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Home Care Assistance of Milwaukee

Tips to Manage Caregiver Stress. While caregiving can be very rewarding, stress from the emotional and physical aspects of the role is very common.

Tips to Manage Caregiver Stress

Stress puts caregivers at risk for declining health of their own, and it can lead to depression, isolation, chronic illness, and frustration. Non-Inflammatory vs Inflammatory Arthritis. While the term “arthritis” casually refers to joint inflammation, the word actually represents more than 200 conditions that affect the joints, connective tissue, and tissue surrounding joints.

Non-Inflammatory vs Inflammatory Arthritis

There are two common types of arthritis: inflammatory and non-inflammatory, each of which has different causes and areas that are usually affected. Inflammatory Arthritis Inflammatory arthritis is usually known as rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, although other types exist, including gout and ankylosing spondylitis. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system is attacking healthy tissue. RA flare-ups usually last longer than non-inflammatory flare-ups. Why Early Diagnosis is Essential for Alzheimer's Patients. There are many valuable benefits seniors can gain by having Alzheimer’s diagnosed early on.

Why Early Diagnosis is Essential for Alzheimer's Patients

Injuries Common Among Seniors. It is hard to miss the effects of aging on our bodies, and although most changes aren’t cause for concern, some changes make older adults more prone to accidents.

Injuries Common Among Seniors

Read on to learn more about common injuries among the elderly and tips to help you protect your loved one. Falls Falls are the leading injury among seniors. The elderly are prone to fall-related injuries due to decreased vision, muscle and joint deterioration, and diminished balance. In-home caregivers can reduce the risk of falling by taking these precautions: "Good Habits" Contributing to Senior Health Problems. Adopting healthy habits for daily living can improve health and prevent disease.

"Good Habits" Contributing to Senior Health Problems

However, many of the “good habits” seniors think are promoting health are actually having a negative impact. Here, Milwaukee Home Care Assistance has highlighted five “healthy” habits that can have negative effects. 1. Eating Low-Fat Foods Most low-fat foods replace the fat with sugar and salt, producing a product that is more damaging to health than the original version. Instead of eating low-fat products, look for products that have healthy fats, such as fats from olive oil, nuts, coconut, and fish. 2. 3. 4. 5. Home Care Assistance Milwaukee. How Seniors Can Benefit from Regular Massage. Although massages are often saved for a special occasion, if your senior loved one can afford even a short massage on a regular basis the Milwaukee senior home care professionals at Home Care Assistance recommend it for the following health benefits.

How Seniors Can Benefit from Regular Massage

Increased Range of Motion Senior adults with arthritis and other health conditions that cause muscle and joint stiffness find that regular massages can help increase flexibility and range of motion. During a massage, therapists who specialize in senior care can apply gentle pressure to the muscles and tendons surrounding knees, wrists, and other joints commonly affected by stiffness and pain. After a Parkinson’s Diagnosis, What’s Next? By the time your senior loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, both of you have probably suspected that something was wrong.

After a Parkinson’s Diagnosis, What’s Next?

Consequently, it’s not unusual to have mixed reactions ranging from relief of finally receiving a diagnosis to fear of not knowing how the condition will affect your loved one in the future. Get More Than One Opinion Any reputable doctor isn’t going to mind you or your loved one insisting on another opinion after the initial diagnosis. The reason for doing so is due to the difficulty of positively confirming a diagnosis in the early stages of the disease, with the following conditions sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s: • Multiple symptom atrophy • Progressive supra-nuclear palsy • Lewy body dementia • Stroke • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) • Head trauma Find Local Support. Helping Elderly Adjust to Retirement. Retirement can be a difficult time of life for many elderly people.

Helping Elderly Adjust to Retirement

This transition is not always smooth, especially if there are financial concerns or a lack of social support. The following tips can help your senior loved one adjust to the lifestyle changes retirement brings and find news ways to feel fulfilled. Develop Friendships Most people tend to have fewer friends as they get older, in large part because their social network is reduced by losing touch with work friends. Elderly people can avoid the loneliness and isolation that sometimes accompanies retirement by meeting up with old friends weekly and making new friendships by attending crafting classes, volunteering, and staying active in the community.

The Biggest Threats to Memory & Brain Power as You Age. Seniors will occasionally forget where they left their keys or glasses and may sometimes have a difficult time remembering the details of a conversation.

The Biggest Threats to Memory & Brain Power as You Age

But before you attribute your loved one’s memory loss to a condition like dementia or Alzheimer’s, Milwaukee in-home care provider, Home Care Assistance, shares some of the other common threats to senior memory. Medications – Many medications prescribed to seniors, including popular drugs for treating high cholesterol and blood pressure, are notorious for causing memory problems and cognitive impairment. Seniors who take multiple medications are also at risk for memory loss as the result of bad medication interactions. The Best Spices for Older Adults. We all know that spices add complex and robust flavor to meals, but did you know that many have health benefits as well?

The Best Spices for Older Adults

Milwaukee Home Care Assistance, a trusted senior home care provider, shares some of the best spices for senior diets. By incorporating the following into a senior loved one’s daily meals, you can ensure they’re enjoying flavorful food that promotes health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Cinnamon – Cinnamon is full of disease-fighting antioxidants, which promote a healthy heart and helps the body’s natural insulin work better, reducing glucose levels. Some studies also indicate cinnamon can prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Adding just half a teaspoon to the diet each day can be beneficial.Turmeric – Turmeric adds a savory boost to any meal. Why Seniors Should Consider Daily Meditation. Seniors around the world are embracing the ancient art of meditation.

This simple and inexpensive practice can be done almost anywhere and allows people to find peace both emotionally and physically. The trusted caregivers from Home Care Assistance, a premier Milwaukee home care agency, share some of the reasons why older adults should set aside time each day for meditation and self-reflection. Increased Memory Power – Specific areas of the brain are stimulated during meditation, which increases long and short-term memory recall. Common Reasons for Sudden Elderly Weight Loss. Safe Activities for Older Adults with Limited Mobility. The pursuit of an active lifestyle – not to mention the physical and mental benefits associated with exercise – for seniors, doesn’t come to an end just because of limited mobility. Although every senior is different, barriers to movement can usually be overcome with modified movements and the selection of activities likely to promote muscle strength and flexibility.

If you have an aging parent or loved one who is living with limited mobility, the in-home caregivers from trusted Milwaukee home care provider, Home Care Assistance, recommend the following safe, strength building and engaging physical activities: Swimming – Being submerged in water automatically reduces the weight of limbs, making it easier to move. How to Promote Independence for Elders with Arthritis.

If you’re caring for a senior loved one with arthritis, it’s understandable to want to help them retain as much of their independence as possible. And at Home Care Assistance of Milwaukee, we believe you should start by helping your loved one get into the right frame of mind! Arthritis is not something that has to be accepted as part of the aging process. It’s a condition that can often be managed with a combination of medication, therapy, regular activities and the use of special assistance devices.

Planning Daily Activities Planning daily activities, whether it be taking a walk together or spending an afternoon at the mall, can help seniors get their mind off of their condition while also building muscle and joint strength. 3 Appointments Every Senior Should Make Before Retirement. How you prepare for retirement depends on when you plan to retire; whether that day is six months or six years away. However, the more time you have to prepare, the more likely your retirement shapes up as you envision it. Once you’ve committed to a retirement date, Milwaukee senior care specialists state that there are three appointments you should immediately make.

All three will help with your preparation, as well as maximize your post-work enjoyment. The first appointment to make is with your financial advisor for a monetary check-up. A Federal Reserve report from August 2014 states that about 20 percent of those approaching retirement age don’t have any savings. The next appointment is with loved ones. How to Plan Nutritious Meals for Seniors & Older Adults.

Having meals full of nutrients is especially important for seniors who need to consume foods loaded with vitamin D to help prevent bone loss and antioxidants to reduce macular degeneration. Keeping fat and sodium consumption in check can also help prevent heart disease and other conditions that seniors tend to be more susceptible to developing with age. As a leading provider of live-in and hourly home care in Milwaukee, our caregivers are often in charge of meal planning for their senior clients.

The following are a few strategies from our caregivers on how to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast Seniors can still enjoy occasional treats like bacon for breakfast. Lunch Seniors who appreciate a substantial breakfast may not prefer something all that major for lunch. Dinner Note: Meats should be grilled, poached, baked or broiled for added health benefits. Snacks. When Do Seniors Have to File a Tax Return? Top Gadgets for Senior Stroke Survivors. Parkinson's Care: What First Time Caregivers Need to Know.

How to Advocate on Behalf of a Senior Loved One with Alzheimer's. Tips for Spring Break Traveling with Seniors. Spring brings warmer temperatures that make it the ideal time to go for a family getaway. Today, many families choose to bring along the older adults in their family so that everyone can enjoy a relaxing vacation. How to Celebrate an Aging Loved One on Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show the women in your life that they take center stage. Throughout the years, your mother has helped to shape you into the person that you have become as she showered you with love and affection. Now, it is your turn to celebrate her loving nature by planning a special surprise that will make her feel cherished.

If you are hoping to go beyond the traditional flowers this year, then get inspired by these ideas from Home Care Assistance of Milwaukee, WI for a unique gift that will be remembered. Make a Photo Bouquet Instead of giving your mom a bouquet that will wilt in a few days, try making a special one that will last forever. 5 Issues Associated with Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease. Rights for Family Caregivers in Milwaukee. Web Site Unavailable.