Arthritis Awareness Month

May is Arthritis Awareness Month. This condition causes individuals chronic pain that can affect their ability to enjoy life fully. The swelling in a person’s joints often limits mobility and impacts having a normal lifestyle.

According to the CDC, there is no cure for Arthritis. Some medications along with structured exercise may, however, provide relief and improve joint flexibility with on-going effort. 

Prevalence: 

Arthritis Awareness Month recognizes the growing health problem Arthritis represents. There are over 53 million (or 1 in 4) people in the US at the time of this writing who have the condition. By 2030 that number will likely come close to 67 million. Some of these people will lose their jobs because of pain or the loss of joint functionality, range of motion, or decreased muscle strength for things like lifting and intricate handwork. 

With this in mind, AmeriBest Home Care Services, Philadelphia, PA strives to assist seniors struggling with arthritis in a variety of ways. Our highly trained staff offers home and community-based assistance with daily activities which, in turn, decreases frustration and anxiety. It also provides families with comfort in knowing their loved ones are getting excellent care, especially when they cannot be present for help.

Types of Arthritis:

There are three prevalent types of arthritis:

  1. Osteoarthritis: When the cartilage at the end of bones wears down, the bones rub together. This is osteoarthritis, and it’s the most commonly known form.
  2. Psoriatic: This form only happens to people with psoriasis, affecting ligaments, tendons, and joints.
  3. Rheumatoid: Rheumatoid arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease. The lining of the joints becomes inflamed, and they begin deteriorating. 

It’s important to remember that while more common in the aging community, arthritis can happen at any age. Also, just because your loved one is talking about joint aches, you need to have them see a physician to conclusively render a diagnosis. Other conditions including lupus, gout, and bursitis cause joint pain. 

Caring for Individuals with Arthritis

Arthritis Awareness Month isn’t just dedicated to raising awareness, but also to education. What can you do to help someone in your life with arthritis? Perhaps most importantly listen. It’s hard to understand the pain someone has radiating from within. You can, however, SEE how they move, when they hesitate or stumble, or when they strain to open jars (for example). 

Now, people have pride. They may not ask for help. So you can open the lines of communication. Approach it from the point of view that you want to learn from them about how arthritis impacts their life. A lot of great ideas will result from that conversation. Just take care to step back when the answer is, “no, let me do this.” A sense of independence is important so long as they are not putting themselves in harm’s way. 

Professional Assistance

When you have an in-home caregiver, that person can keep your loved one as active as possible while still taking safety precautions. Examples of the types of assistance AmeriBest Home Care Philadelphia, PA provides include:

  • Bathing
  • Bending/reaching
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
  • Lifting
  • Medication regulation
  • Mobility, and much more. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us on our web form, by email at info@ameribest.org, or by calling our Philadelphia office 215-925-3313; 1-800-HOMECARE (PA only).

How can I get paid for caregiving?

If you love people and thought about becoming a home care aide, you may wonder about how you can get paid for caregiving. It’s a perfect fit for a kind, dedicated individual who really wants to help others. The good news is that you don’t have to have any experience in order to work with us at AmeriBest Home Care in Harrisburg, PA. We are hiring non-skilled home care employees, people like yourself to join our team.

How Does it Work?

Step one is filling out our online application. This opens the door for you potentially become part of a high-ranking home health agency in a relatively short period of time. In fact, you can get hired in one day by having five things ready to go:

  1. New Hire Paperwork. You can complete it in person or electronically. 
  2. Two current forms of ID (driver’s license, social security card, passport, birth certificate).
  3. Two years of proof of PA residency. If this is not possible, we will pay to obtain FBI fingerprinting.
  4. Completing the online clinical training class/test.
  5. Taking a 2 Step PPD or recent QuantiFERON test (provided at no cost) – offered on Tuesdays at our Corporate location or at any Vybe Location (voucher provided).

We have onboarding specialists that can help you along the way, too. 

What AmeriBest Offers

It all begins with knowledge. AmeriBest offers paid training, some of which can lead to expanding, specialized career options. We have classes including (but not limited to)

  • CPR Certification
  • Fall risks
  • Heart disease management
  • Hoyer Lift Training
  • Hygiene
  • Nutrition
  • Recognizing abuse
  • Transfer training

We appreciate our employees and want you to feel wholly ready to care for people in the community in need of assistance. 

Amazing Benefits Package

You will be hard-pressed to find a better benefits package than that which AmeriBest offers.

As one of the top five home care agencies in all of Pennsylvania, we know the value of continuity in our staff. You deserve the best, including:

  • 401K
  • Bereavement leave
  • Electronic timekeeping including a Daily Pay Option: You can transfer your earnings any time through an app that also tracks your hours.
  • Life Insurance policy for full-time workers $15,000
  • Medical, dental, and vision plans (basic covered at 100%)
  • Optional supplemental insurance (term life, short-term disability, etc.)
  • Paid holidays (7)
  • Personal time
  • Sick Days
  • Sign-on bonus
  • Time and a half for holidays
  • Vacation time

The Life and Times of Home Health Aids

Our caregivers report they love their jobs. There is so much satisfaction! Clients appreciate the companionship they receive. Their families appreciate getting much-needed breaks without having to worry about their loved one’s well-being. There are few other jobs where you will hear “thank you” so much as this one. 

There is a personal element to being an aid. You get to know an individual and their family far better than someone who stops in as they pass in the hospital. You become a bridge to the community, too. It doesn’t matter in which of our programs you work, the people you serve always maintain their dignity.

But there’s more! You have flexibility as a professional caregiver. Our agency works with your time constraints in making a schedule. 

Are you ready? Give our Harrisburg, PA office a call 717-545-2920, or email us at info@ameribest.org.

The Parkinson’s Caregiver

The Parkinson's Caregiver

Each year April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month. As a top in-home caregiver agency in Philadelphia, PA, we at AmeriBest home care encourage people to learn more about Parkinsons and what they can do during April to make a difference.

What is Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s is a nervous system disorder, that primarily affects a person’s movement. The most common symptoms of the disease, which increase over time, include

  • Decreased Facial Expressiveness: Parkinson’s weakens facial muscles, so the person may show no signs of smiling or frowning.
  • Emotional Impact: Depression and behavior changes.
  • Fatigue.
  • Memory Loss. 
  • Muscle Stiffness: A Parkinson’s sufferer’s muscles never relax fully. Over time, this leads to limited motion, which is sometimes painful. 
  • Posture Changes: Over time it becomes difficult for someone with Parkinson’s to stand upright, and they may also experience balance issues.
  • Sleep Disruption
  • Slow Movement: Spontaneous movement becomes difficult with Parkinson’s. People move more slowly, shuffle, lower their speech volume, etc. In some instances, their gait may freeze temporarily.
  • Tremors: Starting as small as one finger or foot, tremors occur usually when the body is at rest. 

Men are at a higher risk for developing Parkinson’s. It usually begins around the age of 60, but sometimes manifests as early as age 50. Some cases of Parkinson’s are hereditary, while others come from a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition. 

Many people dismiss early signs of Parkinson’s thinking of them as an effect of the normal aging process. The signs begin on one side of the body, or in one limb of the body. Eventually, Parkinson’s affects the entire way the body functions.

How to Get Involved

  1. Donate toward further research and community assistance.
  2. If you have noticed worrisome symptoms, make an appointment with a neurologist for yourself (peace of mind is worth it).
  3. Participate in fundraising walks virtually: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/get-involved/optimism-walks/ 
  4. Put up links on your Facebook Page or personal webpage so people can find webinars and request publications.https://www.parkinson.org/parkinsons-awareness-month. 
  5. Visit someone you know with Parkinson’s to offer your support, or volunteer at a facility specializing in the disease. 

The Parkinson's Caregiver

 

Being a Parkinson’s Caregiver

When you discover your loved one has Parkinson’s Disease, you want to do your best to help them. But what does “help” in this situation really mean? It’s a challenging diagnosis with equally challenging daily issues. 

Tips for Effective Home Care

It might be tempting to take over responsibilities for your loved one. It’s a normal, but sometimes unnecessary, reaction. Let them do whatever they are capable of doing, for as long as they can. A sense of ongoing independence and self-sufficiency is important for mental wellbeing. Keep your dialog open to true needs. Have those tough conversations openly and honestly.

This is a complex disease. Learn all you can about Parkinson’s so you know what to expect. Nonprofit organizations like the National Parkinson’s Foundation have educational materials at the ready. Also, ask your health care provider and team for suggestions about community supports. The more you know, the less you’ll feel inadequate for the task ahead.

Going one step further, if your loved one will allow, come with them to each medical appointment. This gives you the opportunity to take notes and gain perspectives. 

Beyond these actions, watch every missive from insurance companies, making sure prescriptions and services are adequately covered, and likewise make sure this individual takes their medications properly. 

Need Help?

As Parkinson’s progresses, you may find you need professional assistance. AmeriBest caregivers are happy to step in and provide superior service for your loved one with Parkinson’s. We have a variety of services, one of which is sure to meet your needs. Our top home care agency offices stand by to review your request for information or reply to your email (info@ameribest.org). You can also call us:

Philadelphia 215-925-3313

Harrisburg 717-545-2929

Toll Free 1-800-HOMECARE

Caregiving Improves Quality of Life for Both Women and Men

Caregiving Improves Quality of Life

There is a common misconception that women are better caregivers than men. In reality, men are just as capable of providing exemplary care as women. In fact, caregiving proves mutually beneficial for the patient as well as the individual providing care. A recent study shows men who provide care for others are less likely to commit suicide. 

About the Study

The researchers who conducted the study included men who provided care to family members. These men lived in nearly two dozen different countries during the study. The suicide rates were lower in nations where men provided more family care, regardless of whether that care was for adults or kids. This means there is an inherent benefit to performing family care work. The benefit is so strong that it reduces the chances of suicide. This is an important finding as researchers had typically focused on areas of employment as potential factors that influence suicide rates. 

Most people errantly assume the lack of income or economic success is the sole cause of male suicide. However, as the study noted above shows, simply providing care to others, regardless of their age or unique condition, appears to lower the risk of male suicide.

Additional Study Details

It is particularly interesting to note the study also higher unemployment rates did not link to an elevated suicide rate in men in nations where men took on more care-oriented roles. However, in nations where men reported less involvement in providing care, the elevated unemployment rates were tied to an increase in the suicide rate. 

The mere fact that the female suicide rate did not significantly increase as more women entered the workforce in the past century is proof that providing care is mutually beneficial to caregivers and those receiving care. Women have maintained their roles as the primary caregivers in spite of the fact that most now have part-time or full-time employment. 

Caregiving Improves Quality of Life

Caregiving’s Latent Benefit Is Becoming Quite Clear

Caregiving clearly provides both men and women with an important connection to fellow human beings, be it those in their family or those who are a part of the larger community. People are quietly craving for meaning in life and new connections. The dependence on others gives one meaning and a reason to continue moving forward with life, reducing the chances of suicide, and also helping the caregiver feel that much more fulfilled. 

If you are looking for a job that provides you with the opportunity to give back to others, consider becoming a caregiver. Working as a caregiver gives your life that much more meaning and helps you obtain a sense of satisfaction from work.

Get Home Care in Philadelphia Through AmeriBest

Do not suffer through your injury, illness, old age, or other challenges in silence. If you can benefit from home care or if you know someone who can – contact us today. You can reach our Philadelphia home care services providers by phone at 215-925-3313 or by email at info@ameribest.org

AmeriBest Home Care

July is Healthy Vision Month

July is Healthy Vision Month

July is the perfect time for sun, swimming, and focusing on vision health. This is Healthy Vision Month, meaning it is an opportunity to pay close attention to whether your eyes are as healthy as they can be. In particular, those who care for individuals with visual impairment should be hyper-focused on providing top-notch care. Let’s take a look at a few tips for providing care for individuals in Philadelphia with visual impairment.

It Takes a Healthy Caregiver To Provide Care

If you are not healthy, you will not be able to care for your loved one with a visual impairment or other challenges. Take care of yourself first and you will be in the condition necessary to care for others. In particular, it will help to get your eyes examined at least once per year. Eat a balanced diet with colorful fruits and vegetables, continue to exercise, and get eight hours of sleep each night.

Sweat the Small Stuff To Make Seeing That Much Easier

A subtlety such as adding brightly-colored tape to steps in the home has the potential to prevent a painful and potentially fatal fall down the steps toward the basement, first floor, or elsewhere. Look for additional similar areas throughout the home where you can add light or bright colors to ensure the individual in your life with vision challenges can see as clearly as possible. 

Eliminate Slipping Risks

Eliminate Slipping Risks

Look around the home for anything that might cause your family member with vision limitations to slip or trip. Clean up all clutter. Mop, sweep and dry all hallways. Move cords out of the way. If there are any loose rugs, remove them or ensure they are firmly connected to the floor so the home can be traversed with ease. Buy your loved one a pair of shoes with rubber soles to wear around the house and he or she will have footing with a stronger grip, ultimately reducing the chances of a slip and fall that much more.

Organize the Entirety of the Home

If the home is well-organized, it will be easier for the senior in your life to move around, finding what he or she needs without tripping, slipping, or having to step over clutter. Even if it takes an entire day or two to organize the home so nothing is stepped on, investing the time just might prevent a costly and painful fall. There is even the potential for organizing the living space to saved your loved one’s life. Be thorough with the organization and you just might set the stage for the senior to remember where items are based on touch or memory.

Ameribest Is At Your Service

Our Philadelphia home care services providers are here to help during your time of need or that of your loved one. If you or a family member can benefit from home care, dial 215-925-3313 for more information. You can also contact us by email at info@ameribest.org.

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The Top 3 Rewards of Caregiving

Providing another person with care is inherently rewarding in a number of important ways. Being a caregiver gives one a sense of self-worth and an important role to serve within the Philadelphia community. Professional caregivers also benefit in that they are compensated for their hard work. If you enjoy providing others with care and want to make the world a better place for those battling illness or age-related problems, you should give serious consideration to becoming a caregiver with AmeriBest.

Reward #1: Caregiving Provides a Sense of Purpose

Everyone needs a sense of purpose. If you strictly work to provide for yourself, chances are you will feel a bit empty inside. Alternatively, if you were to provide another person, especially a loved one or another aging member of the Philadelphia community with care, you would feel that much more important and useful. This sense of purpose provides you with motivation to remain healthy and capable of helping your loved ones or others in need. Such a sense of purpose is particularly important for those who do not have anyone else to care for and those who want to be more involved with their community.

Reward #2: Improve Another Person’s Quality of Life

Even if you are not particularly talented or lack advanced college degrees, you can make a considerable difference in another person’s quality of life. Simply providing care for another person who is in need of assistance will dramatically improve his or her well-being. In other words, you have the power to single-handedly enhance the life of one or several other people living in the greater Philadelphia area. Doing so is much more rewarding than anything else you could have done with your time and energy. 

Improve Another Person’s Quality of Life

An added bonus is the fact that working as a care provider with AmeriBest provides a financial compensation. We provide caregivers with opportunities for career growth and additional compensation as experience is gained. If you genuinely care for others and would like to earn money for providing individuals throughout Philadelphia with essential assistance, consider a career with AmeriBest.

Reward #3: A Rewarding Friendship

Providing a loved one or another member of the Philadelphia community with assistance strengthens relationships all the more. This is an opportunity to learn about someone else, develop a friendship and make memories. So be sure to cherish every moment you spend with your patients as you will look back on that time quite fondly in the years ahead. Perhaps more important is the fact that the company you provide to your patients will warm their hearts and give them something to look forward to.

AmeriBest is Here to Help

We are proud to provide home care services to individuals throughout the greater Philadelphia area. If you or a loved one need assistance with daily living, let our team help you live with dignity. We are also interested in hiring caregivers. You can contact our Philadelphia-area home care providers at 215-925-3313 or by email at info@ameribest.org to learn more.

AmeriBest Home Care