Try: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are often used interchangeably for certain conditions although the two diseases involve mental degradation and have many similarities there are a number of differences that must be noted dementia is the gradual loss reduction of intellectual function dementia is a medical term used to describe a number of conditions characterized by the loss of brain function common symptoms of dementia include memory impairment increased language difficulties decreased motor skills and failure to recognize friends and family alzheimer alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia marked by memory loss in the elderly alzheimer alzheimer’s disease is defined as a form of dementia characterized by the loss of several important mental functions it is much more severe than simple forgetfulness or absentmindedness information references adapted from the website www alzheimerscaregiverresource com

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Categories: Medical Physical

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References: n/a

Keywords: Alzheimer alzheimer’s dementia diagnosis

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

Try: Earwax whose scientific name is cerumen is the natural substance produced by the lining of our ear canals generally earwax is part of the ear’s self-cleaning process the purpose of earwax is to lubricate the ear canal and prevent infections some amount of earwax is important because it stops dust and foreign particles from getting into the eardrum however earwax becomes a problem when it builds up in the ear canal having large amounts or harden earwax will interfere with the function of the eardrum leading to deafness and possibly infection elderly cr’s are more susceptible to earwax buildup this is because as individuals age ear glands secrete less oil which often causes the ear wax to be drier and harder this leads to buildup earwax is a common cause of hearing aid failure be careful removing earwax from an elderly care recipient’s cr ear the skin inside the ear canal is very delicate so a scratch could easily cause an infection additionally the eardrum is also susceptible to injury information references

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Categories: Medical Physical

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References: n/a

Keywords: Hearing

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

Try: When should i consider getting physical therapy we often take simple movements like raising an arm or bending a knee for granted however if you have injured one of your body parts and no longer able to move it freely or developed a chronic ailment that makes movement painful you realize just how precious mobility is physical therapy can help you regain most or all of the capability you have lost what exactly is physical therapy and why should i get it physical therapy is a medical specialty that focuses on evaluating and treating problems that occur within the musculoskeletal system this system is made up of the muscles tendons ligaments bones and joints that allow the body to move the primary objective of physical therapy is to restore the patient patient’s freedom of movement as much as possible what kind of training do physical therapists get physical therapists are trained in how the body functions and how the muscles within the body interact the therapist uses this knowledge to diagnose the cause for the mobility loss and to develop a customized treatment plan to restore it why can’t i just do it myself most people think of physical therapy as just a series of exercises many of which can be performed anywhere this common misconception often leads people to believe they don’t really need the services of a therapist but nothing can be further from the truth a well designed therapy program goes beyond mere exercise because the therapist is usually working to accomplish several goals in addition to regaining range of motion therapy also plays an important role in relieving pain increasing flexibility and balance and restoring postural alignment and coordination these different goals require the therapist to use a variety of techniques such as massage heat and electrical stimulation in addition to the exercise regimen how long will it take for physical therapy since therapy involves a process many patients want to know how long it will take there is no simple answer to this question the extent of the damage is a major factor in addition each individual heals at a different rate these factors affect the amount of therapy needed and the duration what can i do to expedite my healing while it is important to the success of the therapy program to give yourself whatever time necessary to get well there are some things you can do to stay motivated and expedite healing the first is to comply with the program your therapist has designed there are times when it may seem as though it is impossible to perform a task but remember the therapist is aware of your difficulty in movement and the pain associated with it the therapist would not ask you to do anything you are incapable of doing you must also stick with the program meaning not only showing up for all of your appointments but also following through with your home exercise program exercising at home lessens recovery time how can i stay on track with the therapy keep up your interest in the program by establishing a series of goals each time you achieve one of those goals give yourself a reward breaking up your therapy program into a series of smaller programs by setting goals may make the time commitment seem less than it actually is

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Categories: Medical Physical, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

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References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: When cold weather hits there is often very little time to make sure your home is running efficiently and your own personal safety is addressed here are some helpful hints to increase the efficiency of your home have someone seal all air leaks around windows and insulate openings to any attic to prevent warm air from escaping if storm windows are not tight use window film that can be stretched over them consider investing in a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature of the home have a professional check your furnace each fall and change the filters every three months to keep the air flowing efficiently if you have a fireplace that you use on a regular basis make sure that when it is not in use the damper is closed so that the heated air cannot escape up the chimney here is a checklist to promote personal safety do not use your stove or oven to heat your home if a space heater is used check the cords to make sure they are not damaged in any way and keep the cords out of any traffic area to avoid tripping over them in case of a power outage make sure flashlights and extra batteries are readily available in several locations throughout the home avoid using candles if possible check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis to make sure they will work properly in an emergency replace the batteries once a year insulate water pipes to prevent the pipes bursting if they freeze drain and turn off any outside water spouts fire extinguishers need to be inspected once a year have a temporary housing plan in place including a way to get there in case you have to leave your home set up a schedule if you live alone for someone to check in with you on a daily basis at a regular time to make sure you are ok have extra medications on hand share your medical and emergency contact information with family friends and neighbors reference adapted in part from the eldercare internet website www eldercare gov eldercare locater a public service of the administration on aging u s department of health and human services a nationwide service the connects older americans and their caregivers with information on senior services

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

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References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Taste helps all of us recognize when food is good or bad when an elderly person loses taste it can cause a loss of appetite weight loss poor nutrition weakened immunity and even death normal taste occurs when molecules released by chewing or the digestion of food stimulate special sensory cells in the mouth and throat these taste cells or gustatory cells send messages through three specialized taste nerves to the brain where specific tastes are identified damage to these nerves following head injury or some other brain trauma or disease can lead to taste loss the taste cells are clustered within the taste buds of the tongue and roof of the mouth and along the lining of the throat many of the small bumps that can be seen on the tip of the tongue contain taste buds at birth we have about 10 000 taste buds scattered on the back side and tip of the tongue after age 50 we may start to lose taste buds we can experience five basic taste sensations sweet sour bitter salty umami or savory umami was discovered by a japanese scientist in the early part of the twentieth century it is the taste of glutamate a building block of protein found in chicken broth meat stock and some cheeses umami is the taste associated with msg monosodium glutamate that is often added to food as a flavor enhancer the five taste qualities combine with other oral sensations such as texture spiciness temperature and aroma to produce what is commonly referred to as flavor it is flavor that lets us know whether we are eating an apple or a pear many people are surprised to learn that we recognize flavors largely through our sense of smell try holding your nose while eating chocolate you will be able to distinguish between its sweetness and bitterness but you can’t identify the chocolate flavor that’s because the distinguishing characteristic of chocolate is largely identified by our sense of smell as aromas are released during chewing food flavor is affected by a head cold or nasal congestion because the aroma of food does not reach the sensory cells that detect odors a distorted sense of taste can be a serious risk factor for heart disease diabetes stroke and other illnesses that require sticking to a specific diet when taste is impaired a person may change his or her eating habits some people may eat too little and lose weight while others may eat too much and gain weight many older people believe that there is nothing they can do about their weakened sense of taste depending on the cause of your problem your health care provider may be able to suggest ways to regain your sense of taste or to cope with the loss of taste in many cases the loss of taste turns out to be a loss of smell if you think you have a problem with your sense of taste see your health care provider   references adapted from the national institutes of health

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Categories: Medical Physical, So-So Smelling, Poor Smelling, So-So Taste, Poor Taste

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References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead three steps to preparedness get a kit have a disaster supplies kit packed and ready in one place assemble enough supplies to last for at least three days store the supplies in one or more containers such as a backpack or duffle bag with an id tag it may be easier if the container had wheels label any equipment such as wheelchairs canes or walkers that you would need with your name address and phone number keep your kit up-to-date review the contents every six months or as your needs change check expiration dates and replace perishable items some things your kit should include are water – one gallon per person per day 3-day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home food – try to include foods that do not need cooking canned dried etc 3-day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs battery-operated or hand-crank radio and flashlight first aid kit and manual medications 7-day supply and medical items multi-purpose tool several tools that fold up into a pocket-sized unit much like a large pocket knife or a small tool kit that comes in a zippered vinyl case sanitation and personal hygiene items toilet paper plastic garbage bags copies of personal documents medication list and medical information deed lease to home birth certificates insurance policies in a waterproof carrier cell phone with an extra battery and charger family and friends’ emergency contact information cash and coins in a waterproof carrier emergency blanket maps of the local area whistle to attract the attention of emergency personnel one change of clothing manual can opener pet supplies if a pet is involved including food and vaccination records extra set of car and house keys pack of cards to pass the time cold climate supplies jacket or coat long pants sturdy shoes hat gloves scarf sleeping bag or warm blanket warm climate supplies sunscreen lotion bug spray umbrella wide-brimmed hat vehicle supplies tire repair kit jumper cables flares granola bars shovel canned heat windshield scraper distress flag make a plan meet with family and friends and arrange for someone to check on you if a disaster strikes include caregivers in the meeting and planning efforts make sure any personal abilities and limitations that may affect your response to a disaster are taken into consideration and make sure the plan you develop fits those special needs carry family contact information in your wallet or purse choose an out-of-town contact person after a disaster it is often easier to make a long-distance call than a local call from a disaster area ask about emergency plans and procedures that exist in your community plan the best and quickest escape routes out of your home and out of your neighborhood decide on a meeting place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home know the safe places within your home in case you need to shelter during extreme weather events practice your escape drill every six months plan for transportation if you need to evacuate to a shelter post emergency phone numbers near your phone keep support items like wheelchairs and walkers in a designated place so they can be found quickly talk to your utility company about emergency procedures and know how and when to turn off water gas and electricity at the main switches or valves keep any tools you will need nearby test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for disasters keep copies of vital family records and other important documents in a safe location like a fire safe or safe-deposit box if you wear hearing aids store them in a bedside container that is attached to your nightstand using velcro some disasters may shift items that are not secured making them difficult to find quickly be informed make a list of what hazards threaten your community and how they might affect you think about both natural hurricanes flooding winter storms and earthquakes and human-caused hazardous materials and transportation accidents know how local authorities will warn you of a pending disaster and how they will provide information to you before during and after a disaster if you live in a senior community become familiar with any disaster notification plans that may already exist in some emergencies such as a chemical emergency you would need to know how to seal a room for safety on a temporary basis called "shelter in place " in the case of a winter storm you may be told to "stay at home " if you need to evacuate coordinate with your family and home care provider for evacuation procedures try to carpool if possible wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes take your disaster supplies kit lock your home use the specified travel routes – don’t take any short cuts let your out-of-town contact know when you left and where you are going be prepared to go to a shelter if your area is without power floodwater is rising your home has been severely damaged or police or other local officials tell you to evacuate immediately after a disaster if you are at home check for damage using a flashlight – do not light matches or candles or turn on electrical switches shut off any damaged utilities check on your neighbors call out-of town contacts stay away from downed power lines do not drive through flooded roads monitor local broadcasts for up-to-date information if electrical power is lost use a flashlight turn off or unplug all major appliances that could be damaged by the electrical surge when power is restored keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible if the disaster is a fire plan two escape routes out of each room choose a place to meet outside practice the fire escape every six months plan to use the stairs during a fire evacuation if you cannot use stairways make special arrangements for help in advance sleep with the bedroom door closed install smoke alarms inside and outside sleeping areas to give you warning of toxic fumes if your smoke alarm sounds never waste time to get dressed or collect valuables or pets get out of your home immediately do not try to fight the fire call for help from a neighbor’s phone and never go back into a burning building for any reason if you are in a wheelchair or cannot get out of your home stay by the window near the floor and signal for help if your clothes catch on fire drop to the floor and roll to suffocate the fire keep rolling running from the fire only "fans" the flames and makes it worse drop to the floor and crawl the cleanest air is near the floor reference adapted in part from disaster preparedness for seniors – american red cross

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Categories: Medical Physical

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References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Make sandwiches out the meal you are serving for example spread mashed potatoes on a slice of bread add a few green beans and fold the bread over so the cr can take it and have food on the go while walking or engaging in some other activity give cr a small light weight soft sided lunch bag that will allow him or her to munch on snakes while on the go give cr a clear large zip lock bag that has several food items in it this will allow cr to see the food and serve as a visual reminder that it is available to eat

Materials: finger foods such as cheese sandwiches sliced peeled apples or other fruit placed in a portable non-breakable container or baggie drinks in portable spill-proof cups

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Diet exercise nutrition anemia anemic

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

Try: Place the 3m wall hook directly underneath the light switch in the cr’s bedroom connect string from the wall hook to the door knob at the entrance to the bedroom when entering the bedroom the cr can undo the string from the knob and follow it to the light switch when leaving the bedroom the cr can simply walk with the string out of the room and re-connect it to the door knob demonstrate how this works to the cr and then allow the cr to practice doing it while you watch provide coaching and encouragement to the cr as needed

Materials: String 3m wall hook

Categories: Medical Physical, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Home safety fall hazard fall prevention dark room

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

Try: Wrap the handles of all the cr’s eating utensils with duct tape wash the utensils after each meal so that the cr will have a permanent set the utensils with larger or bulkier handles allow for easier grasping and picking up from the table

Materials: Duct tape utensil set

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Difficulty eating weak hands dropping utensils knives forks and spoons

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

Try: Try the following to help decease incontinence episodes or alleviate the problems caused by urinary incontinence during the day while the cr is awake set a timer to go off every two hours instruct the cr to attempt to use the restroom urinate every time the time goes off assist the cr if he or she is unable to go to the bathroom alone setting a schedule will keep the bladder from emptying on its own when it’s full allow for plenty of water and fluids during the day it is tempting to decrease fluid intake however this can actually make the urine more concentrated and more irritable to the bladder this will actually make things worse try not to give water and fluids after supper and before bed this may help keep the cr dry overnight if the cr does become wet change the underwear clothing and bedding as soon as possible allowing the wetness to stay near skin will cause skin problems and infections if adult disposable underwear is used this should not be an excuse not to change clothes of use a toileting schedule remember that the cr is not having accidents on purpose and can’t help it this may be embarrassing to him or her treat the cr with dignity and respect and try not to be judgmental

Materials: Timer

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Bladder function bladder control toileting

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