February is Heart Month, and that means lots of talk in the news and other media about heart disease and high blood pressure. But this year we wanted to take this time to talk a little about stroke, another medical condition that has many of the same risk factors as heart disease. While many people… Read more

Acey Hargett got her start at Piedmont Home Care as an intern while a student at Winston-Salem State University. “My senior year I was required to do an internship, and my professor knew Bob Cain, vice president of marketing at Piedmont Home Care, and set up an interview,” Acey says. “After meeting with him and… Read more

Here at Piedmont Home Care, fall is one of our favorite seasons. After the heat and humidity of the summer, it’s nice to have days where the air is crisp and cool and the golden sun shines through colorful red and golden leaves. However, after fall comes winter, when people are forced to stay inside… Read more

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 11 million people in the United States provide unpaid care for the more than 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The loved ones who spend their days cooking, cleaning and providing companionship for someone with Alzheimer’s disease bear an often unrecognized burden. Caregivers face challenges to their… Read more

Seniors and their families deserve choices when deciding where to recover after a hospital stay. If enacted, the Choose Home Care Act (HR 5514) will provide just that by improving access to respite care and home healthcare services for Medicare beneficiaries following hospitalization. The program offers families safe and convenient post-acute options for respite care… Read more

Caring for a loved one can be one of the most rewarding jobs of your life. Knowing that your loved one is able to age in place, at home where they’re comfortable, is reassuring for many families. But often the reward comes with risks as well. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to feel frustrated, stressed… Read more

Ellen Burris may be one of the newest members of the Piedmont Home Care community, but her friendly personality and easy conversation style helped her instantly become part of the family. Starting in January 2022, Ellen took on the role of Director of Nursing at Piedmont Home Care, a job that seemed a perfect fit… Read more

Do you find yourself always asking other people to repeat what they say to you? Do you often thing people are mumbling when you’re having conversations? Do others complain you’re watching TV or listening to music too loudly? If you answer yes to any of the above, it could be that hearing aids could help… Read more

Each spring we set our clocks ahead one hour, and it’s easy to remember how the time changes with this rhyme: Fall behind, spring ahead Lose an hour in the bed. It seems that after the change to Daylight Savings Time many people have a hard time adjusting their sleep habits, feeling tired or drowsy… Read more

As a family owned, locally operated home care service, Piedmont Home Care has always made it a priority to treat every employee and client just like family. We are dedicated to providing compassionate care and stand by our motto of being professional, honest, compassionate. That commitment to care and service was recently recognized by Home… Read more

Owning a home is one part of the American Dream that many people are fortunate enough to enjoy. A house with a yard for your kids to play in is fun when you’re young, but as you get older (and the house ages as well) the maintenance and upkeep of the home itself, not to… Read more

As the days get shorter around the winter solstice, the decreased amount of sunlight hours and colder temperatures tend to make people feel lethargic and more down in spirit. It’s no coincidence that the holidays we celebrate in winter are full of lights. From the menorah of Hanukkah to the advent wreaths of Christmas, candles… Read more

If there’s a silver lining to the COVID Lockdowns, it’s that people coming back to work are hunting for the careers they actually want. Nobody ever wanted a dreary, dead-end gig. They know the right jobs are out there – ones that feed their passions, give them a sense of purpose, and where they have… Read more

No one ever wants to have to think about what life would be like with a serious, terminal illness. But as with most things in life, we don’t always get to choose exactly what path our lives will take. One thing we can choose, however, is how we will face life’s challenges. November is National… Read more

Surgical procedures, while extremely beneficial, can take a toll on the body. Whether you are having a joint replacement, heart surgery, a procedure to treat cancer, or some other type of surgery, you can expect your body to need time after the procedure to heal and gain back your strength. Many types of procedures also… Read more

I noticed she was repeating herself many times during the same conversation. She’d always been a lively talker, full of stories. And her eyes still sparkled with that intelligence and sense of wonder that I’d always liked about her. But as she finished this story again, there was a moment when everyone else at the… Read more

Being the primary at-home caregiver for a senior is a tough gig. You love them, and you want to be there for them as much as possible. But it’s hard to give them the care they deserve and still live your own life. Some people start to feel isolated, burnt out and, at worse, secretly… Read more

It’s a fact of life that our vision gets worse as we get older. Just as your body is less flexible and you can’t reach down to touch your toes like you could when you were 10 years old, the muscles around your eye get more rigid with age, making it harder to focus or… Read more

The term ‘aging in place’ means that a senior citizen is able to live in the residence they prefer. For most Americans, this obviously means living at home. Some of the best things about growing older involve cultivating deeper relationships and new creative pursuits, all of which are easier to do when the elder has… Read more

The popularity of Home Health Care Services is undeniable. More and more, the aging population of the United States prefers to utilize skilled caregivers in the comfort of their homes, and for good reasons. The cost savings, the emotional benefits to the client and their families, and the one-on-one attention that professional at-home caregivers provide… Read more

Have you felt like your vision is getting more blurry? Are you starting to see double, and not just the first few minutes of waking up? If so, you’re not alone. 24.4 million Americans over the age of 40 have had cataracts, and about half of all Americans will have had cataracts by the age… Read more

Alzheimer’s and Dementia are serious illnesses that take a heavy emotional toll on both the client and their family care takers. The uncertain nature of the diseases and the wide array of symptoms makes these illnesses extremely challenging. Fortunately, Piedmont Home Care is here to help. In this article, our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Home Care… Read more

Every day, Keona Marshall drops her two young children off at school, and then heads to work. But most days, it doesn’t really feel like work. First she checks in with her client, then she lets the dog Chloe out while she gets the morning medications ready. They fix a breakfast of sausage and eggs… Read more

Just like bears who come out in the spring to soak up the sun’s rays after a long winter of hibernating, it can feel like we as human beings are coming out of our caves where we spent the winter to experience the great outdoors in the spring. It’s great for your health to get… Read more

Many senior citizens across the US live informal homes and care facilities. Roughly the same number are looked after by family and friends, who provide informal care in the comfort of their homes. This kind of caregiving is not an easy task, especially for prolonged periods of time. Many family and friends experience frustration and… Read more

For two years, Deborah Hucks worked as a cook in an assisted living facility. It was a good job, and one she enjoyed, but she knew she wanted to do more. “I wanted to get out of the kitchen and be in a place where I was more hands on with the patients,” Deborah says… Read more

After any kind of surgical or invasive procedure, an individual needs a certain amount of rest and time to recover completely. A quick and full recovery depends on diligent self-care, including following the advice of healthcare professionals and experts. Postoperative respite care makes this much easier by providing highly-trained in-home nursing and living assistance, allowing… Read more

February is designated by the American Heart Association as Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of heart disease and further education of the signs, symptoms, and ways to prevent this leading cause of death for Americans. At Piedmont Home Care, we strive to do our part to raise awareness and improve the community’s understanding… Read more

At 21 years old, Sherry Smith was happy being a mother to her son – a toddler at the time – and working a factory job. But then a freak accident changed the course of her life. One rainy night she threw on a pair of slick-bottomed loafers to take the new Eskimo Spitz puppy… Read more

We’re heading into the coldest month of the year in North Carolina — January. With average lows of 29 degrees and average highs only getting to 48, there’s a chill in the air most days that just doesn’t go away. For seniors, that cold can feel even more harsh. As we age our bodies change… Read more

Like many young moms, Piedmont HomeHealth’s human resources manager Sarah Williams is busy juggling parenting as well as a full-time career. But in addition to parenting and helping provide compassionate care to seniors in the Piedmont Triad community, Sarah can also be found wrangling cows in the evenings and on weekends. “I often entertain my… Read more

There’s a lot of talk right now in the news about vaccines, thanks to the fact that a COVID vaccine is in development. While you might not be able to get vaccinated against COVID yet, there is a seasonal vaccine that you should be getting: the flu vaccine. At Piedmont Home Care, we know how… Read more

After a nearly 40-year career at Hanesbrands, you might think Willie Hill would be ready to step away from the workplace. But it turns out, Willie was lost without a job to go to. “I’ve just never been a person to sit down,” she says. One day while visiting the offices of Piedmont Home Care… Read more

Staying connected to people is important for everyone. Humans are social creatures and we thrive on personal interaction, and as we age those social connections can even have a positive impact on our health. Seniors who have strong interpersonal connections — are healthier — when you have people who care about you and check in… Read more

Nothing says summertime like a tomato sandwich made with tomatoes fresh from the garden. But what about purple tomatoes? Sara Moore found out that purple tomatoes actually make very good sandwiches on a recent adventure. “I work with a 93-year-old woman who is losing her vision and has to use a walker to get around… Read more

Have you ever thought to yourself, “These stories my dad is sharing are so great, I should be writing them down?” Or maybe you’ve played around with the idea of doing a video of your mother telling about her childhood, so your kids and grandkids would have something to remember her by. One of the… Read more

At Piedmont Home Care, our success is built around a great team of caring, compassionate individuals. Today’s blog puts the spotlight on Ron Lewis, one member of our team who brings energy and passion to his work caring for others in our community. Ron has more than 40 years of experience as a CNA, including… Read more

It’s no secret that exercise helps improve your quality of life at any age. For adults ages 65 and older, the WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week, which ends up being about 20 minutes a day. The benefits of exercise include: · Boosting energy · Helping manage weight… Read more

Currently the world is experiencing a pandemic from a new coronavirus, COVID-19. Because of that the CDC and public health departments are putting out information on an almost daily basis of how to protect yourself and what precautions are necessary during this time of heightened awareness. At Piedmont Home Care, we understand the need to… Read more

How do you know when it’s time to look for respite care for your loved ones? Sometimes the answer is easy. Your mother has hip replacement surgery and you are physically unable to care for her during rehabilitation. Or your father has a stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed and in need of professional care. But… Read more

February is the American Heart Association’s National Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of heart disease and prevention. According to the latest statistics, nearly half of all Americans have some form of heart disease, which is also the leading cause of death for men and women. One of the ways to improve your health… Read more

In the depths of winter, when the days are short and often cold and gray as well, it’s easy to feel a little glum. For the elderly, the “winter blues” can be even more common during holidays when your adult children are too busy to come for a visit or health concerns keep you at… Read more

Did you know that 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia? November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and in honor of that fact we here at Piedmont Home Care thought it would be fun to share some good ways to help keep your brain active. While there are no clear-cut… Read more

For most of our adult lives our time is consumed with work and chores. We spend most of our waking hours at a job. Whether it’s sitting at a desk, serving customers or building houses, our time is consumed with producing for other people. Then on the weekends it’s time to do all the things… Read more

Family bonds are some of the strongest relationships that exist, and for many of us there’s nothing we want more than to care for our aging parents in their own homes. In some cases family members can share responsibilities and spend the time necessary to check in on loved ones, monitor prescriptions and be there… Read more

Summer in the South is a time for fun — ice cream cones on the front porch, picnics with the family, walks in the park, gardens full of green beans and zinnias. It’s great to enjoy those days where you can get outside and let the sun warm your face without having to worry about… Read more

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Day Awareness Day, an annual observance by the United Nations to bring awareness to the problems faced by this vulnerable population. Elder abuse takes many forms, including financial. Often we don’t think of financial situations as a type of abuse, but when the elderly are taken advantage of the… Read more

May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, and here at Piedmont Home Care we’re using this opportunity to encourage you to get up and get moving! More than 50 million Americans suffer from some type of arthritis pain. And while there are many different types of arthritis, the common symptoms are swelling, joint pain, stiffness and… Read more

We live in a time when there are medications to solve almost any ailment. In fact, the average senior citizen takes about seven different medications per day. These little pills treat everything from high blood pressure to dementia, and are great for helping keep symptoms at bay and improve a person’s quality of life. But… Read more

Living in the comfort of your own home is something that we often take for granted. Here at Piedmont Home Care, our team of medical professionals and qualified caregivers provide the experience and care needed to help people age in place and stay in the home they love, even as aging bodies make some of… Read more

During the month of February it’s not uncommon to see people wearing a lot of red. Red dresses, ties, sweaters and shirts are worn in celebration of Valentine’s Day, mimicking the traditional red hearts and red roses that surround the holiday. But this month the color red is also associated with the American Heart Association’s… Read more

When you’re in the hospital, it seems like all you can think about is getting home. Sleeping in your own bed uninterrupted by nurses checking your vital signs, using your own bathroom and eating home-cooked food all make home seem like a much better place to be. While home can be a comfortable place to… Read more

Everywhere you turn this time of year you hear lyrics of Christmas songs talking about how happy the season is. But for some people, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are just a reminder of how lonely life can be. The holidays are tough for anyone who has lost a loved one, and for the elderly… Read more

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and much like the pink ribbons that have become synonymous with breast cancer awareness month in  October, blue circles worn on lapels and public service announcements during November help educate the public on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. From causes to prevention, it’s a way to help people understand… Read more

Did you know that 2 out of 3 people over the age of 75 have some amount of hearing loss? Hearing loss often occurs gradually, so you don’t realize it’s a problem. You might start turning up the TV a little more each time you watch, or find yourself asking people to repeat themselves. Too… Read more

Getting older has many benefits. With more years on this planet we gain wisdom, and of course the ability to retire opens up much more time to do the things we enjoy. But sometimes the senior years can also be a time of great loneliness. A survey conducted by the National Social Life, Health and… Read more

There are many reasons to follow doctor’s orders in managing your blood pressure, the most common of which being to help prevent heart attack and  stroke. But researchers have found a new reason for avoiding high blood pressure. Using MRI scans of the brain, doctors have been able to detect  early signs of brain damage… Read more

Alzheimer’s Disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, and the most common form of dementia. According to experts, over 60% of dementia patients are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And because the symptoms of this condition worsen over time, patients with the disease need around-the-clock care. If your aging parent or family member is diagnosed with this condition… Read more

You know how they say you’re never too old to learn new things? The same holds true for exercise. You’re never too old to get benefits from regular  physical activity. In fact, being active has many positives for older adults, including: – Maintaining a healthy weight – Improving stability and flexibility – Reduce the impact… Read more

End of life plans are an important for everyone to discuss, and documents including a healthcare proxy and living will are as important as your financial will. Talking about your wishes with a loved one has many benefits, including ensuring that your wishes are respected as well as helping relieve the guilt and anxieties a… Read more

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and here at Piedmont Home Care we wanted to take time to celebrate this very beneficial service. Many of our clients have benefited from sessions with trained occupational therapists, whether it be just one or two sessions or ongoing treatment. By sharing some of the benefits, we hope more people… Read more

We’ve all heard the old cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” The saying is popular because many times the older we get, the more set in our ways we become. But the truth is, learning something new has many benefits. Help ward off dementia. Learning something new is good for the brain… Read more

February is American Heart Month, a time set aside to focus on heart health and encourage healthy lifestyles, a designation that is important as heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. In the United States alone, there are more than 610,000 deaths a year, and that number is only… Read more

The first days of 2018 brought record-breaking cold temperatures for North Carolina, with a few consecutive days when temperatures didn’t go above freezing. While that was somewhat unusual, it’s not unusual to have some cold days in the winter. Here in the Piedmont Triad, we’re used to roller-coaster- like changes in the weather, especially during… Read more

Most of us take for granted the ability to walk from the couch to the kitchen and back again, many times during the day. But what if you have balance issues with aging, and walking a few steps makes you dizzy or at risk of falling? Or what if walking even short distances has you… Read more

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease awareness month, a designation made official by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Since that time, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has grown from under 2 million to over 5 million, and the number is growing every day. By talking about the disease, educating people on the symptoms and… Read more

If you’re a caregiver for an aging parent, you know there is a lot to keep track of. From healthcare directives to doctor’s office visits, medication lists and vital signs, making sure your parent is following the doctor’s orders is important, but remembering everything and keeping track of all the papers and files can turn… Read more

September is Healthy Aging Month, and we here at Piedmont Home Care wanted to take a moment to support this observance. The official observance was started about 20 years ago by Carol Worthington, directory of Healthy Aging, as a way to promote the positive aspects of aging and encourage older adults to improve their physical… Read more

When you talk about vaccine schedules, it’s easy to think those are something you only worry about for infants and young children preparing to go to school. As adults we’re long past the age of regular shots at our check ups. But keeping up with vaccines is important for people of all ages, and there… Read more

If it seems like as you get older you’re just not as hungry as you used to be, it’s probably true. As our bodies age there’s a decrease in metabolic rate, combined with less physical activities. Yet at the same time, it’s important to get the necessary nutrients to remain strong and healthy. Older adults… Read more

Throughout your 30s and 40s, financial planning is a big topic. From human resources meetings at work to information at the bank, everywhere you’re bombarded with information about savings accounts, 401Ks, Roth retirement accounts, etc. That’s the stage in life where you want to make sure you’re putting enough money away in your retirement account… Read more

For many seniors, the key to staying home is continued mobility. Being able to get up to go to the bathroom is important, but so is getting out to the grocery store or just making it from one room of the house to another without worrying about a fall. When mobility starts to become an… Read more

We spend most of our lives making an effort to take care of ourselves so that we’ll live longer, healthier lives. So by the time we’re 80, if we want to have a bowl of ice cream for supper, why not go for it? At Piedmont Home Care, we understand the need for some rewards… Read more

Our Piedmont Home Care family is growing! We are excited to announce that we have opened offices in Greensboro and expanding our services beyond Winston-Salem into the entire Piedmont Triad region. For more than 45 years, Piedmont Home Care has provided compassionate, trustworthycare to people in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. While our caregivers provide the… Read more

Do you know what you want the doctors to do if you were in a coma? Or how your treatment should proceed if you have a terminal illness and can no longer make decisions for yourself? And if you know, do your loved ones? The truth of the matter is, most of us avoid making… Read more

After years of building awareness and educational outreach on the effects of heart disease, the nation has seen a great reduction in heart disease since the 1960s. That is great news. But it led to another interesting finding. As people live longer, and maybe healthier lives without the risk of dying from a heart attack… Read more

We often think that technology and seniors don’t mix. Even Apple has poked fun at itself in a German commercial highlighting the idea that older generations often don’t know what to do with technology. In the commercial, a woman gives her father an iPad, and he proceeds to use it as a cutting board before… Read more

According to the CDC, incontinence affects about 50% of Americans age 65 and older. Due to its prevalence, many people assume that incontinence is just a normal part of the aging process. But incontinence isn’t an isolated issue. Older adults suffering from incontinence may also find themselves isolated and depressed. In fact, there is a… Read more

Getting a good night’s sleep is important at any age. Sleep affects our mood, our immune system and our physical abilities, and interrupted sleep or not enough sleep can hurt all three of those. Many people assume that as you get older you need less sleep, but in fact the amount of sleep a person… Read more

Arthritis affects over 50 million people in the United States and Winston-salem, and it is a common complaint among many of the clients of Piedmont Home Care, for good reason. According to the CDC, an estimated 49.7 percent of adults 65 years old or older reported doctor diagnosed arthritis from 2010-2012.  Luckily there are some… Read more

It is hard to watch our loved ones age. As our parents get older and are able to do less on their own, needing assistance to drive to the doctor or the grocery store, and help remembering when to take what medications, often the responsibilities of helping them get through the tasks of daily life… Read more

Have you ever wondered why many restaurants have a kid’s nutrition menu as well as a senior citizens’ menu? That’s because as you age, your body needs fewer calories. The average calories needed per day for a moderately active adult drops by 200 after age 50. But often times, people age 65 and older won’t… Read more

On March 6, this country mourned the loss of Dementia & Azheimer’s sufferer and former First Lady Nancy Reagan. In her 94 years, Nancy Reagan made quite an impact on the world, living a life many of us only dream of. She started off her career as an actress in Hollywood, where she met the… Read more

All our lives, it seems like we are constantly planning for the future. When we’re young, we work hard in school and make plans to attend college or start a career. We get a little older and make plans to save up for a home and start a family. Then there are savings plans for… Read more

Wendy started working for Piedmont Home Care, Inc. as a CNA in 2013. After a just a few months with the company, her skills in understanding other people’s personalities and their likes and dislikes led to her moving from a position as a caregiver to working in the office. Today, Wendy takes care of matching… Read more

When you invite someone to come into your home, whether it’s to help you rehabilitate from a surgery or to provide extended care to an elderly loved one, you want to be sure that the person is qualified and trustworthy. At Piedmont Home Care, we understand exactly what you’re looking for. As a family owned… Read more

Getting old can be tough. Many elderly people have outlived their families, their spouse, and sometimes even their children, leading some people to feel lonely and sad. People over age 65 are also more likely to suffer from side effects of multiple illnesses and the medications used to treat them.  Because of these factors of… Read more

According to the CDC, fall prevention is important and one out of three people over the age of 65 falls each year, but less than half report their fall to their doctor. Of those people who do go to the doctor, about 700,000 a year are hospitalized, and 95 percent of hip fractures are caused… Read more

Patricia Buie has a real passion for helping people and being a caregiver. It was obvious to others when she worked in customer service for the telephone company, where she always was willing to take time on the phone to talk people through their problems and make sure they were being taken care of. Her… Read more

We’ve all heard someone jokingly say, after forgetting an appointment or losing their keys, “Oh no, I must be getting Alzheimer’s.” For those of usein the medical community, we know this is no laughing matter. But we also know that everyone forgets things once in a while. It’s just a fact of life. Your brain… Read more

You could say that Sandra Barton, a caregiver for Piedmont Home Care, Inc., is in her second career, but in reality it’s as if she finally found her passion in life. For 25 years she worked for BE Aerospace. It was a good job while she was raising her children, and after the company went… Read more

The face of Veteran’s Day is changing. Something we’ve noticed over the past few years, when attending various Veteran’s Day events and parades, is that the men and women participating as veterans are younger than we remember from our youth. After our country being involved in a conflict of some sort in the Middle East for over 10… Read more

For many people who find themselves in the role of caregiver, they are performing those tasks out of love. Whether caring for an aging parent, a partner with cancer, or a sibling with dementia, it is only natural to want to do whatever possible to keep that person as comfortable as possible. But caring for… Read more

Have you ever heard someone tell their children, “I changed your diapers when you were a baby so you’d be there for me when I’m old?” It might not always work out that way, but many times we find ourselves in a situation where the roles of the family are reversed when it comes to… Read more

For caregivers dealing with the burden of caring for a loved one, sometimes the hardest thing to cope with is the isolation. You feel like you are all alone, having to deal with the daily tasks of preparing meals, organizing medicines and scheduling doctor’s appointments to the point where your own needs get pushed aside… Read more

Here at Piedmont Home Care, we know that appearances are important. A clean uniform on a caregiver bring reassurance and builds trust with our clients. A clean home not only looks nice, but provides a healthy environment for the entire family. And a meal set out on nice dinner plates and a place mat looHere… Read more

Remember when you started looking for that first job and began getting calls for interviews? One of the things you are taught is that even though the potential employer will be asking questions,  it’s important for you, the interviewee, to ask questions too. There are many times in life where that same advice comes in… Read more