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Alzheimer’s Disease: What Physical Symptoms Should You Know More About?

Does your elderly loved one have an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis? If so, it would be helpful if you could learn more about the symptoms of their disease. The more that you and their elderly care providers know about the symptoms they have, the more help you can give them when they need it. There are different types of symptoms that your elderly loved one may experience. Today, you can focus more on learning about the physical symptoms that your elderly loved one may develop.

Behavior Changes

Your elderly loved one could start by having behavior changes. These often occur before any physical symptoms occur. For instance, your elderly loved one’s disease may start with some memory loss. They may forget where they put their keys or have trouble holding a conversation because they can’t remember certain things. Social interactions may become more difficult for your elderly loved one. From there, as their Alzheimer’s disease progresses, they may develop physical symptoms, as well.

Physical Symptoms That May Be Noticed Early On

In addition to the behavior changes that your elderly loved one could experience with Alzheimer’s disease, there are physical symptoms that they may develop early on, too. Some of these symptoms might include the following:

  • Picking at their nails
  • Wringing their hands together
  • Losing bowel and/or bladder control
  • Losing the ability to do things they have always been able to do

If your elderly loved one has started displaying one or more of these physical symptoms, you may want to hire more elderly care services for them.

Advanced Physical Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

In addition to the above-mentioned Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, your elderly loved one may also experience other physical symptoms. These symptoms may include the following:

  • Lack of personal hygiene
  • Worsened bowel and/or bladder control
  • Not able to groom themselves
  • Losing physical mobility
  • Vision issues
  • Higher risk of developing pneumonia
  • Losing awareness and balance
  • These symptoms will often occur as the disease progresses.

If your elderly loved one has gotten an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, it is important to get them the care that they need. It can be tough to handle these symptoms. However, you can hire an elderly care provider who is trained in this disease. They will be able to help your elderly loved one as the disease progresses. The elderly care provider will be able to assist your elderly loved one in the things they are no longer able to do.

Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/managing-personality-and-behavior-changes-alzheimers
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-alzheimers-disease

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

Golden Heart Moves Along!

Rodney and I are so proud of our team. Melissa, our valued Office Manager ( see below), has held it ALL down during the 6 weeks of working from home. Melissa has managed all details, checking on other team members , doing new customer intake and auditing schedules. We literally could not have gotten through this without her.

Patty has managed the schedule and clients. Very proud of her.

Marilyn, our Evening and Weekend On Call is awesome! She tirelessly answers all calls, fills shifts and greets everyone with a kind and loving attitude.

And that’s our Maddie below, our granddaughter! She is working at home too!

The office is reopening Monday. This has been an unprecedented challenge for our team. Under Melissa’s leadership, they have answered every need. Rodney and I are deeply grateful. Thank YOU!

Golden Heart gives back!

Golden Heart owners, Laurie and Rodney Malone, went to Vista Living today to support Beverly Diaz’s, VPA, fundraiser for United Food Bank. There are people who need food!

 

 

 

How Can You Tell Your Senior Might Have Dysphagia?

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, could plague your senior for a number of reasons. Sometimes the causes are reversible, but sometimes your elderly family member is dealing with dysphagia for the rest of her life.

She’s Coughing While Drinking or Eating

If your elderly family member coughs while she’s drinking or eating, she’s at risk of aspirating that food or liquid. Often this can happen if the act of trying to swallow causes her to feel a “tickle” or irritation in her throat. This coughing is usually a reflex action in response to those sensations.

She Has a Tougher Time Taking Medication

Swallowing medication is another problematic time for your senior. This is far more obvious with pills than with liquids, of course. If she’s suddenly having difficulty taking medications that she’s taken for years, dysphagia could be part of the problem.

She’s Got More Saliva than Usual

Another sign that could let you know your elderly family member is dealing with dysphagia is that she might have more saliva than usual. This can sometimes be a good thing, but for someone with dysphagia, she could start to drool or have difficulty swallowing the extra saliva. The excess saliva can also make eating and drinking more difficult, because it’s tougher for her to gauge what might be too much in one bite or one swallow.

She Has to Clear Her Throat More Often

Your senior may seem to be clearing her throat more often, both when she’s eating and in between meals. This can be because her throat feels tight, because of excess saliva, or even because of excess mucous. All of these are possible contributing factors, and if she clears her throat while eating or drinking, she can possibly aspirate some food or drink.

Food or Beverages Feel Like They Go Down Her Throat “Wrong”

When she swallows, ask your senior how she feels. If she’s describing that her throat just feels wrong or that the food almost goes down the wrong pipe, there may be more going on that her doctor needs to investigate. There may not be an easy answer, but you can learn some techniques that help your senior.

Home care services can be very helpful to you and to your senior as you help her to manage dysphagia. They can assist with special meal preparation and help your elderly family member to eat if that’s becoming difficult for her.

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

Golden Heart Hero Bonus!

ANNOUNCEMENT! Hello to our GOLDEN HEART HERO CAREGIVERS AND TEAM! It has been a month of unprecedented stress for everyone. We are SO GRATEFUL for your diligence in taking care of our vulnerable seniors and your own health. WASH HANDS; WEAR YOUR MASK; WASH IT. RINSE AND REPEAT! I can’t say it enough. We have literally had hundreds of calls from GRATEFUL family members and clients. And new clients coming on…
Rodney and I want to THANK YOU PERSONALLY! For all team members, who have worked accepting shifts and are in good standing ,from 4/6 through now, you will RECEIVE A $100 THANK YOU BONUS ON NEXT weeks’ check. We appreciate you. Laurie and Rodney

Reply “Message @ Laurie Malone” if you need to discuss further.

Why Is Dehydration More Difficult for Older Adults?

Hydrating adequately is a great way to make sure your senior is as healthy as possible, but the situation gets complicated for you as a caregiver at times. Your elderly family member may not be interested in drinking as much water as she needs to, and that can have serious consequences.

Your Senior’s Health Affects Her Ability to Stay Hydrated

Existing health issues have a lot to do with how well your elderly family member can hydrate and remain hydrated. Heart conditions, kidney diseases, and other health problems can make it difficult for your senior’s body to have and to access the water that it needs. If your elderly family member isn’t drinking enough water on top of those issues, that just compounds the problem.

The Medications She Takes Make a Difference

On top of health issues creating hydration problems, the medications your elderly family member takes may cause issues, too. This means not only prescription medications, but also over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements can all have an impact on her ability to remain hydrated. It’s a good idea to research everything that your elderly family member is taking to learn how it affects dehydration. If you are unsure, talk to her pharmacist or to her doctor.

Your Senior’s Concept of Thirst Might Have Changed

You may not realize it, but your senior’s ability to notice and to experience thirst changes as she grows older. She may find that she never consciously feels thirsty and that she rarely remembers that she needs to drink something. That’s common and having reminders can help a lot. An easy way to use a reminder system is to mark lines on a water bottle. As she drinks through the day, she should gradually be hitting those various marks, which can help her to stay hydrated.

How Things Taste Is Likely Also Different

Your senior’s sense of taste changes along with some of her other senses. That can mean that even water doesn’t taste how she expects it to taste. Water that she might have enjoyed in the past may taste off or just unappealing to her now. Finding ways around that problem can be an important way to ensure that she’s getting all the water that she needs throughout the day.

Thinking about water intake isn’t always a fun task, but it’s a necessary one. Finding ways to make this as much of a “no brainer” as possible for your senior and for you can make this job much easier.

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

What Should Your Senior Do about Covid-19?

Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus, or . There are some steps your elderly family member can take in order to help her to avoid this illness.

Stock up on Necessary Items

Groceries, medications, and other necessary items are things that your senior may want to have on hand so that she doesn’t need to go out as often now. It can be difficult to keep up with how often something really is used or needed, though, so it can help for your elderly family member to keep a running list. In terms of medications, her pharmacist or doctor may be able to help her to get a month or two extra supply of some of her essential medications to have on hand.

Use Social Distancing

Social distancing means that your senior remains several feet away from other people when she is out in public. It can also refer to self-quarantining in order to avoid coming in contact with anyone who might have been exposed to coronavirus. It’s a good idea for your senior to make sure she washes her hands as soon as she gets home and when she’s out and about, using hand sanitizer frequently is also a good idea.

Stay Home

Staying home as much as possible is something that the Centers for Disease Control is recommending as the primary method to “flatten the curve” of this virus. In order to do that, it might be necessary for your senior to have some extra assistance. Senior care providers can help with mobility issues and they can also ensure that your elderly family member has what she needs in order to remain at home for as long as necessary.

Contact Her Doctor

If your senior does start to feel ill, either with respiratory symptoms or another illness, make sure that you contact her doctor right away. If the illness she’s experiencing is one that she’s had in the past, such as a flare-up of an existing health issue, her doctor may recommend alternative treatments to having your senior come into the office. For respiratory illnesses or if your senior has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, her doctor might recommend going straight to a hospital.

Senior care services can be especially helpful for your elderly family member during this difficult time. They can run errands for her, make sure that she has groceries and other necessary items, and ensure that she’s got other help that she might need.

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

How to Talk to a Reluctant Senior About the Need for Help

As badly as you just want to help your senior, it’s entirely possible that she’s not interested in anything you can do for her. It could be that she’s just feeling extra stubborn, or there may be more going on than you realize.

Keep Your Approach in Mind

You might think that you’re offering help in a friendly, happy way, but your senior may see the whole situation differently. Keep your tone of voice in mind and don’t try to fake your emotions. It’s also important to remember that you might be frustrated, but if you sound frustrated when you’re talking to your senior, that’s probably not going to be convincing for her. If anything, it’s likely to be a huge frustration for her in return.

Listen to What She’s Telling You

As your senior explains that she doesn’t want or need help, really listen to her. Don’t worry about what your argument will be in return, just listen. Even if she doesn’t tell you exactly why she doesn’t want your help, she may be dropping other hints that can help you to figure out some of the deeper issues. If you’re not making it a point to listen closely, you can miss some of these.

Watch What’s Actually Happening

You’ve definitely got opinions about what’s happening, but you may need to do some more observing. What are you really seeing? Is your senior struggling and creating more problems for herself, or is she having a tough time, but she’s still making progress? There’s a difference between struggling because something is impossible to do and struggling because it’s more difficult than it used to be. It’s important for you to be able to make that distinction.

Don’t Try to Make Her Accept Help

Forcing help on your elderly family member isn’t the way to go, though. If she’s truly not willing to accept help, there’s not a lot that you can do unless her safety is at risk. Let your elderly family member know that you’re there for her and that you’re willing to talk about a compromise that helps both of you to feel comfortable.

Sometimes people find it easier to accept help from someone that they don’t know as well as a family member. If you’re starting to think that might be the case for your senior, it might be worth bringing in home care providers. They can offer the help you’ve been trying to offer, possibly with different results for your senior.

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

An Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A message from Laurie Malone, Managing Partner & CEO

To our valued customers and colleagues,

In these times of uncertainty, we want you to know that the safety and health of clients and employees are always a top priority. Now more than ever, our business is you.

As we continue to monitor developments and navigate through these challenging circumstances, we want you to know that you can rely on us always to put your health and safety first.

  • One of the safest places our clients can be is at home.
  • Our caregivers are aware of proper handwashing techniques and cleanliness.

From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

How COVID-19 Spreads

Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Can someone spread the virus without being sick?

  • People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
  • Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

How easily the virus spreads

How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping.

The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas.

Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

What You Can Do to Keep Yourself and Your Family Healthy

  • Take everyday preventive actions to stay healthy.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  • Stay informed. CDC’s COVID-19 Situation Summary will be updated regularly as information becomes available.

Before an Outbreak Occurs in Your Community PLAN AHEAD:

Create a household plan of action.

Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan. Meet with household members, other relatives, and friends to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.

Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. There is limited information about who may be at risk for severe complications from COVID-19 illness. From the data that are available for COVID-19 patients, and from data for related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, it is possible that older adults and persons who have underlying chronic medical conditions may be at risk for more serious complications.

Early data suggest older people are more likely to have serious COVID-19 illness.
If you or your household members are at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, please consult with your health care provider for more information about monitoring your health for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. CDC will recommend actions to help keep people at high risk for complications healthy if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community.

Get to know your neighbors. Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning. If your neighborhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbors, information, and resources.

Identify aid organizations in your community. Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources. Consider including organizations that provide mental health or counseling services, food, and other supplies.

Create an emergency contact list. Ensure your household has a current list of emergency contacts for family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.

Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions

Practice everyday preventive actions now. Remind everyone in your household of the importance of practicing everyday preventive actions that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water.
  • If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, a list of products with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved emerging viral pathogens claims, maintained by the American Chemistry Council Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC), is available at Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fighting Products.pdf. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick. Learn how to care for someone with COVID-19 at home.

Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed

Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, local public health officials may recommend temporary school dismissals to help slow the spread of illness. School authorities also may decide to dismiss a school if too many students or staff are absent. Understand the plan for continuing education and social services (such as student meal programs) during school dismissals. If your child attends a college or university, encourage them to learn about the school’s plan for a COVID-19 outbreak.

Plan for potential changes at your workplace
Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan. Discuss sick-leave policies and telework options for workers who are sick or who need to stay home to care for sick household members. Learn how businesses and employers can plan for and respond to COVID-19.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our offices during business hours.

Laurie Malone
Managing Partner & CEO
Golden Heart Senior Care

(480) 622-3557 office
(480) 277-7808 cell
(480) 269-9939 fax

Laurie@GoldenHeartScottsdale.com
www.GoldenHeartScottsdale.com

Serving 94 zip codes in the Valley!

Is There a Connection Between Hearing Loss and Fall Risk?

Falls and the risk of falling are a huge problem for older adults. You might not realize it, but her ability to hear can have more impact on her ability to avoid a fall. These two issues are each something that you can take action to help, but you need to be aware of what’s going on first.

Her Ears Help with Balance

You may already know that the inner ear helps with balance. The inner ear collects information about where your senior is located in relation to the ground. It acts a little bit like a gyroscope in that the data the inner ear collects helps your senior’s brain to understand how it’s positioned. If her inner ear isn’t functioning correctly, that influences her hearing of course, but it also creates balance problems for your elderly family member.

Her Brain Is Processing a Lot in Regard to Hearing

Elder Care in Scottsdale AZYour senior’s ears are a big part of her ability to hear, but there’s more going on in her brain. When hearing is damaged, the brain tries to compensate. Some studies have found that often the ears are fine, but it’s the brain that’s having trouble processing sounds and making sense of them. But there’s still more. Even when it’s the ears that are the problem, the cognitive load that the brain takes on in order to keep trying to process sounds can create situations in which your elderly family member doesn’t have enough brain function free to focus on things like maintaining her balance.

Certain Sounds Can Indicate Trouble

Sounds keep people apprised of what’s going on around them, including things that might be dangerous. When your elderly family member can’t hear what’s going on around her, she might be easily startled. Jumping or just being startled can cause her to lose her balance, which easily leads to a fall. Problems with her hearing can mean that your senior isn’t aware of her surroundings much at all, which can be dangerous if she goes out alone regularly.

Hearing issues can create a lot of other situations for your elderly family member. Keeping tabs on your senior’s hearing is important and her doctor can help with that. It may also be a good idea to ensure that your senior has a companion with her who is able to help her with avoiding obstacles and other issues. If you’re not able to do that for her, elder care providers have the experience your senior needs on her side.

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