Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s or Other Forms of Dementia

Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related conditions can be challenging for families.  These progressive brain disorders make it difficult for a person to remember things, think clearly, communicate with others, and to take care of themselves.  In some cases, individuals experience mood swings as well as changes in personality and behavior. Work with your loved one to take these steps to achieve goals:  

At the Caregiver.org website, tips are available for learning how to communicate better and more effectively deal with a family member suffering from dementia.  One of their first suggestions is to “set a positive mood for interactions.”  They explain that how you interact with the person sends a message, and approaching them in a pleasant, respectful manner conveys caring and affection.  Another suggestion is to limit any distractions and noise when you want to get the person’s attention.  Address them by name, remind them of your name, and look directly in their eyes to help keep them focused.

Be sure to speak slowly and clearly using simple words and short sentences.  Try and keep the pitch of your voice low and repeat the message if they do not understand the first time.  If you are asking a question, frame it so they can answer with a simple yes or no.  When possible, show them the choices and help guide a response.   

They also recommend changing up the environment if a loved one is upset.  Try taking a walk or suggest another activity that you know they enjoy.  Always do your best to be positive and to respond with affection and reassurance.  Humor and patience can go a long way when dealing with someone with dementia. 

If you have a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, SYNERGY HomeCare can provide the help you need.  We serve Central Texas with a broad range of non-medical, versatile and extremely flexible home care services.  Our compassionate, trained caregivers provide families with peace of mind knowing their loved one is receiving the level of care they need. 

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the San Antonio area’s most trusted agencies for non-medical home care.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from short term wellness visits to live-in care.  Please contact us to discuss the range of services we can provide for your loved one. 

Source: caregiver.org/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors

Want to Age Comfortably in Your Own Home?

For many elderly adults, retaining a level of independence and privacy in their own home is extremely important.  It may be very doable with just a few modifications and some outside assistance, but first take the time to plan out what you sort of help you will require to ensure your continued safety and comfort.  

Many home modifications are relatively inexpensive and can help to make your home safer and more accessible.  Things like grab bars in the tub, grip mats in the bathroom and the addition of ramps to avoid stairs can make a difference.  Also although a more expensive modification, installing a new bathroom on the lower level floor can be helpful.

Furthermore, while you may have a supportive family and rely on them for help from time to time, in the long-term, you may want to consider looking into professional home care services.  Home care providers such as SYNERGY HomeCare, located in Central Texas, offer a broad range of services that you design around your specific needs.  If it is transportation that is a problem as you no longer feel comfortable driving but still need to get to and from doctor appointments and running errands, we can safely get you there. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by housework and having a hard time keeping up, SYNERGY HomeCare also offers light housekeeping services.  For anyone having trouble with personal daily care activities such as dressing, bathing, feeding, or meal preparation, we can offer a helping hand.  In addition our flexible, compassionate services include care management, recovery assistance, live-in or 24-hour care, recovery assistance, companionship and respite for family caregivers.  Contact us to learn more about how we can help. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies for non-medical home care in the Greater Austin area.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us so we can offer your family peace of mind knowing you are getting the best professional home care available in Austin.    

Tips for Dealing with Hearing Loss

Hearing aids are primarily intended for hearing loss that stems from damage to the small sensory cells in the inner ear, known as hair cells, and is referred to as sensorineural hearing loss.  The damage can be caused by diseases or injury from loud noises or trauma as well as aging (Presbycusis).

Although it is unclear why, Presbycusis seems to run in families and is also associated with years of exposure to loud noises known as noise-induced hearing loss. In fact the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says that “It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults.”  They add that, “Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.”

So what should you do if you suspect that you are experiencing a hearing loss?  The NIDCD recommends that you seek professional medical advice starting with your doctor.  From there, your doctor may refer you to a specialist such as an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, or a hearing aid specialist.  Otolaryngologists will try to diagnose why you are experiencing a hearing loss and may send you to an audiologist to be fitted for a hearing aid. 

A hearing aid is one way to deal with a hearing loss but there are several other treatments and devices commonly used.  Hearing aids make sounds louder and the NIDCD advises that you wear a hearing aid on a trial basis to ensure it is a good fit for you as often it takes a couple of tries to get fitted properly.  For severe hearing loss, you may be fitted with a small electronic device surgically implanted in the inner ear called a cochlear implant.  Other solutions include assistive listening devices such as “amplifying devices, smart phones or tablet "apps," and closed circuit systems.”   Finally learning to read lips can be helpful. 

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, reliable and compassionate services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Contact us for a complementary home visit to discuss the ways we can provide your family with the best professional care.    

Source:nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/older.aspx

Household Aids to Help Keep Seniors Safe at Home

More and more seniors are opting to grow old in their own homes so it is important that the house is equipped with the tools they require to help keep them safe and provide peace of mind.  Many companies offer a line of ADL's (Activities of Daily Living) products designed to aid seniors’ mobility and maintain independence and accessibility throughout the home. 

 

If you or a loved one requires assistance to move safely in the home, you will want to go through room by room to determine what type of ADL household aids would be the most useful.  Common places where seniors can benefit from adaptive aids are in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.  One potentially dangerous problem for a senior is falling out of bed as well as safely getting in and out of bed.  Bed rails are a simple and relatively inexpensive solution to help keep seniors safely in bed and can offer the assistance they need getting in and out.  They are available in a variety of configurations and sizes to fit most beds.

Other important, life-saving home aids are fall and wandering alarms.  Available in a variety of models, the most sophisticated ones contain features that transmit both visual and audio alarm notifications in the event of an emergency. 

No matter what age, the bathroom can be the site of many accidents and to help address some of the dangers for the elderly, there are a whole host of products designed to offer assistance.  Easy to add ADL aids include grab bars, grip mats, shower and bath seats, and raised toilet seats.  There are even bath rails available that can be easily installed or removed without requiring any tools.     

At Austin’s SYNERGY HomeCare, our mission is to provide seniors compassionate and respectful non-medical care to help them maintain their independence and privacy in the comfort of their own home.  We will work closely with your family to ensure your loved one’s needs are met and to provide you with the peace of mind knowing you are getting the best home care services available.

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most respected agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, compassionate and services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us to discuss our range of options for providing your family peace of mind with the best Austin area home care services.    

Source: agingcare.com/Products