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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

More than 60 million women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease.

Heart disease and stroke can affect a woman at any age.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women – it’s responsible for 1 in every 5 female deaths.

Only about half of women living in the U.S. understand that heart disease is their number one killer.

Surprised? If so, you’re not alone. Many women are not aware of their risk or the fact that symptoms can present differently in women. Continue reading Women and Heart Disease – Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

The holiday season brings out the best in most people. But for some, it brings out the worst. Experts say scams targeting older people ramp up this time of year, because seniors are typically more vulnerable and more charitable around the holidays.

“Seniors who live alone, have memory issues or don’t understand technology are especially vulnerable,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations manager at Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner, the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN).“Unfortunately, the holiday season provides many opportunities for scammers to prey on older people – turning what’s supposed to be the most joyous time of the year into a nightmare.” Continue reading ’Tis the Season for Holiday Scams

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News / Resources for Families

Did you know…

  • Across the U.S., nearly 38 million Americans (about 11% of the population) are taking care of loved ones with chronic, disabling or serious health conditions.
  • 60% of family caregivers also have full- or part-time jobs.
  • 30% of all caregivers are caring for two generations.
  • The majority of caregivers (82%) care for one other adult, while 15% care for 2 adults and 3% for 3 or more adults.
  • About 15.7 million family caregivers care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
  • Upwards of 75% of all caregivers are female.
  • Family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours per week providing care. Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers spends 41 hours or more per week providing care.
  • On average, caregivers spend 13 days each month on tasks such as shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation and medication management.
  • The average age of a family caregiver is 49.2 years old.
  • The average age of a care recipient is 69.4 years old – with 47% of recipients age 75 or older.
  • The average duration of a caregiver’s role is 4 years.

*Source – Family Caregiver Alliance and AARP

“Family caregivers are super stars,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder and president of Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner, the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “These statistics show that while caring for an older loved one is extremely rewarding, it can also be challenging and exhausting.” Continue reading Honoring Family Caregivers

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News

How bad will flu season be this year?

Because there has been significant flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere, experts say flu season in the U.S. could be severe – starting as early as October, peaking between December and February and possibly extending through May.

Doctors say one way to avoid the flu is to get the annual shot, which lowers the risk of getting infected or becoming severely sick from the flu. They say it’s especially important for older adults, because they are at higher risk of complications. It’s estimated that 70% – 80% of flu-related deaths and 50% – 70% of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 and older.

Here’s what experts want you to know:

Continue reading What You Need to Know About the 2023-2024 Flu Season

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

To maximize efficiency, some home care organizations rely on remote video- or Zoom-driven caregiver trainings. At the Trail Ridge Home Care we know there’s a better way.

“We believe the difference between a good caregiver and a great caregiver is training,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations manger at Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner HCAN. “That’s why we provide all of our caregivers with a world-class, hands-on experience before they start working with clients as well as on-going training opportunities to help them remain at the top of their game.”

When you choose to work with Trail Ridge Home Care, you can be confident that your aging loved ones’ caregivers have successfully completed extensive training and are prepared to deliver consistent, compassionate care. Our in-person, hands-on training includes:

Continue reading Our Training Makes the Difference

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News / Resources for Families

Looking for something to do when the kids go back to school?

Have you thought about professional caregiving?

At the Trail Ridge Home Care, we offer flexible schedules that that allow busy moms to make extra money and do meaningful work without missing their kids’ school plays, soccer practice or other family events.

Continue reading Professional Caregiving Is The Perfect Career for Busy Moms

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

Did you know that loneliness can pose a health risk as deadly as smoking? It’s a growing concern – one that recently was addressed by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

“In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness,” Murthy says in an advisory. “And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems.”

Older people are at an increased risk for loneliness and isolation increases for a variety of reasons – driving may no longer possible, mobility issues, chronic illnesses and hearing loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Continue reading Sounding the Alarm About Loneliness

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

Your dad passed away about three months ago, and you’re beginning to realize just how much your mom depended on him.

He did all the driving… now she rarely leaves her home.

He was the cook… now her most of her meals come out of the microwave.

He did the laundry… now she sometimes wears the same outfit day after day.

You know she needs help, but she doesn’t want to leave the home she shared with her husband for more than 60 years.

“This is a very common situation,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations director at Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner, the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “It’s completely understandable that mom or dad wants to remain in the family home – especially after the loss of a spouse. Thankfully, they don’t always need to move to assisted living to get the help they need. Families now have options to help their aging loved ones live safely in their homes for as long as possible – including enlisting the help of a professional caregiver.”

Continue reading What Does an In-Home Caregiver Do?

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News

New Trail Ridge Home Care Director, Jessica Hiles, was in Omaha, NE last week with the Home Care Advocacy Network (HCAN) team. Jessica and the HCAN team take a deep dive into implementing a comprehensive program that offers multiple levels of service to seniors in the Sioux Falls area. Jessica states, “Helping clients and families understand the choices available to them and the benefits of home care are essential to developing a comfortable and beneficial relationship”.

Trail Ridge Home Care enables seniors to have Trail Ridge Senior Living Community quality care and support they have come to rely on and trust, in the comfort of their own home. The new services offer seniors and families a variety of supportive home care services to those who wish to remain independent, safe and healthy living in their own home.

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