Memory concerns are a big deal for your senior because they can hinder her ability to do a variety of things. They can also be creating big safety issues for her. 

Her Fridge and Freezer Are Full of Bad Food 

Food inevitably goes bad. If your senior is keeping up with that fact, though, she’s going through her pantry, her fridge, and her freezer regularly and cycling through the food that has spoiled or is about to spoil. Memory issues make that task infinitely more difficult for your senior. She may forget to do this at all or she might forget that food does spoil. Regardless, food that is not good any longer is a significant health risk for her. 

She’s Missing Appointments More Often 

Appointments can be another red flag, especially if your elderly family member has always been a stickler for being prompt. Even with all the right tools, like a calendar or a digital app that sends her reminders, your elderly family member’s memory might keep her from getting to all of her appointments. This is especially a problem when it comes to medical appointments that she needs to get to regularly. 

She’s Hiding or Ignoring Mail 

Your senior might not like what’s in her mail, especially if she’s finding a lot of bills or mail that makes her feel uncomfortable. A big cause for this is that memory problems can make her feel anxious or as if she’s not able to do what she needs to do with the mail. Best-case scenarios usually involve her leaving unopened mail in a pile out in the open. But in a worst-case situation, she might be hiding her mail. 

Prescriptions Aren’t Being Filled Regularly 

Your senior might rely on some very important prescriptions, but if she’s not keeping up with getting them filled, that’s a problem. She can’t take the medications regularly if they’re not there for her, regardless of whether she remembers them or not. Automatic refills can be an option here, but it’s a good idea to have a fail-safe notification system set up so you’re aware, too. 

If your senior is having significant memory issues, talk with her doctor. It might also be a good idea to hire homecare providers who can take care of some of the situations she’s not able to manage on her own. This is an especially important step if you’re not able to step in for your senior yourself. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare Services in Wilmette IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

Your senior’s living space can tell you a lot about what’s going on with her, even when she’s reluctant to share the same information. As a caregiver, you’ll find yourself looking for clues to help you understand what your elderly family member needs and how to best help her.  

Lots of Little Things Haven’t Been Handled  

Whether your senior owns her home, lives in an apartment, or has some other arrangement, there’s some sort of maintenance that needs to happen on a regular basis. Some of that may be things she’s been handling on her own, but if you’ve noticed that’s falling by the wayside, there might be other issues. Look for simple maintenance that is really important, like light bulbs that have burned out. When those are in easy locations to change, it doesn’t make sense for them to be ignored unless there’s something else going on with your elderly family member. 

Cleanliness Is a Problem 

You have a good idea how clean your elderly family member’s home has always been. If her standards are slipping now, that might be because she’s unable to keep up with those standards with her current health issues. Talk to her about what might be happening and whether you or senior care providers can pick up the slack for her. If she’s open to that solution, she can take that energy and put it toward activities that she’ll enjoy a good bit more. 

Odd Smells Are Another Problem 

Odd smells are a combination problem. They can show up with maintenance issues, like leaks behind walls or appliances that aren’t working properly. But they can also be an indication that there are cleaning problems. If your senior has been stockpiling food in the freezer for instance, it can still go bad over a long period of time. It can eventually create a stench that won’t be solved until that freezer is cleaned out. There may be other similar causes around your senior’s home that need deeper investigating. 

Your senior might not be willing to accept your help, but if she’s facing these issues, she needs help from someone. Very often aging adults are more willing to accept assistance from senior care providers. They might worry that family members will be more judgmental or will be more willing to make them move. Look for answers that help your senior without creating anxiety or hard feelings. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Senior Care Services in Arlington Heights IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

Gentle Home Services is so pleased to announce that their dynamic team of Business Development Directors received recognition in various positions.

Colleen Muscarella  (pictured on left) joined Gentle Home Services over two years ago and continues to serve on the Deerfield Bannockburn Riverwoods Chamber of Commerce. Colleen also chairs the Health and Wellness Lunch and Learn Networking Group on the North Shore. The group is designed for Professionals in the Healthcare Field and provides a platform for networking, education and referrals.

Susan Scatchell (pictured on right) joined Gentle Home Services in 2017 and quickly jumped into the Home Care Association of America IL Chapter as the Subcommittee Chair for Advocacy and Communications and Continuity of Care Chicago Chapter secretary. Later this summer, Susan will assume the role of the State Treasurer for the Continuity of Care State board.

The Home Care Association of America is the single largest professional organization for home services and home nursing care providers. The association encompasses a broad range of services that supports seniors' well-being, protects their interests and sets the standard to deliver high-quality care. There are over 175 members in Illinois and we are fortunate to have a voice in the leadership for Illinois.

The Continuity of Care Organization exists to enhance the concept of continuity of care as both as essential part of the health care continuum and as integral to total patient care. It serves as an advocate for legislative and community related health concerns and issues by identifying and communicating them to the members, working in tandem with other allied organizations, and supporting standards of professional competence which identify, structure, and promote a multi-disciplinary approach to continuity of care.

"We couldn't be more pleased with how Colleen and Susan represent Gentle Home Services and find creative methods to advocate for older adults through education and advocacy programs like Continuity of Care, our local chamber and the Home Care Association", said Michael Berliant, co-owner and President.

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Home Health Care Services in Deerfield IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

Friend Center Memory Café 
Dancing Through the Centuries and Alzheimer’s Research 
Thursday, July 11, 4 pm, Deerfield

Presenter: 
Ariele Riboh, LCPC, NCC, R-DMT 
Owner, Moving Toward Health



In dance/movement therapy we utilize movement as a means of creativity and self-expression. Through an exploration of music and dances of our past, we will seek to remember, connect, move and have fun.

The Memory Cafe is sponsored by Gentle Home Services and CJE Senior LIfe 
on the Thursday every month.

For More Information Click Here

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Home Care Services in Deerfield IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

​​Mazel Tov to Gentle Home Services and CJE Senior Life as they celebrate a 10-year partnership.

Since 1972, CJE SeniorLife has enhanced the lives of older adults and their families through a comprehensive network that includes housing, health care, community services, health and wellness education, life enrichment programs and applied research. Gentle Home Services has been one of their preferred home care providers for the past 10 years providing quality professional caregivers to support the lives of older adults in their residence or one of the CJE communities, adult day or The Friend Center.

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Home Care Services in Deerfield IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

​​

Balancing work responsibilities and life responsibilities might be something that is literally keeping you up at night. No matter how much you do for each aspect of your life, you probably feel as if it just isn’t enough. What you need is a plan and some help. 

Look at the Reality of Your Situation 

It might help to take out a piece of paper and list out your responsibility. You might also find that spending a few days or a week making a time map helps you to see where your time and your energy go during the week. This gives you a way to really investigate the reality of your situation and where you’re most out of balance. Don’t worry about doing anything with this just yet because you’re still investigating. You need more information first. 

List out Your Potential Resources 

Where can you turn for help? You might have other family members who could pitch in and help more and you might have options available through your employer. Investigate what is available through your employee assistance program. Another option you might have overlooked is hiring home care providers. They can free up your time in regards to caregiving so that you can devote more time and energy to work when you need to be doing so. 

Make a Flexible Plan 

When you’ve got your time mapping and your resources together, you can start to see where you have gaps and where you need to adjust what you’re doing. Home care services can help you to fill those gaps so that they’re not taking over. Remember, though, that whatever plan you make needs to be flexible. Life has a way of changing things up on you when you least expect it. 

Don’t Forget about Yourself 

Do not leave yourself out of your equation. You have a responsibility to yourself to participate in your own self-care. If you’re not making self-care a priority, all the plans in the world are not going to give you what you’re missing. Life and work balance can only balance out when you’re a part of that math. 

Few situations in life truly are “this or that.” You may have a great many more options than you realize to help you to balance your job with being a caregiver. Take a deep breath and look for ways to adapt your plans to help them work for you more effectively. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Home Care Services in Lake Forest IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

When your senior doesn’t want to move and the budget doesn’t allow you to completely redo her home, you have to look for home improvements that make a big difference quickly.

These ideas can do just that. 

Installing Handrails 

Handrails are inexpensive and you can install them anywhere that you can find the wall space. Make sure that if you’re installing them yourself that you do so with the proper anchors or that you install them directly into wall studs. Put handrails in the bathroom, in long hallways, and anywhere else your senior might have difficulty. Talk to your senior about where she’d like to have a handrail. Her answer might be one you didn’t think of and might turn out to be an essential spot. 

Swapping Traditional Versions for Walk-in Tubs 

Traditional styles of tubs and even shower stalls involve forcing your senior to raise her leg up and over an obstacle. While that might be fine when she’s a little younger and has better balance, it can be a big problem once her balance becomes more of an issue. Walk-in tubs and showers are a lot easier for her to access and can significantly decrease the likelihood of her falling. They’ve become a lot more affordable, too, which can make the idea even more appealing. 

Improving Lighting Everywhere 

Better lighting is always a solid answer for your aging family member. As her eyesight changes, she might find that brighter lights help her to continue to be able to see. Take a look at where existing lighting fixtures and lamps are located. Where possible, swap out lower wattage bulbs for brighter ones, including LED bulbs. If the fixtures can’t support brighter lighting, swap them out for newer ones that can handle the newer types of brighter bulbs. 

Installing a Stair Lift 

Installing a stair lift is a little bit more of an investment, but it’s one that can be worth it. Stairs can be extremely dangerous for someone who has balance issues, even if there’s a sturdy handrail in place. If your senior has had some close calls or even avoids her stairs because she’s afraid of them, a stair lift can be the answer you want. Stair lifts also help your elderly family member to conserve some of her energy to devote to other tasks and activities. 

Home improvements can be life-changing for your aging adult. It’s also important that she has the support of people she and you can trust when she needs help. Home care services providers are there for your senior to support and to help her in all the ways that she needs. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Home Care Services in Glenview IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

Thank you so much for your card. My uncle was a great, loyal, dedicated honest man. We was loved by everyone who knew him.

I thank you for your help in taking care of him when he needed help after his stays in the hospital. The caregiver that you sent him because his friend. Your office staff was also very helpful to us, with any questions or concerns we had.

Thank you so sincerely,

Mary, former client's wife

​If you or an aging loved one are considering  Caregiver Services in Deerfield IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

Thank you so much for sending a caregiver to care for my mother in law. N was kind, gentle, thorough, pleasant and caring.

We would be happy to have her come again!

NG from Lake Forest

​If you or an aging loved one are considering  Caregiver Services in Lake Forest IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

The entire office took a break recently to pack food boxes for Feed My Starving Children. "It was a really fun team-building event for a worthwhile cause. We look forward to participating again", said owner Michael Berliant.

​"We were so impressed with the entire operation and efficiency of how their program works", said Susan Scatchell, Director Business Development. "At the end of the day, it was quite overwhelming how many children will benefit".

Pictured here is Michael Berliant, Lorena Nehring, Susan Scatchell and Deb Sweet.


​If you or an aging loved one are considering  Homecare Services in Deerfield IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.