Senior Care Blog

Enduring and recovering from a stroke is both a physically and emotionally challenging undertaking, and the main thing the stroke survivor longs for is to return home to his or her typical life. However, considering that around two-thirds of stroke survivors usually have some form of disability (per the National Stroke Association) in-home safety alterations may be necessary to make life throughout the stroke recovery process safer and easier.

Home is where the heart is, and it’s for that reason that so many people make the choice to remain at home through their golden years. But oftentimes wheelchairs become a part of life when individuals or those with certain disabilities lose mobility. This can be a unique challenge when it comes to making sure the home is a safe place. But a few wheelchair home modifications for elderly and disabled persons can greatly improve safety.

“How could you possibly say that I have dementia? There’s not a thing wrong with me!” If a senior loved one with dementia expresses sentiments such as this, you might have thought to yourself that he or she was simply in denial and unwilling to accept such a difficult diagnosis. However, there could be another reason: anosognosia, or a person’s true unawareness that he or she is impaired by dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is well known for its profound influence on the ability to effectively communicate. In addition to the disease affecting speech, it also causes difficulties in an individual’s ability to correctly use words, along with the understanding of the meanings of words. As the disease progresses into the later stages, using language as a way of communicating will become more challenging.

Sometimes, the most beneficial lessons in life come about by going through them firsthand; yet the wisdom we are able to glean from those who’ve walked a similar course before us is priceless. If you’re providing care for a family member with dementia and becoming a bit bogged down in this uncharted territory, the dementia care tips for caregivers below will help:

Accepting the truth that an aging loved one requires help at home can be tough. Even harder is speaking about the need for care with the older adult and getting him or her to acknowledge that assistance is warranted. If you have noticed changes in a loved one and you’re sensing the need to begin a discussion about the benefits of home care as a choice to maintain safety and independence in the home, try these conversation starters to raise the subject in a subtle, non-confrontational way.

All seniors, and those who care for them, should be alert to the symptoms and signs of diabetes, since as many as one out of every four adults over the age of 60 are currently living with diabetes. Diabetes requires ongoing treatment and careful management over the course of a lifetime; if diabetes care is neglected, it can eventually lead to serious and deadly health concerns, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and many others.

Do you have an aging loved one resisting the truth that he/she is in need of some extra help at home? One of the biggest reservations we have as we get older is the loss of control and the ability to live at home alone.

It’s an undeniable fact: the overwhelming majority of today’s older individuals would rather age at home instead of facing a move to a nursing home or assisted living facility. And with good rationale: home care services allow older adults to experience safety and stability, while retaining the comfort and familiarity of home and their neighborhood community.