5 Factors That Can Make Alzheimer’s Worse

November 15, 2023 by M Lawhon

A woman comforts an older woman who is encountering one of the factors that can make Alzheimer’s worse.

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.

What to Expect After a Traumatic Brain Injury

October 26, 2023 by M Lawhon

There are a variety of different kinds of brain injuries, but some behavioral challenges are common regardless of the type of brain injury that occurs. Certain problematic behaviors may be more or less likely according to the area and extent of the trauma, but your loved one may demonstrate one or more of these behaviors during TBI recovery, regardless of the specifics of the injury.

How Each Part of the Brain Is Impacted by a TBI

October 11, 2023 by M Lawhon

The brain is arguably the most essential, most complicated organ in your body. It is in charge of everything. It operates in the background, making sure we stay alive, and, in the foreground as the home of our awareness. This is why it’s so concerning when someone experiences a traumatic brain injury, and why it’s important to understand how each part of the brain is impacted by a TBI.

The Surprising Link Between Nutrition and Dementia

September 26, 2023 by M Lawhon

An outline of a brain is filled with colorful, healthy foods, indicating the link between nutrition and dementia.

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.

The Leading Senior Nutrition Problems and How to Help

September 12, 2023 by M Lawhon

An older woman and her caregiver are at the grocery store, shopping for the right kinds of foods to overcome the leading senior nutrition problems.

Most of us eagerly anticipate a delicious meal – the comforting tastes and scents, the satisfying sensation of a full stomach. For some older individuals, though, a host of health concerns can prevent their enjoyment of meals or even their ability to shop for nutritious foods, which can lead to dietary deficiency in many instances. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has some solutions to some of the most leading senior nutrition problems, including:

The 5 ALS Care Tips You Need to Know

August 23, 2023 by M Lawhon

Smiling woman using ALS care tips to help a senior man with a walker, who is also smiling.

As a degenerating neurological disease, ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) can cause a wide range of physical obstacles that can trigger clinical depression. For individuals caring for a loved one with ALS, it’s difficult not to become stressed and uncertain about how to help the person live life to the fullest and stay positive. It requires understanding the nuances of the disease and implementing ALS care tips from those who have walked a mile in your shoes.

What Can You Expect in Each Stage of ALS?

August 8, 2023 by M Lawhon

Different medications surround a syringe, indicating various treatments for each stage of ALS.

Receiving a diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease (also known as ALS) can cause plenty of questions and apprehensions, both for the individual diagnosed and their loved ones. What causes ALS? What symptoms might be expected in each stage of ALS? Where am I able to go for support?

What to Do After Heart Surgery for Optimal Healing

July 19, 2023 by M Lawhon

Following heart surgery, a complex web of transitional care needs develops, from nutritional changes to incision care, managing pain, swelling reduction, and more. The last thing a person wants after coming back home after such a traumatic event is to face the need for rehospitalization. Will you know what to do after heart surgery if the need arises?

How to Ensure a Smooth Transition Home From the Hospital

July 12, 2023 by M Lawhon

Senior woman in wheelchair and arm sling

How wonderful it is when the medical personnel tells you that your elderly loved one is ready to be released from the hospital after surgery. Yet as they hand you that collection of discharge documents and guidelines, a certain amount of nervousness may start to settle in. Will your family member be able to take care of herself after the transition home from the hospital?

How to Help Ease the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

June 21, 2023 by M Lawhon

If a person you love is fighting cancer, they may be suffering from a few unpleasant side effects of the cancer treatment they are receiving, and you will want to do whatever you can to help relieve these symptoms. Even though just being there with them to provide comfort and friendship is in itself extremely helpful, there are additional steps you can take.

The Best Ways to Support Someone With Cancer

June 6, 2023 by M Lawhon

A diverse group of women supporting breast cancer awareness.100% of our proceeds from 2011 sales will be donated to breast cancer awareness organizations chosen by a breast cancer patient within this shoot. .

Being given a diagnosis of cancer is life-changing, and making sure you have a strong network of support is vital. When it’s a friend or loved one, you may be unsure about what you can do to help. You’ll want to know the best ways to support someone with cancer without overstepping boundaries or making them feel discomfort for any reason. What can you do to best provide relief through a diagnosis of cancer for someone you love? Our experts in home care have some guidelines to get you started.

What to Do When Siblings Won’t Help With Caring for Parents

May 23, 2023 by M Lawhon

Stressed senior woman talking with female

If your siblings won’t help with caring for parents and you’re finding yourself trying to manage everything alone, you’re in good company. In fact, 50% of all family caregivers are caring for an aging loved one alone, according to a recently available report from AARP.

The Benefits of an Elder Mediator When Caring for Aging Parents

May 11, 2023 by M Lawhon

Happy African American couple at successful visit psychologist

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.

The Subtle (and Not So Subtle) Signs That a Senior Is Resistant to Care

April 16, 2024April 19, 2023 by M Lawhon

Though many older adults acclimate smoothly when a new caregiver comes into the home, and begin to enjoy a higher quality of life, there are some seniors who may continue to feel threatened. At CareFor, we’re especially sensitive to the feelings of a senior who is resistant to care. We’re skilled in helping to ease concerns and restore peace.

Why Seniors Resist Home Care: The Top Answer May Surprise You!

May 13, 2023April 5, 2023 by M Lawhon

As the top provider of professional senior care in Austin, San Antonio, and the surrounding area, we see firsthand every day the joy, companionship, and improved quality of life older adults receive from having a caregiver. Yet we also know that many older adults balk at the idea of caregiving. Understanding why seniors resist home care is key to overcoming these objections.

5 Steps to Better Management of Kidney Disease

May 13, 2023March 22, 2023 by M Lawhon

Hiccupping. Itching. Changes in appetite and sleep. These are just some of the seemingly innocuous red flags that might perhaps suggest kidney disease. And with as many as 20 million people in the United States alone managing the disease, plus many more who have not yet been diagnosed, it’s crucial that individuals experiencing these symptoms bring them to the attention of the health care provider.

What Is a Geriatric Care Evaluation, and How Can It Help Aging Loved Ones?

May 13, 2023February 23, 2023 by M Lawhon

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.

Home Care Services Can Be an Effective Alternative to Assisted Living

May 13, 2023February 7, 2023 by M Lawhon

If you’re the adult child of an aging father or mother, you’ve likely listened to them explain their wish to remain at home versus moving to a nursing home. The truth is, most seniors want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible – for a number of reasons. Home is the place they have carefully created, so it’s where they feel the most familiar and comfortable. Living at home also brings purpose and meaning to a person’s life. Something as simple as looking at your belongings, reading the mail, or relaxing on the back deck are more significant at home than in a long-term care facility because it is the home that provides the framework of life. The comforts of home provide a sense of tranquility and privacy that cannot be substituted.

Protecting Older Loved Ones From Bed Sores

May 13, 2023January 25, 2023 by M Lawhon

Pressure sores, also known as bed sores, affect upwards of one in every ten seniors and are even more prevalent in those who smoke, are living with a chronic disease such as diabetes, or who have fragile or thin skin. Bed sores are not merely extremely painful – they can easily progress to infections that can become life-threatening.

Senior Bruising: Prevention and Treatment

May 13, 2023January 11, 2023 by M Lawhon

Of all the changes that manifest as people age, bruising in seniors is one that can be frightening for family members to notice in their loved ones. It is crucial to talk to the senior’s health care provider whenever there is a health issue, but it is also important to realize that senior bruising is actually quite common. Bruising in seniors commonly is caused by the thinning of the skin and a decrease of fat that is normal with the aging process. Even a light bump to older skin can result in much more noticeable bruising as compared to younger skin.

Helpful Holiday Tips for Caregivers

December 21, 2022 by M Lawhon

The holiday season is an ideal time to get together with friends and relatives, but it’s not exactly a relaxing time of year. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season, from shopping to parties to family get-togethers, can be incredibly stressful, and when you’ve got someone to provide care for, your own duties can fall by the wayside. CareFor wants to help with some holiday tips for caregivers to make the season a little less overwhelming.