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Homecare in Scottsdale AZ: Foodborne Infection Symptoms

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Foodborne Illness?

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Approximately 48 million people throughout the United States experience a foodborne illness or infection each year. Of these, around 128,000 will require hospitalization, and 3,000 will die as a result of their illness or infection.

As a family caregiver, it is extremely important to recognize that elderly adults are more vulnerable to foodborne illness and infection, also referred to as food poisoning, than younger adults, and are more likely to experience severe consequences as a result of such illnesses and infections. Being able to detect the potential signs and symptoms of such an infection can allow you to act quickly, get your senior the medical care they need, and help them through healing and recovery.

 

Some of the signs and symptoms of foodborne infection include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach cramp
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea

These symptoms can occur within a relatively short period of time of consuming contaminated food, but can also appear days after. While most of the time these illnesses or infections are mild and will resolve themselves, they can quickly become severe.

 

Contact your senior’s doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms related to a foodborne infection or illness:

  • A temperature of over 101.5
  • Blood in the stool
  • Frequent vomiting that prevents your senior from being able to keep fluids down effectively
  • Diarrhea that is persistent for more than 3 days
  • Signs of dehydration such as dizziness upon standing, a decrease in urination, and dryness of the mouth and throat

Depending on the virus, bacteria, or pathogen that has led to the illness or infection, the symptoms can occur anywhere between 30 minutes and a month after consumption of the contaminated food. If your parent begins experiencing these symptoms, and you cannot relate them to another illness, think back through what your parent has eaten in the preceding several days. If they have eaten at a restaurant recently, it is important to contact that restaurant after your parent’s diagnosis to inform them for reporting purposes.

Getting proper nutrition is one of the most important elements of your senior maintaining health as they age in place. Elderly care can be extremely beneficial when it comes to helping your senior get the nutrition they need on a regular basis.

An elderly home care services provider can provide safe and reliable transportation to the grocery store to stock their home with healthy options, provide reminders of dietary restrictions and instructions from their doctor, assist with meal and snack preparation, and encourage your senior to get enough hydration on a regular basis. This can not only help your parent to maintain better health, but also to support mental and emotional well-being, and quality of life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Paradise Valley, AZ or the surrounding areas, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  (480) 535-6800.

Source:
Fsis.usda.gov
Cdc.gov

 

Elder Care in Scottsdale AZ: Signs of Alzheimer's

Is Your Parent’s Difficulty with Problem Solving Normal or a Sign of Alzheimer’s?

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Everyone has trouble solving problems or getting organized at times in their life.

When, however, may these signs of difficulty indicate that there could be something more serious happening? Alzheimer’s disease is an issue that most family caregivers put a considerable amount of thought into throughout their care experience with their senior parent, and it is important to be able to recognize early warning signs of the progression. While memory loss is the first thing that most people think about when they consider the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, the reality is that there are many other signs that could indicate that your senior is at the beginning of their progression with the disease.

 

One early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is difficulty solving problems or making plans.

While it is perfectly normal to occasionally experience confusion when making complex plans or when managing a challenging task, such as balancing a checkbook, if your parent is having frequent or marked difficulty with planning or problem solving, it may be time to discuss it with their doctor.

 

Some problem solving or planning difficulties that may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease include:

-A marked difficulty with concentration and seeming distracted when they should be focusing on a specific task

-Difficulty following a set of tasks, particularly something familiar such as a recipe that they have made several times before

-Inability to keep up with their regular household bills

-Receiving cut-off notices for their utilities

-Getting overdraft notices for their bank account

-Inability to make simple organizational choices such as how to put items away in a drawer or linen closet

 

Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them during the course of your care journey.

Having a senior home care services provider in the home with your aging parent can ensure that they have ongoing access to the care, support, and assistance that they need to manage their individual needs, challenges, and limitations in the ways that are right for them while also respecting the care that you give them on a regular basis. This means that your parent can stay healthy, safe, comfortable, and happy while also pursuing a lifestyle that is an active, engaged, and independent as possible throughout their later years. As their family caregiver, this will give you confidence and peace of mind that your senior will get everything that they need both when you are with them and when you are not.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care in Scottsdale, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Endeavor Home Care today. Call  (480) 535-6800.

Source:

https://www.alz.org

Senior Care at Home: Think About the Stairs

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senior care at home

Often household injuries occur due to a fall down the stairs. A small slip can result in a broken bone especially for a senior. Many seniors want to stay in their own home so it is necessary for loved ones to make the environment as safe as possible. Since it is typically not possible to remove stairs from an existing home and install ramps here are some other tips to increase safety of stairs.

Railings

Verify existing railings are securely installed. When pulled on they should not wiggle at all. If railings do not exist it is strongly recommended they be installed. It is best to install railings on both sides of the stairs. Also, verify your loved one uses the railings when going up and down the stairs. Use of railings significantly decreases the risk of falls.

Clear Clutter

Items left on the stairs are a tripping hazard. Nothing should be left on the stairs at any point. If your loved on likes to put items on the stairs that need to be brought to another floor consider placing an empty basket adjacent to the stairs where they can accumulate items to transport. The key is to not put the basket actually on the stairs but instead adjacent.

Lighting

Stairs need to be well-lit. Sometimes this is an issue with stairs leading to the basement. Consider installing higher wattage bulbs over staircases or add reflective tape to the edge of the steps.

Duplicate Items

It is best for your loved on to walk up and down the stairs without trying to carry items at the same time. This will allow them to have free hands to hold onto the railing. Ask what type of items they typically find they need to carry up and down the stairs. If possible buy duplicates of these items so they have one upstairs and one downstairs eliminating the need to transport the item. For example, if they are carrying a water cup upstairs consider purchasing disposable cups to keep upstairs.

Senior Care at Home

Taking the above steps will help lower the likelihood of a fall. However, you may still worry that your loved one is no longer stable enough to traverse the stairs. This does not mean you need to move your loved one. Instead consider the option of senior care at home. A home care aide can help with light housework, meal planning and preparation, medication reminders and provide companionship for your loved one. In addition a safety assessment can be conducted of the home to identify areas of improvement that will help reduce the risk of injury. Endeavor Home Care offers senior home care in Phoenix and throughout the surrounding areas. For more information about at home care, contact us at 480-498-2324.

Elder Care in Scottsdale, AZ: Post-Rehab Care in the Home

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Extended hospitalizations are a common aspect of elder care. Seniors are more susceptible to serious illness and injury and require more comprehensive care in order to recover properly. After hospitalization, however, many seniors will require a time of rehabilitation in order to recover functionality and achieve full recovery.

This rehabilitation is a critical element of elderly health care as it addresses common problems associated with extended hospitalization. One of these problems is referred to as deconditioning. Deconditioning is when an elderly person’s body experiences functional losses that make it difficult for him to fulfill daily tasks and achieve the same level of mobility and independence that he had prior to going into the hospital. Deconditioning is a common result of spending a considerable amount of time in bed, but it does not have to mean that your aging loved one can no longer enjoy the same level of independence and activity that he did prior to having to be hospitalized.

Rehabilitation after hospitalization is a common elder care recommendation. Physicians will want to ensure that an elderly person continues to receive support for regaining his abilities after hospitalization so that when he returns home his far along the path of full recovery. After this realization, however, it is critical that you provide continued elderly health care to support your loved one’s recovery efforts.

Home care for the elderly is a fantastic resource for post-rehab care that can encourage your aging loved one to regain his physical strength, mental sharpness and independence. Elderly home care is about having a provider in the home to help address daily needs, as well as to encourage compliance with medication and other treatment recommendations. Consider introducing an elderly home care provider to your aging loved one while he is still involved in rehabilitation so that the transition from this rehab center into home care is as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Helping your aging loved one to feel comfortable with the person who will be providing post-rehab care in his home will encourage compliance with this care, and therefore hasten his total recovery.

When researching options for elder care in Scottsdale, AZ call us at (480) 535-6800. Home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Scottsdale, AZ.