Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing home care for elders and seniors. Call (512) 347-9207.

Today we are continuining with our topic of keeping aging adults safe in their homes and will talk about some common problems and possible solutions for the bathroom area.  Many seniors have accidents in the bathrooms and often as result of this avoid taking baths or showers out of fear of falling or hurting themselves.

This problem is particularly prevelant amongst those with physical limitations but someone with memory loss or dementia can be even more at risk.  Home Instead provides training and tips to its caregivers through a multi-phased training program, which includes information about home safety and potential problem areas throughout a senior’s home to be adjusted or avoided where needed.

If your loved one has moderate to severe cognitive impairment and needs verbal cues and some assistance with toileting and bathing, the bathroom needs to be as accessible as possible to maximize independence.

Solutions for the Family:

1)Remove dangerous chemical and aerosols.  Don’t use automatic cleaners in the toilet.

2)Install grab bars by the toilet and and in the shower.

3)Install a hand-held shower nozzle.  People with Alzheimer’s disease reach better to hand-held showers rather than overhead showers.

4)Install lever-type faucets on the sink with easy-to-see hot and cold symbols.

5)Make sure water temperature is not too hot for independent use.

6)Warm the bathroom to body temperature, but avoid floor level space heaters.  These can be very dangerous if they are in an elderly persons reach.  Use room-size rugs for warmth, but avoid rugs that could trip your elder loved one.

7)Use a fan to avoid fogging the bathroom.

8)Install a shower chair to aid balance and use a non-skid mat.  Discourage seniors from sitting directly in the bath tub.  It may be too difficult for him or her to get up.

Source:  Home Instead Senior Care - Alzheimer’s CAREGiver Training Program.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing home care for elders and seniors. Call (512) 347-9207.

Ensuring a safe, comfortable and organized environment for seniors.

Most elder loved ones feel the safest and most comfortable in their own homes, but we must consider the risk factors involved for Aging Adults suffering with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. For these older seniors, home is not always the safest as it once was, since their illness. To ensure seniors are happy and well-adjusted, you must establish a safe and comfortable environment for them.

Making appropriate changes to an aging adult’s home environment so it is safe and supportive, is not easy but is vital for an elder living with Alzheimer’s. The family of an a senior citizen can help in making suggestions in establishing a positive environment for their elder loved one. Maintaining these safety guidelines increases a senior’s ability to function and decreases difficult behaviors. This is an important issue that should not be overlooked concerning the aging population showing signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Aging adults may have had things the same way for more than 50 years and do not want change. A physical environment can greatly impact a Senior’s life. If well-done, surroundings can enhance what’s happening every day. On the other hand, a disorganized or unsafe physical environment can acutually inhibit the activity of everyday life and leave an elderly who lives with Alzheimer’s in turmoil.

Some suggestions to consider:

-Increase lighting levels
-Add bright accents and paintings
-Declutter the rooms, especially walkways
-Install lever type doorknobs
-Install secure railings on both sides of stairways
-Declutter closets - organize clothes by day
-Use safety latches on drawers and doors
-Chairs should have arm rests and be at elbow height

Your loved one’s physical environment can greatly impact their lives. Keep their homes organized and safe.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing home care for elders and seniors. Call (512) 347-9207.

Interview Questions Dr. Devere

Q: Dr. Devere, you are a doctor in Austin who specializes in Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Neurology.  May we ask you some questions about health care that we are often asked and have often heard answered poorly by others?
A: Yes, you may.

Q: Regarding Trends in Health of the Elderly: In addition to good nutrition, a multi-vitamin, and proper hygiene, what are some additional tips that Senior citizens can use to stay healthy throughout the year?

A: To maintain Brain Health, it is important to exercise physically and keep your brain active by reading, gardening, games and socialization.  Be sure you don’t have untreated high cholesterol, high blood pressure or early diabetes.

Q: Regarding Symptoms and Diagnosis: One of the most commonly asked questions that our readers ask is, “What are the symptoms of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s?”  We want to ask a greater question: What at-home, non-professional tools can we use to recognize symptoms of numerous elder related illness, disease, and disorder?  How will we separate true health issues from basic age-related decline?

A: If caregivers or friends recognize that a person’s memory is abnormal and especially if it interferes with Basic Daily activity, which is not normal,  they should be evaluated by a physician.  Not all memory loss is Alzheimer’s.  Most conditions causing memory loss are treatable, including Alzheimer’s

Q: Regarding Later-life Housing: The statistics say that a fraction of people pass away suddenly/unexpectedly; it is far more likely that we will all have a normal, healthy decline.  This means that people will likely spend their waning years at home or in some form of skilled nursing or assisted living institution.  AARP tells that people have a preference to stay in their homes; not a surprise to anyone, but as living one one’s own becomes increasingly difficult, what steps can they take to age in place successfully?

A: People with physical and/or cognitive abnormalities will likely need help from their spouses or family.  Help with basic home Activities and meds can be obtained by hiring aides through Home Care and Companionship Service Agencies.  Assisted Living facilities with or without a spouse are available.  Nursing Homes really should be a last resort if the above considerations fail.

Q: Thank you Dr. Devere.  May our readers continue to ask questions of you?
A: Yes, Absolutely.  They can reach me at 1200 Lakeway Dr # 8, Lakeway, TX 78734 and (512) 261-7909

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing the most trusted elder home health in America! Call us today at (512) 347-9207.

Seniors can become depressed when their holiday plans don’t go the way they hoped.  However, they don’t need to watch from the sidelines while the holidays happen around them, by taking control and implementing a few simple tips into their lives they can find themselves surrounded by family and friends while making the most of the holiday season.

• Adjust expectations – seniors may set unrealistic expectations with regards to their holiday plans. By speaking with family and friends before the holidays begin, seniors can get a grasp on how things will go. By planning and setting realistic goals, there is little room for disappointment.

• Monitor stress – seniors should be receptive to the signs that their bodies are providing when the stress of the season gets to be too much. Any activities that are overwhelming or stressful should also be limited, or seniors can ask for help from friends and family to assist with cooking, cleaning, shopping or decorating.

• Remain in touch – seniors should try and get together with friends and family by attending gatherings and holiday events. Even if it’s not possible to get together in person, the holidays are a great time to make use of the phone and email to let loved ones know they’re being thought about.

• Attend community events – many communities have holiday shows, plays and musical functions which can be free or relatively inexpensive; this is a great way for seniors to get into the spirit of the season

• Join a group – social or support groups can be a great way to combat loneliness over the holidays and meet new people

• Volunteer – giving back to the community can be very rewarding, especially during the holidays, and is a way to socialize with other people. Consider volunteering at a shelter, soup kitchen, toy drive or gift wrap station.

• Remain healthy – keep up a routine of healthy diet and exercise, which can help maintain good spirits

• Adopt a pet – seniors can get their own holiday present, by adding a pet to their household, which also staves off isolation

• Avoid vices – drinking too much can increase depression, so try and keep it to a limit!

Source: http://www.4therapy.com/consumer/life_topics/article/5558/599/Seniors+and+the+%22Holiday+Blues%22

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing the most trusted elder care in America! Call us today at (512) 347-9207.

Alzheimer’s Home Health Care - Helping Families Cope in Austin

Alzheimer’s Home Health Care Requires Good Communication to Smooth the Process

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can cause a person to act in different and unpredictable ways. Some individuals with Alzheimer’s become anxious or aggressive. Others repeat certain questions and gestures. Many misinterpret what they see or hear.

These types of reactions can lead to misunderstanding, frustration and tension, particularly between the person with dementia and the caregiver. It is important to understand that the person is not acting that way on purpose.

The physical, emotional and financial effects of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease can be serious threats to a family caregiver’s welfare, especially as stress and pressures mount.  If you need home health or assistance with your loved one living with Alzheimer’s in Austin, please call us at 512.347.9207.

When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, the damage to his or her brain can make it difficult to recall or to understand words. Attempting to recall or decipher words can be overwhelming and result in frustration. The person may become agitated or repeat one word or a question over and over – a true test of your patience and understanding.

Call Home Instead Senior Care Austin for help with your aging relative living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Our CAREGivers are trained to help people with memory loss live a better life. Call us at (512) 347-9207.

ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS ARE OUT THERE

I work in a busy medical practice as a nurse, which specializes in geriatric care. We see a large number of patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who are often accompanied by their caregivers; usually relatives. One thing I always notice is that while each caregiver does have their own unique challenges, they feel so isolated that they believe they are the only ones dealing with the stresses and frustrations that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s bring.

However, in reality, 80% of Alzheimer’s caregivers are family members, often adult children or spouses. Even some public figures know what it feels like to care for a loved one who is suffering from a cognitive disease like Alzheimer’s, one renowned example is former first lady, Nancy Reagan, who cared for her late husband, former President, Ronald Reagan right until he unfortunately passed away.

A caregiver for one of our patients, who is 91 one years old and in the later stages of the disease has provided the following statement that we have used in our practice’s newsletters and other publications in order to let others know that they are not alone with the challenges and fears that they face as caregivers; “Because my grandmother is home alone during the day, I come home over my lunch hour to check on her. Grandmother has been living with me for three years, but still thinks she is visiting.

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s in North America is only expected to grow in the upcoming years, and should be around 11.3 to 16 million people by 2050; with 81 people suffering from some form of dementia by 2040.

As a result, the number of family caregivers will increase and so will the need for services to assist Austin Seniors with the day-to-day responsibilities. I don’t make recommendations to my patients and their families unless I know it’s a service or organization that is reputable, safe, knowledgeable, and generally one of the best in the business; but I’ve seen first hand how Home Instead Senior Care’s services can reduce the stress caregivers and their families deal with, and improve the over all quality of life of those living through Alzheimer’s disease.

Call Home Instead Senior Care Austin for help with your aging relative living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Our CAREGivers are trained to help people with memory loss live a better life. Call us at (512) 347-9207.

A new study just revealed a new drug halts progress of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

A major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is revealed today (July 29) by scientists at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Chicago, Illinois.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative and terminal brain disorder which affects millions of people around the world and a major and growing burden on health services in all countries with an ageing population. During the course of its progress there is a build up in the brain of lesions called plaques and tangles.

A new drug that has completed Phase II trials in the UK and Singapore is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, as it appeared to slow the progress of the disease by as much as 81 percent over a year, compared to placebo. Methylthioninium chloride (MTC) blocks the accumulation of tau protein tangles inside brain cells, one of the principal characteristics of the disease.

Patients receiving the study treatment experienced an 81% reduction in cognitive decline over one year, and did not experience a significant decline in their mental function over 19 months. The TauRx brain imaging data also showed that the drug had its biggest effect in the memory critical parts of the brain where the tangle density is highest.

Please visit in a day to get more information on study revealed.

If your aging relative is living with Alzheimer’s, Home Instead Senior Care in Austin can help.  Please call us at 512-347-9207.

Alzheimer’s Disease a Growing Concern for Boomers

Question from a daugther of aging mother: My 85 year old mother is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and is still at home in Austin.  We’re hoping to keep her in her own house for as long as possible.  What’s the latest about Alzheimer’s disease and what it will mean for my generation?

Sadly, the information is not all good news. While many of the diseases that strike senior citizens are declining, the most feared – Alzheimer’s Disease – is increasing at an accelerating rate, according to the latest report from the Alzheimer’s Association.  About five million elderly have the disease now, the organization says, but it projects 10 million Baby Boomers will join these ranks in the U.S.

Your mother is among 5.2 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the “2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report (online at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/report_alzfactsfigures2008.pdf).

This new study says the disease is poised to strike one out of eight Baby Boomers. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, now is the time to address this looming epidemic that currently has no effective disease-modifying treatments that halt or delay the progression of the disease.

Experts predict by 2010, there will be almost a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s disease each year, and by 2050, there will be almost a million new cases each year. The Association’s report discusses the facts and figures about this disease, which is now the seventh-leading cause of death in the country and the fifth-leading cause of death for those over age 65.

For a private question to be answered by our Home Instead Senior Care Austin expert - email Catherine Kohl HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com.  Call 512-347-9207.