December 2016 - Sprain Brook Manor

Monthly Archives: December 2016

Holiday Season Red Flags

With the arrival of Thanksgiving, the holiday season has officially begun. For many families, it is the time of year where they travel and see loved ones they may not have seen for several months. For other families, it may be the part of the year where they spend long stretches of time with their elderly family members. For children of aging adults, the holiday season is a cherished time they can spend with their elderly parents. However, it is also a time of year where children can better assess their elderly parents’ cognitive functioning. If you are going to be spending an extended period of time with an aging loved one it is important to look out for any red flags that may require more assessment or intervention.

Extreme Changes in weight: If you have noticed that your elderly loved ones have lost or gained a significant amount of weight since your last visit you may need to consult a medical professional to assess the potential causes of this change in weight. Extreme weight loss in the elderly could be due to cancer, dementia, heart failure, depression or other serious issues. Weight gain can also be caused by depression, heart disease, and medication. Significant changes in weight can be symptoms of a larger issue that need immediate intervention. In addition, significant weight changes can lead to increased medical problems such as type 2 diabetes.
Changes in Home Environment: If it has been awhile since you have visited your elderly loved one’s residence and noticed their once clean and organized home is a mess with overflowing piles of garbage and uncleaned laundry this could be a sign of declining functioning. Even if your aging loved one was never known to be the cleanest and most organized individual, having them live in a messy and dirty environment could put them at increased risk of falling or getting sick.

If upon visiting your aging loved one you realize that they may need further assessment by a medical expert it will be important to broach the topic carefully. The holiday season is stressful for everyone and adding a serious and important conversation about your aging adults weight, home environment or other concerns can lead them to feel attacked or judged. Therefore you may want to begin the conversation by reviewing with them their previous doctor visits and making a new appointment with their primary care physician where you can voice some of your concerns. If your concerns are very serious, you may have to look into long-term nursing home care with skilled nursing services.

This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

How To Spot Problem Behavior of Family Members and Caregivers of the Elderly

When dealing with aging adults, just like with any age group, one may find that they act in ways that can frustrate or embarrass those around them. Sometimes these behaviors can be signs of a decline in health, or they no longer feel in control. It is important to address these behavioral issues for both your own and your aging loved one’s mental and physical wellbeing. Below are some issues that some children or caretakers of aging loved ones may be faced with and how to deal with them. For a full list click here

Cursing, Aggressive Language and Inappropriate Comments

When an elderly loved one starts swearing or making inappropriate remarks it can be very embarrassing for their family. Many family members may be confused as to why all of a sudden their aging loved one begins using profanity or even calling their caregivers inappropriate names. When an aging adult’s personality and behavior suddenly changes, it can be a sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and therefore a medical professional should be consulted. Whatever the reason for the use of profanity, there are several potential ways to deal with a loved one that is using constant profanity. For instance you can ignore them, try to redirect them by talking about something they enjoy or validating their feelings without focusing on the bad language.

Not Regularly Showering

Appropriate hygiene is important for staying healthy especially when it comes to elderly adults who may have a weaker immune system. However, sometimes caregivers and family members may find that it can be a struggle to ensure an aging loved one is showering or changing clothes often enough. Lack of proper hygiene in aging adults may have several causes. If an aging adult is feeling depressed they may take less care of themselves. In addition, if they have lost their sense of smell they may not notice they need to shower, they may feel showering is one of the things they can still control, and so they decide not to, or it may be hard for them to get into the shower. The first step in solving this issue is to figure out why they are not showering. If the cause is depression or lack of smell you may need to take your loved one to a mental health professional or doctor. If the reason why they are not showering is that they are afraid of slipping in the shower then installing safety rails, a shower seat, and a non-slip bath mat can make your loved one, and you feel more comfortable and consequently lead to more consistent showering.

There may be several other issues that loved ones or caregivers may need to face when they are taking care of aging adults. At Sprain Brook Manor Rehab we understand the important job and responsibility that we have when taking care of aging adults. Our rehabilitation center in Westchester offers the best in short-term care, skilled nursing care, and short-term rehab and is one of the top rated rehabs and nursing homes in the area. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or for more information.

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