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Aspen Services

Family Caregivers and Home Health Care

Whether it’s short-term medical care after a hospital stay or a chronic illness needing on-going medical care, home health agencies are dedicated to providing quality medical care in the comfort and convenience of a patient’s home.

Most home health agencies offer a variety of services such as

  • Skilled nursing
    • Wound care
    • Infusion therapy
    • Catheters
    • Pain management
    • Injections, immunizations
  • Rehabilitation therapies: physical, occupational & speech-language
  • Medical social services and counseling
  • Case management
  • Home health aid services (bathing, personal care)Medicare will pay for these services only while a patient is receiving medical treatment in the home and as often as the doctor determines, usually 2 to 3 times a week.  Visit Medicare.gov  to find out what services are covered.

Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care. It’s all about helping seniors heal and improve their health and strength.  Seniors must be making improvement to qualify or re-certify for home health services.

Aspen works with some of the best home health agencies in Utah. They take care of the medical side of things and we take care of everything else.

Questions to ask before you begin receiving home health care.

There’s a lot to consider when looking for a home health agency. Below are some questions to ask:

  • Does the agency have national accreditation?
  • Is the agency Medicare approved and what will Medicare cover?
  • Will the agency take other insurance and what will insurance cover?
  • What kinds of ongoing training do your professional caregivers receive?
  • What are their educational backgrounds?
  • Is a nurse is available 24/7?
  • Will there be someone to cover if the nurse or aid is ill?
  • Are you flexible with visits? Can the nurse and/or aid come when it’s convenient for me?cmh_health_services_logo_no_lettering

The home health agency you are considering should tell you how much Medicare will pay and services they won’t pay for that will be your responsibility. They should explain this both by talking with you and in writing.

It’s perfectly fine to ask for references and ask people you know who may have used home health before. Ask how their experience was with the agency they used.

Home health is a great service for providing medical care in the home. It is usually less expensive than hospital care and seniors heal better in their own homes.

Aspen Senior Care fills in the gaps

When home health isn’t enough, Aspen Senior Care can step in and provide quality personal care and homemaker services.

Our services include:

• Shower assistance
• Hygiene care
• Medication reminders
• Homemaking
• Meal planning and preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Errands and transportation
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care
• Respite and Hospice care
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We are dedicated to providing the best care possible in the home. Please visit our website at aspenseniorcare.com or call us at 801-224-5910 for more information. We’re here to help!

What Family Caregivers Need to Know About Respite Care

What is respite care?

Respite care is short-term care provided to a dependent, disabled, or elderly person with the purpose of giving the main caregiver a break from caregiving responsibilities. This is done while at the same time making sure your loved one is well cared for and able to follow his or her regular routine.

Respite care allows family caregivers to care for loved ones long-term, avoiding caregiver burnout. The care can be designed for a few hours, a day or for longer periods of time depending on what the caregiver needs and what type of care is needed and what services are available in your area.

What types of respite care are there?

There are several types of respite care available.

  • In-home care is provided by a licensed agency specializing in care for seniors or others needing special care. This may be for a short period of time or up to several days to a day, whatever the family caregiver might need in order to get a much-needed break or visit with family or friends. Respite care provided by an agency allows the caregiver peace of mind knowing their loved one is being cared for by someone who is trained to provide personal care, make nutritious meals, and handle challenging behaviors or situations that may come up.
  • Adult Day Care Centers provide licensed care during day-time hours, usually five days a week at a warm & welcoming facility. This is a great option for family caregivers who work during the day. Some caregivers choose to bring a loved one a few days a week on a regular basis.Adult day centers are a nice option in that they provide socialization, activities and nutritious meals. All adult day programs are NOT the same so it’s important to visit and ask questions when considering this type of respite option.
  • Specialized respite care facilities are places with staff trained for specific care, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, where a loved one may stay for several days or a couple of weeks when the caregiver needs to go out of town or has other obligations.
  • Emergency respite care offers help and care on an emergency basis. Usually, home care agencies or respite care facilities offer this type of care.
  • Informal respite care is provided by family members or neighbors and usually allow a limited but much-needed break for the primary caregiver to run errands, go to a doctor’s appointment or simply take some time off from caregiving.dsc01792

What are the benefits of respite care?

Caring for someone with special needs can be overwhelming at times. Family caregivers today have family, work, church and community obligations on top of providing care for their loved-one.

They want to provide the best care and attention to everyone in their circle of influence but this is unrealistic and overwhelming. It can lead to caregiver burnout.

Respite care allows the caregiver to step back and take time for themselves, to refresh and recharge their energy and focus. It actually helps caregivers become better caregivers and take care of their responsibilities longer.

Dementia Orem, UtahIf you are interested in learning more about respite care options call Aspen Senior Care at 801-224-5910. We can help you find options and help determine what type of respite might be right for you. We provide in-home respite care and we also run the Aspen Senior Day Center in Provo which is an adult day center that specializes in working with individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

Visit our websites at www.aspenseniorcare.com and www.aspenseniorcenter.org to learn more about the services we provide and how we can help.

Aspen Helps Seniors Live at Home

Maybe you’ve noticed some of the independent and assisted livings springing up around Utah county. The state of Utah has seen an increase in it’s overall population and although Utah is considered a “young” state, our senior population is growing at a fast pace.

According to a recent report published by The Utah Foundation:

  • It’s estimated that by 2030 seniors in Utah will make up more than 13% of the state’s population.  The majority of these seniors want to stay in their own homes.
  • There are approximately 336,000 caregivers in Utah who provide 90% of the care for seniors. Less than 1% of caregivers use state or local support services.
  • Transportation services for seniors are scarce.

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Aspen’s mission is to help seniors in Utah live comfortably and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.  We work hand in hand with family caregivers to provide quality care to seniors who want to stay at home.

Our services include:

  • Caring companionship
  • Help after hospital stay
  • Light housekeeping and meal preparation, laundry, etc.
  • Bathing and hygiene
  • Transportation and errands
  • Hospice care
  • Alzheimer’s and dementia care
  • Medication reminders
  • Respite care for family caregivers
  • Information and referral service

We are licensed, bonded and insured. We hire caregivers with strong family values who are committed to caring for seniors with love, compassion and skill.

Aspen Senior Care also has a transportation program for seniors – Aspen Senior Rides!

It’s convenient and simple – just call our office and schedule rides for any day and  time. We provide door-to-door service in Utah Valley and charge just $25 per ride or errand up to one hour within 5 miles. We can pick up and drop off prescriptions or groceries as needed.

Aspen Senior Care wants to help seniors stay at home as long as they are comfortable and safe.  We understand there’s no place like home and work hard to help our clients remain where they are happiest.

Here at Aspen Senior Care we value each and every one of our clients and their families!  Each client is unique and we design our services to match their needs.   If you are in need of assistance or have any questions about our services please give us a call at 801-224-5910 or visit our website at aspenseniorcare.com.  

 

 

Aspen Senior Care Voted Best of Utah Valley

Aspen Senior Care has been voted Best of Utah Valley again!

The Best in Utah Valley competition is held each spring by the Daily Herald. Readers choose and vote on their favorite local businesses, services and products in Utah County.  The Daily Herald counts the votes, chooses the top three in each category and the rest is history!

Aspen Senior Care cares! This is more that a job, these dear seniors become family.

Aspen Senior Care cares! This is more that a job, these dear seniors become family.

Aspen Senior Care was chosen along with 2 other agencies as The Best of Utah Valley in the Home Health Care category. Although we are a personal care agency, we work closely with the best home health & hospice agencies in Utah.

Our mission statement is very simple:

“Our mission is to help seniors in Utah live comfortably and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

We accomplish this by:

“…providing Utah’s finest and most reliable in-home companion care. Our care and business practices are based on strong family values and the highest of ethical standards. We perform all senior care services with professionalism and dignity and treat all seniors as family.”

Aspen Senior Care has been serving seniors in Utah Valley for over 11 years. We started caring for seniors in the Salt Lake Valley about 6 years ago. We love caring for seniors and working with their families to help their loved ones stay comfortably at home as long as possible.

Seniors bless our lives in so many ways. We are fortunate to be able to associate with these wonderful people..

Seniors bless our lives in so many ways. We are fortunate to be able to associate with our wonderful seniors.

We help with:

  • personal hygiene
  • meal preparation
  • menu planning
  • grocery shopping & errands
  • night care
  • medication reminders
  • light house keeping
  • dementia care
  • hospice care
  • companionship
  • transportation

Aspen Senior Care is a locally owned company with roots deep in Utah. This is our home. We work closely with families and clients to create a care plan specially designed to meet individual needs.

Our caregivers love working here!

Our caregivers love working here!

We also have clients in assisted livings and rehabs. Families are comforted knowing loved ones are getting the care and attention they need. Call us at 801-224-5910 and see if we can be of help.

 

Aspen Senior Care is Different

There are many senior care agencies in Utah, but none like Aspen Senior Care.  We’re different!  Gary Staples founded Aspen Senior Care over 11 years ago because of his genuine love,  enthusiasm and admiration for seniors and his desire to provide a much needed to service to seniors who want to stay at home in their final years.

Gary chose a team of office staff and caregivers who share his vision of helping seniors in their homes. In an industry with high employee turnover, Gary has creaWP_20160310_15_04_52_Proted a company where no one wants to leave! Most of the office staff have been with Aspen over 8 years, and a many of the caregivers have been with Aspen 5+ years, with a few dating back to it’s very beginning.

Here’s what some of our clients have to say about their experience with Aspen:

“Dear Aspen Senior Care: Thank you so much for the loving care you gave to our mother, LaRae, since she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor last August. It is impossible to list the many people and services that were provided, but please know how much each and every one of you was loved and appreciated by LaRae and our family… we give special thanks to Juli who became not just a caregiver, but a dear, dear friend to our mother. She truly went the extra mile in every way.” ~ u201CPretty in Pinku201D Tea Party 029

“I appreciate how we have had really good caregivers, it has been amazing that the substitute caregivers have even been great. Aspen Senior Care has worked with us to find unique and caring caregivers that fit our family’s needs. Aspen…has been an enriching experience for us.”  ~ Bonnie  C.

“What impressed me the most about the caregivers from Aspen Senior Care is that they have developed a strong relationship with my mother and that demonstrates that they truly care about her.” ~ Helen S.Aspen 5 years

Aspen’s mission statement is to help seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible and treat each client as family. We have a big Aspen family and there’s always room for more!

If we can help you or a loved one with caring companionship, house-keeping, medication reminders, personal care, dementia care, night care or errands, give us a call at 801-224-5910. We’d be happy to visit with you.

 

Ask Questions When Interviewing Senior Care Agencies

In-home care agencies allow seniors to stay in their homes longer and enjoy more freedom and independence, so it’s important to ask questions when hiring a senior care agency.

There are so many agencies now and the quality of care varies greatly. Just because a caregiver is employed by an agency doesn’t necessarily mean they have the training and experience to care for an elderly person.

Allowing and trusting a stranger into a private home can be risky and challenging so it’s really important for families to research agencies carefully when considering in-home care.

Ask questions such as these when interviewing senior care agencies:

  1. How long has this agency been in business? 
    • Use a company that is well known. It doesn’t need to be large or a franchise. Make sure to ask for references.
  2. How does the company recruit caregivers? 
    • Some hire anyone who walks through the door.
    • Do they run federal or state background checks as well as reference checks?
  3. What skills and certifications are required and how does the company assess each caregiver’s skills?
    • Do they know the caregiver’s strengths, weaknesses and interests? This is important when matching caregivers with clients.
  4. Are employees insured and bonded through the agency? 
    • Are they covered by Workers Compensation insurance and does the company pay their payroll taxes.
  5. Does the agency send the same person rather than a new caregiver each visit?
    • It is a good idea to have 2 or 3 caregivers on a team in case one becomes ill or leaves.
  6. If a caregiver isn’t a good fit, will the agency provide someone else quickly?
  7. Does the agency provide a quality of care evaluation regularly and who does this?

At Aspen Senior Care, we have hired a third party, Home Care Pulse, to conduct monthly interviews with our clients, to find out how we are doing and where we can improve. We are serious about providing the best care possible.Family Caregivers need to know the Difference between 24-Hr Hourly Care and 24-Hr Live-in Care

Aspen Senior Care…

  1. is well established in our community with over 11 years of service in Utah County.
  2. carefully screens and runs background checks on potential caregivers. We conduct lengthy interviews and check all references of potential caregivers.
  3. requires caregivers to be either CNAs or Certified Companion Aides (CCAs). Our caregivers are also trained in dementia and hospice care.
  4. is bonded and insured, provides Workers Compensation insurance and pays all payroll taxes.
  5. strives to be consistent with a team of caregivers so that clients will have familiarity with their caregivers.
  6. listens to client concerns and always tries to find the best caregiver fit.
  7. does on-site evaluations of caregivers and alternate with a home visit and a phone call to our clients every other month. These visits and calls are done by our field supervisors.

Call us at 801-224-5910 and see if we can answer these questions to your satisfaction. We are passionate about providing quality care to seniors. We consider our clients and caregivers to be part of our Aspen family and we’d love to have you be a part of it!

Aspen's Scheduling Team

Aspen’s Scheduling Team

 

Preventing Falls

Falling can be one of the most catastrophic events to happen in an elderly person’s life and that’s why preventing falls is so important.  It’s been estimated that about 1/3 of seniors living at home fall each year, and this is only reported falls.  Over 20% of falls result in serious head injuries or fractures and falling accounts for 70% of accidental deaths among seniors age 75 and older.

Almost half of those who fall cannot get up without help even though they may not be injured and many develop a fear of falling that ends up limiting their daily activities. Preventing falls in the home isn’t hard but does take some planning and effort.

There are a number of factors that play a roll in why seniors fall, but we are going to focus on steps you can take to reduce the risk of falling in your home:

  1. Remove things that might cause you to trip
    • Throw rugs or mats
    • Clutter – newspapers, books, mail, clothing
    • Pets and pet bowls
    • Phone cords
    • Electric cord
  2. Organize furniture so there is plenty of room to move freely
    • remove items from stairs and doorways or halls
  3. Don’t walk on wet floors and clean up spills right away.
  4. Wear shoes or non-skid socks.
  5. Use non-slip mats in the shower or tub and rubber-backed rugs in the bathroom
  6. Make sure there is plenty of light. Use nightlights and keep a flash light by the bed in case the power goes out.
  7. Use grab bars and handrails. 
    • When carrying something, use one hand to hold the handrail and the other to carry the item. Don’t try to carry too much at once.
  8. Make sure transition areas are level and easy to see (for example, kitchen to living room, bedroom to hallway).

fall risk

Aspen Senior Care wants seniors to be safe and feel secure in their homes. While some falls are the result of medical and physical conditions, preventing falls in the home is possible with some care and planning.  Check back soon to see simple strengthening exercises that seniors can do in their homes to increase lower body strength that will help with fall prevention.

For seniors and the elderly who are fall risks due to poor health and weakness, Aspen Senior Care provides one-on-one support in the home with trained and qualified caregivers. We assist seniors with meals, bathroom assistance, light housekeeping, transportation, dementia care and much more.

Call us at 801-224-5910 for information on how we can help.

 

 

 

Aspen Senior Care has options!

There’s an old saying that we all love – “there’s no place like home” – and for seniors this is especially true.

Seniors who can stay comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible tend to be healthier and happier than their counterparts who move to assisted livings or nursing rehabs.

However, sometimes it is not safe for seniors to be home alone for long periods of time or they may need help with household chores, personal care, meals or managing medications.

Many families don’t realize that there are other options available to those who want to stay at home but might need some additional help. Aspen Senior Care’s mission states:

Our mission is to help seniors in Utah live comfortably and independently in their own homes for as long as possible. We do this by providing the finest and most reliable in-home caregivers you can trust. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of seniors and their families.

Aspen has dedicated, well trained caregivers who can help seniors stay at home by coming in for a couple of hours each day or several days a week.  Some seniors might need help at night and others on the weekend or around-the-clock care after a hospital stay. We work with seniors and their families to design a care plan specific to each client. We can help with meal preparation, medication reminders, house keeping, personal hygiene, errands and companionship.  Aspen even has a nurse on staff who can help with medical questions.

Another great option for seniors who need memory care is the Aspen Senior Center of Provo.  Aspen Senior Center is an adult day care program designed for seniors who are still somewhat active but have some memory impairment. This is a safe option for families who may have an elderly parent living with them but need to work during the day or need some respite time. The center has fun, engaging activities and provides nutritious snacks and a lunch. There is also a transportation option for those who might need a ride.Home

We are locally owned and have been helping seniors in Utah Valley for over 11 years. Give us a call at 801-224-5910 and see if we can help!

 

Signs your Aging Parents Need Help

dementia care Salt Lake City

Age has a way of sneaking up on everyone.  Your parents may have seemed fine the last time you saw them but on the next visit, some things just didn’t seem right, even though your dad was insisting they were fine.

Physical and mental decline can happen so gradually it’s practically unnoticable, but as these small signs become more apparent, families may be able to make some changes now that will prevent serious problems from happening later. Some signs to look for:

  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Spoiled food in the fridge or food left out on the counter
  • Cluttered or dirty house
  • Changes in mood
  • Weight loss
  • Unexplained bruising
  • Wearing soiled clothing
  • Broken appliances
  • House and yard are in need of care
  • Dings or scratches on the car
  • Forgetting appointments
  • Confused when doing regular, routine tasks.
  • Trouble getting up or down from a seated position
  • Unopened mail or late payment notices
  • Medication taken in correctly or not at all.
  • No interest in things that they used to enjoy doing
  • Losing things or getting lost

kitchen-clutter-300x214Seeing some of these signs gives you the opportunity to talk about how your parents are really doing, see if they need medical help or just help around the house with cleaning or meals being prepared. It’s sometimes difficult for elderly parents to ask for help. They have been independent all of their lives and have always taken care of themselves and others, including you.  Now it may be time for you to gently and candidly address some of these observations and see if you can help find some solutions. Once the conversation has begun, it may actually bring some relief and peace of mind to them.download

Aspen Senior Care has options for in-home care and information on other services available to help seniors living at home stay safe and cared for. Give us a call at 801-224-5910.

Aspen Senior Rides is Here!

in-home elderly care

Aspen Senior Care announces a new transportation program just for seniors.  Aspen Senior Rides is designed to provide rides or run errands for seniors in Utah Valley. If you simply want a ride to the store or doctor’s office call Aspen Senior Care and we will be happy to pick you up and take you. We provide door-to-door service. We will come in and help you to the car and then into the store and carry your groceries back into the house for you.  It’s very simple! If you aren’t feeling well and need a prescription picked up and brought to your home, we will do that too!

We are excited to offer Seniors another transportation option. We are a trusted agency that has been assisting seniors for over 10 years. We are licensed, bonded and insured and specialize in providing seniors with caregivers they can trust.

This program is billed by the hour and begins at $20 for up to a one hour trip within 5 miles of your home. No cash is exchanged at the time of service. We provide rides almost anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Seniors must be ambulatory and not require a wheel chair.

For more information about how it works, please call us at 801-224-5910

Aspen Senior Rides