Q – My elderly mother was recently diagnosed with a chronic illness which they cannot treat because of her age. Can you provide me with any tips to help her cope with the unpleasant news that she recently received?

Coming to terms with the fact that you have a serious, even chronic illness is never easy, whether the news comes in your senior years or during the early stages of your life, you are forced to face your own mortality. Senior health can change quickly and drastically, so often receiving the news of a crippling illness, such as cancer can come as a serious shock.

To help your mother cope with the unpleasant news that she received, relating to her chronic illness, work with her to implement the following steps to increase her knowledge and drive her towards acceptance.

1. Get support – seniors can join support groups for those coping with chronic illnesses or seek independent support. Speaking with someone impartial, who is not a close family member or friend can be beneficial, since they will be better able to listen without becoming upset.

2. Keep records – maintain detailed records regarding medical history and treatment recommended by each doctor visited during the course of the illness.

3. Seek knowledge – learn as much as possible about the illness including symptoms, treatment methods and common procedures and operations.

4. Find a health advocate – seniors can benefit from having an escort at appointments, to keep records and assist with decisions

5. Accept your feelings – it’s okay to feel angry, sad or resentful for the cards you’ve been dealt; allow yourself to run the gamut of emotions and allow yourself to grieve.

6. Find acceptance – come to terms with your illness at your own stage.

Sources:

1. Cancer journal

2. Carol O’Dell Blog

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Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – Alzheimer’s runs in my family, and has affected generations of women that I love. I know that based on history there is a very good chance that I will be subjected to the same issues; but I want to try and do what I can in order to beat the odds. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, right? But nonetheless, if there’s anything that you can suggest I do in order to help keep my mind strong in order to help prevent the effects of Alzheimer’s or dementia, I would really appreciate it!

A – Just as you work to maintain your body in order to reduce your chances of physical health problems, you can exercise your mind in order to help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia, though of course genetics do play a role and nothing is guaranteed. There are specific brain fitness programs offered in Phoenix, which are kind of like attending a brain fitness gym, or you can try purchasing software like the Big Brain Academy. Even crossword puzzles, jumbles, and games like Boggle can help you to prevent the effects of cognitive decline. Good luck!

Sources:

1. US News and World Report

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Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the first steps to establishing a medical diagnosis and determining appropriate senior care.

1. Memory Loss – everyone has brief memory lapses; it’s not unusual to forget the occasional name or date and remember it later, however, seniors with dementia may forget pieces of information that they are never able to recall.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – seniors with dementia may forget simple tasks, like how to turn on the stove.

3. Problems with language – sentences formed by a senior with dementia may be hard to understand, they may forget words or substitute inappropriate ones.

4. Disorientation – seniors with dementia may get lost when close to home because they are disoriented with time and place.

5. Poor judgment – seniors may have trouble making decisions, or dress inappropriately for the weather.

6. Misplacing things in strange places – seniors with dementia may put the milk in the bathroom or their keys in the fridge.

7. Mood changes – often seniors with dementia have rapid mood swings for no discernable reason.

8. Problems with abstract thinking – dealing with numbers may be especially difficult.

9. Personality changes – seniors with dementia may become fearful, suspicious and paranoid or demonstrate behaviors unusual for them.

10. Loss of initiative – seniors with Alzheimer’s may lack motivation on a regular basis; getting out of bed or getting dressed may require prompting.

Check out this resource for more information on Dementia: http://seniorcare.homeinstead.com/alzheimers-dementia/

Sources:

1. Northwestern University

2. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Image Source: alzinfo.org

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

When my father-in-law began to experience serious vision loss, it took a much greater toll on his life than we ever would have expected. While he managed to find ways to cope with his lack of sight, the emotional effects were far more damaging and through association, the rest of the family found themselves dealing with similar emotional struggles. It was hard to see a family member forced to sacrifice his independence and give up on some of the activities he enjoyed.

Once an avid card player, my father-in-law withdrew from his weekly card game night because he was self-conscious and discouraged by his vision impairment that presented additional challenges that his friends weren’t facing. Eventually, because he felt he didn’t have anyone that could relate to what he was going through, he found a local support group here in [location] for seniors coping with loss of eyesight and began to realize that all the struggles he was facing were normal and by talking over his experiences he was better able to grieve.

While we wished we could do more, our family tried to offer the encouragement and support we felt he needed. We pushed him to re-join his card night and helped him find ways to adapt to his declining vision so he could continue to enjoy his life and all his favorite activities.

Sources:

1. Web MD

2. Eldercare ABC Blog

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What is the DASH Diet for Lowering High Blood Pressure

Q. After being diagnosed with hypertension, my father, who lives in [location] is really willing to turn over a new leaf, and he’s planning on starting with his diet. He knows that eating healthier is important, but isn’t really sure how to get started; I’ve done some reading about the DASH diet, but what is it and how will it help my dad?

A . The DASH diet was developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to help seniors across the nation control high blood pressure, so one of the world’s most silent killers doesn’t take them as victims. The DASH Diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and it can certainly help your father; because overall, it focuses on reducing sodium intake and incorporating vitamins and minerals through food that can improve blood pressure quickly. According to studies, the DASH diet is beneficial, because it reduces all types of hypertension, and can do so within a 2 week period.

The Dash Diet focuses upon the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products and whole grains. It also denotes the importance of reducing sodium intake and limiting alcohol. Under this diet, herbal supplements should also be avoided, including ephedra, ginseng, licorice and feverfew, because they can boost blood pressure readings. Phoenix seniors should also increase their potassium intake through foods that contain the mineral and also ensure that they receive the recommended daily intake of calcium. It has proven results, so if a doctor believes it will be healthy for your dad to change his diet according to the DASH plan, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t give it a try!

Sources:

1. Suite101

2. Health Castle

Image SOurce: pro.corbis.com

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

To a senior who has lost their ability to communicate, it can feel like their life is over. They can no longer communicate with friends and family about what they’re feeling, or even tell people how much they appreciate them for the things that they do as caregivers or family members. But while seniors may feel lost, family members and caregivers don’t need to feel like they’re lost to them, because the presence is still there as it always has been, even if it’s not verbal.

If you interact with a loved one who has lost the ability to speak, don’t let it make you forget about them, or forget that there’s still a person inside there who is dying for some human interaction. Break through the barriers using touch and speech, because while they may have lost other senses; these ones should still be present. Don’t avoid talking just because they can’t answer you. Talk to your senior as you help him or her through the activities of daily living, or tell them about your day or your family so they still feel like they’re a person who means something to you. Use touch to form a bond; brush a senior’s hair or use some oil for a massage of the arms, hands, legs and feet; but always be cognizant of a senior’s body language because otherwise  you won’t know if they’re receptive to the contact.

Remember, just because a senior can’t talk; doesn’t mean that they’re not still people, they’re in there somewhere.

Sources:

1. Aging Care

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

With no known cure for Alzheimer’s, the senior health care profession is constantly searching for methods to improve the cognitive skills of senior Alzheimer’s patients. Research studies completed by the University of California and other Alzheimer’s experts have discovered not only that music therapy is an effective way to allow seniors to express themselves when verbal communication becomes impossible; music also stimulates the memory which can prevent further development of the cognitively crippling disease.

According to the study completed by the University of California, seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s can listen to music soundtracks of their past to evoke memories and emotions locked away. The pre-frontal cortex, the region of the brain which seems to be responsible for linking music to memories seems to be the least affected by Alzheimer’s, shows the positive affects that music has upon the disease. Senior health care professionals hope that by playing seniors music they are familiar with, they can stimulate the memories of seniors with Alzheimer’s and prevent development of the affects of the disease.

Music therapy is a common treatment used upon senior patients; music therapy can help seniors communicate, even eliciting physical responses in seniors with late stage Alzheimer’s. It can also reduce agitation, coordinate motor movements, and create positive interactions with others. There is no doubting the positive benefits of music on memory and senior well-being, and with these positive developments; home caregivers and medical professionals are using music therapy as a common treatment method for seniors with Alzheimer’s.

Sources:

1. prnewswire.ca

2. The Telegraph (Richard Alleyne)

3. Music Therapy Association of BC

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