Home Care News

How Alzheimer’s Destroys the Brain

VIDEO

It very helpful to understand what is going on in the brain of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s. This informative and easy to understand three minute video is definitely worth you time and will benefit all those that are affected by this destructive disease.

Understanding that Alzheimer’s patients, past a certain stage, cannot store answers to questions will help you accept the problems that are associated with Alzheimer’s. Being able to understanding what is causing these problems in an Alzheimer’s patient is the first necessary step to effective Alzheimer’s caregiving. When you come to this understanding, you will stop “venting”, and you will find a comfort zone while caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease.

This video will increase your understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and help you form the necessary frame of reference to deal with these problems effectively.

6 Important Tips

Six Ways to Talk to Your Parents About Getting Help at Home

It can be difficult to realize the fact that your parents may need assistance and help with day-to-day activities, and it can be a struggle  hiring a professional caregiver for help. Your loved one may react to this decision with some reluctance. When you discuss the subject of an in home caregiver, use patience and tact. Following are some points to keep in mind that can help you have a more successful conversation with your parent.

Below are some tips, based on experience with families facing these struggles,  that will help guide you to a productive conversation with your parent:

1. List advantages.

Create an atmosphere that a quality in home caregiver is desirable to your loved one. List benefits  and the positive impact that hiring a caregiver for your parent may be: explain how living at home is more desirable than moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home.  When seniors remain at home; in-home care is often less costly; they will receive a higher level of attention whit in home senior care.

2. Independence should be a focus of the conversation.

Explain about the benefits of a in home caregiver, and how your loved one will continue to enjoy their independence in their own home. Has your loved one already fallen? Help them understand the consequences of a serious fall – how it could lead to hospitalization and surgery, followed by a lengthy recovery period and limited independence. The same process could be used if they forget to take their medications, forget important events or miss doctor appointments.

3. Try various approaches.

Try suggesting to your parent that in-home care would benefit their spouse. They may be more open to accepting the care for their loved one, even if in reality, it both parents will benefit from the care. If parent lives alone, discuss concerns or activities that are most important to them. Your parent express that they do not need help, however they may be consider allowing someone helping with housekeeping and meal preparation.

4. Make it about other family members.

Explain to your parent how much you worry about them. Or if you have been a caregiver explain that the additional time and responsibilities too much and that you are taking time away from your children and career duties. 55 percent of Americans say being a burden on their family is issue that weighs heavily on their mind. When approaching your parent about accepting in-home help, you might say, “I worry about you…and even if you tell me I shouldn’t, it is something that concerns me. Please consider  having someone come in once a week, even if it is just for me?”

5. Mitigate fear.

An senior can act negatively towards a caregiver at times, but this action is most likely out of fear. Prior to attempting to overcoming this fear, it is important to understand it. Senior often fear loosing their independence, lack of control and and financial worries. The presence of a stranger in the home will sometimes leave the senor feeling vulnerable. Take this into, do not respond with frustration, be  empathetic. Understand how your own emotions may be influencing the conversation. Make sure to choose an appropriate time and place for these discussions.

6. Test it out on a trial-basis.

Use a professional caregiver for in-home assistance on a short-term basis, or recovery care, after a hospital stay. This will show your loved one that having a caregiver is not something to fear.   This positive experience can often leads to them being open to ongoing care.

How to choose the best caregiver and receive important information that every family should have when considering Senior Care Services.

Is your Mom or Dad in Pain?

It is common for pain to be untreated or even unrecognized in seniors.  This can be exacerbated for elderly who have a limited ability to communicate. Up to 80% of seniors experience pain, for many this results in unnecessary suffering.

If you suspect pain, you notice changes in:

•Labored and noisy breathing.  When pain increases, breathing may become rapid with short breaths.

•You may notices  changes in body language such as sudden restlessness, pacing or sleeplessness. Hostility, aggressiveness and, lashing our physically is frequent sign of more severe pain.

•More intense or severe the pain the less likely your loved one will calm down with reassurance or comforting touch.

•Soft moans or groansis the most obvious signals and can escalate to yelling when there is intense pain.

•Facial expression-indicate your loved one is experiencing pain.

Caring for someone who is unable communicate well requires extra attention or awareness for all of us.

Approved In Home Care, provides non-medical care and support for seniors.  We provide compassionate care and assistance in a private residence, hospital, rehab, assisted living, retirement home or health care facility. We offer packages including: dependable and affordable in-home assistance, care, companionship, homemaking, and errand services.

If you have any questions, please give me a call. My direct number is (972) 658-4001.

The 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s

Experts have found that most Alzheimer’s patients go through seven stages of disease progression. The duration and symptoms might vary, but the general decline of Alzheimer’s remains the same.

1. No Impairment – Individuals at this stage show no marked decline in their cognitive function. No memory problems show up on a regular basis.

2. Very Mild Impairment – Forgetfulness begins. The patient begins to forget names and small details, like where they put their glasses or if they took their medication that morning.

3. Mild Decline – At this point, family and friends begin to notice the symptoms. Losing things is more common, and the patient might begin having performance issues at work.

4. Moderate Decline – The problems are now clear in medical interviews. The patient begins forgetting personal history, recent events, and how to handle complex tasks, such as planning dinner or paying bills. They could begin acting withdrawn or subdued in social situations.

5. Moderately Severe Decline – While the patient may remember their own name and the names of those important to them, they begin to forget basic information, such as the current date, time, or season. Day-to-day tasks like cooking may no longer be safe.

6. Severe Decline – Now, the patient needs more help with basic activities like dressing and using the toilet. They might also experience behavioral changes, such as feeling suspicious or experiencing hallucinations. Someone at this stage might engage in repetitive behaviors or wander away, only to become confused and lost.

7. Very Severe Decline – In this final stage, the patient may lose the ability to speak coherently. They may need help with general hygiene, and may eventually lose muscle coordination and the ability to control movement. Their muscles typically grow rigid, the reflexes become unpredictable, and eventually even swallowing could become impaired.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be exhausting and frustrating, but you don’t have to go it alone, we can help. If you have any questions, please give me a call. My direct number is (972) 658-4001. – Zack McConnell