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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.

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.

Important Legal Documents for Elderly Adults

As our loved ones age there are important legal documents that are necessary to ensure that their medical needs are met and their wishes regarding their health are known and followed. Below are a list of relevant documents and designations that everyone should go over with his or her loved ones and a lawyer.

Living Will: A living will is a document that lets other individuals know what someone’s wishes are for their end of life medical care in case the individual is no longer able to communicate their wishes.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that designates a person to make a medical decision on one’s behalf if the designator is unable to communicate their medical wishes.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order alerts medical professionals that the individual does not want to be resuscitated in case of a medical emergency.
P hysicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form: A POLST form allows an individual to provide more details about the type of care they wish to receive in a medical emergency if they are unable to communicate. For example, the form can let one choose whether or not they want antibiotics, to be intubated or have a feeding tube.

The legal documents mention above help aging adults and their families be prepared in case of a medical emergency. Another essential way families can be prepared as their loved one ages is having a rehabilitation center and nursing home where they feel comfortable sending their loved ones. Sprain Brook Rehabilitation Center in Westchester offers short-term skilled nursing care and long term care for those seeking treatment in the greater New York Area. We understand how stressful and confusing it can be when a loved one becomes ill and needs to be cared for. That is why we have strived to have a specialized facility with an experienced staff. 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.

Senior Dating

In April Bill Wilson and Lillian Kar Wilson passed away within minutes of each other. What was so special about this couple was that they were high school sweetheart and had been married for 73 years (source). Many aging adults find themselves in a much different situation than the Wilson’s. In 2009, seventeen percent of singles, 16.2 million individuals, were 65 years or older (source). With this many senior singles it is no wonder why dating among seniors has become a much talked about topic.Then are several important benefits that aging adults can receive from dating. Having someone beyond friend or family where one can have intimacy and companionship is important for all human beings. Aging adults who live alone and have less social contact can become withdrawn and may be more susceptible to health issues. According to eHarmony, there are several strengths that mature singles can offer to a partner including knowing themselves, being better able to assess potential partners, clearer sense of what is important, and realistic expectations. However, seniors may also face some obstacles in dating such as grieving past relationships, grown children that object and health conditions. No matter what the obstacle to dating is, it may be important for your emotional and physical wellbeing to begin to date or at least be more social if you’re a single aging adult. 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.

The Dangers of Falling

On Wednesday July 15th former President George H.W Bush was hospitalized after falling and breaking a neck bone. He was extremely lucky as he is expected to make a full recovery and will only need to wear a neck brace and receive physical therapy (source). However many adults over 65 have serious injuries from falling. In fact, according to the CDC 33% of adults over 65 fall each year and among older adults the majority of fatal and non-fatal injuries are a result of falling. In 2013 alone there were 2.5 million adults over 65 that went to the ER as a result of falling and 734,000 that had to be hospitalized.There are several risk factors that increase aging adults likelihood that they will fall. Below is a list of risk factors from NIH Senior Health that can help one understand the risk of falling at an older age. For a full list please check out the NIH Senior Health website.

Muscle Weakness, especially in leg muscles is a leading cause of falls.
Aging adults with poor balance are more likely to fall. Difficulty with balance can be related to neurological issues, lack of exercise and other conditions.
Postural hypotension, which can results from dehydration of other medical conditions is a condition where blood pressure drips to fast when you go from lying down or sitting to standing
Vision issues, such as poor depth perception and cataracts can lead you to misjudge and fail to see objects that you might trip over

With over 33% of aging adults falling every year it is likely that you or a loved one may fall and need rehabilitation. Sprain Brook Manor’s rehabilitation center in Westchester offers state of the art skilled nursing care and short term care in a warm and caring environment. Sprain Brook Manor’s short to rehab in Westchester offers several healing therapy’s including physical therapy, speech therapy, cardiac therapy and pulmonary therapy. If you or a loved one has had a recent medical event and you are looking for quality rehabilitation in the New York Tristate area then please contact Sprain Brook Manor Rehab right away.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 Aging Can Affect Driving, Learn How To Keep Loved Ones Safe.

The ability to drive represents independence and self-sufficiently for many aging adults. When that independence is threatened often the reaction can be painful for both the aging adult and their family. However, evaluating whether or not aging adults should drive often comes too late. In fact, in 2008 alone 15 older adults were killed every day and some 500 were injured in motor vehicle accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Therefore, it is important as your loved ones age to watch for warning signs that it might be time for to stop driving. Warning Signs that it is time to stop driving: (helpguide.org) Health Issues: If you or your loved one has health issues that could get in the way of awareness and vigilance then you might be putting yourself and other drivers at grave risk. These health issues could include eyesight problems, hearing problems, issues with reflexes and range of motions, and memory issues. Road Issues: If you find yourself or your loved ones drifting into other lanes, changing lanes without using turning signals or having other issues following road rules then this might indicate an issue with your ability to focus on driving and it might be time to get evaluated by a professional. In addition, if there is an increase in almost crashing, dents, hitting curbs etc, or you or your loved one has been getting more ticket or warning from police officers then you or your loved ones driving is showing a functional deficit and may need to be evaluated. Some people think that after a major health event that an aging individual will not be able to drive or do other important day to day tasks independently again. At Sprain Brook Manor’s Rehabilitation center in Westchester the short term care and physical therapy is geared towards helping you or your loved ones regain independence in everyday tasks after a major healthy event. Sprain Brook Manor’s prides itself on having the best skilled nursing care in Westchester team that will create an individualized rehabilitation plan to help you or your loved heal as quickly as possible. 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.

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