CARE BLOG

Senior Green Thumbs - The Benefits of Gardening  Whether it’s tending a large vegetable plot, working in a community garden, or planting a few potted pansies, gardening can do wonders for a senior’s overall health and well-being. “For many seniors, gardening is much more than a hobby. Being outdoors and digging in the dirt is a great way for seniors [...]

Five Reasons Why Caregiving is Meaningful Are you looking for a job that provides more than a paycheck? If so, you might want to consider a career in professional caregiving.  “At the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN), we understand the power of compassionate caregiving. For us, caregiving is so much more than a job - it’s a calling,” said Teresa Steinfatt, [...]

Living Past 110? Researchers Say the Odds are Increasing. Will you live past age 110? How about past 120- or 130-years old? You may be thinking "Living past 110? Well, researchers say the odds are increasing. It may seem unlikely now, but according to a new study, the odds of becoming a supercentenarian are increasing. According to researchers at the [...]

Five Ways a Professional Caregiver Can Support Your Senior’s Healthy Habits Is your dad able to manage multiple medications? Is your mom eating healthy, nutritious foods? Are your parents able to safely get in and out of the shower or bath? “We work with a lot of families who are worried that their aging loved ones are no longer able [...]

 Is it Forgetfulness or Dementia? Your mom routinely misplaces her glasses and sometimes forgets to pay a bill. Your dad has trouble remembering the names of his grandchildren and often snaps at them, which is out of character. Are they experiencing the normal forgetfulness that comes with aging or is it something more serious, like Alzheimer’s or another dementia? “It’s [...]

We’re Going Global! When Mark and Sierra Goetz founded the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN), they planned to, one day, take unique their franchise model beyond the borders of the United States.  That day has come. “We recently returned from London, where we participated in the International Franchise Show. We met with dozens of entrepreneurs and organizations who are interested in [...]

Seniors are Embracing Technology to Help with Day-to-Day Living Does your senior loved one enjoy FaceTiming with the grandkids? Do they order groceries and refill prescriptions online? Do they check in with their physician via a computer instead of visiting an office? If so, they’re part of a growing group of seniors who are turning to technology to be entertained [...]

Keeping Seniors on Their Feet - 10 Ways to Prevent Falls in the Home When it comes to falls, the odds are stacked against our aging loved ones. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four seniors will fall this year - it’s the number one cause of injuries among people age 65 and [...]

Tudor Oaks Home Care Joins the HCAN Family There’s a new home care provider in Muskego, Wisconsin. Supported by the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN), Tudor Oaks Home Care is now actively hiring caregivers and serving area families. “We’re thrilled to be working with the Tudor Oaks Home Care team,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of HCAN. “They understand senior [...]

Weathering the Storm - Helping Your Senior Stay Safe in Severe Weather As winter turns to spring, we start worrying less about ice and snow and more about severe weather. “Whether it’s damaging thunderstorms, flash flooding, or tornadoes, it’s important to prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws at us - especially if you have aging loved ones,” said Sierra Goetz, [...]

Do You Have Caregiver Burnout? Are you feeling overwhelmed or worried? Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy? Are you sleeping too much or too little? “Caring for an aging loved one can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be very challenging,” said Sierra Goetz, co-founder and operations manager at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “When [...]

Reshaping the Future of Senior Living When Teresa Steinfatt owned and operated a home care franchise, a significant portion of her business came from senior living providers. The HomeCare Advocacy Network is reshaping the future of senior living with high-quality care, and a priority of always putting you first. “When I owned my business, most providers didn’t offer home care [...]

When Should Your Senior Loved One Stop Driving? It’s one of the hardest things older people have to do - give up their car keys. “It’s one of the most difficult discussions that families will have with senior loved ones because they equate driving with independence,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “There is [...]

Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors What’s on your mom’s menu today?  Is she getting a healthy dose of fruits, vegetables, and protein or is she making do with a peanut butter sandwich and a bottle of Ensure? “Many seniors struggle to maintain a healthy diet. It’s something we see a lot - especially if they live alone,” said Sierra Goetz, [...]

Protecting Seniors From Tax Scams Tax season is upon us, and that means scammers will be looking for easy prey. “Tax time presents the perfect opportunity for thieves who are looking to con older adults,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of the HomeCare Advocacy Network. “They prey on peoples’ fear of the IRS and, oftentimes, unfamiliarity with technology. That’s [...]

Ten Ways to Boost Heart Health It’s February - American Heart Month - a time when the nation shines a spotlight on heart health. While important at any age, taking steps to keep your heart healthy is critical for older people. That’s because, physical changes that happen with age, may increase the risk of heart disease. The good news… there [...]

Start the New Year with a New Career Do you have what it takes to be a great professional caregiver? “Caregiving is so much more than a job - it’s truly a calling,” said Teresa Steinfatt, vice president of business performance at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “Our caregivers are very special people who are committed to making a difference [...]

Working While Caregiving Have you ever had to cancel an important work meeting because it conflicted with your aging mom’s doctor’s appointment? Do you use your lunch hour to check on your dad and make sure he took his medication?  Are you worried that your supervisor’s patience is wearing thin because you have so many unexpected family emergencies? If you [...]

Bickford Home Care Now Serves Families Living in the Chicago Suburbs With offices in Crystal Lake and St. Charles, Bickford Home Care is now serving families in the northwest Chicago suburbs.  “For years, area families have trusted Bickford Senior Living to care for their aging loved ones in our communities,” said Colleen Lesher, divisional director at Bickford Senior Living. “We’ve [...]

Brain Boosters for Your Senior Loved Ones It’s no secret that regular physical activity is one of the keys to healthy aging, but did you know it’s just as important to make sure the brain gets a daily workout? “Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body - especially for seniors because it’s often critical to maintaining [...]

More Seniors are Embracing Technology When it comes to technology, older adults say they want devices that are simple, practical, and affordable - that’s the conclusion of a new Link-age Technology survey of nearly 2,400 people age 55 to 100. “Over the past decade, we have seen a steady increase in the ownership of many types of technology with older [...]

Survey Reinforces the Growing Need for Home Care and the Incredible Opportunity for Senior Living Providers An overwhelming majority of seniors say they want to age in their homes but, according to a new survey, many expect to eventually move to a senior living community. That’s why, at the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN), we believe senior living providers are missing [...]

Ten Tips to Help Siblings Have Positive Caregiving Discussions When you visited over the holidays, you noticed things weren’t quite right with your mom - there was spoiled food in the refrigerator, stacks of unopened mail, and stains on her usually very nice clothes. It’s clear to you that she needs a little extra help at home… but your siblings [...]

Five New Years Resolutions for Family Caregivers Did you make a New Year’s resolution? If you’re caring for an aging loved one, you may be tempted to forego resolutions this year. After all, why would you want to add to your already long to-do list? Instead of vowing to lose 10 pounds, consider the following resolutions that may improve your [...]

HCAN’s Year in Review by Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of the HomeCare Advocacy Network As we wrap up 2021, all of us at the HomeCare Advocacy Network look back with gratitude and ahead with anticipation. It was a busy, inspiring, and very fulfilling year - here are a few of the highlights. Announced Franchise Partnerships with Bickford Senior Living [...]