Pure Home Care Services

Living with AMD

People with age-related macular degeneration can make the most of their remaining vision with special training and technologies. Ask for a referral to a low-vision specialist for instruction on how to compensate for the vision that is lost. Many community organizations and agencies offer information and services such as:

• Training on new ways of doing things
• Low-vision adaptive devices such as hand or stand magnifiers, magnifying spectacles, video magnifiers, screen readers, and special computer programs and equipment
• Large-print books or audiobooks
• Home modifications, including improved lighting
• Alternate transportation when it is unsafe to drive
• Support groups where people with low vision can exchange ideas and share experiences
• Information about new research on treatments and vision-enhancement devices

The National Eye Institute also reminds seniors: “If you have lost some sight from AMD, don’t be afraid to use your eyes for reading, watching TV and other routine activities. Normal use of your eyes will not cause further damage to your vision.”

Can AMD be cured or treated?

Treatment for wet AMD consists of laser surgery; slowing or stopping the leaking of blood vessels by means of injections; or photodynamic therapy, a procedure that uses a combination of light and drugs. The National Eye Institute says that these treatments can help slow down vision loss and in some cases improve sight. But none of these treatments are a cure for the disease, and vision loss may continue despite treatment.

There is no treatment to reverse dry AMD. The goal, instead, is to prevent the condition from progressing to a more advanced stage. Certain lifestyle changes may prevent or delay further vision loss. These include having an annual eye exam, managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke.

Nutrition is especially important. According to Prevent Blindness America, a wide variety of foods, including lentils, grapes, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, kale, certain kinds of fish, turkey and some kinds of nuts, have been shown to aid eye health. Foods that contain refined starches and are high in sugar can be damaging to vision.

What about vitamins?

As reported in the October 2010 issue of Caring Right at Home, the National Eye Institute has conducted a series of important studies on the effect of nutrition on AMD. Certain nutrients were found to be protective against the development and progression of AMD, including vitamins A, C and E; zinc; lutein; zeaxanthin; and certain omega-3 fatty acids. It is a challenge to get the levels of these nutrients from diet alone. Ask your eye doctor whether you should take supplements containing these nutrients. (Be sure to tell your other healthcare providers that you are taking these vitamins; if you are already taking a multivitamin, the formula may need to be changed to avoid a higher-than-recommended dose of certain vitamins.)

Source: Caringnews.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Franklin or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

If there’s anyone out there who could use a little help juggling her act, it’s a caregiver.

After all, the average caregiver — usually a daughter managing doctors’ appointments, the household and finances for an aging parent — is still trying to manage her own 9-to-5 job. There are 61.6 million caregivers, according to the 2011 AARP study ”Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving,” and one-third of them described their responsibilities as “highly stressful.” No wonder, when you consider that nearly three-fourths of caregivers say their role has caused them to be late for work, take leaves of absence or had other negative impacts on their job performance.

Sound familiar? If so, an entire industry — the elder care concierge — has cropped up to help you with this juggling act.

“The senior services segment of the concierge industry is growing lightning fast around the country,” says Katharine Giovanni, founder and chairman of the board of the International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association (ICLMA). “It’s growing because adult children are totally stressed out. You have yourself, your kids, your work — you’re managing all these households and you’re going crazy.”

Elizabeth Swider knows this is true. She is owner of Care Is There, a geriatric care management company in Charlottesville, Va., that offers concierge services to older people, such as bill paying, coordinating home repairs, running errands like buying groceries and assisting with pet care. In nearly all cases, it’s an overwhelmed caregiver who seeks out her services. Swider then has to convince the aging adult that there’s nothing wrong with getting help.

“Older people have been taught that no matter what the hardship, you do whatever you can to muddle through,” Swider says. “But their children want more for them than that. They want Mom or Dad to have a better situation, and ask me to help.”

What can a concierge do to ease the burden?

• Lighten caregiver’s load: In Mesa, Ariz., Debbie Bachler at White Glove Pet and Home Concierge helps clear the caregiver’s to-do list by doing her groceries, dry cleaning or post office run, so that she has time to spend with her parents. She also offers elder-sitting services so that the caregiver can go out for an evening or even take a vacation.

• Help with private matters: “Older adults feel badly about asking their children for things,” says concierge Lynn Sudlow of the Complete Errand in West Lebanon, N.H. “And they like their privacy. Clients ask me to do things that she doesn’t want to bother her children with.”

• Save you money: Most concierges charge between $25 and $55 an hour, according to the ICLMA, and are even cheaper than that in certain parts of the country. This is a bargain if you consider that the average female caregiver gives up an estimated $324,000 in lost wages, Social Security benefits and pension, according to a 2011 MetLife Mature Market Institute study, when she leaves the workforce early. Nearly one in four employed caregivers finds herself in this scenario, and reports either having stopped working, turned down a promotion, lost benefits or chosen early retirement to meet her responsibilities.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in West Bloomfield Township or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

The New Face of Caregiving

When his wife, Chris, was diagnosed with breast cancer on their 19th wedding anniversary, Dave Balch suddenly found himself with two full-time jobs: running his home-based software business and taking care of her. “I don’t know how I managed everything,” says the 60-year-old from Twin Peaks, Calif., whose wife continues to fight recurrences of the disease six years later. “But you do what you have to do.”

Each year, more Americans are finding themselves in a similar situation—and challenging preconceived ideas about men and caregiving.

“People think that male caregiving means that the guy calls home from the job and asks his wife how his mom is doing,” says Donna Wagner, professor of gerontology at Towson University in Towson, Md. “That’s not true at all.”

A 1997 survey conducted by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, a research and advocacy coalition, found that 27 percent of caregivers were men. By the 2004 update, that figure was almost 40 percent, with more male caregivers (60 percent) working full time than women caregivers (41 percent). Among the reasons for the increase: smaller families, longer life spans, more women working outside the home and greater geographic separation of family members.

While male caretakers face many of the same challenges as their female counterparts—including depression, stress, exhaustion and reduced personal time—they approach their caretaking role differently, say some experts.

“Men approach caregiving as a form of work, a series of tasks that needs to be accomplished,” says Edward H. Thompson, coeditor of Men as Caregivers and director of gerontology studies at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass. “I don’t mean that to sound harsh. It’s just the way they look at things.”

Because they are used to delegating, they are more comfortable seeking outside help when they need it, says Richard Russell, associate professor of social work at the State University of New York’s College at Brockport.

Donald Vaughan, a 51-year-old freelance writer in Raleigh, N.C., has an aide come in three times a week to bathe and shave his father. “It’s worth every penny I pay,” he says.

But despite feeling isolated, men tend not to seek help for themselves, at least not from traditional support groups. Instead, some forge their own connections. In Rochester, N.Y., some fellow caregivers meet once a week for breakfast. “The men talk about sports, politics and grandchildren,” Russell says. “They don’t mention caregiving. It’s as if they have made a pact that this is their time to be just regular guys.”

Men also try not to bring their caregiving situation into the workplace. They not only have been socialized to keep things close to the vest, they also perceive a stigma associated with taking time off for caregiving responsibilities—and sometimes a lack of understanding from employers.

John Young experienced that feeling firsthand. The 55-year-old nursed his late wife through Lewy body dementia, a disease that combines the mental deterioration of Alzheimer’s disease with the physical disability of Parkinson’s disease. When his wife became ill, Young was teaching in a police academy in a Houston suburb. At first she was able to stay on her own while he worked, but one day she called with an emergency and he had to rush home. “When I returned, my boss called me in and asked, ‘How much longer does she have?’ ” Young says. “I knew it was time to go.”

Even those who work at home have trouble juggling responsibilities. “Taking care of my dad has had such a dramatic impact on my life,” Vaughan says. “One part of my brain is always on my father. And my time is nickel-and-dimed throughout the day. It’s hard to get a long period when I can do my work.” He interrupts his writing intermittently to make sure his father drinks enough fluids and walks up and down the hallway for exercise.

“The worst part is the exhaustion,” says Gary Noble, 64, who cares for his wife, who has multiple sclerosis. He also works as a bus driver in Livermore, Calif., and often has split shifts. He may come home at 8:30 p.m. Before he goes to bed at 9:30, he has to cook, clean up and tend to his wife’s needs. He needs to be up again at 3 a.m. “I’d appreciate just a few hours off sometimes,” he says.

John Carlson, 57, of Woodbury, Minn., takes care of his 88-year-old father, who is in the early stages of Parkinson’s. “The most difficult part is having time away from home,” he says. “Dad covets my time, as most of his days are spent alone.”

While any relationship may suffer in the caregiving equation, the issues are particularly difficult for those caring for a spouse, says Donna Wagner. Richard Anderson, president of the Well Spouse Association, a nonprofit organization that provides peer support to those caring for a partner with chronic illness or disability, agrees. He took care of his late wife, who had an autoimmune disease, for 29 of their 31 years of marriage.

“Spousal caregivers are different because of the intimacy of the relationship,” he says. “It’s hard to have sexual feelings toward your partner if you have to deal with incontinence and other personal issues.”

Despite the difficulties these men face, there is some good news. “My wife and I spend a lot more time together,” says Ray Heron, 57, of Charlottesville, Va., who has been caring for his wife, who has MS, for 10 years.

The caregiving relationship has brought Chris and Dave Balch closer, too. “This can really put your love for each other to the test,” Chris says. “In our case, it made it stronger.”

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Bloomfield Hills or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Don’t wait until your health fails before living the life you want to live

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected: denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Yet every single patient found peace before departing. Every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they’d made, or not made.

It’s important to try to honor at least some of your dreams along the way. It’s too late once you lose your health. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks, and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks: love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called “comfort” of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to themselves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is your life. Choose consciously, choose wisely and choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Birmingham or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Balancing Work and Caregiving

These tips can help you juggle your job responsibilities and your demands at home

You’ve got important meetings at the office and projects that are almost due. But your ailing father, whom you care for, has been waking up every night this week and you would like to take him to the doctor. Arghh — what should you do?

An estimated 25.5 million Americans face challenges like these every day as they struggle to balance work responsibilities with caring for a relative aged 50 or older. Not surprisingly, they wind up distracted, emotionally drained and physically exhausted.

At some point in your caregiving journey, you may need a professional partner — such as a nursing home, assisted living, home health, hospice or adult day care. When considering care providers, you need to weigh the options and ask the right questions to ensure that both you and your loved one feel good about whatever arrangements you make.

Home Health
This is the most flexible of all the options: A professional caregiver will come into your home and provide whatever services you need, whether it’s help with everyday household chores or round-the-clock care for your loved one. A home health-care agency will supply caregivers with the appropriate skills and training to perform needed tasks.

Assisted Living Facilities
These facilities are staffed to provide help to people who need assistance during the day, but are still able to live somewhat independently. The level of assistance provided is generally intermittent and task-specific. For example, your loved one may need help with bathing, meal preparation or taking medications. In most cases, an assisted living facility will not accept a person who is unable to move about on his or her own.

Nursing Homes
There are generally two types of care available in a nursing home — short-term, rehabilitative care and long-term care for chronic conditions. In addition to rehabilitative capabilities, nursing homes are staffed to provide for daily medical needs and can accommodate patients who spend most or all of their time in a bed or a wheelchair. Nursing homes can accommodate patients with a wide variety of conditions, including mild to severe dementia.

Hospice
Hospice is end-of-life care provided by nurses, social workers, home-health aides, spiritual leaders and others. The goal is to keep a terminally ill person as content, comfortable and pain free as possible. Depending on the program, hospice care can be provided at home or in a facility. Services typically extend to support for the entire family, not just the patient.

Adult Day Care
Adult day care programs provide care and socialization for people who need assistance and/or monitoring during the day. The goal is to offer respite to family caregivers, allowing them to go to work, run errands or simply get a break from caregiving chores. Depending on the program, adult day care centers provide social activities, meals and certain health-related services.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Warren or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) believes that ensuring the right to be cared for in our homes is America’s last great civil rights battle. Home care and hospice professionals connect with patients in a more personal, more humane way. Beyond simply tending to healthcare needs, they provide social interaction, meeting with individuals who in many cases would otherwise be alone and left in the shadows.

“The care that is given through home health and hospice is second to none, especially with the advances in tele-health technology,” said Val J. Halamandaris, president of NAHC. “Plus, all of this occurs in the comfort of the patient’s own home, at a much reduced cost to Medicare and insurance companies. I know Congresswoman Giffords is in good hands.”

As more Americans take advantage of new policies in the recent healthcare legislation that allow them more access to home care and hospice, the demand for qualified home health aides, registered nurses and other care providers will grow. Job growth in the industry is expected to increase an astounding 48 percent by 2018. In 2009, the average home care visit cost $135 per day, versus the average hospital visit, which cost $1500 a day. Preventive home healthcare saves Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars per year.

Today, millions of America’s seniors and disabled citizens depend on home care services to remain healthy, stable and out of costly traditional settings. For decades, caring for the elderly, disabled and chronically ill at home has provided a dignified and high-efficient method of treatment. Home-based care is also clinically effective, utilizing advanced technologies and helping to cost-effectively manage chronic diseases that account for 75 percent of our nation’s healthcare spending.

Source: Caringnews.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

8 Rules for New Caregivers

1. Start with a candid conversation. Talk with your parents about how you will be helping them to meet their needs. Unless they are severely incapacitated, they should continue to make their own decisions and remain a central part of all discussions about their care. Encourage them to articulate their concerns: Most likely, your parents are worried about becoming a burden and losing control of their lives. Have an open conversation about what role your parents want you to play. Establish limits so they don’t form unrealistic expectations.

2. Set your priorities. Make a list of what needs to get done and how you plan to do it. An organized approach puts you in control, reduces stress and ensures that your parents get the assistance they need. Be sure to create backup plans, and ask others to serve as reinforcements if necessary. Write down your plans and schedules, and give a copy to all involved family members. Consider using an online scheduling tool such as Lotsa Helping Hands to organize and keep track of who’s doing what, when.

3. Build a support network.In most families, one person assumes the role of primary caregiver. But that doesn’t let others off the hook. Enlist the help of your siblings, of course, but also consider that cousins, nieces and nephews may be eager to help. Don’t forget to include your friends, distant relatives, neighbors and acquaintances, such as members of your parents’ civic or religious groups. Not all of these folks will volunteer to help, but many will get involved if you ask. Some, in fact, may feel hurt or left out if you don’t seek their assistance.

4. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Ask a friend to pick up groceries or get books from the library, a neighbor’s child to adopt your parent as a grandparent, or a local teenager to help with yard work for a manageable fee. Investigate whether a civic group can provide free home repair or transportation services. Ask the newspaper carrier, a barber or an apartment superintendent to keep an eye out for your parents and to call you if anything seems wrong.

5. Offer alternatives. With family members, don’t accept excuses for not helping without offering alternatives. A sibling who lives far away, for example, can help with paying bills, contacting doctors’ offices or seeking support from local agencies. Siblings who have young children can cook meals or bring kids along for visits and outings.

6. Hold family meetings. Schedule them regularly, and bring in distant family by phone. Choose a neutral party to moderate if necessary. Draw up a clear agenda for each meeting, and agree on rules of conduct — for instance, don’t interrupt, stick to time limits, avoid argument and focus the discussion on how to care for your parents. If meetings tend to be contentious, consider hiring a geriatric care manager to run the meeting.

7. Involve your children. When you have parents and children who need your time and attention, you may feel pulled from both sides. Be honest with your children about the situation, and listen to their concerns. Encourage their questions, and answer them thoroughly. Carve out time for fun activities, and request your children’s help. Teenagers can drive Grandma to the store, and even a toddler can make her feel loved.

8. Talk to your spouse. Have a discussion with your partner about your caregiving responsibilities.What role do you expect him or her to play? Suggest specific ways your spouse can help, and show appreciation for his or her efforts. Recognize that your responsibilities affect your spouse, and encourage him or her to talk about any frustrations. Your relationship is a priority — keep it that way.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb County or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Legal Documents You Need Now!

People don’t want to think that an accident or illness would prevent them from saying what they want — or don’t want — when it comes to their future medical care. We tell ourselves: I have plenty of time to take care of those things later … if I get sick … when I’m older.

But things do happen in our lives that are out of our control. Your family and friends need to know how you want them to handle situations if you’re too ill to tell them. If they’re left guessing, a conversation can quickly disintegrate into a confrontation. The fallout can result in guilt, uncertainty and arguments. Take these steps to ensure this doesn’t happen if such a situation should arise:

1. Know what you need. You’ll need to draw up three documents, often referred to as advance directives.

• A living will alerts medical professionals and your family to the treatments you want to receive or refuse, and under what conditions. This will only go into effect if you meet specific medical criteria and are unable to make decisions.
• A health care power of attorneydelegates a spouse, trusted family member or friend to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. This document is also referred to as a health care proxy, appointment of a health care agent or durable power of attorney for health care. Be aware that a regular durable power of attorney only covers financial matters.
• A letter of instruction outlines any special requests you’d like to be carried out, such as plans for a funeral and names of people to contact. It also should include important phone numbers, such as your employer and your insurance agent or broker. Some people also include a list of meaningful possessions they’d like to give to certain loved ones. This is not a substitute for a will, but it helps clarify your intentions and feelings.

2.  Put it in writing. A living will and power of attorney are legal documents, but you can draw them up yourself. A letter of instruction is not technically a legal document. Many people opt to hire an attorney. You may want one, so they can apprise you of any relevant changes in the law that might affect your document. Most eldercare lawyers charge fixed rates, so you should be able to find one within your budget. Contact the American Bar Association for a list of free and low-cost legal services in your state.

Want to write your living will yourself? Download a copy of your state’s living will at Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), which strives to improve care at the end of life. Every state has different rules concerning living wills, so be sure to download and complete the one recognized by your state. You can also find a sample living will at Aging With Dignity that is now legal in 40 states. AARP offers suggestions on estate planning, as well as an easy-to-follow work sheet to help you organize documents.

3.  Sit down with your family, especially the one who you’ve designated as a health care agent, and explain what you’ve decided. Give them a copy of your documents and have your doctor put one in your permanent medical record.

4.  Review your papers every few years. Keep them in a safe, easily accessible place such as a secure file cabinet. If your family situation changes — through the arrival of grandchildren, for example, or a divorce— you may want to make changes.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Shelby Township or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Outsmart Scam Artists: Protect Yourself and Your Loved One

Scams abound these days, and even savvy consumers can fall victim if they’re not careful. Older adults, in particular, are frequent targets of fraudulent and deceptive business practices because of the perception that they’re more likely to trust and act politely toward strangers.

Don’t let a scam artist take advantage of you or your loved one. Take these precautions to protect yourselves.

Learn to Spot Common Scams
Con artists use a variety of methods to dupe unsuspecting consumers. We often hear about Internet-based scams, but swindlers also lure people in with phone calls, direct mailings, broadcast and print advertisements, and door-to-door solicitations.

A healthy dose of skepticism can protect you and your loved one in any circumstance, particularly when you come across offers such as these:

• Living trust kits and seminars, especially those “endorsed” by AARP: Note that AARP does not sell or endorse living trust products. If you want to know if a trust is right for you, seek advice from a licensed and experienced estate-planning attorney.

• “Free lunch” financial seminars: These seminars typically involve high-pressure sales tactics.

• Unsolicited reverse mortgage offers: Do your homework before considering any reverse mortgage product.

• “Free” or “low-cost” vacations or prizes: You usually have to buy something, give out personal information or attend a high-pressure sales presentation in order to get the prize, which may turn out to be worthless.

• Investment opportunities and other offers that sound too good to be true

Never let anyone pressure you or your loved one into making an immediate decision. If you’re not interested, say, “No thank you.” Otherwise, say that you need to think about it. If a telephone solicitor continues to apply pressure, simply hang up the phone. Install and use caller ID to screen out unfamiliar callers. And do the same for your loved one.

Other advice for you and your loved one:

• Always ask for information in writing before giving money to a business or charity.
• Beware of any charity or business that refuses to provide written information or references.
• Never give out Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone on the phone or Internet until you have independently verified who is asking for the information and why they want it.

Cut Down on Solicitations
To limit the number of solicitations you and your loved one receive by phone, snail mail and e-mail, take these steps:

• Add phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry.Register numbers by visiting www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222 from the number(s) you would like to register. A number will remain on the registry until you remove it or until the number is disconnected.

• Get caller ID. Placing phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls; however, political organizations, charities and companies with whom you have an existing relationship may still call. Caller ID shows who is calling before the call is answered. Don’t answer calls from unfamiliar numbers.

• Visit the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) website to reduce commercial mail. You’ll need to create a DMAchoice account (it’s free), and then you can specify what types of mailings you do and do not wish to receive at your house or the home of your loved one. The DMA will save preferences for three years, and DMA members will add or remove your name from their mailing lists based on those preferences. Just remember: mail from any organization that is not a DMA member will still come through, as well as mail from any company with which you or your loved one has done business (for instance, if you’ve ordered from a particular catalog, you’ll still receive that catalog).

• Opt out of unsolicited “pre-approved” credit offers. Call 888-567-8688 or visit www.optoutprescreen.com to request that the major credit bureaus not share personal information with creditors and insurance companies for promotional purposes. You can opt out for five years, or you can have your name and your loved one’s name permanently removed from credit bureaus’ lists. You will need to provide Social Security numbers and other personal information, which will be used only to process your request.

• Protect your information and time online. Don’t give a website any personal details until you’ve checked its privacy policy. Be especially careful about sharing your Social Security number and credit card information. If you must register with a website, consider using a secondary e-mail address — one you use expressly for website registrations. This will cut down on e-mail sent to your primary address. Also, many websites let you opt out of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes; if given the choice, opt out. If your loved one is Internet savvy, instruct him to do the same.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Grosse Pointe or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.