Each year, thousands of American seniors are told they have Parkinson’s disease, but they don’t. For a number of these people, the actual diagnosis is a very similar but not as well-known disease: dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
The results of maintaining some form of exercise regimen throughout aging are remarkable, but for those with Parkinson’s, it may truly be a game-changer regarding the progression of the disease. Several studies are showing a direct link between exercise and Parkinson’s, including the largest clinical study to date, in which patients who exercised at least 2½ hours per week gained a greater total wellbeing compared to those who refrained from physical activity. And that is just the beginning.
Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is life-altering – for the person being diagnosed, of course, but just as much for his or her loved ones. It’s important for family caregivers to know how to process the emotions of caring for someone with dementia in healthy ways, and to allow themselves ample time to care for their own mental health and wellbeing.
If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, you already understand how important it is to be flexible and patient, and to expect the unexpected. On any given day, the person may experience a broad range of emotions: calm, angry, agitated, fearful, giddy, melancholy. As you adapt your care strategy to match the person’s mood, you also need to juggle managing a host of difficult symptoms: wandering, repetitive behaviors and conversations, memory loss, sundowning. Through all of this, you may not even realize that there are certain factors that can make Alzheimer’s worse, that if avoided, can minimize some of the more challenging effects of the disease.
In our last blog post, we featured some age-related problems that prevent seniors from following a healthy diet, yet could there also be a link between poor nutrition and dementia? Malnutrition in older individuals is far more common than you may think. The National Resource on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Aging notes that 35% – 50% of the seniors living in long-term care centers are experiencing nutritional deficiencies, and as many as 65% of older adults in the hospital may be malnourished as well.
When you’re working together to ensure the care needs of your aging parents are met, even the closest of brothers and sisters could find themselves in opposition. Stress levels and emotions are, obviously, running high. Combine that with your past family dynamics and history, which tend to resurface in the midst of challenging times, and it’s easy to see how difficult this stage in life can be for each of you.
As we get older, we stay the unique and intricate people that we have been our whole lives. Assuming that all older adults will act the same and have a need for the same things is a one-size-fits-all approach that just will not work for seniors or the family members who take care of them. Providing care to older adults requires a creative and unique approach for every person. When a caregiver better understands just who the person is and what their distinct needs are, the best plan of care can be fashioned to keep the individual healthy and well at home.
Of the numerous ramifications of Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most alarming is the person’s propensity for wandering and the potential dangers that can occur in the event that the senior becomes disoriented or lost. Alzheimer’s wandering can happen if the older adult is:
Conversations with an older adult struggling with all the difficulties of Alzheimer’s, particularly in the middle and later stages, could very well be discouraging – both for you and also for the person with Alzheimer’s. Brain changes affect the capacity to hear, process, and respond effectively to conversations, and it’s up to us to employ innovative ways of effectively interacting and communicating with a senior with dementia.
The countless benefits of physical exercise are obvious, but what is not as well known is that exercise for adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can be particularly helpful in a variety of ways. It can help lessen the risk for muscle weakness as well as other issues that arise from inactivity, can minimize the impact of psychological and behavioral changes, and even more.
On a hot summer day, there is nothing more satisfying than a tall, cold drink, but for someone with dysphagia, this simple pleasure can be downright dangerous. Dysphagia – or difficulty with swallowing – affects millions of older adults, because of weakened mouth and/or throat muscles. Alzheimer’s, MS, cancer, and stroke are typical root causes … Read more
Caregivers dedicate so much of themselves to the ones they care for – both emotionally and physically. It’s common to become wiped out and to start to experience feelings like indifference, exhaustion, and a withdrawal from the person in your care. Referred to as compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress, it can be detrimental to your own wellbeing but can also influence your ability to be as nurturing, warm, and caring as you should be for the person you’re caring for.
Family caregiver stress is inescapable, and in reality, not necessarily always a bad thing. Basically, as they say, “A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” Yet especially for family caregivers, the level of stress can rapidly escalate and become overwhelming, and if not handled effectively, result in serious health concerns.
Family caregivers give a tremendous amount of themselves to take care of their loved ones, frequently giving up their own desires and needs along the way. It may seem normal, then, to presume that caregivers would feel great about themselves, with a high level of self-esteem and sense of purpose.
A lot of us are trying to juggle numerous assorted responsibilities, and for family caregivers, it can feel similar to juggling flaming swords and knives. It’s natural for family members to become overloaded and to experience feelings of caregiver guilt when wanting to provide the best care for a member of the family. Guilt … Read more
Throughout the course of life’s stages, our yearning for independence is fulfilled in a variety of ways. There are significant events, such as moving out of our parents’ home or getting married, and less significant occasions, like accomplishing a difficult task on our own. Later, as we age, preserving independence becomes the focus – the capacity to stay in our own home safely and securely. This wish to age in place at home is frequently the greatest desire for older adults, regardless of their state of health or ability to function independently, even in the midst of injury, sickness, or chronic health conditions.
Spending time with Mom recently revealed several unsettling signs. Though she has always been an early riser, now it’s hard for her to wake up before lunchtime. Instead of going to great lengths to prepare an elaborate home-cooked meal, she would rather just heat up a can of soup and can barely finish a small bowlful. Furthermore, she has lost interest in spending time with her beloved friends from church. Could she be suffering from depression or dementia?
Alzheimer’s is a complex condition that often presents overwhelming issues for those providing care. As the disease continues into later stages, those with Alzheimer’s become increasingly dependent on communication through behavior rather than speech, and oftentimes these behaviors are of an inappropriate nature. For instance, someone with more advanced Alzheimer’s disease may present the following:
As we get older, it is common to begin to encounter challenges with daily activities, including showering, dressing, planning and preparing meals, or even driving a vehicle. This can lead to concerns that these challenges suggest that we’ll have to give up not just our self-reliance, but our home as well. However, there is encouraging news for seniors: home care services, such as those provided by CareFor, can help actually enhance independence for older adults and help them continue living at home safely where they’re most comfortable.
If an aging loved one with dementia has voiced beliefs such as this, you may have thought to yourself that he or she was just in denial and reluctant to acknowledge such a concerning diagnosis. However, there may be another reason: anosognosia, or a person’s genuine unawareness that he/she is impaired by dementia.