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Lesser Known Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

10/092 Comments

Lesser known early signs of Alzheimer’s you must know

Early-Signs

One of the greatest impairments of the human faculties is the loss of cognitive function. Difficulty or inability to recall information, performing regular tasks such as walking, tying shoelaces or buttoning shirts, and gradually higher order tasks such as writing or problem solving, could be signaling the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The disease mostly affects adults of 65 years of age and above, though the symptoms could appear as early as 40 years. Here’s what you need to know about some of the lesser known Early Signs and Symptoms .

Alzheimer’s disease progressively limits and incapacitates the brain to remember and retain information, and perform functions that are otherwise simple and ordinary or second to human nature. This could be very frustrating for the one affected by this disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common of all cases reported of dementia, a wider term used for degenerative functions and diseases of the brain.

Despite advancements in medical science, prevention and cure, there is still no conclusive study or research on what causes Alzheimer’s and how to cure it. It becomes highly important to be aware of the subtle signs that could be indicative of Alzheimer’s disease. Seek the doctor’s advice if you notice any of the symptoms below in yourself or your loved ones.

Mood swings and behavioral issues
One of the lesser known symptoms or signs of Alzheimer’s are mood swings – or sudden changes in behavior. Signs could include feeling depressed, irritability, overreacting to minor issues, or showing an unusual lack of interest in activities that were otherwise enjoyable. Occasionally, individuals may seem withdrawn from life activities and may remain silent or unresponsive. Patients have been reported to undergo a phenomenal change in personality and behavioral responses especially once they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia. Such signs should not be dismissed as normal or part of the aging process, it is important to consult with a physician to identify conditions.

The failing sense of smell
Perhaps the most suitable of all indicators and commonly unnoticeable, is the failing olfactory function, or sense of smell. Research is suggesting that patients could show a distinct inability to identify scent, recall the experience, and associate or distinguish between various smells, as an indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. Since the disease is degenerative in impact, the human faculties including the basis sense of smell could be impaired.

Increasing confusion and inability to solve problems
Patients are also reported to experience anxiety and demonstrate an inability to solve simple problems such as following given steps to complete an action, deciphering meaning and implications of words, making connections, and repeating an otherwise ordinary task. This could also include patients getting confused about what day it is, whether they locked the door, or recall what they were doing an hour ago, or on a particular day or vacation. This state of confusion could progress into more advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. Although not conclusive, these are classic symptoms of the onset of the disease.

Sleep disorders and disorientation
Some research is corroborating that patients suffering from sleep disorders could develop Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia in later life. Therefore, a healthy and balanced lifestyle adds great value to general well-being and strength, and the absence of it could lead to cognitive impairments of various kind. Patients may often experience disorientation, e.g. what direction to take, which words to choose to convey a message, and how to respond to different situations.
These disorientations clubbed together with occasional to frequent memory loss, such as, where the car keys were last kept, where the superstore is located and how to reach it, significantly impact the quality of life and contribute to anxiety and depression among patients, and even family members and caregivers.

Lifestyle and preventive measures
While available research suggests that Alzheimer’s is incurable or the effects irreversible, a preventive approach could keep the disease away. There is always hope. A healthy lifestyle has far reaching effects and impact on the quality of life. One must be aware of what productive actions to take for a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and identify the routines and regimens that promote and support overall well-being.

The preventive approach advocates for consistent routines in
• regular exercise
• positive and productive social engagements and interactions
• managing stress and sleep schedules
• eating healthy and avoiding alcohol and substance abuse

Much of what we eat determines our general health and well-being. Taking the right nutrients and supplements adds value to the consistent routines of managing a good and healthy lifestyle. Be wise! Start today!
Diagnosis and planning for the future

While the different symptoms reported are indicative, experiencing any one or all of them may not always conclude one has Alzheimer’s. Be very focused in your approach to understanding the disease and read articles and books, and use mobile apps, to get the right information. However, do not ignore and overlook symptoms if they persist and affect the quality of life. Often patients are unable to identify these changes in themselves and deny symptoms, which are otherwise noticeable to family and close friends. A complete medical assessment is required to diagnose any degenerative disease of the brain.

A positive mindset. A positive outlook towards life.
While a healthy lifestyle and increased opportunities of engaging in cognitive activities could prevent degenerative diseases of the brain, none of the symptoms, if persisting, should be ignored. Be attentive to changes in your loved ones and yourself. Answer these concerns and learn more about the disease. Establish a healthy lifestyle and exercise the brain with mind relaxing exercises, and other various activities like crosswords, solving riddles and puzzles, and, engaging in rich discourse on topics of interest with friends and family, and such like. Seek medical advice to rule out the symptoms as Alzheimer’s. Remember, there is always hope and ways to manage the quality of life by developing coping mechanisms, accepting support and care from family and friends, and accepting the changes to plan for a better future. Keep well!

Author: Alma Causey
Alma is a mother, wife and a professional blogger. She writes frequently on health, technology and management. Her time is divided between writing and creating exotic cuisines in the kitchen. She loves to discover new places and you’ll often find her globe-trotting with her twins. Find her on Twitter: @Almacausey

 

Filed Under: Common Questions, communication, EARLY STAGE, Guest Post, The Stages, What are the Signs and Symptoms Tagged With: confusion, degenerative functions, early signs of dementia, early symptoms of Alzheimer's, failing smell, mood swings, problem solving

Getting older? Understand your body and Enjoy aging

03/232 Comments

Getting older? – You can still enjoy aging if you understand  what’s going on with your body

Real changes in our bodies begin when we start getting older. Some of the changes you will have to deal with are good; some, not so much. Regardless, aging can be enjoyed provided that you understand what’s really happening to your body. The key is to preserve your general well-being for as long as possible. As we get into retirement, a lot of things happen to our bodies and metabolism. Bones become more fragile, our skin loses elasticity, and in some situations, the brain may start sending bad signals. However, you shouldn’t allow these changes – which by the way, are perfectly normal – to interfere with your lifestyle.

Diet – a key factor that helps you understand what happens when the body starts aging

Physical health is fundamental to healthy aging. But it’s equally important to practice healthy eating habits. It’s never too late to give up carbohydrates and switch to more fruits and vegetables. A well-balanced meal plan revives the metabolism, strengthens the bones, and sharpens the brain. Ditch junk foods and concentrate more on low-fat, fiber-rich and low-carb food varieties.

In some situations, you may be required to take supplements. It’s common to have some vitamin deficiencies, although you are not advised to start popping vitamins at random. Just because some pill has 20 essential vitamins and minerals, it doesn’t mean your body needs them all at once. Another key point is to hydrate more. As we age, our body stops feeling thirsty.
You may not like to drink 8 glasses of water per day, but you have to make ends meet. Switch to fresh lemonade or fruit juice with no added sugars, eat fruits rich in water (watermelon, for example), drink tea, or add berries to your mineral ater. The options are endless.

Embrace the change

Once we turn 50, we can say that we’re finally aging. It’s very important to be aware that some periods will be filled with joyful moments and happiness; other times, not so much. Regardless, the sooner you build resilience the better chances you have to cope with the challenges and turn them into positive aspects of life. Live in the present! The past has happened and the future is yet to come. So why think about those moments, when you can embrace the change and make the most of the present?

Spend time focusing on everything that’s positive in your life, and don’t take things for granted. The more you appreciate and enjoy the present, the more fulfilled you’ll be. Many seniors struggle when it comes to expressing their emotions. They don’t want to be perceived as being too vulnerable in front of their younger loved ones. However, keeping all those feelings all to yourself may lead to depression, anger, and resentment. Find sensible, healthy way to express what you feel. Writing your thoughts in a journal, or talking with a psychologist can help make the transition to senior life a lot smoother.

Stop trying to change the unchangeable

So what if you’ve forgotten where you put your house keys? This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing your mind. Some things will soon get out of control. You may not be able to live alone anymore, or you may have to hire a caregiver to help you with daily chores around the house. Rather than stress out over activities you can’t do anymore, focus on things you can still control. Facing your limitations is the first step to living a healthy, comfortable lifestyle.

Some people spend their entire lives searching for the meaning of life. But they say, life is not about getting a happy ending, but about the journey. There’s joy and meaning to be found at 50, too. Listen to the needs of your mind and body, and don’t put too much pressure on them. If there’s something you can’t do, find something else to do to stay busy.

Aging is a part of life. Sooner or later, we all get to 50. But if you listen to the needs of your body, you’ll be able to fix problems before they can become life threatening. Many seniors today are terrified of nursing homes. They wrongfully assume that they’ll live in inappropriate conditions with people they don’t know. In fact, most of today assisted living facilities are social places where seniors can interact with other people their age; they can get proper treatment, socialize, and have fun, thus enjoying retirement to the fullest.

Author: Edward Francis is interested in writing about health and fitness related issues. He has a deep knowledge of this field. Edward also works for care homes and retirement villages.

Filed Under: Activities, EARLY STAGE, Healthy Aging, Healthy Diet Tagged With: getting older, happy aging, Make friends, Understand your boyd

Everyday Gift Ideas for Older Adults

12/19Leave a Comment

Everyday gift ideas for older adults on your list

Gifts that are usefulThe holiday season is a special occasion, a time when we are surrounded by family and friends. Joy in the heart  shines through symbolic gifts that we all love receiving and which are treasured due to their strong significance.

Every person loves to receive something as a sign of appreciation for their presence in our life. The value of any gift comes from the strong connection we have with the giver.

The same feeling we get when making gifts  for a loved one. Gift giving allows us to express our admiration, respect and love for all the people in our life. As holidays grow closer  we ponder and analyze gift ideas for the older folks in our life as we do the youngsters. A few favorites for the older folks are below.

 Gifts for Elderly

Bring technology into their life for useful purposes

Although technology might not be the best friend of the elderly, if that is their interest there are things to consider. There are thoughtful gifts you can make from this area as well. For example, purchasing a weather environment system or station display can become the perfect way of offering them the chance to be always informed about the weather in their region in a simple way. It is not a difficult device to use and you can even install it for them so that all they have to do next is enjoy using it.

It will show temperature outside and inside as well as the wind speed and its direction. This is a valuable gift for older adults in your life because it is practical given the fact that everyone is interested in monitoring the weather every day so that good traveling plans as well as a list of daily activities might be established accordingly.

 

weather station gift 

Floor cleaners for linoleum and hardwood

Everyone spends some time every week cleaning the house. When it comes to older adults, the efforts required in doing this chore are more serious given their age and physical condition. Therefore, bringing help their way in this case can only prove to be the best gift ever for obvious reasons. You can manage to achieve this by purchasing a robotic floor cleaner for them to use both on linoleum and hardwood and make their jobs so much easier every day.

This is a thoughtful gift and one that they will treasure the most given its practicality and ease of use. It will help them keep their homes clean all day long without having to spend too much time or effort to achieve this. Their energy is better preserved for other joyful activities appropriate for their age. It can be the perfect gift for parents, grandparents as well as any other adult on your list because everyone needs help cleaning their personal spaces easier to ensure perfect living conditions.

Gifts that are useful

New way of making the morning coffee

Everyone loves a fresh cup of coffee in the morning but not everyone is too joyful about waking up early and making the coffee. However, with the latest advancements in technology everything can be done easier these days. Who said that technology cannot be a practical part of the life of older adults as well? A brewing system coffee maker is the perfect tool for everyone to use with the purpose of having fresh, delicious coffee made easily every morning.

Offering this device as a gift can only bring joy and appreciation from those receiving it. We all need such tools in our homes and enjoy using them so everyone receiving this gift will be thrilled to see how practical you have been in terms of choosing New Year gifts. With the press of a button and easy refill actions, your older adult friends will drink their coffee every morning thinking of your thoughtful gesture.

Everyone likes to make and receive gifts because it is the way in which we show the people surrounding us how much we appreciate their presence in our life. No matter whether your list of people for whom you would like to buy gifts this New Year is made of people living in care homes in Barnet or parents, grandparents and other relatives living at home, the above-mentioned gift ideas can help you succeed in making them happy.

Author: Edward Francis is interested in writing about health, fitness and related issues. He has a deep knowledge of this field. Edward also works for care homes and retirement villages.


Filed Under: Activities, Care Tips, Healthy Aging, MIDDLE STAGE Tagged With: Gift ideas for seniors, New years gifts

Are Nursing Homes a Safe Place for Seniors?

12/036 Comments

Age in Place: Are nursing homes really a safe place for seniors?

There comes a time when your parents, grandparents or other relatives, and close ones who reach their senior age need special care and professionals that can provide it, due to various medical conditions or just for the specific needs a senior citizen has. Placing your relative in a nursing home can be a difficult decision to make, as many of us are concerned with the quality of life our loved ones will receive and find it hard to put them in the hands of strangers. This decision must be analyzed objectively and ultimately be in the best interest of our senior relatives and the whole family.

nursing homes

Choose a nursing home with a reputation

Safety is most often the primary concern of the family, as there are very unfortunate cases where nursing homes failed to deliver that and were not professional. These cases were addressed and sanctioned, but it’s best to make sure the nursing home you choose is recommended by other people, that the staff communicates openly and the residents are happy. Do your best to visit the relatives you have in a nursing home as often as you can, check on their emotional and physical health and living conditions.

Nursing homes should provide safe living conditions for aging parents

For patients with chronic illnesses, being in a nursing home is much safer than being at home by themselves. Even if you do take the time to visit them regularly and provide basic care…

=> the relative with no medical training and the need to take care of their own lives will find themselves in a very difficult situation. <=

Not having enough time, dealing with overwhelming situations or not identifying underlying problems in time can be very stressful on both the patient and the caregiver. Unless you can provide around-the-clock medical home assistance, a nursing home is your best option.

In a nursing home, your loved one has around-the-clock professional assistance. Providing that it’s not understaffed, a home will make sure the shifts are reasonable for the employees, so that they are rested and able to provide all the care needed. Someone will always be there in the case of a fall or emergency and will know what to do in that situation. More so, in case of an unexpected situation, more members of the staff can intervene, it’s not just one person who takes care of everything.

Caring Nursing HomesProfessional staff personnel

Another advantage of nursing homes in terms of safety is that all good nursing homes are very careful when hiring their staff and perform background checks on them: any disciplinary issue in their past will be taken into consideration when they are evaluated. Also, a lot of nursing homes require their employees to report any misconduct of their colleagues and keep the environment safe and professional.

Think about the well being of your parent, and if they can’t live happily on their own anymore, you should consider safer living environments. It’s not a decision you will make in a day or two, so before making a final decision assess the pros and cons.

Nursing Home Activities

Ultimately, choose a nursing home that is entirely dedicated to taking care of the elders and there are many ways in which it provides more things than you could provide at home. The enclosure is designed to monitor all the people that go in or out and know at all times when a resident is visited. For residents with Alzheimer’s, making sure you know at all times where they are is crucial, as often they might wander off and get into dangerous situations. Good nursing homes have discreet security technology that does not make the environment feel restrictive, but keeps residents safe without alarming or bothering them.

One should also think about the less obvious benefits a senior citizen has when being a resident of a care home.   Trained members of staff not only have the medical knowledge to intervene physically, but can also manage agitated or scared residents and calm them down. Experienced nurses know everything there is to know about patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. They will make sure your parents are in good hands, and that their needs and wants are carefully attended.

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Filed Under: Care Tips, Medical, Nursing Homes Tagged With: Choosing-Nursing-Home, nursing homes, safe nursing homes

What are Biggest Changes for Assisted Living?

05/1512 Comments

What are biggest changes for assisted living in the future?

Our Guest Post today shares some of the changes for Nursing Homes in the future. What will these changes mean for the caregiver or for those who are dependent on assisted living.

The healthcare industry has changed massively in the last few years. And now it appears that changes for assisted living are in the future. Not only has it needed to survive the recent recession, it has also had to accommodate huge advancements in medicine and technology. People are living longer and this means more of a drain on their finances and more demand for care in their home or assisted living. The industry is still advancing, which means significant changes will soon begin to materialize:Assisted-Living-News

The decline of the nursing home

There has been a steady decline in nursing homes over the past five years and this trend is set to continue. People no longer want to see their elderly parents in a nursing facility when they can happily live independently, or in an assisted living style accommodation.

The fact that older people are now more mobile and healthy has also contributed to this shift in housing needs. There are even facilities appearing which cater for those who have memory problems and may be better suited to living in an environment that reflects their memory.

Technology

Technology is advancing quickly and this is emphasized in the arrival of personal care robots. As these devices become more advanced and more affordable they will become a common sight in many older people’s homes. They can provide assistance for all their living requirements allowing them to retain their independence for much longer.

Multi-generational housing

It is becoming increasingly common and accepted that parents will move in with their children. Finances will be pooled to ensure the accommodation is either expanded or a new property is purchased to accommodate everyone comfortably. This allows the parents to maintain their independence whilst having a source of help nearby.

Assisted-Living-Caregivers

New builds

As the world continues to recover from the recession many older people have realized that they wish or need to continue working. Even if they have mobility issues this can be possible provided there is a dedicated increase in the number of properties designed and built with senior citizens in mind. Small, neighborhood type accommodations can house many senior citizens and remain in the town, allowing them to stroll into the shops and continue working if they wish to.

Communal housing

The emphasis on many new builds is to provide a space where any senior citizen can live independently but also have the convenience of amenities on their doorstep. Communal or co-operative housing provides this in the form of large communal gardens, club rooms and even sports facilities. There are also regular shared meals and the opportunity for all residents to have a say in community decisions.

Traditional senior housing

The traditional model of senior housing is continuing but with additional benefits. These are the features that you often find in co-operative housing; this is to ensure that existing tenants remain with them and they are able to attract new ones in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market place. Some of the housing facilities are offering themed properties to make specific genre’s feel at home.

Go green

Environmental issues are relevant to older people as well as the younger generation. New houses are now being built which use solar panels, rain water and eco-friendly lighting. They are generally slightly more expensive than the other options although the running costs may be cheaper in the long term. But then again, before considering moving to an eco-friendly assisted living facility, caregivers should make sure that their aging parent or relative is a good fit in that environment. Many seniors love to stay outside and enjoy nature; but there are those that prefer to stay inside. For them you must look for nursing homes that feature engaging activities to keep them happy and fulfilled.

pic-3

Many people simply wish to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of healthcare professionals which are required to offer in home care. The healthcare industry is literally booming and will continue to do so as the number of older people staying alive increases. This can actually be the cheapest option for many seniors who have no significant medical issues. Don’t forget about advanced technology. There are all sorts of gadgets available meant to help caregivers keep an eye on their loved ones from a distance.

Author: Edward Francis and Foresthc.com!

Filed Under: Care Tips, Healthy Aging, Nursing Homes Tagged With: assisted living, Housing for elderly, Nursing Homes closing, Rise in Home Care

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