Try: Seizures can impact the lives of older care recipients cr in many ways although a typical seizure lasts for about 1 minute the recovery time from a seizure can be prolonged in older crs and in some instances it can take up to a day or longer to recover during this period in which a cr is recovering one can see side effects such as confusion tiredness and memory problems in individuals with heart or lung conditions those problems may worsen with recurrent seizures there is also a potential for injury with the possibility of bruising or breaking a bone especially in an older cr there are also significant social consequences of seizures with the most common relating to driving seizures can lead to the loss of driving privileges and a loss of independence the loss of driving privileges is as devastating to the older cr the doctor will often have to determine if the seizures are serious enough to limit the cr information references epilepsy com

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Keywords: Elilepsy seizure

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

Try: If the Care recipient (cr) is prone to seizures the caregiver should have an understanding of basic treatment a seizure appears frightening but a single brief seizure is usually not too dangerous to the cr having the seizure if the cr has a definite history of seizures it is rarely necessary to visit the emergency room or doctor doctor’s office after a seizure unless there is evidence or suspicion of an injury or if the seizure was unlike previous ones if this is the crs first seizure however a prompt consultation with a doctor is essential a cr with epilepsy should wear a medical-alert bracelet or necklace that gives the person person’s diagnosis medications telephone numbers of the doctor and the person to call in case of an emergency this will help the cr is the seizure occurs in a public place prolonged continuous or repetitive seizures often require urgent medical attention the cr is best transported to a medical facility by ambulance as she may need oxygen and a convulsion in a passenger car can be dangerous for everyone involved in general if the actual convulsion lasts more than 5 minutes or if the need for assistance is uncertain it is best to call for help information references epilepsy com

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Keywords: Epilepsy seizure

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

Try: Although not uncommon for care recipients cr epilepsy is often not well understood or unknown to many individuals the following are common facts and misunderstandings about epilepsy crs with epilepsy are not mentally ill epilepsy is not the same as mental illness and in fact the majority of people with seizures do not develop mental health problems the causes are not always known in some crs the cause and location of the seizures may affect certain brain areas and contribute to mood problems in others side effects of treatments and the challenges of living with epilepsy may affect a cr cr’s feelings and behavior seizures do not cause brain damage in the cr single smaller seizures lasting less than 5-10 minutes are not known to cause brain damage or injury however there is evidence that more frequent and more prolonged seizures may in some crs injure the brain epilepsy is not necessarily inherited most cases of epilepsy are not inherited although some types are genetically transmitted epilepsy is not a life-long disorder generally crs with epilepsy have seizures and require medication for only a small portion of their lives about 60 of people who develop seizures have epilepsy that can be easily controlled and is likely to remit or go away however about 25 may develop difficult to control seizures and likely will require lifelong treatment epilepsy should not be a barrier to success epilepsy is perfectly compatible with a normal happy and full life the cr cr’s quality of life however may be affected by the frequency and severity of the seizures the effects of medications reactions of onlookers to seizures and other disorders that are often associated with or caused by epilepsy some types of epilepsy are harder to control than others living successfully with epilepsy requires a positive outlook a supportive environment and good medical care information references epilepsy com

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Keywords: Epilepsy seizure

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

Try: Although not uncommon for care recipients cr epilepsy is often not well understood or unknown to many individuals the following are common facts and misunderstandings about epilepsy crs with epilepsy are not epileptics the word epileptic should not be used to describe someone who has epilepsy as it defines a person by one trait or problem refer to the cr as someone with epilepsy a seizure disorder is epilepsy because some people fear the word epilepsy they use the term seizure disorder in an attempt to separate themselves from any association with it however the term seizure disorder means the same thing as epilepsy a cr has epilepsy or a seizure disorder if he has had two or more seizures that come out of the blue and are not provoked, even if the problem first develops in adulthood or is known to be caused by something like a severe head injury or a tumor crs with epilepsy are seldom brain-damaged epilepsy is a disorder of brain and nerve-cell function that may or may not be associated with damage to brain structures brain damage implies that something is permanently wrong with the brain brain’s structure brain injuries range from undetectable to disabling in the cr although brain cells usually do not regenerate most people can make substantial recoveries crs with epilepsy are not usually cognitively challenged also those with epilepsy usually are not intellectually challenged many people mistakenly believe that crs with epilepsy are also intellectually or developmentally challenged in the large majority of situations this is not true like any other group of people people with epilepsy have different intellectual abilities crs with epilepsy are not violent or crazy the belief that crs with epilepsy are violent is an unfortunate image that is both wrong and destructive people with epilepsy have no greater tendency toward severe irritability and aggressive behaviors than do other people many features of seizures and their immediate aftereffects can be easily misunderstood as crazy but this is only temporary behavior information references epilepsy com

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Keywords: Epilepsy seizure

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

Try: Good nutrition is critical to overall health and well-being , yet many care recipients crs are at risk of inadequate nutrition caregivers cgs should know the causes and signs of nutrition problems in crs as well as steps you can take to ensure a nutrient-rich diet for the cr malnutrition in crs can lead to various health concerns crs who are seriously ill have dementia or have lost weight are especially vulnerable to the effects of poor nutrition the following are common symptoms of malnutrition in crs a weak immune system which increases the risk of infections poor wound healing muscle weakness which can lead to falls and fractures in addition malnutrition can lead to further disinterest in eating or lack of appetite , which only makes the problem worse information references adapted from www mayoclinic com

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Keywords: Loss of appetite eating nutrition

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

Try: Anyone can get hiv and aids regardless of age and especially if you are 50 or older the Care recipient (cr) may be at risk for hiv the following are risk factors to look for in a cr if you are sexually active and don’t use a male latex condom the cr can get hiv aids from having sex with someone who is infected with the hiv virus the virus passes from the infected person to another through the exchange of body fluids such as blood semen and vaginal fluid if you don’t know your partner partner’s sexual and drug history be sure that the cr checks any partners std testing if you inject drugs and share needles or syringes with other people drug users are not the only people who might share needles crs with diabetes for example who inject insulin or draw blood to test glucose levels might share needles the cr should avoid sharing needles if the cr had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985 or a blood transfusion or operation in a developing country at any time if any one of the above is true the cr should be tested for hiv aids check local hospitals and healthcare centers for test sites in most states the tests can be confidential or anonymous information references webmd com

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Keywords: Hiv aids sexual health

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

Try: Hiv and aids are increasingly common in older persons and care recipients cr the number of older people with hiv aids is on the rise about 10 of all people diagnosed with aids in the u s — some 75 000 americans -are age 50 and older because crs don’t get tested for hiv aids on a regular basis there may be even more cases than we know the following are common reasons why crs are at higher risk for hiv aids because older crs know less about hiv aids than younger age groups how it is spread; the importance of using condoms and not sharing needles; the importance of getting tested; the importance of talking to their doctor because healthcare workers and educators have neglected the middle-age and older population in terms of hiv aids education and prevention because crs are less likely than younger people to talk about their sex lives or drug use with their doctors because doctors don’t tend to ask their older patients about sex or drug use it is harder for doctors to recognize symptoms of hiv aids in crs doctors need to talk to their patients about the specific behaviors that put them at risk for hiv aids older crs often mistake hiv aids symptoms for the aches and pains of normal aging so they are less likely than younger people to get tested for hiv aids they may be embarrassed ashamed and fearful of being tested for hiv aids a disease connected with having sex and injecting drugs crs diagnosed with hiv aids often do not live as long as younger people who have the virus it is important to get tested early the earlier you begin medical treatment the better your chances for living longer information references webmd com

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Keywords: Hiv aids sexual health

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

Try: Appetite changes are common in care recipients cr with cancer and cancer treatment poor appetite has a multitude of causes but the most likely cause lies in the digestive tract and nearby organs crs with poor appetite or appetite loss may eat less than usual not feel hungry at all or feel full after eating only a small amount appetite loss is common in crs with cancer appetite loss also occurs in 80 to 90 of people with advanced cancer for various reasons including changes in metabolism early satiety loss of appetite and other symptoms of cancer other causes of appetite loss include chemotherapy immunotherapy and sedative medications it is characterized by a general feeling of not being hungry getting full faster than normal or feeling overwhelmed by a normal portion of food while a reduced appetite may seem harmless it can lead to severe weight loss dehydration fatigue poor immune function and malnutrition be sure to work with the cr’s medical providers to treat loss of appetite information references

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Keywords: Loss of appetite eating nutrition cancer

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

Try: Good nutrition is important to healthy aging as the Care recipient (cr) ages caloric needs will change that’s why it’s so important for the cr to talk to a doctor about nutrition here are some important issues to discuss how do i know if i’m getting all the nutrition i need surprisingly even many crs who are overweight fall short on vitamins minerals and other nutrients sure they get plenty of calories but those calories may have little nutritional value unfortunately chronic nutrient deficiencies may occur before any symptoms show up early signs of vitamin or mineral deficiencies may include unusual fatigue brittle hair or loss of hair skin rashes or sores that don’t heal cracks at the corners of the mouth and a pale tongue do any of the medications i use affect my appetite or how food tastes a range of medications including many commonly used by crs can interfere with good nutrition some pain relievers and arthritis medications irritate the stomach for example certain antibiotics stool softeners and chemotherapy drugs can make food taste bland or bitter do any of the medications i’m taking get in the way of absorbing nutrients i need a variety of prescription drugs can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins minerals and other nutrients i’m not very hungry when i know it’s time to eat is that normal for someone my age there are many reasons why crs often don’t have a powerful appetite because crs are usually less active than younger people their bodies require fewer calories should i consider taking a multivitamin experts still disagree about whether older crs should be routinely counseled to take a multivitamin most nutritionists agree that the best way to get your nutrients is from food not pills but multivitamins can be a good supplement if the cr has trouble eating information references adapted from www webmd com

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Keywords: Loss of appetite eating nutrition

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

Try: Hiv and aids are increasingly common in older persons and care recipients crs hiv short for human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that kills cells in the immune system the system that fights diseases once the cr’s immune system is weakened to the point where he or she gets certain types of life-threatening diseases infections and cancers you have what is called aids short for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aids is the most advanced stage of hiv infection if there there’s any chance of infection for hiv the cr should be tested because now there are drugs that may help your body keep the hiv in check and help fight off aids many crs do not have any symptoms when they are first infected with hiv it can take as little as a few weeks for minor flu-like symptoms to show up or as long as 10 years or more for more serious symptoms symptoms can include headache chronic cough diarrhea swollen glands lack of energy loss of appetite and weight loss frequent fevers and sweats among others a cr age 50 and older may not recognize hiv symptoms because he or she thinks the feelings that are being experienced are a normal part of aging information references adapted from www webmd com

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Keywords: Hiv aids sexual health

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