Columbia Aged Care

Parkinson’s disease is an illness that usually affects people between 50 and 75 years old. However, there have been many cases were people have developed the disease earlier in life.

Parkinson’s disease is caused when certain nerve cells in the brain become impaired or die.

These cells normally produce a vital chemical called dopamine, which helps coordinated the body’s muscles and movement. When these cells are damaged they stop producing the vital chemical and your muscles lose their ability to function effectively.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop gradually over many years and the rate of this deterioration can vary between each person.

Parkinson’s Australia has listed the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that you should look out for.

• Shaking and trembling: The first sign of Parkinson’s disease usually occurs when your hand begins to shake continuously. This shaking can then spread to one of your legs and then to the other side of your body. You can notice the shaking when you are sitting still or resting and it can be harder to detect while you’re moving.
• Stiffness of your muscles: Your muscles may start to feel tight and you will find it difficult to relax your muscles, even when you’re resting. Your muscles may no longer move the way you want them to.
• Your movement slows down: You may begin to lose the ability to make spontaneous movements. Your muscles may even freeze up at times and stop you from moving. Your coordination between your hands and your eyes may also become impaired.
• Speech is impaired: In the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, your speech will be affected. Sometimes your speech will slow down or you will lose the ability to move your mouth correctly.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be treated with medication to help stimulate the movement of your muscles. However, sadly there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease at this stage.

Treatment for Parkinson’s disease will be different for every individual and you should consult with your doctor for the best approach.

Read the full article here.

A stroke is a serious medical issue that can affect your brain and disrupt the normal functioning of your body.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is suddenly disrupted. Blood is carried to your brain by blood vessels called arteries. When these arteries are blocked blood is unable to reach your brain.

When the blood flow to your brain stops your brain does not get enough oxygen, which can cause serious damage to your brain cells. If you do not receive medical assistance quickly then parts of your brain will be damaged beyond repair.

The effects of a stroke can vary depending on your body and the size of the stroke. Small strokes may result in minor effects. Larger strokes can cause a coma, paralysis to the body or sometimes even death.

If a stroke occurs it is important to know the warning signs and to seek medical assistance urgently.

The Stroke Foundation has some great advice about the signs and prevention strategies for a stroke. They recommend the F.A.S.T detection method to help you determine if someone is experiencing a stroke.

Here is the F.A.S.T warning signs of a stroke:

1. Face: Check a person’s face to see if part of it has dropped down. For example, the side of their mouth may have drooped.
2. Arms: Check if they have mobility in both their arms.
3. Speech: Check if their speech is slurred. Determine if they can still understand you.
4. Time: If any of these signs occur call 000 immediately. Calling for medical assistance quickly can mean the difference between experiencing a good recovery or a severe disability.

Your chance of getting a stroke is increased if you suffer from an irregular heartbeat, high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure. A stroke can be prevented if these risk factors are managed correctly by consulting with your doctor to receive the right treatment

You can start taking simple steps to reduce your risk of stroke, such as:

• Quit smoking
• Reduce your alcohol consumption
• Eat healthy meals
• Being physically active

By taking these active steps to prevent your risk of a stroke, and by knowing the warning signs, you can greatly reduce the severity and long term damage of a stroke.

For more information and to view the F.A.S.T warning signs visit the Stroke Foundation website.

Your loved one may find it difficult to buy comfortable clothing that fits them properly. If your loved one suffers from arthritis or an injury they may also have difficulty dressing themselves.

You can make your loved one’s life easier by purchasing them clothing that is easy to put on and is comfortable to wear. You can buy adaptive clothing specially designed for people with restrictive movement, which will make it easier and less painful for your loved one to dress themselves.

If they suffer from dementia they may resist wearing certain types of clothing or have a favourite outfit. You can help them by purchasing multiple sets of their favourite outfit so they always have clean clothes to put on.

Aged Carer has provided some great tips for buying appropriate clothing for your loved one.

• Choose natural fibre and cotton fabrics that breathe
• Choose clothes with elastic waists
• Buy slip on shoes with a non-slip sole
• Stretchy fabrics
• Bras that clip at the front for women with arthritis
• Choose large buttons
• Ensure there is lots of room in sleeves
• Choose fabric that can be washed frequently and in water with temperatures up to 90 degrees if your loved one is in a nursing home
• Choose clothes that don’t have to be ironed

You can help your loved one achieve a greater independence by buying them comfortable clothes that they can easily dress themselves in.

Read the full article here.

Diabetes is a chronic condition where your body is unable to produce or respond to insulin resulting in high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that allows the sugar in your blood to enter the cells of your body to be used for energy.

Without this hormone your body does not receive enough sugar which can result in hypoglycaemic shock, however, too much of this hormone means your body absorbs too much sugar which can produce the same reaction.

There are two types of diabetes; type one diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood while type two diabetes is diagnosed in adults. If you are over the age of 45 then you could be at risk of developing type two diabetes. 

MyDr has provided some helpful tips on the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes.

Diabetes can occur if you are:

• Over 45 years old and have high blood pressure
• Over 45 years old and are overweight
• Over 45 and have one or more family members with diabetes
• Over 55 years old
• Have heart disease
• Have had a heart attack in the past
• Have had high blood sugar levels during pregnancy

Some symptoms of type two diabetes:

• Excessive urination
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Tired and lethargic

These symptoms are difficult to detect in elderly people because they are often misinterpreted as normal signs of aging. This means that many elderly people remain undiagnosed which can lead to serious health problems such as kidney damage, eye damage and increased risk of a stroke or heart attack.

However, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes you can manage your condition effectively by consulting with your doctor. You can also help manage your condition by not smoking, losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Read the full article here.

Choosing the right nursing home can be difficult and overwhelming for many carers. You want to ensure that the nursing home you choose will provide the best care for your loved one. However, with so many nursing homes available, how do you compare them to ensure you make the right choice?

The first step to finding the right nursing home is to start searching for homes in your area. Once you have a list of potential nursing homes you should then visit each home to assess them.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has put together a Nursing Home checklist that will help you to compare each nursing home by asking the right questions.

Some of the questions on the Nursing home checklist are:

Staff

• What was the attitude of the staff assisting you?
• What training do the care staff have?
• How many staff members provide overnight care?
• What type of care or services cannot be provided?

Rooms

• Are single rooms available or will your loved one have to share?
• What arrangements are there to ensure privacy for residents?
• What furnishings and personal items can your loved one bring and what is supplied?

Food

• What are the meal arrangements?
• Is there easy access to well-maintained outdoor areas?

Other

• How can family and friends be involved in your loved one’s care?
• What transport is accessible for visiting shops and family?
• Can the nursing home meet your loved one’s medical and special needs?
• Do you or your loved one understand the costs associated with care?

You can also prepare your own specific questions to add to the checklist and remember to take a new checklist to every nursing home you visit.

Feel free to conduct second or third visits to each nursing home to ensure you make the right choice.

Hopefully with a little bit of preparation and by asking the right questions you can find the best nursing home for your loved one.

Read the full checklist here.

Bed sores can be a common problem in elderly people, which can lead to pain and discomfort for your loved one. Bed sores are the result of prolonged pressure to the skin, which prevents a sufficient amount of blood flow and nutrients to the skin tissue. Ulcerations or sores then develop on the skin, typically over bony prominences.

Bedsores can develop if your loved one is bedridden or sitting for a prolonged period of time without being properly repositioned. Common areas for bed sores to look out for are hipbones, lower back, tail-bone, knees and shoulders. 

www.bedsores.org has provided some useful information on the risk factors for developing bedsores.

Confinement to bed, chair or wheelchair
If your loved one is unable to move themselves then they can develop bedsores in as little as 1-2 hours if the pressure is not relieved.

Loss of bowel or bladder control
Moisture on your loved ones skin from urine or perspiration can irritate the skin.

Poor nutrition or dehydration
If your loved one’s skin is not properly nourished bed sores can develop.

Carers must be aware of these risk factors when caring for their loved ones in order to prevent the unnecessary development of bed sores. Bedsores can be prevented if your loved one is repositioned frequently, bathed appropriately and any incontinence problems assessed and treated.

Remember that everyone is different and may have different risk factors and treatment options.

Read the full article here.

Lifting and transferring your loved ones can often be a difficult task for many caregivers. If the wrong techniques are implemented then caregivers are at risk of injuring themselves or their loved one. That is why it’s so important for caregivers to learn safe lifting techniques.

Aged Carer has provided some tips on how to safely lift and transfer your loved one without injuring them or yourself.

1. Encourage your loved one to participate
If your loved one is able to, ask them to move to the edge of the chair and push up from the seat. This will help exercise their mobility and muscle strength as well as reduce the risk of injury.

2. Use transfer devices and lifting equipment
Always try to avoid lifting your loved one by yourself. Use equipment such as slide sheets, hoists, lifters, slings and powered lift chairs.

3. Use proper body mechanics
Never lift your loved one by bending your back. Always ensure that your knees are bent and your back is kept straight.

4. Don’t lift under the arms!
Avoid lifting your loved one from under their arms as you may become unbalanced or risk injuring yourself. Your loved ones can often experience discomfort or shoulder injuries when pulled up by the arms. You should support your loved one by placing one hand on their shoulder and the other on their lower back.

Caregivers can seek additional advice on the best lifting equipment and techniques from an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.

Read the full article here.

Encouraging your loved one to talk to their doctor about their health is extremely important. Many people, especially seniors, may find it difficult to communicate with their doctor. But by asking questions, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn't ask and letting the doctor know when a treatment isn't working, your loved one is taking an active role in their own health. 

HealthierYou.com shares some good communication topics you should encourage your loved one to talk about.

Sharing Symptoms:
It is important to be very clear and concise when explaining and describing symptoms. Although medical tests can determine what is wrong, it is your loved one’s symptoms that point the doctor in the right direction. Be sure to stress to your loved one that being concerned about symptoms is not a sign of weakness and it is definitely not complaining.

Learning more about medical tests:
If it has been decided that your loved one will need a medical test be sure they ask questions. Before the test encourage them to ask the doctor to explain why it is important, what it will cost, what the procedure is, how long the test will take and how long it will be before results are received.

When the results are ready, get your loved one to ask the doctor to explain what they are and what they mean. Also encourage them to ask for a copy and if the results are from a specialist, your loved one should ask them to send the results to their primary doctor.

Making the most of medications:
Sometimes medications can affect older people differently to younger people. Encourage your loved one to notify their doctor if their medication is not working for them and communicate exactly what the side effects are. Make sure your loved one doesn’t stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor first.

Read the full article here.

When your loved one is moved into a nursing home it is important that they don’t feel abandoned and that their close relationships continue.

However, many people can become uncomfortable or distressed when visiting a nursing home. Aged Carer has given some helpful tips to create a more enjoyable and comfortable environment for when you visit your loved one.

• If your loved one is immobile or cannot communicate, holding their hand, stroking their forehead or quietly talking to them will let them know you care.
• Share a meal with your loved one in the dining room or order take away.
• Bring a family pet to visit, go for a walk around the garden and show off the pet to other residents.
• Bring a grandchild to visit. If they have a favourite book have them read it out loud to your loved one or if they play a musical instrument bring it along and put on a mini concert.

A short visit can break up your loved one’s daily routine and for many residents in an aged care facility a family visit is the highlight of their week. Making your loved one feel important and a part of the family is the best way to ensure your loved one is happy and content.

To read the full article, click here.

Creating a safe and comfortable home is a simple way to help reduce stress on you and your loved one. Not only will this improve their quality of life, it will also reduce the chances of your loved one becoming injured, anxious or confused. 

Caregiver.com has provided some simple tips to ensure that your loved one feels secure, comfortable and content.

Buy a small lightweight jug
Store the jug in a convenient place and keep it filled at all times. Reminding your loved one to keep hydrated can ward off a number of problems associated with dehydration such as headaches and sleepiness and is great for health and wellbeing.

Avoid lots of mirrors
Your loved one’s memory may start to become affected, and if this happens you may need to prevent your loved one from seeing their reflection. Mirrors can be confusing as your loved one might not recognise their own reflection.

Use large dials or number pads
If your loved one enjoys watching television, ensure the remote has large buttons to make it much easier to use. Installing digital clocks might make it easier for your loved one to read the time if analogue clocks are confusing or frustrating for your loved one.

Clothing
If you buy your loved one’s clothing, keep it simple and basic, this will make it easier for them to pick out their outfits. Organise their wardrobe into sections i.e. skirts, pants, shirts and dresses. This will make it easier for your loved one to find a certain garment they might be looking for.

Read the full article here.