Along with the exceptional quality home care you will receive from Priority, you’ll enjoy our friendly advice from our qualified experts who will assess your care needs. Under the direction of our Registered Nurse, our experienced team of home care professionals will meet with you and discuss your concerns and care goals, create a customized care plan and help you determine how many hours of service you need to properly manage your home care needs. From short respite care services, to hands on 24 hour around the clock care, and everything in between, we tailor the perfect care giving service for you.

You may ask: “But what if my care needs change, and I suddenly need a lot more hands on care? Are you going to charge me more?”

This is a great question and you will get different answers from different companies, but at Priority we treat all of our patients with the same respect and care that we would treat our own mothers and fathers. So you can rest assured, that with Priority we will never raise your rates based on the level of care, and you will get the same quality service that we have been delivering to all of our home care patients.

What a Caregiver Can Do for a Parent With Alzheimer’s

1. Minimize Options

Make it easier for your parent to make decisions because they may feel overwhelmed by all the factors they need to consider. Streamline their wardrobe to a few coordinated outfits to help them select their clothes, and offer them two or three meal choices instead of asking what they want for dinner.

2. Make Their Days Predictable

People with Alzheimer’s benefit from a standard routine to guide them through the day. To create a schedule, set eating times for each meal, hygienic tasks, and recreational activities. Living life with a predictable rhythm will help them understand what’s going to happen and when.

3. Encourage Physical Activity

Due to changes in their memory and brain function, your parent will need encouragement to eat and exercise in a healthy way. Work with their doctor and any professional caregivers involved to create a balanced diet plan that takes their medical needs into account. You can also take them on daily walks to get fresh air and sun as well as mild exercise.

4. Use the Available Resources

There are many modern ways to make Alzheimer’s care easier. For example, several cellphones have GPS tracking, which can help you find your parent if they wander away. Lean on a smart device to announce their daily schedule and any upcoming calendar reminders. You can also look for professional caregivers to handle the cooking and other household chores so that your parent can rest and maintain their routine.

If you want professional help caring for your parent with Alzheimer’s, turn to Priority Home Health. This compassionate team has experience catering to elderly individuals with cognitive conditions, so they’ll know how to create a stable lifestyle that keeps your parent comfortable. Their care services are provided in homes, offering patients with familiarity and regularity. To get more information about how we can help, please give us a call (561)766-1954.

Consult With Your Parent’s Doctor

Emergency room statistics show that approximately 15 percent of all visits to the ER are due to adverse drug reactions among older adults. Since many seniors visit more than one doctor, it’s important to ensure that there are no contraindication issues with medications. Accompany your parent to his or her doctor appointments to review the full list of medications that are currently being taken and make dosage adjustments, if necessary.

It’s also a good idea to ask each prescriber if there are ways to simplify her medication schedule. If, for example, your father is taking a certain medication four times a day, you may be able to change the prescription to a medication that only needs to be taken twice daily. When consulting with each doctor, be sure to mention any over-the-counter medications your parent is taking.

Track All Medications

After consulting with your parent’s medical team, take some time to make a complete list of all the medications that have been prescribed. The list should include information such as:

• The name of the medication
• The prescribed dosage
• How and when the medication should be taken
• Any special instructions (i.e., take before bed)
• Possible side effects or contraindications

While you can use a pen and paper to track your parent’s medication, there are also many spreadsheets and templates available online to help you organize a medication list. Once you’ve made the list, make sure you always have a copy with you. You’ll also want to provide a copy of the list to any other caregivers in your parent’s life.

Consider Using a Medication Tracking App

If lists aren’t your thing, consider using a medication tracking app like Med-Helper or Medisafe Pill and Meds Reminder. These apps are designed to help patients stay on schedule with their medications and offer convenient features like medication logs, missed medication alerts, prescription refill reminders, and drug interaction warnings. Apps are also a good idea if you need to coordinate your parent’s care with other caregivers.

Keep Medications Properly Organized  

Most people store their medications in a bathroom medicine cabinet. This is not always the best solution, as the humidity from a shower can reduce the effectiveness of the medications. Instead, consider storing your parent’s medication in a place that’s cool, dry, and easily accessible – such as a kitchen counter. The exception to this is if any medications need to be refrigerated. In this case, make sure the medications are stored on an easy-to-reach shelf in your parent’s fridge. Another good way to keep medications organized and accessible is to purchase a pill organizer or timed medication dispenser. These items can be purchased in any pharmacy or through online retailers like Amazon. If you’ve decided to use a pill box, be sure to get one that your parent can open easily. It can also be helpful to use different pill boxes for medications that need to be taken at different times of the day.

Establish a Routine

When it comes to managing your parent’s medication, consistency is key. Your parent likely performs the same tasks at the same time every day, such as brushing teeth first thing in the morning or eating dinner at the same time every evening. Take your parent’s habits and schedule into account when deciding on the best times to administer his or her prescription medications. Establishing a routine will also help you and other family members stay on track with your parent’s medication and prevent double doses.

Managing your parent’s medication doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require some forethought and planning. The above tips should help you stay on top of your parent’s prescriptions and ensure the safety of your loved one. If you need some medication reminders, our caregivers can help with personal care. Please call Priority Home Health at 561-766-1954.

How to Chat With Someone Who Has Dementia

1. Keep It Simple

People with dementia may find it challenging to process multiple topics simultaneously, and they may be overwhelmed by open-ended questions. Keep your communication concise and focused—ask them one question at a time and make it as specific as possible.

For example, instead of inquiring what they want to wear, give them options by asking if they want to wear the red or blue sweater. As their caregiver, you can also apply this technique to discussions about practical tasks and recalling fond memories.

2. Remove Distractions

Some people with dementia are easily distracted and have short attention spans. Before talking, help them focus by addressing them by name and identifying yourself by name too.

When possible, speak to your loved one in a quiet space. If you’re at home, eliminate distractions, like loud music or the TV. If you’re at a restaurant or in a public place, find a quiet area away from noisy crowds.

3. Use Body Language

Dementia can harm the part of the brain that controls language, making it difficult to interpret and use speech. Use nonverbal gestures, like eye contact, nodding, and smiling, while speaking to convey your message.

Observe their body language to see what they may be trying to tell you, even if they can’t find the words. Support your loved one by allowing them to express themselves how they feel comfortable, whether that’s through movement, pictures, or sentences.

The 5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Medical experts typically divide the progression of Parkinson’s Disease (and other forms of Parkinsonism) into 5 stages – with differing degrees of severity, requiring different levels of care.

Stage 1: At this early stage, symptoms are limited to tremor (involuntary shakiness) and changes in posture, facial expression and walking gait on one side of the body. For the most part, these symptoms can be treated with medication and don’t interfere with daily life.
Stage 2: The disease begins to affect both sides of the brain and body, causing stiffness and other movement problems. Living alone is still feasible, but daily tasks like preparing meals are time-consuming and more difficult to perform.
Stage 3: Hallmark symptoms of this stage include loss of balance and slowed reflexes –which greatly increase the risk of injury due to falls. Daily activities like dressing or eating become extremely difficult.
Stage 4: At this stage, mobility decreases to the point where the patient is no longer able to stand up or walk without assistance. As a result, living alone is no longer feasible and potentially dangerous.
Stage 5: The patient is confined to a bed or wheelchair due to extreme stiffness in the legs. Hallucinations, delusions, and dementia are common, and round-the-clock care becomes necessary.

Priority transition care management team empowers elderly to stay safely in their home whenever possible. Our team will assess your parent or loved one’s situation and make recommendations based on their daily routines such as medication needs, hygiene needs, socialization and entertainment, eating regimes, exercise, and the need for one-on-one interaction. Our experienced care team consists of licensed and certified personnel (RN, LPN, CNA, HHA). We provide the most experienced compassionate caregiver for your situation.

Perhaps your elderly parent or loved one needs help with grocery shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transport to doctor’s visits, or family events. Providing caring, dedicated caregivers who love what they do. You can rest assured that Priority Home Health team has the right caregiver for every situation.

Not only are we in touch with you every step of the way, but we will also serve as your loved one’s advocate and emergency contact if you happen to live abroad or are out of town frequently. An experienced home-care representative will be assigned to assist with the screening and selection of your caregiver. From medication management to food shopping, Priority provides top-notch home health services throughout Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Saint Lucie, and Indian River counties.
What can you expect from a home care assessment?

At Priority, we make a difference in your life. We know that finding the right care for your parent is essential, and it is a big decision. We pair you or your loved one with caring, compassionate caregivers through our thorough screening assessment process. It is our goal to employ only the best of the best, and all of our caregivers are thoroughly screened. During the home assessment, our nursing care manager will:

Document all your parent’s medications
Outline your parent’s medical history
Assess your parent’s physical and cognitive status
Assess your parent’s surrounding for home safety
Put together an action plan for your parent
Take into account any special needs like Alzheimer’s

The assessment will typically take about ninety minutes to complete. After the assessment, we will contact you in a few days with our findings and provide a list of recommendations and an action plan for your parent. This care plan can help you decide what is best for your parent. You can take the time you need to talk it over with your family to decide the next step. Our nursing care managers will also be here to answer any questions you have and help advise you in any way possible.

Priority provides patients and their family members with peace of mind. Priority empowers you or your loved one to stay safely and comfortably in their own home for as long as possible. Though there are alternative options and facilities, many people have found that staying in the home is the best solution.

At Priority, providing the best in-home health care in Palm Beach is our priority. With Priority’s compassionate and dedicated nursing team by your loved one’s side, you can rest assured that they will get the help they need with everyday situations and more. Call us at 561-766-1954 for a free consultation today.

Priority Home Health provides many services to help the elderly and those who need a little extra help throughout the day. While we know it can be difficult to tell your loved one you think they need more help, it’s a conversion that is worth having. Our professionals at Priority Home Health want to help make your loved one’s life easier, not to complicate it. We provide many services to help those in need including:

Register Nurses (RN)/, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Home Health Aides (HHA)
Physical Therapist
Medication Reminding
Medication Scheduling
Speech Therapists
Occupational Therapist
Medical Social Workers
Caregiver Services

If you’re ready to have the talk with your loved one about getting additional help, our team at Priority Home Health is here to be by your side. We understand that many elderly people are at first unwilling to think about or accept help, but in the long run, they see how it’s beneficial to them. Our team of professionals will work to make your life and your loved one’s life easier.

If you have a loved one that you’re taking care of it might become too much for you to handle. With other responsibilities, it can be difficult to be there as often as your loved one needs. That’s where our team at Priority Home Health can help. Don’t wait any longer if you’re looking for in-home help for your loved one. Call our team today and learn how our professionals can help you and your loved one at 561-766-1954

At some point in life, we will all have increased difficulty doing everyday activities and begin to need some medical assistance. There is nothing wrong with this living to this point is an accomplishment in itself, and something to be grateful for. However, it can become hard to care for yourself. This just means that it may be time to consider Home Health. Elderly in-home care is a tool that has the power to make a world of a difference in your life and your current caregivers’ life. These professionals not only help out those who were already caring for you but are also trained to provide you with unique, individual-based care. Now for the hard part, knowing if this is something you can benefit from. Everyone’s body and health are different as they age, meaning Home Health maybe for some seniors but not others. Keep reading to learn some of the common reasons for considering Priority Home Health.

Customization of Care

One of the perks of Home Health is customization options for care. Every senior citizen is different and has different needs, meaning we can’t expect them to all receive or need the same care. With an in-Home Health situation, you can rest assured that you are getting the best care possible that takes into consideration your preferences and medical needs. Some seniors enjoy doing household chores and like that daily dose of movement, while others can no longer get the energy to do all of the chores. With some extra help, you can delegate what tasks you no longer feel you can do. A caregiver is not just here for your health but also to assist you with your day to day life.

Peace of Mind

Having an in-home care person can give you and your loved one’s peace of mind. You can all rest assured knowing that you are in good hands and taken care of. The best part about in Home Health is that you get to pick who is helping you. We will let you speak to a few of our team members and see who would make the best fit for you. This way you know that the person who is helping you out is someone you feel you can trust. This is also especially important if you have specific needs and require someone with a certain skill set. By getting to know some of the caregivers’ personalities and experience you can ensure you are hiring someone who knows exactly how to best help you.

Gives Seniors Company

As we all grow older we may not see people as much as we used to. The family may live far away, being as far as a plane ride away, and friends may no longer be with us or be unable to travel. Being a senior citizen can get rather lonely sometimes. With a caregiver, you can get daily socialization without worrying about the daunting task of leaving the house. Many seniors find themselves having a bond with the caregivers, forming a friendship over time. This is so important as being social is an important part of any human’s health and general well-being. Humans crave social interaction no matter what their age is. This is one of the biggest reasons some seniors consider a nursing home; however, with in-home care, you can get the social benefit of a nursing home without any of the other restrictions a nursing home provides.

Here at Priority Home Health, we know how hard it can be getting everything done in a single day. We also understand that while you may want some help, that you also want to keep your independence. With ourHome Health caregiver service, you can have the best of both worlds. In-home care allows you to pick and choose what you get assistance with. This way you can delegate tasks as you see fit while still maintaining some autonomy for yourself. To learn more about what services we offer and our in-home care option, give us a call today at 561-766-1954. We are looking forward to assisting you!

Our team at Priority Home Health is pre-screened for potential infections or exposures before being hired or assigned to patient’s care. We have also established an ongoing monitoring policy to provide safe and reliable care during these times.

We utilize continuing education to ensure Priority Home Health providers are trained on the best practices for maintaining proper hygiene, social distancing, and infection spread mitigation. Our care team is kept up-to-date on all the safety and health protocols during this changing situation.

Priority Home Health providers are all equipped with company provided masks and gloves to be worn during each service visit. We strictly adhere to this for safety reasons. To further enhance the safety of our patients, we have limited the number of patients each Priority is responsible to provide service visits.