TheKey South Florida

10/22/2025

Going from the hospital to home after a procedure or fall is a critically important transition for older adults. For many, it also launches their first encounter with home care. Up to one in five will be readmitted within 30 days, with the first 72 hours being the most critical.

When it comes to these four key areas: nutrition and hydration, medication reminders, mobility, and other activities of daily living, proactive support is absolutely essential.

10/14/2025

Survey data shows that most people want to stay at home while they age. But it’s not always clear how to manage aging in place as needs change. Here are three things to consider when trying to determine what type of care your family may need:

• What daily tasks have become challenging?
• Which rooms and/or routines feel less safe than they used to?
• What kind of help would give everyone peace of mind?

Once you have a sense of your questions, needs, and priorities you will feel more confident navigating the care planning process.

Needs will change over time and that's completely normal. Strive to stay flexible and open to what might work best as things evolve.
What questions do you have about care options?

10/01/2025

Are you caring for aging loved ones from hundreds of miles away? You're not alone.

During your next call, listen for these indicators that may signal a need for more support:
• Repeating the same questions or stories.
• Struggling to describe daily routine or giving unclear or contradictory response about medications, appointments, or overall health.
• Rarely mentioning friends or activities they used to enjoy.
• Difficulty following the conversation.

Your action plan starts here:
• Start an honest, compassionate dialogue about what's working and what's not.
• Rally your trusted family or community network to share tasks.
• Consider technology for medication reminders, remote monitoring, or video check-ins.
• Engage professional home care like TheKey to offer hands-on support, real-time updates, and a direct line of connection to your loved one’s wellbeing..

At TheKey, we provide more than care with insight, connection, and continuity. Whether it’s helping with daily routines, catching critical changes in behaviors early, or offering companionship, we’re here to support your loved one’s safety and your peace of mind.

For more tips on creating a long-distance care action plan: https://thekey.com/learning-center/long-distance-caregiving

What has been your biggest challenge with long-distance caregiving? Share in the comments. We'd love to hear from you.

09/23/2025

True caregiving goes far beyond the basics. While background checks and training matter, what really makes a difference is when a caregiver becomes an expert on your loved one. Every person has unique triggers and ways they find peace, knowing these details can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one. This attention to personality and individual needs is a central part of how TheKey home care supports client’s whole selves. Dr. Shadi Gholizadeh describes how we provide care that not only addresses unique care needs, but personal preferences, daily routines, and what brings comfort during difficult moments, too.

09/18/2025

In-home care keeps you connected to your community. Personalized home care helps maintain your strong social ties, like Gerri’s grandma, Germaine, while you age in place

💙 Social connection is a lifeline as we age.

Meet Gerri and her 86-year-old grandmother Germaine. Their story shows how the right home care support helps older adults stay rooted in their communities while giving families peace of mind.

• Small daily rituals (like mahjong with friends) preserve identity and joy
• Home is where social connections live: neighbors, acquaintances, and weekly routines that matter

When families have professional support, both seniors and their loved ones can focus on what matters most: enjoying time together. Read the whole article from .

https://www.people.com/featured/original/care-conversations-gerri-landau-thekey

09/15/2025

Helping children navigate conversations with grandparents and aging relatives can feel overwhelming, especially when those adults have cognitive changes. Remind everyone to focus on connection and not to worry about right and wrong answers. There’s no need to correct; just connect.

About TheKey: We're North America's leading provider of personalized home care, helping seniors age safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Ready to learn more about home care options? Visit https://thekey.com or call us for a free consultation to discuss how we can support your family's aging-in-place goals.

09/05/2025

Improving mobility maintains independence. Here are four simple ways to stay steady:

✅Daily Routines - Incorporate movement into your everyday activities. Even standing on different surfaces can all build strength and stability.
✅Try a Class - Classes like Tai Chi or yoga can improve balance (and community).
✅Use Assistive Devices (When Needed) - Use grab bars, canes, or walkers consistently to build strength and practice proactive care.
✅Do a Home Safety Check - Remove clutter in walking paths to move safely through the home.

Ironically, fear of falling often leads to moving less, which increases fall risk. With proper support, you can stay active, confident, and independent. More information and inspiration at our blog (link in bio).

At TheKey, our caregivers are experienced in supporting safe daily movement and mobility. With the right approach, we help older adults stay active, engaged, and independent while honoring their routines and preferences.

09/03/2025

Moraima Gutierrez and her mother Gladys Almonte found that personalized in-home care was essential in preserving Gladys' active social life, maintaining her cherished routines, and supporting her desire to age in place with dignity. Choosing the right care for an aging loved one doesn't have to mean sacrificing the independence and routines they cherish most.

Personalized in-home care that is functional and collaborative gives aging parents the tools they need to stay active and independent, like Gladys. Find the whole interview from below:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/featured/original/care-conversations-moraima-gutierrez-thekey

08/28/2025

When we focus on real engagement, amazing things happen. Our clients experience:

💙Renewed sense of purpose
💙Stronger social connections
💙Better physical and mental health

At TheKey, our Balanced Care Method® goes beyond basic assistance. We help clients rediscover hobbies, maintain friendships, and create new meaningful experiences.

Ready to learn how home care can enrich your loved one's life? Visit our website to explore our person-centered approach to aging in place.

About TheKey: We're North America's leading provider of personalized home care, helping seniors age safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Ready to learn more about home care options? Visit https://thekey.com or call us for a free consultation to discuss how we can support your family's aging-in-place goals.

08/20/2025

PhD, shares how morning movement and natural light exposure are key parts of "sleep hygiene" that can improve nighttime rest for older adults. Small changes in daily routines can make a big difference in sleep quality and overall well-being. Learn more about our whole-person approach to healthy aging at TheKey.com

About TheKey: Dr. Shadi Gholizadeh, PhD, MPH is Senior Vice President of Clinical Excellence and Quality at TheKey and TheKey is North America's leading provider of personalized home care, helping seniors age safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Ready to learn more about home care options? Visit https://thekey.com or call us for a free consultation to discuss how we can support your family's aging-in-place goals.

06/13/2025

When families think about home care, they often focus on the medical aspects—medication management, mobility assistance, and health monitoring. But what makes home care truly special is how our caregivers seamlessly step into whatever role is needed throughout the day.

Throughout any given day, our caregivers might find themselves acting as a sous chef in the morning, helping prepare favorite meals just the way someone likes them. By afternoon, they've switched to personal assistant mode, organizing appointments and helping sort through important paperwork. And by evening, they're a trusted dinner companion, sharing stories and conversation over a home-cooked meal.

This adaptability isn't just nice to have—it's essential for quality home care. Every person has different needs at different times of day, and those needs change as health conditions evolve. Our caregivers are trained to recognize these shifts and respond with both professional skill and genuine compassion.

What's remarkable is how this personalized approach helps maintain independence and dignity. Instead of fitting into an inflexible care schedule, the care adapts to fit the person's life, preferences, and daily rhythms.

05/20/2025

You’ve built a life at home. TheKey’s personalized care services grow with you so you can stay there.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SIdscu

03/29/2021

Yes it is true, "Florida" has in its annual ranking of the best places to retire in 2020 and 2021, U.S. News listed seven Florida cities in the top 10 places to retire, with Sarasota, Fort Myers, Port St. Lucie, and Naples sweeping the top four spots.

https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/destinations/best-place-to-retire-florida-2021-data?did=618461-20210326&utm_campaign=rs-daily-finds_newsletter&utm_source=realsimple.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=032621&cid=618461&mid=53896679126

Finding the best place to retire is tricky, but experts seem to agree that Florida is the place to be for retirees. See which rankings have picked Florida as the best place to retire—plus which cities make the best home base for retirees.

03/29/2021

Healthy and delicious ways to increase your vitamin c without supplements.

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/healthy-meals/vitamin-c-foods?did=618462-20210328&utm_campaign=rs-daily-finds_newsletter&utm_source=realsimple.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=032821&cid=618462&mid=54026810370

If you're looking for foods high in vitamin C, you're in luck. Here are 7 vitamin C rich foods to fit into your diet.

03/22/2021

A two-week course of high doses of CBD helped restore the function of two proteins key to reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and improved cognition in an experimental model of early onset familial Alzheimer’s—a form of Alzheimer’s that doctors know for certain is linked to genes—investigators report.

The proteins TREM2 and IL-33 are important to the ability of the brain’s immune cells to literally consume dead cells and other debris like the beta-amyloid plaque that piles up in patients’ brains—and levels of both are decreased in Alzheimer’s.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/cbd-reduces-plaque-improves-cognition-in-early-onset-alzheimers/

High doses of CBD helped restore function of proteins key to reducing the build up of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

03/22/2021

Always sharing amazing stories of kindness, cause the world really needs to read and see what kindness that is happening all around us!

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/bonnie-o-reilly-nhl-hockey-star-donates-kidney-to-ice-rink-manager/

Bonnie O'Reilly, mother of NHL stars Ryan and Cal O'Reilly, has donated her kidney to ice rink manager Graham Nesbitt.

03/22/2021

Northwestern Scientists repair and reverse ALS Neuron damage.

The NU-9 compound addresses two of the important factors that cause upper motor neurons to become diseased in ALS: protein misfolding and protein clumping inside the cell. Proteins fold in a unique way to function; when they misfold they become toxic to the neuron. Sometimes proteins aggregate inside the cell and cause pathology as in the TDP-43 protein pathology. This happens in about 90% of all ALS patient brains and is one of the most common problems in neurodegeneration.

The research team began to investigate whether NU-9 would be able to help repair upper motor neurons that become diseased due to increased protein misfolding in ALS. The results in mice were positive. Scientists next performed experiments to reveal how and why the diseased upper motor neurons regained their health.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/compound-stops-degeneration-of-brain-neurons-in-als/

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Using a non-toxic substance on mice, Northwestern scientists identified the first compound that stops degeneration of brain neurons in ALS.

03/18/2021

When you wish upon a star!

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/look-for-these-celestial-wonders-in-the-night-sky-through-the-rest-of-march/

We’re halfway through the month of March, and though the days are getting longer—these crisp, clear nights are still a perfect time for stargazing. What can you expect to see if you look up at the darkness over the coming weeks? So much, it turns out. Let’s take a look at three celestial highl...

03/18/2021

This is how memories carry on from one generation to another! And how important music is no matter where you are in life.

A World War II recording that had been lost for nearly a half-century was discovered in an attic—and it’s believed to be the only known recording by a frontline military band stationed with troops near a battlefield. The band was spontaneously celebrating the end of WWII by laying down a track of music—and now one of their grandsons has rediscovered it, and remastered the discs, with the hopes of winning a Grammy.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/lost-ww2-army-band-recordings-found-by-grandson/

The only known album recorded by a frontline military band stationed with troops is found by grandson of 746th Army Air Force Band trumpeter.

03/18/2021

GoodRx is a website and mobile app that compares medication prices to help Americans get the best deal on drugs—but his month they launched a philanthropic initiative that provides medications for free to low-income patients who need more than a bargain.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/goodrx-help-charity-provides-free-prescriptions/

GoodRx Help is a new charity that provides free prescriptions to low income Americans in 16 states who attend free clinics.

03/18/2021

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/yale-scientists-repair-injured-spinal-cords-stem-cells/

Yale and Sapporo Medical University scientists have repaired injured spinal cords using patients' own stem cells.

03/18/2021

It seems like every week we hear from happy clients and loved ones about how much they enjoy the company, companionship and even friendship of the caregivers we provide. "When I came to Home Care Assistance a few years back, I had been working with independent care givers who were very good. However, my mother was getting older and in need of 24 hour care. I had to find people willing to work with my mother, who had been totally self sufficient and now was not able to do anything for herself. It presented a challenge to find those who would withstand the onslaught of criticisms from my mother during their first weeks on duty. Once my mother accepted them, lasting friendships were made." Caroline W.

03/17/2021

Did you know? Left unchecked, chronic stress can strain both your body and brain and even interfere with learning and memory. If you or your loved one are often stressed, the good news is you can do something to bring down your stress. In fact, activities like yoga, meditation or even prayer can promote more calm and provide stress relief. Because our caregivers practice the Balanced Care Method, they pay particular attention to stressors your loved one may face and help them find the best ways to cope.

03/16/2021

As your parent's needs change over time, decisions are likely needed about how to best assist mom and dad and help them stay safe and healthy. But what happens when your siblings aren't on the same page? Perhaps they are unable or unwilling to participate in planning or there is disagreement about what should be done. Many families in this situation find it helpful to bring in a neutral third party like a Geriatric Care Manager, an elder care specialist who can assess your senior's needs and help your family put a care plan in place. Read more ways to unify your family in support of mom and dad:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/sibling-disputes-about-elderly-parents-care-134376.htm