the busyness of life that keeps family members away from seeing their elderly parents and friends on a regular basis. That's where your friendly and compassionate members of the Oklahoma Professionals for Home Care come in!

Our member agencies can provide companion care for your loved ones! Our loving staff are trained to provide conversation, spend time playing games, take them shopping, do gardening, take them to appointments or to visit other family members and more! It's our pleasure to fill in that gap where work and other commitments might prevent family and friends from being able to consistently do those things for their elderly loved ones!

Beyond that, our agencies are also able to provide essential personal care services like bathing assistance, toileting assistance, dressing, help with walking and transferring and eating too. We provide respite care for couples, where one member may be struggling with the difficulties of advancing conditions like dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. While our staff stays with the loved one with the advancing ailment, the loved one in better health is able to get some much needed free time away. This allows them to stay healthy, physically, mentally and emotionally!

Whatever your needs are, we would love to assist you in helping to show some love to your loved ones! We are certain you love them! Let us be are part of that loving process! Contact one of our OPHC member agencies today for more information!

Page Cole
Visiting Angels of Tulsa
Visiting Angels of Bartlesville
Visiting Angels of SWOKC

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Communication matters!

6/8/2020

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It's incredibly difficult to face the challenges that come with aging parents, loved ones or even yourself. It can be awkward or uncomfortable to talk about the need for care in the home. There may be uncertainty about expenses. Issues ranging from "strangers in the home" to "which is better, home care or facility care?" are just a few of the myriad issues families face when it comes to aging and health care.

So how does a family successfully navigate these uncharted and sometimes scary waters? Here are a few simple suggestions for you to consider.

  1. START- Yes, it's that simple. Someone has to initiate the conversations. It might as well be you. Maybe you know your loved one, and this discussion would best be received by a different family member. That's awesome! Then they can start the dialogue! But don't wait. Set a date, make an appointment, plan a family meeting... just do it.
  2. PLAN- Before you "START", determine beforehand what the options are available. That doesn't mean only include the options you want, or only the options you believe your loved one will accept. Options include home care, family intervention, or even moving to a senior community or facility. You don't need to have all of the answers to every question. It would be nice to have adequate information about the various options to make the conversation productive. Do your homework.
  3. LISTEN- As you share your concerns about the situation, make sure that you and other family members are committed to listening to the concerns, fears and issues your elderly loved one may have. It doesn't mean that those issues take priority or drive the decision. What it means is that you're committed to including them in the dialogue about the future, and that you care enough about them to authentically listen to their feelings on the journey to that decision.
  4. LOVE- Relationships matter. Don't lose sight of that. This is your parent, grandparent, spouse or dear friend. They need to know your heart is focused on their safety and well being, as well as the health of a spouse or other caregiver who may have been carrying a load that has gotten to heavy. Encourage, affirm and make sure the individual needing extra care understands the heart behind this discussion.
  5. WAIT- Wait, what was that? Wait? You're saying, "I thought we were supposed to do something!"  You are. But after a conversation like this, your loved one will need some time to process. Very seldom is this an "emergency" situation where a decision is needed immediately. Give them some time to process the options, look at finances and deal with their own feelings. At the end of your initial meeting, set a time to come back and visit again.

These are only a few suggestions for you to consider! Know that the member agencies of the OPHC are committed to helping you and your loved ones make the most informed and best fitting decisions regarding the love and essential personal care services for your precious elderly family and friends!

Page Cole
Owner/Dealer in Hope
Visiting Angels of Tulsa
Visiting Angels of Bartlesville
Visiting Angels of SWOKC

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