Seniors and Health Issues Archives - Page 2 of 2

Eight Things Your Mom Should and Shouldn’t Do After a Hip Fracture

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Craig Bass

Personal Care at Home in Henderson NV

Around 300,000 older adults fracture their hip each year, receiving injuries that require hospitalization. Women are more likely to fracture a hip. Your mom is now part of that statistic. What should she do and not do after fracturing her hip? Here are a few things to remember and how personal care at home can play an important role in her recovery.

She Shouldn’t Cross Her Legs

Sitting with crossed legs isn’t often advised for a couple of months. Your mom’s doctor will tell her the appropriate amount of time, but it’s usually between six and eight weeks. Remind your mom to ensure she doesn’t forget and go to sit with her legs crossed.

She Should Use Higher Seating

Sitting down on a low seat is challenging. Your mom may find it hard to get back up. Bar stools with a sturdy back and comfortable seat are helpful when it comes to sitting.

She may need a booster on her toilet. If that’s not possible, make sure she has a personal care at home aide to help her stand back up after going to the bathroom.

She Shouldn’t Bend Over

It may take several days or weeks before your mom can bed down from a sitting or standing position. She shouldn’t bend more than 90 degrees when standing up. If she drops something, someone needs to get it for her.

She Should Work With a Physical Therapist

Your mom should work with a physical therapist to regain a full range of motion. In between therapy sessions, she must continue doing the recommended exercises on her own to build muscle strength and aid in her recovery.

She Shouldn’t Stop All Activities

Your mom may need to limit the amount of time she spends exercising, but she shouldn’t stop completely. She should work out enough for the muscles to stop aching and take a break before straining anything.

She Should Use Heat to Help Loosen Her Muscles and Joints

Ice packs can help ease pain, but heat helps loosen your mom’s muscles and joints. Before doing her exercises, your mom should apply a heating pad for 15 minutes.

She Shouldn’t Sit With Her Knees Higher Than Her Hips

Your mom needs to watch how she sits. Her knees need to be an inch or two lower than her hips. It reduces the stress placed on the hip joint. It makes it easier to stand up, too.

She Should Let Personal Care at Home Help

Your mom needs to let others help out. She needs to listen to her doctors and do as they say. That might mean slowly building strength after a hip fracture.

Make sure your mom follows her medical team’s recommendations. Hire personal care at home aides to help her change sheets, do the laundry, clean the home, and get to and from stores and medical offices. Call an agency to learn more.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/hip-fractures.html

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

Essential Things to Know About Nocturia

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Craig Bass

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.

Why Do Senior Citizens Often Get Readmitted to the Hospital?

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Craig Bass

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.

4 Ways to Help Your Senior Prevent Illness

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Craig Bass

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.

September is Pain Awareness Month

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Craig Bass

24-Hour Home Care in Henderson NV

Many people are living with chronic pain, and doctors have no idea how to treat a lot of people. Right now is the time to recognize if the senior you love has been having chronic pain. By bringing awareness to this condition, doctors may be able to learn more. Chronic pain is something that is different for everyone, which is also why it can be so hard to treat.

It involves pain that lasts weeks and sometimes years, and there are various ways to try to treat the pain. If the senior you love has severe pain that’s lasted years and gets in the way of everyday life, it may be time for 24-hour home care. These are caregivers who work around the clock to help manage a senior.

A 24-hour home care specialist may help cook, clean, bathe, and dress a senior while also doing other basic household chores. The caregivers can help drive seniors to classes, appointments, and therapy sessions if necessary. September is pain awareness month, and it may be one of the best times to consider hiring 24-hour home care for your beloved senior.

How Chronic Pain Affects Seniors

Chronic pain is something that many health care professionals will encounter. They see it mainly in people above the age of 65. This condition can decrease someone’s mobility due to the pain, increase falls, and someone may even lose the amount of sleep they used to get. It is a condition that hurts but can try to be managed.

Chronic pain can be incredibly hard to treat because many people turn to opioids. These drugs may work for a minute, but they are highly addictive, and the human body can develop a tolerance quickly. Pain is complex, and there are different levels of pain; not all medication is good for every person.

How to Treat Chronic Pain

Every senior will be different, have various pain levels, and feel comfortable trying different methods of pain management. The important thing will be to find something they are comfortable doing. A 24-hour home care assistant can help your senior try the following ways to help beat chronic pain.

Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise can help fight inflammation. Low-impact workouts might help stretch out the body, tone it, and fight pain. Remaining strong and mobile as a senior is also mentally healthy.

Stress Management

Stress may make pain worse for a senior. Find ways to help the senior de-stress in their life. This may be through mediation, yoga, or even things like tai chi. Finding a way to relax and breathe through the uncomfortableness may help with pain management.

Therapy

Not all pain is easy to get rid of and sometimes it involves a few therapy sessions too. This may be sitting down to talk to someone or even a physical therapist. Explore different options and be sure to talk to the senior doctor about it too.

Medications

Not all medication is good for a senior to take but in severe situations a doctor may prescribe something to help manage the pain. A 24-hour home care provider can help your senior parent remember when to take their medications and help follow any instructions from a doctor.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707527/#:~:text=Chronic%20pain%20is%20one%20of,(%E2%89%A565%20years)%20patients.&text=Pain%20is%20associated%20with%20substantial,%2C%20sleep%20impairment%2C%20and%20isolation.

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain

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 Most Common Sleep Problems Seniors Have And How To Avoid Them

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Craig Bass

Senior Home Care in Summerlin NV

Research shows that as many as 70% of seniors could be dealing with sleep problems. There are many different factors that affect a senior’s qualify of sleep including things like the medication that they take and how active they are. But regardless of the reasons why seniors aren’t getting enough sleep family members and senior home care providers need to do what they can to help seniors manage their sleeping problems so they can stay healthy. Getting enough sleep is essential for good health. The most common problems that seniors experience include:

Insomnia

Insomnia can be occasional or chronic but whenever it appears it’s going to make it tough for seniors to get the good night’s sleep they need. In order to combat insomnia you can help your senior loved one establish a night time routine that includes a relaxing activity like reading a book or taking a bath. Seniors should also go to bed at the same time every night to help them fall asleep faster.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that occurs when someone’s airway is obstructed when they sleep. Millions of people suffer from sleep apnea in varying degrees. Sometimes all it takes to alleviate the problem is using more pillows or side sleeping instead of sleeping on the back. But in more serious cases a sleep apnea mask might need to be used to ensure your senior loved one is getting the oxygen they need throughout the night. It’s quite common for seniors to use sleep apnea machines at night.

But if your senior loved one is anxious about using a sleep apnea mask they may be unable to sleep because of that anxiety. A senior home care provider that is there throughout the night can bring peace of mind to seniors at night. They will know that someone will be there to help them if they need help with the sleep apnea machine or if it stops working. It will bring you some peace of mind to have a senior home care provider staying with your senior loved one at night too.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is a neurological condition that causes a powerful urge to move the legs and feet when sitting or lying down. It’s similar to what happens when you feel like you’re about to fall in a dream and you jerk awake. The urge to jerk the legs and feet can be very intense. Some medications can make RLS worse. If your senior parent has RLS and finds it difficult to sleep because of the sensations in their legs there are some ways to try and stop that urge. Gentle exercise during the day and improving muscle strength can help. So can a warm bath before bed to relax the muscles. Hot and cold packs can provide some immediate relief when the urge flares up at night. If your senior loved one is prone to bouts of RLS a senior home care provider can help them manage their symptoms so that they can sleep at night.

Sources:
https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0501/p2551.html

Insomnia and Older Adults

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377174

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

May is “Strike out Strokes” Month

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Craig Bass

Elder Care in Las Vegas NV

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in our country. And as your parent ages, with each decade his chances of having a stroke doubles. To help draw awareness to the dangers of strokes, each May is named “Strike Out Strokes” month to help inform the public about the risks, symptoms, and steps of preventing a stroke. The more you and your aging parent know about strokes will help you take steps now to prevent the occurrence of a stroke as well as know how to recognize when one is happening.

While some risk factors for your parent having a stroke cannot be mitigated (for example, women and African Americans are more likely to have a stroke), there are steps your parent can take to reduce his risk of having a stroke.

Reduce blood pressure. Those with high blood pressure have a higher risk of having a stroke. If your parent takes medication to reduce his blood pressure, make sure he takes it as prescribed along with following through on other health care suggestions. You or your elder care provider can help by checking during each visit to make sure he’s taken his medication if it something he forgets often.
Reduce cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a build of a plaque in the blood that can break off and cause a stroke. Getting the bad cholesterol levels reduced with help reduce your parent’s risk of stroke.
Eliminate drinking and smoking. Both of these habits can increase the risk for stroke. If your parent struggles with addiction to either, help him find support groups to assist him in quitting. Sometimes having an accountability partner like yourself or his elder care provider can help as well.
Keep physical. Help your parent stay active by finding activities he enjoys and will consistently do. He might like to be a part of a group that exercises together and provides socialization as well as exercise.
Eat well. Eating plenty of fish, fresh fruits and vegetable while keeping saturated fats to a minimum, can help reduce the risk of a stroke developing. Look at that shopping list the next time your parent is heading out to the grocery store to make sure it’s full of healthy options.

While strokes can occur to anyone at any time, taking the right steps ahead of time will help reduce the risk of your parent developing a stroke. If you feel your parent is having a stroke, there is an easy test to see if what’s is occurring is a stroke. It’s called the FAST test. FAST is an acronym to help you remember what to look for when you or your elder care provider believe your parent may be having a stroke:

F – Face. Ask your parent to smile. Does one side of his face droop?
A – Arms. Ask your parent to lift his arms. Can he only raise one arm? Is one arm lower than the other?
S – Speech. Ask your parent to repeat a simple phrase. Is he slurring his speech?
T – Time. Time is of the essence. If you recognize any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

For every minute a stroke goes untreated and blood flow to the brain is blocked, a person’s speech, movement, memory can be more adversely affected. Learning this simple acronym could help you act more quickly.

Source: https://everlovedayclub.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/strike-out-a-stroke-stroke-awareness-month/

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