COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pertains to two lung diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Basically, patients’ breathing is severely affected by an obstruction to airflow. Frequent symptoms include an excessively wet cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.
A visit with Mom recently revealed a number of unsettling signs. Even though she’s always been up at the crack of dawn, now it is hard to wake her before lunchtime. Rather than fixing an elaborate home-cooked meal, she prefers to simply warm up a can of soup; and can barely finish a small bowlful. Not only that, but she’s lost interest in spending time with her beloved friends from…
A large proportion of seniors are set on aging at home, instead of relocating to an assisted living facility or nursing home – nearly 90 percent of them, based upon research conducted by AARP. And who can blame them? The comfort of familiar surroundings, the freedom to come and go as you would like, the freedom to prepare the meals you want when you would like them are all invaluable…
Millions of Americans are finding themselves in a role of providing senior home care for an older loved one, and even though being a family caregiver is exceedingly satisfying in many ways, the everyday duties involved with senior care can come to be monotonous for both the caregiver and the senior. Advanced Home Health Care, providers of the compassionate senior care and rehabilitation services Burlington, IA and surrounding area residents…
All of us want the best for the older adults we love – it’s only natural. But sometimes when families are involved with an older loved one’s care, feelings about what is best may clash. This can cause family members to work against each other as opposed to working together with each other. This is when it can be a good idea to pull in an outside person like a…
Urinary incontinence in seniors can be an embarrassing subject for those who experience it. The preconception behind the problem frequently contributes to individuals having either a lack of facts or believing in some common myths about incontinence. Following are some incontinence myths and the facts to be aware of instead:
Urinary Incontinence, or reduced bladder control, is a disturbing and delicate issue, particularly for seniors. It can trigger a number of problems, from skin sores to social reclusiveness for individuals who are uncomfortable with leaving home in case of an “accident.” But while bladder leakage causes approximately 25 million people in America to suffer with difficulties, the affliction seldom receives the attention and conversation it needs. With the lack of…
When taking care of elderly parents, understand that discussing health issues is hard for many older individuals. They might believe their health issues are their business and no one else’s, or they might possibly be fearful that if they admit to experiencing problems, they could compromise their ability to remain independent. This is oftentimes the situation regarding vision loss.
Regarding chronic diseases, seniors are usually the experts, hands down, with as many as three out of four older persons impacted by a number of conditions that are ongoing, require extensive medical attention, and put limitations on activities. With the continuous barrage of bloodwork and other exams, physicians’ appointments and procedures and medications, chronic disease care management often takes both a physical and emotional toll, and that can quickly become…
We all face a number of critical crossroads in life, when decisions we make will result in far-reaching effects. The career we choose. Who (or whether) to marry. Whether or not to have children. And as we age, another life-changing decision needs to be made: should we move into an assisted living environment so that we have the level of care needed during our years of aging? Or is aging…