If your parents are anything like ours, they've poured their hearts into creating a better life for you and their community. Now that they're in their golden years, they deserve to relax and savor the fruits of their labor.
However, as our loved ones age, the need for extra support around the home becomes evident, whether it's preparing meals or managing medications. When they can no longer care for themselves as they once did, worries about their safety and well-being arise. It's natural to think about their quality of life and how you can give back to them while balancing your own responsibilities.
Most seniors -94%, according to Forbes- prefer to remain in their homes as they age. If the senior in your life wants to stay at home as they get older, what's the best way to make that happen? For many families, non-medical home care offers a compassionate and affordable solution. In-home care is quickly becoming the first choice for older seniors because it supports your family while allowing your loved one to age gracefully in the familiar, safe surroundings they're used to.
If you're committed to keeping your mom, dad, or senior relative safe and happy at home, working with a home care agency might be the best way to achieve that goal.
When it comes to maintaining good senior health, early intervention is often key. Unfortunately, many adults with senior parents are stretched too thin to notice signs that their mom or dad needs help around the house. Wondering whether you really need to consider home care for you, your parents, or your loved ones? Keep these warning signs in mind.
As men and women get older, it's perfectly natural for them to have some aspects of mental decline. Age-related memory loss doesn't affect everyone, but when it involves your loved one, it can be a lot to digest. When forgetfulness begins to impact your parents' quality of life, it's time to take action.
Commonly referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), this forgetfulness often arises from reduced blood flow to the brain, a phenomenon frequently associated with aging. Other contributing factors can include typical neural lapses and a decline in hippocampal function, which is a crucial area of the brain responsible for memory. These changes can lead to frustrating side effects, such as
Seniors showing any of these signs can greatly benefit from non-medical home care providers who can help them with their daily tasks. This support can include reminding them of scheduled appointments, preparing meals, light housekeeping, and assisting with reading and other essential activities. Professional caregivers can also incorporate healthy memory practices into your loved one's daily routine. Strategies may include social interaction, engaging in simple strategy games, maintaining a nutritious diet, and participating in light exercises like slow walks around the block.
As your parents or senior loved ones get older, they often have trouble completing dayto-day tasks that are fundamental to living a normal life. There are several activities of daily living, or ADLs, that senior citizens struggle with and include
A reliable caregiver from a trusted senior care agency in Highlands Ranch, CO, can help make daily life much easier for your elder relative. If they have trouble putting on or tying their shoes, your caregiver is there to help them choose their shoes and put them on correctly.
If your senior citizen isn't eating healthy food, your caregiver can help create a nutritious meal plan and assist them in preparing the food they need for energy and daily activities. When searching for a home care agency, make sure they offer tailored care plans that address your loved one's needs, not someone who has similar issues.
If you notice that your loved one can't keep themselves clean and groomed, it could be a sign that their health is on the decline. It could also be a red flag that your senior may be experiencing the early stages of dementia. Other signs include:
The best non-medical caregivers are trained to attend to your loved one's needs and quality of life as they move through the Functional Assessment Staging test of Alzheimer's Disease, also known as the FAST Scale. If you believe your parent or relative might be in the early stages of dementia, it's absolutely critical to work with a home care business like ameriCARE that specializes in dementia care.
There's a reason why almost 12 million people in the United States rely on some type of non-medical home care. Working with the right home care agency and team caregivers can be life-changing for seniors who need help but don't want to live in a nursing home. Here are just a few of the most effective services that help older adults stay happy, healthy, and active as they age.
If you notice that the senior in your life can't or won't maintain their hygiene and health, hiring an experienced caregiver can help. They'll assist with daily tasks like:
Companion home care is a unique type of in-home support tailored for individuals who require help with daily living tasks while also benefiting from meaningful social interaction and emotional support. Unlike other care options that primarily focus on medical or personal needs, companion and lifestyle home care helps form strong personal bonds and improves the overall quality of life.
People who benefit the most from companionship and lifestyle home care include:
Veterans are a special breed. They're service members who have made sacrifices for our country and deserve dignified, respectful attention. In-home care gives Veterans customized, compassionate care when they need it most. Whether they have new health challenges after returning from combat or need an extra hand throughout the day, home care can make a meaningful difference for those who deserve the utmost respect and compassion.
In-home care can be very helpful for Veterans suffering from:
Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's can be quite challenging, as it involves managing a mix of complex and changing needs. Those living with the disease may face memory problems, mood swings, and difficulties in communicating. Alzheimer's care includes various services aimed at providing a supportive environment that helps maintain both physical and emotional well-being, even as the disease evolves.
Common Alzheimer's care services include:
Giving the older adult in your life the gift of in-home care can be a hugely positive decision on multiple levels. It not only gives them access to high-quality care in a place where they feel comfortable - it gives them the independence they crave and have earned over their lifetime.
Some of the most significant advantages of hiring a home care agency to help your senior loved one include:
Great in-home caregivers support your loved one's independence while providing the necessary assistance to ensure their safety and well-being. When you choose an agency that creates tailored care plans, your loved one can continue to live their lives on their terms, making choices about their daily activities and routines with the support of caregivers.
Receiving care at home offers a unique set of benefits that facility settings just can't match. Home care companies like ameriCARE offer personalized care services designed to cater to specific needs while allowing seniors to stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.
Choosing non-medical home care in Highlands Ranch, CO, can be a cost-effective solution, especially when compared to long-term, residential options like nursing homes. Care provided in facilities typically incurs significant costs for lodging and extra services. On the other hand, home care enables clients to receive tailored support at a much lower price.
Having you and other members of your family involved in your loved one's care process is integral. If you're on the hunt for a home care agency to work with, make sure to choose one that encourages your involvement. This collaborative approach allows for care that aligns with your family values, expectations, and overall goals.
When you work with a senior care agency that carefully selects caregivers and provides ongoing training to provide a range of services, your parent or relative benefits greatly. ameriCARE caregivers are seasoned professionals, dedicated to serving others in ways that often go unnoticed.
We know that choosing the best senior care agency for your loved is a top priority. Some key factors to consider include:
The agency you choose should have a proven track record and should be transparent when talking about caregiver credentials, training, and programs.
Working with a home care company that pushes open communication, transparency, and responsiveness keeps everyone in your circle informed about care plan updates and adjustments.
Look for a company that offers a robust range of senior care services and provides custom care plans that meet your senior's unique needs.
Inquire about the agency's caregiver recruitment process, including background checks, screening procedures, and ongoing training.
By taking these factors into account, you can make a well-informed choice when selecting a home care agency that provides the quality, compassion, and support necessary to improve the well-being and comfort of yourself or your loved one.
At ameriCARE, we understand that in-home care should reflect the individuality of those we assist. Our guiding principle focuses on creating a caregiving experience that is tailored, uplifting, and impactful. We aim to broaden and strengthen your care circle.
Our dedication to conscientious in-home care has helped establish our reputation for outstanding service. We believe that non-medical in-home care holds the potential to sustain and enrich one's quality of life, regardless of the challenges a person faces. By adopting a holistic perspective on care, we ensure our services are thorough, nurturing, and beneficial to our clients' overall wellness.
At ameriCARE, our goal is to deliver caregiving that is reliable, compassionate, and respectful. We are committed to positively influencing the lives of those we assist by making certain that our care is more than just a service - it's a source of comfort and empowerment. We aim to foster an atmosphere where each person feels appreciated, supported, and honored, thereby enhancing their capacity to live while improving their quality of life.
Our agencies are at the forefront of a new kind of in-home care that extends beyond traditional services. Unlike some home care companies, we believe in addressing the needs of the whole person.
To that end, we see care as a collaborative effort. Our caregivers are dedicated professionals who serve others in often unrecognized ways. We honor their commitment by providing top-notch training and career opportunities, ensuring they have the skills and support necessary to deliver exceptional care.
By going above and beyond to provide care that exceeds your expectations, we help ensure the best possible outcomes for you and your family. Seniors, their adult children, and other relatives choose ameriCARE because we're committed to:
Our care plans are customized to address the specific requirements of every individual and their family. We consider personal preferences, health issues, and family relationships to deliver care that is both personal and impactful.
We utilize cutting-edge technology to enhance your home care experience. With straightforward booking and payment methods, along with real-time updates and feedback, our technological solutions simplify and optimize care management.
If you're looking for help after surgery, a break from caregiving, or just someone to keep you company, our trustworthy caregivers are here for you. We provide a free care assessment with no strings attached to help you develop a home care plan that's just right for you.
The first step to seeing your loved one happy at home is to call ameriCARE for a free, no-obligation care assessment. Let us help you create a home care plan that brings your family peace of mind, comfort, and support. Request More Info today, and by tomorrow, you'll be closer to keeping your loved one safe and comfortable, no matter how many miles you may be apart.
Ready to learn more or need personalized support? Contact ameriCARE today! Our dedicated team is here to answer your questions, provide expert advice, and guide you through every step of the homecare journey.
DENVER -- Caryn Jarocki has had a lot of state championship-winning teams in her long tenure at Highlands Ranch, but her latest might have been one of the bigger surprises.Abundant with youth, Jarocki’s Falcons went through their growing pains and went on to finish the season as the best team in Class 6A girls basketball, the year before it goes down to the 5A classification.Seventh-seeded Highlands Ranch held off a spirited rally from fifth-seeded Northfield — a first-time state championship hopeful — for a ...
DENVER -- Caryn Jarocki has had a lot of state championship-winning teams in her long tenure at Highlands Ranch, but her latest might have been one of the bigger surprises.
Abundant with youth, Jarocki’s Falcons went through their growing pains and went on to finish the season as the best team in Class 6A girls basketball, the year before it goes down to the 5A classification.
Seventh-seeded Highlands Ranch held off a spirited rally from fifth-seeded Northfield — a first-time state championship hopeful — for a 54-51 victory that brought Jarocki and the program its eighth all-time title.
“We knew we could do it, but at the beginning of the season, I could not have told you we would be standing here right now,” said Jarocki, the state’s all-time winningest girls coach whose team finished a 25-3 season. “This team kept fighting. We had 63 practices, 28 games and we never took a day off. We just kept grinding to get better and they did it. They believed.”
For a team that hadn’t played on the biggest stage before, Highlands Ranch’s young lineup — which included two sophomore starters plus one freshman, one junior and one senior — looked like they belonged against a Northfield team with some experience, as it had played for the 2024 5A state title.
Sophomore Jayda Rogers helped the Falcons get their legs under them in the opening quarter, as she tallied 10 of her 11 points to stake her team to a four-point lead. The advantage grew to seven by halftime as junior Katie Moon (15 in the game) had four points in the period and sophomore Kimora Banks-Thomas got going.
The Falcons handled the high-pressure, fast-paced style well for the first 16 minutes.
“We have two different styles of play, so boxing out, playing our game and not really playing sped up was really key,” Rogers said.
Northfield — which knocked off top-seeded Cherokee Trail in the semifinals — began to impose itself in the second half, though the Nighthawks found it difficult to make big inroads into the deficit.
That’s because of some big shots hit by the Falcons, which included a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter from Banks-Thomas, who finished with a game-high 20.
“They are a physical team and they are really athletic, so you know they are going to get into you,” she said. “Pulling out those big shots when you need them is big.”
But nothing could quite put away Northfield, which got 18 points from junior London Taylor, plus 11 from junior Delaney Dennis and nine from junior Paris Taylor.
The Nighthawks would not go away in the fourth quarter and whittled the lead all the way down to one point inside the final minute, which set up a frenetic finish.
Two clutch free throws from Highlands Ranch freshman Na’Ziah Newbins made it a 54-51 lead with just 4.7 seconds left and Northfield tried to feed Dennis in the corner for a 3-pointer that could have sent the game to overtime, but the pass sailed over her head and out of bounds.
Highlands Ranch ran out the final seventh-tenths of a second on the ensuing inbound to secure the title and lift the program into a tie with Mullen for the second-most titles in Colorado history behind Eads, which has nine.
“I wanted this so bad for the kids,” Jarocki said with pride.
The players wanted to win it just as bad for Jarocki, who hadn’t tasted a state championship victory since 2011, which went with others in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002, 2001 and 2000.
“I feel like we won one for her legacy, but she’s building one for us as well,” Banks-Thomas said. “We bought into her and she bought into us. She adjusted game plans, we listened to her and this is what happens. That’s a great coach and we’re a great team.”
DENVER — It wouldn’t be Colorado if we didn’t have critical fire danger conditions followed by heavy snow just a day later. But that’s exactly the scenario that will play out across parts of the state as we head into the tail end of the work week.Warm and dry conditions were felt Thursday across the Denver metro as temperatures reached the upper 60s to low 70s. Windy conditions along and south of I-70 also gave way to high fire danger, with unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s and near 80 degrees in far so...
DENVER — It wouldn’t be Colorado if we didn’t have critical fire danger conditions followed by heavy snow just a day later. But that’s exactly the scenario that will play out across parts of the state as we head into the tail end of the work week.
Warm and dry conditions were felt Thursday across the Denver metro as temperatures reached the upper 60s to low 70s. Windy conditions along and south of I-70 also gave way to high fire danger, with unseasonably warm temperatures in the 70s and near 80 degrees in far southeast Colorado.
Those winds, along low humidity values, prompted the National Weather Service in Boulder to issue another red flag warning from Castle Rock all the way down south the New Mexico border until 6 p.m. Thursday.
But in true Colorado fashion, weather conditions will drastically change late Thursday night into Friday, when a powerful winter storm swings into Colorado, ushering in heavy mountain snow that will then spread across the plains Friday.
A winter weather advisory will go into effect for the next 24 hours starting midnight Thursday for the High Mountain Parks, the Front Range Foothills, the Park Range mountains, and the Palmer Divide. Between 3 inches and up to a foot of snow are forecast for the area, with the heaviest amounts falling in the southern foothills.
The northern and southern Front Range foothills, as well as Castle Rock, Elizabeth, and Larkspur will be under a winter weather advisory for about 24 hours starting midnight Thursday. Total snow accumulations for these areas could be anywhere between 3 inches and a foot of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
The biggest impacts from this snowstorm, however, will be felt across the Front Range mountains, the Medicine Bow Range, the mountains of Summit County and the Mosquito Range.
A winter storm warning will be in effect midnight Thursday through midnight Friday for those areas due to gusty winds reaching 40 mph. Blowing and drifting snow along the higher mountain passes will make for extremely treacherous driving conditions. The NWS said Thursday they expect between 6 and 15 inches of snow to fall along these areas.
Weather service officials said localized snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour can be expected under the heaviest showers/snow bands, “most likely along and south of the I-70 mountain/foothills corridor, and across the Palmer Divide.”
Those traveling to the mountains or foothills will encounter a tough morning commute Friday, with evening ski travel also particularly impacted by the evening, according to the NWS.
So far, it looks like it’ll be a slushy and snowy Friday for the Denver metro area, according to Denver7 chief meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo.
The shift will begin late Thursday night when the cold front moves over into the plains, bringing temperatures down to near freezing by sunrise.
NWS officials said a few rain/snow showers are possible overnight for the urban corridor, mainly north of Denver, “but almost all of the snow will hold off until after daybreak Friday.”
“Friday morning will see the bulk of the impacts as steady snow develops across the I-25 corridor and becomes heavier in our mountains and foothills,” they wrote in Thursday’s forecast discussion.
Between a trace to 2 inches of snow are expected for Denver, with heavier snowfall totals south and west of the metro, according to the NWS.
"Overall, it looks like light amounts of snowfall ... should be pretty slushy here for our area; it's just been so warm lately," said Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson. "If you are skiing in the next couple of days, some great powder on the way."
Friday’s snowstorm will break Denver’s long spell of unseasonably warm temperatures this winter. The last time the Mile High City had any measurable snowfall was on Jan. 25.
“Commuters should prepare for slick conditions in the morning regardless,” forecasters wrote Thursday, adding northern portions of the I-25 corridor will be less favored.
The plains will also see limited accumulations as temperatures hovering in the mid to upper 30s, “despite a likely band of greater precipitation extending northeast from the Palmer Divide into the Morgan, Washington and Logan county lines, forecasters said.
Highs on Friday for the I-25 corridor will be in the mid to upper 30s, with temps below freezing in the high country.
Milder and drier weather will return Saturday with a high of 50, and the warming trend continues through Monday, with a high for Denver of 71 degrees.
Here are possible “expected” and “high-end” snow totals across Colorado and the Denver metro area from the NWS.
Here are links to cold weather shelter information and other resources for Denver metro communities.
The City of Denver has activated its cold weather shelter plan.
"All shelter sites are pet-friendly and provide food, showers, and blankets. Transportation will run daily from downtown shelters to cold weather shelter sites. Security will be present at each site, and shelters will deactivate once weather improves," wrote the city in a news release.
Here's additional information from the city on places to find shelter:
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