Wandering is becoming an increasing problem in the U.S. Statistics say that between 60 and 70 percent of loved ones with Alzheimer’s will wander off at some point in their illness. In dementia patients, changes in the brain occur that cause the urge to wander. As, they begin to roam about, Alzheimer’s sufferers look for people, places or things that might be familiar to them – behavior that has a tendency to increase the longer they suffer from cognitive decline. Sadly, many older adults with the disease who wander off become disoriented, can’t remember their name or address and never
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Exercise Offers Tremendous Benefits for Seniors
As we get older, we tend to take more stock of the things that benefit us our lives the most – like the relationships we’ve built, the memories we’ve created, and the personal experiences we’ve been afforded along the way. Exercise, believe it not, is one of those things that should be recognized for its numerous benefits at all stages of life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about the advantages that exercise offers seniors. Many older adults believe it’s too late – at their age – to start an exercise routine. But nothing could be further from the
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Those with Chronic Pain are Turning to Alternative Therapy
Pain is a major issue for many people in this country. One in five people experience chronic pain on a regular basis, while more than 54 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from arthritis, lower back pain, sciatica and other musculoskeletal” pain disorders. When an injury occurs, the body sends a message to the nervous system signaling that something is wrong. This is called acute pain. With chronic pain, a patient may have suffered from arthritis, a sprained back or ear infection in the past, but the body still continues to send signals that something is wrong –
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Researchers Find First Step at Preventative Alzheimer's Pill
Scientists are working to determine why the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain are shown to lead to diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Once these foreign proteins begin to accumulate, they become toxic, increasing the risk of brain degeneration in patients. Tau – twisted fibers of protein that form inside of dying cells – is one of the proteins scientists say cause Alzheimer’s and dementia. To help us understand exactly how the tau protein plays a part in the onset of the disease, alz.org describes how tau or tangles form in the brain. Our bodies contain a cell
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How to Find Newborn Care You Can Trust
Finding the right person to care for your baby while you’re away, is probably one of the hardest things that a parent has to do. You worry about whether the person will meet your baby’s needs. Will this person provide your baby with enough attention? Is he/she in a safe environment? What is the person’s hygiene habits? Will your baby be left alone at all? Does this person have enough experience? Are they trustworthy? How will your baby be treated? There are a myriad of questions that new parents ask themselves when it comes to the person who is tasked
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Dealing with Anxiety in Seniors
Anxiety currently affects about million people in the United States and is said to be the most common mental illness that we face. It often causes its victims to experience trouble eating, sleeping and concentrating and may also manifest in the form of depression or panic attacks. But as common as anxiety is, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, only one-third of people who develop the disorder are actually diagnosed and treated. What those of here at FHC have noticed over the years, is how likely anxiety is to occur later in life. In fact, roughly 10
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How Home Care Can Reduce Hospital Admissions
It seems the growing problem of hospital readmissions has become a national endemic. Prior to 2013, the rate of readmission in the United States was almost 20 percent – one in nine patients returned to the hospital room within one month of being discharged. After 2013, with the implementation of a payment reduction program by The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), the overall figures have dropped to about 18 percent. But, these statistics for Medicare patients are still higher than expected in 2016. One in five seniors are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, adding up
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A Caregiver Needs Help, Too
Being a caregiver can be physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. If you’re like most people, becoming a caregiver is a role that you may have had to take on without prior notice or warning – placing the health and well-being of a senior parent or other loved one almost solely in your hands. If your family member is not receiving in-home care services, this realization can not only be overwhelming, but daunting, as well. And yet, it’s normal to experience everything from anger and resentment to guilt and helplessness during any part of the caregiving journey. With all of the
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Aging in Place Home Upgrades
With age, the health and safety of our seniors becomes a top priority – especially if they prefer to spend their retirement years in the comfort of their own homes. According to a report published by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the National Conference of State Legislatures, nearly 90 percent of people over 65 would choose to live out the rest of their lives – not in a facility – but at home. Of all of the benefits that come with aging in place – being in familiar surroundings, continued independence, reduced exposure to illnesses, and increased socialization with
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Enduring Allergy Season as a Senior
Fall allergies have costly, negative effects on millions of Americans each year. In fact, statistics show that over 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, resulting in about $7 billion dollars in lost productivity each year. Many seniors are particularly susceptible to allergies, because with age, the mucus membranes in the nose dry out, causing chronic nasal congestion. Fall allergen put others with chronic diseases are at risk, as well. And with unseasonably warm winters in some regions, longer, hotter summers and extended periods of drought, allergy season could last longer than usual this year. Those of us at Freedom
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