Senior Health
Midnight Sun Home Care’s collection of articles about Senior Health.
Laughter May Truly Be the Best Medicine When Caring for Someone With Dementia
Laughter can be good medicine when caring for someone with dementia.
Caring for someone with dementia is certainly not something to laugh about. Nonetheless, research is increasingly pointing towards the benefits associated with humor, and adding it into dementia care may be just what the doctor ordered to enhance quality of life… Continue reading
Tips for Family Caregivers to Help Manage Elderly Health Issues
Managing elderly health issues is a big responsibility for family caregivers.
Of all of the many responsibilities a family caregiver encounters, potentially one of the most overwhelming is managing elderly health issues. The National Council on Aging reports that about three–quarters of all seniors are identified as having at least two chronic… Continue reading
5 Ways a Geriatric Care Manager Can Change a Senior’s Life
A geriatric care manager can greatly improve quality of life for seniors.
Family care providers recognize that navigating the process of locating appropriate care resources for a senior can feel like trying to cross the ocean in a rowboat – blindfolded, and blindsided by the buffeting waves and winds. The chances of arriving safely to… Continue reading
The Key to Unlocking Communication Difficulties in Dementia: Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is invaluable in connecting with those with dementia.
Talking with a senior trying to cope with all the struggles of Alzheimer’s, especially in the middle and later stages, could very well be discouraging – both for you and for the senior loved one. Brain changes impede the ability to listen, process, and respond… Continue reading
8 Key Health Benefits of Laughter: Care Tips From the Anchorage Respite Care Team
Learn some of the many incredible health benefits of laughter.
Have you ever caught yourself preparing to bubble over with uncontrollable laughter at the most inopportune moment – in a packed elevator, a hushed waiting room, or a religious service? While there are, of course, times when we need to control the silliness, author Jane… Continue reading
Alzheimer’s Symptoms: 5 Things That Make Them Worse
Alzheimer’s symptoms can be negatively impacted by certain things or activities.
While there are particular commonalities, Alzheimer’s disease affects every individual differently. Our specially trained dementia caregivers know, for example, that even though one individual may appreciate being outdoors, another person could be overwhelmed by so much sensory input and favor a tranquil indoor environment.… Continue reading
Acceptance: Getting Help at Home For Chronic Disease Care Is Not Giving Up
Admitting you need help caring for a loved one is hard.
In Isaac Asimov’s opinion, “The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.” It is a frequent feeling for many family caregivers when their loved one is diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as dementia. Even though this can generate some… Continue reading
Research Now Links These Common Prescriptions as Risk Factors for Dementia
Do you have a loved one taking one of these common prescriptions?
They’re already understood to cause various short-term unwanted side effects, such as memory issues and confusion, but new research links some of the stronger anticholinergic drugs (such as those prescribed for Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, and overactive bladder) to an increased risk factor for dementia. Continue reading
The Latest Approach to Chronic Care Services: Empowering Patients to Take Control
Chronic care services can help empower senior patients to take control.
Regarding chronic diseases, seniors are the experts, hands down, with as many as 3 out of four seniors affected by several conditions that are on-going, necessitate extensive treatment, and put limitations on activities. With the continuous barrage of bloodwork along with other medical tests, doctors’ appointments and procedures, and medications, controlling chronic diseases can take both a physical and emotional toll, and might quickly become stressful. Continue reading
Alaska Home Health Pros Share Latest Recommendations on Senior Diabetes and Low Blood Sugar
Learn the latest surprising recommendations related to senior diabetes and low blood sugar levels.
The newest recommendations from the Endocrine Society concerning the elderly and diabetes are surprising, to say the least: lower blood sugar is not always best. And for individuals who have been keeping a routine of finger pricks, insulin injections, and thorough… Continue reading
Dementia Care in Anchorage: Personal Hygiene Tips for Those with Alzheimer’s
Try these personal hygiene tips for someone with dementia.
Of all the struggles linked to providing care for a loved one with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association indicates that the most prevalent challenge is with personal hygiene, for several different reasons:
Diminished sense of vision and smell
Comfort found in familiarity (for example, wanting to wear… Continue reading
Replace Caregiver Fatigue with Joy with These Tips
Overcome caregiver fatigue with these tips.
Our facial expressions display so much to those around us, and when you’re experiencing an abnormal degree of stress, well-meaning friends and family will certainly notice it, perhaps encouraging you to simply, “Cheer up, buttercup!” In reality, of course, it will take so much more than a couple of… Continue reading
Make the Most of Your Next Visit with Your Primary Care Doctor
Taking these steps in advance of the next visit with your primary care doctor will help maximize your time together.
On any given day, a physician usually has approximately 20 patients to see – combined with phone calls, paperwork, and other administrative duties. It leaves precious little time spent with each person, which explains why… Continue reading
Research Shows Top Senior Care Fear: Making a Mistake
Providing senior care for a loved one can cause concerns, including the risk of making a mistake.
“Of course Grandpa can move in with me!”
Increasingly more family senior care providers are making this noble choice every day, signifying the beginning of lifestyle changes they may only fully understand when immersed in them. And while… Continue reading
Finding Purpose and Embracing Positivity in Everyday Life as a Senior Citizen
Many senior citizens find their most fulfilling day to be those in which they help others.
Think about a typical day in the life of a senior citizen. Hopefully, it provides a number of positive and enriching experiences: enjoying breakfast, engaging in a favorite hobby or interest, visiting with a relative or friend, watching a popular television show. However, there’s a difference between positivity and purpose; and the need for a life rich with meaning and purpose is very important, specifically in the life of senior loved ones. Continue reading