A good night’s sleep is beneficial for many reasons. It is the body’s way of rejuvenating itself. Muscles relax, aches and pains can disappear, mental clarity is resumed, etc.
However a good night’s sleep is not an easy thing to achieve. With only as little as three or four days lack of sleep the physical repercussions are terrible. Sleep deprivation has been actually listed as a form of torture!
So what can we do to help ourselves get a better night’s sleep?
There are things you should avoid and there are things you can do. Let us look at a few points.
A cup of tea or coffee before bedtime is a bad idea. These drinks both contain varying degrees of caffeine, which is a mental stimulant that can keep you awake.
Avoid intense concentration. Sat in bed with a laptop computer shining its bright white screen in your eyes whilst you work away will not help you fall asleep.
How long has it been since you last changed your mattress? Mattresses form shapes where we lie over prolonged periods. It is into these ‘shapes’ our bodies fall and that then restricts natural movement throughout the night.
Make sure any medication you use does not induce insomnia.
There are many herbal remedies on the market that can help calm you before going to bed. Always check with your medical professional if you are on other medication to see if there is a problem taking both.
Make your bedroom as light free and as quiet as possible. Heavy curtains will help keep out unwanted light from the streets outside and even help deaden some of the noise from outside. If noise is still an issue then there are windows that are better at sound reduction than others.
As a final option it is possible to be prescribed medication to help you sleep. These have to be taken with caution though because they are habit forming and can cause drowsiness the next day.
There is much talk, when it comes to the health of seniors, of Alzheimer’s and dementia but there are also many other forms of mental health problems that the elderly are susceptible to.
The list of these mental health problems is a long one – bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, etc. Each of these illnesses has its own debilitating signs and symptoms but they all have one thing in common for the family and loved ones of those suffering – they need understanding!
When a person breaks their leg it is obvious that this individual can not walk and will be immobile for some time ahead. That is called ‘understanding’, you the observer understand the ailment.
The same is so for the many mental health issues that could effect your loved one.
Just because a mental health problem isn’t as obvious as a broken leg means that it is easy to miss and you end up simply putting down the ‘strange’ behaviour as a personality flaw or that the person is having a a bad day.
As a loved one or friend when you find out that someone you care about has a mental health problem make sure you ‘understand’ it. There is a mountain of information on each individual problem and this information will help you to understand what it is that your loved one is going through and what it is you can do to help.
Helping can be anything from making sure medication is taken on time, watching for changes in moods and helping to keep a diary of these changes or notifying medical professionals of any drastic changes in personality. You could help with daily chores that the every day person finds so easy. Sometimes just by being there for a chat or to listen to their problems will help.
When the temperature drops there is another illness that can strike the elderly and the vulnerable, such as the young and the sick, it is hypothermia.
The elderly are at extreme risk of hypothermia due to their lack of mobility (the ability to burn off calories to maintain a higher body temperature), existing illnesses and the fact that most of the time they are feeling cold and just don’t want to bother anyone.
Hypothermia is a killer. It can set in slowly, making the casualty unaware that they are becoming ill. Or, it can strike someone down in less than ten minutes. No matter how it affects the casualty, if not treated properly, the end result is death!
Two things that speed up the onset of hypothermia are the wind and by being wet. The wind whisks away body heat extremely quickly and a daily temperature is greatly reduced by there being a strong wind (it is know as the wind chill factor). Water also sucks the body’s heat away from itself rapidly. The combination of being wet on a cold windy day is a recipe for disaster.
Ways to help a loved one on a day out avoid the risks of succumbing to a cold weather injury are obvious.
- Before you go out check the weather where you will be heading. If it is going to be a mixture of cold, wet and windy then you might want to make different plans.
- If you are going out then make sure the elder has adequate clothing on. A warm, wind-proof jacket is a must. But just as importantly are gloves, a woolly scarf and hat. A tremendous amount of heat is lost through the head and neck area.
- Watch your loved one for signs of hypothermia. The earliest one, and most obvious, is shivering. This is the body trying to warm itself up. One of the later signs is acting out of character, like they are drunk!
Tags: home care safety
During the festive season, and also during times of celebration, there is often alcoholic beverages on offer to party-goers and guests. These drinks can be quite detrimental to the health of your elderly loved one.
Alcohol is bad for the elderly for many reasons.
Mobility and balance – most seniors suffer from some sort of mobility issue, be it a physical injury they have sustained at some point, it could be the side effects of some medication or it could be an actual part of growing older. As we all know, one of the first ways we can see if someone is drunk, or has had a drink or two, is by their loss of balance and co-ordination. For an elderly citizen to have that loss of balance is extremely dangerous. The main reason is the ‘fall factor’, it is similar to walking on ice! Many many obvious problems could arise if an elder fell, be it inside or outside the house.
Medication and side effects – virtually all senior citizens are on some form of medication. It could be for health and fitness, such as daily vitamin supplements, or it could be for more serious reasons, medication for on going illnesses or ailments. Alcohol can affect how medication is absorbed into the body. By having a drink you could be altering the doseage of your medication. Not to mention that the mixture of alcohol and your prescribed medication could profoundly alter the effect it could be having on your body. Some medication and alcohol can cause unconsciousness, memory loss and it is possible you will have symptoms (not a hangover) of alcohol poisoning for many days after.
If there is a festivity coming up and there will be the presence of alcoholic beverages then to be safe make sure you ask a medical professional regarding the mixture of your medication and the drink of your choice.
Tags: home care safety
As people grow older they tend to exercise less. Sometimes this is due to injuries, or chronic aliments, other times it is simply something that falls off as people age. For caregivers it is important to discuss exercise options with a client, and help them find ways to stay fit and active. Exercising properly will increase the overall well being of the client, and can help them achieve a better standard of living.
Caregivers should discuss with their clients, the types of exercises that should be done. Most days it is recommended that a senior get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Some good examples are swimming, walking, and cycling. The caregiver should always take their clients current physical fitness into account when attempting to set up a work out schedule.
Strength training is recommended for two days a week. There are several strength training exercises that seniors can do, such as wall push ups, chair squats, and bicep curls. A caregiver can help determine which exercises are best, and how often then should be done.
As a home care worker, always make sure that the client is wearing loose, well-fitting, and comfortable clothing. Good shoes with arch supports, and cushions, to absorb shock, are also recommended for seniors when they work out. A caregiver should make sure the client is in good enough health for exercise, as working out with a cold, or flu can be detrimental to health. Before working out the client should always warm up, and stretch both before, and after the exercise period.
The caregiver should be alert for dangerous symptoms that may appear while their client is exercising. Chest pains may be a warning that a cardiologist appointment should be set. Dizziness, trouble breathing, trouble balancing, and nausea may also be warning signs of over work, or underlying medical conditions that need to be addressed.
A caregivers primary goal is to make life as long, and enjoyable as possible for their clients. Helping the client exercise to the best of their ability, and monitoring their progress can help serve that goal. This is just one of the many ways that home care can help our elderly loved ones.
Tags: in home care, mobility
Working in the home care industry, many caregivers will encounter clients suffering from dementia in on form or another. Understanding how to deal with clients who suffer from dementia is very important for caregivers. There are several different types of dementia that a caregiver may encounter in their elderly clients.
Althizmers disease is by far the most common. The on set of Alzheimer’s can happen as quickly as a single year, or it can happen over the span of 20 or more years. Some of the effect of Alzheimer’s are delirium, delusions, depression, and disturbed behavior. Being alert for the signs of Alzheimer’s can help caregivers better help their client. If the home care worker notices lapses in memory, sudden difficulty with language, or decreased motor functions, they should consult with their clients doctor, and have the client checked for Alzheimer’s.
Delirium is another mental disorder that caregivers should watch out for in their clients. While delirium many be a symptom of Alzheimer’s, it can also act as a stand alone disorder, and should be treated as such. A reduced ability to focus, sudden onset of misconceptions, poor judgment, and reduced motor activity, that change over the course of a day, or an even longer period of time could be indicators of delirium. Delirium may also be a reaction to a new drug that the client has been prescribed, and signs of delirium should be reported to the clients doctor immediately.
Psychosis is a blanket term, often used to encompass a number of disorders such as bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. While many people suffering from some form of psychosis will show signs of the disorder when they are younger, it is still possible for psychosis to strike the elderly very suddenly. Some tell tales signs of psychosis that caregivers should look our for are sudden, erratic mood swings, and hallucinations. It can be very easy to mistake a psychotic disorder with delirium, so a careful psychological examination of the client is needed to make a proper diagnosis.
Caregivers should also be alert for signs of depression in their clients. While depression is much more common in women, it affects both genders. Depression can be triggered by a number of different factors, such as losing a loved one, or several loved ones in a short span of time, something many seniors will have to cope with.
People working in the home care industry should be alert for signs of any of these disorders. A caregiver who can catch these problems in their early stages can better help their client cope with them.
As many as 300,000 people a year suffer from a broken hip. This is an especially common injury among the elderly population. For many people, postoperative problems result in death shortly after hip replacement surgery. Many of these postoperative complication, are a result of preoperative conditions.
As a caregiver there are special elements to consider when working with clients who have recently suffered a broken hip, as well as ways to help increase the survival rate in those who have not suffered a break, but are prone to.
Many people who are recovering from a broken hip choose home care, as opposed to recovering in a hospital. Caregivers should educate themselves on the warning signs of postoperative complications associated with hip replacement surgery.
One of the most dangerous postoperative conditions found in studies was congestive heart failure. While there is no way to truly prepare for the onset of congestive heart failure, helping the client maintain a healthy diet, and keeping an eye on any changes in blood pressure, can help a caregiver see the signs of trouble soon enough to inform doctors, who can then take action.
The second most common complication that caregivers will likely encounter is chest infection. Should the caregiver notice their client develop symptoms like bronchitis, or pneumonia, a doctor should be notified immediately.
Studies have shown that the best way to avoid postoperative complications with hip replacements, is to make sure that the patient has a healthy style of living before the accident. People who receive home care are often much healthier, due to the caregiver helping maintain diet, and workout schedules. These people are also less susceptible to slip and fall accidents, the leading cause of broken hips, because caregivers go through great pains to make the home a safer environment for their client.
The causes for most postoperative complications, were preexisting conditions that had gone unaddressed, and poor overall health in the person suffering the break. Home care can not only help protect loved ones by reducing the chance of a break, but can also help the client maintain a healthier lifestyle prior to a break. Following hip replacement surgery a caregiver is in a prime spot to help catch any kinds of postoperative complications early, and seek the proper treatment for their client.
When considering what options you have when your parents become older you have two main choices – one is a care home, where a team of staff look after an elderly group within a single facility, or, as we offer, there is home care, where a dedicated caregiver is assigned to watch over your loved one within their own home.
We strongly believe that staying at home is the best place for Mom and Dad. The home is a familiar environment to them, the sights and smells they have lived with. Ornaments and pictures line the walls that they themselves had chosen and placed there.
A home is place to welcome friends and family and to entertain guests. It is their choice of color and decoration.
Whilst at home should a loved one feel hungry they can eat, no need to wait for dedicated meal times. Should they wish to stroll around the garden then they can do so at their own free will. The word is freedom.
Another reason that home is the best place for Mom and Dad is that whilst they are receiving care they have a single dedicated caregiver watching them, not a team of staff whose attention is spread over many individuals. Also, who is to say that your Mom and Dad will enjoy being with these new people.
What about the location? Where your parents live now is of their choosing, if they are to be relocated will they be nearby, so family and friends can visit them easily.
It has been proven that financially home care beats many other forms of care for the elderly in affordability.
Hearts at Home Senior Care believes the home is the best place for Mom and Dad and is dedicated to keeping them there.
Tags: Home Care in Houston
The heat of summer can be dangerous, and even deadly, to some of the most vulnerable people in our society, the elderly. Each year, around the world, millions are affected by illness, and injury caused by heat. During times of extreme heat sweating alone cannot counteract the effects of the rising body temperature. As a caregiver, or worker in the home care industry, the summer can be the most difficult time of the year. Learning how to protect clients from heat related injury, and illness become a large, and very important part of the job.
During the hottest part of the day, usually between 10AM and 4PM, it is recommended that outdoor activities be avoided. Instead of going down to the park, a mall, or library may be a better, and safer alternative for elderly people. Temperatures in a parked car can be as much as 30 degrees higher than the air outside, so make sure that a client is never left in an unattended vehicle. Burns can also come as a result of seat buckles, and other parts of a cars interior when the day grows very hot.
Knowing the signs of dehydration is a big step towards providing better home care for clients. As a caregiver, make sure that all clients drink plenty of water when the temperatures start to soar. Doubling water intake during periods of heavy activity in the heat is strongly advised. Drinks that contain sugar, alcohol, or caffeine can increase the risk of heat related illness, as these drinks deplete the body of the fluids that it needs during hot days.
Light colored, cotton clothing is ideal if you must take your client out during the day. Cotton allows the skins to breath, and light colors reflect heat, while darker colors absorb it. Synthetic fabrics also tend to trap heat against the skin, raising a persons risk of heat related illness.
Caregivers should always pay attention for the signs of dehydration in their clients. Too much sweating, cramps, headaches, fatigue, and a rapid heart rate are all indicators of dehydration. If taking care of an elderly person, who begins to show these signs, they should be moved to a cool place, and be given plenty of fluids as soon as possible.
As loved ones grow older, the task of caring for them can become daunting. Many families attempt to keep their elderly loved ones safe in their own home. This task grows greater as the elderly family members’ needs become more taxing on the family as a whole. As these needs grow the family may began to look at other healthcare options that had not been previously considered.
One of the options, that many people have taken, is to place their elderly loved ones in a nursing home. This can have a negative impact on the elderly family member; being displaced from their home can upset the balance of their lives and lead to depression. The House Government Reform Committee Special Investigation Division found that in a three year period, from 1999 to 2001, that 9,000 instances of elderly abuse, and neglect were reported.
Most claims cited neglect as the reason for complaint, unsanitary conditions, bed sores going untreated, and deficient hygienic practices. Some of the reports were much more severe. Physical, and sexual abuse were found in a smaller number of cases. These reports cause grave concern for those who are considering a nursing home for their elderly family members. While the findings do not mean that all nursing homes are bad, it does give family members cause for concern.
Another option that people are seeking out more frequently is home health care. A caregiver can provide individual service to an elderly family member, in the comfort of their own home. This allows them some level of freedom that a nursing home would lack, and does not cut them off from the rest of the world.
The elderly family member also has free contact with other members of the family, in cases where neglect, or some other offense may occur. For more and more seniors, home care is making their life easier, and families can form a relationship with the caregiver, allowing them to know that their loved one is being taken care of. Choosing a caregiver as opposed to a nursing home may be a much more comfortable solution to the problems that come up concerning an elderly family member.
