Residential Health Group

Dementia Home Health Care June 15, 2017

Millions of men and women in the United States are battling dementia and its associated diseases – Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia being the most common – on a day-to-day basis. The idea of losing precious memories and basic thinking skills you’ve had your whole life is alarming to even imagine, and it’s painful to think of forgetting the faces and names of people you love. On the flipside, for the spouses of these men and women with dementia, the prospect of being forgotten or having a loved one change can be challenging and confusing in its own right. (more…)

Residential Health Group

Dementia Home Health Care Incontinence Uncategorized May 16, 2017

There are many causes of urinary incontinence, a condition which tends to occur as the bladder muscle weakens and has more difficulty holding urine. Common physical changes resulting from the aging process, like reduced mobility, increase the time that it takes for your loved one to get to the bathroom, creating an additional challenge. Similarly, hospitalizations often increase incontinence due to the patient being restricted to bed.

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Residential Health Group

Home Health Care March 17, 2017

Emotions are powerful forces. They determine our outlook on life based on the events occurring around us. They allow us to empathize with other humans, perhaps to share in joy or in pain. Whichever emotion you feel on a given morning generally shapes how you feel throughout your entire day. Emotions also have a profound effect on our overall health and wellness.

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Residential Health Group

Dementia Home Health Care Incontinence Uncategorized January 27, 2017

Though hydration is important for healthy living at any age, seniors are at greater risk of dehydration due to physical and physiological changes that occur during the natural aging process. With potentially dangerous symptoms of dehydration like disorientation, constipation, and low blood pressure, it is important to keep your loved one hydrated.

We asked Brian Cooper, a Residential Home Health Occupational Therapist, to share some strategies that caregivers can use to help ensure their loved one regularly drinks water. Here are the tips that have helped many of his patients and their caregivers: (more…)

Residential Health Group

Uncategorized November 11, 2016

Residential in the Real World

At Residential Home Health, we ask ‘What’s your health challenge?’ because our care is far from one-size-fits-all. Each patient’s health status and history informs what kind of care is appropriate for the situation, whether that be nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, speech therapy, or often some combination. And beyond these different services, Residential clinicians may have extra training and specialize in a particular area of expertise or proven treatment — for example, certification in the LSVT BIG and LOUD therapies for patients with Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders.

Another area of specialization is wound care; Residential employs nurses who take on extra courses of study and certification and have become experts at wound dressing and healing at home. For one Residential patient, ignoring an injury allowed her wounds to progress and worsen, and more than dressing changes was needed to repair them. Read on to learn how Residential nurse and case manager Jessica combined skilled attention and hands-on care with education and advocacy, easing her patient’s pain and restoring her outlook. (more…)

Residential Health Group

Caregiving Diabetes Heart Disease Home Health Care Nutrition October 14, 2016

Coordinating healthy menu options that cater to your loved one’s specific health concerns can be challenging for caregivers. While proper nutrition is essential for every age and gender, maintaining a healthy eating plan for individuals coping with one or multiple chronic conditions like COPD, CHF, or diabetes. Many seniors struggle to prepare meals from scratch themselves and rely on frozen entrees. As a care provider, only you will know what’s truly in the fridge, and only you can ensure your loved one’s access to a healthy menu.

Though seniors often understand when they need help meal planning, many struggle with this reality. Including them in the management of their diet can keep them feeling empowered and engaged.

Six Tips to Help Coordinate Healthy Meal Planning

Plan together

Take the time to plan ahead and schedule meals in one-week increments. This is a great way to prepare a comprehensive grocery list, keep your loved one involved, and predict how much time will be needed for shopping and meal prep.

Cook Together

Another wonderful way to keep your loved one active and engaged is to cook meals together whenever possible. In some cases, it may be easiest to make all meals for the week during one cooking session.

Maximize Leftovers

You’ve probably noticed that a typical recipe makes far more than one or two people can eat in one sitting. Have plenty of containers available to package leftovers to keep in the refrigerator or freezer. Write days and mealtimes on the container to help your loved one decide what foods to eat and when; this also provides you with the ability to check up on whether or not meals are being eaten. Saving and labeling food reduces the likelihood that your loved one will purchase and eat lesser-quality frozen meals from the store.

Keep Snacks Handy

Keeping fresh fruit and vegetables prepared is an easy way to have healthy food choices available at all times. Set fruit out in an easy to reach location that is highly visible, such as the kitchen table or counter. Cut up cheese and meat for quick finger foods. This encourages eating and gives nutritional choices throughout the day. Snack foods are easy to keep around and require little time to prepare.

Be Creative

It is not uncommon for the elderly to experience diminished taste or smell. This can be the result of aging, medications, or treatments and can decrease the desire to eat. Were you aware that lemon and other citrus fruits help combat the cotton mouth that chemotherapy patients chronically suffer? This knowledge can be used to create meal choices that pique their interest in food again. Look for flavorful options and invest in fresh ingredients. Find the spices and foods that invoke the greatest positive response and dive into recipes with those ingredients.

Get Help

Dietary considerations are extremely important for seniors returning home from a hospital stay. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19% of all hospital readmissions are the result of non-adherence to diet. It’s alright to ask for help if you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused about finding the right foods for your loved one. As a caregiver you’ll want to ensure your loved one remains safe at home during recovery; with Residential Home Health, registered dieticians and nurses are available to help educate you and ensure your loved one stays on track.

Learn how Residential Home Health’s Cardiopulmonary Hospital Admit Management Program (CHAMP) program can support the specific needs of you or your loved one.

Available 24/7 – Talk to a nurse now. Click to call 866-902-4000

Residential Health Group

Home Health Care September 14, 2016

If you are considering in-home health care in Michigan or Illinois, there are a number of factors to take into account.

From figuring out just the right type of in-home care that your loved one needs to weighing the differences between private duty care and skilled nursing or home health care, here are some things for you to think about:
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Residential Health Group

Caregiving Dementia Home Health Care Medication Management August 2, 2016

Imagine worrying about forgetting your past while also having a hard time remembering new events and information. Pretty scary, right? This is something that many individuals with dementia face every day. Fortunately, routine and consistency may help alleviate some of these challenges. The Alzheimer’s Society states that, while stimulation is important when a loved one has a cognitive disease, regular routines or rituals will help support feelings of security and mitigate confusion and anxiety.

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Residential Health Group

Home Health Care July 21, 2016

A common misconception when your loved one is discharged from the hospital is that, since they feel well or are well enough to return to daily activities, they are able to take care of themselves. The reality is that the transition from the hospital back to the home is an extremely critical time, especially for patients who cope with multiple chronic conditions like COPD, CHF, diabetes and dementia. According to a 2009 national study in the New England Journal of Medicine, 20% of all Medicare patients are readmitted to hospitals within 30 days of discharge and 33% are readmitted within 90 days. While there are many reasons why so many newly-discharged seniors return to the hospital, many of the contributing factors can be addressed and avoided. Extending care from the hospital to the home through home health care can significantly reduce the chance of your loved one returning to the hospital.

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Residential Health Group

Home Health Care Residential News June 14, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Troy, MI – June 14, 2016 – The leadership of Residential Healthcare Group, Troy, MI and Celtic Healthcare, Mars, PA announced this week that the two companies will be merging on July 1, 2016 to form Graham Healthcare Group, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company.

Celtic Healthcare and Residential Healthcare Group are both majority owned by Graham Holdings Company, Arlington, VA, and the two companies have had a longstanding business relationship. Together this merged company will be serving close to 10,000 patients. (more…)