Though caring for a loved one near the end of life is always deeply personal, Alzheimer’s end-of-life introduces unique challenges that require a more nuanced approach. The unpredictable progression of dementia makes it essential to adapt your understanding and caregiving strategies, as the journey does not follow the typical patterns seen in other terminal illnesses.
At first, caring for Mom may have just taken up a few hours of the week. But now, she’s starting to need help throughout most of the day and maybe even into the night. Now, you’re realizing Mom would feel most secure with someone around 24/7, ensuring her needs are met and ready to tackle any unexpected situations.
Care needs ebb and flow as senior loved ones age, and the care model that works today may not be the one that works a year from now. Initially, their care journey may involve a home caregiver assisting with morning routines and meal preparation. But as their needs change, they may require more help from day to day. Challenges may arise during late-night tasks or unforeseen issues in the overnight…
COPD can transform daily life into a struggle. The good news is that there are breathing exercises that may help people better manage COPD symptoms and enhance quality of life. These exercises help strengthen the abdominal muscles and diaphragm, so individuals with COPD can take in more oxygen and expend less effort into breathing.
Our aging care professionals in Burlington understand that it’s not easy to make the right choices for nutritious meals for seniors when the guidelines for nutrition appear to constantly change. We had been told that saturated fats from sources including butter, red meat and fried foods were harmful and could affect a person’s odds of developing heart issues, but later studies indicated there isn’t enough evidence that those who gave…
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…
Have you ever started your day and thought, “It’s likely to be one of those days!” Perhaps your alarm didn’t go off, the hot water heater decided to quit working, and the dog chewed up one of your favorite shoes overnight. Now envision if every day were “one of those days!” For an individual coping with a chronic illness (and that’s much of the senior population), daily struggles and challenges…
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…
As we grow older, it’s common to begin to experience challenges with everyday activities, such as showering, getting dressed, fixing meals, or even driving a car, which can lead to concerns that these challenges mean that we’ll need to give up not only our independence, but our home as well. But there is good news for seniors: home care services, such as those provided by Advanced Home Health Care, a…
Many times, families make the assumption that given that their loved one is covered by Medicare, paying for care at home is not anything they need to consider. Unfortunately, however, this is a common misconception. As we mentioned in a previous blog post, most people use private funds in paying for care at home. There are several alternatives to look into, though, for home care for veterans and their spouses….