Some Major Issues of Old Age

A person goes through various pleasant and unpleasant situations from childhood through old age in his/her life. But, old age is that phase of life in which one must face unexpected physiological, psychological and emotional challenges and it becomes really difficult to avoid these situations. Some of the major problems that seniors face are listed below.

1. Physiological Issues

After turning 60 years old, and even before depending on the individual, the human body begins to decline. The physical brain, senses, limbs and other internal parts of the body start functioning more slowly. Various sources over the years have affected the body, such as lifestyle, hereditary tendencies, and the environment. Some of the major causes for physical decline are malnutrition, intoxication, workload, poor diet, inadequate rest, emotional stress, health issues, and fluctuating environmental conditions.

2. Psychological Issues

Mental disorders are very common in this age. While it’s not predetermined for everyone, older people often face two major types of psychotic disorders: senile dementia (related to cerebral atrophy and degeneration) and psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis (related to blocking and ruptures in the cerebral arteries). According to a research, these two types of disorders are responsible for around 80% of psychotic disorders among the older generation in the civilized societies.

3. Emotional Problems

When the mental ability of seniors declines, they often become dependent on their family. Sometimes, negligence of family members results in emotional insecurity in them. Instead of developing a compassionate attitude for these old persons when youngsters start asserting their own rights, seniors often feel deprived of their dignity and importance. In addition, death of the spouse or very close family member also leads to a feeling of isolation or loneliness in them.                        

4. Social Issues

The social life of an older person does not remain as rich and exciting as they age. Poor health, loss of a loved one, and more are some of the reasons for their disconnection with society. They often become or feel confined in their homes and their interpersonal relationships remain limited to their family members only. This creates the problem of isolation and loneliness, which further leads to depression in them.                  

    

Keeping in mind all the above, it becomes crucial to take care of your senior family members and give them the love, care, and respect they both need and want. 

However, if you need help regarding senior care, contact Always Best Care. They are one of the most trusted Home Health Care Providers In Vancouver and have a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers. To find out more, call at (778) 945-3010.

Why are Physical Activities Important for Seniors?

Physical activities can help people stay active in their senior years,too. Conditions that naturally develop in the senior years can be delayed if a person stays fit and energetic. But, it’s important to consult your doctor before starting any exercise program and perform only those exercises which they advise. Often there are just a few that they advise the elderly to stay away from.

Physical activities can help seniors in the following ways:

Help make the heart strong: One vital element of aging is heart health. Regular physical activities help to keep the heart muscle in good shape and can defend against common cardiac problems. Physical activities,even at a light intensity,can help a lot. Also, exercising can improve blood pressure in some people with hypertension.

  

Improve mobility: Usually many seniors tend lose their balance and coordination as they grow older. Staying physically active helps keep the body limber and maintain coordination. There are several exercises, such as yoga, chair stands, and Tai Chi, that can help decrease the risk of arthritis and osteoporosis by increasing the bone density and helping you control body weight. 

Help controlling Diabetes: This disease has no visual symptoms in its early stage, which makes it hard to spot, yet it causes a countless health related issues. It can result in a loss of vision, a higher risk of infection,poor wound healing, and a higher risk for heart disease. Exercising regularly can help lower blood sugar levels. Even low intensity exercises, such as walking, if done regularly, can help a lot.

Improve mental health: As you grow older, your memory may not be as sharp as it once was. Exercise can help improve mental focus and also help reduce symptoms of depression. The additional benefit is that it also helps reducing the risk of dementia.

Improve overall quality of life: Following a healthy lifestyle with proper physical exercises can help improve the overall quality of life. 

If you need any help regarding senior care, contact Always Best Care. They are one of the top Home Health Care Providers In Vancouver. For more information about their care services, call them today at (778) 945-3010.

Anger Management Tips for Seniors with Dementia

Dementia in seniors is marked by a persistent decline in their intellectual abilities like memory, judgment, language, and abstract thinking. The activities which are very simple for us, like brushing our teeth, becomes difficult for a senior suffering from dementia. Sometimes, they may even forget the color of their brush and so many other basic things.

When even the easiest tasks of the daily routine seem complex and overwhelming, it is obvious for seniors to feel frustrated. This frustration often turns into anger, which can harm relationships, impair their judgment abilities, and have a negative impact on the way people see them. This is when the need of anger management comes in.

Here are some tips to follow as a family member in order to manage anger towards both yourself and your senior loved one:

1. Keep the distress and worries away from them as long as possible, and try to comfort them by listening to their talks attentively. Most of all, they need is your love, support and care.
2. Try to help them diminish their confusion. Due to the decline in their brain function and loss of memory, seniors often get confused in simple things, which further results in anger.
3. Handle them calmly and politely. They may be angry for some reason you can’t understand but your support, care and attention will help them deal with the situation better.
4. Give them memory reminders. Help them by providing small memory cues so that they do not forget things. Split a task for them into small parts so that they can easily carry out the whole “small” task without difficulty.
5. Never make them feel lonely and try to understand their emotions rather than focusing on their rude behavior.
6. Encourage them to exercise regularly. Exercises have many physical and mental health benefits.

If your senior loved one is suffering from dementia and you are unable to deal with their anger, try to follow the tips mentioned above. You can contact Always Best Care for professional help regarding senior care. Always Best Care is one of the leading Home Health Care Providers in Vancouver. To learn more, call them at (778) 945-3010.

Seniors: Drive Safely With These Tips

While seniors might hold a wealth of experience over their newly-licensed, teenage counterparts, there are also several risks involved that impair senior driving safety. People over the age of 65, regardless of health, should take a step back to consider whether they should be behind the wheel or not. This, of course, is not just for their own safety, but for everyone on the road.

People over the age of 65 are 16% more likely to get into a car crash than any other age demographic. They are also more likely to be killed in the crash, due to bones being more brittle and various medical conditions that cause the body to go into physical and mental decline. Those who are more likely to faint are twice as likely to cause a car crash (which is fairly obvious) but the reason behind it is that as many as 1/3 of seniors over the age of 70 have a heart condition that can cause habitual fainting.

How to Determine When to Turn Over the Keys

• Is the senior suffering from any cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc.?
• Is the senior suffering from a chronic condition such as heart problems, a history of fainting, vision problems, etc.?
• Is the senior taking any prescriptions that can cause drowsiness or have some other impact on driving like causing blurred vision?
• Is the senior showing any decline in reaction time and reflexes?
• Is the senior wearing the proper glasses for his/her updated glass prescription?
  
  

Alternatives to Driving 

While there’s certainly nothing like driving yourself around to where you need to go, there are plenty of alternatives to consider if safety and health is an issue.

• Call a taxi cab
• While Uber is not currently available in Vancouver, there are a number of other ride-share and taxi type alternatives available
• Ask a friend or family member
• Call HandyDart, a ride service for people who have physical limitations or who have cognitive disabilities
• Walk to the location if the weather is agreeable
  
  

Staying Safe While Driving

• Always wear a seatbelt
• Don’t smoke while driving
• Don’t use a cell phone while driving
• Stay fit – mentally and physically
• Keep the radio on low
• Have your route planned
  
  

Seniors living in the Vancouver area, who are interested in learning about home health care providers in Vancouver, or would like free referrals for assisted living in Vancouver, can call the Always Best Care Vancouver branch at 778-945-3010 for a free consultation.