An older adult struggles with senior chronic pain management as he clutches his sore back.

Senior Chronic Pain Management: 4 Hidden Sources of Discomfort

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Living with chronic pain isn’t just about managing a medical condition. It’s also about managing the countless little things that happen between waking up in the morning and going to bed at night. Read more

A couple shake hands with a health care provider as they navigate coordinating care for seniors.

4 Smart Questions That Help With Coordinating Care for Seniors

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A couple shake hands with a health care provider as they navigate coordinating care for seniors.

Coordinating care for seniors means asking the right questions—and understanding what to do with the answers.

The stack of appointment cards is growing. There’s one doctor for heart health, another for arthritis, and a third managing diabetes. Then there are lab results, new prescriptions, follow-up visits, and the occasional emergency. Sound familiar?

When you’re helping an older adult manage their health, it can feel like a part-time job—on top of everything else you’re doing. What’s often missing in the shuffle is clarity: knowing what to ask, how to ask it, and what to do with the answers once you get them. Read more

A woman talks to her doctor and nurse about how to manage care at home after a hospital stay as she is being discharged.

How to Manage Care at Home After a Hospital Stay

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A woman talks to her doctor and nurse about how to manage care at home after a hospital stay as she is being discharged.

Caring for a senior loved one after a hospital stay can feel overwhelming. Learn practical tips and how home health care can support you in ensuring their safe recovery at home.

Picture this: your 90-year-old mother, who has been living independently, recently suffered a fall and fractured her pelvis. Now, she’s ready to be discharged from the hospital, and you’re handed a stack of paperwork outlining what needs to be done for her at home. As you read through the instructions, a sense of panic sets in. You’ll need to pick up medications, coordinate physical therapy sessions, schedule follow-up appointments, and watch for a long list of symptoms that could mean a trip back to the hospital.

Managing care at home after a hospital stay on top of your job and other obligations feels like a monumental task. You may be wondering if you can realistically manage her home care, ensuring she follows medical advice and stays safe from further harm. You’re not alone in feeling this way. In fact, according to AARP, around 44 million Americans are currently caring for their senior parents, a number that continues to rise. The stress of caregiving can be overwhelming, but home health care services from Harmony Home Health and Hospice offer a solution that can help lighten the load.

Often, after a hospital stay, the care needs of an older adult increase. Ensuring a smooth transition and preventing complications is crucial. Here are some important steps that can help adult children manage the home health care needs of their aging parents:

  1. Gather Detailed Information: Don’t be afraid to ask the hospital staff all the necessary questions before discharge. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the recovery plan, including who to contact for help, what to expect, and any signs that might indicate complications. The more information you have, the better equipped you’ll be to provide proper care at home.
  2. Take Care of Yourself, Too: Caring for a loved one can be demanding and exhausting. It’s easy to lose sight of your own needs, but self-care is vital. Make sure you’re eating balanced meals, getting enough rest, and taking breaks when needed. Engage in activities you enjoy to recharge your energy. Remember, taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.
  3. Build a Network of Support: Many people try to take on the role of caregiver alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Reach out to friends, family members, and community resources. Consider joining a caregiving support group where you can share experiences and gain valuable advice. Knowing you have a support system can make the caregiving journey more manageable.
  4. Seek Professional Home Health Care Assistance: Sometimes, despite your best efforts, providing the level of care a loved one needs can be challenging. That’s where professional home health care services from Harmony Home Health and Hospice come in. Our home health experts are skilled in providing personalized care that ensures safety, comfort, and effective recovery after a hospital stay.

Being a caregiver for an elderly family member can be overwhelming, especially after they’ve been hospitalized. You don’t have to navigate this journey on your own. At Harmony Home Health and Hospice, we understand the challenges you face and are here to offer compassionate and reliable home health care to supplement your efforts. Give us a call at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to learn more about our senior care services in Salt Lake City, Orem, Albuquerque, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah. Let us be a part of your caregiving team, so you can focus on spending quality time with your loved one.

A woman who has experienced vertigo works with a therapist during vestibular rehabilitation.

Understanding Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Path to Better Balance

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A woman who has experienced vertigo works with a therapist during vestibular rehabilitation.

Targeted exercises during vestibular rehabilitation can help alleviate dizziness and improve balance.

Struggling with balance and dizziness can be a challenging experience. Imagine constantly feeling off-balance, like the floor might slip out from under you, or being hit with sudden spells of spinning sensations that make you feel queasy and disoriented. These symptoms can disrupt everyday life, making even simple activities like walking or turning your head feel uncomfortable and risky. Thankfully, vestibular rehabilitation offers a solution, helping individuals regain their balance, confidence, and independence.

What Exactly Is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that targets problems caused by dysfunctions in the vestibular system. This system includes parts of the inner ear and brain that play a key role in maintaining balance and controlling eye movements. When these areas are damaged or impaired due to injury, illness, or aging, it can result in symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and nausea. Vestibular rehabilitation uses a range of exercises to help alleviate these issues and improve overall stability.

Conditions That Can Be Treated With Vestibular Rehabilitation

There are several conditions that can benefit from this specialized therapy, including:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This common cause of vertigo occurs when small calcium particles in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals. It typically results in short bursts of dizziness triggered by specific head movements.
  • Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Both conditions involve inflammation of the inner ear or the nerve connecting the ear to the brain, which can cause prolonged vertigo and balance problems.
  • Meniere’s Disease: This is a chronic condition that affects the inner ear, leading to episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of ear fullness.
  • Age-Related Balance Disorders: Balance issues become more common as people age due to natural declines in vestibular, visual, and sensory functions.
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome: After sustaining a head injury, some individuals may experience persistent dizziness and balance challenges, which can be effectively treated with vestibular rehabilitation.

How Vestibular Rehabilitation Works

Vestibular rehabilitation involves a tailored treatment plan designed to address each individual’s specific needs. Here are some common components of the therapy:

  • Canalith Repositioning: For those with BPPV, therapists perform specific maneuvers to reposition dislodged calcium crystals, helping to alleviate vertigo symptoms.
  • Balance Exercises: These exercises aim to enhance stability and coordination. Common activities include standing on one foot, walking in a straight line heel-to-toe, or using balance-enhancing tools like balance boards.
  • Gaze Stabilization: Designed to improve control over eye movements, gaze stabilization exercises can help reduce dizziness and improve visual focus. They might include keeping your eyes fixed on a stationary object while moving your head.
  • Habituation Therapy: For individuals who experience dizziness in response to certain movements or environments, habituation exercises gradually expose the brain to these triggers, helping it to adapt and lessen the symptoms.
  • Strength and Conditioning: Physical fitness is essential for maintaining good balance and coordination. Strengthening exercises help build muscle support and endurance, which contributes to better stability.
  • Educational Support and Lifestyle Adjustments: Therapists provide valuable advice on how to adjust daily activities to reduce the risk of falls and manage symptoms. This might include home safety tips, such as removing clutter, using walking aids, and improving home lighting.

Finding the Right Help

If your loved one is experiencing symptoms of a vestibular disorder, seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is the first step to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Harmony Home Health and Hospice is also here to provide support in various ways, through customized home health and therapy services.

Give us a call at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) for a no-obligation in-home consultation to learn more about our home health care services and find out how we can help a loved one regain balance and confidence. We proudly serve seniors in Salt Lake City, Orem, Albuquerque, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah.

A senior woman reads a prescription medication bottle as she learns about managing medications for seniors.

Managing Medications for Seniors: A Guide to Preventing Overmedication

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A senior woman reads a prescription medication bottle as she learns about managing medications for seniors.

Overmedication can have serious consequences for older adults’ health, which is why managing medications for seniors is so important.

The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have morphed into “take two of these…and two of these…and maybe one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of older adults are taking at least five different prescription medications each day—not to mention vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. It is easy to understand why overmedication and adverse medication reactions are incredibly common in older adults. Managing medications for seniors is vital to help prevent these issues.

Take these measures to prevent medication complications for an older adult you love:

  • Make a list, and check it twice. Create a list of every one of the medications – both prescription and over-the-counter – that a senior loved one is currently taking. Share the list with all of the older adult’s healthcare providers, and present updated lists whenever there’s a change in medications. Then at a minimum of every six months, review the list along with their primary care physician to confirm that all of the medications are necessary and that current doses are optimal.
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions. Ensure you completely understand what each medication is for, and make sure there are no contraindications with other medications the individual is taking. The doctor or pharmacist can run the older adult’s meds through a drug interaction database to confirm. If you’re unsure about anything else associated with the medications prescribed, speak up. You will want to make certain you understand:
    • Whether a generic version is available
    • What the potential side effects might be
    • How to handle if a dose is missed
    • Exactly when as well as how the meds must be taken (in other words, with a full glass of water, on a full stomach, if they can be crushed or broken in half, etc.)
    • And any other questions you might have
  • Set up a system. As soon as you’ve confirmed that all the older adult’s medications are necessary and you have the details you need to ensure they are taken correctly, create a system for following physicians’ orders. Depending on the senior’s cognitive functioning, this may be as simple as a pill box that is filled weekly. Or you may want to rely on the services of a home health care provider, like Harmony Home Health and Hospice, for medication management and administration.

It is additionally vital to be aware that a doctor should always be consulted before starting or changing any medications, including vitamins or over-the-counter meds. Some prescription medications belong to the same drug category as OTC meds, which could lead to too much of a medication being administered. In other cases, OTC medications or vitamins interact negatively with prescriptions.

We are always here to help seniors stay healthy and safe. Contact us online or call us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to learn more about our in-home health care services and how they could benefit a loved one in your life. Harmony Home Health and Hospice provides home health care in Salt Lake City, Tooele, Ogden, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah.

A man experiencing mobility changes in older adults holds tightly to the railing with both hands while attempting to climb the stairs.

Watch for These Early Indicators of Mobility Changes in Older Adults

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A man experiencing mobility changes in older adults holds tightly to the railing with both hands while attempting to climb the stairs.

Mobility changes in older adults may be subtle at first, but are important to detect in order to prevent a fall.

In echoing Benjamin Franklin’s timeless wisdom, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings particularly true when it comes to the important issue of identifying and addressing mobility changes in older adults. The stark reality, as outlined by the CDC, is that falls among seniors result in a staggering 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 fatalities annually.

Preventing a potential tragedy requires knowing the warning signs that indicate escalating mobility concerns in seniors:

  • Avoidance of Stairs: Keep a watchful eye on older loved ones who, while seemingly mobile, shy away from stairs. This cautious approach may indicate a fear of falling, potentially fueled by a range of factors such as diminishing strength, joint issues, or an unsteady gait. If stairs become a perceived obstacle, it’s crucial to explore the root cause and address any underlying mobility changes. Encourage open communication to understand their concerns and work collaboratively on solutions, which might include home modifications or the introduction of assistive devices to enhance confidence and safety.
  • Struggles With Sitting or Standing: Observing an individual’s ability to navigate between sitting and standing is pivotal. Difficulty in rising from a seated position or settling back down may signal muscle weakness, joint stiffness, or balance challenges. If external support, such as furniture or nearby objects, is relied upon for these movements, it’s an indication that a person’s mobility may be compromised. A comprehensive assessment, including a consultation with a healthcare professional, can unveil the specific areas of concern and guide the implementation of targeted interventions, including exercises and adaptive equipment.
  • Decline in Physical Activity: A significant red flag is raised when an individual undergoes a noticeable shift from an active to a more sedentary lifestyle. This decline in physical activity can result from various factors, including a fear of injury, chronic pain, or overall fatigue. Recognizing the reasons behind this shift is crucial in addressing the root cause of potential mobility issues. Engage in supportive conversations to understand a person’s experiences, preferences, and any perceived barriers to staying active. Collaboratively developing a personalized plan that accommodates their needs and interests can foster a gradual return to physical activity, improving overall mobility and well-being.
  • Dizziness and Balance Problems: Unexplained dizziness and challenges with balance are multifaceted issues that demand careful attention. These symptoms may arise from conditions such as inner ear disorders, medication side effects, or cardiovascular issues. Swift identification and addressing the root causes are imperative to mitigate the risks posed to mobility. Encourage regular check-ups with healthcare providers, including specialists, if necessary, to conduct thorough assessments. By pinpointing the specific factors contributing to dizziness and balance problems, tailored interventions, which may include physical therapy or medication adjustments, can be implemented to enhance overall stability and mobility.

One effective method to assess mobility and fall risk is the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Its simplicity makes it a valuable tool in gauging a person’s mobility:

  • Place a sturdy chair against the wall.
  • Mark a distance of 10 feet from the wall.
  • Instruct the person to sit in the chair.
  • Upon your signal, start a timer as they stand, walk to the 10-foot mark, turn around, return, and sit down.

Stand nearby for support if necessary, track results over time, and share findings with the doctor for guidance. Further details on the test, along with a downloadable assessment sheet, can be found here.

If any of these signs resonate, initiate an open conversation with the individual. Express concerns and schedule a check-up with their doctor. Introducing simple mobility aids can significantly enhance safety and independence.

For additional insights into mobility changes in older adults and how to address them, contact our team of experts at Harmony Home Health & Hospice. You can reach us any time at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) to find out more about how our home health care services in Salt Lake City, Orem, Albuquerque, and throughout Central New Mexico and Northern Utah can help someone you love.

A woman talks with her mother during dinner, knowing how important it is to watch for changes in your parents’ health over the holidays.

Noticing Changes in Your Parents’ Health Over the Holidays? Take These Steps.

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A woman talks with her mother during dinner, knowing how important it is to watch for changes in your parents’ health over the holidays.

Take note of any changes in your parents’ health during holiday visits, and then take the steps outlined here.

Returning home for the holidays can be a heartwarming experience, filled with cherished moments and family traditions. However, it can also serve as a stark reality check, revealing changes in your parents’ health and well-being that may have gone unnoticed throughout the year. If you’ve recently observed your mom’s increasing forgetfulness or noticed that your dad isn’t walking as well as he was last year, you’re not alone. The holiday season often becomes a crucial time for adult children to assess their loved ones’ health care needs. Read more

A man exhibiting the signs of SAD looks forlornly out the window and offers a halfhearted wave.

The Signs of SAD and How Home Health Care Can Help

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A man exhibiting the signs of SAD looks forlornly out the window and offers a halfhearted wave.

: Learn the signs of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and what to do if you suspect it in someone you love.

The holiday season is often a joyful time filled with festivities, family gatherings, and celebrations. However, for some, the fall and winter months can bring about a sense of sadness and despair, leading to a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). While many dismiss it as the winter blues, SAD is a real and impactful form of clinical depression that can affect individuals, especially seniors, during the holiday season. For older adults, the holidays can be a challenging time as they reminisce about past celebrations with loved ones who are no longer present. Read more

: The adult child of a senior wraps her arm around him as they discuss the behavioral changes caused by a traumatic brain injury.

Behavioral Changes Caused by a Traumatic Brain Injury

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: The adult child of a senior wraps her arm around him as they discuss the behavioral changes caused by a traumatic brain injury.

Learn about the inappropriate behavioral changes caused by a traumatic brain injury and how to help someone manage them.

While there are many different types of brain injuries, there are behavioral changes expected no matter what type of brain injury occurs. Certain problematic behaviors may be more or less likely depending on the location and extent of the trauma, but your loved one might demonstrate one or more of these behaviors throughout TBI recovery, regardless of the specifics of the injury. Read more

Senior woman in wheelchair and arm sling at the hospital

What to Know When Returning Home After Surgery

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What an incredible feeling it is when the doctor lets you know that your loved one is ready to be released from the hospital after surgery. But as they hand you that stack of discharge paperwork and instructions, a certain level of stress and anxiety may begin to creep in. Will your family member be able to care for herself when returning home after surgery?

The home health care team at Harmony Home Health & Hospice is here to ensure you can arrange for smooth discharge preparation from hospital to home by outlining the questions you’ll need to have answered in advance of a hospitalization or surgery:

  • What symptoms should I keep an eye out for that could suggest a problem during recovery?
  • Who is going to pick up prescriptions? Do I need to depend on a family member for this job? Will they be readily accessible when a refill is needed?
  • Who can answer questions about the prescriptions? Should I get in touch with the doctor, the pharmacist, or does the hospital have someone else for me to contact with questions about care?
  • What sort of medical equipment might be necessary (such as a walker, crutches, or telehealth tools), and who will supply them?
  • What activities are not appropriate after surgery?
  • Will the prescription drugs cause sleepiness or confusion?
  • What phone numbers should I keep on hand?
  • What types of tasks might be challenging to perform after coming home, considering the nature of the surgery (such as taking a bath or shower, getting dressed, going up or down the stairs, picking up prescription medications, cooking, shopping, driving, etc.)?

Educating yourself and your family member on what is required for smooth discharge planning from the hospital to home can ensure an easier and more comfortable transition. However, the most effective way to prevent post-hospitalization concerns is by engaging the services of a professional home health care company like Harmony Home Health & Hospice.

Our home health experts can help individuals get settled back in comfortably after a hospital procedure and make sure the person stays safe and well.

Call us any time at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE or contact us online to learn more about our home health care services in Salt Lake City, Tooele, Ogden, and the surrounding areas.