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Home Care in Sun City AZ: Habits for Good Sleep

Four Excellent Habits for Good Sleep

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If your elderly family member isn’t sleeping well, there are likely many other areas in her life that are not running smoothly. These ideas can help to get her sleep back on track.

 

Regular Exercise

Your elderly family member’s doctor has likely recommended some form of exercise for her, so now is the time to start if she hasn’t already. Make sure that you’re familiar with the boundaries within which exercise is safe for your elderly family member and then put a plan in motion. Even a few minutes of stretching each day can help so very much.

 

Healthy Food Choices

Eating the right foods is what fuels your elderly family member’s body. Too much of the foods that are low in nutrients means that your senior’s body doesn’t have what it needs in order to properly operate. Talk to your senior’s doctor about working with a dietician or a nutritionist. These specialists can help you to choose a diet that is just right for your senior’s current health needs.

 

A Solid Daily Routine

One problem that can plague aging adults is that they may not have much of a daily routine any longer. Retirement can be fantastic, but if your aging family member doesn’t have a general idea of what she’s doing each day, she may find that she wakes up at random times and goes to bed way too late. Help your elderly family member to work out a time that is good for her to wake up and establish some general times for other activities throughout the day, such as meals and exercise. Then set up a routine that eases her into bedtime.

 

Help to Spend Her Energy Wisely

Using her energy wisely can be a huge tool for your aging adult. This means that instead of struggling through household tasks on her own, she allows home care providers to take over. This frees up her time and energy to focus on choosing healthier foods at mealtimes, for instance. She’s more able to have the room she needs to spend her time wisely when she has the energy with which to do so.

Even if your elderly family member is following all of these tips to the letter, she might still be having trouble sleeping. It might be a good idea to talk to her doctor at that point and determine if there is anything else that you can do that might help.

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

Home Health Care in Sun City AZ: Dining Out With Dementia

Dining Out With Dementia – Four Ways to Make Sure the Evening Out is a Success

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When a parent has dementia, dining out poses a challenge.

It’s not always avoidable, however. Your mom really wants to attend her granddaughter’s wedding dinner. Her best friend is having a birthday gathering at a local restaurant. You’re not sure it’s a good idea.

 

It could be a baby shower, graduation dinner, or family reunion. If she is eager to attend, forcing your mom to stay home may upset her. Here are four ways to make sure the evening is a success.

 

Talk to the Host in Advance

Make sure the host knows your mom has dementia. Going to a crowded restaurant can be stressful when you have dementia. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible for your mom to have a good time. If the host knows in advance, it’s easier to make arrangements that will ease your mom’s stress during the event.

 

Carefully Pick Seating and Leave Room for an Escape

See if it can be arranged that your mom has a corner table away from noisier attendees. Noise can make for a very stressful evening out. A corner table nearer a door may work best.

By being near a door, if your mom needs to leave for a few minutes, her escape route is right there. In inclement weather, she may need a quiet indoor space to go to. Talk to the restaurant’s event planner to see if there is a sitting area that will work for her. If the weather’s good, she can head outside to regroup. A bench outside that’s away from crowds will work.

 

Do a Trial Run

Take your mom to the restaurant beforehand. Take her at a quieter time of day when she’s at her best. Enjoy a meal, if possible, or simply have the host give a tour. Take a video if it’s allowed and replay it often. The more familiar the setting is, the easier the event will be for your mom.

 

Be Prepared to Leave Early

Your mom may start out strong and become agitated after an hour or two. Arrive as close to the time the meal will be served as possible. Once the meal’s over, your mom is free to leave. Make sure she knows that she can leave when she wants to once you’ve had your dinner.

If you cannot leave, have an elder care provider available to bring your mom back home and spend time with her. Caregivers can drive your mom to and from events and businesses. They are companions who can take your mom for a ride or play games with her at home. She gains a friend while you can stay out and enjoy the evening.

Discuss your family’s needs with an elder care agency. They can walk you through the range of services and pricing information. Call now to get started.

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

Summertime and Senior Care in Sun City, AZ: Keep an Eye on the Elderly in the Summer Heat

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Just as the severe cold temperatures are dangerous for the elderly in the winter, the high temperatures of summer can be equally or more dangerous. Seniors are more prone to the effects of heat and at greater risk for dehydration.

According to the CDC, elderly people are more at risk for the following reasons:

• Seniors’ bodies do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

It is important during this time of year that someone you trust is checking on senior loved ones who live alone. If you can’t be there, consider hiring a home care agency to visit a couple of times a week to assist with errands, light housekeeping, laundry, and general senior care. It’s always good to have a set of eyes and ears that can report anything unusual to the family.

Here are some tips on “beating the heat” with regard to senior care.

• Try to plan activities that require going outside during cooler hours.

• Move exercise indoors. Consider exercising at a gym, walking on a treadmill, or “mall walking” instead of outdoor walks or activities. Swimming and water aerobics are good options as well.

• Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, caffeine-free as these ingredients have a diuretic effect). Talk with your doctor if you take medications that affect fluid intake, such as Lasix or a “water pill”.

• Stay indoors in cooled spaces as much as possible. Check on senior’s air conditioning system, do a maintenance review. If electricity goes out or your loved one does not have air conditioning, consider alternative arrangements when heat is at dangerous levels.

• Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity. Keeping hydrated on a regular basis is the most important preventative measure, and individuals should be encourage to drink fluids even when not thirsty as thirst may not be triggered until already dehydrated. Heat and dehydration may make seniors more prone to dizziness and falls and can cause/increase confusion.

Heat exhaustion is the more mild form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion in seniors vary but may include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle Cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin: may be cool and moist
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke in seniors vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache

When researching options for senior care agencies in Sun City AZ, senior care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Sun City, AZ.