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Essential Things to Know About Nocturia

Home Care Assistance in Las Vegas NV
Home Care Assistance in Las Vegas NV

Nocturia is a common condition involving bladder control at night. It’s all about waking up and needing to go to the bathroom. It’s estimated that it impacts almost half of men and women over the age of 60.

Do your parents have nocturia? It’s not surprising if they do. Home care assistance may be an important part of the care plan when nocturia is present. Here are the things you should know about nocturia.

What Key Factors Increase the Likelihood?

Many cases of nocturia are linked to nocturnal polyuria. It’s a common condition where the kidneys produce too much urine when the body rests. The medications your mom or dad takes and overactive bladder are other reasons.

Women are more likely to experience nocturia if they have a weaker pelvic floor. It’s common in women who had children and are going through menopause. If uterine prolapse is a concern and causes pushing on the bladder, some procedures can resolve it.

If your parents drink too much before going to bed, it will lead to nocturia. Drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages also increases the chances of waking in the middle of the night and needing to go to the bathroom.

Some health conditions increase the risk. Diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure are among them. It impacts how the body works. If your mom or dad has insomnia issues, they may also find themselves waking up and needing to go to the bathroom.

What Can You Do to Help?

Your mom or dad needs to talk to the doctor. If there is an underlying health issue, addressing it is essential. Medications and diet could stop nocturia from happening.

Invest in two waterproof mattress covers to help protect the mattress from urine stains. Instead of replacing an entire mattress, you just have to strip off the soiled mattress cover, put it into the wash, and replace it with a second cover.

Don’t let your parents drink a lot of water before bed. They should limit how much they drink after dinner. Before going to sleep, a bathroom trip should be the last thing your mom or dad does.

Do your parents take time each day to put their feet up? They should. It helps with circulation and allows water to get absorbed into the bloodstream, where it eventually excess fluids go to the bladder.

Make sure your parent has someone to help them get showered and changed. Caregivers can also help them remember when to take a break from activities and head to the bathroom. Call a home care assistance specialist to learn more.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5209574/

 

If you are considering home care assistance in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Employee of the Month

Golden Heart has elected Denise “Quinn” Brown as our amazing December Caregiver of the Month! Quinn is originally from Philadelphia, PA and lived there for 39 years before moving to Reynoldsburg, OH for another 22 years. Luckily for us, Quinn relocated to Las Vegas one year ago and eventually crossed paths with us! Quinn has five daughters, who have given here for grandsons, 3 granddaughters, and soon another grandson who will be joining the family in June 2022. For over 30 years, Quinn worked in healthcare as a State tested Nurse Aide, Restorative Aide, and Hospice Aide. After retirement, Quinn found that she missed taking care of others and this inspired her to reenter healthcare and become a Caregiver. Her favorite part of caregiving is being able to spend one-on-one time with her clients and sharing stories with each other. Quinn is proud of the progress she has seen her client make because she says the experience is rewarding and very personal to her. She is also incredibly proud of her daughters and all that they’ve accomplished. In the next five years, Quinn hopes to be enjoying retirement in good health. Quinn shows what it means to be a Golden Heart Caregiver and we are so grateful for what she brings to our team. Congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished Quinn, you’re awesome!

Why Do Senior Citizens Often Get Readmitted to the Hospital?

24-Hour Home Care in Henderson NV
24-Hour Home Care in Henderson NV

If you are caring for your elderly loved one, there are certain things that you need to know about. One of those things is that senior citizens often get readmitted to the hospital after injuries, surgeries, or illnesses. It can be helpful to know more about the causes of these readmissions. That way, you and 24-hour home care providers can help to prevent your elderly loved one from having to go back into the hospital after they come home.

Medication Issues

One of the most common causes of hospital readmissions for the elderly are medication issues. Usually, when someone leaves the hospital, they are on medications. Some reasons medications might be prescribed include:

  • Pain management
  • Stabilizing blood pressure
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Reducing the risk of infection
  • Fighting off infection

If your elderly loved one doesn’t take their medications as prescribed when they go home from the hospital, it could cause their condition to get much worse. If that happens, they may need to stay in the hospital again.

If your elderly loved one is discharged from the hospital, it would be a good idea for you and the 24-hour home care providers to have a list of the medications they need to take and when. That way, you can remind them to take those medications.

Falling

Unfortunately, there are many senior citizens that fall after they leave the hospital. There are many reasons why they have an increased risk of falling when getting home. Some of these reasons include:

  • Having a previous fall that put them into the hospital can lower their confidence when walking
  • Having balance issues due to medications or health issues
  • Being weak from not moving around enough

If your elderly loved one falls after they get home from the hospital, they may likely have to stay back in the hospital for a while. To lower your elderly loved one’s risk of falling, it would be best if they had someone stay with them for a while after they get home. 24-hour home care providers are available to do this.

Not Getting Enough Support

Most senior citizens who leave the hospital feel tired and weak. They may not be able to get around their house as easily as they did before. However, that may not stop them from trying. Many senior citizens often hurt themselves or have stitches break open because they try to do too much too soon. It is vital that your elderly loved one doesn’t push themselves too hard after they get home from the hospital. It would be best if you or 24-hour home care providers could be there to help and support them after they get home to prevent this from happening.

Conclusion

Is your elderly loved one coming home from the hospital? If so, you and home care providers can work together to lower your elderly loved one’s risk of going back to the hospital. The tips here today are a good way to help keep them at home.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6114496/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20reasons%20for,cancer%20(n%20%3D%2051).

If you are considering 24-hour home care in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

The Difference Between Forgetting and Dementia

Home Care in Henderson NV
Home Care in Henderson NV

It is natural to forget things from time to time. It’s why people keep reminders on their phones and sticky notes on their refrigerators. Memory loss may become more common as people age, but it is often normal. So, how can aging adults tell if they are experiencing dementia symptoms? And how do they know when it’s time to seek medical attention?

Home care is trained to help seniors with daily reminders and living on their own. Many seniors want to age in place, but it can be difficult to forget things. Although this is a sign of dementia, forgetting things is also just part of aging. When it becomes an everyday thing or becomes dangerous for a senior, they should seek medical attention.

You can use some signs to tell if it is average forgetfulness or dementia. They may seem the same, but they are not. When a senior has dementia, home care can help take the pressure off of the senior. It is important to have professional help from your parents when you are too busy taking care of your own family. Here are some signs that a senior may forget, and others may indicate dementia.

Normal Symptoms of Aging

There are a few things that are normal for seniors to experience as they age.

Absentmindedness

Absentmindedness is similar in that it relates to the focus of your brain. For example, you may forget an appointment simply because you were not preoccupied with the thought of it. This could be a good thing, because it indicates that the brain is clearing out old memories to make room for new ones.

Mental Illness and Forgetfulness

People suffering from depression are sometimes misdiagnosed as having dementia symptoms. According to the institute, one reason for this could be that a person suffering from depression may be preoccupied with the source of their sadness and anxiety. Constantly worrying about or obsessing over a recent tragedy can cause forgetfulness about other subjects.

Signs of Dementia

One of the only ways to get diagnosed with dementia is by seeing a doctor regularly. There are also stages of dementia, and seniors may not be diagnosed properly. Here are some potential signs of dementia.

Seniors Forget Important Things

Dementia symptoms extend beyond simply forgetting where an object is or when an appointment was scheduled. Symptoms include forgetting the names of close friends and loved ones and an inability to recall certain words. When an elderly person exhibits these symptoms of extreme forgetfulness, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a doctor.

Seniors May Experience Personality Changes

A senior in the middle stages of this disease may experience increased aggressive behavior, paranoia, or impulsiveness. This is frequently the most challenging aspect of the disease for caregivers. According to the association, it is normal for senior caregivers to be stressed out by these symptoms.

Becoming Disoriented

Another common dementia symptom is the tendency to become disoriented in new situations. When an older adult with dementia moves to a new location, the unfamiliar stimuli may cause anxiety. When seniors with dementia are disoriented, they may appear lost to onlookers and become easily irritated with their home care providers.

Source
https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/do-i-have-dementia/differences-between-normal-aging-dementia

If you are considering home care in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

4 Ways to Help Your Senior Prevent Illness

Companion Care at Home in Summerlin NV
Companion Care at Home in Summerlin NV

Food poisoning, skin infections, UTIs, and influenza are four of the most common infections in the elderly. It’s possible to reduce the risk through a few routines. If your dad is slowing down and having a harder time taking care of himself, these are the areas to help him with.

Home Cleanliness

Your dad’s home needs to be cleaned. If he struggles to wipe down faucets, doorknobs, counters, and sinks, someone else needs to clean these surfaces for him. Vacuuming carpets, mopping hard floor surfaces, and doing the laundry also help prevent the spread of germs.

Personal Care

If your dad cannot bathe without some assistance, make sure he has the help he needs. He might need support getting in and out of the shower, but he’s okay bathing himself. It could be that he cannot reach areas when he’s washing himself and needs help with lathering all of his body.

Arrange to have a professional caregiver helping him with personal care and grooming. If he needs help cleaning up after using the toilet, make sure someone is with him to help out.

Meal Preparation

Proper storage of raw foods is essential. When your dad purchases groceries, meats need to go into the refrigerator or freezer as soon as he’s home. They shouldn’t sit out on the counter for hours. If they are in the car for that long, make sure he has insulating grocery bags or a cooler with ice packs.

Once cooked, many dishes need to be consumed within two or three days. If leftovers don’t get eaten in that time frame, they should go into the freezer with a label explaining what the item is.

Check regularly for food recalls and safety issues. The FDA is a good place to start looking for these recalls. If your dad has an item that is part of a recall, remove it from his refrigerator, freezer, or cupboards and return it to the store for a refund.

He shouldn’t risk eating it unless the recall involves an allergen that won’t affect him. For example, some recalls are for products where the ingredients didn’t declare they contain nuts. If he has no nut allergy, he won’t have to worry.

Hire Companion Care Services to Help Him at Home

Choose companion care at home to ensure your dad doesn’t risk his health to an infection. With a caregiver helping with meal preparation, housework, laundry, and personal care, many common infections are avoidable.

Learn more about companion care at home by talking to a specialist in home care. Call and ask about prices, services, and schedules.

 

If you are considering companion care at home in Summerlin, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Four Tips for Talking about Personal Hygiene Issues with Your Senior

Personal Care at Home in Las Vegas NV
Personal Care at Home in Las Vegas NV

If you’ve noticed some changes in your elderly family member’s hygiene habits, you might be trying to figure out how to bring that topic up. It’s more difficult than it seems, especially if you’re still trying to determine exactly what’s causing problems for her. These tips can help when you’re ready to open up a conversation.

Pause for Some Reflection Beforehand

Sometimes when you’re busy you might notice something and just say what you’re thinking without reflecting on it first. There are some times that that can be less helpful than you want it to be. One of those times is if you’re noticing your senior having difficulty with personal care tasks. It’s helpful to notice what’s going on and pause to think a little more before talking with your elderly family member.

Wait for the Right Time to Talk

Just as there are the right things to say and the wrong things to say, timing is a huge factor in all of this. Personal hygiene conversations can be embarrassing regardless, but if you’re talking with your senior without thinking first about whether it’s a good time or whether there are other people around it can be worse. Choose wisely, and the conversation might go a little better.

Consider What Could Be Making These Tasks More Difficult for Your Senior

There’s a lot that can make personal hygiene more difficult for your aging family member. If she’s having health issues or she’s experiencing difficulty with mobility, that all affects what she’s able to do. Even if the situation is a result of cognitive changes, it’s important to understand what the contributing factors are.

Line up Some Possible Solutions

It also helps if you come into the conversation with some ideas about how to make this all easier on your senior and on you. Personal care at home is an excellent answer, and it’s an answer that can help your senior more than she might realize. Elder care providers can ensure that your senior is able to safely bathe, change into clean clothing, and have help with other hygiene needs. Personal care at home is able to do all of this without damaging your senior’s independence or dignity, which is crucial.

Finding the right answers for your elderly family member’s hygiene needs can feel complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Home care services can offer just the right amount of assistance whenever your senior needs it.

 

If you are considering elder care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.