It is estimated that four million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or a related form of dementia. Almost half of all nursing home patients suffer from the disease. There, we often find dementia patients slumped over in wheelchairs, seemingly unresponsive. Communicating with older loved ones in later stages of dementia and finding ways to offer them some quality of…
Driving is a symbol of freedom and independence. Many people find it hard to give up driving, even when they know they can no longer do it safely. On the other hand, sometimes a senior knows in their heart they should stop driving, but continues to drive because they are unaware of other, more suitable options. If you have concerns about an older adult driver,…
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for a majority of dementia cases. Regardless of what you call it, Alzheimer’s care can create challenges for both family and professional caregivers. The time it takes for Alzheimer’s to run its course varies from person to person. It seems to be affected by gender as well as the onset of age. There is no way to accurately predict the timing of…
When a person has had an injury, serious illness, or minor stroke, rehabilitation exercises can be hard–mentally and physically. Exercise can be boring for anyone, but especially tedious when the smallest movements are difficult or painful. Too often the effort reminds you of what you can not do, and with that there is the attending anxiety of wondering if you will ever be able to do it again. Seniors have lived…
The specific activities of an in-home caregiver depend on the client’s needs, but they always involve attentiveness, compassion, and empathy. These people-skills are every bit as important as the caregiver’s skills in assisting a person into or out of bed or off the toilet, managing food and medicine timetables and interactions, cooking appropriate foods, operating oxygen equipment, emptying catheter bags, and properly doing household chores. For…
How important is a strict diet for seniors? For some people a strict diet can feel too confining and just thinking about dietary rules can even make them crave what they “cannot” have. For other people, it can be a relief to know what they will be consuming and when, that they will always like. And their digestive system and…
Not Taking It When Prescribed! Each medication is not an isolated drug. When a doctor prescribes medication for seniors, they are not only looking at a specific health problem, but the patient’s entire condition as well. A doctor may prescribe multiple medications, carefully calculating them to work together. When one or more medication is not taken at all, or not…
Many seniors may have accepted that they can’t get out as much as they used to, especially if they have trouble walking or have to use a wheelchair. Everyone, though, benefits from an occasional break with routine. If your senior loved one needs special transportation assistance, arrangements can seem well worth the effort when you see the joy in your loved one’s face…
Physical And Mental Exercises! Staying active is an integral part of the aging process. Countless studies have demonstrated that engaging in low-impact activities can significantly boost energy, manage pain symptoms, and help seniors maintain their independence. But staying fit shouldn’t stop after your 30-minute yoga session. Research increasingly demonstrates that adults who engage in “brain games” and memory care exercises…
As seniors age, it’s important that they stay as engaged and mentally active as possible. There are alternatives other than being shuttled to bingo games or sitting parked in front of random television shows. Most seniors prefer to be helpful, or to have someone with whom to reminisce, or to be able to access entertainment that is personally meaningful. The greater Chicago area is fortunate to…
