Search Results for "chronic disease"
Your Top Alzheimer’s Questions Answered by the Professionals at Hired Hands Homecare
Facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease in a senior loved one raises a multitude of questions: Is it truly Alzheimer’s, or could it be another type of dementia? What’s the cause of Alzheimer’s? What treatment possibilities are there? And how is it diagnosed, anyway? With our comprehensive experience in caring for those who have Alzheimer’s, Hired Hands Homecare’s Santa Rosa, CA in-home care team has collected responses to some of the most frequent questions we receive:
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Researchers don’t yet fully realize what causes Alzheimer’s disease. However, chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, diet, exercise, and social engagement may possibly have an effect on whether or not an individual develops Alzheimer’s.
What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?
Dementia is the symptom and … Read More »
Senior Medical Appointments and Procedures Made Easier with These Tips
The statistics are alarming: a recent study conducted by the Annals of Family Medicine uncovered that a typical primary care physician has a “panel” of more than 2,000 patients – those who are under his or her care. Further, the study outlined that such a physician would need to “spend 21.7 hours per day to provide all recommended acute, chronic and preventive care for a panel of 2,500 patients.”
It’s no wonder that we as patients, not to mention the doctors themselves, feel so rushed and stressed. With the need for so many senior medical appointments, treatments, and procedures due to the many chronic diseases and effects of aging that are prevalent, it’s more important than ever to take steps to maximize the time we have with our doctors.
In our previous blog post, we outlined some information and questions to prepare … Read More »
Do Seniors REALLY Need Vaccinations? Our Home Care Company Has the Answer!
The excuses are too numerous to count, but they all boil down to this: “What’s the point of getting immunizations now that I’m in the later years of life?” For every reason seniors can conjure up NOT to receive their vaccines, there’s a countering response encouraging them to adhere to immunization recommendations. Here are just a few of the top reasons why those over age 60 need to make it a priority to ensure they’re up to date on vaccinations:
For protection of loved ones. In particular, babies under 6 months of age, who are too young to be immunized against illnesses such as whooping cough and the flu, are susceptible to contracting the diseases from family members who aren’t up to date on vaccines.
For travel safety. If one of a senior’s bucket list items includes visiting a foreign country, a … Read More »
How to Manage Feeling Unappreciated as a Caregiver
From the moment you started your day until its end, you’ve dedicated yourself entirely to the well-being of an older loved one. Your tasks ranged from assisting with daily activities to managing appointments and household chores, all performed with love and dedication. Yet, the acknowledgment you deserve is often absent, leaving you feeling unappreciated as a caregiver. Left unchecked, this can lead to caregiver burnout or depression.
If you’re experiencing this, know that you’re not alone. Here are some tips to help navigate and address the challenge of feeling unappreciated in your caregiving role.
1. Practice Self-Appreciation:
Acknowledge the importance of the work you’re doing and prioritize self-appreciation. Take a moment each week to reward yourself for a job well done. It … Read More »
Learn How to Ease Caregiver Stress by Trading Worries for Positive Action
“Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want.” – Abraham Hicks
Worrying can quickly become a way of life for family caregivers. Between age-related concerns, chronic health conditions, and trying to balance a plethora of other commitments, it’s no wonder that anxious thoughts tend to overtake positive, peace-inducing ones, making it difficult to know just how to ease caregiver stress.
How Can You Alleviate Caregiver Worries?
It is possible, however, to take the energy you’re exerting for worry and changing it into productivity. These three simple steps are a great place to start:
To start, write it all down. Worrisome, anxious thoughts have a tendency to swirl haphazardly through our minds. If you write down your thoughts, it corrals them into manageable chunks, while giving … Read More »
COVID-19 Delirium and Dementia: Is There a Link?
Just one of the numerous negative effects from COVID-19 is temporary delirium. As a matter of fact, two separate studies revealed that 55% – 65% of individuals who were severely ill from the virus experienced the acute confusion that is one of the trademarks of delirium – as compared to approximately 33% of those critically ill with other health conditions. And while it may be short-lived, the long-term effects are still being determined, including a possible link between COVID-19 delirium and dementia.
Humidifiers for COPD: Helpful or Harmful?
For seniors and anyone else with a lung condition like COPD, maintaining the best possible air quality within the home is vitally important. But are humidifiers for COPD the right solution? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. If the air is too dry, for example, it can cause or exacerbate health problems including:
Chapped, dry, or itchy skin
Nose bleeds
Dry eyes
Sore throat
Aggravated allergy, asthma, and cold/flu symptoms like congestion
And more
However, air that is too humid can cause mold and mildew to grow, which can lead to a host of health problems along with potential damage to the home.
Humidifiers, when used properly, can help maintain the ideal level of moisture in the air (between 30 and 50%), and in particular for those … Read More »
How to Help Someone with Parkinson’s from a Distance
The days when extended families lived together on neighboring plots of land are, unfortunately, a thing of the past in many cases. With loved ones spread apart, it’s not always possible to provide the caring, hands-on care and support that older family members often need, especially when a chronic health condition – like Parkinson’s disease – creates additional concerns.
Yet even from a distance, there are still plenty of ways to assist. The Michael J. Fox Foundation offers these tips on how to help someone with Parkinson’s from afar:
Get organized. Take and keep detailed notes about medications being taken, treatments, emergency contacts, and other aspects of the person’s care needs. A digital version of this … Read More »
Top Medications for Alzheimer’s and How They Work
The latest Alzheimer’s statistics are sobering. The disease is now the 6th leading cause of death, rising above both breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And though deaths from many other chronic conditions, like cardiovascular disease, are decreasing, those from Alzheimer’s have increased upwards of 100%. The toll the illness takes on family caregivers is likewise shocking, with more than 16 million Americans delivering over 18 billion hours of care for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
Though we’ve yet to find an end to Alzheimer’s disease, there are two top medications for Alzheimer’s that can help minimize some of the more predominant symptoms. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there are a couple of options the doctor may … Read More »
Customized Ross Home Care Services for Seniors
Hired Hands Homecare provides highly personalized Ross home care services for older adults that lead to smiles, shared laughter, and an overall better quality of life. We’ve been serving California families since 1994, and we are committed to providing the best possible care where it’s most comfortable – at home.
We realize firsthand how intimidating it can be to search for just the right care solution. To further assist you, we’ve compiled the following list of local helpful resources:
California Department of Aging
The California Department of Aging administers programs for seniors, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and long-term care facility residents throughout the state.
Ross Area Aging and Adult Services
The Marin County Aging and Adult Services website serves as an online search tool for information, services, … Read More »