In the March 2012 AARP Bulletin there was an article that really touched me.  It highlights a Philadelphia photographer Isa Leshko who studied and photographed older animals.  She cared for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and started to feel anxious about her self growing old.  She came across a 35-year-old blind horse named Petey and she spent a day photographing him.  She says “As I reviewed the film, I realized I had found a means of expressing how I was feeling about my mother’s illness.”  These images are extraordinary and help each of us deal with the anxieties of growing old.  Let me know your thoughts about this exhibit and how it effects you.  Her work will be on display at the Houston Center for Photography April 27 through June 16.

Love 2 Live Care has trained caregivers in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.  One thing mentioned in the article is about making the right match.  Our goal is to find the right person to match the needs of your loved one.  You want to be sure that the person you bring in to help your loved one understands Alzheimer’s disease and knows how to communicate well and provide care for a person with this illness.  Call our office and let us know how we can help you and provide peace of mind for you and your family.

Remember that Love 2 Live Care Services in San Diego is available to help you or an aging parent stay in their own home with dignity and peace of mind.  We can provide assistance with light housekeeping, errands and transportation, plan and prepare nutritious meals, assist with personal care, provide friendship and companionship and provide peace of mind for you and your family.  When you can’t be there, Love 2 Live can be.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) minor depression is characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in activities, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness.  CDC statistics show that depression strikes about 14 percent of seniors, many of whom are dealing with isolation, loss of friends and family, and debilitating chronic diseases.

One of the best antidotes to depression and isolation is companionship, which can be found in many ways – organized activities through a senior center, joining a church or other organizations, and through agencies that provide companion Personal Attendants, for various activities.

Friends or family members may not have the time or ability to tend to their loved ones’ needs.  Professional Personal Attendants are well known for assisting in Activities of Daily Living (known as ADL’s) such as bathing, cooking, medication reminders, etc., but they are also available at any time to assist in various social activities, which may include simply taking a ride to the beach, going to the hairdresser, getting to a doctor’s appointment, enjoying a meal at a local restaurant, or going to the movies or the theater.    Whatever the need, a personal attendant can provide much needed company and enjoy various activities to help get a person out of the house and into the community when a family member is unavailable.

In a 2005 article, the American Geriatrics Society recommends that more involvement and contribution to the broader world can improve overall well being.  ”Social involvement also helps to fight depression, which is more common among those who withdraw from their friends, family, and community.  Social isolation is a strong risk factor for health problems and early death.”

Many experts point out that getting out and being active are important to maintaining good physical and mental health.  Service agencies, like Love 2 Live Care in San Diego, can help aging family members attain a natural solution for continued good physical and mental health.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Love 2 Live for more information or if you need assistance of know someone who could use our caregiving services.  We are here to help you stay in your home, but not alone.

• Eating a varied and healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular physical activity
• Limiting alcohol intake

By educating people about cancer worldwide we can prevent 30-40 percent of cancers, and a full one-third of cancers can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment.

If you or a loved one are being treated for any type of cancer in San Diego and need extra support getting through the treatment Love 2 Live can help.  Love 2 Live can provide an assistant to come to your home and help you by preparing nutritious meals, help you maintain your daily routine, pay attention to your needs for rest, nutrition, exercise, and private time.  Call to arrange a meeting to discuss your individual needs.

I read a great article this morning about staying active and reaching your 100th birthday.  A report from the National Institute on Aging says “Living to 100 is becoming increasingly commonplace … In 1950, there were approximately 3000 American centenarians.  By 2050 there could be nearly 1 million.”

It’s important to stay active and involved.  Most people would agree that the aging population wants to stay in their own home and not move to a facility of any kind.  Facilities can be nice, but let’s face it, it’s not home.  If you or your loved one are facing challenges of staying at your home, give Love 2 Live a call.  We would love to discuss what we can do to help.

Our compassionate, professional caregivers can make your life easier by providing help with bathing and dressing, cooking and cleaning, and laundry.  They can go on errands or drive you to an appointment.  They can walk the dog or make the bed, dust, vacuum or just sit and talk for a little while.  We love to care and would love to meet with you in your home to plan how you could best utilize our services.

Please read the article: http://www.lifelinescreening.com/health-updates/healthy-you/general-health-and-wellness/america-were-old-and-getting-older.aspx?SourceCD=LETT-823

I read this article today and it made me think about how we can help ourselves and help our loved ones.   One thing we don’t want is to feel resentful and guilty.  We want the person we are caring for to feel loved and secure and to bring some joy back into their lives.  Wendy mentions that no one wants to be a burden and sometimes that means you, the caregiver, need to seek help.  She says that spending time with your relative and enjoying that time is what is important.   When you’re burned out and tired you can’t be a good caregiver.   When you’re missing time from work and worried about your job, you can’t be a good caregiver.  You can ask for respite by calling Love 2 Live and having one of our trained, compassionate,  professional caregivers come to help your loved one and give you a much needed break.  It doesn’t mean that you stop caring for your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or other.  You simply get to spend quality time with them and let the professional caregiver do the stuff that makes you tired and frustrated.  Love 2 Live caregivers can help with meal planning and preparation, personal care like bathing, dressing and oral care.  They can go shopping, dust the furniture do the laundry or walk the dog.  Call Love 2 Live for your much needed break. We love to care.   Please read the article:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-lustbader/caregivers_b_1211853.html

At Love 2 Live we are here to help with

• Caring Companionship
• Personal Care Assistance
• Meal planning and preparation
• Household help
• Transportation for shopping and doctor appointments

We will assist with a customized care plan after a complete assessment to help you or your loved one in San Diego live with joy and dignity in the comfort of your home.

We want to recognize those family caregivers who sacrifice so much to care for their loved ones.

Our friends at Home Sweet Home Care, Inc. in Smithfield, Virginia posted this article and I wanted to share it with all my families in San Diego caring for a loved one.

As a family caregiver, the thought of hiring someone to care for your loved one may bring up a whole host of concerns. Among them may be:

• Worry
• Cost
• Guilt

Worry: Many caregivers believe they are the only ones who can properly care for their loved one. Others worry that their loved one may take that act of hiring an outside caregiver as a “lack of caring” by their family member. And for those just starting out as a family caregiver, you may be concerned that your loved one will be resistant to the idea that he or she needs “outside” help. Although any of the above may be true for your situation, most often the addition of a professional caregiver is well received by the elderly. Check out our radio interview and testimonial page to see what many of our own clients have to say.

Read the entire article: http://www.homesweethomecareinc.com/For_Family_Caregivers.php

Contact us at Love 2 Live  and schedule a time for a free in-home assessment. During the assessment, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about what we do and if we are the proper choice for you and your loved one. This won’t be a sales call; it is an opportunity for you to more fully explore our services, learn how we train our caregivers, and  to determine if we are a good match to your needs.  If you schedule a time for us to meet,  you will find the assessment educational and helpful to you.

Kevin has a personal connection with the cause.  Kevin’s good friend from college lost her mother (June Campbell) in 2009.  Through grief and comfort, Kevin experienced first-hand how impacting this disease truly is and how many people it touches.  Kevin decided last minute to run the 5K in honor of June.  Registering only 5 days before race day, he set a fundraising goal of $350.  After sending just a few emails to wonderful family and friends, his total raised in less than one week was $635; almost double his original goal!  Kevin’s friend (Courtney) was overcome with emotion when she learned he was running to honor her mother, and support her entire family.

A debilitating disease like breast cancer affects so many in one way or another.  We’re grateful Love 2 Live was able to sponsor Kevin in the race and support an extremely worthwhile cause.