Cypress HomeCare Solutions

Lacey’s Blog: Red Rover, Red Rover, Send LACEY Right Over

Cypress HomeCare Solutions — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:28:37 +0000

Since starting my job as a therapy dog with Cypress HomeCare Solutions, I have learned a lot about the different things my older friends have to deal with. I feel very lucky to be a dog, especially after I heard about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

This week, I got to go to a special meeting at a place called Cameron House where my friend Laurie Fox talked about her mother Opal and how she would take care of her when she had Alzheimer’s. Although I didn’t get to meet Cameron (even though I was at his house), I did get to learn about the many ways people can comfort their loved ones with this disease. Laurie talked about bringing rosemary to Opal to smell and just going with it when her mother thought she was in another time or place. I really liked hearing how the power of touch is important for people with Alzheimer’s – one of my favorite things is being pet and loved by humans!

Laurie even said that animals are helpful for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia because we remind them of pets they had in the past. I can’t help but get really warm and fuzzy knowing that I am making a difference for people on my visits. Seeing people’s smiles and feeling their comfort really makes my day, and now I understand why they sometimes call me “Rover.”

: Thinking about Laurie and her mom

Summer Sun Protection

Cypress HomeCare Solutions — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:17:12 +0000

The summer sun is shining down on the Valley, and for those of you who regularly venture outdoors, or even walk to your car in the parking lot, being prepared for sun exposure is important in preventing skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime, and as people are living longer, this statistic is only growing.

If you are caring for an older loved one, ensuring their safety while outdoors in the sun is an important part of your role as a caregiver. There are many ways you can protect yourself and the person you care for from harmful UVB and UVA rays:

Regularly use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. The SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, indicates how protective a sunscreen is against the effects of the sun. If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to turn red, a SPF 15 sunscreen will prevent reddening 15 time longer – about five hours. SPF 15 blocks around 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent.
Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside, every two hours and immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Cover up with clothing, hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.
See your physician every year for a professional exam. They may see things you would miss when looking over your skin yourself.

If you are headed outside, consider getting out early in the day, when the sun is not yet at its brightest. Also, you can keep your loved ones active without going out in the sun by taking a walk indoors at the mall. Remember, you are your aging loved one’s advocate, so make sure you take the necessary precautions when going out in the sun this summer.

Hearing and Listening Important for Seniors

Cypress HomeCare Solutions — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:10:14 +0000

National Better Hearing and Speech Month has been around since 1927, and each year the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association promotes the month of May as a time to encourage people to be screened for hearing loss, as well to promote ways to assist in the cost of hearing tests and hearing aids.

For our aging population, the threat of hearing loss is rather common. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 30% of adults between 65–74 years old and 47% of adults 75 years or older have a hearing impairment. With so many of our older adults experiencing hearing loss, this month is significant in promoting a better quality of life for our seniors.

Improving the lives of our older adults by addressing their hearing impairment problems is crucial, but really listening to our aging loved ones is essential in helping them feel comfortable and important. Many times we find that the seniors in our lives repeat stories, or seem to be confused in their communication. When we listen to their thoughts, concerns and comments, though, we let them know that we care about what they say and think. Our older population has lived quite the history, and many have stories that illustrate not just how they lived their lives in the 1930s, ‘40s or ‘50s, but really how our entire society lived. Making our loved ones feel heard and understood shows how important their past is to our present, and creating this interaction truly leads to better thoughtful and compassionate care for our seniors.

Next time you see or visit an older loved one, don’t hesitate to sit, listen and let them direct the conversation. They will appreciate the attention you are paying them, and you never know – you might just learn something new.

Cypress Celebrates Moms

Cypress HomeCare Solutions — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:55 +0000

Mother’s Day is just a couple days away, and it seems only natural for us at Cypress HomeCare Solutions to celebrate the gift of moms, and the reason we care for the aging adults in our community.

Almost three decades ago, our inspiration, Joan S. Roth, needed care following a life-changing heart attack. Her husband and sons stepped in as Family Caregivers for Joan, and found that caring for their mom was one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. As a result, Cypress HomeCare Solutions was “born” from our mom Joan, and after 18 years we remain dedicated to providing compassionate care to those who need it most.

Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Thomas has stated that “God’s greatest gift to humanity was moms.” We agree. Over the last 18 years, we have had the privilege of caring for many moms in our community, and we are grateful for the families who have entrusted us in their care. This Mother’s Day, we want to celebrate both the mothers that are still with us and the mothers that have passed, and recognize the impact they have made on our lives. Joan Roth left behind her legacy with Cypress, and we are proud to pass along the gift of caring to so many families in our community.

From our Cypress heart to yours, thank you to all the moms out there – we wish each and every one of you a very Happy Mother’s Day!

: Joan with her sons

Lacey’s Blog: All Dogs Need Moms

Cypress HomeCare Solutions — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:08:46 +0000

If you have been keeping up with me and my pet therapy adventures, you know a few things about me, like how much I love meeting new people, making them smile and of course squeezing in a few ear scratches on my visits. But there is one thing you might not know — I have not one, but TWO moms, which I think makes me very special!

My dog-mom’s name is What’s That in the Skye, but everyone just calls her Skye. She lives in Ohio with my brothers, sisters and a lot of other family members. She took care of me when I was a really small pup, and her wet licks were my favorite! I will always remember how warm and cuddly she was when I was young, and how she made sure I got enough to eat so I could grow up to be a strong dog.

When I was 10 weeks old, I got to meet my human-mom, Susie. You may have read about Susie in my previous posts – she’s not only my mom but also my pet therapy coach! I spend most of my days with Susie, and she has taught me so much, specifically, she helps me practice my pet therapy tricks. I am getting better at saying hello to people sitting in machines, and I can even ignore food that’s not meant for me. Susie also makes sure my coat is nice and shiny before a visit so that my friends can pet me, and she reminds me to follow ALL her commands when I’m out and about. Sounds like a regular mom, right?

One of the bunnies that runs in my backyard told me that Sunday is a special day for moms, so I thought I could wish a Happy Mother’s Day to Skye and Susie on my blog! Thank you for taking good care of me, and letting me show my excitement for people. I love you both so much, and I hope I can be a good Lacey-Loo for many dog years to come!

: I love my human-mom Susie!