Your mom is being discharged from the hospital after an unexpected surgery. The social worker assigned to her case says she’ll need home health and home care services in order to continue recovering at home.

Why does she need both?

“People often think home care and home health are the same thing,” said said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “While they do have some similarities, they are not interchangeable, and it’s important t for families to understand the differences.” Continue reading Home Health vs. Home Care: Understanding the Key Differences and Benefits for Senior Recovery

While it can sometimes be challenging, more and more seniors are turning to technology to help them remain in their homes as they age.

“Certainly, nothing replaces the personal touch, but technology can help improve seniors’ lives and help them age a little more gracefully” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “It can also give their families much needed peace of mind.”

A new U.S. News and World Report survey, shows an overwhelming majority of seniors (93%) consider aging in place an “important goal”. To accomplish that goal, about half (49%) are adopting assistive technologies at home.

According to the report, the top reasons why survey respondents have started using assistive or health-related technologies are: Continue reading Aging in Place With the Help of Technology

When it comes to falls, the odds are stacked against our aging loved ones.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four seniors will fall this year – it’s the number one cause of injuries among people age 65 and older,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “Of course, falls often result in injuries, like broken hips, but they can also cause a senior to become fearful or depressed – making it difficult for them to maintain their independence.”

September 23 – 27 is National Fall Prevention Awareness Week, so we’re joining with other organizations to share practical tips to reduce the risk of falls. Blilie says there are 10 simple things you can do to help keep your aging loved ones on their feet. Continue reading 10 Tips to Keep Your Senior on Their Feet

How many prescription drugs do your aging parents take? If they’re like most seniors, they take at least one – probably more.

While medicines can help us live longer and healthier, taking them the wrong way or mixing certain drugs can be dangerous – and, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, as many as 55% of seniors fail to take their medications as prescribed.

“Managing medications can be difficult for a variety of reasons,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “We’ve worked with seniors who have trouble reading the small print on their pill bottles and others whose memory issues prevent them from taking the right pills at the right time.”

Below are ten tips to help you or your aging loved ones avoid common medication mistakes. Continue reading Navigating the Pill Box

You installed grab bars in the shower, improved lighting in dark hallways and tightened the handrails along the stairways. Are there other things you should do to make your aging mom’s home more senior friendly?

“It’s important for seniors and their families to think about all of the challenges that may threaten their ability to safely age in place,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “In addition to simple home modifications, like picking up throw rugs and adding grab bars, technology is making it easier for seniors to age in place.”

There are many new gadgets and technologies that simplify daily activities and help keep seniors safe at home. Here are some of our favorites: Continue reading Ten Tech Gadgets That Can Help Seniors Age in Place

During a recent visit with your mom, you noticed that she let others do the cooking – which is unusual, because she’s always loved preparing family meals.

Has she lost interest?

Is she having trouble remembering or reading the recipes?

Is arthritis limiting her ability to pick up heavy pots and pans?

What does she do when others aren’t there to help? Are her meals healthy or just convenient?

“There could be many factors at play”” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.   “We know that, for some of our clients, cooking just isn’t fun anymore – especially if they live alone and are just cooking for themselves. For others, limited mobility, cognitive decline and worsening vision can make it more difficult to put a healthy meal on the table and clean up afterward.”

Advanced meal preparation is one way to make mealtime easier for aging loved ones and their caregivers. It also promotes healthy eating habits and reduces the amount of wasted food.

Here are a few tips to make meal prep easier. Continue reading Meal Prep Made Easy

“I thought he was having a stroke.”

That’s how Debbie Hilt, a consultant with the Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN) describes her 95-year-old dad’s scary bout with dehydration.

“I called to check in and noticed right away that he wasn’t himself,” Hilt said. “He was very confused and slurring his words, so I immediately hung up and called 9-1-1. After an ambulance ride and lot of tests, doctors determined that he was dehydrated.”

According to the National Council on Aging, older people are at a greater risk for dehydration, because they naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies. Chronic medical conditions and some medications may also increase the risk. Continue reading Drink Up: The Importance of Hydration