Act FAST: Understanding the Signs of a Stroke

A stroke is an event during which the blood supply is cut off from the brain, either due to a blood clot or a hemorrhage. As you might imagine, this is a very traumatic and dangerous experience—one that can lead to severe damage to the brain and even death. As such, eldercare professionals encourage you to understand the signs of stroke and to act quickly if you believe that your senior is suffering from this event. When it comes to eldercare, Always Best Care of Burlington knows that it can be difficult to remember all of the symptoms of conditions that your loved one could develop. Luckily, the signs of stroke are easy to commit to memory, as they spell out the word "fast." The National Stroke Association explains:1

• Face: If your senior's smile droops on one side, this may be a sign of a stroke. 
• Arms: When your senior raises both arms out parallel to the floor, they may be suffering from a stroke if one arm does not stay level and, instead, angles down to one side. 
• Speech: A stroke often results in slurred speech, or the inability to use the right words to convey ideas. Ask your loved one to speak and, if they have difficulty, seek medical assistance immediately. 
• Time: Getting your senior into the care of a trained and experienced doctor is key in preventing lasting damage from being caused by a stroke. The sooner you call 911 the better your loved one's odds of recovery. 

In addition to these symptoms there are other warning signs of stroke, including:

• Numbness of the extremities or face
• Weakness of the extremities or face
• Confusion 
• Difficulty understanding
• Vision impairment
• Dizziness
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of balance
• Severe headache

Senior care professionals urge you to familiarize yourself with these symptoms and make certain that, should any of them appear in your loved one, you help your senior access the attention of a medical professional immediately. A stroke is a scary and disorienting experience, for both individuals who are suffering from them and their loved ones who witness it. As such, try to stay calm and get your senior the help they need as quickly as possible.
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1 http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=symp

Checklist for Doctor's Checkups for Your Senior

One of the most important responsibilities of family members who are taking care of their elderly loved ones is to ensure that they have access to the healthcare that they need to keep their quality of life as high as possible. Scheduling regular checkups at the doctor's office is part of a comprehensive healthcare plan; however, it is important that you understand just what your loved one needs in terms of screenings and preventative measures at each of these checkups, as some may require your senior to visit different kinds of doctors (i.e. OB/GYNs or urologists). A leader in eldercare, Always Best Care Burlington-Greensboro has offered the following list of services that your loved one should receive at various times throughout the year.

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination
• Pneumococcal vaccination
• Zostavax vaccination
• Flu vaccination
• Mammogram (for women)
• Pap test/cervical cancer screening (for women)
• Prostate cancer screening (for men)
• Colorectal cancer screening (method depends upon doctor recommendation)
• Cholesterol screening
• Glaucoma screening
• Hearing screening
• Vision screening
• Osteoporosis screening

Annual physical examination
These are the basic tests that eldercare professionals encourage your senior to undergo regularly; however, there are other things to take into consideration when your elderly loved one visits the doctor. The following are some of the topics you may consider bringing up to ensure that your senior has the highest quality of life possible.

• Nutrition: Ask your loved one's doctor if they have any dietary recommendations based upon your senior's medical history and current state. For instance, they may need to reduce sodium intake or increase consumption of foods that are high in fiber. 
• Physical activity: Exercise is important at every stage of life, and seniors need to stay physically active to remain as healthy as possible. Ask the doctor if your elderly loved one needs to gain or lose weight and what kind of physical activity is appropriate for their health level. 

Eldercare professionals know that it can be difficult to manage your senior's healthcare, but by knowing what your loved one needs you can better navigate the complexities of the healthcare system.

Hearing Loss and Dementia: Understanding the Connection

Dementia, which includes Alzheimer's disease, is a major concern for many families, as it can prove difficult for seniors and their loved ones to cope with this condition. As such, eldercare and dementia care professionals encourage families to plan for such a disease by understanding the risk factors that may lead to it. One such risk factor, according to a 2011 study performed at the John Hopkins School of Medicine, is hearing loss.

According to an article published by The Huffington Post, researchers involved in the study looked at 639 adults who were aged 36 to 90.1 Over the course of four years, these participants were tested for their cognitive and aural health. For the next 14 years, until May of 2008, researchers kept tabs on which participants developed Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

When the study began, none of the participants suffered from dementia; however, 125 of them had mild hearing loss, 53 had moderate hearing loss, and six had severe hearing loss. The results, at the end of the study, revealed that individuals who had hearing loss at the onset of the initiative were more likely to develop dementia. The article explains: "[...] the greater the hearing loss, the more chance there was. This was a noticeable trend for the Alzheimer's too: Baltimore's Dr. Frank Lin reported that for every 10 decibels of hearing lost, the extra likelihood of development jumped up by 20 percent."

Other studies have corroborated the evidence found in this one, including one conducted in 2013 by researchers at the Health ABC Study Group. But this does not mean that hearing loss necessitates dementia; the development of hearing loss does not automatically lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease or any other form of cognitive difficulty. Ultimately, the information gathered during these studies should serve to help seniors and their families to stay aware of the risks that they face and to ensure that the proper precautions, treatment methods, and other activities are put into place to detect and address the issue should it arise. Dementia care providers at Always Best Care of Burlington-Greensboro encourage you to reach out to your loved one's doctor if you have any concerns about their health.
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¹ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-rokins/dementia-research_b_3069308.html

Keeping Your Senior Active While Avoiding the Summer Heat

By Joanne Pizzuto

Staying physically active is important for people of all ages, but for seniors, in particular, it is crucial that they are able to engage in physical activities that promote their wellbeing, maintain their range of motion, and help to keep their cardiovascular and other systems healthy. During the cooler months, strolls around the block and other outdoor activities are wonderful options for elderly individuals who are looking to stay fit. But during the summer the heat can prove exceptionally dangerous. The following suggestions can help you to guide your senior toward physical activities that keep them fit without subjecting them to the soaring summer temperatures.

Indoor Athletics
If your senior enjoys working out, such as walking or doing water aerobics, help them to choose a gym that suits their needs and allows them to engage in these activities indoors. There are many athletic complexes that offer indoor facilities, and your loved one will also benefit from having the support of a trained gym staff on hand.

Active Pastimes
Instead of sitting at home watching television or reading, get your senior out of the house and moving around. Go to the mall and walk around for an hour or so to get in some cardio and peruse the latest merchandise. Likewise, you and your elderly loved one may opt to visit the local museum to check out the latest exhibitions. Choose somewhere that is air conditioned, offers places to rest, and has access to water and food. This will allow you to enjoy an active and fun afternoon out while beating the heat.

Outdoor Activities in Moderation
If your senior is bent on spending time outside, say if they want to tend to their garden, it is important that they do so during the coolest parts of the day. Have them get all of their outdoor activity done during the early morning hours, before the heat of the day. This will allow them to benefit from the cooler morning temperatures while staying out of direct sunlight.

Summer is a season that many people look forward to after a long winter, but it is important that elderly individuals stay both active and safe during these warmer months. These activities can help your senior keep their activity level up without risking too much exposure to the heat.