The AFC program is a program for adults age 18 and older with a developmental, intellectual, physical or mental disability who cannot live alone safely. AFC Adults live with trained paid caregivers who provide daily care.
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For Caregivers
If you are currently taking care of a family member in your house, they might qualify for Adult Foster Care program. This service is a MassHealth funded program for individuals 16 years old and other in need of daily help to complete their ADL’s.
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Careers / Employment
Make a difference in the lives of others every day! We are currently have job opening for Administrative Support (Full-Time), RN (Fee for Service), and Care Manager (Fee for Service) for our Adult Foster Care program. Please in the subject section let us know which position you are applying for.
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Referrals
Rivers of Hope is focused on serving all individuals and families who require our services. So, if you have someone in mind who can benefit from our services, provide us with the opportunity to serve them. Refer them now.
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ADULT FOSTER CARE PROGRAM
The AFC program is a program for adults age 18 and older with a developmental, intellectual, physical or mental disability who cannot live alone safely. AFC Adults live with trained paid caregivers who provide daily care.
Submit Your Referrals! Know someone who needs our help?
Daffodil Days, which are normally conducted in March, use this cheerful symbol to raise funds and awareness for cancer. Every year, cancer claims the lives of almost 600,000 Americans and affects countless others. The daffodil has been a symbol of optimism and endurance in the face of cancer since the 1950s. The vibrant blossom symbolizes the dedication of researchers and doctors seeking to find a cure for cancer and enhance treatment for all types of cancer. Cancer research groups all throughout the world have adopted the daffodil as an emblem of hope and tenacity in the face of disease, beginning with the Canadian Cancer Society.
HISTORY OF DAFFODIL DAY
Cancer is a term used to describe a group of disorders in which the body’s cells begin to divide uncontrollably, causing damage to surrounding tissue. Cancer can strike at any time and in practically any part of the body. Growths, or tumors, are formed when cells continue to multiply without ceasing. Malignant tumors, which spread throughout the body, are dangerous because they interfere with organ functions. Nearly four out of every ten people will be diagnosed with cancer at some time in their lives, therefore everyone should be informed of the risks and preventive methods.
Get in touch with Rivers of Hope, if you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Fall River, MA. Call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. We provide Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. Visit riversofhopes.com to learn more about us.
Researching care alternatives for an aging loved one can be stressful, and deciding what is best for your family can be difficult.
Moving to a residential care facility, for example, necessitates significant lifestyle changes.
For many families, home care is the greatest option since it allows their loved one to remain in their own home and live their lives as they have done in the past. There are numerous advantages to receiving home care; we’ve listed the top ten below.
Here are 10 advantages and benefits of home care:
Comfort
Personalized Care
Faster Recovery
One-on-one Attention
Cost Effectiveness
Peace of mind
Independence
Companionship
Family Involvement
Pet Ownership
1. Comfort
The main advantage of home care is that it allows your loved one to remain in the environment that is most comfortable and familiar to them. They can sleep in their own beds, use their own bathrooms, and go about their daily activities without interruption. For those suffering from increasing memory disorders such as dementia, being in familiar settings might be extremely helpful.
2. Personalized Care
A home care plan is tailored to your family’s needs rather than conforming to the schedules and routines of a care facility. Whether your loved one merely wants assistance for a few hours a day or requires full-time live-in care, home care is adaptable to each client’s needs.
3. Faster Recovery
Patients recover from surgery and sickness faster and more successfully in the comfort of their own homes, according to research. They also had a lower risk of infection from germ exposure in a medical facility, as well as fewer hospital readmissions.
4. One-on-one Attention
Because of the intimate nature of home care, your loved one can be the caregiver’s primary focus. Their mission is to give your loved one the level of attention and care that will keep them safe and comfortable. Because an in-home caregiver usually just has one client, their needs are fulfilled considerably more quickly than they would be in a residential institution.
5. Cost Effectiveness
Because home care is paid by the hour, there is a lot of leeway in terms of out-of-pocket spending. In the Bay Area, prices range from $24 to $35 per hour, with a reduction for 24-hour live-in care. Home care can be substantially less expensive than a residential nursing facility, which can cost up to $550 per day for persons who require support on a part-time basis. Home care costs can also be covered by long-term care insurance plans.
6. Peace of mind
You won’t have to worry about your loved one being alone and falling or being hurt while doing everyday things like showering or cooking. Instead, you’ll be able to relax knowing that they’re in good hands.
7. Independence
For seniors contemplating care alternatives, losing their independence is a major issue. Home care has the advantage of allowing your loved one to maintain control over many elements of their everyday lives. They can maintain their independence by deciding when they wish to eat, sleep, and interact. A caretaker can assist seniors who no longer drive in getting to social activities and running errands, allowing them to live freely.
8. Companionship
Seniors who live alone frequently experience social isolation and feelings of loneliness, both of which can contribute to health problems. A caregiver provides a familiar face, cheerful conversation, and a genuine human connection to your loved one, all of which can have a significant impact on their general health and well-being.
9. Family Involvement
Home care allows your family to play a bigger role in your loved one’s care. You will have a direct line of communication with your loved one’s caregiver with a professional home care organization, and a care manager will provide you with frequent updates on care.
10. Pet Ownership
Because your loved one can stay at home, they won’t have to give up their favorite pet. Companionship from pets has been demonstrated to alleviate loneliness in elders, minimize heart disease, and soothe dementia patients. Seniors can benefit from pet companionship even if they require some assistance caring for the animal with the support of a caregiver, family members or companion.
Get in touch with Rivers of Hope, if you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Fall River, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com
What can we do to encourage my elderly mother to drink more water? She is prone to urinary tract infections and appears to be dehydrated all of the time, no matter what we do. We also wanted to know if coffee and tea are okay to drink, or if they should be avoided to avoid dehydration.
A: Dehydration is a serious issue for senior citizens. Even when it’s not particularly hot outside, it’s not uncommon.
One of the best methods to lessen the risk of dehydration is to assist an older person in increasing her fluid intake, as you’re attempting to do.
So, how do you go about doing it? The best techniques, according to studies and practical experience, are:
1. Providing a drink to the elderly person on a regular basis, preferably on a timetable
2. Providing refreshments that the person appears to enjoy,
3. When it comes to elderly individuals, don’t expect them to drink a lot at one sitting.
4. Taking care of any urinary incontinence difficulties that are preventing the client from drinking frequently.
The Fundamentals of Dehydration
What is dehydration and how does it happen?
Dehydration occurs when the body’s cells and blood vessels do not have as much fluid as they should.The body normally acquires and loses fluid as a result of what we eat and drink, as well as urination, sweating, and other physical activities. However, if we continue to lose more fluid than we consume, we may become dehydrated.
When a person becomes dehydrated, the body is programmed to send a thirst signal to the brain. The kidneys are also intended to begin concentrating urine, resulting in less water loss.
Why are older people more prone to dehydration?
Unfortunately, as we become older, the body’s processes for preventing dehydration become less effective. Thirst signals in older persons have decreased, and they are also less able to concentrate their pee.
Other factors that put older adults at risk include:
Chronic problems with urinary continence, which can make older adults reluctant to drink a lot of fluids
Memory problems, which can cause older adults to forget to drink often, or forget to ask others for something to drink
Mobility problems, which can make it harder for older adults to get something to drink
Living in nursing homes, because access to fluids often depends on the availability and attentiveness of staff
Swallowing difficulties
Acute illness or another occurrence can also cause dehydration. Problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and infection can cause people to lose a lot of fluid and become dehydrated. Hot weather, of course, raises the danger of dehydration.
Finally, older persons are more likely to use medications that raise the risk of dehydration, such as diuretics, which are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure or heart failure.
In a study of older persons in residential care in the United Kingdom, blood testing revealed that 46% had impending or current dehydration.
How is dehydration treated?
The treatment of dehydration depends on:
Whether the dehydration appears to be mild, moderate, or severe
What type of electrolyte imbalances (such as high/low levels of sodium and potassium) appear on laboratory testing
If known, the cause of the dehydration
Mild dehydration can usually be treated by having the person take more fluids by mouth. Generally, it’s best to have the person drink something with some electrolytes, such as a commercial rehydration solution, a sports drink, juice, or even bouillon. But in most cases, even drinking water or tea will help.
Mildly dehydrated older adults will often perk up noticeably after they drink some fluids, usually within 5-10 minutes.
Moderate dehydration is often treated with intravenous hydration in urgent care, the emergency room, or even the hospital. Some nursing homes can also treat dehydration with a subcutaneous infusion, which means providing fluid through a small IV needle placed into the skin of the belly or thigh. This is called hypodermoclysis, and this is actually safer and more comfortable for older adults than traditional IV hydration.
There’s a lot about caregiving that feels like a guessing game. One of the areas that might confuse you the most is when you and you’re senior really could benefit from having more help. There is no one answer that fits every situation. It’s about what your situation requires.
Home Care in Abington MA: Time for More Help
It’s Not Safe for Your Senior to Drive Anymore
One of the biggest reasons to need additional help is that your senior can no longer drive herself around. This is a huge adjustment for your senior and it might be one that you’re not prepared to handle as her caregiver. The other option, leaving her on her own with no transportation options, really isn’t a good one at all.
Her Medical Issues Are Worsening
If your elderly family member has health issues, odds are very high that they’ll continue to worsen over time. As those health issues grow, your elderly family member is likely to experience lower energy levels and a diminished ability to do a lot of what she used to do regularly. Having some extra help gives her a chance to conserve her energy where appropriate and still do some of what she loves.
Your Senior’s Mobility Issues Are Increasing
But it’s not just overall health that can become more difficult for your senior. She may find that her mobility is changing, too. As she becomes less able to move the ways that she used to move, she may also be unable to keep up with activities she loved to do. She may also be resisting using assistive tools, like wheelchairs or canes. Senior care providers can help her to master those devices.
You’re Not Taking Breaks
Something else to consider is that you factor into this decision, too. If you’re not taking breaks, that presents a long-term problem for you and ultimately for your senior as well. Hiringsenior care providers to take over while you step away for a little while ensures that you’ve got the coverage that you need and that you can relax while you’re away. You don’t have that same peace of mind if there’s no one with your elderly family member.
Remember that this is something that you can adapt to meet your needs as well as your seniors. If you only need a little bit of help for a short period of time, that’s doable. It’s also feasible to have longer-term help. It’s about what really does help in your situation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Abington, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com
