In home companion Louisville: Senior Nutrition in Louisville

For many seniors, independence and freedom are extremely important. They have no desire to move to a nursing home because they enjoy the comfort of the home they’ve lived in for many years. Family members respect these wishes, but may have concerns about their loved one's health. An in home companion is an option if there is worry about their senior’s ability to prepare meals and whether or not they are eating properly. If these concerns sound familiar, the elder care professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, encourage you to look into programs that can provide your elderly loved one with assistance in the comfort of their own home.

Many people have heard of a program called Meals on Wheels, but some are unaware of how beneficial this program is for elderly family members. Meals on Wheels is the oldest and largest national organization that’s made up of community-based senior nutrition programs. It’s active in all 50 states. The programs deliver over one million meals to seniors in need every single day. In addition to delivering nutritionally sound meals to elderly individuals’ homes, volunteers serve up tasty food to senior centers and other places where seniors come together. The goal of the program is to provide elderly individuals who have limited mobility with the opportunity to eat delicious, nutritionally balanced meals. 

So how can your elderly loved one benefit from this program? While your senior may not need in-home care to assist with getting ready for bed or other tasks, they may benefit from having food prepared and delivered to their doorstep. This removes the need for them to make trips to the grocery store, cook, and clean up the kitchen after they are done. The program also allows you to rest assured that your elderly loved one is eating a nutritious meal that tastes good. 

Best of all, the program is free to low-income seniors. Elderly individuals who are able to pay are encouraged to make a small donation. Either way, Meals on Wheels is an affordable way to make sure your elderly loved one is getting proper nutrition. 

Meals on Wheels programs are found in cities across the nation. If you’re concerned about your senior’s eating habits, but know that they are not yet in need of more extensive home care, Meals on Wheels is often a great supplement. The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville encourage you to look into available programs in your elderly loved one’s area.

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For more information, please contact Dan Chitwood at 502-265-5848

Middletown KY Senior Care: What Can Seniors Expect From Assisted Living Facilities in Louisville?

For families of elderly individuals In Middletown KY and Louisville KY, the level of care given at an assisted living community is an important factor when it comes time to select a particular facility. Family members want to know that their elderly loved ones will receive the help they need in a comfortable and safe environment. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, serving Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, encourage families to research state laws concerning assisted living facilities when it comes time to select a particular establishment for their elderly loved one.

The definition of “assisted living community” varies from state to state, as does exactly what licensing regulations require. Though there’s a new movement to make these rules more uniform across all states, currently each state is free to monitor assisted living facilities as that government sees fit. They can also define what constitutes an assisted living facility. Because each state has its own way of handling these communities, it’s important to find out how your area manages assisted living facilities. 

For example, in Kentucky an assisted living facility is defined as a place that provides help with basic daily functions, aid with taking medications, three meals and a snack per day, as well as scheduled daily activities. 

Staff at an assisted living community in Kentucky must sufficiently meet the needs of the facility’s residents. At least one staff member is required to stay awake and on the premises at all times to address residents’ concerns. Employees of the community must go through a training and orientation program. The facility’s manager needs to have a high school diploma or GED and demonstrate the ability to successfully run the establishment. 

For facilities that offer an Alzheimer’s care unit, this section of the establishment must have a training log that lists all staff training in relation to dementia care. It must also offer any interested individuals necessary information on programming, staffing, training, and other materials relating to the Alzheimer’s unit. 

Since the rules and regulations for assisted living communities vary from state to state, the home care professionals of Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville  recommend that family members look into a particular state’s requirements before making a choice about an assisted living facility for their elderly loved one. However, many states enforce strict regulations for assisted living facilities in order to provide the best care to their senior residents.


Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

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Louisville Senior Care: Helping Your Elderly Loved One Ward Off Diabetes in Louisville

Diabetes is a concern for individuals of any age; however, the risk for developing the disease grows as people get older. This is partially due to a decrease in physical activity and the likelihood of weight gain. Though many may view diabetes as less risky than conditions such as cancer, in fact this disorder can cause many serious complications, such as kidney disease, hearing loss, and eye problems. To help your senior lower their chance of developing the disease, the professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, suggest taking the following measures:

Focus on physical activity

According to the Mayo Clinic, research shows that aerobic exercise and resistance training play a role in controlling or preventing diabetes. A routine that combines both of these types of exercise is the most effective. If your senior is overweight, losing some of those pounds can help prevent type 2 diabetes and offer other physical and mental health benefits. Create an exercise plan with your elderly loved one if they are in need of weight loss. Find a form of exercise that your senior enjoys to make this routine easier to stick to.

Stop smoking

Care Buzz, a website focused on seniors’ health, explains that smoking causes an increase in insulin resistance, which may lead to diabetes in elderly individuals. Besides preventing diabetes, quitting smoking will decrease the risk that your elderly loved one will develop other conditions, such as lung cancer and heart disease.

Eat right

Your senior’s diet has a major impact on their physical and mental health. Make sure your elderly loved one is getting plenty of whole grains, fiber, and protein. If it seems as though your senior has a difficult time getting to and from the grocery store, you may consider hiring a home care professional who can assist them with these errands, as well as food preparation. This person will help ensure that your senior is eating right and isn’t relying on convenient yet unhealthy food to stay full. 

Consult a medical professional

A doctor can offer insight regarding other ways that your elderly loved one can improve their general wellbeing and keep diabetes at bay. This may include taking certain medications or changing the dosage of a drug that they are already using. It’s important that your elderly loved one makes regular trips to their doctor, who can monitor weight gain and other factors that may contribute to diabetes.

As your senior ages, it’s crucial that they focus on proper nutrition and exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight helps to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you have concerns about your elderly loved one's risk of developing diabetes, the professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville advise you to consult with your senior's doctor.

Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

To receive a free e-book on this and other senior care issues, please click here.

Louisville Senior Care: Creating Inter-Generational Connections

Though part of the same family, members of different generations may not always forge the strongest of bonds. Daily life, distance, and a lack of common interests may all play a role in preventing relationships from developing; however, the opportunity to provide your elderly loved one with senior care services gives your children and parents the chance to strengthen their relationship. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, know that this is the perfect time to improve the bond between your parents and your children.


But encouraging the growth of a closer relationship is not always easy—particularly if your children are too young to understand why such a bond is important. To help strengthen the link from one generation to another, here are a few tips:

1.    Highlight any common interests that your children and parents share. No matter how seemingly trivial such an interest may be, it can set the stage for shared activities and, ultimately, a stronger relationship. Facilitate ways in which your loved ones can share this interest. For example, plan a beach day if they love the ocean or schedule a trip to the museum if they are interested in art or history.

2.    Include your senior in family activities, especially those that revolve around your children. For instance, invite them to your kids’ gymnastic competitions, soccer games, or band performances. This will keep your parents involved in the lives of your children and will show your kids that their grandparents support them and their interests.

3.    If the situation allows, create regular one on one time for your children and their grandparents. This time alone will allow them to better understand one another and forge a stronger bond by creating lasting memories.

4.    Encourage your children to learn more about the lives of their grandparents. Oftentimes, kids don’t understand just how much their grandparents have done. Tell the stories you know and prompt your children to ask their grandparents about where they grew up, their first job, etc.

Strong familial bonds are not always naturally developed; creating a great relationship between family members of different generations can take work. But the lasting memories that are created through this work are worth every ounce of energy that they require. The senior care professionals at Always Best Care know that your parents and children will appreciate your efforts to strengthen their relationship.


Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

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Adaptive Devices: What Are They and What Are Their Benefits?

As elderly individuals age, daily tasks that once seemed easy to complete can become more time consuming. Driving, walking down the hall, and using the restroom may require extra exertion from your elderly loved one. If your senior has difficulties with these tasks, they may benefit from the use of adaptive devices. These tools make essential activities easier to complete. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, encourage family members of elderly loved ones to pursue adaptive devices as a way to improve quality of life for seniors.

What are adaptive devices?

Adaptive devices are pieces of equipment that make independent living easier and more realistic for seniors. These tools provide assistance in performing basic daily tasks that have become time consuming or difficult. Many companies produce a wide range of products to help with a variety of household activities. Whether it’s cooking, driving, or simply walking to the bathroom, there is a product to help make your elderly loved one’s life easier.

What kinds of adaptive devices exist? 

There are adaptive devices for many necessary daily functions. These products range in effectiveness and cost. Companies make everything from steering wheel knobs that assist your senior with driving to handrails to help elderly individuals safely navigate down hallways. There are also grab rails to help your elderly loved one in the restroom and devices to assist with meal time or the use of computers and televisions.

What are the benefits of these products? 

Adaptive devices provide numerous benefits to seniors. They keep elderly individuals safe as they go about their daily lives at home. Family members can feel at ease knowing that their elderly loved ones have extra support in the bathroom or as they walk down the hall. These tools also provide seniors with a higher degree of independence. A good adaptive device (sometimes paired with professional home care) often provides your elderly loved one enough self-sufficiency to continue living in their own home.

If your senior enjoys their independence but could use assistance in completing daily tasks, then an adaptive device may act as the perfect solution. Adaptive devices provide seniors with assistance but allow them to continue caring for themselves. The professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville encourage you to investigate how adaptive devices can improve your senior’s quality of life.


Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

To receive a free e-book on this and other senior care issues, please click here.

5 Tips to Keep Your Senior's Home Safe and Secure in Assisted Living Louisville

A safe home is, typically, characterized by a lack of danger. Creating a secure, hazard-free environment is a major aspect of providing great senior care. But home safety with regard to elder care services extends beyond physical safety; senior care providers are also tasked with creating an emotionally secure living area in which elderly individuals feel comfortable. The professionals at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, have provided the following five tips to assist you in creating a physically and emotionally secure home for your senior.

1.    Ask your elderly loved one about the challenges they are facing regarding navigating their way through the home. Do they have a difficult time going upstairs? Do they find using the restroom to be a challenge? Once you have pinpointed your senior's needs, install the necessary safety devices to create a safer living space. This safety equipment may include hand rails in the shower and by the toilet, raised toilet seats, and non-slip mats in the bathtub, among many others.

2.    Make it a point to clean the home each day. After the first several days of cleaning, this should result in a quick walk through of the house to pick up any clutter. Clear walkways are integral to creating a safe living space for elderly individuals.

3.    In case of an emergency, it is important to keep all of your senior's medical information and prescriptions in one place. Put the medications, medical records, and log of all prescriptions taken in an easy to access cupboard or drawer.

4.    Fix any damaged floors, including cracked tiles, ripped carpets, and warped hardwoods. While doing so, apply a non-slip backing to all of the rugs in the house, ensuring that the ends of the rugs lie flat.

5.    Remember to see to the emotional wellbeing of your loved one, as well as their physical safety. While providing companionship, reassure your senior that you are there for them and willing to listen if they want to talk.

The in-home care professionals of Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville  have been creating safe homes for seniors for many years. These caregivers have dedicated their professional lives to assisting families in establishing a secure environment in which their elderly loved ones can age in place. If you need assistance with building a safe living space for your loved one, you can rely upon the expertise and knowledge of these professionals to help you through the process.

Always Best Care Senior Services has provided non-medical in home care and assisted living placement services to over 25,000 seniors since 1996. Our goal at Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville is to meet your needs and exceed your expectations … always. Your expert and resource for assisted living Louisville, home health care Louisville, alzheimer support Louisville.

Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

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A Healthy Diet for Louisville Seniors

A healthy diet is an important part of a well-rounded lifestyle at any age; however, seniors, in particular, need to eat the right foods in order to support their aging bodies and keep up with their active lifestyles. Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville, which serves Louisville, Middletown, Anchorage, Hikes Point, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, and the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Nelson, and Washington, understands the importance of creating a balanced meal plan that is targeted to the needs of elderly individuals.

Eating a healthy, age-specific diet can help seniors live higher quality lives. By supporting their bodies through this stage of life, seniors can continue to be involved in physical activity while keeping their minds sharp. Because a healthy diet contributes to both mental and physical health, it is important for your elderly loved one to adopt a meal plan that meets their needs. 

When helping your senior plan their meals, keep these facts in mind:

➢ Sodium and simple carbohydrates should be eaten sparingly and avoided when possible. Sodium can cause water retention and high blood pressure, so salt should be used only as needed. Simple carbohydrates contribute to weight gain and high blood sugar, both of which can be dangerous for elderly individuals who face other medical conditions. 

➢ Fats should not all be avoided. In fact, “good” fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can contribute to healthy cholesterol levels. As a result, these fats can improve heart health. 

➢ Sticking to a consistent caloric intake is important when trying to maintain one’s health. By eating more calories than necessary, seniors can experience weight gain that can lead to several other health complications. By eating fewer calories than necessary, they can experience a drop in weight that can also produce medical concerns. 

➢ Fiber and calcium are crucial parts of a healthy diet for seniors. Fiber keeps the digestive system running as optimally as possible while fighting heart disease by lowering cholesterol. Calcium also supports several functions of the body, most notably the maintenance of bone density. 

➢ Everyone has different tastes, and eating should be an enjoyable activity. As such, seniors are encouraged to try new, healthy foods in order to build up a repertoire of ingredients that are both delicious and good for them. 

Always Best Care of Southeast Louisville has provided senior care services to many elderly individuals and knows the importance of a well-rounded diet. With the right vitamins and nutrients, seniors can continue to care for their bodies as they age. 

Contact us today at (502)265-5848 for a free care consultation. We would love to discuss with you how we can help.

To receive a free e-book on this and other senior care issues, please click here.