Archives for dementia

Being aware to take care – identifying the risk factors behind dementia

Being aware to take care – identifying the risk factors behind dementia

January 31, 2013 | No Comments

  As we’ve mentioned in past blog posts, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease vary in the sense that one is an effect of the other. Although Alzheimer’s is a disease that to date has no cure, there are many factors that lead to dementia that can be controlled. Some, of those factors, such as being genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, can’t be changed. However, there are ways to reduce the chances of experiencing dementia. The Mayo Clinic has multiple suggestions as to how to do so and offered up the following guidelines: Alcohol use. Consuming large amounts of alcohol appears to increase the risk of
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Identifying non-traditional risk factors for dementia

Identifying non-traditional risk factors for dementia

January 23, 2013 | Comments Off on Identifying non-traditional risk factors for dementia

Non-traditional risk factors that combine to predict Alzheimer’s disease serve as a bulk of the findings revealed in a recent study that was produced by the Geriatric Medicine Research Unit at the Dalhousie University. In the following video, Dr. Kenneth Rockwood discusses those findings and talks about those most affected by dementia. With an ever-growing list of risk factors, such as high blood pressure and a genetic disposition, aging individuals have a lot to be aware of in regard to dementia and its side effects. We here at Freedom Home Care und generic tadalafil erstand the challenges faced by those
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Understanding the three stages of Alzheimer’s

Understanding the three stages of Alzheimer’s

January 21, 2013 | Comments Off on Understanding the three stages of Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer’s Health Assistance Foundation, “more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.” And during the course of care, those caregivers, usually family members or friends, will be taxed mentally and physically and in a myriad of highs and lows. But as the disease progresses, the assistance needed can change and increase and sometimes become too much for one individual to handle. To help the general public better understand the stages of Alzheimer’s, including the degree of care needed for each, the AHAF published the following information: Stage 1 (Mild): This stage
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10 methods for caring for someone with Sundowner’s Syndrome

10 methods for caring for someone with Sundowner’s Syndrome

December 18, 2012 | No Comments

For those unfamiliar with Sundowner’s Syndrome, according to AgingCare.com, it occurs in people with Alzheimer’s disease or severe dementia and typically happens at sundown or at sun-up. During these times, the elder is prone to agitation, confusion or fear. For those who have a loved one experiencing Sundowner’s Syndrome, here are 10 suggestions from Caring.com to help cope with the situation: 1. Establish a routine. As Alzheimer’s and dementia progresses, the patient’s ability to reason and perform normal daily activities diminishes. “Different functions and capabilities are lost, creating confusion and frustration. Establishing a routine of behavior management strategies will not only
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Is there a correlation between hospitalization and dementia? One study says yes

Is there a correlation between hospitalization and dementia? One study says yes

December 17, 2012 | No Comments

In a blog that we here at Freedom Home Care posted in early November, we addressed the common misconception that Alzheimer’s and dementia are interchangeable terms. Although it’s important to understand that dementia is merely a symptom of Alzheimer’s and other diseases associated with the brain, there is still much to learn about dementia. In an article published on the Science Daily website, editors discussed research that revealed new findings on dementia and its correlation with hospitalization and how it affects the elderly. The study assessed illnesses that required hospitalization and treatment in an intensive care unit and revealed that
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Understanding how dementia differs from Alzheimer’s

Understanding how dementia differs from Alzheimer’s

November 5, 2012 | No Comments

As people get older, it becomes increasingly difficult to remember things. For most elderly individuals, it is an unfortunate fact of aging. In recent years, the term senility, which once referred to difficulties with cognizance, has now been replaced with the term dementia. The problem, however, is that now dementia is too often confused with conditions such as Alzheimer’s. In reality, dementia is merely a symptom of Alzheimer’s and other diseases associated with the brain. “A good analogy to the term dementia is ‘fever,’” explained the editors at AlzheimersReadingRoom.com. “Fever refers to an elevated temperature, indicating that a person is
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Knowing when it’s time to take the keys away from aging parents

Knowing when it’s time to take the keys away from aging parents

October 30, 2012 | No Comments

As the elderly loved ones in our lives get older, it pains us nearly as much as it pains them to watch as they slowly lose their independence. And losing the privilege to drive is one of the most prominent and difficult-to-accept signs of aging. Although seniors may put up a fight when the time comes to take away the keys, their safety and the safety of others is at risk. Talking to an elderly individual about why they can no longer operate a vehicle won’t be easy. But if empathy and sensitivity are employed, it can be possible. Broaching
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Understanding the side effects of medication

Understanding the side effects of medication

September 19, 2012 | No Comments

Prescription medications are one of the most important items for aging individuals to properly manage. Not only do aging individuals have to ensure that they are taking the proper dose, but they also have to be sure they are staying on the prescription’s schedule and for the correct length of time advised. Additionally, seniors and their caregivers need to be aware of a medication’s side effects. And so is especially the case for individuals who have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In the following video, Ron Finley, RPh of UCSF’s Memory and Aging Center reviews the side effects of
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Making the bedroom a safer place for your aging loved one

Making the bedroom a safer place for your aging loved one

August 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Making the bedroom a safer place for your aging loved one

This week, we here at Freedom Home Care have dedicated our blogging to in-home safety for sufferers of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our caregivers, based in Oak Brook, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Highland Park, Hinsdale and Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, understand that sometimes it’s necessary to place himself or herself in the position of the patient to anticipate potential dangers in the home. “Caregivers will find that such approaches will be dependent upon the person for whom care is being provided,” say the editors at AgingCare.com. “The most important aspect of caregiving in a home is safety and security, for both the patient
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Four tips for creating a safe kitchen environment

Four tips for creating a safe kitchen environment

August 27, 2012 | Comments Off on Four tips for creating a safe kitchen environment

Providing a safe home environment for a loved one suffering with Alzheimer's is a top priority. And the caregivers at Freedom Home Care understand how important it is for a patient with Alzheimer’s or dementia to be safe and comfortable in their own homes. Therefore, over the course of the next few days, we here at FHC will dedicate our blog posts to providing helpful tips and methods to ensure the utmost level of in-home safety. According to the editors at AgingCare.com, “in the long run, adapting the home environment is much easier than trying to adapt behaviors that may
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