Columbia Aged Care

Massage is a fantastic way to ease pain, stress and improve health and well being. There are many benefits massage can have on elderly people.

Elderly massage uses a different technique to massage for younger people. There are different physiological changes that occur in the body as you age and massage therapists need to take this into account.

It is a natural trend, as we age, to become less active and massage can significantly benefit the effects ageing and less physical activity has on us.

Ezinearticles.com has provided several reasons why elderly massage is beneficial.

• Research has shown massage is a useful in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s as it has shown to facilitate relaxation and communication
• Assists in arthritic pain management
• Promotes natural joint lubrication – which is extremely important for arthritis sufferers
• Helps to increase strength and muscle coordination
• Boosts energy levels and mental awareness
• Can improve posture by reducing muscle tension

For most elderly people pain management is treated through pharmaceutical medications, however, massage can be used as a natural substitute to conventional medical methods as it can help ease and even eliminate pain.

Read the full article here.

Change in memory is normal as we grow older. Occasionally forgetting where you left your keys or what you where about to say aren’t usually things to start worrying about. Alzheimer’s disease is not a simple lapse in memory – it is much more complex.

A Place for Mom has provided a checklist developed by the Alzheimer’s Association to help recognise the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of the disease.

Warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

1. Warning sign – Memory loss: Often forgetting recently learned information.
What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting names or appointments.

2. Warning sign – Difficulty performing familiar tasks: People with dementia will often find it hard to complete or plan everyday tasks.
What’s normal? Occasionally forgetting why you walked into a room or what you were going to say.

3. Warning sign – Problems with language: People with Alzheimer’s disease will often forget simple words or substitute a word in that does not make sense.
What’s normal? Difficulty in sometimes finding the right word to say.

There is no clear cut line between what is normal and what could possibly be a warning sign. However, if you notice your loved one’s level of function begins to change it is a good idea to go and visit a doctor.

Read the full article here.

Many caregivers struggle with the role of providing care to their elderly parent, spouse, family member or friend. Common complaints are that there is not enough time in the day, or they feel frustrated with the difficulties of elderly care.

Aging Care has provided some tips to help you care for your loved one.

Remember the person inside: the process of aging changes people’s personalities – conditions such as deafness can cause anger and Alzheimer's affects memory. Keep in mind the person that you have always loved whenever you feel frustrated.

Arm yourself with knowledge: If your loved one has a medical condition, learn all you can about their ailments, symptoms and treatments. This will guide you and instil confidence, and will also help your loved one relax in your care.

Have humility: Don’t underestimate your loved one’s intelligence and knowledge. Embrace all you can learn from their experiences and don’t disregard their opinions. Respond to your loved one as the person they were before they became ‘the patient’.

Remember that it is natural to feel frustrated and overworked at times, but use these tips to make your role easier.

Read the full article here.

By giving your loved one a mobile, you are giving them a small, portable and light emergency link to you, reducing the stress and worry carers feel when separated. A mobile is something they can carry around with them when they go anywhere, whether it be from room to room or when they go on trips out of town.

However, mobiles have so much functionality it may prove difficult to stop your loved one from feeling intimidated and deflecting the suggestion that they need a mobile phone.

Boomers With Elderly Parents have written some great tips about how to look at, and talk about, using mobile phones without intimidating your loved one.

• Functionality: keep it simple, try to find an end of cycle or starter model that doesn’t have all the technological bells and whistles younger generations love.
• Cost: find a service provider that offers simple plans that can be customised for local use only or have a fixed price per month.
• Ease of use: take the time to teach your loved one how to use the device and limit the amount functions they have to accomplish to stay in contact.
• Speed-dialling: this function is especially useful for when caring for a loved one whose memory is becoming affected.

To read the full article, click here

Webscribe has written an article on eHow about How to help your loved one as Dementia closes in;

Webscribe discusses how Alzheimer's and related dementias have afflicted hundreds of confused, frightened Alzheimer's residents and their anguished, caring families in facilities. The author of this article is a former nursing home administrator and recreation director.

With Dementia now closing in on a loved one in her own immediate family she offers instructions on how to help yourself and your own loved one experiencing the oncoming’s of Alzheimer’s.

Instructions

Step One:
First stage of Dimentia
This stage takes 2 to 4 years leading up to diagnosis.The person begins to exhibit symptoms of confusion and agitation (can also be caused by accidental drug interactions urinary tract infection).This is the stage when thorough testing is performed, to rule out other causes.

People who have had sharp minds become anxious, fearful of their increasing confusion and loss of    control of their memories and actions, and may exhibit personality changes, avoiding people.

Step Two:
Second or mid stage
 This stage's duration is for 2 to 10 years after diagnosis (the longest stage). Activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and teeth brushing become difficult, because the person develops difficulty remembering the complex series of steps. Orientation to time, person and place deteriorates. "Did you enjoy your visit with Agnes?" "What visit? Agnes never came to see me!"

Symptoms may include increasing memory loss, confusion, and a shorter attention span, with difficulty recognizing close friends and/or family.

Step Three:
Third or end stage
This stage lasts perhaps a few years. The person may become unable to recognize family, communicate with words, or care for him or herself in any way. There may be incontinence, or difficulty swallowing. The person will need complete assistance with bathing, toileting and dressing.

The person will still be acutely aware of your kindness, your ability to understand, help, comfort, and your love

Step Four:
How to comfort
Whether your loved one is in a nursing home or with you at home, let him or her help in whatever way he or she can. If at home, let mom sprinkle sugar on the apples for the pie, or "help" you brush your hair, as she did when you were little. If she is in a care facility, tell her when you are tired or need a hug; let your loved one know you need her to give YOU comfort! You will be amazed at the emotional transformation.

Step Five:
Beyond meeting your loved one's deep need to matter to others, you can provide real comfort by understanding his or her need for routine

Step Six:
How to help you loved one as Dementia closes in
Most of all, those with dementia need to feel that no matter what they do or cannot do, you will be there for them, always. However great their confusion, the most comforting words they can hear are, "I will always love you."

To read full article CLICK HERE