How Seniors Hide their Symptoms of Dementia

Developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is a frightening prospect. Nobody wants to believe that their funny little “senior moments” could be anything but – however, millions of seniors develop some type of dementia and in the process of denying it to themselves, they might exhibit the following actions.

•  “I’m fine,” “I’m old and forgetful, it’s what happens!” “I’m just tired.” All of these are ways to deny what might really be going on. By making these statements, they are not only keeping you at bay regarding a possible problem, they are also trying to convince themselves that there isn’t one.

•  Anosognosia is a condition that goes beyond denial – it’s about being completely unaware. Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s disease, more than 80% of patients suffer from this. It’s unclear exactly what causes it, but it makes coming to terms with the illness even more difficult, for the patient and caregiver.

•  Keeping their “mistakes” (memory lapses) hidden from others. Many seniors are reluctant to give up their freedom and be placed in a more intensive-care facility. So, they “hide” their lapses in memory or some other secret (forgetting to turn off a burner, for example), to avoid this.

•  For better or for worse – many spouses will take on the role to “cover up” for their spouses mistakes, they’ll drive for them, they’ll step in to complete tasks, whatever the case may be – to avoid others speculating on whether the impaired spouse needs higher care-intensive conditions.

•  Staying away from games they once loved; or even refusing to do a simple chore they’ve done a hundred times. Forgetting certain processes and how to follow through on activities is difficult, and to avoid the frustration altogether, some seniors won’t engage.

 If you are interested in learning about in-home care services in Birmingham, or other options surrounding assisted living in Birmingham, Alabama, please contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-8974-9730 or email them at info.bham@abc-seniors.com. They will assist you in obtaining a free consultation, where you and a Care Provider will draft an extensive and personalized Care Plan.

Interested in Home Health Care in Birmingham Alabama? Contact Always Best Care Today

Since 1996, Always Best Care has assisted over 25,000 seniors in the United States and Canada maintain their independence. The Always Best Care caregivers are licensed, well-trained, and undergo thorough background checks. In addition, they are known to be compassionate and dedicated to their senior clients. If you are interested in learning about in-home senior care in Birmingham, you can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730. They can provide you with a free consultation with a Care Provider. The Care Provider will sit down with you and your family to create a Care Plan which extensively outlines your individual care needs. This Care Plan is continually updated as your needs change.

Caregiver Services

So, what makes in-home care so wonderful? It’s a chance for the senior to transfer many of his or her responsibilities and leave them in the capable hands of an Always Best Care caregiver. Some of the services provided (but certainly not limited to these) include:

• Assisting with entertaining

• Maintaining the calendar

• Overseeing home deliveries

• Shopping for groceries and other supplies

• Dropping of dry cleaning

• Picking up prescriptions

• Preparing and serving meals

• Help with bathing/dressing/eating

• Playing card game

• Discussing current and historical events

• Supervising home maintenance

Or, if you’re interested in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, Always Best Care is also exceptionally well-equipped to supply recommendations. The Birmingham staff knows the assisted living communities in the area quite well, and is adept at matching seniors with facilities that are well-suited for them. Always Best Care will even accompany the senior and his/her family to their top 3-4 choices to help narrow down which community best meets their needs.

• In addition to these services, Always Best Care also provides additional special services that allow them to serve area seniors even more fully.

• Always in Touch – a daily telephone reassurance program that is available to seniors and disabled adults who live remotely or who have limited mobility.

• Always Safe – a comprehensive fall prevention and detection program that brings peace of mind to the senior and their family.

• Always on Call – 24/7 telephone access to a doctor, eliminating the need for late night emergency room visits that aren’t an emergency.

If you are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, or other options in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, call 205-874-9730 today!

Are Senior Living Communities Male-Friendly?

Although the gap is closing, there is a seven year difference in the life expectancy of men and women. In senior living communities, there is a ratio of 7 women to every 1 man, making these communities much more geared toward females. However, because that gap is, indeed, closing, senior living communities will need to address the issue of more and more males becoming part of the resident roster.

Men approach aging and conflict differently than women do, so it’s important for loved ones and family members to approach the idea of in-home care and assisted living respectfully, and with full knowledge of male thought patterns. Throughout men’s lives, they are taught and expected to be in control, they are expected to have leadership qualities and to be fiercely independent. So, when the time comes for them to get some assistance, it can be harder on them than it is on women in the same situation.

If you are looking for assisted living for a senior man, there are some ways to help avoid him from being placed in an overly-feminine community. Although, it might seem to some like a 7:1 ratio would be to the man’s benefit, the reality is that the senior man needs to feel that the community gears itself to him, as well, and to his needs. 

• Talk to senior men who already reside in a community that you are considering for important first-account feedback.
• Talk to these senior men about activities they can do together and what the community offers that they find enjoyable.
• During a tour, find out if there are any specific places where men can gather to socialize.
• Talk to the activity director to find out if there are activities specifically geared toward men.
• Find out if the community offers their male residents the opportunity to help out (this can help satisfy the male need for independence and leadership).
• Only consider placement in a community where men are 20-25% or more of the population.

If you are interested in in-home care in Birmingham, Alabama, or other types of elderly assistance in the area, contact the Always Best Care local office at 205-874-9730 or email them at info.bham@abc-seniors.com today for a free consultation. 

Get the Best Senior Care in Birmingham through Always Best Care

Always Best Care Senior Services has been providing compassionate care to seniors all over the country and Canada for the past 20 years. They provide in-home care assistance to seniors who wish to alleviate some of the stress and tension of their daily tasks (that can get overwhelming as we age), to free up time to do more of the things they enjoy.

The in-home care assistance in Birmingham, Alabama, is provided by exceptional caregivers that are licensed, trained and certified in CPR and first aid. The ABC caregivers take their role as non-medical caregivers and companions very seriously, resulting in happy seniors and caregivers who find fulfillment in their career choice. 

What are some of the tasks that ABC caregivers help their senior clients with? There are many and they cover a wide spectrum of activities that are necessary in helping the senior get through the day. They include:

• Preparing future meals
• Taking care of pets
• Taking care of plants
• Medication reminders
• Transportation to & from religious services
• Assisting with clothing selections
• Playing cards and games
• Stimulating mental awareness
• Conversing about current & past events
• Organizing mail
• Aiding with reading
• Dusting, vacuuming, sweeping
• …so much more

If you live in the Birmingham area and are interested in senior care and receiving a free consultation with an Always Best Care Coordinator, call 205-874-9730 today to set up an appointment. They will help you create a Care Plan and also help you decide which is best for you: assisted living or in-home care. ABC provides a minimum of daily one hour home care assistance in Birmingham. With 20 years of experience in assisting seniors, they have logged more than three million hours of caregiver time and have helped over 25,000 seniors around the country and Canada live fuller and happier lives. Give them a call today at 205-874-9730 to find out how they can help you with your senior care and in-home care assistance decisions in Birmingham.

Malnutrition in Seniors and How to Help Prevent It

As we get older, our bodies change. Everyone knows this because it is visually obvious, but the changes go beyond just what we can see. Seniors are at a higher risk of becoming malnourished because of a number of factors that take place simply because they are older adults. It’s important for caregivers, family members, neighbors, and friends to be aware of these problems and to keep an eye on their senior loved ones to make sure they are getting the proper nutrition.

Factors that Contribute:

• Medication side effects. It’s a simple fact that as we grow older, we take more medications than we did as a younger adult. Many medications have side effects and some of those effects could be in the form of anorexia, suppression of the appetite, taste bud changes, weight loss, and weight gain.
•  Dental health problems. Poor dental care (which can stem from either lack of insurance/money to see the dentist, or even dentist phobia) can cause tooth loss and loosening of the teeth, which can cause pain when eating certain foods, which the senior will then avoid altogether. Dentures that don’t fit correctly can also cause this.

     

 

• Health changes. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can all change the way someone eats, and it might not be for the better. Or, if the senior has any one (or more) of these conditions, they might not be able to change their diet at all, creating more health risk.
• Taste buds dull. As we age our taste buds become dull and it’s difficult to taste food. Many seniors end up eating very salty, spicy, or hot food to try and compensate, but this often leads to damaging the stomach, throat, tongue, etc.
• Fatigue. Not having the energy to cook a good, healthy meal can lead to poor food choices such as calling out or going to fast food restaurants.
• Budget. Seniors who worry about their budget may be extra cautious about spending money on food that is good for them – historically, less healthy food is less expensive.

Are you interested in obtaining a free consultation regarding in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama? Call (205) 874-9730 or email info.bham@abc-seniors.com to discuss senior care options such as in home care, and assisted living communities in the Birmingham, Alabama area.

Talk to an Always Best Care Consultant about Senior Care in Birmingham Alabama

There comes a time in everyone’s life when senior care, whether it’s in-home care, assisted living,dementia care, etc., becomes a consideration. Generally, seniors talk to their families about what type of senior care they are considering, what would be best for them to fulfill their needs, budget, etc. Always Best Care Senior Services has been providing seniors with information about assisted living communities, as well as providing caregivers for everyday in-home care for the past 20 years.

ABC offers free consultations, so that seniors and their families can sit down and talk with an ABC Care Consultant and get a good idea as to which option would be best for them. Considerations such as necessary medical attention, budget, physical, mental, spiritual and social needs are all weighed and taken into account. Many times seniors want to be nearby their families, when this is the case, ABC can help them research assisted living communities regardless of the desired location.

If you live in the central Alabama area, and are considering in-home care in Birmingham, call (205) 874-9730 today for a free consultation. This office also serves several other locations in the central Birmingham including but not limited to Blount, Chilton, Coosa, DeKalb, Jefferson, Marshall, St. Clair, and Tuscaloosa. The Always Best Care in-home care providers are all bonded, insured, CPR and first-aid certified. They are chosen by ABC because they are dedicated and passionate about working with seniors and helping them with not only daily tasks but also with lively conversation and companionship.

One of the benefits of in-home care through ABC is that a number of other special services become available, as well. These include Always in Touch: a telephone reassurance program that is available to seniors (or disabled adults) who are living alone with not much contact with the outside world. Once a day, a phone call is placed to make sure they are safe.

Other free services include Always Safe: a fall prevention and detection program that features Lifeline with Auto Alert; and Always on Call: a program that allows 24/7 access to physicians to seniors and their families.

 If you live in the central Alabama area and are interested in obtaining more information about Always Best Care in-home care in Birmingham, or referrals for senior care the Birmingham, Alabama area, call (205)874-9730 today, or email info@bham.abc-seniors.com.

Senior Care: The Stages of Dementia

Although there are many different types of dementia and everyone with dementia is different, there are some reliable stages of dementia that caregivers and loved ones can be aware of to help them better handle the disease. It’s truly best to promote the positive, or the highest level of independence the senior scan achieve at every stage of dementia, instead of dwelling on the abilities that have been lost.

1. 1^st Stage: High-Early: Challenges associated with the high-early stage of dementia deal with daily living. Things like managing the finances, cooking, driving, and managing medications become difficult at this stage due to cellular death in the area that is responsible for cognitive functioning. Seniors living alone at this stage need someone to check on them daily.
   
   
2. 2^nd Stage: Low-Early: Challenges such as showering and dressing are impacted during this stage, and the senior should have 24 hour supervision, due to impaired judgment and the senior’s inability to perceive safety issues. The senior at this stage is still goal-directed.
   
   
3. 3^rd Stage: Middle-Moderate: The ability to proceed through a long-remembered sequence of steps (like how to shave), is now lost. At this stage, the senior requires assistance for everything. At this stage, however, there are methods to getting the senior to participate in activities that are meaningful to them.
   
   
4. 4^th Stage: Late: Fine motor coordination, as well as talking and walking are severely compromised at this stage. One-on-one care is required; however, seniors at this stage can communicate through facial expressions and behavior.
   
   
5. 5^th Stage: End: At this stage, the brain has atrophied and the senior is not able to walk or talk at all. They can still be engaged using their five senses, however, and are fully capable of feeling loved, warm, and safe by their caregivers.

Always Best Care Senior Services has been providing in-home caregivers to seniors around the United States and Canada for the past 20 years. They also provide referral assistance for seniors interested in assisted living communities. If you are interested in receiving information on their dedicated caregivers in Birmingham, Alabama, or more information about dementia care in Birmingham, call (205) 874-9730 or email them at info@bham.abc-seniors.com today.