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.

Heart disease refers to any condition that affects the normal functioning of the heart.
Since heart disease touches the lives of many seniors and their families, at Home Instead Senior Care we believe it’s important to spread awareness about the signs and symptoms of heart disease, so that serious complications or death are prevented with diagnosis and treatment. A woman in our network explains how her mother’s symptoms lead to the discovery of heart disease.

One day I received a terrifying phone call; before I even had the opportunity to say “hello”, the voice on the other line said “I think I might be having a hard attack.” The caller was my mother, who at the time was 72 years old with no previous history of heart trouble, as far as we were aware. While my first instinct was to rush to her side, living with states between us made that impossible, so instead I tried to get a grasp on what she was experiencing. Based on her disposition, I suspected she wasn’t actually suffering from a heart attack, but I knew it was important to be supportive and make a point to understand. Not surprisingly, the first symptom she mentioned was a severe ache in her chest, but she also complained of dizziness. I encouraged my mom to hang up with me and contact the office of her physician to determine the best way to proceed in order to deal with her symptoms. The doctor said that if she felt the symptoms were severe, she should go immediately to the emergency room at the local hospital; otherwise she could come in for an appointment at his office later that afternoon so he could assess what she was experiencing.

My mom felt that her symptoms were not severe enough to go to the hospital, but opted to take the doctor’s appointment with my encouragement. Speaking to her after she returned home to the doctor, I learned that heart disease was the suspected diagnosis. Her physician said that she did the right thing, even though she was only exhibiting some of the symptoms of heart disease; dizziness and chest pain, and not nausea, shortness of breathe, an elevated heart rate, loss of consciousness, or palpitations. He explained that elders who suffer from heart disease, can experience any mix of the above symptoms, which can also include heart attack or stroke. He also said that in the future, if she experiences symptoms of a heart attack which he explained, had severe chest pain or loss of consciousness, then emergency medical treatment should be sought.

After completing further tests to ascertain a more concrete diagnosis, the doctor prescribed a course of treatments which included management through medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While my mom has had no further complications to date, I still can’t help but hold my breath when the phone rings; but I know now I can put my own reservations aside and offer my support where it’s needed.

Sources: http://heartdisease.about.com/od/howtoloweryourrisk/a/heartdiseaseRX.htm
http://heartdisease.about.com/od/coronaryarterydisease/a/heartsymptoms.htm
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/heart-disease.cfm

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

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is loosely defined as the heart’s inability to pump enough blood as required by the body to function properly. There are many potential causes of this often deadly disease, many of which seniors are more susceptible to contracting due to the natural aging process. Conditions that may result in heart disease can be silent killers, as they often are not detected until damage has already occurred. Causes of heart disease include both heart related problems, and diseases which may appear unrelated to the heart but can have severe consequences.

Heart Problems Causing Heart Failure

• Coronary Artery Disease – most common form of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure.  Occurs when there is a build up of fatty deposits, which narrows the arteries. This can deprive areas of the heart muscles of oxygen creating greater weakness.
• Heart attack – plaque formed by fatty deposits in the arteries rupture, creating a back flow of blood clots to the heart.
• Faculty heart valves – healthy valves are forced to work overtime to make up from the lack of blood flow from the faulty valve.
• Cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle) – diseases, infections, alcohol and drug abuse can all damage the heart muscle.
• Myocarditus (inflammation of the heart muscle) – often caused by a virus.
• Congenital heart defects – valves or chambers in the heart may not form correctly at birth, which requires the healthy parts of the heart to work overtime.
• Heart arrythmias – the heart beats too fast, which creates extra work.

Aging Factors and Other Illnesses Causing Heart Failure

• High blood pressure (hypertension) – requires that the heart work overtime to pump the blood through the body.
• Diabetes
• Severe anemia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Emphysema
• Lupus
• Hemochromotosis
• Viruses that attack the heart muscle, severe infections, allergic reactions, blood clots in the lungs, and certain medications might cause acute heart failure.

If you or an important elder in your life have a family history which includes any of the above diseases or ailments, ensure these issues are discussed with your family doctor so your risk of heart failure can be assessed and treated. The potential for heart failure doesn’t have to be a looming fear, with proper diagnosis and treatment, effects can’t be reversed but severe damage can be prevented. Remember, a healthy life means a healthy heart, so take care of yourself through a well-balanced diet and regular exercise, and you will be rolling in the benefits.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061/DSECTION=causes

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

WEAR RED DAY (1st Friday) of this month

This is the day when people are encouraged to wear red to show their support for heart disease awareness in women. The Red Dress is the national symbol and it helps alert women about their personal risk factors for heart disease. To learn more, visit goredforwomen.org.

A Home Instead CAREGiver can help clients transition home from the hospital if they’ve had a heart attack. Oftentimes their doctor limits what activities they can do around the house - a CAREGiver can help with laundry and other light housekeeping. They may also be weak, so it’s good to have someone around.

If clients haven’t had a heart attack CAREGivers can help prevent one by assisting with a walk around the block, transporting them to an exercise class or trying a new activity. A CAREGiver can also remind them to take their cholesterol, blood pressure or other vital medication, or plan and prepare nutritious, heart-healthy meals.

The Red Dress is a trademark of DHHS.

Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute;
National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services

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

At Home Instead Senior Care, we know that loss of the senses, like taste and smell is a traumatizing experience that many older adults face. A seasoned nurse from an Ear, Nose and Throat practice explains to us another problem that can occur as the senses decline; confusion between taste and smell.

In our practice, we treat a large number of seniors who are complaining about an inability to taste. While sometimes taste buds do change as part of the natural process of aging, this is most often not where the problem stems from. When we try to explain to our patients that the problem actually derives from their nose, it’s not uncommon to receive looks or distrust. Really, we’re not crazy, but we do understand how it can be difficult to accept when people naturally assume that problems with taste must begin with the tongue and taste buds.

While many different problems with the nose can cause challenges with taste and the interpretation of flavor, the best way to illustrate the connection between smell and taste is to use the common cold analogy. Anyone who’s had a stuffy nose knows that any food or drink consumed tastes different than what they’re used to, but since the taste buds aren’t truly at play, what it really comes down to is flavor instead. Taste and smell are very closely linked, and when we eat certain foods, we process both the odor of the food with our nose and taste on our tongue; and unconsciously roll them together and interpret them as one sense. So naturally, when scent is compromised because of a cold or other nasal complication, the flavor appears different than what we’re used to.

So, while you may walk into a doctor’s office, believing you have a problem with taste; whether you belong to the elder or younger generation, keep an open mind, understanding that taste and flavor are not one and the same and that problems with the nose can actually alter the interpretation of flavor.

Sources: http://www.american-rhinologic.org/patientinfo.loss.phtml
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_can%27t_you_taste_anything_with_your_nose_plugged
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2590232

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

The senses of taste and smell are so closely linked, that the loss of one can directly impact the other. It’s no secret in the elder care industry that some changes of these senses occur as a part of the natural process of aging, since taste buds diminish with age and there is a degeneration of the nerves that control smell. However, it’s not just aging alone that results in a more drastic inability to perceive smells or tastes; other health factors can further influence the decline of the senses.

• Nasal Problems – simple nasal obstructions like colds, allergies, and irritants from cigarette smoke and pollutants can cause loss of smell and in turn attribute to loss of taste. More serious nasal complications like sinusitis (sinus infections) or nasal polyps (small non-cancerous growths in the nasal passage) can also results in temporary loss of the senses
• Medications – some prescription medications like certain antibiotics, blood pressure treatments and chemotherapy can dull the senses
• Surgery or Head Trauma – temporary loss of scent or taste may occur due to blocking scar tissue, or permanent damage can be the result if nerves are severed or missing
• Dental problems – tooth decay, gum infections, or sores can cause the loss of taste sense
• Diseases – in rare cases, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can result in loss of senses

While seniors may enjoy not being able to smell offending odors or taste unpleasant foods, loss or decline of the senses needs to be taken seriously because it can result in nutritional problems and poor overall health. Older adults should consult with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist to obtain a proper diagnosis. A medical professional may use scratch and sniff methods or taste tests to evaluate the decline that has occurred, and if necessary may use an endoscope, CAT scan or X-ray to get a closer look at the throat and sinus passages. 

In many cases, treatment to reverse the affects of sense loss rely only upon simple lifestyle changes or minor medical procedures, and with proper advice and attention it can greatly improve the quality of life for an older adult. 

Home Instead caregivers are on hand to help you prepare meals that are tasty and nutritious for your loved one.

Sources: http://www.american-rhinologic.org/patientinfo.loss.phtml
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/loss-of-taste-and-smell/AN01198

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

In addition to assistive devices which can better enable struggling seniors to hear, others can help them by using simple communication methods to increase not only hearing, but comprehension.  Here are some tips to ensure communication in a way that benefits a struggling senior:

-  Converse in a quiet environment (no background noises from traffic, music, television, or others engaged in conversation)
-  When speaking with a senior, always ensure you lower the pitch of your voice, since high frequency sounds are the first ones to go ( a condition referred to as presbycusis)
-  Speak slowly, and remain conscious of the pace since seniors can’t process information and listen as fast as younger people
-  Ensure that the older adult is actively engaged and able to hear what you are saying, even by stopping to confirm information
-  Maintain eye contact and make use of non-verbal signals so that your body language supplements your speech
-  Keep in mind that shouting or raising your voice is not usually beneficial for seniors with hearing loss
-  Make sure your speech is clear and your words are enunciated
-  Ensure there is appropriate lighting in the environment  and  attempt to eliminate drastic changes in lighting to aid with vision
-  Provide seniors with written materials and text that are easy to read, with large print
-  Be aware it is easier for seniors to interpret visual cues during the day, when exposed to natural light

When hearing loss occurs, it becomes a family affair. If someone you know is nervous about assistive devices, go with them to consult with an audiologist and help with the decision, and do everything you can through communication to increase their overall quality of life as it relates to hearing.

Source:
 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/info_sheets/hearing_loss/index.htm

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

For many common types of hearing loss that are caused by the aging process, there is no cure. But for the one third of seniors aged 60 and over who have problems with hearing, it isn’t all bad news. Since hearing loss cannot be reversed, the elder services industry focuses upon encouraging seniors to use assistive devices that can increase their level of hearing and improve their quality of life.

When it comes to living with hearing loss, it’s about management, and there are a number of devices available on the market today to help seniors and their families do just that. Seniors do not have to back down from activities and social situations that they once enjoyed, instead they can make use of hearing technology under the advice of an audiologist, to learn what would be most suitable for their needs. Hearing aids are the most common, and come with a variety of different features; however, their most basic purpose is to improve the volume of sound and enable them to hear specific pitches they might be missing. Seniors might also benefit from buying amplifiers for their phones, or visual indicators that tell them when someone has rung their doorbell. Elders with hearing loss can also make use of functions that simple technology already has to offer; instead of turning up the volume on their TV, they can turn on the closed captions.

Source:
 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/info_sheets/hearing_loss/index.htm

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

“Turn that music down or you’ll damage your hearing!” is a statement of warning that we’ve all voiced to a teenage or heard ourselves during our youth. While usually uttered in frustration when the speaker can’t seem to hear themselves think, you might be surprised to learn that this isn’t just a mindless threat; it does hold some truth. Talk about empowerment for parents everywhere! Hearing loss isn’t only found in senior citizens, and it can occur outside of the natural process of aging due to noise related damage. Learn more about Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) by reading on and learning just what others want to know in these frequently asked questions.

Q1 – How does noise cause hearing loss?
A1 – When certain sounds are heard at unusually high levels, or that are loud and last a long time sensitive structures in the inner ear called hair cells are damaged and can never grow back; resulting in NIHL.

Q2 – Can NIHL only affect teenagers?
A2 – While there is a stigma that teenagers listen to loud music that can damage their hearing, NIHL can occur is people of any age, including the elderly. Seniors may find NIHL more dramatically affects their hearing loss if they are already suffering from age related changes.

Q3 – How loud does a sound need to be to result in NIHL?
A3 – Sounds are measured in decibels; normal noises may range between 40-80 decibels, but any noise over 85 could result in NIHL if there is prolonged or repeated exposure.

Q4 – Is there anything, besides loud music, that can cause NIHL?
A4 – Any noise above 85 decibels has the potential to cause NIHL; prolonged exposure to sounds of a woodworking shop or extremely loud traffic noises could cause hearing loss. One loud impulse sound, like an explosion can also result in NIHL.

Q5 – What are the symptoms of NIHL?
A5 – Damage from one loud sound can cause immediate symptoms, or prolonged exposure to a loud noise can result in gradual development. People suffering from NIHL may find that sounds become distorted, muffled, or may have problems understanding speech. Others, may experience no symptoms at all, and will discover the damage through a hearing test.

Q6 – Can NIHL be prevented?
A6 – While it’s impossible to avoid exposure to loud noises completely, especially when an unexpected one occurs (like an explosion) basic precautions can be taken, like wearing ear plugs when in an especially noisy environment.

Q7 – How can NIHL be treated?
A7 – Since there is no way for the damage hair cells to re-grow,  treatment methods relate to improve the hearing of affected individuals using hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Source: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/noise.asp

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

Hearing loss impacts about 28 million people in the United States alone, and will touch the lives of nearly one third of people seniors over the age of 60. Seniors are often reluctant to seek help for the aging related changes they’re experiencing, so it often falls to loved ones, like family members, elder care professionals or friends to spot when an older adult is having challenges hearing and to encourage them to seek medical attention which may be beneficial. Some of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss may seem obvious, but it’s important to identify them and acknowledge their significance. These characteristics include:

• Misunderstanding what people say
• Asking people to repeat statements they’ve made in conversation
• Strained conversation over the phone
• Thinking or stating that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly
• Turning up the TV or radio very loudly

Other factors that may indicate hearing loss may be harder to detect, but can be surefire signs that a senior is in the earlier stages of losing their hearing. Be aware if a senior demonstrates any of the following symptoms:

• Increased difficulty hearing when there is background noise present
• An inability to pick up on environmental sounds, like birds chirping
• Attempting to read lips, by watching the speakers face during conversations
• Pretending to understand by agreeing, head nodding or laughing. Due to lack of comprehension, these cues might be used at an irrelevant time
• The senior removes his/herself physically from conversations that are too difficult to follow

As the hearing loss progresses and worsens, the above signs do become increasingly more obvious. Depending upon the type of hearing loss the senior is experiencing; including conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, they may only demonstrate a few of the above signs. However, it is important for families, friends and other associates to be aware of the potential indicators early on, so that any serious health problems may be ruled out by a doctor, and appropriate treatment can be administered to make the senior’s day to day life more comfortable.

http://www.stronghealth.com/services/Audiology/hearing/symptomshearingloss.cfm