Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness especially with seniors. There are about 95 percent of people over 65 who have cataracts.  Most cases are mild and usually don’t need treatment unless it worsens.

What is Cataract?        

Cataract is when the transparent lens of the eye becomes cloudy, impairing vision. 

Signs of Cataracts

• Blurred vision
• Sensitive to light
• Trouble seeing at night
• Double vision

Cause of Cataracts

The cause of cataracts is unknown but sometimes result from exposure to x-rays or sunlight.  Also if  the senior suffers from a mild case, over time it can worsen.  Certain medications such as cortisone steroids, arthritis medications and diabetic can also increase risk.

Treatment

Don’t wait for your eyes to get worse.  Outpatient surgery is painless, the cloudy lens is removed and an implant is inserted.

Prevention

Stay away from the sun or reduce your sun exposure. Wear a hat or U-V blocking sunglasses when your outside.

The change is slow with cataracts that most people don’t realize that their vision is going bad until it affects their ability to do things.  Seniors should visit their doctors annually.

There are over five million Americans age 65 and older that are blind or visually impaired.  A yearly visit to the doctor is highly recommended for early detection and prevention of eye diseases because neglect may result in permanent vision loss.  As a caregiver you can help your loved ones get around by just doing the littlest things that we tend to take for granted.

• Paint doorway trims and steps or stairs in bright colors.  Bright colors are easier to see than lighter ones.  If painting isn’t an option use colorful tape around the edges.
• Place extra light in hallways, stairs, reading areas or wherever you think it’s necessary.  Make sure to also distribute light evenly throughout the home as old eyes lose capacity to refocus when they shift from bright areas to dark areas.  Seniors need three times more light to see clearly than younger people.  If necessary increase bulb wattage if things don’t improve.
• Use nightlights generously as another added safety.
• Make lights in rooms accessible.  The last thing you want to happen is your loved one to get hurt because they couldn’t reach the switch.

Following some of these guidelines will not only help your loved ones but will make things a little worry free for the caregiver.

When we want something or have an opinion we just ask or say it.  Imagine if you weren’t able to talk  or worse you weren’t being understood. Language difficulties can often become permarnent disabilities for stroke victims. 

Here are some ways to communicate to someone who suffers from aphasia:

Don’t talk down. There’s a tendency to talk down to people who suffer from aphasia, almost like you would talk down to a child.

Don’t speak about your loved one when they are nearby.  They may have communication problem but they can still overhear you or understand.

Don’t speak loudly.  If you’re loved one can’t hear, then you can speak loudly but otherwise speak in a natural voice.

Give your elder plenty of time to respond.  Just because your loved one doesn’t respond right away, it doesn’t mean they aren’t understanding you.  Their brain just might need time to process what you said and to formulate a response.

Speak about one subject at a time and use short sentences. Give your loved one time to grasp one topic before going into another subject.

Reduce background noise.  Turn down television or radios as it might be too distracting for them.

Try to have one on one conversations.  Keep the conversation to you and your loved one. Involving other people might confuse them.

Be expressive or add facial gestures when your words aren’t being understood.

As always consult a doctor for other suggestions.  Ask the doctor for a referral speech therapist who can help improve on their speech problems.   

Information provided by Rachelle Zukerman

What is a Bedsore?

Bedsores or pressure ulcers are areas of damaged skin and tissue that develop when sustained pressure cuts off circulation to vulnerable parts of your body, especially the skin on your buttocks, hips and heels.

Bedsores are most common with seniors for those who are bedridden, uses a wheelchair or is unable to change positions without help can develop bedsores.  Bedsores can develop quickly, rapidly and often difficult to heal.

Four Stages of Bedsores 

Stage I:  A pressure sore begins as a persistent area of red skin that may itch or hurt and feel warm and spongy or firm to the touch.

Stage II: Skin loss has occured, either in the outermost layer of skinor in the skin’s deeper layer.  The wound is now an open sore that looks like a blister or an abrasion.

Stage III: By the time a pressure ulcer reaches this stage, the damage has now spread to the tissue below the skin, creating a deep, crater like wound.

Stage IV: This is the most serious and advance stage. A large amount of skin loss occurs, along with damage to underlying muscle, bone and even joints.

How to treat Bedsores

Treating bedsores can be a bit challenging. Below are a couple of steps to prevent bedsores from getting worse. It may take some time to heal but with most Stage I and Stage II sores should heal within weeks.  Stage III and Stage IV more likely will need surgery.

Change positions often. Carefully follow your schedule for turning and repositioning aprpoximately every 15 minutes if you’re in a wheelchair and at least once every two hours when you’re in bed.

Use support surfaces. Use special cushions, pads, mattresses and beds that relieve pressure on an existing sore to protect vulnerable areas.  

Cleaning.  It’s essential to keep wounds clean to prevent infection.  

Removal of damaged tissue. To heal properly, wounds need to be free or damaged, dead or infected tissue.  

Dressings. A variety of dressings are used to help protect wounds and speed healing the type usually depends on the stage and severity of the wound.  

Hydrotherapy. Whirlpool baths can aid healing by keeping skin clean and naturally removing dead or contaminated tissue.

Oral antibiotics. If pressure sores appear infected, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics.  

Healthy diet. Eating a nutritionally rich diet with adequate calories and protein and a full range of vitamins and minerals especially vitamin C and zinc may improve wound healing.

Muscle spasm relief. This is essential for both preventing and treating pressure sores. Your doctor may recommend skeletal muscle relaxants that block nerve reflexes in your spine or in the muscle cells themselves.   

Information provided by Mayo Clinic.

When going on trips most families don’t make a big deal bringing things that they know they will need.  The things that we lug around simply just comes with the territory.  So when traveling with an elder, especially a frail older adult, the following are ideas to make outings go more smoothly. 

• Plan what items you’ll need to keep your elder comfortable while you’re out.  Anticipate that anything can happen so make things easier by bringing their medications, pillows or snacks.
• Know your loved ones limitations and your own. Seniors get tired easily and quickly.  
• Call ahead to your destination to ask about accessibility.
• Create excitement and talk to them about the trip. Show them videos or brochures so that they are looking forward to the trip. Seniors don’t like change, the more familiar they are to a place the better.
• Invite a person to go along.  If there are things that come up you will have someone to help you.
• Don’t push to travel.  Seniors change their minds quite often. Unfamiliar places may trigger fear, anxiety and confusion in elders with severe memory loss.
• Return to places that you have had successful trips.

Information provided by Rachel Zukerman

A new study shows that aspirin can help fight Colon Cancer by over 30%. 

Andrew Chan co-author of The Journal of the American Medical Association said that the studies revealed that patients who took aspirin after diagnosis were 38% less likely to die from any cause during a 12 year trial.  

How it works?

According to Andrew Chan, the type of tumor overproduces a protein called COX-2. When inflammation is involved that is what feeds tumor growth. This new study however, doesn’t benefit patients who didn’t overproduce the protein as well as people who took aspirin before diagnosis. It does benefits patients whose tumors overproduced COX-2 that took aspirin after diagnosis were alive 10 years later as compared to 67% of those patients who didn’t take them. As exciting as this new finding is, always consult with your doctor for advice.

Information provided by USA Today

Alzheimer’s is an irreversible disorder of the brain. It develops slowly and often time hard to diagnose in the beginning. An early-stage Alzheimer’s patient may look well and may be able to ”cover up” the signs of the disease. This stage of the disease is also knownas the Onset Period and may last up to five years. Below are some early signs.

• Poor concentration and a short attention span
• Short-term memory problems.
• Depression
• Forgetfulness for example forgetting names, dates and how things work.
• Problems making decisions. Loss of concentration.
• Erratic mood behavior, can easily become frustrated, cranky or just doesn’t talk .