Try: Many care recipient’s cr have trouble falling asleep the cr will sometimes need to seek medical help for the sleeping issues one option to consider with the cr’s doctor is sleeping medication in general sleeping pills and sleep medications are most effective when used rarely for a one time problem the idea of a pill that is a quick fix is very appealing however sleeping pills don’t cure the underlying causes of sleep problems the following are issues to consider with sleeping aids and medications side effects side effects can be severe and include prolonged drowsiness the next day confusion and forgetfulness drug tolerance the cr may build up tolerance to the initial level of medication drug dependence it can be a major problem if the cr becomes dependent on the drugs withdrawal symptoms if the cr stops the medication abruptly she risks severe withdrawl symptoms drug interactions sleeping pills can interact with other medications this can worsen side effects and be dangerous especially with prescription painkillers and other sedatives masking an underlying problem there may be an underlying medical or mental disorder or even a sleep disorder medication can make it difficult to treat the more significant issue information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep deprivation problems falling asleep sleeping medication

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: One important aspect of caregiving is placing the Care recipient (cr) in the right living situation planning ahead includes preparing to evaluate the cr’s ability to stay at home most cr’s want to stay at home as long as possible as alzheimer’s progresses the physical and mental demands on the caregiver can gradually become overwhelming once simple tasks for the cr will become more difficult physical tasks like bathing dressing and assistance with toileting will require assistance the level of caregiving required also increases with time at some point the cr will require 24 hour care every cr is different often the transition can be helped by bringing in additional assistance such as in-home help or other family members however many cr’s will eventually need to leave the home if the health and safety of the cr is being risked it’s definitely time to consider other options if the cr is living alone preparations need to be made in advance for the day when a move is needed as a caregiver be sure to consider whether you are able to balance your other obligations either financial or to other family members consult the cr’s doctor for recommendations information references helpguide org

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Categories: Emotional Psychological, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Home care stay at home

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: More than 19 million people in north america experience incontinence or bladder leakage millions more care for a loved one with incontinence incontinence is not a disease; it is always a symptom or side effect of another medical condition many of the causes are temporary and can be managed with simple treatment incontinence is the inability to control urination or bowel movements incontinence is a symptom not an illness it is a sign of something else happening in the body not a sign of aging urinary incontinence or bladder leakage involves the urinary system the pelvic muscles the spinal cord and even transmissions of messages to and from the brain when one of these fails bladder leakage occurs and urine is released at the wrong time causes incontinence can have a number of causes the most common are relaxation of the pelvic muscles often seen in women over 35 who have had several children reduced muscle control that can occur with menopause infections or inflammation of the bladder or the urethra the tube that leads from the bladder to outside of the body nervous system disorders resulting from birth defects such as spina bifida brain damage or stroke diabetes or spinal cord injuries neuromuscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy certain medication caffeine and alcohol can make incontinence worse types of incontinence incontinence varies from person to person and from day to day generally there are three levels of incontinence #light incontinence is occasional uncontrolled voiding of a small amount of urine #moderate incontinence is uncontrolled voiding of small to moderate amounts of urine #severe incontinence is uncontrolled daily voiding of moderate to large amounts of urine and or stool of course incontinence affects each person differently it’s all a matter of lifestyle and attitude information references "incontinence help" 2008 by sherman oaks medical supplies available at www shermanoaksmedical com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Incontinence bladder urine wets pants leaky pipes

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: With stress incontinence we mean involuntary urine-loss mostly drops or small gushes when laughing sneezing or coughing during physical exertion like sporting exercising or lifting the person can also experience involuntary urine-loss without active contractions of the bladder-muscles with "stress" in this case we mean the pressure in the pelvic-floor area causes under normal circumstances when the pressure in the pelvic-floor area is increased for example during the instances described above the pressure inside the bladder is also increased the result is that the pelvic-floor muscles and the rectal muscles contract as a reflex the bladder and the urine-tubes are closed and there is no involuntary urine-loss at the same time the pelvic-floor muscles support the bladder and keep the bladder and the surrounding organs in their place when the pelvic-floor muscles and the supporting tissue are weakened through repetitive pregnancies childbirth or hormonal changes there is a risk for involuntary urine-loss in that case the necessary support of the pelvic-floor muscles is decreased or absent the bladder with its muscles do not close anymore during laughing sneezing or coughing and drops of urine might be lost during these instances information references "incontinence help" 2008 by sherman oaks medical supplies available at www shermanoaksmedical com

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Keywords: Incontinence bladder urine wets pants leaky pipes stress

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Vascular dementia is increasingly common in care recipients cr vascular dementia has multiple causes stroke small vessel disease or a mixture of the two can cause vascular dementia most commonly there is a blockage of small blood vessels somewhere in the vast system of arteries that feeds the brain and enters through the base of the skull also a weak patch on an artery wall can balloon outward and form an aneurysm which can burst and deprive the brain of oxygen it is estimated that about 50 percent of the cases of vascular dementia result from hypertension or high blood pressure less common causes of vascular dementia are associated with diseases of the arteries such as lupus and temporal arteritis which are treatable with drugs that suppress the immune system fortunately many of these causes are preventable encourage the cr to have a healthy diet and to exercise if possible note if the cr exhibits any of the symptoms of vascular dementia contact a physician immediately information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Dementia

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Depression is unfortunately common in some care recipients cr symptoms of depression are a side effect of many commonly prescribed drugs you’re particularly at risk if you’re taking multiple medications while the mood-related side effects of prescription medication can affect anyone older adults are more sensitive because as we age our bodies become less efficient at metabolizing and processing drugs examples of medications that can cause or worsen depression include blood pressure medication clonidine beta-blockers e g lopressor inderal sleeping pills tranquilizers e g valium xanax halcion calcium-channel blockers medication for parkinson’s disease ulcer medication e g zantac tagamet heart drugs containing reserpine steroids e g cortisone and prednisone high-cholesterol drugs e g lipitor mevacor zocor painkillers and arthritis drugs estrogens e g premarin prempro information references adapted from www helpguide org

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Keywords: Depression prescription drugs

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Some care recipients cr may feel grief over the death of a pet while this may seem unusual it is important to remember that everyone grieves differently grieving is a personal and highly individual experience some people find grief comes in stages where they experience different feelings such as denial anger guilt depression and eventually acceptance and resolution feeling sad frightened or lonely is a normal reaction to the loss of a beloved pet exhibiting these feelings doesn’t mean the cr is weak trying to ignore pain or keep it from surfacing will only make it worse in the long run for real healing it is necessary to face grief and actively deal with it one aspect that can make grieving for the loss of a pet so difficult is that pet loss is not appreciated by everyone friends and family may ask downplay the pet’s importance they may not understand because they don’t have a pet of their own or because they are unable to appreciate the companionship and love that a pet can provide don’t let the cr argue with others about whether his grief is appropriate or not information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Grief loss of pet

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: If the Care recipient (cr) has sleep problems napping may be helpful people are biologically programmed to sleep at night but also for a short period in the middle of the day for many people taking a brief nap can provide the needed energy to perform fully for the rest of the day the following are some ideas for good napping by a cr short – naps as short as five minutes can improve alertness and certain memory processes most people benefit from limiting naps to 15-45 minutes the cr may feel groggy and unable to concentrate after a longer nap early – have the cr take naps early in the afternoon napping too late in the day may disrupt the cr’s normal sleep patterns comfortable – to ensure success the cr must nap in a comfortable environment preferably with limited light and noise information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep napping rest

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The Care recipient (cr) will experience some natural changes with sleep due to age older adults also tend to wake up more often during the night thus the cr may have to spend longer in bed at night to get the hours of sleep you need or he may have to make up the shortfall by taking naps or making other changes in most cases sleep changes are normal and don’t automatically indicate a sleep problem at any age it’s common to experience occasional sleep problems however if the cr experiences any of the following symptoms on a regular basis he may be dealing with a sleep disorder have trouble falling asleep even though the cr feels tired have trouble getting back to sleep when awakened don’t feel refreshed after a night’s sleep feel irritable or sleepy during the day have difficulty staying awake when sitting still watching television or driving have difficulty concentrating during the day have trouble controlling your emotions note if the cr has serious sleep issues consult a physician information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep rest

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Diet and exercise impact the sleep habits of care recipients cr to promote good sleep pay particular attention to your pre-bedtime diet the following are bedtime diet suggestions to improve sleep limit caffeine late in the day avoid caffeine from coffee tea soft drinks and chocolate late in the day avoid alcohol before bedtime don’t use alcohol as a sleeping aid it might seem to make you sleepy but will disrupt your sleep satisfy your hunger prior to bed have a light snack such as crackers cereal and milk or yogurt or warm milk avoid big meals or spicy foods just before bedtime large or spicy meals may lead to indigestion or discomfort try to eat a modest-size dinner at least three hours before bedtime minimize liquid intake before sleep limit what you drink within the hour and a half before bedtime regular exercise is also important to healthy sleep exercise releases chemicals in the body that promote more restful sleep there are four main types of exercise endurance activities such as walking swimming or riding a bike increase the heart rate and breathing to improve health strength exercises build muscle tissue and reduce age-related muscle loss stretching exercises keep the body limber and flexible allowing a greater range of motion in the older cr balance exercises build leg muscles to reduce the chances of a fall while crs need some of each type of exercise studies have shown that participating in moderate endurance aerobic activity can have the greatest impact on improving sleep note always consult a physician before embarking on any new fitness program information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep exercise diet

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed