Senior Health
Midnight Sun Home Care’s collection of articles about Senior Health.
Avoid Senior Medication Errors with These Tips
Prevent senior medication mistakes with these tips.
A recent research study of over 2,000 older adults reveals that a stunning 87% take one or more prescription drugs, and a full 36% are taking five or more – as well as 38% using over-the-counter meds on a regular basis. Managing these medications in our later years… Continue reading
Tips for Managing Dementia and Incontinence
Incontinence is a common issue that affects those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia care requires both compassion and creativity to manage a variety of complicated behaviors and effects, and that’s especially true when it comes to dementia and incontinence, something that is extremely common in Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. These tried-and-true strategies can be effective in minimizing the impact of incontinence and preventing an escalation of emotions in someone you love with dementia. Continue reading
6 Tips for Male Mesothelioma Patients
Learn important health tips for men who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma occurs in men 4 times more often than women. Researchers believe men develop mesothelioma more often because occupational asbestos exposure typically happens in male-dominated industries.
6 Health Tips for Men with Mesothelioma
The Centers for Disease Control… Continue reading
5 Tough (But Normal) Caregiver Emotions – and How to Manage Them
Family caregivers experience a wide range of emotions while caring for aging parents.
If you’re feeling a bit discouraged in your role as caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Providing care for a loved one is perhaps one of the most complex roles we can hold: highly rewarding on one hand, while simultaneously frustrating and ever-evolving, often leading to caregiver emotions and feelings of doubt about whether we’re up to the challenge and providing the best possible care. Continue reading
A New Cancer Treatment for All Types of Cancer Could Be Coming
New cancer research may lead to new treatment options for all types of cancer.
We already know how incredible our body’s immune system is in attacking invading bacteria and viruses and restoring us to health following an illness, but the latest findings from a study by Cardiff University are poised to bring a new and unexpected development with a new cancer treatment: stopping cancer in its tracks. Continue reading
Dementia and Vision Problems – How Dementia Affects Eyesight
Seniors with dementia often experience various kinds of vision problems.
The complicated steps necessary to enable us to see are mind-boggling. Within the blink of an eye, our brains are able to take transmitted details of the environment all around us, translate that information based on input from other senses, memories, and thoughts, and then… Continue reading
The Importance of Hydration in the Elderly and How to Help Maintain Optimum Fluid Intake
Lack of hydration in the elderly can lead to severe health issues.
Did you realize…approximately 50% of all older adults are chronically under-hydrated, as reported by a new scientific study conducted at UCLA? Not only that, but seniors over age 65 account for the highest category of hospital admissions due to dehydration. … Continue reading
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