Minnesota - Twin Cities

Aging can sometimes be difficult for your loved one and you and your family. The wide array of mixed emotionsguilt, stress, confusion, frustrationyoure feeling is common, and your local Homewatch CareGivers franchise is here to help make sense of it all. Our local team of professional caregivers can give you the peace of mind you've been missing, all while doing everything they can to ensure the comfort and safety of your elder loved one.Each Homewatch CareGivers locations in-home elder care services are personalized to meet the unique needs of your family, type of living arrangements, and at-home care needed. The caregivers are screened and receive continuous training to include skills validation checks. Homewatch CareGivers believes that anybody's quality of life can be improved with the right type of elder care. Senior care, also called elderly care or elder care, covers a range of in-home care services for people who are age 65 and older in need of assistance with activities of daily living in the home. Everyday activities can be difficult when experiencing the challenges brought on by aging or living with chronic conditions. Even the simplest tasks such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, or tidying up around the home can become taxing to complete.The exact type of care that is needed depends on the type of assistance required and challenges you and your loved one may be currently facing, such as scheduling, distance, and physical limitations. Providing elder care for the senior in your life can help them re-engage with activities, family, and friends as they age, leading to improved well-being and a renewed sense of independence!Types of In-Home Care for EldersIn-home care offers impactful one-on-one engagement for seniors. While assisted living communities and nursing homes provide reliable care, many people prefer to age in their existing home. At Homewatch CareGivers, our team helps seniors age in place around familiar surroundings.We offer a large variety of specialty senior care services that are tailored to your needs:Companion CareSocial isolation can lead to chronic loneliness, noticed significantly more often in the elderly. A cornerstone of our senior care services is companion care. Caregivers engage with their clients with friendly conversation, learn more about them, and participate in their favorite hobbies or activities. This helps your loved one stay involved, feel appreciated, and remain connected.Personal CareCaregivers assist with any day-to-day personal care needs that may have or will become challenging to perform for people who are living with chronic conditions or in advanced age. A highly qualified team is here to help your senior remain independent while still providing help with personal care tasks, such as:Grooming and bathing assistanceBathroom assistance and other personal hygieneAmbulation and mobility assistanceNursing CareTo meet the needs of seniors with significant medical conditions, some Homewatch CareGivers offices may provide in-home nursing care that is performed by one or more:RNs Registered NursesLPNs Licensed Practical NursesLVNs Licensed Vocational NursesNursing services* can help your loved one continue to get the care they need in the home, including healthcare coordination and referrals as well as other recommendations to improve their well-being.24-Hour CareTo ensure the safety of your aging loved one and the peace of mind of you and your family, 24-hour care may be the best option. This is completed via a team of caregivers scheduled throughout the entire day or possibly a single live-in caregiver in some locations. This type of care will be tailored to meet your needs and ensure someone is on standby in-home for your loved one or family around the clock.Respite CareCaring for a loved one is very rewarding but doesn't go without its demands. While it's often overlooked, Homewatch CareGivers understands the importance of the health and well-being of family caregivers. Whether you're a son, daughter, spouse, other family member or friend each caregiving team provides the relief you need to take a well-deserved break to rest and recharge.After Hospital CareThe transition from a facility back home can be challenging for seniors, not to mention critical to their health. This transition needs to be handled with compassion and person-centered care. A Homewatch Caregivers team can help ensure the discharge plan is followed and the transition and care after that goes as smoothly as possible for the well-being of your loved one.Chronic Condition CareCaring for and living with chronic disease, conditions, and the challenges that come with it can be overwhelming. We create comprehensive in-home chronic condition care for elders, focusing on more than just a person's condition. Each caregiver is qualified and receives training in specialty chronic condition care. Homewatch CareGivers will help your family and loved one establish a plan of care to assist with the specific condition and the hardships presented.Dementia CareWhile dementia presents several challenges related to daily tasks and cognitive function, Homewatch CareGivers strives to create care plans that focus on your loved one's current abilities instead of what may be declining.  Elder dementia care focuses on promoting positive well-being, continually tailored to meet any needs as the condition progresses.After Surgery CareHomewatch CareGivers provides after-surgery care to help your loved one return back to health in the comfort of their home. The transition from the hospital back home is crucial to seniors' well-being, so care plans will reflect the discharge instructions created by medical professionals. A caregiver can help to reduce the risk of falls, provide medication reminders, all while proving to be reliable and compassionate.  Contact us today at 952-260-6223 or visit us at www.homewatchcaregivers.com/edina/

Gifts for Grandma, Grandpa, or Aging ParentsIts no secret that shopping for gifts for grandma, grandpa, or an older parent, can be difficult. A life well lived also means theyve probably acquired everything they need for their day-to-day tasks. Do they really need another stock pot, blanket, or screwdriver? Probably not. And those kinds of gifts are BORING with a capital B. Why not find something thats new AND solves a problem?How do you buy a gift for a senior who already has everything?The trick is to find a present that adds value and independence to their life. As we age, things that we took for granted in our youth become much harder as the years pass on.One such example that many seniors struggle with is the simple task of clipping fingernails. The standard fingernail clipper hasnt changed for over 70 years. Its small and requires a surprising amount of vision and dexterity.Now imagine youre a senior with advancing arthritis or decreasing vision and what used to be a simple task is now a lot more difficult. Maybe you have MS or Parkinsons and fine motor dexterity is an everyday challenge. Or perhaps youre fully capable of clipping your own nails, but want additional convenience. Or maybe youre a caregiver and clipping fingernails is low on your priority list. Any way you look at it, theres no right or wrong reason to want a bit of independence.In fact, there are over 50 million people in the US alone who have limited dexterity, strength, or vision. And tens of millions more who dislike the messy and annoying process of clipping fingernails. If your parent or grandparent needs help, theyre certainly not alone.Get them something that makes their life easier.Introducing the ClipDifferent Pro: the easiest-to-use nail clipper on the planet. Its easily one of the best gifts for grandma, grandpa, or an aging parent.The ClipDifferent Pro is a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind, automatic fingernail clipper that safely trims fingernails with the simple touch of a button. Its effortless, safe, leaves no mess, and is built to last.It includes FREE SHIPPING and a FULL GUARANTEE!It uses a bit of science, a bit of magic, and a few top-secret components that elevate the act of fingernail clipping from boring to holy cow!.Put simply, the ClipDifferent Pro utilizes a high-capacity, rechargeable NiMH battery to power a finely-tuned, patent-pending trimming mechanism manufactured with surgical grade stainless steel, to create the most seamless, clean, and nearly effortless fingernail clipping experience youve ever had. Dont Just Take Our Word For It Heres What Others Are Saying The ClipDifferent Pro is so simple and easy to use! Rollie Rodgers (Korean War Veteran and Living with Parkinsons) It gives me one more way to be independent. Rick Zeidler (Vision Loss) Ive won the war but its these day-to-day battles that we have to deal with. Rick Ebner (Living with MS) I think anyone will find the Pro fabulousespecially those who have challenges with fine motor skills. Geno Mucciacciaro (Disabled Veteran with Neurological and Central Nervous System Issues) Once you see the Pro work, its hard to go back to the old way of clipping your nails. Butch Donohue (Amputee/Limb Loss) Every home needs to have one of these! Tamara S. (Home Health Care Advisor) I need to buy one of these for my husband! Velma Hagar Ristaino (Author, Inspirational Speaker)

Approximately one in ten people in the United States over 65 have dementia, while 22% have mildcognitive impairment. Moreover, about two-thirds of all people living in nursing homes across thecountry have some form of cognitive impairment.A Focus on Non-Pharmacologic Dementia TreatmentsBecause of the widespread impact of dementia, many states and the federal government havelaunched programs to reform dementia care, encouraging service providers to adopt new methodsthat improve the lives of those living with the disease and those who care for them. One such effortseeks to lessen the burden on healthcare systems caused by excessive anti-psychotic medication useby substituting or augmenting it with non-pharmacologic techniques and strategies.At Gianna Homes, we have been caring for patients with dementia in such a manner since 1999. Carehere is centered on giving residents meaningful experiences. Our mission is to provide variousexperiences that cater to and affirm the residents, social, emotional, sensory, bodily and spiritualrequirements. Massage therapy is one example of the non-pharmacologic treatment options we offer.How Can Massage Therapy Help Dementia Patients?Dementia patients can find peace and relief through massage therapy. It reduces anxiety, agitationand feelings of confusion while revitalizing body awareness and agility. Additionally, it can replacenegative emotions like isolation, loneliness and boredom with more positive ones like connection,comfort and well-being.A brief hand massage alone can reduce cortisol (a stress hormone) levels by relaxing the brain. Whenour cortisol levels are low, our immune system works better. This factor is crucial for seniors.Massage also increases serotonin levels, a chemical that makes you feel calm, and releasesendorphins, which make you feel energized and happy.Dementia patients may recall feeling glad even if they do not remember getting a massage. Theimpression that they did something fun that day lingers, even if the details are hazy. Keeping up withthese enjoyable activities will ensure their bodies get the endorphins needed to live a good life.Massage therapy reduces the physical, emotional and psychological suffering that causes behavioralsymptoms of dementia and lessens medication use. In addition, a hand, back or foot massage canevoke good, life-affirming emotions. At Gianna Homes, we have massage therapists for ourcommunity. Contact us to learn more about massage therapy for dementia or our other services.  We can becontacted at 952-443-6113 or visit our website at  www.giannahomes.org. 

One Sunday morning in early August, Irene woke up with a badly swollen knee. She thought about waiting until Monday to call her Lifespark Nurse Practitioner but was afraid that bacteria from an infected tooth had migrated to her artificial knee joint, something her orthopedic surgeon had warned her about. If left untreated, an infected joint could require additional surgeries, which is why she had taken prophylactic antibiotics before and after a recent dental procedure.The last thing Irene, 74, wanted was another surgery, but based on previous emergency room visits, she dreaded the thought of going to the ER. Youre sitting for hours next to people who are sick with the flu or COVID, when youre already not feeling well yourself, she said. The doctors are regular GPs [general practitioners] so theyd probably just run some tests and send me home with antibiotics, which Im already taking. She was also concerned about the $100 co-pay, adding that she lives in low-income housing and has limited financial resources.Instead, Irene called Urgent Response Services, Lifesparks 24-hour nurse triage line.Convenient, efficient, and trustedAs a member of Lifespark COMPLETE (LSC), Irene qualified for Urgent Response Services which provides acute-level care for members in their homes. Within minutes, Leah Castle, RN, BSN, Mobile Urgent Responder, was on her way, getting briefed by the triage nurse on Irenes concerns.Once at Irenes home, Leah logged onto the secure portal to access key client information, including Irenes health history, medications, allergies, support system, financial considerations, contingency plans, and goals of care. Having this level of detail at our fingertips helps us make more accurate, more efficient assessments, she said. It also gives us a more complete picture of the member, so we can offer recommendations that align with their goals and lifestyle.After taking Irenes vitals, she drew some blood, took a photo of the worrisome knee, and talked through her findings with the on-call provider. They were both confident that it wasnt a bacterial infection but would wait for the lab results for confirmation. Leah sent a note to Irenes COMPLETE team to schedule a follow-up for the next week. In the meantime, Irene was to continue the antibiotics, take a Tylenol every six hours, ice her knee, and keep the leg elevated as much as possible.Leah dropped off the blood samples at the hospital lab for processing, and in less than two hours, the on-call physician had the results. Leah called Irene to let her know that the labs were negative for systemic infection and that her inflammatory markers were within normal range.Irene was relieved. This was so much better than going to the ER, she said.Rule-outs and rule-insIn Leahs experience, older adults often go to the ER to make sure theres nothing seriously wrong. In fact, studies show that roughly 32% of hospital ER visits are non-urgent and unnecessary. As a Mobile Urgent Responder, shes able to rule out those non-emergencies, efficiently and effectively, from the persons home.That was the case with Irene: shes had both knees replaced and was very concerned that shed need more surgery, Leah said. We were able to put her at ease and assure her that we would continue to monitor and manage her symptoms from home. If there is something to be concerned about, Leah added, the Mobile Urgent Response team is able rule in the need for emergency care.Building on career experienceHaving the confidence to make quick, accurate assessments and communicate them to Lifesparks medical experts comes from her diverse career background. One of Leahs first nursing jobs was on a cardiac step-down unit, a fast-paced, intense environment where the nurses were constantly working with different physicians and therapists. I learned how to quickly build trusting relationships with the providers and also with families during some of the darkest moments of their lives, she said.Leah said she grew professionally in that environment, gaining skills and knowledge that prepared her for her next job, at a long-term acute care hospital. The individuals she cared for had complex diagnoses and illnesses, such as extensive wounds, traumatic brain injury, chronic kidney disease, and respiratory failure. Patients were here for two to six months or more, many of them on ventilators and feeding tubes, so I got to know their families and learned how to support them, too, she said.In 2017, Leah joined Lifespark Community Home Care as their first on-call nurse. Coming into the Home Care setting with my background was powerful, because I knew what my clients had just walked out of, whether that was the hospital or rehab, and now I could help them stay healthy at home, she said.Seven years later, she was recruited for Lifesparks Mobile Urgent Response team. I feel like each step in my career has prepared me for the next one, and now, as a Mobile Urgent Responder, I can be the eyes and ears of our providers in the home, she said. I can also bring care and compassion and empathy to our members, so they feel confident in the care were providing.Benefits of early interventionThe Mobile Urgent Response team has been most successful when members call the triage line before their symptoms progress to a critical level. The team has been able to treat early symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the home, often with a short-term medication adjustment. However, if a CHF or COPD exacerbation isnt treated, the client would likely need to be hospitalized for IV therapy and increased respiratory support. Recently, Leah collaborated with the on-call provider to diagnose a painful ear infection that had developed quickly. The physician faxed a prescription for antibiotics to the clients pharmacy which they were able to pick up and start taking that same day.Its really fulfilling and rewarding to be able to offer this service to our members and their families who want to be supportive but cant always be there in person, Leah said. Theyre in good hands with Lifespark.To learn how Lifespark helps seniors stay healthy at home, visit Lifespark.com or call 952-345-8770.