Our News Categories

Activities of Daily Living

April 06, 2023 Top 5 Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Seniors One of the caregivers on our team assists an elderly gentleman who was released from the hospital after a serious urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream. The man’s healthcare team recommended physical therapy and occupational therapy for the man to regain his ... Read More

Aging in Place

July 20, 2023 60 Wellness Tips for Aging Adults in Clearwater – Part 1 As an aging adult in Clearwater, I do my best to take care of myself by making healthy food choices, eating a nutritious diet, exercising, staying hydrated, engaging socially, and getting good, quality sleep. Those are the primary elements of my personal wellness journey, ... Read More
May 11, 2023 Older Americans Month 2023 Celebrates Aging Unbound There was an interesting news report recently featuring Martha Stewart and her photo shoot as the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model at age 81. As she’s aged before our eyes, Martha has remained very active in her garden, in her kitchen, around the home, ... Read More

Care Tips

January 11, 2024 8 Affordable Ways to Improve Bath Safety and Reduce Fall Risks for Seniors I have a client who has endured many surgical procedures over the last few years which have resulted in ambulation problems for the senior woman. Her last back surgery prompted her to get estimates for bathroom renovations for the master bath because it became too difficult ... Read More
November 30, 2023 Proactively Pay Attention to Notice Senior Needs During the Holidays Among a group of senior friends who gather annually for a Friendsgiving meal before Thanksgiving with their families, one aging gentleman widower appeared noticeably unkempt. He had not shaved, his shirt and pants were soiled and unlaundered, and he smelled of body odor, ... Read More
June 29, 2023 7 Summertime Skin Care Tips for Seniors One of our senior clients is the epitome of a “southern belle,” which is exactly how her youngest daughter describes her! The senior woman is a former schoolteacher, a native of Birmingham, AL, with a distinct southern drawl, and she is very diligent about managing her ... Read More
February 02, 2023 7 Smart Suggestions for Cancer Prevention I’m not sure that I know anyone that has NOT directly or indirectly been impacted by cancer. I know people who have survived various forms of the disease, and others who have succumbed to its devastating effects. Cancer comes in a variety of forms and stages, and the very ... Read More

Caregivers

February 23, 2023 Critical Resources for Family Caregivers of the Developmentally Disabled I must admit that the majority of clients Home Helpers serves are seniors, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help expectant mothers on bed rest due to pregnancy complications, the intellectually or developmentally disabled (I/DD), or family caregivers in need of respite. March ... Read More
January 26, 2023 12 Traits that Make Good Caregivers Great Caregiver: A person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill); a person who has responsibility for the care of another Caregivers are the lifeblood of Home Helpers. Without them, my business would cease to exist and we would not ... Read More
October 06, 2022 Home Helpers® Clearwater Celebrates 15 Years of Service to Our Community In case we’ve never met, my name is Debbie Humphrey, and I have lived in the Clearwater area for over 30 years. I have a 22-year financial management background, and I made the decision 15 years ago to leave my career in banking to become a Home Helpers® franchise owner and ... Read More
March 24, 2021 How Autism Spectrum Disorder Affects Aging Adults I know a number of children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and I’ve had the pleasure of assisting aging adults and seniors on the spectrum. What most people don’t realize is there are real challenges seniors with autism face as they grow older with ... Read More

Community Warriors

September 01, 2022 Community Warriors Provide Beneficial Services and Support to Seniors Last September, I introduced you to our group of Community Warriors who serve seniors and the elderly in Clearwater and throughout Pasco & Pinellas Counties. Our group of “Power Partners,” is a collaboration of masterminds who complement each other in providing valuable ... Read More

COPD

November 10, 2022 Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) I have a friend whose mother has been a smoker for nearly 65 years. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer when a small anomaly was found on a routine CT scan she undergoes for her Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The senior woman was ... Read More

Dental Health

October 20, 2022 Seniors Can Prevent Dental Problems with Proper Oral Hygiene Every time I go to the grocery store these days, I remember the adage, “Halloween must have been created by a dentist.” There are shelves stacked and loaded with multiple-sized bags of candy in almost any combination of sweet treats to be shared with Halloween ... Read More

Elder Care

May 11, 2023 Older Americans Month 2023 Celebrates Aging Unbound There was an interesting news report recently featuring Martha Stewart and her photo shoot as the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model at age 81. As she’s aged before our eyes, Martha has remained very active in her garden, in her kitchen, around the home, ... Read More
April 06, 2023 Top 5 Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Seniors One of the caregivers on our team assists an elderly gentleman who was released from the hospital after a serious urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream. The man’s healthcare team recommended physical therapy and occupational therapy for the man to regain his ... Read More
January 12, 2023 Hugs Have Huge Health Benefits for Seniors Who doesn’t love a good hug? I know they always make me feel better! When I’m feeling down or sad, hugs provide me a sense of comfort. When I’m feeling great and happy, hugs are like a celebration of love and acceptance. The late Australian Zookeeper and Outback adventurer, ... Read More

Elderly Care

March 22, 2023 6 Fun and Festive Ways to Celebrate Easter with Seniors As I began making plans for our family Easter celebration in a few weeks, I contemplated the meal menu and the guests who would possibly be attending. Considering there are several seniors who will receive personal invitations to join our family, I wanted to find fun ways to ... Read More
January 20, 2021 Regular Tea Times Provide Health Benefits for Seniors As a rule, when a tee time is mentioned in Florida, it usually means someone is about to hit the links for a round of golf. However, regular tea times of another form actually provide delicious health benefits for seniors, without the expensive greens fees! Of course, I am ... Read More
September 18, 2020 Wake-Up & Tuck-In Services Bring Isolated Seniors Joy and Comfort I don’t know about you, but Grandparents Day came and went last week with only Zoom and phone calls, instead of the annual in-person hugs and kisses my beautiful Grands always gift me. The year 2020 has proven to be quite a challenge for most of us in many different ways, ... Read More

Employee News

May 18, 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Kits & Tips for the 2023 Season I received a notification on my phone about a weather disturbance in the Atlantic, a few hundred miles North/Northwest of the Bahamas. The National Weather Service does not expect this disturbance to develop into a tropical storm or hurricane, but it bears noting that ... Read More

End of Life Care

August 25, 2022 Discerning End of Life, Palliative, and Hospice Care One of the most difficult discussions a family can have is concerning end-of-life care options for a terminally ill loved one. No one likes talking about death, but it is inevitable for all of us. What’s most important is that we set aside the angst and focus on making sure ... Read More

Exercise

March 14, 2024 Benefits of Regular Exercise for Seniors with Parkinson’s Disease One of the caregivers on my team helps a 76-year-old gentleman with Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is one of her favorite clients because she has known the family her entire life…literally. When she was an infant, her maternal Grandmother was a housekeeper for the man’s family ... Read More

Family Caregiving

June 11, 2020 18 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Senior Men During COVID-19 Am I the only one who has experienced difficulties finding the perfect, appropriate gifts for the senior men in our lives? Sometimes, it can be a real challenge to determine what they want or need, especially now, when it’s best they/we keep our proper social distance to ... Read More

Family Gatherings

May 25, 2023 11 Health-Conscious Gifts for Senior Men in Time for Father's Day When we were young children, my siblings and I always wanted to get gifts for our Dad and Grandpa that they would really like and find useful. My younger sister actually bought Daddy Chapstick one year for Father’s Day, because she remembered he regularly used it. That’s a ... Read More

Getting Started

July 28, 2022 Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is an investment people make when offered by their employers, or they purchase a policy on their own, to help cover expenses of long-term care if and when it becomes necessary. Not everyone has it, and those who do, may not understand exactly ... Read More

Health and Wellness

July 13, 2023 Surviving Lung Cancer Begins with Early Detection The mother of one of my caregiver friends was diagnosed with lung cancer after radiologists found a small spot on her upper-right lung following a routine CT scan. The woman has smoked for more than 64 years, and she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ... Read More
March 30, 2023 Seniors and Seasonal Allergies in Florida An elderly man under our care was eating a chicken salad sandwich for lunch, and his caregiver noticed that his nose was dripping dangerously close to his food! With a quick step, she grabbed his handkerchief and encouraged the man to wipe his nose. Meanwhile, another senior ... Read More
March 09, 2023 The Importance of Sleep for Aging Adults I know I write many blogs about awareness themes for specific months, weeks, and days, but it is vitally important that we keep certain topics, like health conditions, in mind so we can all do our best to monitor and engage our loved ones with exciting breakthroughs, ... Read More
March 02, 2023 Plant-Based Diets are Fuel for the Future in Senior Meal Plans On National Caregivers Day, Friday, February 17, I placed a large order for pizzas so I could give one to each of our Home Helpers caregivers to take home to their families as a token of appreciation. Pizza is a convenient staple for most families, which is evident by the ... Read More

Health Issues

January 19, 2023 Explaining the Differences Between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest If you enjoy sports or music or both, you have likely heard the term cardiac arrest across numerous media and digital platforms over previous weeks attributed to one athlete’s battle and a music icon’s sudden death. Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, and Elvis’ beloved ... Read More

Healthy Habits

June 01, 2023 6 Most Common Health Conditions that Impact Aging Men One of our friends at Home Helpers who currently lives in another state, recently lost a special senior gentleman in Tarpon Springs that she loved dearly. She was not only the man’s friend, but she had served as his caregiver when she lived in Tarpon Springs, and he had ... Read More
March 09, 2023 The Importance of Sleep for Aging Adults I know I write many blogs about awareness themes for specific months, weeks, and days, but it is vitally important that we keep certain topics, like health conditions, in mind so we can all do our best to monitor and engage our loved ones with exciting breakthroughs, ... Read More
February 09, 2023 12 Heart-Healthy Foods Seniors Should Choose I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to all of the fun and flavors of the 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City beginning March 2! There are always celebrity artists performing concerts throughout the festival from every musical genre. There are ... Read More

Healthy Living

December 28, 2023 Exploring CBD’s Options, Safety, and Benefits for Aging Adults As CBD products continue to populate shelves at convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and veterinary clinics, more and more people are trying them as a natural option to help manage various health conditions for themselves, their families, and their pets. Because ... Read More

Hearing Loss

August 11, 2022 Stop, Look and Listen for Hearing Loss in Seniors “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?!” This is a common phrase we used a few years ago when our cell phones would cut out during conversations. There were even tv commercials about it. Sometimes it still happens when we are on our phones and our communications are ... Read More

Heart Conditions

January 19, 2023 Explaining the Differences Between Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest If you enjoy sports or music or both, you have likely heard the term cardiac arrest across numerous media and digital platforms over previous weeks attributed to one athlete’s battle and a music icon’s sudden death. Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, and Elvis’ beloved ... Read More

Heat Related Illness

July 21, 2022 10 Summer Safety Tips Help Seniors Avoid Heat-Related Illnesses Extreme weather conditions are becoming more prevalent around the world. I’ve been watching weather reports where much of the country is under heat warnings and advisories with temperatures climbing to more than 100 degrees, and “feel like” temps exceeding 110. As a resident ... Read More

Holiday Season

May 25, 2023 11 Health-Conscious Gifts for Senior Men in Time for Father's Day When we were young children, my siblings and I always wanted to get gifts for our Dad and Grandpa that they would really like and find useful. My younger sister actually bought Daddy Chapstick one year for Father’s Day, because she remembered he regularly used it. That’s a ... Read More
November 17, 2022 Maintain an Attitude of Gratitude at Thanksgiving and Year-Round I try to maintain an attitude of gratitude year-round, but even more prominently during Gratitude Month and especially at Thanksgiving. I have so much about which to be thankful: my family, my friends, my Community Warriors Power Partners, and my hard-working Home Helpers® ... Read More
December 11, 2020 7 Suggestions for Safe Holiday Gatherings with Seniors We have witnessed history in 2020: a global pandemic, unlike any other for more than a century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, “It is estimated that about 500 million people, or one-third of the world's population, became infected with (the ... Read More
November 18, 2020 28 Holiday Gift Ideas for Seniors during COVID-19 Nothing is normal these days with coronavirus surging, and that includes the holidays and holiday shopping. We’ve been advised to restrict visits to our senior loved ones and the number of people we can safely host over the holidays…preferably, outdoors. So, what can we do ... Read More

Home Care

June 11, 2013 The Difference Between In Home Health Care and Companion Care While some things in life can be avoided, aging is one element of our lives that we have very little control over. Exercising and healthy eating have proven to add years of life, but getting older will still adversely treat some better than others. When choosing the right ... Read More

Home Safety

August 24, 2023 Important Safety Tips for Seniors After Severe Storms This blog will likely be published during or after Hurricane Idalia impacts our beautiful Best Coast, so hopefully you have taken measures toward hurricane preparedness – including evacuation, if necessary – and find these 11 important safety tips for seniors after severe ... Read More
June 08, 2023 50 Senior Safety Tips at Home and On the Go One very important part of my job at Home Helpers is to make sure our senior clients and those with whom I consult live in a safe and healthy environment. Furthermore, having an employment background in banking, I also like to ensure seniors stay financially safe by sharing ... Read More
May 18, 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Kits & Tips for the 2023 Season I received a notification on my phone about a weather disturbance in the Atlantic, a few hundred miles North/Northwest of the Bahamas. The National Weather Service does not expect this disturbance to develop into a tropical storm or hurricane, but it bears noting that ... Read More

Hurricane Preparation

May 18, 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Kits & Tips for the 2023 Season I received a notification on my phone about a weather disturbance in the Atlantic, a few hundred miles North/Northwest of the Bahamas. The National Weather Service does not expect this disturbance to develop into a tropical storm or hurricane, but it bears noting that ... Read More
May 25, 2022 How Seniors Can Prepare to Ride Out Hurricanes in 2022 It’s that time of year again! June 1 st is the official beginning of hurricane season 2022, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting as many as 21 named storms over the course of the next five months. In addition, Scientific American ... Read More

In-Home Care

November 09, 2023 An Attitude of Gratitude Has Physical and Mental Health Benefits In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I extend my sincere gratitude to my Home Helpers team, our beloved clients and their families, my Community Warrior Power Partners, and the communities we all serve! Without you and your support, Home Helpers would not be the thriving, ... Read More
June 24, 2022 Welcome to Home Helpers Clearwater: Your In-Home Care Specialist for Seniors I have had the great fortune of meeting many of you in the Clearwater area, but for those of you who I have not met and those unfamiliar with my business, I welcome you to Home Helpers Clearwater, your in-home care specialist for seniors! My name is Debbie Humphrey, and I am ... Read More

Men's Health

May 25, 2023 11 Health-Conscious Gifts for Senior Men in Time for Father's Day When we were young children, my siblings and I always wanted to get gifts for our Dad and Grandpa that they would really like and find useful. My younger sister actually bought Daddy Chapstick one year for Father’s Day, because she remembered he regularly used it. That’s a ... Read More

Music Therapy

August 22, 2022 Music Serves to Soothe and Stimulate Senior Souls During the week of August 16 th each year, Elvis Presley is remembered and celebrated as the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis died on August 16, 1977, and many of his most devoted fans make the trek to his Graceland home in Memphis to honor the fallen star. A caregiver friend of ... Read More

News

June 24, 2020 Technology Helps Seniors Maintain Independence During COVID-19 We’ve all heard the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but that is merely an old wives’ tale. It may not be easy to teach someone older and set in their ways to try new things, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they can learn! Granted, it may not ... Read More
June 11, 2020 18 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Senior Men During COVID-19 Am I the only one who has experienced difficulties finding the perfect, appropriate gifts for the senior men in our lives? Sometimes, it can be a real challenge to determine what they want or need, especially now, when it’s best they/we keep our proper social distance to ... Read More

Nutrition

March 22, 2023 6 Fun and Festive Ways to Celebrate Easter with Seniors As I began making plans for our family Easter celebration in a few weeks, I contemplated the meal menu and the guests who would possibly be attending. Considering there are several seniors who will receive personal invitations to join our family, I wanted to find fun ways to ... Read More

Outdoor Safety

July 06, 2023 10 Tips for Seniors to Cool It this Summer Season and Beyond Living in Florida, we are accustomed to extremely warm weather, but according to Climate.gov, our world is gradually getting even hotter as the years go by. “The 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred since 2010. 2022 was the sixth-warmest year on ... Read More
April 27, 2023 The Skinny About Skin Cancer Among Seniors in Florida We are certainly blessed to live on the Best Coast of the Sunshine State, but with the blessing of a warm sunny climate comes serious concerns about sun exposure and skin cancer. Florida residents are accustomed to our year-round tropical climate and most remain active by ... Read More

Pain Management

August 17, 2023 Pain and its Impact on Seniors and their Quality of Life Pain : a localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that cause mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (such as injury or disease) We’ve all experienced some sort of physical, ... Read More

Parkinson's Disease

March 14, 2024 Benefits of Regular Exercise for Seniors with Parkinson’s Disease One of the caregivers on my team helps a 76-year-old gentleman with Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is one of her favorite clients because she has known the family her entire life…literally. When she was an infant, her maternal Grandmother was a housekeeper for the man’s family ... Read More
March 31, 2023 An Overview of Parkinson’s Disease in Florida A friend and caregiver I know was driving home from helping an elderly gentleman in a nearby community when she received a call from a woman in search of in-home care, companionship, and transportation assistance for her father who has Parkinson’s disease. My friend knew the ... Read More

Senior and Health Issues

July 13, 2023 Surviving Lung Cancer Begins with Early Detection The mother of one of my caregiver friends was diagnosed with lung cancer after radiologists found a small spot on her upper-right lung following a routine CT scan. The woman has smoked for more than 64 years, and she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ... Read More

Senior Care

April 04, 2024 Driving Retirement Part 2 – Having the Tough Conversation About Taking the Keys Away In last week’s blog, I addressed Driving Retirement Part 1 – When to Take the Keys Away from a Senior Loved One, and the signs that may indicate it is time to have a tough conversation about taking the car keys away for driving safety concerns. In this week’s blog, Driving ... Read More
March 28, 2024 Driving Retirement Part 1: When It’s Time to Take the Keys from Your Senior Loved One I don’t know about you, but I regularly encounter drivers who are on their phones or in such a hurry that they blow through red lights and stop signs without a pause. This has elevated my concern for seniors on the road because their reaction time has more than likely slowed ... Read More
March 14, 2024 Benefits of Regular Exercise for Seniors with Parkinson’s Disease One of the caregivers on my team helps a 76-year-old gentleman with Parkinson’s disease (PD). He is one of her favorite clients because she has known the family her entire life…literally. When she was an infant, her maternal Grandmother was a housekeeper for the man’s family ... Read More
August 24, 2023 Important Safety Tips for Seniors After Severe Storms This blog will likely be published during or after Hurricane Idalia impacts our beautiful Best Coast, so hopefully you have taken measures toward hurricane preparedness – including evacuation, if necessary – and find these 11 important safety tips for seniors after severe ... Read More

Senior Home Care

March 28, 2024 Driving Retirement Part 1: When It’s Time to Take the Keys from Your Senior Loved One I don’t know about you, but I regularly encounter drivers who are on their phones or in such a hurry that they blow through red lights and stop signs without a pause. This has elevated my concern for seniors on the road because their reaction time has more than likely slowed ... Read More

Senior Living

June 15, 2023 Home Helpers® is Making Life Easier™ to Support Senior Independence America’s Independence Day is upon us, and at this time of year, I like to reflect on all of the ways Home Helpers® is Making Life Easier ™ in support of senior independence in the Clearwater area. Senior independence is the primary goal sought by the majority of aging ... Read More
June 08, 2023 50 Senior Safety Tips at Home and On the Go One very important part of my job at Home Helpers is to make sure our senior clients and those with whom I consult live in a safe and healthy environment. Furthermore, having an employment background in banking, I also like to ensure seniors stay financially safe by sharing ... Read More
April 20, 2023 10 Ways Pets Benefit Seniors My family is comprised of dog lovers. My husband and I have a dog, and my adult children have dogs…our grandpups! They are considered members of our family and they play a very important role in our lives as amazing companions and living examples of unconditional love. At ... Read More
March 22, 2023 6 Fun and Festive Ways to Celebrate Easter with Seniors As I began making plans for our family Easter celebration in a few weeks, I contemplated the meal menu and the guests who would possibly be attending. Considering there are several seniors who will receive personal invitations to join our family, I wanted to find fun ways to ... Read More

Senior Safety

August 24, 2023 Important Safety Tips for Seniors After Severe Storms This blog will likely be published during or after Hurricane Idalia impacts our beautiful Best Coast, so hopefully you have taken measures toward hurricane preparedness – including evacuation, if necessary – and find these 11 important safety tips for seniors after severe ... Read More
August 10, 2023 10 Travel Safety Suggestions for Seniors We’re about to mark the official end of summer on Labor Day weekend, observed this year September 2-4, when many families choose to make their final travel plans before the holidays. The holidays…they’re right around the corner, too, you know! If your family is planning to ... Read More
June 08, 2023 50 Senior Safety Tips at Home and On the Go One very important part of my job at Home Helpers is to make sure our senior clients and those with whom I consult live in a safe and healthy environment. Furthermore, having an employment background in banking, I also like to ensure seniors stay financially safe by sharing ... Read More
March 31, 2018 Seniors at High Risk for Sexually Transmitted Diseases [STDs] This is definitely a subject I’m not totally comfortable discussing, however, it must become part of a conversation among families, caregivers, and elderly loved ones. I’m talking about seniors and sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, which is timely considering it is STD ... Read More

Sleep

March 09, 2023 The Importance of Sleep for Aging Adults I know I write many blogs about awareness themes for specific months, weeks, and days, but it is vitally important that we keep certain topics, like health conditions, in mind so we can all do our best to monitor and engage our loved ones with exciting breakthroughs, ... Read More

Tasks of Daily Living

May 04, 2023 Women Stay Well with Annual Well-Woman Visits If there is one thing I know with certainty, it’s that women bear the brunt of caregiving duties for family, friends, and strangers. It is generally our nature to nurture, but oftentimes, that can come at a cost. Women tend to juggle many responsibilities and focus more of ... Read More

Travel Safety

August 10, 2023 10 Travel Safety Suggestions for Seniors We’re about to mark the official end of summer on Labor Day weekend, observed this year September 2-4, when many families choose to make their final travel plans before the holidays. The holidays…they’re right around the corner, too, you know! If your family is planning to ... Read More

Veterans

November 08, 2023 Aid and Attendance Benefits are Available for Veterans and Spouses Since 1954, November 11th has been recognized as Veterans Day when Americans honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served in the United States military, be it the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, or Coast Guard. Many seniors may recall that this ... Read More
November 10, 2020 Veterans Benefits Include Aid and Attendance Happy Veterans Day! This is a very special day in which we, as Americans, recognize and celebrate those who have fought and served in the United States military. I have many family members who have served, so this day is always meaningful to me. Throughout history, men and ... Read More

Who We Are

September 07, 2023 Social Isolation is an Epidemic that Negatively Impacts the Health of Seniors In case you don’t know me or keep up with my social media, please allow me to share a few things about myself. Not only am I the owner of Home Helpers® Clearwater, I am an active member of the Community Warriors Power Partners, and I enjoy connecting and engaging with ... Read More