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The Benefits of Minimum 4 Hour Home Visits

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When receiving home health care, the longer the visit, the more that can be accomplished. At Oxford HealthCare, we recommend at minimum, a 4 hour visits to ensure your loved one’s tasks are completed thoroughly, with the highest notion of attention to detail and care. When visits are shorter, our aides must prioritize their tasks, often leaving the cleaning and socialization behind in order to ensure groceries are purchased, medication management is accurate and bathing is completed. We strive to provide the best services in the area and believe longer visits will bring more happiness to the whole family.

With a minimum 4-hour visit, we guarantee each service requested will be completed to the highest standard.  A 4-hour morning or afternoon visit is ideal for those needing minimal support to continue living in the comforts of their own home. During an 8am-12 noon shift, an aide can assist with tasks such as: breakfast, morning hygiene routine, errands, housekeeping, medication reminders, and lunch. During an afternoon 4-hour visit, from 1pm-5pm, an aide can assist with lunch, medication reminder, errands, housekeeping, socialization, dinner, and bed routine. Most importantly, the longer time frame allots for socialization. Our Home Health Aide and your loved one will have the time to converse, play cards, watch television or start a puzzle.  

At Oxford, we pride ourselves on providing the ultimate hospitality in the home of your loved one. We believe socialization is a large responsibility of ours, and we strive to connect our aides with your loved ones as often as possible. Social isolation is a major issue negatively affecting the elderly. Our wish is to ensure that your loved one feels important, comfortable, and loved; this is why we recommend the minimum 4-hour visit. 

7 Steps to Having the 'Tough Talk' With Your Parents

Healthcare, Homecare, Assisted Living, Respite Care, Caregiving, Caregivers, Oxford, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Aging, Parents

Planning care for your aging parent is a time consuming, emotionally draining task. While there are many options for elder care, making the best choice is crucial. How much help do they need? Can they still drive? Is it safe for them to continue cooking, cleaning and grooming themselves? These are all questions that Oxford can help you to answer before having ‘the talk.’  In order to sustain a positive conversation leading to the best choice of assistance, starting the conversation early will lead to more beneficial outcomes.

It is pertinent to have in-depth conversations with your loved ones to fully understand their preferences, ensuring a smoother transition. Maintaining open communication and truly listening to their desires allows your loved one to continue to feel their independence. You achieve a positive dialogue with patience, kindness, understanding and problem-solving teamwork. We have outlined a step-by-step approach to analyzing your parents’ behavior and finding the perfect, personalized care routine for their comfort.

1)    Assess their behaviors (grooming, house cleaning, cooking, driving, etc.)

2)    Lightly brush the subject of their independence by referring to someone else you may know who now receives help

3)    Review their reactions to help guide your approach to the talk

4)    Research the available options in their community so that you can steer the conversation with facts, granting them the possibility to make the most educated decision, leading to a higher likelihood of happiness

5)    Have the conversation: start with light, fun topics to open their warmth and receptiveness to the difficult discussion. Always approach the options with a teamwork mindset, problem-solving together for the best solution.

6)    Allow time for your loved one to assess their options and needs

7)    Softly approach the conversation until a decision is made. If necessary, you may need to get the family doctor involved to decide on a solution.

Although the conversation is difficult for everyone involved, it is best to start early and hash out a plan for your loved one’s optimal future. At Oxford HealthCare, our knowledgeable staff can help guide you and your family each step of the way to ensure a comfortable future for your loved one with a personalized care plan. What are you waiting for? Spring forward with Oxford; let’s get the conversation started today.

Pooling Family Resources Payment Plan

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“63% (of baby boomers) do not plan to move” (Demand Institute, 2013). Have you considered how your parents want to age? Oxford HealthCare has a longstanding reputation for over 20 years compassionately caring for the elderly in the comforts of their own home. We offer outstanding services at comparable prices while providing peace of mind for the whole family. For instance, in a nursing home your loved one can have a private room with 2-3 hours of care per day; however, at the same price, he or she can stay in their own home with 12 hours of one-on-one care per day. You may be asking yourself, ‘how can we pay for Long Term Care Services?  We are here to walk you through the multitude of options.

We call our favorite method the ‘Pooling Family Resources’ payment plan. First, designate an organizer. This person often lives nearby and is available to help when needed. Second, a family meeting needs to take place where you will discuss a Plan of Care. Identify the gaps where help is needed and count on Oxford to close those gaps. Third, designate individual contributions, whether they be monetary or donation of time. Finally, you will have a comprehensive plan to keep your loved one safe in the comforts of their own home.

Long Term Care Insurance payment method is also an option if you have a “Home Care” rider.  Most plans do.  Typically you need prior approval with a physicians letter of medical necessity.  This letter will explain the limitations in performing Activities of Daily Living.  Oxford can help!  We can navigate through the challenges of dealing with insurance companies and bill the services on your behalf.

At Oxford HealthCare, we provide quality, one-on-one care in the comfort of your own home. We are the helping hand that ensures your independence when the going gets tough. Choose your meals. Choose your privacy. Choose your memories. Choose Oxford HealthCare.

Watch our informational Family Pooling Resources Video and other educational material:


About Oxford HealthCareOxford HealthCare is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and serves the surrounding areas with highest quality home care, caregiver respite, and assisted living services. Services include home care evaluation, medication management, errands, light housekeeping, personal care, assistance, respite care, care coordination, companionship and much more. 

Defeating Depression

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Many people are confused with how depression functions, when it started or why it affects them. They often blame themselves and feel helpless in attempts at personally ridding the sadness from their bones. There are many ways you can help yourself to get back on to the road of recovery when depression strikes and begins to take over. Follow the advice in this article concerning tips you can undertake daily to help you or a family member battle and beat depression.

If you are feeling depressed, find someone trustworthy to speak with. If you do not feel comfortable communicating your deep feelings with a friend or family member, seek out a renowned therapist. A therapist gives a solid listening ear and a completely unbiased opinion of your situation; they have nothing to lose or gain from your stability.

Begin writing in a journal to log your thoughts and to trace your emotional well being as far into the past as possible. This can aide you in discovering the root cause of your pain. Once this discovery has been made, you are capable of working on it and through it.

Do not allow yourself to maintain a negative perception of yourself and your world. When you have personal negative thoughts, take a moment to ask yourself ‘would I think this way of my friend?’ If not, you are likely judging yourself too harshly. If you get in a negative rut, go for a walk, enjoy the sunshine, and think of all that you have to be grateful for. Remain optimistic and positive that ‘this too shall pass.’

While clinical depression differs greatly from sadness, many similar techniques are useful each malady. It is useful to steer clear of depression triggers. If there is something or someone that makes your depression come into bloom, do all you can to stay away from the trigger until you have fixed the pain.

One frequently overlooked variable in depression is diet and nutrition. Unhealthy junk food can alter your thought process, and lead you into more sadness. Stay away from fatty meals and sugar in lieu of a balanced and healthy diet. Fast-burning sugars produce a quick jolt of energy, followed by an energy crash, leading to fatigue. This cycle tends to exacerbate the symptoms of depression.

Those with true clinical depression should not expect immediate improvements. It may take some time for you to overcome all of the symptoms. You need to begin preparing for those trials with the proper information.

Seek out a new hobby. New activities and interests can alleviate your troubles with daily life, plus help you have some fun. If you join a club of your interest, you can meet new friends and step outside of your minds ramblings for some time each week. Building birdhouses, refinishing old furniture and journal writing are all hobbies that can help you to feel motivated again.

Do not avoid eating. It is fairly common for those battling depression to shun food because they have lost their appetite. Your body needs nutrients to survive and meals often come with company if you seek out your friends and loved ones. Even when you do not feel like eating, reach for an apple or a banana with peanut butter.

Depression can be quiet serious and all-consuming. It is possible to make changes and alleviate the condition when you are determined to see better days, remain optimistic, view yourself positively, and fight the good fight. Don’t give up, you’re about to see a new day with all new opportunities.


About Oxford HealthCare
Oxford HealthCare is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and serves the surrounding areas with highest quality home care, caregiver respite, and assisted living services. Services include home care evaluation, medication management, errands, light housekeeping, personal care, assistance, respite care, care coordination, companionship and much more. 

Free Yourself: Quit Smoking Today

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Smoking is a smelly, expensive and harmful habit. Not only does smoking endanger your life, but it also endangers the lives of the people you love.

Quit smoking to live a healthier life and have the opportunity to spend more time with the people you love. Follow the great advice in the following article for ideas on how to quit smoking.

Make a list of the benefits of quitting and the drawbacks to continuing your habit. This helps increase the odds of successfully and permanently kicking your smoking habit. Putting the issue in writing will help you to see it more clearly. This can help you stay motivated, and may make quitting easier.

When you decide to quit smoking, make sure to add plenty of fresh fruit to your diet. Your body will likely undergo some chemical changes when you stop smoking, often including a lowered blood glucose level. Healthy fruits can help to raise your blood glucose level to normal levels, keeping you healthy while you’re working toward quitting.

You must know why you want to stop smoking. Having shallow reasons, like it is bad for you are not good enough. To really get yourself motivated, you need a personal and powerful reason to quit. Maybe you are scared of lung cancer. Or maybe you would like to keep your family from second hand smoke. It might be because you want to both feel and look younger. Choose a strong reason that outweighs your urge to light up.

You will be more successful if you do not attempt to shoulder the entire burden of smoking cessation. Having loved ones support you will help tremendously. It is also a good idea to make use of a support group. Just talking with others that are on the same journey as you can give you more inspiration and strength to finally quit.

As stated in the introduction, smoking is a terrible habit that makes you smell bad, costs lots of money and is harmful to your health. Use the advice in the article above for ways to make quitting smoking easier on you so you can live a freer, healthier life. All addictions are rough, tough, and difficult to quit. Free yourself.


About Oxford HealthCare
Oxford HealthCare is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and serves the surrounding areas with highest quality home care, caregiver respite, and assisted living services. Services include home care evaluation, medication management, errands, light housekeeping, personal care, assistance, respite care, care coordination, companionship and much more.