Seniors and Health Issues Archives

What You Need To Know About Seniors And Parkinson’s

Posted on April 8, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

Elder Care in Brownsburg IN

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and it’s a great time to learn more about Parkinson’s disease and seniors. Parkinson’s disease affects more than a million people in the U.S. and there are more than 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease diagnosed very year. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but early detection can mean earlier treatment. And the earlier your senior loved one starts treatment the better the chances are that the progress of this disease can be delayed. Starting elder care as soon as possible following a diagnosis is one important step toward combatting the side effects of the disease. Some other things that you and your senior loved one should know about Parkinson’s are:

Symptoms

The most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is tremors in the hands. But there are other symptoms that you and your senior loved one should look out for like: loss of balance, shuffling or problems walking, depression, anxiety, tremors in feet or fingers as well as hands, rigidity in muscles, headaches, and more. If you notice any of these symptoms in your senior loved one you should get them to a doctor to be checked for Parkinson’s disease. Even if your senior loved one isn’t displaying symptoms they should be checked at least once a year for any signs of developing this disease.

Is It Hereditary?

There is no definite hereditary link to Parkinson’s disease, but it does seem like it runs in families. If a close relative in your family had Parkinson’s disease it’s possible your senior loved one will have it. It’s also possible that you will get it, which makes regular screenings essential. If you’re worried about missing the symptoms of Parkinson’s in your senior loved one elder care at home can help. A trained caregiver can notice and document any symptoms of Parkinson’s that your senior loved one displays. That way you can track the progression of the symptoms and confer with their doctor about possible treatment.

Screenings

Parkinson’s screenings are recommended for seniors who are over 60. If there is a family history of Parkinson’s then you should really start getting screened yourself after the age of 50. Starting treatment early can delay the onset or the progression of symptoms. If your senior loved one hasn’t been to the doctor in awhile now is the time to make an appointment to have them seen and evaluated for any medical health conditions including Parkinson’s disease.

Aging At Home With Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease affects the brain. As the brain slowly atrophies because of the disease your senior loved one may lose their mobility, or start to experience dementia. While both of those may be challenging it doesn’t mean that your senior loved one must leave their familiar and beloved home. In fact, keeping your senior loved one in familiar surroundings can help them resist the symptoms even longer. With elder care that caters to the needs of those with Parkinson’s your senior loved one may live comfortably and safely at home for many years.

Sources:
https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics
https://parkinsonsdisease.net/elderly-population

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Brownsburg, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

What To Do If Your Senior is Having a Stroke

Posted on March 28, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

Home Care in Carmel IN

With sophisticated medical tests and therapies, seniors over 80 are experiencing better recovery results from strokes than ever before. Although this may be reassuring for you, there may come a time when you witness your parent having a stroke. It’s important to be aware of the signs of stroke, and especially vital for your senior to have help if they have already had a stroke before, like support from home care providers. Here are a few important things to look for if you think your senior might be having a stroke:

Understanding The Signs Of a Stroke

You may start to panic if you have never seen your parent having a stroke, but it will be crucial to remain level-headed. This is not the time to panic. Firstly, you need to know the signs of a stroke before understanding if the senior is having one. Here are the first things to look for:

Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg that occurs suddenly—particularly on one side of the body
Sudden disorientation or difficulty speaking or comprehending you
Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
Dizziness, lack of balance or coordination, or difficulty walking all occur suddenly
Sudden onset of severe headaches for no apparent reason

If a senior is experiencing one or all of these symptoms, it is time to take the first steps to get them help. Keep in mind strokes can be different for every person. Some seniors may experience severe nausea and vomiting, or others will have double vision. Strokes can hit fast, and it is essential to communicate what is happening and get help right away.

What To Do If a Senior Is Having a Stroke

When you know your parent is having a stroke, there are three things you need to do to ensure they get help.

Call 911 Immediately

When you understand the signs of a stroke, which can sometimes be hard to recognize, the first thing you need to do is call 911. You can tell them you are with a loved one who you believe is having a stroke. Try not to stress or scare your parents out but calmly call for an ambulance and assistance.

Look At The Time

You may be super worried about your parents and unable to focus on anything else. However, you will want to note the time the symptoms started occurring, what time you called for help, and keep track of how long things will last. This will help you relay the information to the paramedics who arrive to help.

Always Perform CPR If Necessary

Strokes can be scary, and there may be instances where you need to perform CPR on your loved one. If you live with an older adult, you may want to take classes to understand how to properly do CPR if you have never had to do it.

Following a stroke, it’s important for your senior to have support in their recovery. Home care can be there as much or as little as they need, providing mobility assistance, medication reminders, meal preparation, transportation to doctor and therapy appointments, and more. Enlist the help of home care before your senior even leaves the hospital, so they can hit the road to recovery running.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Carmel, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

5 Steps Seniors Can Take to Reduce Cancer Risk

Posted on February 23, 2022December 29, 2023 by Craig Bass

Personal Care at Home in Indianapolis IN

February is National Cancer Prevention month and it’s a fantastic time to learn about ways you and your senior loved one can reduce your risk of cancer. Seniors are the age group most affected by cancer. Most people who are diagnosed with cancer are over the age of 65. And considering that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. the chances of a senior developing cancer are very high. It’s not always possible to prevent cancer. But there are lifestyle changes that seniors can make that can lower their risk of developing some kinds of cancers. Here are a few changes they can make, and how personal care at home can help:

Wear Sunscreen

Skin cancer is one of the more preventable types of cancer. Seniors should wear sunscreen on all exposed areas of the body whenever they go outdoors. Even if the weather is overcast wearing sunscreen is a good idea. And even in the winter sunscreen should be worn. Sunscreen protects the skin from damage caused by the UV rays of the sun. Those UV rays are damaging whether it’s summer or winter. If your senior loved one always forgets to put on sunscreen have their personal care at home provider make sure that they put on sunscreen when leaving the house.

Eat A Diet That’s Mostly Plants

Study after study proves that eating a diet that is mostly vegetables with some lean protein and healthy fats like avocado has big health benefits for everyone. But those benefits are especially significant for seniors. Switching to a diet that contains mostly vegetables and fruits will give seniors a healthy immune system that is capable of attacking cancer cells and defeating them when they pop up. It can be tough to get seniors to eat enough vegetables or to eat enough food at all but a personal care at home provider can help. Personal care providers for seniors do a great job of getting seniors to eat healthier by helping them plan, shop for, and cook healthy meals.

Get Treatment For Minor Illnesses

When minor illnesses and infections go untreated the body’s natural immune system must work around the clock to try and fight them off. That means that the immune system won’t have the power it needs to obliterate cancer in the early stages. If you notice that your senior loved one seems to be ailing or has a cut that could be infected get them seen by a doctor and get any medications that the doctor recommends.

Get More Vitamin D

Even though the research is still being done there is some evidence that large amounts of Vitamin D can help prevent cancer. Your senior loved one should be taking a Vitamin D supplement if their doctor recommends it to help prevent cancer.

Lose Weight

Being overweight or obese can increase the chances of developing some kinds of cancer. It’s very important for seniors to do whatever they can to stay at a healthy weight.

Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-10-commandments-of-cancer-prevention
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/older-adults/cancer-and-aging

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Indianapolis, IN, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care today. 317-550-1276

Tag: Seniors and Health Issues