Recognizing Symptoms of Depression in Patients with Dementia. Sadness, frustration, and grief are normal human emotions.
We’ve all experienced them from time to time, but they often don’t linger. Depression, or major depressive disorder, is something more. The American Psychiatric Association defines the condition as “a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.” If left untreated, depression can lead to health complications that could put a person’s life at risk. Depression and Dementia Identifying symptoms of depression in dementia and Alzheimer’s can be difficult since they both share similar signs.
ApathyLoss of interest in activities and hobbiesSocial withdrawalIsolationTrouble concentratingImpaired thinking Diagnosing and Treating Depression in Dementia Patients There is no single test or questionnaire that can effectively detect depression. Tips for Helping Patients with Sundowners Syndrome. If you’re caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you may notice some changes in their behavior in the late afternoon or early evening.
This phenomenon is called sundowners syndrome. According to research from the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 20% of Alzheimer’s patients experience sundowners syndrome. Sundowning can continue late into the night, making it difficult for both patients and home health care providers to get the rest and sleep they need to tackle the next day. The causes of sundowning are not well understood. However, one possible cause is that Alzheimer’s-related brain changes can affect a patient’s biological clock. Personal Care Service: Benefits and Inclusions. Got elderly person living with you?
Or are you planning to care for a sick or injured loved one at home? If you answered yes to one of these two questions, it’s highly recommended to contact a home health agency in Texas and hire a personal care assistant. Elderly and injured people might have limited mobility. And if you can’t assist them round-the-clock, hiring a professional is the best move. Have Loved Ones with Anxiety? These Coping Mechanisms Might Help. Have you noticed your loved ones feeling restless, easily agitated, irritable, and having difficulties focusing on tasks?
If yes, they might be feeling the early signs of anxiety. This might be a common mental health issue, but it’s actually a disruptive one. And you might need help from a professional home health agency in Texas to accompany your loved ones and help them cope. The First Step to Manage Anxiety There’s a wealth of ways to win against anxiety. The first step is acceptance. Coping Mechanisms to Try Don’t take the first signs of anxieties for granted. Better self-care routines – Encourage them to be more careful about their food choice, sleeping habits, and exercise routines.Meditate and move – This allows them to regulate their breathing, control their mind, and avoid thinking worrisome thoughts.Write a gratitude journal – This is best done first thing in the morning or just before going to sleep.
How to Start Making the Elderly’s Room Ideal for Health. The bedroom should be a suitable place for comfort, relaxation, and quality sleep.
Especially for elderly people with limited mobility, their room needs to have that uplifting vibe that’s conducive for their happiness and overall health. Unless you have relevant training to achieve this goal, you might need to work closely with a light housekeeping expert from a home health agency in Texas. That way, you’ll get the professional assistance you need in tweaking your elderly loved one’s bedroom. Bedroom Ambiance and Health. But why is this important anyway? Ways to Improve a Room’s Vibes. Choose light and pastel colors for the bedroom palette.Widen the windows to let in more natural views, air, and light.Have the right potted indoor plants.Use space-saving storage options.Shop for the right mattress, bed covers, and pillows.Go for soft lighting.Use the right décor.Install an energy-efficient HVAC unit.
Improving the vibes of their bedroom could be the best gift you can give to the elderly. Family Caregivers and the Challenges They Face. In their attempt to provide quality care for their aging loved ones at home, family caregivers go through things that the rest of the family members may not understand.
Their lives change dramatically and they often feel the pressure to adapt to a caregiver role despite already having other roles to play like parental and professional. Taking care of a senior adult is more than just assisting them with house chores and running errands for them, according to an expert from home health care. It also requires tending to their emotional needs since aging often comes with feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety. On that account, not only will family caregivers feel physically exhausted but they will also feel emotionally strained. Seniors with Limited Mobility Can Still Live Well.
Accidents and falls can cause senior adults to get seriously injured because of their fragile bodies.
As such, even minor accidents can leave them permanently disabled, requiring them to avail of services similar to what we offer in our home health care in Texas. If your senior loved one has a mobility impairment, they may be hindered from doing certain activities, especially the ones that require a lot of movement. It’s important to understand that this can be frustrating for them. With that kind of feeling, it may even lead to anxiety and depression.
As a family member, you must find a way to convince them that it is not necessarily the end of their good days. Why Seniors Need to Stay Physically Active. While many aging residents stay inside their homes to avoid the risk of contracting the coronavirus disease, their muscles can waste away if they do not stay physically active.
Lack of activity is critical because it will eventually result in mobility loss for senior adults. As per a home health agency in Texas, regular workouts are essential for senior adults to maintain their physical strength. Exercises do not need to be strenuous. Stretching, dancing, and walking daily for 30 minutes or as prescribed will suffice. Aside from physical strength, exercises also boost the immune system, reducing the chance of catching an illness. What Are the Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurological disease.
It works by attacking the neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement. In the worst case scenario, it results in death from respiratory failure due to the patient’s inability to ventilate from respiratory muscle weakness. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for the disease, but interventions designed for symptom management can slow down the progression of its symptoms and prevent complications such as medications, therapies, breathing support, and other home health care services.
We at 1st Choice Home Health Agency, for instance, offer our very own Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) care as part of our non medical home care services in Texas. Senior Health: The Importance of Medication Reminders. When it comes to senior health, taking multiple medications at once is common to manage different medical conditions and to prevent their health from deteriorating.
Due to this, an integral part of patient adherence is taking prescribed medications as advised by their physician. Unfortunately, the Department of Health and Human Services reports that 55% of seniors are non-compliant with their prescriptions with about 200,000 seniors hospitalized yearly as a result of adverse drug reactions. Discover Stimulating Daily Activities for Dementia Patients. Dementia is a collective term that encompasses a range of symptoms related to cognitive decline which affects a person’s memory, communication, and problem-solving abilities. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million people have dementia worldwide with nearly 10 million cases added yearly. For dementia patients, a lack of stimulation can be highly frustrating. However, engaging in enjoyable activities while receiving non medical home care services in Texas can increase their engagement and lessen irritability.
How Transportation Services Benefit the Elderly. As we grow older, it becomes a challenge to travel from one location to another due to old age, disabilities, injuries, and illnesses. Fortunately, health agencies like the 1st Choice Home Health Agency provide non medical home care services in Texas, including transportation services. Availing of the said services can benefit your senior loved one in many ways, as it provides: A renewed sense of independence When you lose the ability to drive or walk, it becomes difficult to go to the nearest corner store or pharmacy.
Alzheimer’s Care: Ensuring Medication Safety. What Can You Expect From Medical Home Care? A home health agency in Texas can provide a number of services for you. When you are looking for caregiving support that will not only ensure that you are able to live a more comfortable life but can also help you maintain your health, then home health care is for you. Here are a few of the many different services you can expect and how they can benefit you: Skilled Nursing: The main advantage of an in-home health care service is the skilled nursing support. How Can Respite Care Benefit You. There are truly a few things on this planet that are as rewarding as taking care of an elderly loved one. The sparkle in their eye and their smile makes it all worth it. Tips for Maintaining Your Independence in Your Golden Years. Your golden years are going to be some of the best years of your life. What You Can Expect from Home Care. Home care is a great service that can help improve your quality of life through a number of different ways.
5 Benefits of Respite Care. 5 Tips to Make Bath Time Easier for Your Senior Loved One (and You, Too!) Bathing a senior loved one is among the many hurdles most family caregivers face.