Blog | Home Care Assistance Palm Beach

How Can I Monitor My Loved Ones Meals?

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If you live with your elderly family member, monitoring his or her diet is simple. However, if your aging parent or loved one lives independently and you cannot visit them every day, making sure they eat balanced meals can be difficult. To prevent and reduce the risk for problems that accompany poor nutrition, Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Palm Beach home care, offers a few simple tips to concerned families. When you are able to visit, don’t be afraid to ask your aging loved one about their health, what they’re eating and if they have experienced any changes in appetite. You can also ask your loved one to check their weight while you are there. When done on…

Is a Caregiver Support Group Right for Me?

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It can be hard for anyone to admit that they need help, but this is especially so for the adult child providing care for an aging parent. The caregiver may be embarrassed, ashamed and in some cases, fear as though they will be seen as a failure if they seek assistance or professional help. However, caregiver support groups are designed specifically to help overwhelmed caregivers overcome such feelings. If you or someone you know is a caregiver, Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Palm Beach home care, presents a list of questions that can help you determine whether a support group is right for you. Do you have a non judgmental support system? Stepping into the role of caregiver…

What Your Hair Says about Your Health

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When we think of hair and aging, one of the first things to think of is a change in color. The aging process is commonly associated with graying or white hair and a person’s genes can even bring about thinning hair or baldness. While these changes are expect, did you know that your hair could be indicating other things about your health? In this blog post, Home Care Assistance of Palm Beach is going to look into what your hair is really trying to say! Hair Texture A change in hair texture is a clue that the thyroid may be underactive. An underactive thyroid is most common in women – with the chance of being diagnosed with thyroid disease increasing…

Obesity and the Aging Population

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Obesity has been a growing problem within the United States, and in recent years, nationwide statistics have shown that obesity is especially prevalent among the senior and elderly population. In fact, a 2010 study indicated that nearly 70% of elderly adults are considered either overweight or obese. As a leading provider of Palm Beach home care County, we believe that education is key in helping to reduce this problem, and have put together some important information about elderly obesity for seniors and their families. Increased Risk for Advanced Illness Obesity is listed as one of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular related diseases. When overweight, the body, more specifically the heart, is required to work harder. As a result, the…

Managing Grief After the Death of a Loved One

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Grieving the death of a loved one is ranked among one of the most stressful life events, regardless of age. However, seniors may have more difficulty during the grieving process than their younger counterparts. It isn’t uncommon for seniors to experience a higher level of apathy and depression, which often has a direct impact on their quality-of-life. Although you may be grieving yourself, there are a few things that you can do to assist your loved one during this trying time. Combat Feelings of Isolation According to the Institute on Aging, feelings of isolation can occur as seniors face the reality that individuals who have been a major part of their lives for years and in some cases decades, begin…

Natural Ways for Elderly to Maintain Eyesight

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Declining vision is unfortunately a problem that most seniors do not deal with until it is too late and their vision has already been compromised. As a leading provider of home care Palm Beach seniors and families trust, we wanted to share some of the natural ways that seniors can improve their eyesight. Not only can the following changes play a role in preventing age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and dry eye, they can actively help seniors (and their younger counterparts) maintain optimal vision as they age. Modify your diet A diet that provides the proper vitamins and nutrients is one of the best ways to enhance vision and maintain good eye health. Leafy greens and vegetables…

A Typical Day in the Life of a Parkinson’s Caregiver

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While the outward face of Parkinson’s disease is limited movement as a result of stiff muscles and tremors, many patients experience a spectrum of cognitive problems ranging from confusion and anxiety to dementia and depression. When facing these behaviors, consistency and routine are vital in keeping your aging loved one grounded in their surroundings, compliant in daily care, and engaged in therapy activities. As a leading provider of Parkinson’s home care in Palm Beach County, we wanted to share a typical day in the life of a Parkinson’s caregiver. This outline can help inexperienced family caregivers with what to expect, helping them to provide the proper level of care at home. Caregivers should take the time to carefully assess the…

Overlooked Warning Signs that Indicate Elderly Depression

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The signs of depression are not always evident to families. Sure, almost everyone knows that withdrawn behaviors and lack of interest in once favorite pastimes are general warning signs of depression; however not all seniors will exhibit such behaviors. As a matter of fact, there are a handful of symptoms that point to depression that are not as easy to detect, or are often overlooked because they are attributed to the normal aging process. If you think your aging loved one may be suffering from depression, check for these less-than-obvious depression warning signs, presented by the Palm Beach home care County Senior care experts at Home Care Assistance. An Increase in Physical Symptoms A lot of caregivers may assume that…

Forgetting Something? 3 Things All Seniors Should Bring to the Doctor.

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Routine doctor visits are extremely important for seniors to ensure overall health and to reduce the risk for advanced conditions in the future. In addition to attending scheduled appointments, it is important that seniors do everything they can to get the most out of their visit. As a leading provider of Palm Beach home careCounty medical professionals trust, we wanted to share a list of the top 3 things that all seniors should bring with them to doctor appointments. Trusted companion Going to the doctor, even if only for a routine check-up, can sometimes be nerve wracking for a senior. Bringing someone you trust can help alleviate fears and concerns, and they can also help record important information told to…

Identifying Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

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Overlooking early symptoms of Alzheimer’s is easy to do. Because many senior citizens experience some degree of memory loss as they age, it’s not uncommon for family members and friends to disregard these momentary lapses as nothing more than routine or expected. However, for about one-third of these senior citizens, this memory impairment will turn into Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive degeneration of the brain that causes a person’s memory, speech and comprehension to deteriorate. If you are concerned about the cognitive function of an aging parent or loved one, learn more about Alzheimer’s care in Palm Beach County and continue reading to find out more about the early symptoms of the disease. The more you educate yourself on the topic,…