Live Better with Home Health

Live Better with Home Health

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Health and wellness tips are a dime a dozen lately, but knowing which ones are right for our own unique lives can be difficult. Let’s face it: years of wear and tear, combined with lifestyle habits, can take a toll, especially after retirement. If managing your health and daily activities at home is becoming more challenging, exploring home health services could be just the support you need to feel your best!

Best of all, to qualify for home health, you don’t have to wait until a crisis happens! If you’re beginning to notice subtle changes in your health, you’re struggling to do tasks, or you’ve been given a new diagnosis like diabetes, COPD, or chronic kidney disease, speak with your primary care provider. You may qualify for services; best of all, they’re available right in the comfort of your home!

What is a Home Health Assessment?

If you are approved for home health, a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed therapy professional (physical, occupational, or speech therapist) will visit your home to get to know you. They’ll ask questions about your health, habits, and personal goals.

The visit isn’t about judgment or receiving a lecture about your preferences—it’s about understanding you. When your team gets to know you, they can help create a care plan to meet your specific goals.

 

Here’s what your home health assessment will discuss:

Physical Health

Aside from having your vitals checked, you might be asked the following:

  • Do you experience pain regularly?
  • How severe is it?
  • Does your pain or overall health limit your ability to leave home?  
  • Does your pain impact your sleep?
  • Do you use durable medical equipment like a cane, walker, or shower chair?
  • Can you move safely in and out of bed or a chair?
  • What are your current and past health conditions (have you previously had surgeries, do you have allergies, etc)?

Current Medications

  • What prescriptions do you take, and when?
  • Do you recognize your medications and store them safely?
  • Do you remember to take your meds as prescribed?
  • Do you experience side effects?
  • Which pharmacy do you use, and do you manage refills on your own?

Daily Living & Mobility

  • Can you move around your home safely?
  • Do you drive, and if not, how do you get to appointments?
  • Can you bathe, dress, and use the restroom independently?
  • Do you do your own shopping, or does someone help?

Cognitive & Mental Health

  • Do you experience forgetfulness?
  • Are you able to manage finances and decision-making?
  • Are you feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed?

Why a Home Health Assessment Matters

A home health assessment helps identify potential risks and creates a personalized plan to help you stay independent. Whether your goal is preventing falls, managing medications, or improving daily habits, home health services can help you live safely at home for as long as possible.

Without proper support, common issues like poor nutrition, medication mismanagement, or injuries can lead to serious complications—including hospitalization or nursing home stays. If you want to maintain independence at home but are starting to struggle, home health could be the missing piece you need to continue living right where you are.

Take Control of Your Health from Home with CaringEdge!

We offer home health and therapies to help our patients get stronger, reduce their pain, and help them live safely in the way they want to live. Our patients are our purpose. Learn more by emailing us at info@caringedge.com.

Boost Your Independence With a Gait Speed Analysis!

Boost Your Independence With a Gait Speed Analysis!

Therapy staff walking with senior living resident

Walking is a wonderful way to improve your health. It strengthens your heart, boosts your mood, enhances mobility, and helps prevent chronic illnesses. But here’s the catch—walking requires a baseline level of health and mobility to be safe and effective.

If your balance, strength, or endurance is compromised, walking can become more challenging or even risky for short distances. By addressing any mobility concerns you might have early, you can enjoy the countless benefits of walking while reducing the risk of falls or injuries.

Has Your Walking Slowed Down? Here’s Why It Matters


If you’ve experienced a recent fall, struggled with balance, or didn’t move as much as you wanted this winter, you’re not alone. Aging, injuries, and being indoors for long periods can make us less active. The good news? You can regain mobility and reduce your risk of falls with simple steps.

Did You Know?


Walking speed can predict your future independence. Research shows that slower walking speeds are linked to:

  • Higher risks of falls
  • Challenges with daily activities like cooking and cleaning
  • Increased likelihood of hospitalization

The best part? Gait speed can be measured, monitored, and, best of all, improved!

What Is Gait Speed?


It’s simply how fast you walk.

Why Does It Matter?


A gait speed evaluation provides valuable insights into the following:

  • Your fall risk
  • Whether you need help with daily activities
  • Your overall health and life expectancy

What Happens During a Gait Speed Analysis?


This quick test takes less than five minutes. You’ll walk a short distance at your normal pace while a healthcare provider observes your movement.

Why Get a Gait Speed Analysis?


If you’ve been slowing down, losing balance, or falling, this evaluation can help healthcare providers develop a personalized care plan to improve mobility and safety.

How CaringEdge Can Help


At CaringEdge, our physical therapists specialize in gait speed analysis and can create a plan tailored to your needs. We accept Medicare for home health services, meaning your care could be low-cost or fully covered.

Based on your results, you may qualify for physical therapy to:

  • Boost your independence
  • Prevent falls
  • Improve your overall quality of life

Benefits of Physical Therapy:

  • Gain confidence in your mobility
  • Reduce fall risks
  • Get back to doing what you love

The Power of Prevention


Slowing down when walking indoors can increase your risk of trips and falls. Remember: you lose mobility when you don’t use it. A gait speed analysis is a powerful tool for assessing your condition and tracking progress.

Don’t wait for a fall to take action. You can improve mobility and safety today with CaringEdge’s therapists and home health services. Contact CaringEdge at info@caringedge.com to learn more. Let’s work together to keep you moving safely and confidently!

Step into a Safe & Healthy 2025

Step into a Safe & Healthy 2025

healthcare helps you feel at home image ce

Daily activities like taking a shower, running errands, and doing everything we need to do to live well are often abilities we take for granted. Think about how quickly running errands can be when feeling our very best and the weather is nice. Getting cleaned up, hopping in the car, and driving around to cross things off the to-do list can go fast.

However, if we’re recovering from an illness or injury or experiencing diminished strength because of leading a sedentary life, consider how daunting those basic tasks can be. Proactive, preventative measures like home health physical or occupational therapy services can help prevent injuries—especially during the height of the slip-and-fall season!

Home Health Therapy Helps You Stay Strong

You don’t have to be injured to receive home health therapy. Speak with your doctor if you’re feeling weak, having balance issues, or relying on walls or furniture to help you get out of your chair. Therapists do much more than stretch and strengthen weak muscles or joints after an injury or surgery.

Home health therapists are skilled at evaluating and diagnosing potential problems before they lead to more severe injuries or conditions. They proactively offer solutions to help reduce future life-changing events like falls. CaringEdge aims to significantly improve our patients’ lives by providing exceptional therapeutic services and care while promoting optimal health, wellness, safety, and function.

Physical therapy helps patients maintain mobility and improve their overall quality of life. Physical therapists can get you moving again using scientifically based treatment techniques focusing on restoring function, reducing pain, and correcting or preventing injury. Staying active can help manage your overall long-term health.

Occupational therapy practitioners use research and scientific evidence to ensure effective interventions. With a strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup, occupational therapists can evaluate how a condition affects the body and mind. An occupational therapist will assess your abilities and, with input from you, family, friends, and care providers, develop individualized goals that will allow you to resume or improve valued daily activities.

Common Conditions Treated by Physical and Occupational Therapy:

• Arthritis 

 • Balance Deficits/Fall Prevention 

 • Hand/Wrist/Elbow Injuries 

• Limitations in Activities of Daily Living 

• Neck Pain 

• Orthopedic Conditions: Non-Surgical & Postoperative 

• Postural Concerns 

• Shoulder Injuries 

• Spine Conditions: Low Back Pain, Stenosis, Sciatica, Etc 

• Transfer/Gait Deficits 

CaringEdge home health therapy services can be done wherever you call home to help you avoid walking on icy, risky walks during the winter. Your Medicare policy may even cover part of the cost!

Medicare Can Help Cover Home Health Therapy:

• Medicare Part A helps pay for medically necessary home health physical and occupational therapy services.

• Medicare regulations no longer limit how much Medicare pays for medically necessary outpatient therapy services in one calendar year.

• All people with Medicare Part A are covered if services are medically reasonable and necessary.

• We can check your eligibility!

Remember, you don’t have to be injured already to receive home health therapies to qualify. Begin your journey to a strong, healthy new year with a trip to your primary care provider’s office. Discuss whether or not you’d be a candidate for home health therapy services, or write to us at info@caringedge.com to learn more.

Four Tips for Healthy Skin & Nails

Four Tips for Healthy Skin & Nails

elderly couple holding hands and walking

The winter landscape is beautiful and challenging. In addition to shoveling, de-icing, and warming vehicles, winter can also create extra work for our bodies.

The colder air can cause dry, chapped skin, and the frigid winter temperatures may also keep us more inactive. Sitting or lying down too long without repositioning could cause skin breakdown or pressure sores.

The color and texture of our skin and fingernails can sometimes indicate underlying health issues. See your doctor for answers if you’re experiencing changes or have concerns.

Here are Four Tips for Healthy Skin & Nails

1. Water to the Rescue

Staying hydrated can benefit your body both internally and externally. Drink eight glasses of water daily, and opt for water-rich foods, too. Cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries, celery, tomatoes, spinach, and cantaloupe are all great foods to eat to stay hydrated and healthy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a diet full of proper nutrients and foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D is important. They also suggest that eating healthy fats, carbohydrates, protein, and iron is helpful for healthy hair, skin, and nails. If you are deficient in these vitamins, speak with your healthcare provider to discuss whether or not you could benefit from supplements.

The air can dry out your home and your skin during the winter. If you enjoy cooking or making tea, boiling liquids in your kitchen can help add humidity to the air. If your home is large, consider adding portable humidifiers to help.

2. Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Staying clean is important, but finding the right balance for your needs is also best practice. You may not need to shower as often if you’re not sweating or moving around.

It’s also important not to wait too long between showers, as this can cause skin to break down. Exfoliating and using skin-friendly products to clean and moisturize your skin are also important. Exercise extreme caution in the tub if you’re using products that have oils in them, as they can make the tub very slippery.

Be sure to keep plenty of high-quality moisturizing products around in the winter. Keeping an extra lip balm and lotion handy will help you keep your skin healthy.

Unscented and chemical-free products are best, especially in your laundry. Some detergents can cause skin rashes or irritation. If you develop a rash, try to get it under control by switching products or speaking to your doctor about your condition. Scratching skin rashes can lead to open sores and complications like wounds.

If you spend a lot of time sitting or lying down, use a mirror to do routine checks to ensure you’re not developing skin breakdown or small sores. If you cannot complete your own skin checks, ask a trusted loved one or caregiver who can help you.

Prevention of skin breakdown is key. Wound care can be painful, costly, and time-consuming, and complications like infections could lead to hospitalizations or frequent clinic visits.

3. Watch Out for Nails

Fingernails and toenails can also give us signs about our health. If your nails are turning colors or there’s a noticeable change in their texture, follow up with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.

Keeping your nails trimmed is also important so you don’t scratch your skin and develop open areas. Consider seeing a professional for your nails if you have certain health conditions or if using a clipper is too difficult. It’s important to use care and avoid over-trimming.

If you have diabetes, exercise extreme caution with your toenails. It is important to see a podiatrist or someone your doctor recommends for nail care. Foot and other wounds can take a significant amount of time to heal if you have diabetes.

4. Take the Pressure Off

According to the Mayo Clinic, constant pressure on the skin can reduce blood flow and create pressure or bed sores. The most common sites of these painful wounds are the tailbone, heels, shoulder blades, spine, buttocks, and the back of arms and legs.

Patients should move around at least once every two hours to avoid the risk of developing sores. Those with circulation problems, fragile skin, or limited mobility may need to move around more frequently or be repositioned by caregivers.  

While activity and movement can help prevent sores, sometimes they are caused by moving while wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes or socks. It’s best to complete regular head-to-toe skin checks and proper hygiene care, which can help stop sores from occurring.

If you have an open area or sore that hurts, is red, or is warm to the touch, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible (especially if you are diagnosed with diabetes or cannot reposition independently). Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may prescribe wound dressing supplies, specialty equipment such as gel cushions or alternating air-pressure mattresses, and home health services to help you.

Home health nurses can be a godsend for those suffering from or at risk of developing open sores. In addition to wound care, they can educate patients and their caregivers on appropriate repositioning schedules, proper nutrition to aid wound healing, and the best practices to help avoid future issues.

Are you living at home with a chronic condition or recovering from a serious illness or injury that’s compromising your quality of life? CaringEdge can help!

Our home health services include skilled nursing care, physical and occupational therapies, dietary education, and social work services. Best of all, you don’t have to wait for major complications to arise before you qualify for home health. Contact us at info@caringedge.com today if you’re interested in home health services to feel your best.

Balance Health & Holiday Fun this Season

Balance Health & Holiday Fun this Season

senior woman decorating the christmas tree

The season of giving and delicious goodies is upon us! Seeing the smiling faces of loved ones gathered around the festively decorated dinner tables is something most of us envision all year.

To get the most out of every holiday occasion, it’s best to balance health and fun. Time away from our typical routines can sometimes cause our healthy habits to fall by the wayside. When that happens, we risk developing illnesses that can lead us to miss the events we’ve anticipated for so long.

With a little prep in advance, you can make it all work and feel your best, too. Here are some tips to stay healthy while you celebrate:

Make Your Meals Merry but Mindful

There’s no need to skip your favorites. Enjoy your holiday meals by being thoughtful about what’s on your plate. Try smaller portions of higher-calorie foods or sugary goodies to savor the season without sacrificing health.

Add some green veggies when you can and keep water handy to stay hydrated, choosing it over sugary or alcoholic drinks when possible. If you have a drink, make sure it’s safe with any medications you take. If you’re unsure whether or not it’s safe to drink alcohol with your medications, it’s best to verify with your doctor or pharmacist.

Stick to Your Medication Routine

Amidst the holiday hustle, it’s easy to forget medications. Keep them handy (yet out of the reach of kiddos), set reminders on your phone, or use a kitchen timer to stay on track. If you have diabetes, make sure to stick to your schedule for blood sugar checks. Staying consistent helps avoid unexpected ER trips and keeps you feeling your best.

Prioritize Rest & Relaxation

The holidays can be energetic, but quality rest is essential. Whether hosting family or visiting loved ones, getting enough downtime is important.

If the little ones wake you up early, offer to read them a bedtime story a little earlier at night so everyone can get a few more winks. Even sneaking in a nap now and again can help you recharge.

Leave some time each day to unwind. Watching your favorite movie or reading a book can refresh your spirit and reduce stress.

Make Time to Move

While taking a breather is great, try to avoid prolonged inactivity. If the weather’s nice, go for a walk or enjoy the fresh air with the family. Movement can also ease digestion, especially when holiday treats are on the menu!

If the weather is poor and you need to move around, consider doing range-of-motion exercises or light workouts indoors. YouTube has many great free options if you need ideas or take a group approach and bring your family to a local yoga class.

Live Well All Year

If you’re struggling to remain healthy at home, CaringEdge may be able to help. Home health services can support those who wish to maintain their health, safety, and independence at home.

Our nursing services can offer IV fluids, medication checks, and even education to you and your family about successfully managing chronic and temporary conditions. If you or a loved one could benefit from home health services, contact us at info@caringedge.com to learn more. A visit to your doctor’s office can be a great first step in getting a home health referral so you can feel your best all year!

Don’t Let Diabetes Take Control

Don’t Let Diabetes Take Control

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Are you one of 38.4 million Americans who have diabetes? That number (from the NIH) includes people who may not even have a diabetes diagnosis!

Typical signs of diabetes are frequent urination, excessive thirst, unintended weight loss, fatigue, slow-healing sores, numbness or tingling, changes to skin, and blurred vision.  These symptoms can suddenly occur or possibly be slowly happening for years.

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one has diabetes, it’s important to get checked out right away to avoid complications. A visit to your primary care provider is the best first step to learning about your risks, how to prevent them, or how to manage your condition best if you have it.

While most people think of type one and type two diabetes, four types can be diagnosed. One type of diabetes may even be reversible.

Types of Diabetes

There are four main types of diabetes. Type one, type two, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes, According to the WHO, is the most prevalent, and it accounts for 90-95% of all cases. Thankfully, more and more information is available on how to manage type two diabetes and possibly eliminate the need to use medications to treat it. Through diet and lifestyle changes, there is much hope for those facing type 2 diabetes.

Living with Diabetes

Successfully managing diabetes takes up a lot of time and energy. For anyone facing multiple chronic conditions, it may feel like a full-time job to stay ahead of possible complications. Improperly managed diabetes can create all kinds of additional symptoms, making the quality of life for those fighting it quite grim.

Long-term effects of unregulated diabetes can cause eye, heart, and kidney damage. Those with diabetes are also at a higher risk of amputations because of nerve damage and circulation problems.


Tips to Manage Your Diabetes

  • Stay active
  • Don’t smoke
  • Eat healthy foods
  • Follow a diabetic diet
  • Get regular skin checks
  • Take care of your feet
  • Take your medications as prescribed
  • See your doctor regularly

With age-related conditions or juggling multiple health issues, proper diabetes care can become very difficult. If you’re struggling to manage your care or spending more time in the ER and at the hospital due to complications, home health services could be the missing piece to help you feel like YOU again!

Home Healthcare Offers:

  • RN visits to review/educate on medications, check vitals, & blood sugars
  • Insulin injection & fingertip testing education
  • Improving functional strength & mobility
  • Glucose monitoring
  • Diabetic foot exams, eye checks, & skin assessments
  • Dietary consultations & education by a registered dietitian
  • Coordination of appointments/services at home
  • Smoking cessation resources
  • Establishing daily activity/exercise goals

Patient Outcomes Include:

  • Decrease your risks for additional health complications 
  • Improve your quality of life
  • Maintain or regain your independence
  • Reduce hospitalizations/visits to the ER
  • Get back to feeling like YOU again

Paying for Home Health:

  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Private insurance & private pay

Home health nurses can help you maintain your independence at home in the best way that works for you. With CaringEdge Home Health, YOU are at the center of your care plan, and our goal is to help you achieve your outcomes. 

If you’re tired of frequent complications with your diabetes and visits to the emergency room, clinic, and hospital, the convenience of home health might be for you. Take control of your diabetes and health with CaringEdge today!