Seniors Come Home from the Hospital

When your loved one is released from the hospital following a medical illness or injury, many families feel excited and hopeful. While these feelings are great, they should also know that a senior’s return home from the hospital is when the real work starts. When a senior is released from the hospital, here are a few things that caregivers and families need to do:

1. Don’t expect too much – release from the hospital doesn’t mean that a senior has recovered; there will be lots of hard work at home for many seniors

2. Ask questions – understand the senior’s diagnosis and their future prognosis. Take notes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions

3. Talk to a hospital discharge planner – a discharge planner can help families determine if a senior will require home care or nursing care after they leave the hospital. They can also advise families on additional supplies and equipment needed

4. Make sure you’re prepared at home – before the senior goes home, purchase any necessary safety equipment; hire a care provider, and make sure you have medications on hand

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – get the contact information of hospital staff who provided care to your loved one, and don’t be afraid to contact them with any questions or concerns after your senior has left the hospital

Via: Caring.com

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Important for Phoenix Elderly

While it’s normal for seniors to occasionally have sleep problems, seniors who experience sleep pattern changes that last for longer than two weeks should see a doctor, the American Geriatrics Society says.

“Generally for optimal function, the body and mind need about eight hours of sleep each night,” said Dr. Charles Cefalu, a member of the American Geriatrics Society. Because sleep affects everyone differently, he said seniors shouldn’t count the hours of sleep they get to determine if it’s right for them, but should take note of how they feel the next day.

Common signs of a sleep disorder may include excessive snoring, frequent waking through the night, morning headaches, being tired but having trouble falling asleep, loss of appetite, and not feeling rested in the morning, HealthDay News reports.

Cefalu offers these tips to help seniors get a good night’s sleep:

* Maintain a sleep schedule with consistent sleeping and waking hours.
* Don’t consume caffeinated beverages and foods after 2 p.m.
* Eat a light dinner earlier in the evening to help prevent restless sleep.
* Get rid of unnecessary light in the bedroom. Even light from a digital clock or TV can disrupt sleep cycles, so try turning the clock away from the bed and refrain from falling asleep with the TV on.
* Exercise for 30 to 40 minutes per day, three or four days each week.  This will help promote a more restful sleep.
* Do not take long naps during the day if you have trouble falling asleep at night.

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.

There are many pros to having your elderly Mother or Father live with you from a care perspective, especially if one is struggling with independent living. But it will also be a challenging experience for either aging parent and the rest of your family, who are not used to co-existing under the same roof.

Pros:

• Having your aging parent living under your roof will allow you to care for your elderly parent around the clock

• When living in the same home, you are available should a medical emergency or accident occur with your Mother or Father

• Either parent will not have to worry about maintaining a home (cooking, cleaning); either or both can pitch in with tasks

• Not having to travel to provide care to your aging parent will be more convenient for you and your family

Cons:

• Roles in your household could change along with family dynamic

• Your parent may not adjust well to the functioning of your household, and may attempt to interfere with the raising of your children

• You might feel you need to look after your Mom or Dad full-time when living under the same roof, so it may be stressful

• There may be disputes over family finances if clear expectations aren’t set up front

Sources:

1. Associated Content

2. Women Today Magazine

3. US News.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.

When Home is No Longer an Option for Seniors in Phoenix

Question from an adult child of an aging parent: Our 88 year old mother has lived at home with help from the family.  Because it’s becoming more difficult for her to be at home, it’s now time for her to move to a facility.  How do we decide which option is best?

It’s great that your mother could stay at home for so long, since that’s where most elderly individuals want to be.  In a survey conducted for Home Instead Senior Care, more than 83 percent of seniors surveyed say they are very or somewhat likely to remain in their homes rather than move to a care facility.

Most communities now have a variety of services, including home health agencies and non-medical care companies, which can make that possible.  Have you looked into community resources that could help your mom continue to stay at home?  “Most older people seem to think that where they live is an all or nothing affair:  stay at home or be sent off to a nursing home,” said Linda Rhodes, author of Caregiving as Your Parents Age. (cont’d)

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.

Blood pressure is a common issue that touches one in three Americans, and it’s not something that should be taken lightly, because primary hypertension can kill. A diet that’s too high in sodium can not only cause blood pressure to raise sky high, it can also exasperate the symptoms at put those with hypertension at risk. Sodium is hidden in many foods that seniors may not even be aware of; so when attempting to reduce the sodium in a diet, seniors can abide by the following diet plan:

• Avoid using much salt when cooking, or when putting it on food at the table

• Avoid foods that are high in salt – when purchasing chips, crackers or other items which tend to be salty, look for products that say “low sodium on the package”

• Choose fresh or frozen foods instead of canned goods which may have high sodium levels for preservation

• Always read the nutrition information about foods before purchase

• Use other seasonings instead of salt in order to add flavor to food. Herbs, spices, lemon, juice and garlic can be tasty seasonings to use during food preparation.

Sources:

1. Suite101

2. Heart and Stoke Foundation

image Source: myrecipes.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.

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.

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

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, a direct correlation exists between physical fitness and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease; a cognitive condition which affects a large portion of the senior population. According to the study which looked at 121 seniors over the age of 60, many of whom were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were routinely physically active had four times less brain shrinkage than those who lead more sedentary lifestyles. Based on previous evidence, decreasing brain volume is linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, so a regular fitness routine can actually help prevent future cognitive problems as well.

Throughout the aging process, it’s important to remain active, even if it means just getting out to take a walk, going for a swim, or completing a series of stretches at home. Phoenix, AZ. seniors will not only improve their overall health through routine exercise, they will also increase the blood flow from the heart to the brain, which improves brain functioning and prevents the onset of other diseases which can aggravate mental conditions like Alzheimer’s.

Seniors in Phoenix shouldn’t feel that it’s too late to begin an exercise program at anytime in their lives; they can start small and slowly build up their endurance to greater activities for the optimal benefits to the body and the mind.

Sources:

1. About.com Alzheimer’s

2. BBC News

Image Source: homeinsteadil.net

When a family takes control of caring for elderly parents, tension and conflict often develops between siblings, because one takes on the majority of the care responsibilities for the aging parent.

Caregiving for a parent can re-ignite old conflicts and sibling rivalry in some siblings, while others may grow closer while coming together to determine the best way to care for their elderly parents. It’s also not uncommon for the sibling who plays the largest role in family elder care to become resentful of their siblings, because they feel like the rest of their family isn’t making a big enough contribution to the care of their elderly parents.

In order to share responsibilities, siblings need to define clear roles and responsibilities. While one sibling may become the primary caregiver for the aging parents, other siblings who live nearby should offer to provide respite; by bringing mom or dad to appointments, or coming over to allow the primary senior caregiver a night out, all siblings can do their part. It’s also important that all siblings are aware of decisions regarding the care and health of their parents; through communication all members of the family remain involved, however, the primary caregiver should ultimately be responsible for making decisions if all siblings cannot come to an agreement. In these cases, the rest of the family should work to support the decision and play their role.

With planning and communication, siblings can come together to ensure quality care for their elderly parents.

Sources:

1. Oregon State University Extension Service

2. Senior Truth (Helen Dennis)

Image Source: www.ehow.com

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Older adults who feel most isolated report 65 percent more depressive symptoms than those who feel least isolated, regardless of their actual levels of connectedness. The consequences of poor mental health can be substantial, as deteriorating mental health also reduces people’s willingness to exercise and may increase health-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol use, explained Linda Waite, the Lucy Flower Professor in Sociology at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on aging.  Among the study’s findings:

The most socially connected older adults are three times as likely to report very good or excellent health compared to those who are least connected, regardless of whether they feel isolated.

Older adults who feel least isolated are five times as likely to report very good or excellent health as those who feel most isolated, regardless of their actual level of social connectedness.

If you find your aging relative is feeling depressed due to isolation in a Phoenix nursing home, please consider hiring a caregiving companion such as a CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care.  It’s a great way to help your aging mom or dad avoid loneliness.

Read how Loneliness Can Impact Seniors’ Health

Source: Science Daily

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Image: www.gettyimages.com