7 Ways Personal Care at Home Makes Incontinence Care Easier

Posted on September 26, 2024September 25, 2024 by ltcep2023

Incontinence can be a big issue for seniors, especially if they live alone. Incontinence affects comfort, confidence, and even health. Getting to the bathroom on time can feel like a race that seniors often lose, further damaging confidence and self-esteem. Personal care at home can offer supportive and compassionate help for seniors who are battling incontinence. Here’s how they help.

Personalized Routines

Each senior has specific needs, even if they’re dealing with a problem as common as incontinence. Personal care at home helps seniors to develop personalized routines and schedules around hygiene, toileting, and other necessary tasks related to managing incontinence. Caregivers are able to be more effective and respectful of seniors’ needs and preferences.

Monitoring and Support

Changes in toileting patterns and other symptoms related to incontinence could mean that seniors need additional help. They might develop a urinary tract infection or other medical issue, for instance. Personal care at home helps to monitor seniors and how they’re doing so that any changes can be addressed quickly.

Maintaining Comfort and Dignity

One of the reasons seniors might be reluctant to have help with personal care tasks is that these situations can be so embarrassing. Caregivers offer respectful assistance only in the ways that seniors truly need the help. This type of care isn’t about causing further embarrassment or shaming anyone for what is happening. Home care providers just want to help while keeping seniors comfortable and preserving their dignity.

Using the Right Products

The right incontinence products make all of the difference in the world. There are different types of products, different absorbencies, and a variety of protective garments. Personal care at home can help seniors to experiment and find the products that work best for their needs.

Protecting Skin

Incontinence can lead to skin irritation or even infections if seniors aren’t careful. Personal care at home helps seniors to keep their skin clean and protected, especially after changing incontinence products. Developing a skin care routine that meets the senior’s needs keeps seniors both more comfortable and healthier.

Promoting Healthy Choices

When seniors are living the healthiest lifestyle they can, that helps with incontinence. Keeping a food diary helps seniors to notice which foods and drinks might irritate their bladders, for instance. Staying physically active, getting plenty of sleep, and staying hydrated are all choices that keep seniors healthy and better able to fight off UTIs and other possible issues.

Educating Family Members and Seniors

Managing incontinence can be a weird situation for family caregivers and seniors to do together. With the help of personal care at home, family caregivers can learn more about incontinence and how to help their seniors. Elder care providers can also suggest home modifications that might make the situation easier, like using toileting aids and stocking the bathroom with the necessary supplies.

Personal care at home isn’t there to make an embarrassing situation worse. These compassionate caregivers want to help seniors manage whatever issues they’re battling, including incontinence that could be making them feel uncomfortable and isolated.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Maricopa, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Don’t Miss These Leukemia Symptoms

Posted on September 9, 2024September 25, 2024 by ltcep2023

The American Association of Cancer Research has designated September as Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. Both of these diseases are cancers that affect the blood or bone marrow. By having a month set aside for awareness of these diseases, the hope is to open up more conversations about them, lead to better awareness, and help families recognize the symptoms in time to seek appropriate medical help. Here are a few things to know about leukemia and how senior home care can help.

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a cancer that begins within the bone marrow. Bone marrow has stem cells that create the needed blood cells for a body. When leukemia occurs, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells that don’t die when they should. Instead, they continue to live and begin to crowd out the healthy white blood cells, red cells, and platelets. This process makes it difficult for the healthy cells to perform their jobs and the body’s organs suffer.

Symptoms of Leukemia

For elderly adults, leukemia symptoms can come on slowly and mimic many other illnesses, often causing a person to ignore the symptoms for a long period, thinking they’ll just go away in time like a long battle with the flu or a bad cold. Sometimes an elderly person needs to be encouraged to have his long-term symptoms checked because he’s grown so accustomed to them, that they seem normal.

Excessive Bruising and Bleeding

Because leukemia affects the platelets, your loved one may find he’s bleeding more than normal or has bruises appear where he doesn’t recall an injury. Red or purple splotches may appear on the skin caused by bleeding under the skin. Your loved one may discover blood in his stools or an inability to stop bleeding after an injury. Frequent nose bleeds are also common.

Anemia

The reduction of red blood cells may cause anemia. Anemia can bring on symptoms such as extreme fatigue, dizziness, and pale skin. Your senior home care provider may call your attention to the fact that your loved one seems to lack energy and is looking unwell.

Multiple Infections

From mouth sores to continued bouts with cold-like symptoms could be a symptom of leukemia. If your loved one’s senior home care provider has noticed that your loved one has battled one infection after another, it might be time to bring your loved one in for a check-up even if he’s rebounded after each infection.

Weight Loss

Losing weight without trying is often a sign that something is going wrong with the body. Leukemia can cause weight loss in those who have it. If your loved one’s clothing keeps getting looser and looser, he might be shedding pounds without even realizing it.

Nighttime sweating

If your loved one is complaining about excessive sweating while he’s trying to sleep, it can be a symptom of leukemia, especially when combined with these other symptoms listed.

Treatment Options

Your loved one will work with his doctor to determine the best treatment for his leukemia. Early detection leads to more options for your senior. As he goes through treatment, you might want to consider having a senior home care provider be a part of his support team. A senior care provider can step in and help with chores around the home, prepare meals, or simply be a companion while he’s going through treatment.

Reference
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/lymphoma/understanding-leukemia-basics

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Ahwatukee, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Caring in the Hospice Community

Posted on September 5, 2024 by ltcep2023

Hello Seniors, Families and Friends. As many of you may know, getting out to interact and talk with our clients is one of my favorite things. I now have a close second favorite. Here you see Rodney of #GoldenHeartScottsdale.com talking with a group of nurses from a local hospice. Explaining to them the non medical side of caring for a family in hospice seemed quite eye opening to some. We love caring for people. We love talking about how we care for people. Feel free to contact us at #GoldenHeartScottadale.com for more information.

Month: September 2024