Like they say, there’s no place like home; but what do you do when a senior with dementia insists on going home – when he/she currently IS home? Regrettably, when caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, this is an all too common dilemma. And the confusion and plaintive yearning being expressed are simply heartbreaking – and, if we are truthful, aggravating. [Read more…]
Alzheimer’s Tip: When a Senior Insists, “I Want to Go Home!”
July 11, 2017 By
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Tips: How to Help without Hindering Independence
June 20, 2017 By
The life of an Alzheimer’s caregiver is often complicated. In our previous blog, we discussed how to help determine when it’s time for a senior with Alzheimer’s to stop driving, and that is just one of the big decisions that Alzheimer’s caregivers have to make when it comes to making sure their loved ones are safe and healthy. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it’s common for family caregivers to want to take over and do everything for their senior loved one to ensure that he or she is as comfortable as possible. However, while this seems easier and more loving, it’s still very important to help the senior maintain his or her sense of dignity and independence. [Read more…]
Determining When Seniors with Alzheimer’s Should Stop Driving
June 8, 2017 By
The ability to leave the house and travel through Syracuse or wherever we want whenever we want is a freedom that we often take for granted. For older adults, driving is much more than just a mode of transportation; it symbolizes both competence and independence. And the thought of giving up that independence can be very difficult, particularly for seniors with Alzheimer’s.
The need for sustained concentration and quick reaction time tends to decline as we age, and for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, this process accelerates dramatically, making it hard for family and friends to determine when it’s time for the senior to stop driving and find alternate transportation options. [Read more…]
Fact or Fiction? Do You Believe These Common Alzheimer’s Care Myths?
May 11, 2017 By
Alzheimer’s disease has become somewhat of an epidemic in recent years, and it’s gotten harder and harder to tell fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments, and risk factors.
The Alzheimer’s care specialists from At Home Independent Living in Syracuse, NY are here to help. We’ve confronted some of the most common myths and revealed the truths behind them:
Fiction: Dad can remember stories from his childhood, so there’s no way he has Alzheimer’s disease.
Fact: Alzheimer’s disease affects recent memories first, which means memories of the more distant past can linger much longer as the disease progresses. This explains why newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients can often remember stories from their younger years quite clearly. Also, people with Alzheimer’s tend to go through periods of good and bad days, and can seem to come “back to normal” for short periods of time.
Fiction: Only seniors get Alzheimer’s.
Fact: While it’s true that Alzheimer’s is most commonly diagnosed in people who are 50 or older, a rare form of the disease, early-onset Alzheimer’s, affects people as young as their 30s.
Fiction: My mother had Alzheimer’s, so I will probably get it too.
Fact: Although having an immediate family member with Alzheimer’s slightly increases someone’s risk for developing the disease, it doesn’t mean it’s likely. Most common forms of Alzheimer’s have not demonstrated a clear pattern of heredity.
Fiction: Alzheimer’s can be prevented.
Fact: Because no cause has been determined yet, there’s no known way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are ways to reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, keeping weight under control, avoiding head injury, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can all help reduce Alzheimer’s risks.
Caring for a loved one with dementia? At Home Independent Living’s Syracuse Alzheimer’s care experts are here to provide expert dementia care for your senior loved one, allowing your family to have peace of mind and enhancing the senior’s quality of life, safety and independence. Give us a call at 315.579.HOME to learn more about our Alzheimer’s care services.
Avoid Alzheimer’s Caregiving Dangers with Respite Care
May 5, 2017 By
Imagine waking up in a room you don’t recognize, unable to remember how you got there or even what your name is. Your total confusion swiftly turns into fear and maybe rage, and you find yourself yelling at the stranger at your bedside who is trying to help you calm down. [Read more…]
Living Comfortably with Multiple Sclerosis – Tips in MS Home Care
March 23, 2017 By
As Jane Austen once said, “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” And for those with a chronic illness, like multiple sclerosis (MS), comfort is essential, as is remaining safe. If a loved one has been diagnosed, the initial step in providing MS home care should be to make the appropriate modifications to the home so that it is a safe, comfortable sanctuary, and not a hazardous place.
A Guide for the Multiple Sclerosis Patient: Key Things to Know About MS
March 9, 2017 By
Although there is no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are living with it – around 400,000 people to be exact, and of that, 86 percent of multiple sclerosis patients list fatigue as the number one symptom of the disease. The cause of MS is not known; it is not contagious or known to be directly inherited, but factors that may come into play include the following: [Read more…]
It Never Gets Easier – How to Navigate Roadblocks to Physical Activities for Seniors
February 15, 2017 By
Engaging in a routine exercise regimen is daunting at any age. Working out is tiring. We don’t want to invest the time. We’re feeling sore from yesterday’s workout. We have all made excuses like these for not working out; but frailty and advanced age make it even harder to stick to an exercise program or any type of physical activities for seniors. [Read more…]
From Frail to Fit: Best Exercises for Seniors At Any Activity Level
February 8, 2017 By
The benefits of exercise don’t diminish even as we age, and it is incredibly important for older adults to keep up as active a lifestyle as possible. Even if someone is bedridden or wheelchair-bound, exercises for seniors can help strengthen and improve resistance and flexibility. [Read more…]
Top Tips on Mixing Activities into Daily Senior Care
January 27, 2017 By
Millions of Americans find themselves in the position of providing senior care for an older loved one, and while being a family caregiver is rewarding in many ways, daily senior care can become monotonous for both the caregiver and the care recipient. At Home Independent Living wants to help you put the fun back in your loved one’s daily routine, and all it takes is a little creativity. Test out some of these ideas to help brighten your loved one’s day and make everyday senior care more exciting:
