The best books to read on stress and anxiety management for San Gabriel Valley Residents

No matter what, everyone will feel “overwhelmed” and “stressed” out over something. Stress is part of an every day life, whether it is financial, mental, physical, relationship, or work-related. Here, at A-1 Home Care Agency, we often see stress contributing to most of our seniors‘ health and even mobility–note heart attacks and strokes. Our certified trained caregivers are aware of the steps that it takes to either recover and monitor after one has a stroke and heart attack. Our twenty-four hour in-home service puts each caretaker through an extensive background check and additional tests from medication to skills set in order to place the perfect match with our senior patients.

Most of our seniors have experienced difficulty of mobility, therefore, limiting numerous of physical activities including lighter ones such as walking and yoga. However, most of our seniors have sought comfort and joy in more sit-down tasks such as reading. One of our goals is to build and maintain a working relationship amongst our caregivers and seniors and this makes it easier for many hobbies to be done together.

There are many books on stress and even anxiety management out there. Here are a few to check out and for our caretakers and seniors to read and discuss together:

1. Monkey Mind: A Memoir on Anxiety — Daniel Smith
2. Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence — Rick Hanson
3. Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases and Coping – Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.
4. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness – John Kabat-Zinn, M.D.
5. Undoing Perpetual Stress: The Missing Connection Between Depression, Anxiety and 21st Century Illness – Richard O’Connor, Ph.D.
6. A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook — Bob Stahl
7. The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques – Margaret Wehrenberg, Ph.D.
8. Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong: A Guide to Life Liberated from Anxiety – Troy DuFrene
9. The Worry Cure – Robert L. Leahy
10. Self-Coaching: The Powerful Guide to Beat Anxiety – Joseph J. Luciani, Ph.D.

Please do give our San Gabriel Valley branch a call at 626-287-0250. OR, you can visit our website www.a-1homecare.com to find your nearest branch to discuss with one of our agency representatives.

San Gabriel Valley Home Care: Learn a New Language, Increase Brain Function after Stroke

Parlez-vous français?  Sprechen Sie deutsch?  Parli italiano?  Scientific studies show that the more languages you know, the better your chances are of having normal cognitive function after a stroke, according to the American Heart Association journal, Stroke.  The study shows that bilingual patients “performed better than single language patients on attention, information retrieval and organization.”  Not only does being bilingual or multilingual make you look smart, it also may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, based on previous research results.  “The advantage of bilingualism is that it makes people switch from one language to another, so while they inhibit one language, they activate another to communicate,” stated Suvarna Alladi, a neurology professor at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).  When it comes to providing elder care in Southern California’s diverse demographic regions, A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel is unique in having a culturally diverse pool of caregivers, many of whom have former nursing and educational backgrounds.

 

Intelligent Companion Care for Stroke Patients

Before your elderly loved one suffers a stroke, if you suspect any signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s, it is highly important to hire an in-home caregiver who can provide not only assistance around the house, such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation, but someone who could also bring a little extra to the table, like a lesson in the caregiver’s own native language.  A-1 Home Care has a vast pool from which you can choose Filipino, Cambodian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and other ethnic caregivers who live in San Gabriel Valley.  Matching the right caregiver with your elderly loved one is important, which is why A-1 Home Care’s experienced care managers will link you with someone who will engage your loved one in stirring pleasant memories, creating emotional bonds with others, inspire positive self-expressions, and participate in activities that stimulate and promote intellectual growth.

 

Affordable, High Quality Elder Care in San Gabriel Valley

A-1 Home Care has been serving the communities of Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Alhambra, Temple City, Altadena, San Marino and other cities throughout San Gabriel Valley.  Established in 1991, A-1 Home Care is a licensed, bonded and insured home care agency that recruits only the best of San Gabriel’s caregivers, certified nurse assistants, companion care aides, and certified home health aides.  No matter where you live in Los Angeles or Orange County, we have a caregiver who lives in your area who is First-Aid/CPR-certified and prescreened.  Affordable live-in and live-out caregiver services are available with easy financing options and reasonable payment plans.  A-1 Home Care also accepts Veteran Benefits and long-term care insurance from providers such as John Hancock, MetLife Insurance and Penn Treaty.

 

For quality senior care, call A-1 Home Care today (626) 287-0250 or visit our website http://www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com/ for more information.

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Have Fun Despite Your Parkinson’s Disease!

When someone is affected by Parkinson’s, they may feel like an outcast and be socially withdrawn from the world.  Feeling alone is common, and the person may be embarrassed by their disabilities.  As loved ones, we must see past these hurdles and help them feel included.  According to Everyday Health, there are many things that we can do to achieve this goal.  For instance, exercising is encouraged and important to treat Parkinson’s disease, helping to slow down the progress of the disease and retain some mobility.  Just remember to allow adequate rests for the patient in between these exercise sessions and make it a family routine.  Next, Parkinson’s patients can also benefit from playing games, which allow the patient to be mentally stimulated while bonding with loved ones.  Other fun activities that Parkinson patients can enjoy include singing karaoke, reading, and going to church.  All of the suggested ideas can surely break the person out of isolation, and feel the love from everyone around.

In order to have the best quality in home care service, A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley must find the best quality caregivers to provide the care.  Our standard is that each of the caregiver must have at least prior professinal caregiving experience, CPR certified, and is cleared with a National criminal background check.  Not only that, but we make sure to recruit caregivers from all sorts of backgrounds so as to better serve the needs of our clients, who, in turn, also come from various multicultural ethnicities, including Jewish, Middle Eastern, and Asian. Additionaly, the must be versatile enough to handle different in home care needs, such as Alzheimer’s Care, Brain Injury Care, Diabetic Care, Arthritis Care, After Surgery Care, Kidney Disease Care, Parkinson Care, Cancer Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Post Stroke Care, and other Elderly In Home Care Services.  We proudly cover the areas of Pasadena, Alhambra, Temple City, San Marino, Rosemead, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Altadena, and more in the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County.

To being service, simply call 626-287-0250 today, or visit www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to learn more about us.  To receive updates, follow us on Facebook!

Protect Your Heart in the Heat

Summer always brings beautiful weather around Los Angeles and Orange County, and it is certainly a great time to do many outdoor activities. Yet, the heat can also bring hidden dangers to your health, and it can be especially hard on the heart if you are a heart patient, overweight, or an older adult.  If you are in one of these high risk groups, then you must consult your doctors before exercising under the strenuous heat.

Regardless of your health risk, you should still be cautious under the summer sun.  Always remember to dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing that is breathable. Moreover, wearing sun protection such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are always recommended when doing any outdoor activities. Most importantly, staying hydrated should always be your top priority because of the excessive perspiration that is expected.

To protect your heart, try to avoid the peak sun hours of to lower your risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Remember to take frequent breaks to hydrate and stay cool, and your heart should not be under too much stress for your summer outdoor activities!

Seniors living with heart diseases should leave physically demanding tasks around the house to others family, friends, or professional caregivers.  A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley offers excellent caregivers who are dependable ready to make a difference in After Surgery Care, Heart Attack Care, Hospice Care, Incontinence Care, Cancer Care, Parkinson Care, and other senior services.  For over two decades, our services have been trusted by seniors and elderly around the communities of Arcadia,  San Marino, Temple City, Rosemead, Alhambra, Pasadena,  and other cities around San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County.  So if you know someone who need in home care services at home, A-1 Home Care is your affordable solution!

Call 626-287-0250 today to start in home care, or visit our website www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to find out more! Stay connected with us on Facebook!

 

Healthy Suggestions for Your Fourth of July Menu

Since we are celebrating the independence, why not focus your food on the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue? We always hear that eating foods with different color is good for us, so instead of eating the traditional high calories food of the holiday, try adding healthier option that contains the colors of the flag.  Incorporate food like red peppers, watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, red onions and others into your menu to make it a healthier option for your friends, family, and guests!

Meal preparation can often be a difficult task for seniors living with different ailments.  A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley makes it easy to find a caregiver who can provide the quality assistance. Our caregivers are highly experienced, CPR certified, and has the work ethics to improve their quality of life.  In addition to finding the best care professionals around Los Angeles and Orange County, but we strongly consider the compatibility of our caregivers with the clients, and ultimately creating a great relationship between the caregiver and the care recipient.  The caregivers at A-1 Home Care specialize in the field of Alzheimer’s Care, Brain Injury Care, Parkinson’s Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Incontinence Care, Kidney Disease Care, Post Stroke Care, and more.

If you are interested in our home care service, you can find us in Arcadia, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Marino, Temple City, Altadena, , Alhambra, Monrovia, Azusa, Duarte, , don’t hesitate to contact our office today!

You can call us at 626-287-0250 today, or visit www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to learn more about our different services.  To receive updates, follow us on Facebook!

Bone Density Test for Osteoporosis

Bone density decreases over time and become more prone to fractures.  While women are twice as likely to experience a bone fracture, both men and women should consider having a bone density test to determine whether they have osteoporosis or a bone density number that they should be worried about. Certainly, if you are younger than 50 years old, your bone mass should still be in good shape that you shouldn’t need to worry.  However, if you have a family history of osteoporosis, a woman over 65 years old, or a man over 70, you should have a bone density test.  Knowing that you have osteoporosis or low bone density can guide you toward the best treatment to lower your risk of bone fractures.

 A-1 Home Care‘s caregivers are highly reliable and experienced, and are able to assist in services such as meal preparation, light housecleaning, hygiene management, safety monitoring, medication supervision, grocery shopping, and other errands.   Professional caregiving is one of the most useful and appreciated gift for seniors.  Not only does it provide them with the support they need, it also improve their quality of lives.  Our services include Alzheimer Care, Diabetic Care, After Surgery Care,  Cancer Care, Post Stroke Care, Hospice Care, Incontinence Care, Parkinson Care, and other home care scenarios.  Our coverage spans in the communities of Pasadena,  Altadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Temple City, Sierra Madre, Duarte, Monrovia, and other areas in Los Angeles and Orange County.

For service inquires, call us at 626-287-0250 today, or you can visit www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to learn more, or find us on Facebook!

Long Term Care Planning for Elderly Guardians

Unable to make any informed decisions on their medical care, financial issues, or living arrangements, elderly living with serious physical or cognitive illnesses may require another person to make such informed decisions for them.

A legal guardianship is a way that a court can appoint an appropriate guardian  when there was no prior estate planning or power of attorney established.  Furthermore, a guardian can be obtained by any competent adult who have no criminal history.  Typically, the court would favor a family or a close friend of the elderly person as they know the in’s and out’s of the person’s life. Often times, living arrangements need to be made for these individuals due to their state of health, thus long term care planning becomes an important part of the responsibilities for the appointed legal guardian.

A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley makes it easy to find any long term care solutions.  Our qualified caregivers are highly experienced, CPR certified, and work ethics to provide the best quality of life seniors can enjoy.  Not only do we find the best and the brightest care professionals in Los Angeles and Orange County, but we carefully select the caregiver to match the compatibility with the client, creating a lasting relationship that benefits both the family and the senior.  The caregivers at A-1 Home Care specialize in the field of Alzheimer’s Care, Brain Injury Care, Parkinson’s Care, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Incontinence Care, Kidney Disease Care, Post Stroke Care, and more.

If you are interested in our caregiving service and live in the ares of  Arcadia, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Marino, Temple City, Altadena, , Alhambra, Monrovia, Azusa, Duarte, , don’t hesitate to contact our office today!

You can call us at 626-287-0250 today, or visit www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to learn more about our different services.  To receive updates, follow us on Facebook!

Post Stroke Care Orange County and Los Angeles County from A-1 Home Care / A-1 Domestic

Bringing The Holiday Cheers For Seniors in Pasadena

Our team at A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley believes in lending our helping hands for community service.  On Monday, our field supervisor Michael, along with case manager Jackie, and social media bloggers Jesus and Hanna were welcomed by an activity room filled with seniors eagerly awaiting for the event at the Two Palms Convalescent Hospital in Pasadena.  We began with a presentation about the spirit of the holidays, then proceeded to entertain them with a few classic Christmas scenes from movies as well as joyous Christmas music.

Once everyone was settled in and got excited about the holidays, we then began the main arts and crafts event by handing each participant ornaments and creative supplies to personalize their own.  After all the glues and glitters were dried, the Christmas tree at the center got a little more personalized, and everyone  had a great time and Christmas cannot arrive sooner!

Our staff had a wonderful time sharing the Christmas cheers at the Two Palms Convalescent Hospital, and we hope everyone can have as big a smile this holiday season as the seniors we interacted with in Pasadena.

To learn more about our company and our caregiving services, please call us at 626-287-0250, or visit www.pasadenainhomecare.com today!

Holiday Diabetic Tips from Newport Beach In Home Care from A-1 Home Care / A-1 Domestic

The 4 A’s to Focus on in Stress Management

Avoid, Alter, Accept, and Adapt.

Using one of these methods can begin to help you live a more balanced life, reduce your stress, and provide you with greater abilities to cope with stress also increases according to the Mayo Clinic.

Whether it is a person, the surrounding, or situations, there are certain things that you can simply avoid and not face the stress that comes with it.  For example, avoid stressing over getting to work on time by taking the longer, less traffic routes and leaving home earlier.

Lifestyle and bad habits could be a cause for stress as well.  So altering some things in life, such as being more open about sharing your feelings with others, learn better time management, or even asking others respectfully to change some of their behaviors can put less stress on yourself.

There are some things that we cannot control or change, and many people have difficulties accepting these circumstances.  If you can learn to have a talk with others about things that are bothering you, or forgive someone who have angered you, then your stress will become more manageable.

Finally, being stubborn will not get you anywhere.  One must learn to adapt.  Changing your unattainable goals to more realistic ones, stop your negative thoughts before it begins to creep up on you, and adopting a mantra like “I can handle this” or “could be worse” can help you stay positive and cope with any stress you might have.

Stress relief should not be tackled alone, there should always be support and assistance from others.  If you have loved ones who are stressed and you wish you could provide more support in addition to the time you have already provided, then consider caregivers from A-1 Home Care.  Our caregivers are experts in providing the best in home care around town.  We cover the areas of Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino, Temple City, Rosemead, Alhambra, Monrovia, Azusa, Duarte, and many more cities around San Gabriel Valley.  For over 20 years, our company has been improving the life quality for those needing After Surgery Care, Alzheimer Care, Diabetic Care, Hospice Care, Incontinence Care, Cancer Care, Post Stroke Care, Parkinson Care, and other elderly home care services.

For service inquires, please call us at 626-287-0250, visit www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to learn more, or find us on Facebook!

Caregiver Service After Surgery in San Gabriel Valley

The heart is arguably the most important piece of organ we have in our body.  So when the heart is having a problem, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible.  For those who have irregular heart beats, had a congestive heart failure, or other heart diseases, a pacemaker may often do the trick in maintaining a suitable heart rate and rhythm for the heart muscle according to WebMD.  Having a pacemaker inside your body sounds like something that might require a major procedure.  However, it is far from the truth  as it is simply implanted under the skin of the chest in a minor surgical procedure. After the surgery , a complete check up is done six weeks after the pacemaker is implanted.  This follow up is very important because adjustments are made to extend the life of the pacemaker.

After having a pacemaker implanted, physically demanding tasks around the house should be delegated to other people such as family, friends, or professional caregivers.  A-1 Home Care in San Gabriel Valley offers caregivers such as Ruth Jackson, Natali Crystobal, and Linda Enriquez who are reliable, generous and always ready to make a difference in After Surgery Care, Diabetic Care, Hospice Care, Incontinence Care, Cancer Care, Parkinson Care, and other elderly home care services.  For over 20 years, our services have been trusted by seniors and elderly in the communities of Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino, Temple City, Rosemead, Alhambra, Monrovia, Azusa, Duarte, and many more cities around San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles and Orange County.  So if you know someone who recently had an operation and in need of a professional caregiver, A-1 Home Care is the affordable solution.

Call 626-287-0250 today to start in home care, or visit our website www.sangabrielvalleyinhomecare.com to find out more!