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All Posts Tagged: aging

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The early stage of Parkinson

What are the early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

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The early stage of ParkinsonParkinson’s disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the nervous system, caused by gradual loss of function in the parts of the brain that control movement. Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor of the hands, face, or limbs, stiffness in the arms, legs, and torso, and difficulty initiating voluntary movement. Other early symptoms may include smaller handwriting, stooping or poor posture, and a shuffling walk, and a consistently “serious,” “sad, or angry” facial expression, regardless of the person’s actual mood.

Parkinson’s usually affects people over the age of 50. For most people who develop Parkinson’s, early symptoms are subtle, appear gradually over time, and progress in stages. In some people, however, symptoms progress much more quickly, leading to a more sudden loss of ability.

As the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s become more pronounced, affected individuals often have more difficulty walking, talking, and completing everyday tasks. Walking often becomes problematic as balance, posture, and coordination are compromised, and a characteristic shuffling gait develops, making falls more likely. Talking sometimes becomes difficult for people with Parkinson’s as the disease progresses; many Parkinson’s sufferers speak in a very soft voice, have trouble modulating their tone, and may struggle to find the right words to express themselves. Bathing, dressing, and other activities of daily living become more difficult as coordination deteriorates and voluntary movement gets harder. People with Parkinson’s may experience trouble eating, as a lack of control over the muscles that govern chewing and swallowing make mealtimes more of a challenge.

Because of the progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease, it’s important to stay vigilant at the first onset of symptoms. Although it’s impossible to predict how quickly symptoms will get worse, since disease progress varies from person to person, it’s vital to pursue treatment and coordinate assistance for affected individuals as soon as possible.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one seeking care from a home care agency for Parkinson’s related challenges. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

Senior Care New York

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How to help someone with hearing loss understand and participate in conversation?

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How to help someone with hearing loss understand and participate in conversation

For many individuals, aging is a mixed bag of everyday annoyances, extreme challenges, and wonderful new experiences. While minor and major problems, such as compromised mobility, a change in sleep cycles, or chronic ailments can diminish quality of life for many older individuals, the opportunities afforded by retirement can offset other problems to make this time in life one of great joy. Spending more time with partners and loved ones, watching grandchildren grow up, the opportunity for deeper immersion in hobbies, and the leisure to travel, read, and slow down and enjoy the little things in life can be an absolute delight. In order to enjoy life as much as possible, it’s imperative for seniors to be able to mitigate the not-so-good aspects of aging in order to focus on the good ones.

One of the most common problems experienced by seniors is hearing loss. In fact, everyone begins to lose at least some of their hearing from a very early age. Even people in their twenties hear less acutely than they did as teens! High pitched noises, in particular, become harder for the human ear to detect relatively early on. Most of the time, this isn’t a problem. But after the age of 75, almost half of Americans will have hearing loss that is significant enough to pose a problem in everyday life.

For someone with hearing loss, it can be difficult to understand speech, and thus to follow the flow of a conversation, particularly in places with lots of background noise. This can be extremely discouraging, and, in some cases, lead to social withdrawal due to the frustration of being unable to participate in everyday interactions. For the caregivers, family and loved ones of people with hearing loss, this can be frustrating also. In order to help someone with hearing loss understand and participate in conversation. reducing background noise can be a great way to help. Background noise is a major obstacle to comprehension for people with hearing loss, especially when it comes to picking out consonants. Any time you want to engage in meaningful conversation, or when you want to make someone with hearing loss feel included in a social event, make sure to choose a quiet setting with a low level of ambient noise.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care for hearing problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

General Home Care New York

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Breathing Stoppages of Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep. Although it can affect people of all ages, it is very common among older adults. Sleep apnea often occurs when the airway is temporarily blocked by soft tissue due to relaxation of the muscles of the throat. This type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can also be the result of abnormal signaling in the part of the brain responsible for breathing, causing momentary stoppage of breath. This type of sleep apnea is called central sleep apnea, and is more common among people who have experienced heart disease or a stroke. The two types of sleep apnea may appear separately or in tandem.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that can lead to complications, and exacerbate existing ailments and illnesses. It is a major culprit in insomnia, interrupting normal sleep and leading to daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and problems with memory and coordination, especially in older adults. Sleep apnea can also worsen cardiovascular disease and liver problems, and increases the likelihood of a stroke.

For people who suffer from sleep apnea, breathing stoppages can occur from five to 30 times every hour. Even when people with sleep apnea don’t remember the brief periods of wakefulness that accompany a cessation of breathing, these episode can severely compromise the quality and quantity of sleep. Additionally, the loud snoring that often accompanies sleep apnea can be very bothersome for bed partners, causing them to lose sleep and suffer from the symptoms of insomnia. Although not everyone who has sleep apnea snores, the snoring that goes along with frequent cessation of breath is one of its telltale signs. Often, a bed partner’s observation of snoring is the first thing that alerts sleep apnea sufferers to the problem.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care for sleeping problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

General Home Care New York

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Sleep Apnea

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sleep apneaSleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during the night. One of the leading causes of snoring, sleep apnea isn’t just annoying – it can have serious health consequences. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of the disorder, and is caused by airway blockage. This type of sleep apnea can affect anyone, although it is more common in overweight individuals. Another type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea, which is caused by faulty signaling in the part of the brain that controls breathing. Many sleep apnea sufferers have a combination of both kinds.

Sleep apnea is often first detected through snoring, as the bed partners of sleep apnea sufferers are often kept up or wakened by snoring throughout the night. Although snoring in itself is problematic, it’s not the only reason to take sleep apnea seriously: left untreated, sleep apnea can cause or exacerbate heart problems, diabetes, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, and other ailments.

For older adults, a group among whom insomnia is particularly prevalent, sleep apnea can worsen the condition and further compromise sleep. Because high quality sleep is vital in retaining memory, motor function, coordination, and emotional health, it is especially important for seniors to address insomnia. One of the best ways to insure a good night’s sleep is to treat sleep apnea as soon as it is suspected, as well as exploring the root causes of the condition.

The first line of treatment for sleep apnea usually involves lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, weight-loss, and avoiding alcohol, muscle relaxers, and other drugs that may compromise the airway by relaxing the central nervous system. Mechanical treatments, such as special mouth appliances, pillows, and supports, can also be used. If these approaches don’t work, surgical intervention, or the use of special machines that keep the airway open by blowing pressurized air through a face mask, may be indicated.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care for sleeping problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

General Home Care New York

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Health Problems Related to Insomnia

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Insomnia is one of the leading complaints among older adults. Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking during the night, and waking up early in the morning and being unable to go back to sleep are all indications of insomnia. While everyone, regardless of age, needs to get adequate sleep, it can be more difficult for seniors to get the seven to nine hours of sleep necessary for optimal health. This can be due to a variety of factors. Underlying biological changes have a big impact on quality and quantity of sleep: as people age, the amount of time they spend in deep sleep relative to lighter sleep stages changes. Additionally, alterations in circadian rhythm (also known as the “biological clock”) often cause people to become sleepy earlier in the evening and wake earlier in the morning.

As well as the changes in physiology that accompany age, seniors suffer at higher rates from many illnesses and ailments that can cause or exacerbate insomnia. Breathing problems are often responsible for difficulty falling asleep, and for waking up in the middle of the night. Sleep apnea (the most common cause of snoring), asthma, or diseases like emphysema can all cause sleep troubles. Chronic pain due to diseases like arthritis can also keep sufferers up at night. Illnesses like dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s often lead to insomnia, as do heart disease, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal problems, such as acid reflux.

Insomnia can often make the symptoms of illness worse. It can also interfere with everyday activities. People who suffer from poor sleep are more likely to experience car accidents, falls, and other mishaps. Poor sleep can also compromise memory and make communication more difficult. For people suffering from insomnia, everyday tasks like meal preparation, cleaning, and self-care can become difficult, as exhaustion makes even the simplest of tasks harder. For these reasons, it’s important to take insomnia seriously, and treat it proactively.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care for sleeping problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

General Home Care New York

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