Health Care Needs
Medical home care can help seniors stay in the community
Think “medical care” for seniors, and you’re likely to think of the hospitals, rehabilitative services, and nursing homes available in Northern Colorado. But “medical home care” is also a possibility for many seniors.
Those of us who are family caregivers know very well that our elderly parents usually want to stay in their own homes and communities as they age. And many of them can do just that, with only nonmedical home care by family members or professionals. The challenge comes if they suffer a serious illness or medical event, such as a broken hip or a stroke.
Twenty years ago, such situations meant a senior was likely to need nursing home care. Nowadays, though, medical devices are more advanced and portable, and often medical care can be brought into the home. If you’re considering medical care for a senior living at home, here’s what you should know:
- When you’re looking for a medical caregiver, search for a “home health agency.” This means the provider has met federal requirements for care and is Medicare-certified.
- Home medical care agencies can help with equipment set-up and operation, supervise care, and provide visiting therapists, nurses, medical aides, and physicians.
- Consider both medical and professional nonmedical home care, as they can be complementary. Medical care involves such things as changing dressings, administering medication, and monitoring physical health. Nonmedical care includes companionship, help with errands, meal preparation, and light housework. For example, a senior with Alzheimer’s disease and medical needs, such as intravenous feedings or wound care, would also benefit from a professional nonmedical caregiver trained specifically in dementia care.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Seniors’ mental health and function: what you need to know
When we become family caregivers, we’re in a good position to notice early changes in an elderly loved one’s mental health or function. To do so, we need to know the kinds of issues that may arise as a relative ages.
Jane F. Potter, MD, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine, has pointed out some aging-related issues to watch for:
Medication side effects and safety issues: Many seniors take multiple medications, which can lead to extreme confusion. Make sure you know all your elderly relative’s medications and how he or she is supposed to take them, so that you can easily discuss these with doctors if necessary.
Anxiety and depression: These two conditions—especially depression—are common mental health problems in seniors. As well as causing severe distress, depression can lead to physical problems and affect social activities and mental function. Be alert to changes in your elderly relative, such as a lack of interest in activities, decreased appetite, or long-term sadness. They may be caused by depression.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: After age 85, almost 50% of seniors have some mental impairment. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (the most common cause of dementia) lead to problems remembering, learning, and communicating. If you’re worried about dementia in a loved one, the first step is an evaluation by a doctor. A doctor can also discuss appropriate treatment options, which might include medication to delay symptom progression, professional home caregivers who are trained to provide appropriate activities to aid function, or skilled nursing home care. If you want to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, a good starting point is the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center website.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Mind games are good for seniors’ cognitive function
Quick—what do word games, sudoku, card games, jigsaw puzzles, and video games all have in common? They’re a great way to lower seniors’ risk of cognitive decline.
In fact, an Australian study in a 2006 issue of Psychological Medicine showed a 46% lower risk of dementia in people with “high brain reserve”—a measurement based on education, occupational complexity, and mentally stimulating pursuits. A good way to stimulate the mind is playing “mind games” like Scrabble®, board games, bridge, computer games, and video games. The value of video games seems to be evident in an Evercare 100 @ 100 Survey; among 100 Americans turning 100 or older, one in seven had played video games.
If you’d like to help an elderly relative enjoy stimulating mind games, consider the following possibilities:
- Play video games with him or her, or encourage other family members to do so.
- Arrange a family Scrabble® or board game night, so that everyone can enjoy a challenging game and the company of other family members.
- Clear the dining room table, ensure the lighting is good, and chat while you and your relative put a jigsaw puzzle together.
- Provide your relative with some inexpensive large-print books featuring crossword puzzles, sudoku, or word search puzzles.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Multiple medications increase risks of poisoning in seniors
Many seniors need to take multiple medications to manage various health conditions. These medications are helpful, but they also pose some dangers. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) says elderly people are at risk for accidental poisonings because of complicated medication schedules and multiple medications that may be prescribed by several doctors.
Those of us caring for elderly relatives often help with medication schedules, but sometimes we can’t be around every moment of the day to do that. Finding ways to make medication use safe is therefore important, and it can give caregivers some peace of mind. The ASHP has several useful hints:
Keep a list of all medications: The list should include the medication name, dose, and how often it’s taken.
Learn about medications: Ask the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist to explain why the medication has been prescribed, possible side effects, and any food or other medications that should be avoided. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if your elderly relative has been taking a medication for a long time.
Use only one pharmacy: If all medications are from one pharmacy, information is consolidated and the pharmacist will be able to check for possible interactions between medications.
Keep a diary: Note any symptoms or side effects.
Keep a schedule: Taking a medication at the same time(s) every day helps prevent missed doses or overdoses.
You can find more information on medication safety on the ASHP consumer website: http://www.SafeMedication.com.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Diabetes and eye problems in seniors
Eye problems may not be the first thing you worry about when an elderly loved one is diagnosed with diabetes—but visual impairment does seem to be more common with diabetes. For example, a 2008 Archives of Ophthalmology article showed that about 11% of American adults with diabetes have visual impairment, while only 5.9% of those without diabetes do.
The vision problems are varied, may be correctable or uncorrectable, and include serious concerns like retinal damage, cataracts, and glaucoma. Fortunately, there are ways to help lower your senior relative’s risk:
- Ask her or his doctor for information about managing possible eye problems.
- Request a referral to a dietitian, who can give advice about a healthy diet to control diabetes.
- Ensure that blood sugar and blood pressure are well controlled.
- Encourage your relative to get appropriate exercise, such as walking or a low-impact group fitness class at a senior center.
- Make sure that he or she takes medication that has been prescribed.
Sometimes it’s helpful to enlist other family members to assist if you can’t always be there to remind your relative to eat well and to take medication. Some families also consider a part-time professional caregiver, who can visit a relative’s home regularly.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Alzheimer’s disease: early diagnosis and support offer hope
None of us want to hear that an elderly loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, but hearing those fateful words sooner rather than later can be helpful for everyone. While Alzheimer’s disease has no cure and always gets worse over time, sometimes medications can slow the symptoms. And the longer someone stays in the first stage of the disease, the longer he or she can stay relatively independent.
Once the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s has been made after a complete evaluation, schedule a discussion with your family member’s doctor. The doctor can provide guidance about which medications and other treatments will probably be most useful.
Early diagnosis can also help us family caregivers plan for ourselves and other family members. These are some of the things we can do:
- Join a support group for Alzheimer’s caregivers.
- Consider a professional home caregiver who has been trained to provide nonmedical supportive services to elderly people with Alzheimer’s.
- Contact the Alzheimer ‘s Association for information about the disease and the needs of someone who has it. The association has a 24-hour telephone helpline at 1-800-272-3900. The Colorado chapter has an online helpline at https://www.alzco.org/ssl/helpline.asp.
- Visit the Larimer County Office on Aging website for information about the disease and the needs of someone who has it. 970-498-7750 Larimer County Office on Aging http://www.larimer.org/seniors/office_on_aging.htm.
- Check out the adult day care centers available in our northern Colorado communities. These provide activities for the senior with Alzheimer’s and a break for us. The Elder Care Network of Larimer County provides a list of these centers at http://www.eldercarenet.org/self_care/respite_care/adult_day.html.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289
