Grace Enderlein asked:


A healthy lifestyle can lead to sharper minds in the elderly.  This fit standard of living includes healthy eating, exercise, and stimulating the mind with mental activity.  By using elder care services, a senior can get the support and encouragement they need to keep up with their physical and mental health.

In addition to physical health, diet contributes to brain health and protects against cognitive decline.  Five servings of fruits and vegetables a day should be consumed, as well as fish once or twice a week.  Trans and saturated fats should always be avoided.  A companion from elder care services can make sure that someone living on their own will continue with their healthy eating, and not skip meals.

Physical activity that maintains cardiac fitness and vascular health can take of your brain as well.  Preferably thirty minutes of exercise every day, but at least three times a week, allows for cardiovascular benefits.  This vascular health and maintenance translates into a sharp mind for seniors.  A caregiver to visit an elderly person can make sure that a patient keeps up with their daily exercise routine.

Engaging in mentally challenging activities can also keep elderly minds quick and healthy.  Reading, crossword puzzles, sodoku puzzles, games, brain teasers, or learning a new language or musical instrument keeps minds active and occupied.  They are also very enjoyable pastimes, and an elder care service providing a friend to share in these activities can be a positive experience.

A non-medical home care agency provides personalized care for seniors as an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.  The longer a senior can remain in their own home, the more active both mentally and physically they will stay. Companions provided from home care agencies can help an individual with their routine and assist in their activities.  It is a priority for a patient to continue to live a healthy lifestyle, which maintains a sharp mind, and using elder care services contributes to this goal.



Mario

dorothy b asked:


I’m taking care of an elderly person . Where do I start?

Makayla

YA! 4ever asked:


Would it be a good idea to work for someone in that field so I can learn the ins and outs? I don’t have any experience, I just know that Im a caring person and work well with the elderly.

Jackson

Rc Rougeux asked:


Depression in the elderly is…unfortunately, a common occurrence due to loneliness, lack of family support or because of chronic illnesses. Very often depression in the aged is not reported and treated due to the social stigma attached with this condition or due to plain ignorance on part of the family of the elderly person. This not only doesn’t help them, but can worsentheir condition and make them susceptible to other ailments…including sometimes suicide.

Also, elderly depression can occur due to the death of a spouse…which increases lonliness. Also, side-effects from certain medicines or due to certain long-term illnesses like diabetes and arthritis can have a profound effect on depression. The depression must be treated as soon as possible. Without fast treatment, it can lead to suicidal tendencies on part of the patient or death from premature heart attack, stroke and other serious diseases. One group known to be at risk from depression in the elderly include widowed women. Others at high risk are those not being able to cope with stress in their lives. Low self-confidence due to diseases like cancer and loss of limb causing disfigurement can easily lead to depression. Many elderly may have a family history of depression and get depressed due to apprehension of dying. Some elderly may have an addiction to alcohol or drugs contributing to their depression.

So, what can be done to help depression in the aged? Counseling and a therapy of antidepressants can help. (note: always see a licensed therapist and physican). The therapist will prescribe antidepressants if they feel they are required. During initial prescriptions of these drugs the patient has to be watched carefully as the side-effects and results of a reaction can be serious. These medicines show their effect over a period of time since they are given in small doses. In fact, it wouldn’t hurt to have a medical alertalarm for the depressed person just in case they feel the need to contact emergency personnel.

Psychotherapy is very effective in dealing with depression in the elderly as the patient can share their feelings and insecurities with the therapist. This helps them to identify the main problem and initiates a curative process to overcome depression. Of course, a loving family can help tremendously. Depression is a sensitive issue which, can be treated with love and patience along with therapy and medication.



Brad

solitas777 asked:


Please be accessible by the web.
A good website that talks about the nurses role in caring for the elderly would be good in addition to the question. Thanks

Carter

Sonya asked:


I’m entering middle age now and I’ve been taking care of of my disabled mother for most of my life. People have told me that I could get paid for taking care of her, but never tell me how to go about it. Does anyone know of any such agencies?

Sophia

JoAnn F asked:


I was wondering if anyone knows of any support groups in Southern California for over 60 years old children taking care of elderly parents 24/7?

If not.. Do you have any advice you could give me about this subject? or anywhere I could go on the internet for good information?

Charles

Tom8888 asked:


Alzheimer’s drug ’shows rapid language improvement’ (21/07/2008)

New study offers hope for further investigations. A novel immune-based approach in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease has apparently shown a rapid improvement in patients’ language-based skills.

The anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) drug was shown to have a positive effect on verbal abilities within minutes of being administered, according to the research published today in the open-access journal BMC Neurology.

It is suggested by the researchers that increased levels of TNF-alpha seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients interferes with the regulation of neural impulses.

Lead author of the study Edward Tobinick pointed out that the results have limitations as it was not a controlled trial, but added “the scientific rationale for the further investigation of anti-TNF-alpha treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is compelling”.

He said the behavioural and cognitive improvement associated with the medicine has been confirmed by independent observers and family members.

Meanwhile, a separate study published in the Lancet suggests a drug previously used as an antihistamine in Russia has shown encouraging results with Alzheimer’s patients.

Researchers said Dimebon is the first Alzheimer’s drug to show continued improvement in patients over a 12-month period.

Article sourced from Barchester Care Homes

Exercise ‘may slow Alzheimer’s progress’ (15/07/2008)

Study examines effects of fitness on progression of condition. New research suggests Alzheimer’s patients with higher fitness levels have larger brains than those who are less physically fit.

The study published in the latest Neurology journal examined 121 people aged 60 and over, including 57 individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers found the differences in brain shrinkage were linked to physical fitness and were not related to other variables such as gender, age and frailty.

Jeffrey M Burns, from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, said: “People with early Alzheimer’s disease who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage when compared to normal older adults than those who were more physically fit.”

He went on to suggest people with early Alzheimer’s may be able to preserve brain function for a longer period by taking regular exercise.

A separate study released yesterday by researchers from the University of New South Wales’s school of psychiatry found the brain may shrink more quickly in people who carry out less-complex mental activity during their lifetimes.

Article sourced from Barchester Care Homes



Kylee

JD asked:


My wife is an RN and we have extra bedrooms. We were thinking of offering this care to one person who is still somewhat independent but needs extra care.

Valeria