Hate Getting Sick? Try These Healthy Habits

Of course, nobody likes getting sick. Whether it’s the sniffles or the full-blown flu, getting sick usually ruins your day, ruins your plans, and makes you miserable. Many of us know people who seem to never get sick. While most people get two or three colds per year, some people swim through life hardly ever sneezing or picking up a box of tissues from the store. These people tend to have certain healthy habits in common. What are they? Read on:

• They never smoke. Overall, it’s just a nasty habit that nobody should engage in. But, smoking cigarettes affects your mucus membranes making them more susceptible to viruses and other infections.  


• They get social. The more social networks you have (real social networks, not just online), the healthier you will be. That’s the result of research that’s been done on the subject. People with six or more connections live the healthiest lives.  


• They stay clean. The best way to get rid of a virus you’ve just picked up? Wash your hands, with soap and water. Antibacterial soap does no better job than plain old soap and water. And never touch your hands/fingers to your eyes and nose.  


• They exercise a lot. Physical activity is a great way to boost immunity, warding off all types of colds and diseases. Aim for 45 minutes every day, five days per week. 


• They get enough sleep. In our world today, sleep is highly underrated. Aim for between 7-9 hours every night. Those with less than seven hours are three times more susceptible to catching a bug. 


• They get the annual flu shot. Influenza, among seniors, can be a deadly disease. Getting the flu shot will help prevent the flu entirely, or at least make the symptoms less severe. It’s also been proven to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.  


• They laugh! Laughing is a great way to stay positive and also boost the immune system. It’s usually done in social settings and has been proven to ward off colds and disease.

Always Best Care has been in the in-home care giving industry since 1996. During that time they have helped over 25,000 seniors in both the United States and Canada. Seniors living in Birmingham who are interested in receiving information about in-home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, or other options surrounding senior care in Birmingham, Alabama, can call the Always Best Care Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 for a free consultation.

Always Best Care Offers Affordable Home Care Solutions in Birmingham

In the care giving industry since 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services provides affordable home care solutions in Birmingham, as well as to all of their other many locations around the United States and Canada. They employ only the finest caregivers who are well-trained and highly skilled, along with being bonded, certified, and insured. These caregivers also undergo thorough background checks, so that the senior and their family can have the ultimate in peace of mind. 

If you are interested in learning about in-home care in Birmingham, or other options regarding affordable home care solutions, you can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 or email them at info.bham@abc-seniors.com and set up your free care consultation. Their team is well equipped to handle all of your questions whether you are interested in in-home care, or getting a referral for an assisted living community.

Seniors who choose in-home care have a variety of services available to them through their compassionate caregivers. They range everywhere from home helper services, personal care services, and companion services, so that the senior can have the time to really do what they enjoy most, whether it’s spending time with friends, reading, gardening, or whatever else they would like to do with their newfound freedom. 

Caregiver Services 

The services provided by the Always Best Care caregivers include (but are not limited to) providing appointment reminders, dropping off and picking up dry cleaning, arranging appointments, picking up prescriptions, preparing future meals, overseeing home deliveries, mailing bills and letters, answering the door and phone, housecleaning, assisting with clothing selections, assisting with bathing, dressing, grooming, supervising home maintenance, stimulating mental awareness, talking about historical and current events, and many others. 

Special Services 

Always Best Care seniors also have access to programs that are designed to promote peace of mind for them and their loved ones. They include:

• Always in Touch – A daily telephone reassurance program for those who have limited contact with the outside world.  


• Always Safe – A fall prevention and detection program to help seniors that fall obtain speedy medical treatment.  


• Always on Call – 24/7 access to physicians that ultimately cuts down on time spent in doctor’s offices, hospitals, etc. 

If you live in the Birmingham area and are interested in learning more about in-home care in Birmingham, or affordable home care solutions in Birmingham, you can call the Always Best Care Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 for more information.

How Caregivers Can Help Senior In Improving Their Health?

Health of the seniors is the major concern of families, especially if the elderly lives on their own. Problems with mobility along with aging can make elders homebound, obstructing their walks, exercise and daily lives.

Being homebound, lonely and less physically active will have adverse effects on senior's health. However, you can prevent adverse effects on senior's health by hiring a caregiver. Here are the areas where caregivers help elders in to improve their health.

Assistance with food – Caregivers will assist elders with their diet plan as well as with meal planning, meal preparation and grocery shopping. They may also provide companionship to your elder during meal. With caregiver's close eye on their diet and proper food planning, your elderly family member's health will surely improve.

Furthermore, caregivers will ensure that your senior is eating healthy foods, snacks, and the food is not expired or gone bad.

Encouragement for walks & exercise – Caregivers will encourage elders to go out more for walks in parks or to exercise, which will certainly improve their health. Regular walks in fresh air with a companion will help seniors in socializing, which is good for their mental health.

Assistance with daily living – When living alone, seniors may need help with daily living or they will lag behind on tasks like laundry, organization, and cleaning. Caregivers can provide assistance to elder with daily living tasks keeping them physically active.

When you trust a caregiver with the health of your elderly family member, you should make sure that he/she is the right candidate.Rely on noted organizations like Always Best Care to find the right caregiver. Call us at (205) 874-9730 and get a free consultation regarding in home care in Birmingham.

Choosing the Right Senior Caregiver

In today’s busy lifestyles, people often find it difficult to care for their elderly family members. If you are one of them, hiring an in-home caregiver can give you peace of mind that someone is there to assist your senior with their needs when you aren’t around. In-home care ensures that your senior gets the right level of support, comfort, and security in their own homes.

 While choosing a caregiver, you need to make sure that they trained and can provide the level of support your senior needs. They should also be kind and compassionate. A good caregiver can provide your senior assistance with transportation, meal planning, bathing, dressing, etc.

 To choose the right senior caregiver, you must follow your instincts and look for someone who is passionate about their job. For the best in-home care services in Birmingham, Alabama, get in touch with Always Best Care today. All our caregivers are fully trained, bonded, and insured. Call us today at (205) 874-9730 to set up a free consultation and get your aging parent the quality care they deserve to safely age in place.

Senior Health: How To Keep Them Healthy And Fit

Generally, when we consider seniors, we most often think about achy bones, lack of active lifestyle, fitness, and a variety of health ailments. However, a senior environment and lifestyle can dramatically affect the wear on body, by either speeding up the process or slowing it down. If your elderly loved one is leading a lifestyle that include improper diet, little exercise and habits such as smoking, then you should motivate them to engage themselves in any type of physical activity. 

There are many activities for the elderly that can enhance elder health and well being. Find out what they enjoyed doing in the past. Senior persons are no different than us. They must be having some favorite physical activity like walking, jogging, hiking or playing any of their much loved sport. Encourage them to join a senior’s club or center to carry out their favorite physical activity.

You can also spend the time to change the senior’s mindset about activity and exercise. Make sure the senior understands that how important it is to participate in activities for good health and vitality. They want to know that others care about them. Also make sure the senior person has taken the advice of a physician before starting any type of activity of exercise. 

Always Best Care provides the best home care services in Birmingham with local accessibility and personal service. We can help you or your loved one live more safely and healthy at home. You can reach us at (205) 874-9730.

How Seniors Hide their Symptoms of Dementia

Developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is a frightening prospect. Nobody wants to believe that their funny little “senior moments” could be anything but – however, millions of seniors develop some type of dementia and in the process of denying it to themselves, they might exhibit the following actions.

•  “I’m fine,” “I’m old and forgetful, it’s what happens!” “I’m just tired.” All of these are ways to deny what might really be going on. By making these statements, they are not only keeping you at bay regarding a possible problem, they are also trying to convince themselves that there isn’t one.

•  Anosognosia is a condition that goes beyond denial – it’s about being completely unaware. Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s disease, more than 80% of patients suffer from this. It’s unclear exactly what causes it, but it makes coming to terms with the illness even more difficult, for the patient and caregiver.

•  Keeping their “mistakes” (memory lapses) hidden from others. Many seniors are reluctant to give up their freedom and be placed in a more intensive-care facility. So, they “hide” their lapses in memory or some other secret (forgetting to turn off a burner, for example), to avoid this.

•  For better or for worse – many spouses will take on the role to “cover up” for their spouses mistakes, they’ll drive for them, they’ll step in to complete tasks, whatever the case may be – to avoid others speculating on whether the impaired spouse needs higher care-intensive conditions.

•  Staying away from games they once loved; or even refusing to do a simple chore they’ve done a hundred times. Forgetting certain processes and how to follow through on activities is difficult, and to avoid the frustration altogether, some seniors won’t engage.

 If you are interested in learning about in-home care services in Birmingham, or other options surrounding assisted living in Birmingham, Alabama, please contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-8974-9730 or email them at info.bham@abc-seniors.com. They will assist you in obtaining a free consultation, where you and a Care Provider will draft an extensive and personalized Care Plan.

Interested in Home Health Care in Birmingham Alabama? Contact Always Best Care Today

Since 1996, Always Best Care has assisted over 25,000 seniors in the United States and Canada maintain their independence. The Always Best Care caregivers are licensed, well-trained, and undergo thorough background checks. In addition, they are known to be compassionate and dedicated to their senior clients. If you are interested in learning about in-home senior care in Birmingham, you can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730. They can provide you with a free consultation with a Care Provider. The Care Provider will sit down with you and your family to create a Care Plan which extensively outlines your individual care needs. This Care Plan is continually updated as your needs change.

Caregiver Services

So, what makes in-home care so wonderful? It’s a chance for the senior to transfer many of his or her responsibilities and leave them in the capable hands of an Always Best Care caregiver. Some of the services provided (but certainly not limited to these) include:

• Assisting with entertaining

• Maintaining the calendar

• Overseeing home deliveries

• Shopping for groceries and other supplies

• Dropping of dry cleaning

• Picking up prescriptions

• Preparing and serving meals

• Help with bathing/dressing/eating

• Playing card game

• Discussing current and historical events

• Supervising home maintenance

Or, if you’re interested in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, Always Best Care is also exceptionally well-equipped to supply recommendations. The Birmingham staff knows the assisted living communities in the area quite well, and is adept at matching seniors with facilities that are well-suited for them. Always Best Care will even accompany the senior and his/her family to their top 3-4 choices to help narrow down which community best meets their needs.

• In addition to these services, Always Best Care also provides additional special services that allow them to serve area seniors even more fully.

• Always in Touch – a daily telephone reassurance program that is available to seniors and disabled adults who live remotely or who have limited mobility.

• Always Safe – a comprehensive fall prevention and detection program that brings peace of mind to the senior and their family.

• Always on Call – 24/7 telephone access to a doctor, eliminating the need for late night emergency room visits that aren’t an emergency.

If you are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, or other options in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, call 205-874-9730 today!