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Elderly Vision: How to Help Your Aging Parents See Better

 When parents start to lose their vision, it falls upon you to provide them assistance and support. However, if you have never experienced low vision problems yourself, it could be challenging to figure out the best ways to help them.

Hence, we have recommended five strategies to manage elderly vision disorders in this blog post. Our care specialists regularly work with elderly suffering from visual problems. They rely on these strategies to make their day-to-day activities easier to perform.

Before we reveal the tips to manage elderly vision problems, let’s understand what causes vision loss with age.

Impact of Aging on Eye Health

Elderly vision loss is a severe health concern. Age-related macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are the most common causes. Some of these conditions, like macular degeneration and open-angle glaucoma, may initially be asymptomatic.

The former leads to loss of central vision, while the latter causes optic nerve damage. For this reason, you must take your aging parents for regular screening examinations. Some of these elderly vision disorders like cataracts, can be fixed with surgery. . If your parent has been diagnosed with diabetes, they must undergo annual eye examinations to detect diabetic retinopathy in its early stages. Besides timely check-ups, you can take specific measures to either prevent or minimize the effects of ocular problems in seniors.

This brings us to our strategies:

Senior Fall Prevention

A significant part of elderly care is fall prevention. Because of low mobility, vision issues, weakened muscles, and bones, seniors are more likely to fall. That may cause serious injuries, disabilities, and in worst cases, death. Please make sure you get anti-skid mats installed in different house areas (like in the shower) to prevent them from falling, tripping, or slipping. Another measure you can take is replacing dim lights with higher-wattage fixtures, especially in risky areas such as staircases.

Seniors with partial vision may need brighter surroundings to avoid falling. You can also apply brightly colored tape along the edges of each step, making it easier for your parents to see them.

Fall prevention in the elderly also necessitates removing rugs, keeping cords out of their path, removing the clutter, and applying a non-slip coating to floors. Additionally, you should also encourage them to wear rubber-soled shoes as they have a firm grip.

Products for Elderly with Vision Loss

Besides keeping them safe, helping your parents with vision loss also means keeping them comfortable and happy. Day-to-day activities can become challenging to accomplish for people with ocular disorders, unfortunately.

Hence, providing them with products such as a television with high contrast images and books with oversized print can enable them to cope with gradual vision loss. Moreover, to make activities for the elderly with vision loss easier to perform, you must keep everything organized.

That means getting rid of uncluttered cutlery drawers, dressers, etc. It allows them to pick out items by touch or memory. Keeping things where they belong helps your parents maintain a certain level of independence as well.

Moral Support is Key

Those with worsening visual impairments require a robust support system. Who better than friends and family to give that? Encourage your aging parents to stick with their hobbies and remain active.

When they’re able to participate in things, it gives them a huge morale boost. Some seniors may also slip into depression because they are losing sight. For them to feel confident and be near their loved ones is vital.

They should feel free to share their worries and fears with you, and for that, you need to foster honest and open communication. Some elderly vision problems are also accompanied by Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS).

Such patients experience visual hallucinations triggered by significant vision loss. This condition is often confused with dementia, but it’s not the same. Though harmless, it’s very unsettling for the elderly.

Let them know that they can communicate with you regarding any new symptoms they might be experiencing so that nothing goes amiss during the treatment.

Healthy Diet to Fight Complications

A healthy diet is necessary to not only fight elderly vision disorders but also to prevent them. Your diet and that of your parents should have nuts, beans, eggs, green vegetables, and oily fish. Other foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids should also be a part of your menu.

Besides, try to get your parents as much lutein, zinc, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C as possible. These nutrients are essential to prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration and cataract. Take this as a golden mantra to avoid any health complications down the road.

Apart from that, if your aging parent smokes, try your best to persuade them to stop. Such lifestyle habits spike the probability of developing macular degeneration, cataract, and low vision. If needed, counselling may help with smoking cessation.

Prevention Against UV Exposure

During outdoor activities, it’s essential to wear sunglasses, especially for seniors. Moreover, those glasses should block UVB (ultraviolet B) and UVA (ultraviolet A) rays from all sides of their eyes.

That should prevent the UV rays from penetrating and reaching the eyes of your parents. Prolonged exposure (particularly during the summertime) can damage the conjunctiva (a layer that protects the inside of your eyelids as well as the white area) and cornea.

Communicate with them to determine if they need help with something. If they insist on doing certain tasks themselves, let them. Greater independence is necessary for better cognitive functioning and longevity.

You can always hire help if they need 24/7 assistance.

Bonus Tip: Visual Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy

A study done by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy suggests that elderly vision problems can be managed by occupational therapy. A thorough evaluation may identify what daily activities may still be performed by the senior using their remaining vision.

After a visual rehabilitation, seniors may regain some sense of independence regarding their choice of movement. Besides, therapists may also identify tasks that the elderly should not prevent accidental falls that lead to injuries.

They can also teach them how to use magnification devices and determine optimum lighting facilities. Hence, you should talk to your parents if they are willing to adopt such therapies as their consent is necessary.

Make sure you enunciate properly because they may not observe lip movement due to poor vision. In addition to that, always maintain a natural conversational tone while talking to your parents to avoid triggering any sort of panic.

Wrapping It Up

Learning how to help the elderly with vision problems is vital to prevent further loss of sight or help them manage day-to-day activities with ease. Besides providing them with visual aids and products, it’s also important to maintain their independence as much as possible.

If they can manage a few home tasks, run errands, and perform other daily life activities themselves, it’s great for their emotional and mental health. For that, you need to intervene early, take the above-mentioned steps, and ensure regular medical check-ups.

If the disease has progressed to advanced stages and they have partially or completely lost their sight, you should consider hiring a care team. They can provide round-the-clock assistance to seniors even when you cannot be near them 24/7.

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Managing Macular Degeneration in Elders

Vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is prevalent in the United States. This disease causes progressive blindness in over 11 million people across the country. Since there is no cure for it yet, older adults face difficulties performing basic activities such as driving, recognizing people, cooking, and reading.

Age-related macular degeneration also happens to be the leading cause of total vision loss in seniors. Unfortunately, all predictions indicate that more and more seniors may lose their ability to see due to this ocular disorder.

This blog post, however, explores how you can manage macular degeneration in the elderly as a caregiver. Before laying out the tips and strategies, let us understand the disease in more detail.

What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?

The macula (from where the name of this vision disorder is derived) forms the central part of our retinas at the back of our eyes. As we age, this tissue becomes weaker, thereby affecting our brain’s ability to form sharp, central images.

In AMD, this condition becomes chronic and gets worse progressively. Even though young adults can develop AMD, it mostly affects seniors (65 and above).

Macular degeneration can be grouped into two categories:

Dry AMD vs Wet AMD

When cells in the macula break down gradually, it causes thinning of the tissue. This leads to what we call, dry AMD and it is the more prevalent of the two. On the other hand, Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the macula. Because of the extra pressure, it causes fluid leakage or bleeding in the macula, damaging it as a result.

Most people with dry AMD do not experience any symptoms during the onset of the disease. To timely detect symptoms of macular degeneration in the elderly, it’s essential to visit your ophthalmologist for regular eye exams, especially after a certain age.

We recommend going for annual check-ups to catch the disease early on – before the symptoms even start to show up. It’s when dry AMD progresses to wet AMD, that most people begin to notice the signs.

Some of them are:

Blurred vision: The elderly may start to feel the need for more light to perform different tasks such as reading. This is an early sign of a vision problem.

Blindspot: If your aging loved one notices a gradually increasing blind spot near their central vision, that needs to be medically evaluated immediately.

Crooked lines: When wet macular degeneration takes hold of a person’s retina, they start to see wavy or jagged lines in their field of vision. This is typical of those extra blood vessels that may have grown beneath the macula. The fluid leaked from these vessels, as a result, displaces the macula and raises it from its original position. That’s why seniors with wet AMD experience distorted vision.

Difficulty seeing details: Often, seniors with AMD have difficulty recognizing faces or reading words in a book.

Lighting: In this particular symptom, colors may appear dull, and images may seem grayer.

If your loved one can check more than one of these symptoms, there shouldn’t be any delay in seeking medical advice. Meanwhile, you can follow some steps for managing macular degeneration in seniors.

These are explained in the next section.

Managing Macular Degeneration in the Elderly: Dry AMD

As established earlier, dry AMD may not cause any symptoms. It needs to be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist through an eye examination. Now, if your elderly loved one has indeed been diagnosed with dry AMD, their eye health needs to be at its optimal state to prevent or delay the onset of wet AMD.

Here’s how you can manage macular degeneration in seniors:

Take eye vitamin: Upon being prescribed by a doctor, your loved one should start taking key eye vitamins, primarily vitamin E, C, and A, along with copper and zinc. Research has shown that supplements may lower the probability of developing wet AMD in seniors by at least 25% over five years. Your doctor will recommend the best formulation as per your condition.

Quit smoking: If your aging loved one has been wanting to stop smoking, there is probably no more significant reason than AMD. Studies have shown that smoking can worsen age-related macular degeneration. Not only does it increase the risk of developing AMD in people who don’t have it, but it also escalates vision loss in seniors who have already been diagnosed with dry AMD.

Monitor vision changes: Since seniors are vulnerable to developing this ocular disorder, they should monitor their vision at home. Most ophthalmologists recommend using the Amsler grid. To test the vision, all they need to do is stare at the grid. If they see a sport, blurry images, or distorted lines, you must contact your eye doctor right away. Studies suggest that seniors can use this grid weekly to monitor their vision at home. Also, check with your insurance company if they cover more sophisticated AMD monitoring systems.

Consult your doctor regularly: This can never be stressed enough. If your aging family member has been diagnosed with dry AMD, you should take them for regular eye exams every six months. However, an ophthalmologist would advise the right duration according to your loved one’s condition.

That brings us to the management of wet AMD.

Managing Macular Degeneration in the Elderly: Wet AMD

If the ocular disease has progressed to wet AMD, the earlier it’s detected, the better. At this stage, the focus is on preventing or delaying total vision loss in seniors. For that, monitoring is not enough. You need to begin an active treatment as advised by your doctor.

Here are the steps you can follow:

Get professional help: If AMD has advanced to later stages, the patient may no longer be capable of handling their chores or self-care activities. In that case, it’s vital that you hire a professional caregiver for their assistance. Getting professional help becomes even more critical if the family members cannot stay with the elderly all the time. Besides, a professional caregiver can take them to appointments, run errands, take care of their diet, and accompany them to appointments. Remote monitoring services are also a great option to keep track of their health and ensure their safety.

Purchase low-vision aids: Besides medical treatment, certain measures like buying low-vision aids can help the elderly. If they find the text difficult to read, for instance, getting them magnifiers would make it easier. Apart from that, you can also consult a low-vision specialist for rehabilitation.

Keep taking vitamins: It’s usually one eye that develops wet AMD. If the other eye is still in the dry ADM stage, it’s important that seniors keep taking the supplements mentioned earlier. That may prevent the other eye from developing the wet AMD as well. Besides, they can continue using the Amsler grid to monitor their central vision in the healthier eye.

Receive regular treatment: This is the most critical step in managing macular degeneration in the elderly. Doctors may recommend anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, laser therapy, or any other treatment available for wet AMD. It may prevent further vision loss or blood vessels from growing beneath the macula.

By following these tips, you can help the elderly suffering from AMD preserve their vision and stay independent.

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Supporting Seniors with Dementia: 5 Tips

 Seniors living with neurodegenerative illnesses such as dementia face difficulties performing day-to-day tasks. This makes everyday living almost impossible to get through without help. Memory problems triggered by dementia cause issues with communication and the patient’s ability to care for themselves.

As a result, the responsibilities of a caregiver multiply. Supporting seniors with dementia can be challenging. Therefore, you must be prepared to manage their responsibilities and yours as the senior’s physical and cognitive capabilities continue to decline.

In this blog post, we have gathered five essential tips for caring for someone with dementia. By following these tips, you can avoid common pitfalls that most caregivers face. Let’s get to it!

Create a Safe Environment

We cannot emphasize enough the significance of creating a safe home environment for seniors with dementia. If left unattended, they tend to wander aimlessly given their loss of memory. It can cause injuries, accidents, or even the death of senior citizens.

If you cannot monitor them 24/7, creating a safe environment is your best bet. Begin by installing grab rails on the staircase and in the bathroom if you haven’t already. Also, all the locks in the house should be above their eye level.

It’s because seniors with dementia focus more on things that are at or below their eye level. Apart from that, consider installing a security system that would send you an alarm in case of an emergency.

Giving your elderly loved one a GPS-enabled smartwatch is also a great idea. For supporting seniors with dementia, it’s essential to monitor their movements and keep them safe. GPS and home security systems would also eliminate the need to invade the senior’s personal space frequently.

Organize Social Events

This tip for supporting seniors with dementia is really your call. Not everyone likes social interaction, and it’s a personal choice. Besides, it also relies on the elderly’s ability to participate in social events.

Receiving adequate sensory experiences is considered vital for dementia patients. If they still can, you should encourage them to interact with friends and family. Socializing should, however be controlled to prevent overstimulation.

Your family members, neighbor, and friends can communicate with the senior before such an event. That would avoid any unpleasant surprises and overstimulation. Planned interactions, when conducted in a controlled manner, can work like magic for patients.

Educate Yourself about Dementia

Study and understand as much as you can about how to help the elderly with dementia. Knowledge is power, enabling you to take timely proactive and reactive measures in times of crisis. If you’re reading this blog, you’re already on the right path.

All you must do is continue educating yourself to manage your loved one’s illness. It will help you understand what the elderly must be going through, what might happen in the future, and what steps you can take to avoid complications.

There are plenty of resources available online to help your cause. In addition to that, you should consult your primary healthcare provider to obtain more information.

Preserve their Independence.

Treatment should work in tandem with certain lifestyle changes. Incorporating proper sleep, diet, and exercise in their routine would help seniors maintain a reasonable level of independence.

Staying socially and mentally active can also slow down neurodegeneration and improve their brain health. During the initial stages, your elderly loved one may need reminders for medications, appointments, bill payments, etc.

A good strategy would be to work with them in partnership instead of completely taking over the responsibility of performing each task. This helps preserve the senior’s independence to an extent.

Let them indicate that they need help with something. The following example would give you a better idea. If they can, let your loved one figure out the bills, and you can verify the calculations before paying them.

Besides, you can encourage them to use a smartphone or notebook to create reminders themselves. If their safety is not endangered, letting them do certain tasks (especially if they love doing it) like cooking, in the early stages of this neurodegenerative disease is good for everyone.

Get Professional Help

Caring for someone with dementia is undoubtedly stressful. According to an estimate, family caregivers dedicate nearly 22 hours per week to support dementia patients. On average, they provide care for about 5 years or more. Given that many of them have children and full-time jobs, there isn’t enough time for self-care or even senior care. In such a scenario, working with a professional caregiver is the right choice.

With some professional help, you will be able to balance different responsibilities efficiently. Besides, it’ll make sure that the senior’s needs are not being neglected unintendedly. If you don’t pay heed to your own mental and physical health, you cannot care for your children or the elderly.

When you seek professional help, you can finally find the time to take care of yourself!

Bonus Tip: How to Talk to Someone with Dementia

As dementia progresses to its advanced stages, you will notice gradual changes in the way seniors communicate. They display behaviors of confusion and experience trouble finding the right words.

Besides, they may repeat certain things or substitute the right word with a wrong one because of their confusion. Even inappropriate outbursts may become common in this illness. It takes a lot of patience on the caregiver’s part to not only manage their own frustrations but also make communication easier.

Learn how to talk to someone with dementia with these tips:

Listen attentively: Seniors with dementia may have a hard time explaining things to you. For this reason, you should give your complete attention to them during communication and avoid distractions such as cell phones or TV.

Be aware of body language: Nonverbal cues, tone of voice, and facial expressions are essential in any communication. Try to maintain an open posture, stay calm, and make eye contact while talking to the elderly.

 Speak slowly: Your elderly loved one suffering from dementia takes more time to process everything. Therefore, you want to use short sentences, ask one thing at a time, and repeat if necessary.

 Avoid memory-challenging questions: People with dementia gradually lose long-term or even short-term memory. Hence, you should avoid asking questions that would likely be answered as a “no.”

Maintain respect: Using sarcasm, or patronizing language can confuse or hurt them.

Take a break: As mentioned before, inappropriate outbursts may happen while trying to interact with seniors. However, they don’t know any better. It’s best to then take a break to regain your composure instead of letting your anger out on them.

 Never avoid them: At some point, seniors with dementia may become unresponsive to most things as they lose their memory. However, you must never talk in front of them like they aren’t there in the room. If they are physically present, always include them in your conversations. Because they may not remember, they can still hear you, and ignoring them might hurt their feelings.

Final Thoughts

These tips would be pretty valuable while supporting seniors with dementia. Apart from that, it’s crucial to turn to professional help to ensure your mental and physical wellbeing and that of your loved one.

Advantage Plus Nurses, Inc.

6800 Owensmouth Ave, STE 420

Canoga Park, CA 91303

+18003952065

customerservice@advantageplusnurses.com

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How to Cope with Caregiver Stress and Burnout

Caregiving is extremely challenging that often leaves people involved overwhelmed and exhausted. In many ways, it is a rewarding experience. However, due to its long-term challenge (sometimes decades), people feel worn out and gradually deteriorate themselves.

The problem worsens when despite your best efforts, the loved one continues to weaken from the illness. That said, there is a lot of support available for family caregivers out there. This blog post summarizes the steps you can undertake to bring hope, joy, and a sense of balance in your life again.

Let’s understand how you can deal with caregiver stress and burnout in detail:

What are the Caregivers Stress Symptoms?

If left unchecked, caregiver stress and burnout can harm your state of mind, relationships, and health. When you reach a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, you inadvertently hurt your loved ones.

For this reason, addressing the caregiver stress symptoms is a necessity and not a luxury. However difficult it may seem, taking care of your physical and emotional wellbeing is just as essential as ensuring the wellbeing of your elderly family member.

Learning the signs and symptoms will prompt you to seek help and take immediate action. This would prevent the situation from getting out of hand. And you can begin your healing journey henceforth.

Here are common caregiver stress symptoms to look out for:

Feeling increasingly resentful

Neglecting responsibilities

Difficulty sleeping

Feeling run down or exhausted.

Worsening physical and mental health problems

Drinking, binge eating, and smoking more often.

Increasing irritability, overreacting to minor nuisances

Trouble concentrating on anything.

Depression and anxiety

Spending little or no time on leisure activities

Here are common signs of caregiver burnout you should be aware of:

Feeling hopeless or helpless

Caregiving doesn’t offer any satisfaction or rewarding experience.

Constant exhaustion after taking a break or even after sleeping.

Increased vulnerability to bouts of flu going around now and then.

Reduced energy overall

Feeling increasingly irritable and impatient with your elderly loved one.

Even when help is offered, you have trouble relaxing.

You may not heed to your own needs anymore.

If you can tick most of the symptoms and signs of caregiver burnout and stress, it’s time to seek professional help.

How to Cope with Severe Caregiver Burnout?

While caregiving cannot be 100% free of stress, there’s quite a lot you can do to lighten the load and find more balance. One thing you must remind yourself is that you are not powerless. This feeling is one of the most significant contributors to caregiver stress and burnout.

It leads you to the pitfall of anxiety and depression, which is challenging to get out of. Hence, no matter what happens, do not feel powerless. You may have an absence of physical assistance, money, or time. However, what you can always have an abundance of are hope and happiness.

Besides, the following steps will help you avoid severe caregiver burnout:

Practice acceptance: “Why?” This is the question caregivers often ask themselves, and understandably so. Life is unfair. Watching your loved one fade away is heart-wrenching. There are some unanswered questions about life and death that are perhaps beyond human comprehension. However, we have learned so far that you cannot change something by dwelling on it. All that tremendous amount of energy is spent for nothing. Instead, the only thing you can do is accept this fact of life. Blaming someone else or feeling sorry for yourself will only make things worse.

Embrace Caregiving: When you first took the responsibility of caregiving, you probably aimed to repay your loved one for everything they did for you or have a rewarding experience for yourself. Whatever the initial reasons may have been, most of them were positive. But since it was a conscious choice made by you, it’s your responsibility to stick to it, keep doing it with a smile on your face. How so? By just reminding yourself of those initial reasons. That’s not to say you should ignore the burden you feel. Instead, you should acknowledge them but not let them overpower your conscious decision to provide care for your loved one. Think about the values you are going to set for your children. That should motivate you and embrace caregiving wholeheartedly.

Celebrate small victories: Your efforts matter. Even if your loved one is living with a life-limiting illness, your efforts got them this far, and that’s the reason to celebrate. Whether or not you can cure them completely is something you have no control over. Hence, letting go of things you cannot control while focusing on small victories is necessary to prevent severe caregiver burnout.

Find time for yourself: Even though caregiving is a huge part of your daily life, don’t let it dictate every aspect of it. If you also focus on other rewarding areas of your life, you’ll be more accepting of the caregiving situation. Invest time in things that offer purpose and meaning to your existence – be it your career, a favorite hobby, religion, or family.

See the silver lining: You may ask: what’s the silver lining in all of this? Without a doubt, the caregiving experience will leave you closer to the patient and a lot stronger than you were ever before.

Feel Appreciated for Your Efforts

A little appreciation now and then bodes well for caregivers. They enjoy life more often and become more accepting of stressful situations. Moreover, their emotional and physical health stays intact despite the demands. Even if your loved one cannot express their appreciation, there are many things you can do about it and avoid caregiver stress and burnout.

Have a look:

Pat yourself on the back: This may seem unnecessary or childlike until you realize the importance of it. If you’re not receiving any external validation, you have to find ways to reward yourself and acknowledge your efforts. Make a list of ways you are helping your loved one. Whenever you feel low, this list would remind you of the difference you’re making in their life and that of yours.

Talk to a friend: If you do have someone you can talk to, do not shy away from it. Remember, you’re going to need all the help you can get. You don’t have to get positive reinforcement only from the person you’re caring for. Turn to family and friends who can make you feel appreciated.

Imagine the response of your loved one: Because of their diminished ability, your aging loved one may no longer be able to express how proud they feel about you. This situation is prevalent in Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. However, since you’ve known them for several years, you can probably imagine their response to your efforts. If they were able to, they would express gratitude for everything you’re doing for them. You can find peace and comfort in that fact.

Ask for Help.

This is probably the most crucial step for avoiding caregiver stress and burnout. Working non-stop without assistance does not do your health any favor. You are not alone in this.

These are some caregiver stress interventions you must know about:

Join a support group: Even if you cannot leave your loved one’s side, there are plenty of online support groups you can join. Not only would you receive help and acknowledgment but also offer help to someone in need. Most importantly, you’ll realize that you don’t have to be alone.

Relinquish some control: It’s natural to feel defensive about your loved one, especially considering their situation. However, when you seek professional help, you have to learn to relinquish some control and not micromanage everything.

Accept assistance: If someone is willing to offer small tasks like taking your elderly loved one for an appointment or picking up groceries, do not deny the help. If they are happy to do it, accepting any assistance would avoid caregiver stress and burnout.

Share the responsibility: While not all caregivers may have this luxury, you should delegate some of the duties to other family members. Even if they are living far away, they can always handle the bills and finances. And if someone is living close by, they can run errands, buy medicines, etc.

Seek respite care: You deserve a break. If not family members, you can get paid volunteers to help on a regular or occasional basis. It’s good to explore respite programs such as nursing homes and adult day care centers.

Don’t hesitate to speak up: One cannot automatically expect family members or friends to automatically understand feelings and needs. You must be upfront about the situation and proactively share your thoughts and concerns with them.

Above all, prioritize your health. If you continue to deteriorate, you cannot possibly help a loved one. Eat well and exercise regularly. Getting enough sleep and practicing meditation are two of the sure-fire ways of avoiding caregiver stress and burnout.

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What to Do When a Senior is Diagnosed with Terminal Illness

The emotional turmoil that follows after a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness is natural and understandable. Given the nature of the chronic disease, it’s crucial to discuss uncomfortable subjects such as end-of-life care and death. However, talking about it would make the conversation a little easier for you and your family.

This blog post addresses terminal illness post-diagnosis steps. We will also suggest some additional resources along the way to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Moreover, you will find many practical details in this guide. Let’s begin with it:

Facing the Inevitable

When a dear one is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, we wish the time to freeze. In an Amazon Original science fiction movie called “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things” released this year, time freezes the day the protagonist’s mother is supposed to pass due to cancer. It goes on a loop and the same day keeps repeating itself.

As much as we’d like this to happen, our reality is quite different. We have to learn to move forward in life – a fact even established in the fictional flick! And before that, we need to brace ourselves for the inevitable. How do you ever do that?

Everybody reacts differently. Some immediately swing into action, some cry, and others instinctively deny the fact. Regardless of your effort and coping mechanism, life will continue to go on. You need to seek help – as much as you can – to pull yourself together for the rest of your family.

And there’s a great deal of support you can muster!

Seek legal and financial advice.

Arrange for the funeral.

If all treatments stop working, prepare an end-of-life care plan by consulting a healthcare provider.

Join support groups and share your grief with people who are undergoing something similar.

Many other terminal illness post-diagnosis steps spread across this guide that will help you cope as the end draws closer.

Managing the Anticipatory Grief

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely familiar with it. Anticipatory grief, an overwhelming sadness that accompanies the news and as events unfold. Friends, family, and the patient struggle to come to terms with it, and rightly so.

They feel a multitude of emotions involving:

Denial

Depression

Acceptance

Anger

Anxiety

Sorrow

Depending on the relationship shared with the patient, you should focus on making the most out of the time that’s left. After all, how you spend this time will make a lasting impression on your memory and possibly the actions in the future.

You can shun the grieving thoughts and focus on the last-resort treatments. You may feel conflicted, guilty, or anxious. However, that would only add to your anticipatory grief instead of helping you deal with it.

The following terminal illness post-diagnosis steps might comfort you:

Talk with sympathetic family members and friends.

Join an online or offline support group.

Read books that help you deal with grief.

Say Your Goodbyes

When you begin even to imagine it, goodbyes can be painful. However, approaching the end of life due to a chronic illness means that you and your loved one have some time to make amends, share your appreciation, and express your feelings for each other.

More often than not, people regret not having enough time or chance to say or do these things due to the unexpected death of their loved one. Ira Byock, a long-time hospice advocate and the author of Dying Well, suggests the following words be exchanged between families and their dying loved ones:

Thank you.

Goodbye

Forgive me.

I forgive you.

I love you.

Often the patient dying doesn’t find comfort because their loved ones won’t be alright if they let go. You have to see it in you and tell them that you’re ready and that you’d be okay. The shared assurance would help you manage your grief and offer enormous relief to your loved one.

Perhaps, you can fulfil a shared dream or anything that would make them feel a little better.

How to Communicate about Death

It’s probably the most challenging conversation anyone can have. On the one hand, you don’t want to instil fear in your loved one or undercut their will to survive. But on the other hand, you want the communication to be honest because they deserve to know.

To them, it may feel like you’ve given up on the promise of a cure or that you’re abandoning them. However, you cannot let your discomfort, sadness, or anxiety make a poor choice of words. If you approach the conversation carefully, it doesn’t have to be terrible.

This is what clinicians suggest when it comes to talking to terminal illness patients about death:

Reassurance: Everyone has a different viewpoint about death. Some fear abandonment, and the only way to make them feel better is to offer comfort. No matter what happens, you have to convince them that they’ll be embraced, not abandoned when the time comes. That they will never be alone.

Empathy: Your loved ones, especially seniors in advanced years, may fear a lot more than just abandonment. They may have some unfinished plans. They may fear losing control or leaving their loved ones, even becoming a burden on them. Most of all, they may dread a painful death. Their physical and emotional plan is only aggravated by fear. While there is little you can do to take away the fear entirely, you can still spend time with them and let them express their concerns. This way, they won’t feel alone, overwhelmed, or consumed with their thoughts. That’s called empathy.

Honest Conversation: Depending on individuals, some patients diagnosed with a terminal illness may not fear the end as much compared to others. All they might want to do is talk and have an honest, open conversation with their friends and family.

Approaching the Conversation

We have figured out the things to talk about in the previous section. But how do you go about the conversation? Not every terminally ill person would like to talk about death. How do you then figure out the right time?

At this point, you must realize that your elderly loved one may not necessarily prefer talking about death. All they might need to know is that when they do feel like talking about it, you’ll be by their side.

According to psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, you can open the door to a difficult conversation by asking simple questions like:

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” “How can I help?” “What do you worry about?” Depending on the elderly’s receptiveness and comfort level, you can ask more specific questions like: “What are you wondering about?” “What would be a good death?”

Here are other terminal illness post-diagnosis steps that may help:

Seek hospice advice: Social workers trained in hospice care are equipped with experience and resources that would help you and your family grapple with the grief surrounding death.

Ask for spiritual guidance: Depending on the faith and beliefs of the patient, you may seek counsel from religious or spiritual leaders. At times, it offers comfort to those who believe. As the illness progresses, many people find peace and comfort in their faith.

Please consult a doctor: It’s important to know what to expect as the symptoms unfold. Consulting your doctor to gather all the information necessary somewhat prepares you for it. That way, you can talk about ways to ease the fear and pain of your loved one. However, some doctors may limit themselves to educating you about the disease but may not necessarily talk about death in general. In contrast, others perceive death as a failure and would try everything in their power to help you.

Let it go: Most patients and their families experience episodes of denial through the course of the life-limiting disease. Here, it’s essential to know that talking or even thinking about death is difficult. At this point, let your elderly finish the conversation. Let them talk about it or hold on to their fantasies or comforting thoughts. All you can do is be there for them. That’s the most essential part.

You will find plenty of resources to deal with the subject matter here.

Other Practical Aspects

There are other pressing matters you need to resolve when the elderly reach the terminal stages:

You need to take care of advance care directives such as a power of attorney and a living will when the elderly would not be physically or mentally able to make decisions. Make sure you have additional copies just in case.

At one point, you will need to decide whether the senior needs life support options such as mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, intravenous hydration, and hemodialysis. A doctor would provide the best advice.

Another factor to consider here is insurance coverage. In 45 states across the U.S., hospice care is covered under Medicare for up to 6 months of prognosis.

By following the terminal illness post-diagnosis steps laid out in this blog post, you can ensure maximum comfort and peace of mind for your loved one.

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Everything You Should Know About End-of-Life Care

It’s an emotionally challenging time for your family. When a loved one reaches the final stages of their chronic condition, it is important to seek help to make final decisions, deal with grief, and provide comfort.

Despite best treatment, attention, and care, the time will eventually come. At this point, your focus as a caregiver should be on making them feel comfortable while utilizing the remaining time to its fullest. It may be anything from a few weeks to months or years, depending on your loved one’s circumstances and the nature of the illness.

During this time, it’s crucial to take palliative care measures designed to manage the symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, and control pain. End-of-life care also involves offering spiritual and emotional support, also known as hospice care.

Why is End-of-Life Care Important?

At any stage, caregiving is uniquely challenging. However, when a loved one approaches the end of life, it’s particularly stressful to make complex decisions and deal with grief and loss. Caregivers experience a whirlwind of emotions, including denial, anger, anxiety, guilt, sorrow, and perhaps a tinge of relief that their loved one is not in pain anymore.

In such a situation, you should recognize that end-of-life care interventions necessitate plenty of support. It can be emotional support, legal arrangements, financial support, etc. Late-stage care also requires you to express your love, forgive any grudges, and resolve any differences.

Even though it’s tough, end-of-life care or late-stage care can help you transition from the caregiving phase to the accepting and healing stage. These precious moments allow you to say goodbye while enabling you to come to terms with them.

When Do You Need Late-Stage Care?

One cannot pinpoint a specific time when end-of-life care should begin. It depends on the progression of the disease as well as the individual. For instance, a doctor keeps you update with information on stages in diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Therefore, you can plan appropriate care for your loved one. There are various other signs through which you can tell that it’s time to opt for palliative and hospice care instead of curative care options.

Some of those signs are:

Poor quality of life despite curative treatment

Illness continues to progress.

Frequent visits to the emergency room

Worsening symptoms within the last year

Your loved one wishes to spend their time at home instead of any more hospital visits.

They do not want to continue their treatment.

Even if you notice the above-mentioned signs, it’s best to consult your primary healthcare provider before starting end-of-life care.

Needs of Caregivers and Patients in End-of-Life Care

As the patients enter late-stage care, their needs will change, thereby impacting the caregiver as well. These are some of the areas where you or your loved one may need greater help:

• Respite Care: Caring for a terminally ill person can be physically and emotionally overwhelming. Respite care aims at giving some relief to caregivers wherein they can delegate the maintenance to a hospice facility. They can be in charge of supporting your loved one for a few hours. You can utilize that time to grab coffee with friends or have some me-time to de-stress yourself.

• Grief Support: People deal with grief in different ways. Some feel numb, while others feel extreme sadness. In either case, you should think about consulting bereavement specialists during end-of-life care to prepare for the loss.

• Comfort and Dignity: Despite their diminished cognitive functions, patients can feel lonely, loved, sad, or at peace. Irrespective of whether they receive end-of-life care at home, hospice facility, or hospital, you should take interventions that ease their discomfort and pain. They should still be able to see their family.

• Practical Assistance: Due to diminished cognitive ability, some patients approaching their later stages may not make much sense of their surroundings. Others may not be able to eat, walk, sit, or talk anymore. For this reason, they require practical care and assistance in dressing, feeding, bathing, and other activities. That demands a lot of effort from a caregiver, which is why you should seek help from physician-ordered nursing services, a hospice team, or personal care assistants.

What Constitutes End-of-Life Care Plan?

If your loved one is fighting a life-limiting illness, it’s important to discuss the treatment preferences with the patient during the final stages. Patients, too, should feel comfortable to discuss their wishes with family before a medical emergency strike.

You should keep the following points in mind while formulating the end-of-life care plan with your care provider:

• Seek Legal Advice: This is something to be taken care of while the patient can participate. You should seek legal advice on an advance directive, power of attorney and living will while taking the patient’s wishes into account. This step is necessary to avoid any family dispute later on. • Resolve Conflicts: Watching a loved one deteriorate is not easy. It often leads to conflict among family members. They may not find common ground when it comes to medical treatment, living arrangements, and other decisions. You should consult a hospice specialist, social worker, or a trained doctor in such a scenario. • Involve and Educate Children: Chronic illness is difficult to come to terms with, even for adults. It’s not any easier for children; they may have difficulty even grasping the subject. But however difficult it may be, it’s essential to keep the conversation honest. The age-appropriate information can be conveyed by storytelling, using puppets, or drawing pictures. • Facilitate Open Communication: While developing a late-stage care plan, there should be a primary decision-maker in charge of streamlining communication among family members and care providers. Such big decisions require everyone’s involvement and clear communication. • Understand Patient’s Values: In many cases, patients may no longer be competent to feel their wishes or know their opinions or values. If they have not prepared the advance directive or living will, family members would have to consider the patient’s values. What would they want? How would they feel? How could this affect them? What would they do in this situation? Think about their vantage point while considering placement, treatment, and decisions.

How to Provide Comfort?

Depending on the type of chronic illness, patients may experience different end-of-life symptoms and thus need comfort as much as possible. Some common signs and comfort measures are outlined below. However, these may not always be indicative of death or deteriorating condition.

• Irregular/Shallow/Labored Breathing: Some patients find it easier to breathe while lying on their left side. Besides, you can place pillows behind their back and beneath their head. Placing a mist humidifier in their room is also a great option. • Skin Becoming too Cold: You can place blankets to make them feel warm. However, avoid the use of heating pads and electric blankets that can cause burns. • Loss of Appetite: Patients approaching the later stages of their life-limiting condition may feel a decreased need for fluids and food. It’s best to let them decide when and what to eat or drink. Keep their lips moisturized with a lip balm, and their mouths mist with the help of glycerin swabs. • Becoming Unresponsive: Many chronic disease patients lose the ability to talk at later stages. However, most of them can still hear, so try to speak to them as much as possible. • Confusion about Identity, Place, and Time: It can be scary not knowing yourself and the people around you. Help reorient the patient by gently reminding them of their family, themselves, date, and time. Speak in a calm voice while doing so. • Bowel and Bladder Control Problems: Keep the patient comfortable, dry, and clean. Use disposable pads to clean them and remove them when soiled.

Offer Emotional Comfort

Different individuals have varying emotional needs, and that stands true even during the later stages of life. That said, there are some common emotions felt by patients that include feelings of loss of dignity and control. Chronic illnesses cause a decline in physical abilities, which is why most patients feel this way.

They also fear abandonment or being a burden on their family. Therefore, it falls upon their family and caregivers to offer emotional support during end-of-life care. There are several different ways you can follow:

• Offer Company: Try to find time and keep them company. Watch movies together, read to them, talk to them, or hold their hand. • Do not Burden Them: As hard as it may be, refrain from talking about your grief, loss, sadness, and fear. You may need external or family support to speak about your feelings. • Let Them Express: Talking about death with a loved one is scary and challenging. However, allow them to share their fears, wishes, concerns, and opinions to make them feel comfortable. Focus on listening without arguing or interrupting. • Avoid Withholding Information: If it concerns them, share the information, and involve them in decisions. Given that they can still comprehend, it honors their wishes and opinions.

On that note, we end our discussion. By studying the information discussed here, you can carefully approach end-of-life care and make your loved one feel at peace.

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Detection and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A chronic inflammatory condition, rheumatoid arthritis, affects not just joints but also blood vessels, heart, lungs, eyes, and skin. The immune system of patients living with this autoimmune disorder starts attacking its own body’s tissues.

Unlike the gradual wear-and-tear damage associated with osteoarthritis, this condition causes a painful swelling in the joints. Eventually, it causes joint deformity and erosion. Because of its inflammatory nature, rheumatoid arthritis can also damage other parts of the patient’s body.

Even though treatment options have improved dramatically over the years, it continues to be a significant cause of physical disabilities in seniors. Hence, in this blog post, we will study the detection and management of rheumatoid arthritis in detail.

Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you suspect a loved one or yourself with this condition, it’s crucial to know rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Some of them include:

Loss of appetite

Fever accompanied by fatigue.

Stiffness in the joints that gets worse in the wee hours or after a certain period of inactivity.

Swollen, warm, tender joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects smaller joints during its onset, especially those that attach toes to feet and fingers to hands. It progresses to damage larger joints with time, including the shoulders, hips, elbows, ankles, knees, and wrists.

Mostly, joints present on both sides of the body are affected by this disorder. However, some patients with rheumatoid arthritis may not experience joint-related symptoms at all. The condition may affect non-joint structures such as bone marrow, nerve tissue, salivary glands, kidneys, eyes, etc.

In some patients, the symptoms may fade away (relative remission) only to reappear later (flares). Over time, joints may eventually shift out of place or deform completely.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Now that you are aware of the symptoms, it’s essential to know when to visit a doctor.

If the swelling in your joints (or that of your loved one) becomes persistent and causes pain and discomfort, it is time to see a medical professional. Since the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases, it’s challenging to diagnose early on.

Your doctor will evaluate the warmth, redness, and swelling of your joints during the physical exam. Apart from that, you may also be checked for your muscle strength and reflexes.

A complete blood test may reveal:

Higher Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) indicating an inflammatory process.

Presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies

Over time, your doctor will recommend ultrasounds tests, MRIs, and X-rays to determine the severity and progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

Guidelines for Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Even though there is no cure discovered yet, remission of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is possible with early detection and management. Doctors will likely prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or biologic response modifiers. You should never take these medications without a prescription.

Management of rheumatoid arthritis also involves therapy, surgery, lifestyle, and home remedies. Let us understand them one by one:

Therapy

To keep your joints flexible, you can seek occupational or physical therapy upon your doctor’s advice. The therapist may teach you easier ways to perform daily tasks that put less pressure on your joints.

Surgery

Doctors generally authorize surgery when medications fail to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. It may improve joint function and reduce pain. However, there is a risk of increased pain, infection, and bleeding with surgery.

Some of the procedures include:

Total joint replacement with plastic and metal prosthesis

Joint fusion procedure for realignment

Tendon repair

Synovectomy to remove the inflamed lining.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Along with the medications prescribed by the doctor, rheumatoid arthritis patients need to adopt specific lifestyle changes to manage their symptoms:

Alleviate Stress: Elevated levels of stress increase the inflammation in your body. Try to find ways to manage your stress. Techniques such as muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and guided imagery can help relieve some pain.

Apply Heat or Cold: Heat may offer some comfort for your painful joints and muscles. Besides, cold can reduce swelling and has a numbing effect on your joints, thereby dulling the pain sensation.

Exercise Regularly: It’s essential to strengthen your joints and muscles to manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Consult your doctor to determine what type of exercise would be suitable for you. Avoid exercising severely inflamed joints.

Early diagnosis is critical in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. By following the guidelines mentioned above and seeking therapy, you can maintain a reasonable quality of life.

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5 Self-Care Tips for Family Caregivers to Stay Happy and Healthy

While traveling in an airplane, we are always advised to put on our oxygen mask first before helping others. The reason is obvious – we can only help others if we help ourselves. This analogy can be applied to caregiving.

Self-care for family caregivers is a crucial yet sometimes overlooked aspect. It’s essential to set some time aside to unwind and relax. The senior’s condition may not allow a caregiver to go on a vacation or treat themselves to a day at the spa.

However, that isn’t always necessary. It’s about finding time for meditation, exercise, or yoga for spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Hence, we have compiled the five self-care tips for caregivers that would ultimately benefit the patient as well.

1. Find a Support Group

A sole family caregiver often feels lonely or helpless given the circumstances. For this reason, it’s crucial to seek help and join an online/offline support group.

Understanding other people’s experiences who are undergoing something similar and having the opportunity to vent does wonder for relieving the caregiver stress.

Moreover, several other information sources such as Lotsa Helping Hands, Family Caregiver Alliance, and AARP Caregiving Resource Center could help cover daily costs and introduce family caregivers to state and federal programs, veteran and insurance benefits, etc.

Besides, some community agencies, synagogues, and churches offer round-the-clock services, including adult respite daycare, housekeeping, home health aides, transportation, and hot meal delivery. In essence, there’s plenty of help available, and sole caregivers should seek that.

2. Set Long-Term Goals

When we talk about self-care ideas for caregivers, setting long-term goals takes precedence. One should have something to look forward to after three to six months or even a year. This tip is vital to keep a positive spirit and stay motivated.

Family caregivers can set any of the following goals:

Walk at least four times a week for 30 minutes

Get a routine physical checkup

Give yourself a break whenever possible

Engage in hobbies

Seek help for caregiving tasks such as preparing meals and bathing

Career goals and other personal goals

Some of these goals may look too big to accomplish all of a sudden. We recommend dividing these goals into smaller chunks and proceeding step by step. Make an action plan if you will. That way, caregivers can stay on track and measure their success after a few months.

3. Organize Important Documents

Taking care of an aging loved one requires a lot of medical, legal, and financial affairs. Organizing essential documents is thus the key to alleviating unnecessary stress. Besides, it eliminates the chances of wasting time finding these documents when needed.

You can begin with creating a list of documents such as:

Retirement documents

Medical records

Insurance policies

Wills

A reluctance to plan the final years is understandable. However, failing to do so can leave both the patient and family caregivers at financial risk. Therefore, organizing key documents is one of the most critical self-care tips for caregivers.

4. Practice Gratitude

The feeling of gratitude is hard to come by for family caregivers. However, all they need is a change of perspective. Creating a list of good things that one feels grateful for is a great technique.

Having a “can-do” spirit and positive attitude is important for both family caregivers and seniors. The entire caregiving journey does have challenging days, but it also has rewarding days.

Taking time off social media, maintaining a gratitude journal, and enjoying nature are few self-care ideas for caregivers to stay happy and healthy. Finding happiness in life’s little moments is what matters in this journey.

5. Give Yourself Credit

The caregiving journey is no less than a roller coaster. It’s natural to feel anger, guilt, resentment at times, whatever the context may be. However, it’s important to remind family caregivers that they are only human.

Answering the same question 50 times or changing diapers is not easy. Feeling frustrated doesn’t make them bad people. But instead of venting it on the elderly, they should seek help or find a healthy outlet.

Every now and then, caregivers should give themselves credit and stop beating themselves up! From writing the feelings down to talking about them with a friend can help.

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5 Must-Have Traits of a Great Professional Caregiver that You Must Look For

Professional caregivers are entrusted with attending to the needs of seniors. Apart from that, they foster a bond with them, at times becoming a part of their family. For this reason, choosing the right caregiver for your loved one becomes an important responsibility.

Seniors often spend a significant part of their later years with professional caregivers, which is why family members should find someone who will treat them with love and kindness. This blog post thus explores the five must-have qualities of a caregiver.

1. Integrity

It’s not uncommon to encounter somebody who may take advantage of vulnerable patients with their dishonesty. If they have no integrity, the on-record training and experience don’t matter much.

You have two alternatives here. You can either hire an agency to find a professional caregiver for your aging loved one or run a criminal background check before hiring someone.

2. Professionalism

There is no set definition of professionalism. It comprises actions that are deemed appropriate for a person while they are working. For instance, using respectful language and treating the elderly with respect is a mark of professionalism.

Setting professional boundaries is also one of the essential skills of a good caregiver. That includes not getting overly attached to the patient. While there’s nothing wrong with forging a bond, they shouldn’t accept money and gifts from the elderly.

Apart from that, they cannot violate boundaries by doing tasks that are not part of their job description. When in doubt, they should consult a family member or a supervisor to determine what’s appropriate and what isn’t.

3. Patience

When talking about the qualities of a caregiver, the importance of patience cannot be stressed enough. A great professional caregiver should be very patient with the seniors. If the latter has dementia, their personal needs can cause frustration for the caregiver.

Finding someone who doesn’t panic in a difficult situation and can manage their emotions is essential. Sometimes, the patients can be angry or demanding. Even so, the caregiver should comprehend that the loss of abilities can trigger such a response, and it’s not personal.

4. Flexibility

The flexibility to adapt to changing situations is what makes a great caregiver. The patient’s clinical needs may change. In that case, the professional caregiver should be able to change course and be open to patient feedback.

The needs and wants of your aging loved one never stay the same, which is why flexibility is one of the must-have qualities of a good caregiver. Given that the response is within their scope of responsibilities, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Besides, the patient and caregiver may have different personalities. If the former is quiet, the latter may be outgoing. If you cannot find a personality match, the caregiver should adapt according to the senior’s personality and not the other way round.

5. Optimism

With chronic illnesses and frequent hospitalizations, the situation can be rather grim for seniors and their family members. For this reason, hiring a professional caregiver with a “can do” attitude can make a huge difference in their lives.

Apart from that, optimism is essential to improve functioning and encourage a better mood for everyone involved in care. Inspired by such positivity, seniors try more challenging to become better.

This becomes crucial if the elderly are pretty dependent on their caregiver, which means that the latter’s attitude greatly influences them.

To Sum Up

Finding a great professional caregiver can be no less than a challenge. It takes a lot more than just training and experience to be one. In fact, many capable caregivers do not have a formal education but the desire to care for patients with utmost sincerity and dedication.

Even so, you may not find someone “perfect,” but the traits mentioned above and the skills of a good caregiver would help you hire the best one for the elderly.

At AdvantagePlusNurses, we have a dedicated team of professional care specialties that can assist your aging loved one in times of need. Besides, we ensure that we assign the best personality match for seniors.

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Detection and Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a debilitating condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle. Such people, mostly seniors, are more vulnerable to fractures of the wrist, spine, and hips. It often shows no symptoms during the early stages, which is why it is known as the “silent disease.”

Most people only find out when they break a bone due to a fall, bump, or strain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the bone mineral density in osteoporosis patients is less than 2.5 standard deviations (SD).

If suspicions arise, the patient should get tested even if osteoporosis symptoms do not show up. Doubts could occur due to a recent fracture, and age should also be taken into account.

The bone density is usually measured with the help of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. This blog post thus addresses the detection and management of osteoporosis in detail:

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

As discussed earlier, the symptoms of this disease do not reveal themselves in the initial stages. The condition develops and progresses slowly over many years. A sudden impact or a minor fall can cause fractures of the bone.

Typically, seniors fracture their wrist, hip, rib, or vertebral column.

Some the symptoms of osteoporosis include:

A stooped posture

Loss of height over several years

Back pain triggered by collapsed or fractured vertebra

A fracture that could have been avoided easily

Causes of Osteoporosis

In every healthy individual, bones undergo a continuous state of renewal, meaning that a new one replaces the old bone. This process happens reasonably fast in younger individuals, where new bones are made faster than the old ones are broken down.

It’s by the early 20s that most people achieve their peak bone mass. However, after that age, there is a slow decline. Loss of bone mass appears, and the creation process cannot keep up.

A person’s ability to maintain a healthy bone mass depends on how much they attained it in their youth. A higher peak bone mass in their 20s suggests that they are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life.

Risk Factors

Before moving on to the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, it’s essential to understand the risk factors:

Women

It’s a known fact that osteoporosis is more prevalent in women compared to men. And that’s because hormonal changes impact their bone density. After the onset of menopause, the estrogen level falls, causing a rapid decline in bone mass.

Men

The causes of osteoporosis in men are unclear. However, studies have linked it to low levels of testosterone. This male hormone plays an essential role in keeping the bones healthy. Men can produce testosterone well into old age.

The risk is greater in those who have low levels of this hormone.

Other risk factors include:

Low body mass index (BMI)

Family history of osteoporosis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Heavy smoking and drinking

High doses of corticosteroid (used in the treatment of asthma and arthritis)

Diagnosis

There are three main diagnostic techniques involved:

Conventional Radiography: It is primarily used in conjunction with MRI or CT. However, a substantial bone loss (nearly 30%) would show up in tests making it less effective for early detection.

Dual-Energy X-Ray: Gold standard of diagnosis.

Biomarkers: It’s a chemical diagnosis technique that measures the collagen protein in bones.

Prevention of Osteoporosis

Regular exercise and good nutrition are crucial for preventing osteoporosis. A high-protein diet is critical, especially for vegans and vegetarians. They can include eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and soy to get their nutrition.

Apart from that, good calcium sources include:

Canned salmon

Dark green leafy vegetables

Low-fat dairy products

Calcium-fortified cereals

The exercise routine should include weight-bearing and strength training workouts to build stronger bones and muscles.

Guidelines for Management of Osteoporosis

Besides the treatment prescribed by the doctor, patients can follow specific guidelines for the management of osteoporosis.

Lifestyle: High alcohol intake and tobacco smoking are a big no for osteoporosis patients. The intake should be moderated.

Nutrition: Besides including calcium and protein in the diet, patients can take supplements for calcium and vitamin D (if advised by the doctor). Excess of supplements can cause kidney stones and myocardial infarction.

Prevent Falls: Making the environment safe for the elderly is critical for preventing falls, especially if they are living with the condition.

Hence, early detection, prevention, and management are vital for osteoporosis patients.

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Everything You Need to Know About Remote Patient Monitoring

Conventional healthcare necessitates in-person visits for treatments or regular health checkups at the hospital or clinic. Everything from setting up appointments to traveling to the healthcare setting takes time.

Unless it’s an emergency, patients have to follow the protocol that leads to inevitable delays. However, this scenario has changed, thanks to the advent of remote patient monitoring (RPM).

In the words of Michael J. Fox, “Medical Science has proven time and again that when resources are provided, great progress in the treatment, cure, and prevention of disease can occur.”

The above statement holds true for RPM services.

Let us now explore it in more detail:

What’s Remote Patient Monitoring?

It’s a modern healthcare delivery method that utilizes advances in Information Technology (IT) for remote consultation, checkups, and treatment. By using remote patient monitoring devices, patients never have to leave their homes.

This is especially helpful for seniors who cannot frequently visit hospitals due to physical limitations or if their family members don’t live close by. Any health information about the patient can be conveyed to the healthcare provider through RPM devices.

It is achieved through the use of tablets, smartphones, and specific sensors that transmit the senior’s physiological information after reviewing, which the doctors can recommend the next medication, actions, and care.

Not just that, remote patient monitoring solutions can also help remind patients about exercises, diet, medication, and sleep. They have flow charts, instructions, and other information needed for self-care, such as instructions to combat anxiety.

Components of RPM Tech

Technology has made wearable devices widely accessible. All patients have to do is wear them without needing any proximity with the doctor.

RPM technology comprises five components described below:

Input Devices

These consist of sensors that provide prescriptions, alerts, reminders, and communication with the healthcare provider. The input devices can feed and transmit the physiological data or the senior can enter it manually.

Some of the devices used in remote patient monitoring are glucose monitors, Bluetooth-enabled scales, wireless blood pressure devices, smartwatches, DNA health tests, personal computers, gut microbiome tests, heart rate monitor, etc.

Local Data Storage

All patient data during the treatment cycle is kept safe in a central repository or local data storage such as a USB device. The data can be accessed by the patient, doctor, and caregivers.

Network

The input devices discussed earlier need a network and communication system to connect with the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. To facilitate patient-doctor communication, the service providers often help set up this network.

It could be achieved via Bluetooth connection, mobile connection, or Wi-Fi.

Central Repository

Hospitals and clinics maintain the EHR system that stores the patient data. It serves as vital information for medical practitioners to advise suitable treatment and medication or make an accurate diagnosis.

Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring System

There are multiple benefits of the RPM system for both the patients and doctors. Some of the advantages for patients are outlined below:

Reduction in frequency of hospitalization

Adherence to medications, no missed doses

Rapid diagnoses of diseases allowing timely intervention

Reduced healthcare costs, effort, and time

Doctors, too, benefit from the remote patient monitoring system. Some of the advantages for doctors include:

Effective utilization of medical resources

Balanced time and workload

Real-time patient supervision

Applications of RPM

Remote patient monitoring has numerous use cases, as explained below:

Dementia Problems

Seniors living with dementia often lose their way or fall accidentally due to the physical and mental decline that accompanies the condition. For such people, RPM devices that offer surveillance and assistance can be a boon.

These GPS-enabled devices can also allow family members to track the senior’s location.

Diabetes and Hypertension

Patients with high blood pressure or diabetes require continuous monitoring of their vitals. Remote patient monitoring services can help seniors check their vitals regularly.

The devices can send alerts to control the blood sugar and blood pressure level. Besides, the diagnostic software can handle the medication and diet to maintain acceptable levels.

Clinical Trials

If the patients agree, rare conditions often require clinical trials. To make that possible, long-term observation of seniors with the help of RPM systems becomes necessary.

Final Thoughts

Compared to Telehealth, remote patient monitoring has a lot of potentials. Continual innovations in the area would see increasing patient participation in the future. Apart from that, information-sharing will improve, thanks to the progress in technology.

RPM lets seniors stay at home – which they prefer a lot more than hospitalizations.

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Detection and Management of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic condition that affects the digestive and respiratory systems. The extensive damage caused by the disease results in a buildup of mucus in multiple organs, including the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestines. Cells that produce digestive enzymes, mucus, and sweat are affected by cystic fibrosis.

In a healthy human being, these fluids prevent the organs from getting infected by keeping them lubricated. However, these secreted fluids turn sticky and thick in people with a faulty gene who develop CF. Such fluids start behaving as passageways, tubes, and ducts, posing a threat to the patient’s life.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the detection and management of cystic fibrosis in detail:

Detection of Cystic Fibrosis

The first step of diagnosis is understanding and identifying the symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Let’s look at the respiratory and digestive symptoms below:

Respiratory Symptoms

Wheezing

A persistent cough with phlegm

Shortness of breath

Recurrent lung infections

A stuffy nose

Stuffy sinuses

Digestive Symptoms

Loss of appetite

A swollen abdomen

Nausea

Constipation

Foul-smelling stools

Delayed growth in children

A genetic predisposition is responsible for CF. The CFTR gene or the “cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator” gene is responsible for salt and water movement between cells. A mutation in this gene causes abnormal mucus buildup.

If you have a family history, you should regularly checkup and look for the signs mentioned above. Apart from that, you may need to go through specific diagnostic tests, including:

Immunoreactive Trypsinogen (IRT) Test

The immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) test checks for abnormal protein levels in the blood called IRT to diagnose cystic fibrosis. Higher than normal levels of IRT indicates cystic fibrosis. It is further confirmed through more tests.

Sweat Chloride Test

It’s a common test used for the detection of cystic fibrosis. In this diagnostic method, the doctor checks if your sweat has increased salt levels. A chemical and a weak electric current are used to make a person sweat, which is then analyzed for salt levels.

CT Scan

A combination of X-rays is used to create images of the body’s internal structures, such as the pancreas and liver. CT scan also allows the doctor to evaluate the extent of organ damage.

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

Testing for cystic fibrosis includes determining how well your lungs are functioning. Patients are evaluated for their ability to inhale or exhale properly. Apart from that, their lungs are checked whether they can effectively transport oxygen.

How to Manage Cystic Fibrosis?

Doctors may prescribe various antibiotics, mucus-thinning medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), bronchodilators, CFTR modulators. Patients must never take these medications without a doctor’s advice.

Apart from that, patients suffering from cystic fibrosis may need bowel surgery, feeding tube, or double-lung transplant depending on their condition. It should be noted that transplant is not the cure since the patient’s body continues to have the defective gene.

Besides, CF patients may benefit from:

Chest Physical Therapy

Management of cystic fibrosis includes chest physical therapy. It’s a technique used to loosen the mucus inside the patient’s lungs. Seek the advice of your care team to learn exactly how to do it.

Usually, you have to lie down at the edge of your bed. Following which you have to clap the sides of your chest with cupped hands. This technique should be repeated 1-4 times a day.

Besides, you can also buy mechanical devices such as a chest clapper or an inflatable vest.

Home Care

People with CF find it difficult to absorb nutrients due to mucus buildup in their intestines. For this reason, they may need to consume more calories than an average person. Besides, doctors may recommend multivitamins, antacids, and pancreatic enzyme capsules as well.

For the effective management of cystic fibrosis, you should:

Drink plenty of fluids

Exercise regularly – swimming, biking, walking

Avoid mold, pollen, smoke, and other irritants

Get vaccinated for pneumonia and influenza

AdvantagePlusNurses offers chronic care management for seniors where our team makes a detailed care plan, monitors the patient every day, and intervenes in case of emergency.

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A Definitive Guide to Caring for Seniors

When an elderly loved ones can no longer care for themselves, it falls upon their family members to offer some help. Before doing so, you should carefully evaluate their needs. The seniors may need assistance to perform day-to-day activities or do well with just some extra support. It varies with individuals.

Besides, being a caregiver is no small responsibility. You need to evaluate your own needs, physical and mental health conditions before moving forward with your decision. This is a complete guide to caring for seniors that you will find helpful during the journey:

1. Readjust the House to Their Needs

Caring for the elderly at home necessitates certain adjustments. Though small, these adjustments could make a considerable difference in the senior’s life. You can start with removing clutter from corridors as well as additional furniture in the house.

That would significantly decrease their chances of tripping over something and seriously injuring themselves. Apart from that, you should install grab bars in the shower and toilet. Make sure the floors don’t have cables or loose wires. Buying non-skid mats for the kitchen, bathroom, and other slippery areas of the house is imperative while caring for seniors.

2. Involve Them in Decisions

Often seniors with chronic medical conditions resist care when they don’t feel a part of the decision-making process. Well, a significant part of their care includes making them feel more in control and independent.

Hence, family members and the care team must include seniors in every decision and conversation. Their opinions and inputs hold great value while they can still make decisions. Listening attentively works far better than dismissing their concerns and ideas.

For this reason, caring for the elderly at home requires open communication and honesty.

3. Help Them Stay Active

According to CDC, seniors must get a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise every week. Any reasonable level of physical activity should be encouraged while caring for seniors. If you’re concerned about their safety, consult a physical therapist or a doctor to determine which exercises are suitable for your loved one.

For instance, if the elderly loved one is living with osteoarthritis, they should probably stick to light yoga, stationary cycling, and swimming since they are considered joint-friendly exercises. The therapist may also recommend Passive Range of Motion exercises while caring for the bedridden elderly at home.

In such exercises, you have to help move their limbs to maintain joint mobility. Also, try to keep them as close to nature as possible.

4. Stay Updated with Technology

The introduction of new technologies means that there could be a better way to improve seniors’ quality of life. It could be virtual appointments with the care provider, thereby eliminating the risk of hospital exposure and constant travel.

Besides, technology has enabled a 24*7 remote monitoring system for patients allowing timely intervention in emergency situations. Therefore, you should keep abreast of the latest technologies for in-home elderly care. You can also visit Best Practice Caregiving – a free database for family caregivers.

5. Be Careful with Medicines

This is a tricky one and could lead to unfavorable consequences if not dealt with caution. Due to drowsiness, memory loss, poor eyesight, and cognitive decline, seniors can mix up their medications. It could potentially lead to overdose or drug interaction.

For this reason, you should label their medications in bold letters along with the instructions. Also, store them in specific drawers that are easy to reach and minimize any chance of a mix-up. Ensure that they never miss a dose while caring for seniors.

6. Hire a Help

You must consider this option if it’s not possible for you to relocate, especially if your loved one requires round-the-clock care. Hiring professional help would ensure that they are adequately taken care of.

Besides, AdvantagePlusNurses offers remote monitoring services for elderly patients living in any part of the country. Our care team monitors their vitals and keeps in touch with them every single day.

That said, even if you don’t live close by, you should visit them regularly. Seniors need to spend as much time with family as possible to maintain their moods and spirits.

Final Thoughts

Caring for seniors is difficult and emotionally complex. The tips mentioned above would help you during the process and keep your loved one safe and healthy. That said, don’t lose yourself in the process and prioritize your health and wellbeing too.

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8 Things to Get Checked by a Doctor After an Elderly Falls

It’s a terrifying experience when a loved one falls. If they are fortunate enough to survive the first fall without major injuries, you still feel a little shaken. And that’s natural. It’s a reminder that your loved one may need 24*7 support and assistance due to their declining health.

The threat of falls in the elderly is real, overwhelming, and unavoidable. According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can expect seven fall deaths every hour by the year 2030. The ever-increasing and worrying statistics point to a desperate need to prevent falls.

Thus, this blog post aims to educate you on eight things to get checked by a doctor after an elderly fall. Such information will empower you to keep your loved one safe and avoid any life-threatening ordeal in the future.

1. Assessment of Underlying Diseases

One of the causes of recurrent falls in the elderly could be an underlying disease. After the first fall, you should get your loved one checked for:

Strokes, including mini-strokes

Atrial fibrillation (a heart condition)

Pneumonia

Anemia (lower than normal red blood cells)

Urinary tract infection

It may not always turn out to be an underlying disease. The fall may have been induced by dehydration. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Pulse and Blood Pressure

Abnormal levels of blood pressure and irregular pulse can cause fainting or light-headedness. If the senior already takes medication for regulating blood pressure, it’s important to be extra-cautious. Make sure that they never miss a dose.

However, if they’ve already suffered a fall, the doctor must be informed about their condition. Even other medications such as Flomax (a prostate medication) can cause a reduction in blood pressure levels.

Be sure to inform the doctor of every medication taken by the elderly.

3. Blood Tests

A blood test would give a fair idea of symptoms to look for after a fall. An evaluation of kidney function, check of electrolytes, and complete blood cell count (CBC) are generally recommended by a doctor after an elderly fall.

For instance, irregular levels of blood sodium could complicate the matter. If the doctor finds any abnormalities in the blood report and whether they are induced by the falls, they would advise you on addressing them.

4. Review of Medications

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is one of the crucial causes of recurrent falls in the elderly. It’s essential to keep a blood sugar log as well as a glucometer at home – especially if the senior takes insulin.

Moments of low blood sugar may not show up in the blood test. Apart from that, certain blood pressure medications, sleeping medications, tranquilizers, sedatives, opiate pain medications, and anticholinergic medications can increase the risk of falls in the elderly.

After the first fall, request a medication review with your doctor to see if any of them can be removed or replaced.

5. Gait and Balance

Pain and discomfort are just a few of the consequences of falls in the elderly. If the pain persists, you should seek medical help – especially if the pain is in the back, joints, or feet. Lack of balance and gait is a leading cause of falls in the elderly.

If this was the reason why your aging loved one fell, it’s a good idea to hire a physical therapist. They can teach suitable strengthening exercises that would minimize the probability of such occurrences in the future.

Also, get an assistive device, if needed.

6. Vitamin D Deficiency

According to a study, Vitamin D deficiency may be responsible for falls in the elderly. Since lack of Vitamin D can lead to fragile bones, the threat of fall becomes imminent. Getting the levels checked thus makes perfect sense.

The doctor may recommend supplements and a few hours in the sun to cope with the deficiency.

7. Underlying Neurological Conditions

An underlying neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease could also be responsible for falls in the elderly. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor if that could be the reason.

Especially if you’ve exhausted all the other possibilities, a chronic neurological condition diagnosis may provide some answers.

8. Review of Home Safety

Accidental falls are not uncommon. The senior could have just tripped over something, unfortunately. Make sure that their home is free of clutter and hire help if necessary. Besides, vision checks may also give you an idea of why the elderly fell in the first place.

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5 Tips to Promote Independence in Seniors

When we see or hear the term ‘independence,’ words such as living a fulfilled lifestyle, having choices, and being self-reliant come to our mind. However, independence in old age becomes a challenge due to health conditions causing difficulties with mobility.

Irrespective of their medical condition, seniors desire to live independently. They have made decisions, raised families, worked jobs throughout their lives, and it should come as no surprise that they want to continue doing so.

Even though family members cannot remove health-related barriers, they can most certainly undertake a few ways to promote independence in the elderly that are laid out in this blog post.

1. Make Personal Items Accessible

If you have an elderly patient in the family who needs help to get dressed, you can still increase their independence by letting them choose what to wear. For that, you would need to make their attires and other personal items easily accessible.

For instance, their wardrobe should be close enough so that the clothes are visible to them. Installing an open wardrobe is also a good idea. Make sure that you present them with good choices. Similarly, other items such as money and jewelry should be easily accessible for promoting independence in the elderly.

2. Invest in Comfortable Clothing

Learning how to promote independence in the elderly would give them an incredible confidence boost. If the senior can wear their clothes without much difficulty, it’s a good sign. However, they may face problems with zippers and buttons.

Therefore, investing in pants with elastic waistbands would prove to be quite helpful. Ask the elderly who can give you important insights regarding clothing – what’s comfortable for them and what’s not.

If they require less support while getting dressed, it would significantly enhance their confidence and independence.

3. Buy Voice-Activated Technology

Tech giants such as Google and Amazon have introduced top-notch voice-activated home devices in recent years. There lies excellent potential when it comes to helping the elderly remain independent.

Seniors with mobility challenges, low vision, and other disabilities can benefit immensely from voice-activated technology. At the command of their voice, such devices can:

Make phone calls

Tell the weather, date, and time

Control lights around the house

Control the thermostat

Lock and unlock doors

Operate the television

Play music

Seniors may not be able to use computers or smartphones to access the information mentioned above. The technology empowers them. Hence, it would definitely decrease their reliance on family members.

A great advantage is that voice-activated home devices are updated with new use cases regularly.

4. Encourage Physical Activity

This may seem like a no-brainer. However, the significance of physical activity increases even more for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Exercise improves the mobility and strength of seniors living with these conditions.

Hence, encouraging light exercises and daily walks are great for promoting independence in the elderly. Not only would it help the elderly to get fresh air but also maintain a reasonable quality of life.

5. Inculcate a Sense of Purpose

With the loss of independence comes depression and feelings of hopelessness. It ultimately leads to lower quality of life and other mental health problems. Inculcating a sense of purpose, on the other hand, helps negate these effects.

You should find opportunities where seniors can actively contribute to the community, friends, and family as they did before. Even if they cannot achieve the same level of independence, it offers them a sense of accomplishment.

In other words, promoting independence in the elderly is crucial for seniors to combat health-related challenges head-on. Another great way of developing a sense of purpose is to participate in volunteer activities.

Bonus Tip: Improve Strength and Balance

The ability to maintain independence in old age depends a lot on seniors’ strength and balance. It’s essential to work on strength daily; failing to do it could lead to loss of core balance and muscle mass.

Another reason why improving strength and balance is important is because it prevents falls in the elderly. Hence, it avoids painful hospitalizations and long-term injuries. The latter can again make it extremely challenging for them to maintain independence.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to timely intervention, promoting independence in the elderly shouldn’t be a daunting task. The earlier you take the steps mentioned above, the better quality of life they will achieve.

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Arthritis affects people over 55 years of age. It’s a common joint disease affecting more than 80% of seniors, especially women after menopause. This condition mostly weakens the knees in the elderly. Most common symptoms include increased pain during activity followed by periods of rest.

However, in the advanced stage, patients experience pain even during the rest phase. Another prominent symptom of arthritis is morning stiffness that typically lasts 30 minutes. Millions of adults live with this condition in the United States.

Even though there is no cure for arthritis, its impact can be reduced through a greater understanding of the disease. Therefore, we have covered the detection and management of arthritis in detail.

Let’s understand the diagnosis first:

Diagnosis of Arthritis

Doctors look for any redness or swelling of joints during the physical exam. They analyze your movements to see if you are experiencing pain in your joints. Management of chronic arthritis pain in the elderly begins with a proper diagnosis.

Therefore, if the doctor suspects, you would be required to undergo specific laboratory tests for confirmation. Analysis of body fluids such as joint fluid, urine, and blood allows them to properly detect the condition.

Apart from that, specific imaging techniques are essential in the diagnosis of arthritis. The most common techniques include:

Ultrasound: This high-frequency sound wave technology is used for imaging fluid-containing structures (bursae), cartilage, and soft tissues. Ultrasound is also used by doctors for needle placement while injecting the patient.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of the strong magnetic field and radio waves are used for producing cross-sectional images of ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.

Computerized Tomography (CT): It’s a more advanced version of an X-ray. Doctors create cross-sectional views of the joints by combining two-dimensional images from different angles. This technology helps visualize the bone as well as surround soft tissues.

X-rays: Radiologists use X-rays to detect bone spurs, bone damage, and cartilage loss. This technology is commonly used to track the disease’s progression. However, to reveal early arthritic damage, X-ray imaging may not be enough.

This brings us to our next section, where we will discuss the arthritis management strategies in detail.

Management of Arthritis

The treatment plan created by care specialists and the primary doctor is focused on improving joint function and relieving symptoms. They may prescribe painkillers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, counterirritants, corticosteroids, or biologic response modifiers during the treatment.

Our focus is, however, on lifestyle changes, therapy, and home remedies. Seniors can significantly reduce their symptoms with the help of the following measures:

Exercise: Seniors living with arthritis often experience reduced mobility in their joints. Therefore, one of the most critical arthritis management strategies is doing regular exercise. Water aerobics is great for maintaining the flexibility of joints because of the reduced stress.

Weight Loss: People who are overweight experience more pressure on their joints. For arthritic patients, this additional weight becomes a huge problem. Hence, losing those extra pounds is crucial for alleviating the stress on those weight-bearing joints. Furthermore, it minimizes the chance of joint injury in the future.

Assistive Devices: For the management of arthritis, seniors can use assistive devices such as raised toilet seats, walkers, shoe inserts, and canes to protect their joints. Such devices also improve their ability to function in day-to-day life.

Heat and Cold: Though temporarily, ice packs or heating pads may help ease some arthritis pain.

Apart from the lifestyle mentioned above changes and home remedies, seniors can also opt for physical therapy to manage chronic pain. In many cases, braces or splints may be necessary.

Therapy can help strengthen the muscles around joints and improve the range of motion. Seniors are always vulnerable to falls, and physical therapy is an excellent way for them to move safely.

Winding Up

Seniors living with arthritis require a lot more than just medications to manage their condition. They need to make lifestyle changes, undertake physical therapy, and try some home remedies to get some relief from the pain.

If you or your family member need professional help for the management of arthritis, the dedicated team of care specialists at AdvantagePlusNurses can help!

We ensure that patients can lead a good quality of life, stick to their medication schedule, and follow the lifestyle changes

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition that affects the lungs in the elderly. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease yet. It can, however, be managed by following a few tips laid out in this blog post.

Managing COPD in seniors aims to improve the quality of life and relieve the symptoms using a medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, and other treatments. If you are living with COPD, these tips will help improve lung function and slow the decline in your overall health.

Let us understand the strategies for COPD management at home:

1. Quit Smoking

Research suggests that COPD patients face many adverse effects due to complicated treatment plans. They may need treatment for multiple diseases such as depression, heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

The burden of comorbid conditions can lead to adverse drug events, weight loss, and falls. Besides, certain lifestyle factors such as smoking can speed up the disease’s progression. The best thing you can do to manage your condition is to give up smoking.

In fact, nicotine is one of the causes of COPD, which is why smoking cessation will reduce symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider about the following techniques that would aid smoking cessation:

Nicotine replacement therapy

Self-help materials

Counseling

Medications

Group programs

2. Try Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Treatment for COPD in the elderly involves a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Your care specialists can help you incorporate lifestyle changes and provide general education about managing your condition.

Our team at AdvantagePlusNurses can help you learn breathing exercises and other forms of workouts for managing COPD. We create a coordinated program to improve your health and increase your activity as much as possible.

Moreover, our care specialists will provide nutrition advice that you should follow. Since COPD patients are more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and influenza, they must get vaccinated for yearly flu and pneumococcal diseases.

3. Eat a Balanced Diet and Exercise

Eating a balanced diet can be difficult for seniors living with COPD. For this reason, consulting a dietician to create a healthy meal plan is a viable solution. Exercising and eating right is indispensable for maintaining your fitness level.

However, before making any changes to your diet, you must discuss it with your primary healthcare provider.

Try to include green leafy vegetables

Include physical therapy in your treatment plan

Drink enough water

Learn techniques to expel mucus from your airways

4. Get Plenty of Rest

When we talk about managing COPD, getting plenty of rest is as essential as proper diet and exercise. Even though sleeping can be a bit challenging, you should try to keep a regular bedtime schedule.

It’s essential to feel tired for you to sleep peacefully, which is why we don’t recommend taking naps during the day. Avoid working or exercising at least two hours before bedtime. Moreover, you shouldn’t have caffeinated drinks after 5 PM.

Make small changes in your diet, like having a handful of nuts or a glass of milk before going to bed. Also, include high-protein snacks and remove high-carb food from your dinner.

5. Use Oxygen Therapy

COPD patients have dangerously low levels of blood oxygen. This is because the body can no longer get enough oxygen without assistance. Therefore, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy to improve your daily activity, enhance your sleep, and protect your organs.

If you or your family member is living with COPD, you can also get a portable oxygen tank as prescribed by your doctor. The oxygen is delivered to your body through a face mask or flexible nasal tube.

If you want a more affordable alternative, you can purchase an oxygen concentrator that extracts oxygen from the air. When used correctly, oxygen therapy can be very helpful in managing COPD and does not harm your lungs and other body parts.

That brings us to our bonus tip for managing COPD in the elderly:

Formulate an Action Plan

COPD is confusing, complex, and challenging. Patients often do not remember critical changes in medication, symptoms, diet, and doctor visits. Hence, a COPD action plan becomes imperative to:

Adhere to the medication schedule

Understand if the treatment is working

Determine when to contact your care specialist

Know when to access emergency care

During each visit, your care team will update the plan to manage the symptoms of COPD.