Senior Care Blog

In a recent blog post, our senior care experts shared some tips on how to talk to senior loved ones about home care services, but what if the need for care comes on quickly? Oftentimes, families are tempted to ignore the red flags of care needs, finding it simpler to justify warning signs than to face them head on. These senior care emergencies can cause anxiety for family members and safety hazards for the seniors they love.

As summer winds down, parents are busy shopping for school supplies, checking last year’s clothing to see what still fits, scheduling appointments for physical and dental exams, and, more often than not, subjecting them to immunizations. However, now isn’t just a time when school kids need to roll up their sleeves and face those dreaded shots. This time of year, even adults should get in on the act.

If someone ever created a list of the most unusual names for diseases, the shingles virus would certainly top that list. The very name of the disease brings to mind an image of a person with layers of roofing materials growing out of his skin. In actuality, shingles, also known as the herpes zoster virus, is a very painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox in younger people.

The ability to get out of the house and go where you want when you want is a freedom many of us have enjoyed since we were sixteen. Driving is more than a routine part of adult life; it’s a powerful symbol of competence and independence. And the thought of having to give that up and look into accompanied transportation can be difficult.

Helping another person with personal care needs, such as bathing, dressing and assistance with using the bathroom, can be uncomfortable for all involved. It’s hard to put modesty aside, and feelings of vulnerability can come into play. And at times, older adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, can become overly distressed while receiving help with these necessary tasks, to the point that it may result in a battle of wills.

Home is where the heart is, and so many seniors’ hearts are set on remaining at home throughout aging, instead of making a move to an assisted living facility or nursing home – close to 90% of them, according to research done by AARP.

Most of us are juggling a number of tasks at any given time, and for caregivers, it often feels like they’re juggling knives and flaming swords on top of it. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and guilty when you’re responsible for caring for a loved one, whether that person is your spouse or your parent.

Hillendale Home Care understands that sometimes, being diagnosed when struggling with debilitating symptoms can be a relief. Finally, there’s a name for the condition, and a plan to treat it! COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is certainly one of those conditions that can be improved with a definitive diagnosis. If your senior loved one has been suffering with chronic coughing, wheezing, and fatigue, a diagnosis of COPD may actually be the first step in improving her quality of life.

Chronic coughing. Shortness of breath. Wheezing. Sound like an asthma attack? Instead of reaching for the inhaler or an over-the-counter cough drop, however, perhaps it’s time to see if another culprit – COPD – might be coming into play.