There are some tried and true home remedies that seniors can try to make the symptoms of viral infections a little more bearable. These home remedies might help:

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is very important when battling a viral infection. Drinking plenty of water, herbal teas, clear broths, and electrolyte-rich fluids can help prevent dehydration and soothe a sore throat. Electrolyte drinks, protein shakes, and warm broth can all help seniors feel better when sick.

Rest

Seniors should prioritize rest and give their bodies the time they need to recover. Adequate sleep and relaxation help the immune system fight the infection more effectively. Naps are also a great way to help the body fight off an infection, especially for seniors who have sleep challenges.

Warm Salt Gargle

A warm saltwater gargle can provide relief for a sore throat. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in warm water and use it as a gargle several times a day.

Steam Inhalation

Inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water or a warm shower can help relieve nasal congestion and ease breathing difficulties. An easy way to keep water warm for steam inhalation is to fill a slow cooker with water and some lavender or peppermint and keep it on low.

Humidifier

Using a humidifier in the bedroom can add moisture to the air, helping to relieve dry throat and congestion during the night.

Honey

Honey has natural antibacterial and soothing properties. A teaspoon of honey in warm water or herbal tea can soothe a sore throat and cough. A cup of herbal tea with lots of honey is a great treat that can help the body fight off infection.

Ginger Tea

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Seniors can prepare ginger tea by simmering fresh ginger slices in hot water. This can help reduce nausea, soothe the stomach, and provide relief from cold symptoms. Ginger tea with honey is a great infection-fighting drink.

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup has been a traditional remedy for colds and flu for generations. It can help hydrate, provide essential nutrients, and ease congestion.

Steamy Shower or Bath

Taking a steamy shower or bath can help seniors relax and relieve muscle aches and tension. The warm, moist environment can also ease congestion. Use a shower steamer tablet to help loosen up congestion and open the nasal passages.

Salt Inhalation

Some seniors find relief from congestion by using a saline nasal spray or doing salt inhalation. These methods can help clear nasal passages and promote easier breathing.

Vitamin C

Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, kiwi, and strawberries, can help boost the immune system and may reduce the duration and severity of viral infections.

Garlic

Garlic has antimicrobial properties and may help combat viral infections. Seniors can add fresh garlic to their meals or take garlic supplements after consulting with a healthcare provider.

Sleep With Head Elevated

Sleeping with an elevated head can reduce nighttime coughing and congestion. Seniors can achieve this by using extra pillows or a wedge pillow.

Probiotics

Probiotics can support gut health and the immune system. Seniors can incorporate probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir into their diet or take probiotic supplements.

Warm Compresses

Applying a warm compress to the forehead, sinuses, or throat can provide soothing relief from pain and discomfort.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care Services in Cherry Hill NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660.

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Having a chronic disease not only wears on a person physically as parts of the body either no longer function at all or don’t function the way they should, but it also takes a toll on a person’s mental health as they battle the depression and anxiety that comes alongside it.

These daily affirmations or practices might help your loved one live better with the chronic condition he has.

Stop blaming himself.

Many times those with a chronic illness may feel a lot of guilt about why/how they got the disease or condition that they are trying to manage. That self-loathing can lead to making the conditions worse and can create a cycle of depression and frustration. The shame that is felt often leads to other self-destructive behaviors such as drinking or overeating.

If your loved one seems to blame himself for his condition, remind him that no matter how he got there, no one blames him. Helping him find peace with his condition will help boost his mood, which in turn may help the treatments and therapy he is doing to work better.

Honor his limitations.

If your loved one is someone who has a hard time saying no to others, he might struggle with honoring his limitations and you might need to help him on this. It might mean saying no to going to his second cousin’s 53rd birthday party on the other side of the state because that much traveling will do your loved one more harm physically than the second cousin could ever appreciate. Offer yourself up as the “bad guy” if your loved one needs a bit of help saying no.

Realize his illness doesn’t fully define him.

Your loved one is so much more than his condition or disease. Help him rediscover his passions. He might need to do them differently, but with a little creativity, he should be able to enjoy what makes him uniquely him. For example, if your loved one enjoys cooking, but can no longer hold a sharp knife, having a home care provider help with prepping can allow him to still cook.

Let go of some expectations.

If your loved one’s condition has made it impossible for him to perform certain tasks anymore, help him ask for help and find comfort in that help. A home care provider can assist with many personal care tasks or home cleaning chores without making your loved one feel like he is less of a person because he can no longer do it.

Finally, help your loved one find support groups that are made up of people who are living with either the same or similar conditions. Those support groups can be a great community to help him through the roughest patches.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Medford NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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The brain has six lobes:

• Brain Stem (breathing, sleep function, and heart rate)
• Cerebellum (balance and motor skills)
• Frontal (attention and concentration)
• Occipital (vision)
• Parietal (touch and depth perception)
• Temporal (memory and understanding)

When there is an injury to any part of the brain, it causes a traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries are caused by a blow to the head, while non-traumatic brain injuries are just as dangerous, but they’re caused by things like a stroke, meningitis, tumors, overdoses, etc.

These are the top four benefits of in-home care following a stroke.

Transportation

It’s going to be a while before your dad can drive. He has several appointments each week with his doctor and a variety of therapists. You can take off some afternoons to bring him to his speech, occupational, and physical therapists, but there are appointments you can’t cover. His in-home care aide can drive him around.

Help With Hygiene and Grooming

In-home care aides help your dad with his personal care needs. Following a stroke, he may find it hard to grasp anything. He can’t lift his arm. This makes it hard to hold a toothbrush, floss his teeth, get dressed, shave, or comb his hair.

Have caregivers with your dad each day to help him with his morning routine. He’ll have someone to help him during his shower and when it’s time to dry off and get dressed. His caregiver can brush and floss your dad’s teeth, shave his face, and help him trim his nails.

Meal Preparation

Have a caregiver with your dad each day to cook meals he can manage. His caregiver can cut the pieces small enough so that your dad doesn’t choke. His caregiver can get him beverages as needed and prepare snacks.

Not only will the caregiver cook for him, but the caregiver also builds a shopping list and runs errands. Your dad won’t have to try to get to the store to shop.

In-Home Care Aides Help With Housework

Your dad’s not going to have an easy time walking around his home. His mobility is impacted, and that makes it hard for him to do the laundry, vacuum the carpets, dust, and wash dishes. He can’t change his sheets anymore, but his caregiver can make his bed, change the sheets each week, and fluff his pillows.

Arrange in-home care services by calling our agency and talking to a specialist. You’ll be able to discuss your dad’s current care needs, what his doctors say, and how long it’s expected he’s going to need help with personal care. Talk to our in-home care specialist to learn more.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care Services in Turnersville NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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Lifespan

The most common criteria involved in qualifying for hospice care involves your senior’s expected lifespan. If her doctor certifies that she can expect six months or less to live, she can qualify for help through hospice. There may be other criteria as well that your senior should consider when thinking about hospice care.

Disabling Difficulty Breathing

People with COPD often have difficulty breathing. But as the disease progresses, your elderly family member is likely to have even more trouble breathing, even when she’s at rest. She may find that she is short of breath at all times, not just after she exerts herself. This can be a sign that she should consider hospice.

Multiple Hospital Stays for Pulmonary Issues

If your elderly family member is finding herself in the hospital frequently because of pneumonia or other respiratory issues, then hospice care is possibly a good choice for her. This type of care can help her to be more comfortable and can also reduce the likelihood that she’ll be readmitted to the hospital. Staying at home can help to reduce her anxiety, which can make a big difference for her.

Low Oxygen Levels in Blood

Another big consideration is the oxygen levels in your senior’s blood. This can be an indication that her COPD is becoming even more severe. Another metric to keep an eye on is the carbon dioxide level in your senior’s blood. If oxygen is low and carbon dioxide is high, that’s a sign that she’s having greater difficulty.

Right-sided Heart Failure

Normal heart operation involves the left side of the heart pumping oxygenated blood through the lungs and the body while the right side of the heart brings deoxygenated blood back to the lungs to pick up oxygen again. Right-sided heart failure means that the right side no longer does its job and deoxygenated blood backs up into the rest of the body. That makes it more difficult for the heart to move oxygen through the body at all.

Your Senior Declines Breathing Assistance

Finally, if your elderly family member has declined breathing tubes and other types of breathing assistance, it may be time for hospice elder care. This type of treatment can feel too invasive to your senior as she’s dealing with the challenges of COPD. Hospice care can help her to be as comfortable as possible in the time that she has left.

A common misconception is that your elderly family member can only access hospice services for six months, but that isn’t the case. If she does have longer, her doctor can recertify her so that she can continue to receive hospice care.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Hospice Care Services in Evesham Township NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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The pancreas is an organ that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. About the size of a hand, the pancreas makes pancreatic juices called enzymes. The enzymes break down sugars, fats, and starches. The pancreas also assists the digestive system by making hormones that are chemical messengers that travel through the blood. Pancreatic hormones help regulate blood sugar levels and appetite, stimulate stomach acids, and tell the stomach when to empty.

Both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors can occur in the pancreas. The most common type of cancer that forms in the pancreas starts in the cells that line the ducts that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas.

These are the signs that you, your elderly loved one, and the elder care team should watch for and report if noticed so that your parent can get examined as soon as possible.

• Abdominal pain that radiates to the back
• Loss of appetite or unintended weight loss
• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
• Light-colored stools
• Dark-colored urine
• Itchy skin
• New diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control
• Blood clots
• Fatigue

Many of these symptoms can be linked to other health conditions but a combination of them or having a health history or some of the risk factors for pancreatic cancer may indicate that the pancreas has developed a cancerous tumor. Your loved one’s elder care provider can be a good resource for any new conditions that your parent may be experiencing but isn’t willing to share with family members. Often, symptoms in the elderly can be going on for months or years because of the fear of discussing them or feeling like they’re just being a burden.

As cancer continues to grow and progress, some of the symptoms listed above can cause some serious complications, such as:

Weight loss – Weight loss might happen as cancer consumes the body’s energy. Nausea and vomiting caused by a tumor pressing on the stomach may make it difficult to eat. Your parent’s body might begin to struggle with processing nutrients from food because the pancreas isn’t making enough digestive juices.

Jaundice – When pancreatic cancer causes the liver’s bile duct to get blocked, it can lead to jaundice. Jaundice symptoms include yellow skin and eyes, dark-colored urine, and pale-colored stools.

Pain – A tumor pressing on nerves in your abdomen can cause severe pain.
Bowel obstruction – Pancreatic cancer that grows into the first part of the small intestine can block the flow of digested food from your stomach into your intestines.

If pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, having a team of elder care providers to help your parent as he goes through treatment will benefit both him and yourself.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care Services in Washington Township NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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Senior Home Care Aides can Encourage Drinking More Water

Water is the best drink to reduce your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. The inherent properties of water, whether in tap water or a more expensive bottled kind, include the ability to dilute blood and reduce the likelihood that platelets would clump together and generate a clot. There is no need to drink sports drinks, vitamin waters, or any other beverages with extra substances; plain water will do the task. If you are on a DVT prevention diet due to heart failure, however, you should talk to your doctor about the appropriate daily fluid intake.

Olive Oil Can Actually Be Helpful In Moderation

According to a recent scientific study, eating foods prepared with virgin olive oil may decrease platelet activity, lowering the likelihood of developing a life-threatening blood clot in the leg. Olive oil is beneficial because it contains phenols, which research suggests may reduce platelet aggregation. The risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be decreased by eating a diet that includes more virgin olive oil. Eating two to three servings of healthy fats like olive oil daily will help minimize your risk of deep vein thrombosis, so follow the DASH Diet’s advice.

Always Include Fresh Vegetables and Fresh Fruits Are Good In Moderation

Produce with the least amount of processing is ideal for preventing deep vein thrombosis. Consuming a diet rich in fiber and antioxidant-rich vegetables has been shown to promote cardiovascular health and lower the chance of having deep vein thrombosis. Whether fresh, frozen, or tinned, vegetables carry a nutritious punch. Vegetables coated with sauce or cheese should be avoided. Canned beans, after being drained and washed, provide tremendous nutritional benefits in preventing DVT at a low cost. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have access to fresh vegetables or can’t bake them, it’s time to look for senior home care to help them around the house.

Fresh fruit consumption improves heart health, increases dietary fiber intake, and reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis. One research indicated that persons who ate five daily servings of fruits and vegetables had a 50% lower chance of developing deep vein thrombosis than those who ate less than three servings. Fruits that may be eaten in their whole form, such as apples, oranges, pears, and grapes, provide a great snack option. Grapefruit may interfere with the effectiveness of some medicines; therefore those who use prescription drugs should exercise care while eating it. Seek advice from your pharmacy for help.

Dark Leafy Greens Should Be Added to a Seniors Diet

Previously, leafy greens, such as collards, were included on the “deep vein thrombosis limitations” list, particularly for people using the anticoagulant (“blood thinner”) medicine warfarin (brand name Coumadin). High quantities of Vitamin K, which promotes blood clotting, are found in leafy greens. Today, however, even those who take anticoagulants are often advised to eat a consistent amount of leafy greens as part of a diet that promotes heart health. The micronutrients included in leafy greens contribute to overall heart health. If you are taking an anticoagulant, see your physician for advice on eating leafy greens. Senior home care can help your elderly loved one make more fresh foods that help them manage blood clots.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Home Care Services in Turnersville NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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Weight Gain

Weight gain can be a bad sign if your elderly family member has heart failure. Changes in her weight aren’t necessarily because she’s eating more or because she’s doing anything wrong. Sudden weight gain, especially of around 3 to 5 pounds, overnight or over a couple of days can mean that she’s retaining more water than she realizes. This is directly related to heart failure and can mean that her medications aren’t working well.

Swelling in the Extremities

Swelling in the extremities, or edema is something else your elderly family member might experience. Edema occurs when there’s too much fluid in the body and it pools in the lower legs, feet, and even in the abdomen. The heart isn’t able to keep up with the fluid, which causes the buildup. Some medications can help to reduce edema, but suddenly experiencing swelling is a cause for concern and your senior’s medical team needs to know what’s happening.

Blood Pressure Levels

Blood pressure levels are also a good indicator of how your senior’s heart failure is progressing. Using a home monitor is easy to do, but home health care providers can remind your senior and help keep track of the results. Your senior’s doctor may want to adjust the medications that she’s taking depending on how blood pressure levels fluctuate.

Fluid Intake

Drinking plenty of water and staying properly hydrated is important, but for people with heart failure, there is such a thing as too much fluid in one day. If your elderly family member does drink too much, she runs the risk of overwhelming her kidneys and her heart. Tracking fluid intake and making sure that it hits that happy medium is vital.

Poor Sleep

When your elderly family member isn’t getting good sleep, her body is less able to keep up with the demands of her heart failure. Getting better sleep can feel more complicated than your senior is prepared for it to be, however. Addressing sleep hygiene issues, like making sure she has a sleep schedule and her bedroom is comfortable for sleep, can make a big difference.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath is not a symptom you might associate with heart failure, but it is a symptom directly related to heart failure. Fluid accumulation and congestion in the lungs make it difficult for the lungs to do their job, and that places more strain on the heart. Shortness of breath while exercising is one thing, but it’s particularly concerning when it happens while your senior is at rest.

Being able to keep tabs on all of these symptoms on a regular basis is crucial for your senior as she battles heart failure. Home health care providers can help your elderly family member to keep her doctor informed about what symptoms she’s experiencing regularly.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Cherry Hill, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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By the time a senior is released from the hospital they are usually well enough to do some things for themselves, but recovering from a heart attack can be a long process. Depending on how much damage was done seniors may need months of rehabilitation and extra care to make sure they are safe at home. And in order to prevent future heart attacks, seniors will need to focus on making some lifestyle changes that will lower their risk of heart attacks. Senior care can make sure that your senior loved one is getting the care they need during recovery when you can’t be there to help.

In-Home Care After A Heart Attack

The services provided as part of an in-home care program can be tailored to the needs of your senior parent. Based on the severity of the heart attack your senior loved one may only need basic help around the house with things like cleaning up or making meals. If the heart attack was serious they may need help with personal care, dressing, and more tasks.

In-home care also can help seniors make the lifestyle changes that they need to make in order to keep themselves safe from future heart attacks. Most seniors know they need to change the way that they’re living for good of their health but many still struggle to make those changes. In-home care providers can motivate seniors to exercise more, eat better, and get more sleep so that they have a lower risk of a future heart attack.

Lifestyle Changes That Help Seniors Recover

Making lifestyle changes is never easy, especially for seniors to need to try and make abrupt changes in the way they live for their health. Most experts say that seniors should focus on making small measurable changes in their lives instead of attempting to make many big sweeping changes. But when a senior is recovering from a health attack some of the immediate changes they need to make are:

Changing Medications

Most likely your senior loved one will be put on medications after a heart attack. Their current medication regimen may also change. In-home care can help seniors make sure that they are taking the medications they need to take at the right times of the day to help them recover.

Exercising Daily

Daily exercise is a must for seniors that are recovering from a heart attack. Even though seniors may not be able to do strenuous exercise at first they need to start building up endurance and getting some activity each day. Walking is a fantastic exercise for seniors who are in heart attack recovery.

Getting Enough Sleep

The body needs sleep to recover from many conditions, including heart attacks. Your senior loved one may sleep better at night knowing that someone is there with them. And you’ll sleep better knowing that someone is looking after your senior parent.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Turnersville, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

Sources:

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/heart-attack-recovery-faqs

What To Do After a Heart Attack

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Bacterial Pneumonia

One of the respiratory infections that is all too common in the elderly is bacterial pneumonia. If your elderly loved one gets this it could land them in the hospital very quickly. With this condition, there is fluid and inflammation in the lungs. Your elderly loved one may also develop chest pain due to fluid build-up and inflammation. They may have a fever and confusion, too. Generally, this condition is treated with antibiotics and other medications to manage the symptoms. When your elderly loved one comes home from the hospital, they may need additional care to get their medications. You can hire home health care providers to assist them.

Seasonal Influenza 

The flu or seasonal influenza is very dangerous for senior citizens. Did you know that around 90% of the deaths caused by the flu are among elderly people? If your elderly loved one develops the flu, some of the symptoms they may have include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Chills
• Fever
• Digestive symptoms

Generally, the flu is treated with different types of antiviral medications. These are usually only effective if they start taking them when symptoms first start. If your elderly loved one is hospitalized or needs to be given medications at home, they may need home health care providers to assist with their medication regimen.

The Common Cold

In the days of Covid, the common cold isn’t talked about much, but it should be. There are many viruses that can cause a cold. The problem is that while some people don’t get very sick with the common cold, senior citizens can get extremely ill. Sure, it may not seem like sneezing, a runny nose, and a sore throat could do much to a person. However, the common cold can cause severe symptoms and even lead to pneumonia in the elderly. If your elderly loved one develops the common cold, make sure they are getting plenty of fluids and a lot of extra rest. If they are given medications to take at home, be sure they are taking them as prescribed.

Conclusion 

Unfortunately, many senior citizens who develop a respiratory infection need to be put on supplemental oxygen and other medications. Your elderly loved one may not be too thrilled with this. However, it is important that you and your home health care providers work with them to ensure they are taking their medications as prescribed. It is also important to ensure that they are getting the rest they need, so they can recover quicker from the illness.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Mullica Hill, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

Sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15482146/#:~:text=The%20three%20types%20of%20respiratory,and%20nonpneumonic%20respiratory%20tract%20infection.

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Keep in mind that although some surgeries provide amazing benefits, you will want to ensure your senior can recover quickly. You may need to add them or find someone who can be. Some seniors may need 24-hour home care for a brief time, and it is something you should look into before a senior has surgery. There are many advantages to hiring 24-hour home care for a period of time.

If your senior has been losing their sight, it is time to take them to an eye doctor. Cataracts may be the cause of your senior’s eyesight problems, and surgery can help them see better and live longer. When a senior can see better, they will stumble less, which leads to fewer falls. Cataract surgery enhances a patient’s quality of life as well. Cataracts may make it difficult to do regular duties such as driving or reading. The things your senior loves may no longer be enjoyable. There are a few other reasons why cataract surgery could be the best decision for your senior.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts?

Before deciding on this surgery is something to bring up to the doctor you need to understand if it is something your senior is suffering from. Here are symptoms to be watchful of.

Cloudy vision
Light sensitivity
Halos around lights
Changes in eye prescriptions
Double vision
At first, the cloudiness of the cataract may just damage a portion of your eye’s lens. However, as it develops in size, it will obscure more of the lens. It is important to ensure a senior is getting regular checkups.

Benefits of Cataracts Surgery

If your senior has cataracts you may be worried about them or they may not want to do it because it seems frightening. However, there are a few advantages to why you should encourage your senior to accept this surgery if needed.

It Is Fast

Some surgeries are not fast but choosing to go through with a cataract surgery will be a quick choice. Overall the entire procedure will take 10 to 20 minutes to do and then around 30 minutes to recover from the effects.

It Will Improve Vision

One of the best reasons this surgery is beneficial for a senior who can’t see is that it will certainly work. After the short recovery time a senior will be able to see much better than before. This will lead to a better life and may help them live longer.

This procedure is often conducted under local anesthesia using eye drops that numb the surface of the eye. During the process, you will be conscious, but your eyesight will be quite fuzzy. After the surgery, a senior’s eyes may feel fuzzy and itchy because a new lens is inserted but it will go away in a day or two. After that, a senior will be seeing things better than ever before.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Cherry Hill, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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