Sleep Deprivation a Real Issue for Seniors

Sleep is such an important element to our day that when we sleep poorly or not at all the rest of our lives are profoundly impacted. For seniors, sleep is of even greater importance because it helps boost an already weakening immune system, it fights off cognitive decline, and can even improve longevity. What are the other issues associated with sleep deprivation in seniors?

• Alzheimer’s patients need regular sleep. But, they rarely get it. Many Alzheimer’s patients tend to sleep during the day and lie awake at night. This can be caused by the impairment itself and/or with the natural disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythm that accompanies aging. Sleep impairments can cause sundowning, daytime wandering, nighttime wandering, etc.
  
• Caregivers need as much sleep as their charges. While it falls on the caregivers shoulders to get up in the middle of the night with their senior clients as many times as necessary, this can easily cause depression, fatigue, anxiety and other problems in the senior’s caregiver. It’s important to – as much as possible – take on healthy habits and attitudes to try and achieve proper night time sleep routines for everyone’s mental and physical well-being.
  
• Insomnia can cause an increase in risk of dementia. Since seniors already run a higher risk of having insomnia, it also means that this insomnia can lead to dementia and other memory impairments and cognitive dysfunction. Memory is impaired with lack of sleep, and stress levels increase dramatically which puts the individual at a higher risk for developing a host of other diseases.

If you are a senior with frequent insomnia or a caregiver with a senior client with sleep deprivation problems, talk to your doctor about how you can try to remedy the problem or at least improve it. Sleep issues are a natural part of aging, but they don’t have to overwhelm the individuals – or their caretakers – life.

Seniors who live in the Birmingham area who are interested in learning about home care assistance in Birmingham can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 to schedule a free consultation. During this consultation a professional care coordinator will discuss in home care in Birmingham to help you decide which level of care is right for you.

Issues that Impact Senior Men

There are more senior women than there are senior men, but that doesn’t mean that the issues that impact their lives are any less important. As people in general live to be longer these days, there are more and more men living longer and the gap between male and female longevity is slowly closing. Here are some issues that impact senior men today.

1. Men don’t live as long as women do. On average, women live five years longer than men. There are several possible reasons for this including the fact that men tend to engage in riskier behavior, have a propensity toward cardiovascular disease, and a new finding that men’s immune systems may not be as effective as a woman’s.
2. Senior men tend to be happier than senior women. New research shows that senior men tend to be happier than their female counterparts.
   
3. What is the age of “old?” For men, it’s much higher than for women. Consider the fact that society might view a 65 year old woman as being old, while a 65 year old man they might not. This is likely due to a more rapid decline of attractiveness for women than men as they age.
4. Men are more tolerant of aging. Women are more apprehensive about aging for many reasons, and men still have their anxieties which include having to depend on other people, their own physical weakness, developing dementia, impotence, and a loss of purpose that often comes with retirement.
5. Only 15% of seniors in senior living environments are men. While the percentage is not terribly significant, it can make the transition into a senior living environment difficult for men, due to overwhelming female influences. This makes it important for the men in a community to form groups to play cards, watch sports, play billiards, etc.
6. More male caregivers now than ever before. Nearly one out of two caregivers is male and they are often thrown into the role due to an ill wife, making them feel unprepared.

Always Best Care is a home health care company in Birmingham Alabama and other locations throughout the United States and Canada. If you are a senior interested in learning about senior care in Birmingham Alabama, you are invited to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730 today to set up a free care consultation.

Keeping Your Mind Sharp as You Age

Most seniors experience some level of cognitive decline as they age. In fact, researchers say the brain actually shrinks in size by about 10%. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this cognitive decline and keep the mind sharp as you age.

1. Don’t slouch! When you slouch, you are impairing both the respiratory and circulatory systems in your body from working optimally. Maintaining good posture helps you get blood and air into your brain to help it function more efficiently.
   
2. Turn on the music. Most people don’t realize how profoundly music impacts the brain. Classical music, jazz music, instrumental music, opera, etc. all help the brain create new pathways and is linked to improved memory as well as improved cognitive functioning.
   
3. Move your body. When you exercise, you’re not only doing all of your muscles and bones good, you’re also providing key health benefits to your brain! Endorphins are released, there is an increase in air and blood flow to the brain and mood is enhanced.
   
4. Keep the puzzles handy. Whether they are word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, etc. when you participate in these types of games you improve your brain functioning and improve memory and mental capacity.
   
5. Pick up a book and read it! Reading is one of the most fundamental benefits you can give your brain. Not only does your brain create more neural pathways when you read it also absorbs the information in the book such as language, culture, history, etc.
   
6. Eat a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, water, etc. will help you keep your body working at optimal levels.
   
7. Write something. Have you ever wanted to write the great American novel? Or maybe short stories or memoirs? Writing will also improve brain health. Keep in mind that even emails and journaling will have the same result.
   
8. Pick up a paintbrush. We all doodle while waiting on the phone – why not create a “work of art” or even just a bunch of little doodles. Either way, your brain will have a great workout!

Do you live in the Birmingham area? Are you interested in learning about senior care in Birmingham? If you would like a free care consultation from an Always Best Care professional care coordinator, please call the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730. They will be happy to talk with you about home care in Birmingham and also free referrals to senior living environments.

Get Information about Senior Assisted Living in Birmingham through Always Best Care

Is it time for you or a loved one to start considering in-home care or moving into an assisted living facility? You probably have many questions about the process such as what type of services are included with in home care and what type of facility would suit you best. Always Best Care is a leader in senior care giving. They have numerous locations all over the United States and Canada and take pride in the compassionate and dedicated caregivers they hire. If you live in the Birmingham area, and are interested in finding out more about senior assisted living in Birmingham or other aspects of assisted living in Birmingham Alabama, you are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location to set up a free care consultation.

During this consultation, a professional care consultant will meet with you and your family members to discuss what type of care suits you best, and how you can go about putting it into motion. The Always Best Care caregivers provide a number of services that fall under the categories of personal care, home helper, and companion. They can help with light housekeeping, pet and plant care, supervising home maintenance, morning wake up and evening tuck in, playing cards and board games, escorting to various locations like worship services and medical appointments, and many others.

On the other hand, if you are leaning toward transitioning into a senior care environment, the professional care coordinator will help you define your budget and all of your needs that will be outlined in a customized care plan. This care plan will follow you wherever you go and will continually be updated to reflect the needs you require at the present time. Providing you with free referrals, they will help you narrow your choices down to three or four and will escort you on tours of the facility.

With 20 years of experience in the industry, Always Best Care has been assisting their senior clients with improving their quality of life and enhancing their independence. If you are a senior living in the Birmingham area and would like information regarding assisted living in Birmingham Alabama, feel free to call the Always Best Care Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to chatting with you about senior assisted living in Birmingham!

Seniors: Keep Fit with These Fun, Low Impact Activities

There is something about competitive sports that brings people together. And, just because seniors are a little bit older than the usual competitive athlete, it doesn’t mean they can’t participate in fun, low impact sporting activities. Plus, these activities are the perfect opportunity to help seniors become more physically and mentally fit, as they require both physical and mental agility, and will bring seniors together socially which will help to enhance outlook and mood.

1. Pickleball. If you haven’t heard of Pickleball yet – get into the game! This fun activity is a cross between badminton, tennis, and ping pong. Even though many haven’t played or even heard of it, it was developed in the 1960’s by some friends who improvised with sporting equipment. While there are no pickles involved, seniors will find this low impact sporting activity fun, social, competitive, and it does require some amount of skill to win.
2. Bocce Ball. This simple, yet mentally challenging game is a favorite among all age groups around the globe. It has ancient roots, and yet the game has basically stayed the same and is a perfect low-impact activity for seniors to enjoy competitively. Because it can be played on nearly any surface, Bocce Ball can be played on lawns, courts, driveways, parking lots, etc., allowing anyone in any setting to join in.
3. Shuffleboard. A favorite game in senior living facilities, shuffleboard was originally called shove groat, and was introduced to America by the early colonists. It’s an easy game to learn and play, but allows for increasing levels of skill making it a worthwhile activity for competition.
4. Disc Golf. This is another cross-sport activity that involves throwing a disc (which is a little bit smaller than the usual sized throwing disc) into baskets that are positioned above the ground. It provides a healthy, outdoor activity for seniors to compete with each other while also spending quality time together socially.

Seniors living in the Birmingham area who are interested in senior care in Birmingham or about other options regarding home health care in Birmingham Alabama are invited to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation.  They look forward to chatting with you!

Always Best Care Offers Exemplary In-Home Senior Care in Birmingham

For the past 20 years, Always Best Care has been a leader in the in-home senior care industry. With locations all over the United States and Canada, they provide their senior clients with a full spectrum of services that fall within the home helper, companion, and personal care categories. Some of these services include laundry, meal preparation, escorting to various locations such as worship services, medical appointments, grocery stores, etc., medication reminders, conversation and companionship, and many others.

Seniors living in the Birmingham area, who are interested in receiving home care in Birmingham or would like to learn details about in-home senior care in Birmingham, are encouraged to call the Always Best Care Birmingham location to set up a free consultation. During this consultation, a professional care coordinator will visit and discuss all of your needs (medical, social, physical, etc), your budget, and help create a custom care plan for you. Whether you are interested in moving into a senior living environment, or if you would like to have a caregiver come into your home and help you on a regular basis, Always Best Care is equipped to handle both.

The beauty of receiving home care in Birmingham is that it allows seniors to remain in their own homes. Usually, seniors are very comfortable in their homes and want to stay where there are happy memories, and where they feel the most comfortable with friends and family visiting, and familiar neighbors nearby.

Conversely, for those seniors who wish to transition into a senior living environment, Always Best Care can help them with this by giving them free referrals to three or four in the area, and then accompanying them on tours of the facilities. Moving into senior living environments can be a wonderful change of life for the senior who otherwise might be feeling lonely and without purpose at home. Senior living homes are the perfect opportunity for the senior to make new friends, explore new hobbies, and eat nutritiously through the healthy meal plans that are available.

If you are a senior living in the Birmingham area and are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, Always Best Care encourages you to contact their Birmingham office at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to discussing home care in Birmingham with you!

Seniors: Do You Know The Advantages Of Acupuncture?

Most people have heard of acupuncture, but not many people have actually tried it. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese form of medicine that has been in practice for many centuries. It involves stimulating certain “meridian” points on the body with needles to help treat health conditions, as well as alleviate pain.

Seniors today are faced with mounting health insurance costs. Western medicine is based in pharmaceuticals, and one of the most refreshing aspects of acupuncture is that there are no medicines involved, whatsoever. What else is great about that? If there are no medications, there aren’t any undue side effects, either.

The Advantages of Acupuncture

• It benefits the respiratory system. Many seniors suffer from various respiratory ailments, and acupuncture can help acute tonsillitis, acute rhinitis, the common cold and the flu, and acute sinusitis.
• It harmonizes the body. Acupuncture is based on the idea that the life force “chi” flows through the body as natural energy. As it flows through the body it passes over 12 meridian points. When acupuncture is performed, pathogens and other toxins are released from the body and put the body into a better state of health.
• It provides relief from mouth disorders. Seniors are naturally at an increased risk of various mouth issues due to simply age and decreased production of saliva. Acupuncture can help with TMJ, toothaches, acute and chronic pharyngitis, post extraction pain, and gingivitis.
• It treats eye disorders. Another common ailment among seniors, acupuncture can help relief cataracts, acute conjunctivitis (pink eye), and central retinitis myopia.
• It helps alleviate arthritis pain. While acupuncture does not work for all arthritis conditions, it can help for many, especially rheumatoid arthritis.

It helps treat mood related disorders. Acupuncture can help seniors gain relief from insomnia, anxiety, and even depression. For the past 20 years, Always Best Care has been assisting seniors all over the United States and Canada with both free referrals for assisted living facilities and in-home care. If you are a senior living in the Birmingham area, and would like information about senior care in Birmingham Alabama or in home care in Birmingham, contact the local Always Best Care branch at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!

Looking for In-Home Senior Care in Birmingham? Contact Always Best Care Today

Always Best Care is a premier senior care giving company that provides both in-home care services and free referrals for assisted living facilities to seniors in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1996, during the twenty years since then, their compassionate caregivers have provided assistance to over 25,000 seniors with personal care, home helper, and companion services. Seniors who live in the Birmingham area, who are interested in learning about in-home senior care in Birmingham and other home care options in Birmingham, are invited to call the Always Best Care Birmingham office to setup a free care consultation. During this consultation, a care coordinator will discuss all of your needs with you, whether you are interested in in-home care or in transitioning into an assisted living facility.

The professional care coordinator will create a customized care plan for you, outlining all of your needs including medical, intellectual, social, etc. This customized care plan will be modified as your needs change into the future, so you never have to worry about getting the precise care you need. Always Best Care is dedicated to fulfilling the needs of their senior clients.

Some of the other services that Always Best Care provides include:

• Always on Call: This is a 24/7 physician access program that allows senior clients and their families to consult with a doctor about everything from prescription refills to non-emergency issues in the middle of the night when going to the emergency room isn’t necessary.
• Always in Touch: A daily reassurance telephone call given to seniors who live in remote locations or are immobile due to health or transportation reasons.
• Always Safe: Uses the Philips Lifeline Alert system for senior fall detection and prevention.

Always Best Care caregivers provide a spectrum of services that fall within the home helper, companion, and personal care categories. These include everything from house cleaning, pet care, assistance with bathing, escorting to various locations, meal preparation, and more. When you sit down with the care coordinator, you will learn all about these attractive services and more.

Seniors who live in the Birmingham area, who are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, or other options regarding home care in Birmingham, can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730 to set up a free care consultation. They look forward to hearing from you!