Tag: CAREGivers

Protect Seniors Online

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protect-seniors-online-logo_horizontalWith social media on the rise and more older adults than ever surfing the World Wide Web, seniors face an increased risk of their personal and financial information being compromised. Staying connected through email or the various social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram can be a good thing for seniors as well as a great way to share photos with loved ones not living in Minnesota.  Another example is online banking.  Paying bills and managing your miscellaneous daily banking is very easy and convenient, but also opens the door for potential hackers, spam and other cyber scams.

Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis’ latest public education campaign, Protect Seniors Online, takes a look into the increased threat the seniors in our local Minneapolis, Minnesota communities face by focusing on the cyber threats that can put older adults in jeopardy. The Protect Seniors Online campaign offers valuable resources to educate seniors and their family as well as reinforce why it’s so important for our trusted Home Instead CAREGivers to assist your senior loved ones and ensure they are not vulnerable to cyber scams that may do harm.

protectseniorsonlineStudies show that most of the North American seniors surveyed by Home Instead, Inc. use social media. Nearly 12% of those who were surveyed report having had a negative experience including being asked for money and having to block someone. The potential dangers of oversharing while online could put you at risk. It’s important to be mindful of how much personal information is being posted and who can see it. Here are some things to remember:

The Dangers of Oversharing Online:

  • Be wary of what information is public. When creating a profile on any social media account, minimize the amount of detailed information you provide. Remember that specifics such as birthdays, a pet’s name and hobbies could end up in the wrong hands.
  • Information shared on one social media account can show up on another. For example, if you post a photo on Twitter, it may end up on Facebook if the two accounts are connected. Be sure privacy settings are set to protect you and you know exactly who is able to see your posts and personal information.
  • Be wary of quizzes, games and other apps that require personal information. Any bit of information could get into the wrong hands and lead to risk.

To learn more about the risks involved with sharing too much personal information and tips to prevent your senior loved one from becoming a scam target, visit the website www.protectseniorsonline.com.

Cyber attacks can happen to anyone. More than a third of seniors surveyed by Home Instead Inc. report that someone has tried to scam them online and 28% have admitted to downloading a computer virus. Older adults are particularly vulnerable for the following reasons:

  • Complexity of computers and mobile devices
  • Weak passwords
  • A trusting nature

Learn more details about each of the above reasons and other cyber scams here.

Practicing good online habits will decrease your chances of being targeted. Learn the 10 Best Cybersecurity Practices for Older Adults and take the Quiz: Can You Spot an Online Scam?

Serving the communities in Minneapolis and western suburbs, Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis is dedicated exclusively to helping seniors stay in their homes as they age. Our highly trained in-home CAREGivers provide all the supportive care a person needs to continue living at home. Everything from companionship to bathing, showering and using the bathroom, to Alzheimer’s and other dementias care are services Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis provides. Sometimes just having a person in the home to help monitor their online activity or answer questions is all they need to prevent disaster. To inquire more about the services we offer and how our CAREGivers can help keep our seniors safe online, contact us at 763-634-8247.

Wanted: A Caring Professional Looking for a Unique and Rewarding Career

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Caring for seniors is a labor of love that requires a special person with a loving personality and just the right touch. Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis is looking for dedicated CAREGivers who share a passion for caregiving to provide in-home care assistance to seniors and their family. Could that special person be you?

Advances in medicine and healthier lifestyles are leading to many seniors living longer and more productive lives. This is causing the ‘sandwich’ generation to emerge, which in turn is demanding a greater need for caregivers. The sandwich generation refers to the age group who are caring for their parents and simultaneously caring for their own children. Many Minneapolis families are trying to find the balance of managing a demanding job, raising children, staying on top of their own family’s daily activities, as well as caring for their aging parents. It doesn’t take long before a family caregiver drops one of the many balls they are trying to juggle daily.

Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis Client Care Coordinator, Lori Leigh, explains why this growing field is so important right now and provides a glimpse of what is involved with being an in-home personal care assistant (PCA):

As the New York Times reports extensively, more than 1.3 million new paid caregivers will be needed by the year 2022 to meet the demand of the aging senior population. This demand for caregivers in the workforce is at a critical level, causing caregiving to become the largest occupation in the United States in the next 5 years. A recent report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune echoes the growing demand, stating that healthcare is a gold mine right now with an expected growth in Minnesota by more than 40% by 2022.

So, exactly what does it mean to be a caregiver? As a Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver, you can help these Minnesota families restore the balance, order, and peace in their lives once again while allowing their aging loved ones the ability to continue living independently at home. The responsibilities will vary depending on the client’s needs, but generally, you will be expected to:

  • Provide companionship and conversation
  • Prepare meals
  • Perform light housekeeping tasks, including laundry
  • Provide medication as needed
  • Assist with errands
  • Accompany senior to appointments

Other responsibilities may be asked of you, but most importantly and rewarding is the joy you bring to a senior’s life and the value you provide to the family.

Leah Beno with Minneapolis KMSP Fox 9 Evening News featured our own Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis CAREGiver, Rebecca, and her client Liz, highlighting their very special bond.

If you believe you are that special type of person who enjoys working with seniors and wants make a difference in the lives of older adults and their families, being a Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis CAREGiver might be the career for you. Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis offers industry leading CARE Training programs that will equip a new caregiver with the skills necessary to provide the best care possible to the senior client. Home Instead also offers training for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Home Instead Minneapolis serves the communities in Minneapolis and western suburbs, including Excelsior, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Golden Valley, Shorewood, Wayzata, St. Louis Park, and Lake Minnetonka area. Flexible work hours, a competitive salary package including health insurance benefits, as well as overtime pay and paid travel time between client appointments are just some of the benefits our employees enjoy. Our CAREGivers are bonded and insured and are provided with on-going training and support. We offer this and more through a holistic approach – caring for our CAREGiver’s mind, body, and spirit. We truly believe when we care for our CAREGivers, they are better equipped to have a meaningful relationship with their clients and the families they support.

Becoming a paid home caregiver is a unique job with many rewards, as well as responsibilities and challenges, both physical and emotional. As a Home Instead CAREGiver, you will have the opportunity to meet wonderful seniors in our Minneapolis communities, build fulfilling relationships, and make a difference in the lives of our aging clients. Contact Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis today to learn more about the home care career opportunities by visiting the Careers tab of our website where you can also apply online or contact us by calling 763-634-8247 today.