Rivers of Hope Achieves Home Care Excellence with Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rivers of Hope Receives Home Care Agency Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc.

Brockton, MA – Rivers of Hope, a community-based organization that provides care and support for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, is proud to announce that it has received Home Care Agency Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our clients and to empower them to self-advocate for their rights to self-sufficiency.

We offer a range of care services, including Adult Foster Care, Companionship, Homemaker, Personal Care Assistant, Certified Nurse Assistant, Home Health Aide, and Private Duty Nursing.

The Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc. is a leading provider of accreditation for home care agencies in the state, and its accreditation program recognizes organizations that meet the highest standards of quality and care.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc.,” said Francineglide Victoria, Founder/CEO at Rivers of Hope. “Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and support for our clients; this accreditation is a testament to their hard work and commitment.”

The accreditation process includes a comprehensive review of an organization’s policies, procedures, and practices and its commitment to quality and patient-centered care. The method also includes a review of an organization’s compliance with state and federal regulations and its commitment to ongoing education and professional development for its staff.

“We are proud to be among the few home care agencies in the state to receive this prestigious accreditation,” said Omoleye Olorunfunmi, Director of Service at Rivers of Hope. “This recognition shows who we are as an agency and our effect on the communities we serve, and we intended to continue to do our best to serve them.”

For more information, visit our website at www.riversofhopes.com.Contact: Francineglide Victoria, Founder/CEO at fvictoria@riversofhopes.com 508.857.0629 ext 100

Contact: Oluwaseun Adeleke, Vice-President at oadeleke@riversofhopes.com

Contact: Omoleye Olorunfunmi, Director of Services at oolorunfunmi@riversofhopes.com 508.857.0629 ext. 101

Contact: Ken Randall, Office Manager at krandall@riversofhopes.com 508.857.0629 ext. 102

Contact: Lisa Troy, AFC Registered Nurse at ltroy@riversofhopes.com 508.857.0629

Father’s Day

Father’s Day can be made even more enjoyable with senior-friendly activities.

Spending quality time with the significant man (or men) in your life is a considerate approach to show him how much you care on Father’s Day.

We’ve compiled a list of 16 fun Father’s Day activities for seniors that will appeal to a wide range of interests and abilities to assist you in planning something he’ll like.

9 engagements for senior citizens who enjoy going out

These nine activities are ideal for senior citizens who enjoy getting out of the house. They can be done in groups with family and friends or individually for some quality time.

  • Play a round of mini golf (or regular golf).

In the backyard, play activities like cornhole, horseshoes, lawn bowling, bocce ball, or lawn darts.

Enjoy a casual meal at their favorite restaurant (consider sitting outside or ordering takeaway when Covid-19 cases are on the rise) or a picnic or BBQ at a nearby park.

  • Take a walk at the park, on an easy hiking trail, or around the neighborhood to enjoy nature.

  • Bring a sports enthusiast to a live game – whether it’s a local or national team, it’ll be a blast.

To savor the arts or take in some scenery, go to a local museum, photographic show, or well-known tourism point.

  • Attend a local auto event to see classic vehicles, muscle cars, or anything else that makes your engine rev!

  • Give him a soothing massage or a traditional professional shave and haircut.

  • Take a stroll in a retail mall. They’re relaxing areas where you may talk, people watch, and do some shopping. There are also numerous restrooms, seating places, and food and beverage options.

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

Find out how we can help make 2022 the greatest year yet for a senior you love!

DEHYDRATION IN SENIORS: AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED HEALTH RISK

Dehydration is harmful to the health of seniors.

Everyone, but especially older persons who are more susceptible to dehydration, should drink enough water.

According to a UCLA research, 40 percent of seniors may be chronically dehydrated.

Dehydration is a common result, and it can lead to a range of major health issues, including UTIs, falls, kidney stones, and more.

Adults aged 65 and up had the highest rates of dehydration hospitalization.

We explain why dehydration is so frequent in seniors, the moderate and serious dehydration symptoms, the health hazards of being dehydrated, how much water a person requires, and the benefits of staying hydrated to help keep your older adult well and safe.

Why is elderly dehydration so common?
Because their bodies contain less water, older folks are more likely to become dehydrated.

They’re also more likely to have health problems or use prescriptions that make them more prone to dehydration, such as blood pressure meds that expel water from the body.

Seniors should also:

  • Are less susceptible to the sensation of thirst
  • Have a reduced ability to maintain fluid equilibrium in the body
  • Kidneys that are less effective, causing urine to contain more water
  • Frequently utilize drugs that have unpleasant side effects such as diarrhea or excessive perspiration.

Symptoms of dehydration in seniors
Early dehydration symptoms in older adults often go unrecognized because many of the signs of mild dehydration could easily be caused by other health conditions or medication side effects.

But it’s far easier to correct mild dehydration than deal with the complications of serious dehydration symptoms.

Being familiar with the signs helps you take action sooner rather than later.

Mild dehydration symptoms

  • Dry mouth
  • Dark-colored urine or very small amount of urine
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle cramps in limbs
  • Headaches
  • Feeling weak or unwell
  • Being sleepy or irritable
  • Serious dehydration symptoms
  • Low blood pressure
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty walking
  • Fast, but weak pulse
  • Bloated stomach
  • Wrinkled skin with no elasticity – try the “pinch test”
  • Dry and sunken eyes
  • Breathing faster than normal
  • Severe cramping and muscle contractions in the body
  • Convulsions

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

Find out how we can help make 2022 the greatest year yet for a senior you love!

Insomnia is one of the common problems when Aging

Frequent waking and insomnia at night are common among the elders.

Insomnia is a common sleep condition marked by a chronic inability to fall or stay asleep despite having ample chance. In addition to extreme daytime sleepiness, people with insomnia suffer from numerous cognitive deficits that are caused by sleep loss while they are awake. Sleep onset insomnia, which causes difficulties falling asleep, and sleep maintenance insomnia, which causes problems staying asleep, are two different types of insomnia. Some people with insomnia have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

Insomnia affects 10-30% of adults2, according to recent estimates. Insomnia is more common in people over 60, and this can be due to a few distinct factors3. Medical and psychological illnesses that might cause insomnia symptoms, as well as other sleep disorders including sleep-disordered breathing or restless legs syndrome, are more common in seniors. As we get older, our internal circadian clocks and sleep-wake cycles4 shift, affecting how long – and how effectively – we sleep. In addition, several drugs used to treat the symptoms of elderly medical disorders might disrupt sleep.

Sleep and Aging

As we become older, the quality of our sleep tends to decline. People have a tendency to sleep less and have more waking episodes after falling asleep. The time it takes to fall asleep (sleep latency) may also rise. According to some research, starting in middle age, the average person loses 27 minutes of sleep per night for each decade beyond that.

The body’s internal timekeeping systems are linked to these declines in sleep quality and duration. Because the body can’t process circadian signals as well as it used to, elderly adults may go to bed and wake up sooner.

As we become older, our sleep architecture changes as well. There are four stages to a regular sleep cycle. Before the cycle begins again, there are two stages of “light” non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, one period of “heavy” or “slow-wave” NREM sleep, and a final stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. According to polysomnographic research, elderly persons have a lower percentage of slow-wave NREM and REM sleep than younger ones. This makes individuals more prone to nighttime waking episodes, as well as affecting how refreshed and awake they feel in the morning.

Recognizing and Diagnosing Insomnia in Seniors

Insomnia and advancing years frequently go hand in hand. While many seniors have sleep issues as a result of natural changes in their circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle, insomnia must meet certain criteria to be diagnosed. Despite having adequate sleep duration and a somewhat comfortable sleeping environment, a person with insomnia must report at least one of the following symptoms, according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICDS):

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Repeated instances of waking up earlier than desired
  • Feelings of resistance about going to bed at a reasonable time
  • Difficulty sleeping without intervention from a caregiver

Insomnia must also include daytime impairments. These may include excessive daytime sleepiness, feelings of fatigue and malaise, mood disturbances and irritability, and trouble concentrating and paying attention. People with insomnia are at higher risk of accidents, and many struggle in social and family situations.

If these symptoms occur at least three times per week and persist for at least three months, then doctors may diagnose the patient with chronic insomnia. Until then, the condition is considered short-term insomnia5.

Determining the root causes of insomnia in older adults is key to a successful diagnosis. Primary insomnia refers to insomnia symptoms that occur independently, while secondary insomnia occurs due to an underlying medical or psychiatric condition that causes sleep loss. Insomnia symptoms are the same regardless of whether the condition is considered primary or secondary. However, treating secondary insomnia typically requires patients to first address the primary condition that causes their sleep problems.

Treatment for Insomnia in Older Adults

The initial step in the treatment of persistent insomnia in seniors is frequent sleep education and improved sleep hygiene. A doctor will talk to the patient about how to build and maintain a healthy sleeping environment in the bedroom. The ideal bedroom should be dark and quiet, with a temperature of no more than 75°F (23.9 degrees Celsius). Other than sleeping, the bed should not be utilized for other activities such as working or playing video games. During the warmest months of the year, an air conditioner may be beneficial. Doctors will also encourage regular exercise and a well-balanced diet, while discouraging the use of stimulants such as caffeine and tobacco.

Before considering any pharmacological or non-pharmacological insomnia therapies, you should always see your doctor.

Please, join us for an informational webinar.

Are you caring for your son or daughter with a disability or an aging parent? If so, come learn more about our Adult Family Care (AFC) program. This program provides a tax-free stipend, helps with advocating and provides resources you and your family might need, and monthly and as needed visit with an assigned Case manager and assigned RN nurse.

Please, join us in May 1st at 11:00 a.m. for an informational webinar and Q&A session about our AFC program.

  1. We will review AFC program benefits
  2. Caregiver and member eligibility requirements
  3. Question and Answer session regarding our AFC program

If you would like to attend, and would like information about future webinars, please register by clicking the button below.

All registrants will receive a follow up email with a Zoom link for the webinar.

Please RSVP by Friday, April 27.