According to the Center for Disease Control, one of the best places for someone with AIDS to receive care is at home, in the company of their loved ones and their memories. Because the disease process can be long, there are many different stages to living with HIV that a caregiver needs to be aware of. It is vital for the person living with the disease to be involved in his/her care plan. It is also important to remember that each person who is affected by HIV/AIDs responds differently to the disease. As a caregiver, you should be prepared for different situations. Of course, consulting your doctor is the best place to start your care giving plan. In addition, use the many resources that the web provides in giving care.

Because Homewatch CareGivers is dedicated to the preservation of dignity and independence of all of our clients, we’ve listed a few recommendations for caring for someone at home with HIV/AIDS, as well as listed a few of the best internet resources for you to get started in your research. In recognition of December as AIDS awareness month, Homewatch CareGivers offers these tips for you.

Giving Care to a person with AIDS: From The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“People living with AIDS should take care of themselves as much as they can for as long as they can. They need to be and feel as independent as possible. They need to control their own schedules, make their own decisions, and do what they want to do as much as they are able. There are some simple things you can do to help someone with AIDS feel comfortable at home. Keeping up-to-date on new treatments and understanding what to expect from treatments the person is taking are also important.

• Respect their independence and privacy.
• Give them control as much as possible. Ask to enter their room, ask permission to sit with them, etc., saying "Can I help you with that?" lets them keep control.
• Ask them what you can do to make them comfortable. Many people feel shy about asking for help, especially help with things like using the toilet, bathing, shaving, eating, and dressing.
• Keep the home clean and looking bright and cheerful.
• Let the person with AIDS stay in a room that is near a bathroom.
• Leave tissues, towels, a trash basket, extra blankets, and other things the person might need close by so these things can be reached from the bed or chair.

Confidential information, referrals, and educational material on HIV infection are available at CDC-INFO at 1-800-232-4636 in English or in Spanish or online: www.aidsinfo.nih.gov.

Statewide Support Groups of different affiliations and faiths can be found: http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/std/aids_support_groups.htm.

About HIV/AIDS: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/.

Preparing to Care for someone at home with HIV/AIDS: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/careathome/intro.htm.

Providing Emotional Support to Someone with HIV/AIDS: http://www.thebody.com/content/art12866.html.

With over 60% of adult children living away from their aging parents, many don’t get to see their parents but a few times year. With the increasing popularity of people over 65 living independently, the holidays are sometimes the only time when adult children make a trip to see their parents. This time of year is a great time to get a handle on how your parents are really living. Not only should you be aware of their safety, but you should also make sure that your parent is getting all the help they need on a day-to-day basis.

As experts with in home care for seniors, Homewatch CareGivers offers the below tips of areas you should be aware of when spending time with your senior loved ones.

5 Tips for spending time with your senior loved-ones during the holidays:

1. Keep your parent’s budget in mind
   According to the US census in 2007, the national average of senior citizens living in poverty was 9.9%. Although you don’t need to know every detail of your parent’s financial status, you need to have an honest conversation of what they can afford. If you haven’t had a talk about their finances, now is a good time to start it. Don’t plan an extravagant holiday if your parents can’t be involved.
2. Be aware of physical and mental exhaustion
   Most adult children struggle with the fact that their parents aren’t able to do what they used to do. Keep in mind that when you are stressed, this affects your whole family. Instead of forcing group activities, make time for rest, including movies, tea time and naps.
3. Keep tabs on healthy eating habits
   The average American gains about 5 pounds during the holiday seasons. For a person who could face age-related disease like diabetes, these extra pounds can lead to major health problems. Plan your meals ahead so that you and your family aren’t tempted to only eat high calorie sugar treats. Choose the treats you do provide to be small and low on sugar.
4. Give your parents a time to share traditions and reflect
   Make sure you allow your parents a set-aside time to talk about their lives and their loved-ones. The holidays spark memories of good times and loved ones lost. Often people are depressed during the holidays, though they might not show it. Studies show that late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans age 65 and older but only 10% receive treatment for depression. Take the time to talk about your parents friends and loved-ones to help them enjoy the holidays now.
5. Be attentive to changes in your parent, do they need more help than usual?
   Because you may only see your parents once or twice a year, the holidays is the best time to assess their in-home needs. Seniors living independently need to know that you are aware of their changing needs and can help them live the lifestyle they want with in-home care.

November is Family Caregivers Month, our opportunity to celebrate the millions of family caregivers who care for their loved-ones. When a family member chooses to provide their own in-home care, it comes from a deep personal affection and allegiance to someone they love. Of course, prolonged responsibility as a caregiver can create a lot of personal stress and physical strain. Often times, being a family caregiver permanently changes personal relationships. Seeking help from a professional home care company can provide occasional respite from the ongoing accumulation of caregiver stress and can alleviate specific responsibilities that can change the nature of relationship with your loved ones.

When talking to a family member about choosing to get help from Homewatch CareGivers in addition to family caregiving, focus on the following tips. This will help you to acknowledge a family caregiver’s hard work, while realizing that you also need outside help.

How Homewatch CareGivers helps family caregivers:

1. We let the daughter be the daughter. Family caregivers are primarily an adult daughter or daughter-in-law. Although many women cherish giving care to their aging parents, the parents often feel as though their role in the family has been diminished. With Homewatch CareGivers, we restore the relationship of the parent and the daughter with respect and dignity.
2. We are prepared for constant changes. Because our caregivers are trained and have access to constantly updated education, we can offer the family different options as their loved-one’s needs change. Homewatch CareGivers steps into roles that that family members will eventually not have time or emotional capacity to handle.
3. We allow a family caregiver to take care of herself. Family caregiving is an emotional and stressful position. Because caregiving happens in an indefinite time frame, it eventually takes its toll on a person physically and mentally. Working with Homewatch CareGivers can give the adult daughter time to take care of herself, even if it’s only for a few hours a day.

At Homewatch CareGivers, we know that family caregivers face specific challenges on a daily basis, and that they approach their work with compassion and positivity. As a homecare company, we recognize that letting go of being a family caregiver can be emotionally difficult, but can also help change lives for the better.

Homewatch CareGivers provides tips on how to step into the role of caregiver

The last time you saw your mother, her tremors were more obvious, she was struggling with balance and her voice was getting softer. Although she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 3 years ago, it seemed that she was doing fine. All at once she is struggling with her activities of daily living and you have decided to step-in as a caregiver. Now one of your main goals is to help her remain independent while establishing your new roles.

According to the Medical College of Wisconsin, at least 500,000 people are believed to suffer from Parkinson's disease in the United States, and about 50,000 new cases are reported annually. These figures are expected to increase as the average age of the population increases.

The National Parkinson’s Foundation encourages caregivers to help keep patients active and healthy as they age. This will increase quality of life and keep them independent longer. Because Parkinson’s has a slow progression, a caregiver should be ready to adapt to the gradual changes in their loved one’s physical adaptation and behaviors.

Dana Wimberly, a nurse and caregiver for Homewatch CareGivers, says that the main character traits for someone planning to care for someone with Parkinson’s are patience, compassion and safety awareness. “The main thing to learn is how to work through (the disease) without causing extra stress to the patient,” says Wimberly.

Although living with Parkinson’s is challenging, there are several things you can do to design a beneficial lifestyle for yourself as a caregiver and for your loved-one.

Below are 4 ways to help jumpstart a care plan for someone with Parkinson’s.

Create a routine that both you and your parent can follow. Although dealing with Parkinson’s has changed both of your lives, there is no need to live in chaos. After creating a daily schedule, make sure you allow time for extras. Plan meals together and make room and budget for a going out night each month. Set up family activities and dinner times, exercise together and include your parent in movie and restaurant choices.

Advocate independence. Although it’s frustrating and saddening to see your parent struggle with getting dressed or eating, you must maintain their individuality. Be a support unit, but don’t take over their activities of daily living. Be a “care coach” and express your love for them while encouraging them to do things on their own. Maintain your relationship by setting up boundaries for both you and your parent so that you will know what to help with and what to let them do alone.

“This disease affects one’s body image,” says Dana, “so you need to ensure safety but keep their dignity.”

Make sure that your house is set up for optimal safety and independence, which might include an on-sight evaluation from a health care professional. Homewatch Caregivers includes safety evaluations in our initial consultation with your family. Include your parents in these decisions and changes.

Reach out to your community. It is vital that both you and your parent remain active in the community. Whether it is religious, artistic or literary, you both need activities outside the house. If you are interested, you can also seek a Parkinson’s support group, for patients and caregivers. Visit Parkinson Patient Support group, http://www.ppsg.org and the American Parkinson Disease Association http://www.apdaparkinson.org for information on a local chapter.

Encourage, but don’t cheerlead. Remind them about the schedule and medications. Your parent is struggling with his/her changed role as much as you are and it is best to support them to maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle while being open to their needs. You need to help them adjust to a new normal constantly. An honest, ongoing dialogue can help you preserve a positive relationship throughout the advancement of their illness.