Balancing medications is tough. You have to keep in mind when to take them, how they should be taken, and introducing a different dosage or a new medication could have painful side effects. In some cases, turning to other methods to treat certain symptoms could possibly reduce the occurrence of this problem. But where do you find these kinds of remedies?
Completing everyday tasks like eating, dressing, and brushing teeth may occur without a second thought. But what happens if the body’s motor control and grip strength aren’t what it used to be? Suddenly, those tasks can seem like major hurdles, let alone being able to practice hobbies like knitting, drawing, and reading. When this issue affects seniors, it can severely limit their independence, but there may be a solution to fix this problem.
Everyone is used to taking Vitamin C during cold and flu season, and others may take a multivitamin when they eat their breakfast. Seniors can also benefit from adding supplements to their diet. While these don’t replace meals, they can help the body continue to do what it’s supposed to do. However, it’s equally important to make sure these supplements are added safely to the person’s diet.
Counting sheep, drinking herbal tea, reading a book – nearly everyone has a bedtime routine that helps them fall into a restful sleep. Your loved one may have had a routine, but it’s possible it’s not working the same way it used to. If you’re noticing that your loved one doesn’t seem to be getting the sleep they need, you may wonder about different methods that can help promote a more restful sleep. Light therapy could possibly help.
We all remember our parents telling us to eat our vegetables, no matter how much we wanted to leave them on the plate. Eating a balanced diet provides your body with the nutrition it needs. This is essential for maintaining strength, your immune system, and having energy throughout the day. However, not all seniors may be getting the nutrition they need each day.
When your loved one ages, you may notice that they’re experiencing issues that are typical for senior citizens: weakness, pain, problems with sleeping and more. While regular exercise, a healthy diet, and other medications in their health care plan can provide some relief, sometimes you may wonder if there are ways your loved one can get additional help. CBD may provide some helpful effects that can improve your loved one’s quality of life.
While most people associate dementia with memory loss, there are many other ways it can affect a person. Senses like touch and hearing can weaken and they may experience feelings of agitation or other behavioral issues.
Your parent may need to make major decisions regarding finances, medical care, and power of attorney as they age. This is so they can officially state what they want and how they want their affairs to be taken care of as they age. However, the legality of these documents can be called into question and challenged if one party believes they didn’t have the capacity to make these decisions. Having a letter of competency to accompany other important documents can help.
When mom or dad are living in a dementia care community or in a memory care neighborhood of an assisted living community, you may worry that if their health needs change they will have to move to a higher level of care – but that doesn’t have to be the case.
As a caregiver, you’re there for your loved one to help them maintain their health and independence while also providing them with emotional support. You likely help your loved one in so many different ways, but you may have not asked yourself if everything you’re doing is in your loved one’s best interests? You never want to cause your loved one undue stress, but you also don’t want to enable behaviors that are detrimental to their wellbeing.