Is It Time For A Professional Caregiver?Aging comes with challenges, some of which may make it difficult to care for yourself effectively. If youre having trouble with daily activities but want to remain independent and live in your own home, it may be time to consider working with an at-home caregiver. What Is A Professional Caregiver?The idea of hiring a professional caregiver might feel nerve-wracking, and you may have some fears about what bringing a caregiver into your life will be like. All experiences with a professional caregiver and client will differ, but you can generally expect your caregiver to be compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated to helping you age safely. There are different types of professional caregivers and caregiving services. At Visiting Angels, we offer at-home, meaning our caregivers go to clients' homes to help them with daily living tasks so they can continue living independently. A few nonmedical tasks caregivers can assist with include medication reminders, cooking, transportation, grooming, light housekeeping, and mobility assistance. Visiting Angels Daphne offers various at-home care services to meet each client's needs. We also have specialized services for seniors with dementia, those in hospice, or those needing additional assistance after a hospital stay. All services are customizable to ensure each client receives the highest quality of care. Signs You May Need A Professional CaregiverIts never too soon or too late to hire a professional caregiver. However, if you are experiencing any of the following signs, you may want to start a conversation with a trusted home care agency like Visiting Angels.  You need help completing daily tasks like cleaning and cooking.  You find personal tasks like bathing and driving challenging. You have trouble remembering to take your medications.  Youve fallen within the last three months. You feel lonely, anxious, or sad when home alone.  You were recently diagnosed with a chronic health condition. You dont have nearby loved ones to contact if you need help.  Professional Caregivers With Visiting Angels Hiring a professional caregiver is a big decision, and finding the right home care agency and caregiver for you is essential. At Visiting Angels, we offer all potential clients a complimentary consultation to ensure our care solution fits your needs and expectations. During the initial consultation, a care team member explains our services and helps you discover which care service could work for you and how that service can fit into your life. This meeting is also a great time to ask questions and share concerns about caregiving. After the consultation, our care team will develop a personalized care plan addressing your needs. We then match you with a qualified caregiver with the skill set to assist you and a similar personality and interests to help build a foundation for a meaningful relationship. Once all the pieces are in place, Visiting Angels can provide care within 48 hours. Contact us today if youre ready to learn how at-home care from Visiting Angels can help you age safely and independently.Could your loved one living in Daphne, Fairhope, Orange Beach, Bay Minette, Mobile, Gulf Shores, or the surrounding communities benefit from our senior care services? Contact Visiting Angels today to book a no-cost care consultation.    

Saad Healthcare: A Family Tradition of Caring and 50 Years of ExcellenceFor over fifty years, Saad Healthcare has been a beacon of hope and healing along the Gulf Coast. Established in 1967 by John and Dorothy Saad, what began as a retirement community in Mobile, Alabama, has evolved into a comprehensive healthcare provider, offering a range of services including home healthcare, hospice care, rehabilitation, private nursing, and medical equipment supplies. Today, Saad Healthcare stands as a testament to a legacy of care, providing essential support for patients living with chronic conditions, those recovering from illness, or individuals facing life-limiting conditions.A Comprehensive Approach to CareSaad Healthcare's mission is rooted in the belief that every patient and customer deserves the highest quality of care. This commitment is reflected in their extensive range of services, which cater to diverse patient needs. Whether a patient requires around-the-clock nursing care, Physical, occupational, speech therapy or simple daily assistance, Saad Healthcare's team of experienced care providers collaborates closely with physicians to develop personalized care plans. This collaborative approach ensures that each patient receives the best possible care tailored to their unique circumstances.The Saad Advantage: Continuity of CareOne of the key differentiators of Saad Healthcare is what they call the "Saad Advantage" the continuity of care. For patients and families, this means that a single call to Saad Healthcare is all it takes to access a comprehensive suite of services. This seamless integration of care services provides peace of mind, knowing that all health needs can be met under one roof. From medical assistance programs to rehabilitation services, Saad Healthcare's family of caring professionals is equipped to handle any situation with compassion and expertise.Convenient Locations Across the Gulf CoastWith locations in Mobile, Alabama, Baldwin County, Alabama, and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Saad Healthcare is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of its community. Each location offers a full range of programs, including home healthcare, hospice care, and medical equipment supplies. This regional presence allows Saad Healthcare to deliver on its promise of personalized, accessible care for patients across the Gulf Coast.A Legacy of Compassion and ExcellenceSaad Healthcare remains the only locally owned, family-operated home healthcare company in Mobile, Alabama. This independence allows the Saad family to uphold the values and principles instilled by their founders. The companys motto, "A family tradition of caring," is more than just a tagline; it is a guiding philosophy that permeates every aspect of their operations. This mission-driven approach is evident in their dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate care while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.Guiding Principles and ObjectivesSaad Healthcare is committed to a set of guiding principles that inform their operations and interactions with patients, employees, and partners. These principles include: Compassion: Patient-centered care that prioritizes the well-being of each individual. Integrity: Honest and transparent business practices that build trust with patients and stakeholders. Quality: Delivery of safe and effective healthcare services using the best clinicians, technologies, and facilities. Professionalism: Employing highly qualified healthcare professionals and ensuring ongoing training and development. Efficiency: Wise resource management and adaptability to industry changes for value-driven healthcare. Respect: Fostering a supportive environment for employees and respectful communication with patients and partners. Dynamism: Embracing innovation and creativity to remain at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Looking to the FutureAs Saad Healthcare continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to excellence remains unwavering. The company strives to be a trendsetter in healthcare delivery, embracing new technologies and approaches to better serve its patients. With a focus on compassionate care, professional integrity, and community engagement, Saad Healthcare is poised to continue its legacy as a leader in healthcare along the Gulf Coast.For more information or to learn about their services, Saad Healthcare invites you to visit one of their convenient locations or reach out to their compassionate team. Whether you are considering care for yourself or a loved one, Saad Healthcare is dedicated to providing the support and expertise you need. Contact Saad Healthcare at 251-343-9600. 

Mobility is essential to independence in late adulthood. Recent SilverAssist data show that over 40% of prospective senior living community residents use mobility aids, like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. While mobility challenges can impact the ability to perform other activities of daily living and life tasks, senior living communities help bridge that gap. Here, well discuss SilverAssists findings on the mobility needs of prospective senior living residents. We also offer insight on leveraging this data in your community to help families see how senior living community services meet their needs and preserve residents self-reliance and independence.A January to May 2024 SilverAssist survey collected responses from over 25,000 individuals online who were actively looking for senior living solutions for themselves or a family member. Survey respondents were interested in a range of senior living options, including assisted living, independent living, nursing homes, and memory care. The data showed that, depending on the type of community, one-third to two-thirds of all potential residents need mobility support in some way. Incorporating these findings into conversations with potential residents can offer tangible data showing that senior living communities not only know what older adults need but that they meet those needs in a way that helps protect residents self-reliance and independence. What help do prospective senior living residents need?Over 25,000 survey responses showed an interest in care, from independent living to nursing home care. Almost 60% of survey respondents looking for assisted living used mobility aids, such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair. About one-third of respondents interested in independent living used these mobility aids, and almost half of people interested in memory care used them. The data on those searching for nursing homes told a slightly different but equally important story: While 40% of potential nursing home residents used mobility aids, an additional 13% of the respondents were bedridden. This data helps convey the level of need that nursing home residents typically have and also gives us an indication of communicating with potential residents, which we will discuss next.Type of community soughtNumber of respondentsPercentage who used a cane, walker, or wheelchairAssisted living8,50559% used mobility aids; an additional 1.7% were bedriddenIndependent living8,20930% used mobility aids; an additional 0.13% were bedriddenNursing home4,99940% used mobility aids; an additional 13% were bedriddenMemory care3,35047% used mobility aids; an additional 2.6% were bedriddenResults of January 2024 through May 2024 SilverAssist survey of prospective senior care residents need for assistance with mobility.How the community helps the prospective residentThis dataset shows that senior living communities can help prospective residents in two important ways. Next, lets explore these impacts and how community professionals can leverage this information to drive facility occupancy.Seniors are among peers with similar needs in the community At least one in three residents interested in a senior living community uses a mobility aid. This means that a group of four residents having dinner together in the facility dining room will likely have more than one person with similar mobility needs. In other words, no resident is alone in their needs; they are among peers going through similar situations.Communities can leverage this data to show that prospective residents are not alone in needing help with certain activities of daily living. In fact, theyre likely to become friendly with other residents who need similar or more services than they do. Its no wonder that senior living facilities are referred to as communities: They are home to a group of peers who are all at various stages of the senior experience. Camaraderie and connection can go a long way, and delivering that somewhat esoteric notion with tangible data can help drive home the message that the new resident will not be alone in their needs.Community services meet residents needs, preserving their independenceThe goal of senior living community services is to bridge the gap between what residents need to do on a daily basis and what they can do independently. In other words, the services meet each resident at their ability level and empower them to be as independent as possible. With this in mind, communities can use the mobility needs data to demonstrate how their services preserve the independence of their residents with various needs. Knowing the needs of those considering becoming residents can inform the direction of the conversation before it even starts. Safety measures exist not only to keep residents from getting hurt but also to empower them to engage in activities they like with comfort and success. With 59% of potential assisted living residents using mobility aids, pointing out these seemingly obvious safety features in ways that amplify their accessibility to independence can help potential residents see the opportunities in a community: Wheelchair-accessible doors that lead to outdoor courtyards, multiple elevator locations, and push-button emergency bells in every residence are just some of the common safety features that support residents abilities to do what they want to do when they want to do it.When talking with a prospective independent living resident, highlighting features such as pull cords in the bathrooms or flat room transition strips on the floor could accentuate the built-in features that support someones fall prevention efforts. Independent living candidates may not need extra services, but knowing about your communitys thoughtful built-in safety features could go a long way in sparking their interest in becoming a resident.Ambulating, or walking around, is one of the cornerstones of activities of daily living. For example, bathing becomes more challenging when walking to the bathroom or moving around in the shower requires the help of a device. When almost half of potential memory care residents have mobility challenges, proactively discussing mobility supports and safety measures will preemptively answer families questions about ADA-accessible bathrooms and showers. Memory care communities often highlight their safety features that prevent wandering, which is a crucial and unique element of memory care services, but its also important to highlight practical safety features to demonstrate how residents with mobility challenges can perform everyday tasks safely.Senior care mobility support meets many residents challengesWhen community professionals consider the array of facility services and features, the cutting-edge, evidence-based programming and service offerings often stand out to potential residents and their families. The built-in mobility support that senior care communities provide is integral to health, wellness, and the preservation of resident independence whether the support is a service offering or a thoughtful safety feature in the building.Its important that seniors and their families remember the seemingly small tasks and personal care activities individuals must do every day, even when they have mobility challenges. Including the discussion of how your community supports residents mobility challenges will likely answer questions the touring family has yet to think of. Discussing how you support your residents mobility is essential, as its also a discussion of how you protect and preserve your residents self-reliance and independence.