How to Become a Senior Caregiver

Senior caregivers are in high demand. It’s a tough job, but it can pay well and is a rewarding career! You don’t need to be a medical practitioner or have years of experience to become a senior caregiver – you just need some basic training and education on how to care for seniors.

At Visiting Angels Prescott, we believe senior caregivers are extraordinary and serve a critical role in the lives of seniors. We’ll give you some tips on how to get started!

Volunteering

The best way to get your foot in the door is by volunteering your time to help neighbors, friends, or family caring for an elderly loved one. Allow yourself time to see if this line of work might be right for you. It doesn’t take much to bring some comfort to these seniors – and some relief to their family members! From helping with household tasks, to sitting with them while family members are at work, your time volunteering in your community can help you gain valuable experience. Make sure you mention your volunteer work when you apply for jobs – they may not ask about volunteer work on their application but sharing your experience can give you an added boost during an interview.

First Aid and CPR Training

Many in-home care companies encourage or require first aid and CPR training. Having this knowledge under your belt provides a valuable service to others and shows potential employers that you know what you’re doing and take your position seriously. First Aid and CPR training classes are available through the American Heart Association in almost every community.

Subject Knowledge

Learning can come in many forms –podcasts, books, and courses, just to name a few! We’ve found that listening to podcasts about family caregiving helps our companion caregivers learn the problems families face and how to manage those in the best way. Here are a few podcasts to start. Books written specifically for seniors about aging well are packed with great tips and ideas for ensuring your client’s care.

Join Caregiver Support Groups

Get to know other senior caregivers by joining a professional organization or caregiver support group. You can meet others in your community in the same boat as you, share tips and resources, and learn from each other’s experiences. You may even find professional opportunities through networking. Don’t forget about online communities, like Facebook, for more connection with others in the field.

Look For Training Programs

Many in-home care agencies offer certification programs, which will provide you with more hands-on experience and an opportunity to network with potential employers. Look for additional certifications, training, and education that will help you learn more about the field. CNA and PCA classes can also help you further your career in this field. These certifications aren’t necessary to start a fulfilling career in senior caregiving but can further your career and open more opportunities for different kinds of cases. CNA and PCA courses are available through a local vocational school or community college or online and take about three to six months to complete.

Visit A Career Fair

Career fairs are another great place to meet potential employers and get connected with people in the field. Many home care agencies will attend these events, as well as professional organizations and training services.

Determine Your Strengths

Decide what type of senior care you’d enjoy the most. For instance, Visiting Angels Prescott offers companion care, transportation services, and personal care. Our team is always looking for caregivers with unique skill sets that make them the perfect fit for the job.

Join the Visiting Angels Prescott Team

Beginning or changing to a career in senior caregiving is easier than you may think. We’re always searching for compassionate caregivers to match our elderly clients for various in-home care services. Our goal is to help seniors stay independent in their homes as long as possible. If you’d like to be a part of this goal, visit the website and fill out an employment form!

We are hiring in all regions:
Apply at https://careers.hireology.com/thumallcdbavisitingangels

Select the Job in your area. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Simple Exercises That Seniors Can Do From Home

Regular exercise is one of the best activities seniors can do to maintain—and enhance—their overall health. Some seniors may resist or fear physical exercise due to chronic health conditions or the potential for injury. The truth is, in most cases, the advantages outweigh the risks as long as the exercise program is appropriate for their physical condition.

Many health benefits exist for seniors who exercise regularly, including:

Muscle mass maintenance Mood and attitude improvement Mobility and balance improvement Cognitive ability improvement Immune system support Weight management

Prevention and management of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes No Gym, No Worries......Seniors don’t need a gym membership or fancy workout equipment to obtain these health benefits. They can do the following simple exercises in the comforts of home:

Chair exercises Chair exercises can be an alternative for seniors with mobility or standing issues. Chair exercises, performed with a chair and occasionally some light weights, strengthen a wide range of muscles. Good chair exercises to start with include:

Seated front shoulder raises (targets the chest and arms) Hold a pair of light weights at your side with palms facing toward the body. Sit with your back straight against the backrest of the chair. Keeping your core tight and your chest forward, slowly raise the weights until your arms are parallel to the floor. Then slowly lower your arms to the starting position.

Tummy twists (targets the core) Sit toward the edge of the seat while keeping your core tight and the chest forward. Hold a medicine ball or similar object of comfortable weight in your lap with one hand on each side and elbows bent. Then, raise the medicine ball a few inches off your lap and rotate your body to the left, while keeping the medicine ball in front of your body. While holding the medicine ball, rotate your body to the middle, to the right, and back to the middle to complete a full repetition.

Chair squats (targets the legs) Sit toward the edge of the chair to allow for more room to move. Keep your core tight and back straight, make sure your chest is forward. While holding the medicine ball, rotate your body to the middle, to the right, and back to the middle to complete a full repetition. Then, slowly stand up until fully upright while keeping your knees pointed outward. Maintain the same knee orientation and slowly sit down.

Stretching exercises Stretches are great for increasing flexibility and relieving joint pain. Many stretches can be done in a chair or even on a bed for seniors with more limited mobility.

Overhead side stretch Stand straight with feet at hip-width. Raise your arms overhead and gently lean to one side. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, and then return to center. Repeat the stretch on the other side.

Calf stretch Stand with one leg forward and slightly bent, and the other straight behind you. If needed, hold on to a wall or counter for support. Then gently press your rear heel into the floor until you feel your rear calf stretch. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

Yoga and Tai Chi Joining an online yoga or tai chi class is another excellent way for seniors to exercise at home. Yoga and tai chi involve following an instructor through a series of poses while concentrating on breathing and focusing the mind.

Both tai chi and yoga improve balance, strength, and flexibility, but they are slightly different. Yoga focuses on holding poses and is performed standing or on the floor. Tai chi involves more fluid movement from pose to pose and is done standing. Both are great options for seniors.

Walking Whether walking in place at home or taking a stroll around the neighborhood or at a local park, walks are low impact and easy on joints. They also improve cardiovascular health and can be a great way for seniors to get out of the house and socialize.

Before committing to an exercise routine, it’s important to check with your loved one’s doctor to make sure the exercises seniors plan to perform are right for them.

Home Care Can Help Seniors to Exercise A Visiting Angels in-home caregiver can encourage your older loved one to exercise and stay active. Whether serving as a walking partner for strolls around the neighborhood or reminding your senior to do their physician-prescribed exercises, a qualified in-home caregiver will help your loved one take steps to maintain their fitness and quality of life.

Interested in more information about non-medical in-home care? You can help your senior loved ones by contacting Cecelia Jernegan at Visiting Angels Prescott region, Flagstaff, Sedona, Cottonwood, Payson, and Show Low by calling 928-458-4729.

Become a caregiver and join the Angel family! Enjoy good health through exercise. Contact Cecelia Jernegan at 928-458-4729. For more information check out: www.visitingangels/flagstaff or www.visitingangels/prescott.

10 Kitchen Gadgets to Keep Seniors Safe!

No matter how much you try to ensure your senior loved ones are safe and secure at home, household accidents can still happen. Many of these mishaps take place in the kitchen.

Some of the dangers in the kitchen include:
Burns by boiling water or liquids
Slips and falls on floors
Cuts using knives and sharp objects
Irritations in the eyes
Accidental fires caused unattended stoves or ovens

While kitchen accidents can happen to anyone, seniors who live independently may be more vulnerable than most. Normal aging causes many changes to the body, such as decreased coordination, muscle loss, vision changes, and minor memory lapses. These changes may catch the elderly off guard and could lead to accidents and injuries in the kitchen. The risks increase if they are also experiencing signs of dementia.

Cooking and Baking Safety Tools for Seniors
New high-tech gadgets make it easy for older adults to get all the benefits of aging in place while reducing the risk of dangerous kitchen accidents.
Here are 10 gadgets to make cooking and baking safer for seniors:
Cut-resistant gloves and finger protectors

Chopping, slicing, and dicing meat and vegetables are some of the most common kitchen activities. Cut-resistant gloves or finger protectors can help the elderly handle knives in the kitchen to prevent nicks or cuts.

Safety cutting boards

Safety cutting boards can also help seniors avoid cuts in the kitchen. These boards come with a rubber surface to prevent it from sliding and also include rounded guides to keep a knife from straying off track.

Vegetable choppers

Knife-free vegetable choppers are available for people who prefer not to use knives. After peeling vegetables, simply place them inside the chopper and press down on the top to guarantee a perfect cut.

Electric can and jar openers

Many seniors have difficulty gripping and opening jars or cans because of conditions such as osteoarthritis. In these situations, electric can and jar openers can help prevent painful gripping and twisting. They can also lower the risk of cuts or other injuries from a sharp can lid or dropped glass jar.

Easy-pour electric kettles


Electric kettles help prevent burns by avoiding hot surfaces to heat water. Easy pour kettles go one step further by using a stand to tip the kettle directly into a mug, without needing to pick it up at all.

Clip-on strainers


Another way to prevent accidental scalding is through clip-on strainers. Simply clip the strainer onto a pan and pour the water out into the sink – no need to hold the strainer in place with one hand and aim with the other.

Kitchen timers


Kitchen timers are useful for older adults who are prone to memory lapses. These gadgets can alert an inattentive cook to the roast they left in the oven or the pasta that’s about to finish boiling.

Automatic shutoff stoves and ovens


Automatic shutoff ovens and stoves can help prevent overcooked food and fires in the kitchen. These are useful for seniors struggling with memory lapses.

Oven rack guards


Oven rack guards can help prevent accidental contact burns. They are made from heat-resistant material and can be clipped onto the front end of the oven rack to prevent a hand or arm from making contact with a hot surface.

Anti-fatigue, nonslip kitchen floor mats


For seniors who spend a lot of time standing in the kitchen, an anti-fatigue and nonslip kitchen mat can be a big help. These floor mats reduce pressure on the feet, knees, and lower back and provide a nonslip surface to stand on. They also alleviate stress on feet and knees.

In-Home Care Can Provide Household Safety for Seniors

Your senior loved one may need more than a gadget to keep them safe in the kitchen. Visiting Angels’ caregivers can serve as a watchful eye and another set of hands to assist with grocery shopping, cooking, and meal prep.

The safety and security of seniors are our primary concerns at Visiting Angels. Your local home care agency can provide you with peace of mind and perform a free in-home safety assessment at your convenience. Our care providers will carefully tailor services to your loved one’s specific safety concerns and challenges.

If you’re interested in more information about non-medical in-home care you can help your senior loved ones by contacting Cecelia Jernegan at Visiting Angels Prescott or Visiting Angels Flagstaff office at 928-458-4729.


Or www.visitingangels/flagstaff or www.visitingangels/prescott.

The Bluffs of Flagstaff ~ Flastaff's Newest Senior Living Community Opening Fall 2021

Our community will be opening its doors Fall of 2020. Visit us today to make your reservation now. Imagine an intimate and authentic retirement lifestyle enhanced by custom-tailored, five-star-quality service in an upscale community at the edge of a picturesque mountain forest. That’s exactly what life is like here at The Bluffs of Flagstaff.

In addition to beautiful yet homelike surroundings that create an atmosphere imbued with relaxed elegance, our community is full of friendship, resort-inspired amenities, top-tier services, and delicious, restaurant-style dining. Our signature Passion Program supports an active lifestyle through endless opportunities to both reminisce and make new memories. Plus, access to a complete continuum of care across independent living, assisted living, and memory care all on one campus offers peace of mind to both residents and their loved ones.

We are passionate about providing the best retirement lifestyle for all of our residents. After all, we may call this idyllic place we’ve created The Bluffs of Flagstaff — but our residents simply call it home.

Experience Senior Living for All Seasons Near Walnut Canyon in Majestic Flagstaff

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​We are offering private tours at our new offsite Welcome Center and are currently taking reservations to secure your apartment of choice. The Bluffs of Flagstaff is offering many incentives for early reservations, so please call 928-291-2710 or visit us on the web at The Bluffs of Flagstaff.

https://civitasseniorliving.com/our-communities/the-bluffs-of-flagstaff/

Quality of Life For Seniors & Fall Prevention

Every second of every day, an older adult suffers a fall in the U.S. – making falls the number one cause of injury and death from injury among older Americans. In fact, according to the CDC, “One out of every four older adults will fall each year” making this a health concern for the population over 65 years old. About 36 million older adults fall each year and 3 million older adults are treated in emergency care for an injury related to a fall. However, falls are preventable and do not need to be a normal part of aging. You can take steps to reduce your risk of falling.

https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/fall-prevention-is-a-necessary-part-of-senior-quality-of-life/

Visiting Angels ~ Care Specialist of the Year Award!

Glassford Place Senior Living Community Receives Its First COVID-19 Vaccine To Patients & Staff