by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 18, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Family caregivers face new challenges every day. One many don’t often think about is flu prevention. For adult children who are caregivers for an aging parent, learning how to prevent being bitten by the bug is vital. Since younger, healthier adults may be able to fight off the virus easily, they may not even realize they have been exposed. This makes it easy for you to unknowingly pass the flu on to your senior loved one.
The Stats on Seniors and Flu
For older adults, influenza can be especially dangerous. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us:
- Up to 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths are people 65 years and older
- As many as 70% of all flu-related hospitalizations are people in this same age group
These are startling statistics for seniors and their family caregivers. But there are steps you can take to try to keep your aging parent healthy this winter.
5 Steps Caregivers Can Take to Shoo the Flu
- Get Your Flu Shot: Even if you are young and healthy, experts advise those who are caring for older adults or frequently around other vulnerable populations to get the vaccine. Most health care professionals say early October is best time to be vaccinated. It takes about two weeks for protection from the shot to kick in, and flu season usually begins in late October or early November.
- Be Cautious in Public Places: Because the virus can live on things for as long as two hours, it’s important to exercise caution when you are out in public. This is especially true if your aging loved one is with you. Avoid large groups whenever possible. And try not to use public restrooms and drinking fountains if you can help it.
- Frequent Hand Washing: Most of us don’t realize how many times each day we touch our mouth or nose. If you’ve been exposed to the virus and have it on your hands when you touch your face, you increase the likelihood of contracting the flu and passing it on to your senior family member. Use good hand washing practices to wash your hands frequently.
- Rest and Eat Right: Keep your immune system strong by eating a healthy diet and getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. When your immune system is strong, you are better able to fight off the virus and avoid getting sick.
- Manage Stress: For busy family caregivers, stress is often a part of everyday life. But stress can have a negative effect on your health. It may leave you weary and tired. Both can lead to a weakened immune system. Exercise, aromatherapy and meditation are a few of the best ways to beat stress. If you just aren’t able to manage your caregiving anxiety, talk with your physician. They will likely have advice to help. Also consider taking advantage of respite care at a senior living community.
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by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 14, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
Dehydration can be a fairly common health problem for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Forgetfulness is one reason people with the disease become dehydrated. Other causes range from side effects of medications to a decreased sense of thirst that often happens as we grow older.
Hydration is important at any age. Fluid intake impacts everything from kidney function to heart health. The good news is that there are steps caregivers can take to help a senior with Alzheimer’s disease stay well-hydrated.
5 Ways to Prevent Dehydration for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
1. Offer water and foods with high water content throughout the day
People with Alzheimer’s disease often suffer from a loss of verbal communication skills. This makes it tough for both of you. Instead of waiting for them to signal you that they are thirsty, offer them water and foods that have a high water content frequently. You can add lemons or other fruit to the water to make it look more appealing.
2. Set a good example for your loved one to mimic
Make drinking water and/or herbal tea (its caffeine free!) a shared ritual. Take breaks throughout the day to sit down and drink a glass of either one with your loved one. Or make a fruit cup with melons and berries that help pump up fluid levels for each of you to enjoy as an afternoon or mid-morning snack.
3. Plan menus that promote hydration
If your senior loved one was never a big water drinker, it may be a challenge to get them to drink enough each day. To help them stay hydrated, plan menus that include foods known to have a high water content. They range from cucumbers and leafy green vegetables to tomatoes, celery and melons.
4. Make it easy for your family member to drink water
When you can’t be with your loved one, make sure it is easy for them to drink water. Fill several water bottles and keep them in the refrigerator. You might even want to order bottles that have an infuser built in so you can add fruit. Then make reminder calls to your family member to encourage them to drink while you are away.
5. Investigate their medications’ side effects
It isn’t uncommon for older adults to take medications that contribute to dehydration. Diuretics and blood pressure pills are two examples. Some over-the-counter medications, like antihistamines, may also be a problem. Review your loved one’s medications to see if any of them are known to cause dehydration.
Dehydration Can Mimic Alzheimer’s Disease
Since the signs of dehydration can mimic common symptoms of dementia, it may be necessary to monitor the fluid intake and urine output of a senior with Alzheimer’s. Talk with your loved one’s primary care physician to learn more.
Heritage Senior Communities are a leading provider of specialized dementia care in Michigan. Call the community nearest you to schedule a visit today!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 12, 2016 | Caregiving, Uncategorized
When an aging parent’s health begins to decline, it can be emotionally difficult for their adult children. The stress and tension it creates can increase the likelihood for conflict between adult children who often have differing ideas about what type of care an aging parent s needs.
One person may want to take a proactive approach and begin searching for senior living communities, while another child might be in denial that their parent is struggling. The situation often brings long forgotten childhood squabbles to the surface again.
Finding ways to manage these conflicts and create a plan for care that keeps an aging parent safe becomes even more challenging.
5 Ways Prevent Family Feuds over an Aging Parent’s Care
Here are a few tips you can use to avoid a family feud:
- Put Your Parent First: If your loved one is able, ask them to share their wishes for future care with all of you. Don’t make assumptions about what he or she would want. Whenever possible, include your parent in the decision-making process.
- Divide Up Responsibilities: Create a comprehensive list of tasks and activities your older loved one needs help with. Assign each task to a family member. If one sibling lives far away and can’t pitch in, ask if they are willing to contribute financially to the plan. They might be willing to hire a cleaning service to come a few times a month or for a few hours of care from in-home caregiver.
- Communicate Frequently: As with all things in life, good communication is important. Make an extra effort to stay in touch with one another and to share updates and changes in a parent’s condition. Don’t put the burden of communication on the primary caregiver though. He or she is probably already overwhelmed. Instead, designate one sibling to call the sibling who is handling most of the responsibilities to obtain updates. Then have them communicate those updates to the rest of the family. It can even be done using an app like Care Zone or a private group on Facebook.
- Exercise Patience and Respect: Aging services providers see every day how family squabbles can lead to permanent rifts among loved ones. It can be tough not to let your emotions get the best of you when you are worried about a loved one. Remind yourself to be patient and respectful of one another. The old practice of taking a deep breath and counting to ten before you say or do something you will regret later is one to remember and adopt.
- Hire a Mediator: Sometimes families just can’t work together. If you feel like your family has reached an impasse, consider hiring an elder care attorney or an elder care mediator. These trained professionals provide unbiased guidance about senior care solutions and can make recommendations for moving forward.
If you have questions about senior living in Michigan or how to tell what type of care your parent might need, please call the Heritage Senior community nearest to you. We will be happy to answer your questions and point you in the right direction for help!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 8, 2016 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Uncategorized
One of the challenges when it comes to Alzheimer’s prevention is that scientists still don’t know exactly what causes the disease. Current thinking is that Alzheimer’s is linked to plaques that build up between nerve cells in the brain. But researchers still aren’t sure how those plaques develop. They do have some ideas that might help you prevent the disease.
7 Lifestyle Changes That May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
- Brain Aerobics: Continuing to take on new challenges and learn new skills and hobbies can provide your brain a workout. Many scientists believe that is a key reducing your risk for the disease. You might consider learning a new language or taking up a musical instrument like the guitar or drums. Reading, working puzzles, and playing cards also help to pump up your grey matter.
- Berries and Veggies: Adopting a lifestyle that includes a diet rich in nuts, fish, beans, berries and vegies have all been linked to lower rates of Alzheimer’s. The Dash Diet and the Mediterranean Diet are two food plans believed to be the best for living a longer, healthier life.
- Break Out the Red: This prevention tip is a little more controversial. Some studies show that Polyphenol, an ingredient found in red wine, might reduce plaque formations in the brain. Just a glass a day though! Too much alcohol can have the opposite effect and create more health problems.
- Indulge Your Coffee Habit: For many years we were told to avoid drinking more than one cup of coffee a day. More recent studies show that drinking 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day may prevent Alzheimer’s. (Heart patients and others with coronary diseases should check with their doctor first. Many cardiologists tell adults with heart problems to avoid coffee and caffeine.)
- Opt for Omegas: Omega-3 fatty acids are also believed to help slow the development of cognitive problems and conditions like Alzheimer’s. The best ones to work in to your diet are salmon, tuna, walnuts and even those smelly little anchovies.
- Get Moving: Thirty minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week can help lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Both conditions are linked to Alzheimer’s. Walking, Chair Yoga and bike riding are easy, low-impact forms of senior-friendly exercise.
- Kick the Habit: If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to kick the habit. Besides the damage smoking does to your heart and lungs, studies now show that smoking can put you at as much as 157% higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s.
If you are currently struggling to care for a Michigan senior who has Alzheimer’s disease, the Heritage Senior Communities can help. Call the location nearest you. We offer short-term respite care and long-term Memory Care for people with Alzheimer’s.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 2, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Health care professionals have always suspected that loneliness in seniors can cause health problems beyond depression. Newer research proves just how right they are. We now know social isolation increases a senior’s risk for a variety of serious health problems ranging from obesity and high blood pressure to diabetes. In fact, it’s even linked to a shorter life.
The good news is there are many ways older adults can stay active and engaged with life. One of them is by volunteering their time and talent to a cause they believe it. Besides being a lot of fun, volunteerism has a positive impact on the mind, body and spirit.
Benefits of Volunteering after You Retire
Most senior volunteers will tell you just how rewarding the experience is for them. About nine million seniors serve as volunteers. Experts say those older adults who volunteer 100 hours a year volunteering receive the greatest rewards. They benefit from better mental and physical health.
Aging experts believe volunteerism has such a powerful impact on seniors because it provides them with a sense of purpose they might be missing after they retire from their jobs and the kids are grown and gone. That in turn leads to a more physically and socially active lifestyle.
How to Find a Meaningful Volunteer Opportunity in Michigan
Seniors in Michigan have a variety of volunteer opportunities from which to choose. It might help to first decide what time of project you are interested in and how much time you have to dedicate to your volunteer work. Also think about the skills, hobbies and interests you have and are willing to share.
These sites can help you explore opportunities near you and see what agencies are looking for in their volunteers:
- Volunteer Michigan is a great organization that helps Michigan residents find opportunities near them that match their interests. The site even has a place where you can share your volunteer story to help encourage other Michigan seniors to join the fun!
- Volunteer Match is a nationwide organization with opportunities from coast to coast. You can choose from a variety of categories including animal and arts organizations.
- United Way of America can also help you find a volunteer project near you. They do so by connecting you with your local United Way office. Each local office maintains a database of volunteer opportunities for their partner agencies.
Finally, don’t be discouraged if health conditions or mobility challenges make it tough for you to drive or even leave your home. Some organizations provide transportation for volunteers. And there are also Virtual Volunteer opportunities for homebound seniors that allow you to participate from the comfort of your own home.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 30, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My parents live about four hours away from us in Saginaw, Michigan. We try to get there to visit about every other month, but we have young children who are involved in sports and many other after school activities. It makes our schedule during the school year more than a little crazy!
Lately I’ve noticed that my mother is trying to discourage us from visiting. She says she knows how busy we are and that they are doing just fine on their own. But when we were there over the weekend, I felt like there was more going on than she let on.
At first I thought maybe she wasn’t feeling well. After a few hours, however, I realized there was something different with my dad. I heard him up during the night prowling around the house. The next day he seemed quiet and even a little confused.
When I questioned my mom about it, she denied there was anything wrong. She claimed he hadn’t been sleeping well because of a new medication so he was tired.
I think he has Alzheimer’s disease. My husband and I aren’t sure what to do next. Do you have any advice?
Anna
When a Spouse is Hiding a Partner’s Dementia
Dear Anna:
It sounds like you might be right to be a little concerned about your dad’s behavior, but I wouldn’t necessarily leap to the conclusion that he has Alzheimer’s.
If he is taking a new medication, it might be a side effect just like your mother indicated. Or it could even be another issue such as a vitamin B-12 deficiency or an infection of some kind. On the other hand, it could be something more serious like Alzheimer’s.
It isn’t uncommon for spouses of many years to hide one another’s symptoms from adult children. They do so in a variety of ways including:
- Discouraging family visitors
- Finishing a spouse’s sentences when they are struggling for words
- Making excuses for unusual behaviors
A proper diagnosis is important no matter what the condition. If it is just an infection, a dose of antibiotics might return your father to his old self again. The same for a vitamin deficiency – correcting the problem might be fairly simple.
The best person to make the call is your dad’s primary care physician. If you sit down and explain to your mom that it might not be something serious, she may be less fearful and more cooperative in scheduling a physical exam for your father.
Best of luck to you and your parents, Anna! I hope your father’s doctor can help you get him back on a healthy track.
Sincerely,
Donna
