Try: After a sleep apnea diagnosis the Care recipient (cr) will likely have several treatment options one option is to consider dental treatment options for the cr most dental devices are acrylic and fit inside your mouth much like a mouth guard these devices open the airway by bringing the lower jaw or tongue forward during sleep dental devices are only effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea there are also a number of side effects which could include mouth or jaw soreness another option is to have surgery for the sleep apnea surgery can increase the size of the airway thus reducing episodes of sleep apnea the surgeon may remove tonsils adenoids or excess tissue at the back of the throat or inside the nose surgery carries risks of complications and infections so be sure that the cr discusses these with her doctor information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems sleep apnea

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

Try: After a sleep apnea diagnosis the Care recipient (cr) will have several treatment options continuous positive airflow pressure or cpap for short is the most common treatment for more severe cases of sleep apnea the cpap device is a mask-like machine that provides a constant stream of air which keeps the cr’s breathing passages open during sleep newer cpap devices are lighter quieter and more comfortable which makes the cr’s sleep more comfortable cpap devices can be difficult to operate at first make sure to keep the device clean and make sure it fits the cr correctly also the machine will make noise while in use place a fan or noise machine in the room information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems sleep apnea

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

Try: Restless legs syndrome rls is a sleep disorder common in some care recipients cr the cr with rls will often have a strong urge to move her legs when in bed also the tingling aching and itching of rls is usually worse at night and can prevent the cr from getting needed sleep restless leg syndrome can affect people of any age and gender though women and seniors seem to be more prone to the condition fortunately restless legs syndrome rls can be treated recently medical advances have improved the ways to manage and relieve symptoms medical treatment healthy lifestyle changes and even simple stretches and home remedies can help the cr information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems restless legs

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

Try: Sleep apnea is a condition that can affect the care recipient’s cr sleeping treatment for sleep apnea has come a long way recently so take some time to explore treatment options treatments for cr’s with sleep apnea usually include treating the underlying medical condition causing the apnea such as a heart or neuromuscular disorder using supplemental oxygen while during sleep breathing devices that are also used to manage obstructive sleep apnea medications are only available to treat the sleepiness associated with sleep apnea not the apnea itself so should only be used in conjunction with other proven sleep apnea treatments information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems restless legs

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

Try: As a caregiver with a Care recipient (cr) it is important to understand the underlying causes of legs syndrome rls experts believe that rls is caused by an imbalance of dopamine a chemical that transmits signals between nerve cells in the brain rls is usually genetic about 60 of people with restless legs have a family member with the condition although anyone can have rls it is more common in older adults and women also health conditions such as diabetes iron deficiency rheumatoid arthritis and kidney failure in the cr can also trigger rls information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems restless legs

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

Try: For some care recipient’s cr challenges with sleep are a major concern most people don’t consider snoring to be a serious issue unless others are being affected however frequent loud snoring may be a sign of something more serious it could be sleep apnea a common disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep although sleep apnea is treatable it often goes unrecognized by lay persons untreated sleep apnea is quite serious the condition can be dangerous and detrimental to the cr’s health it is important to warning signs of sleep apnea how to distinguish it from usual sleep snoring possible medical help and what you as a caregiver can do to help the cr information references helpguide org

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Keywords: Sleep problems snoring sleep apnea

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

Try: As ad gets worse the person may have trouble walking and keeping his or her balance he or she also may have changes in depth perception which is the ability to understand distances for example someone with ad may try to step down when walking from a carpeted to a tile floor this puts him or her at risk for falls to reduce the chance of a fall clean up clutter remove throw rugs use chairs with arms put grab bars in the bathroom use good lighting make sure the person wears sturdy shoes with good traction information references "caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging" by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

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Keywords: Falls shoes throw rugs tripping home safety balance problems trouble walking trouble keeping balance

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

Try: Our bodies must have a certain amount of water to work well if a person is sick or doesn’t drink enough fluid he or she may become dehydrated signs of dehydration to look for include dry mouth dizziness hallucinations don’t forget that hallucinations may be caused by the ad itself rapid heart rate be aware of how much fluid the person is drinking this is even more important during hot weather or in homes without air conditioning also look for signs of dehydration during the winter months when heat in your home can create a lot of dry air information references "caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging" by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

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Keywords: Dehydration dehydrated fluids dry mouth dizziness dizzy hallucinations hallucinates rapid heart rate

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

Try: The Care recipient (cr) can have constipation, trouble having a bowel movement, when there is a change in what he or she eats take certain medicines including namenda get less exercise than usual drink less fluid than usual try to get the cr to drink at least 6 glasses of liquid a day besides water other good sources of liquid include juice especially prune juice gelatin such as jell-o soup melted ice cream decaffeinated coffee and tea liquid cereal such as cream of wheat foods high in fiber dried apricots raisins or prunes; some dry cereals; or soybeans to help ease constipation if possible make sure that the cr gets some exercise such as walking each day information references "caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging" by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

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Keywords: Constipation fluids diet change bowels bowel movement

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

Try: Incontinence means a person can’t control his or her bladder and or bowels this may happen at any stage of ad but it is more often a problem in the later stages signs of this problem are leaking urine problems emptying the bladder and soiled underwear and bed sheets be sure to let the doctor know if this happens he or she may be able to treat the cause of the problem here are some examples of things that can be treated urinary tract infection enlarged prostate gland too little fluid in the body dehydration diabetes that isn’t being treated taking too many water pills drinking too much caffeine taking medicines that make it hard to hold urine when you talk to the doctor be ready to answer the following questions what medicines is the person taking does the person leak urine when he or she laughs coughs or lifts something does the person urinate often can the person get to the bathroom in time is the person urinating in places other than the bathroom is the person soiling his or her clothes or bed sheets each night do these problems happen each day or once in a while here are some ways you can deal with incontinence remind the person to go to the bathroom every 2 to 3 hours show him her the way to the bathroom or take him or her make sure that the person wears loose comfortable clothing that is easy to remove limit fluids after 6 p m if problems happen at night be sure not to give the person fluids with caffeine such as coffee or tea give the person fresh fruit before bedtime instead of fluids if he or she is thirsty mark the bathroom door with a big sign that reads toilet or bathroom use a stable toilet seat that is at a good height using a colorful toilet seat may help the person identify the toilet you can buy raised toilet seats at medical supply stores help the person when he or she needs to use a public bathroom this may mean going into the stall with the person or using a family or private bathroom things you may want to buy use adult disposable briefs or underwear bed protectors and waterproof mattress covers you can buy these items at drugstores and medical supply stores use a drainable pouch for the person who can’t control his or her bowel movements talk to the nurse about how to use this product some people find it helpful to keep a record of how much food and fluid the person takes in and how often he or she goes to the bathroom you can use this information to make a schedule of when he or she needs to go to the bathroom information references "caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging" by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

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Keywords: Incontinence bladder urinary leaky pipes

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