Aging In Place Archives - Page 6 of 6

Learning a new skill is a great way to keep one’s memory active.

This is because when you learn, you are training your brain to think in a different way than it is normally used to.

In a recent post on the blog, I talked about the various ways you can encourage your loved one to stay active.

One of those ways was to encourage your elderly loved one to pick and learn a new skill.

After I wrote that post, I figured I would dedicate a whole post to sharing a list of skills anyone can pick up and learn at any age.

So here are 20 new skills your elderly loved one can pick up and learn in 2019. Hey, you might even benefit from this list yourself!

Learn new skills: 21 skills seniors can learn in 2019

Writing- think novels, screenplays and poetry!
Photography- with our cellphones having cameras that are more powerful than the most expensive cameras 50 years ago, this is an easy skill to start learning.
Photo/video editing
Film-making
Quilt-making
Dress-making
Knitting
Pottery
Painting
Coding
Blogging
A musical instrument
A sport – Surfing, soccer, volleyball, swimming, golf are all great sports to learn if you never learned them before. Make sure to get the green light from the doctor before signing up for physically strenuous sports.
Acting
A new language- We live in a largely international world now. Speaking another language is a great way to learn about the world.
Computer skills- this would include things like using the internet or using Microsoft Word and Excel
Cooking
Entrepreneurship- Nobody is ever too old to start a business.
Gardening
Public speaking- Older people have tons of life experience to share with audiences. A local Toastmasters meeting is a good place to get started with learning how to speak publicly.
Dancing

The advantages of learning a new skill

I already mentioned how learning a new skill helps with keeping a person mentally sharp. This is true whether you are a caregiver or you are reading this for your elderly loved one.

Here are some other advantages of learning a new skill you may have not considered.

If learning the new skill involves going to a class at least once a week, this could be helpful in getting your elderly loved one socially active. A lot of elders cite loneliness as a problem especially when all their children, grandchildren and other family members live far away from them. In short, learning fights loneliness.
Learning a new thing can be fun! When we are genuinely having fun, there is a lesser risk for mental health issues.
If learning a new skill involves exercise, you should know that exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins interact with your brain cells to give you a sense of well-being.
Learning improves memory.
Learning a new skill fights boredom.
When you become equipped with a new skill, it makes you a more interesting person.

Closing Thoughts

Learning a new skill is a great way to stay active regardless of age.

For seniors, learning is a wonderful way to stave off boredom, depression, loneliness and memory problems.

In this post, I shared 21 skills seniors can learn in 2019 to stay active.

And as a matter of fact, you don’t have to wait until next year; you can start right now.

Enjoyed this post?

Consider sharing it with someone else!

It is no secret that as we get older, falling and staying asleep is difficult.

If you have experienced it, you are not going out of your mind.

There is a scientific reason behind why insomnia increases as you get older.

Sleep occurs in multiple stages. When you sleep, your body goes through multiple stages of light and deep sleep.

Most older people spend more time in the light stages of sleep and have shorter periods of deep sleep.

No matter who you are, a lack of sleep will leave you tired and frustrated.

In this post, I will talk about five ways to sleep better naturally.

These are for all adults of all ages and is likely to help you improve your sleep patterns if insomnia is something you are struggling with.

5 ways to sleep better naturally

Keep electronic devices out.

The blue light that is emitted by cell phones, tablets and televisions is known to disrupt the production of melatonin.

Melatonin lets your body know that it is night time and prepares your body for sleep. High levels of melatonin is associated with better and more restful sleep.

If you have electronic devices in your bedroom and are using these just before you sleep, it is likely you will not enjoy a good night’s rest.

Secondly, electronic devices keep your mind alert.

This may be good during the day time, but it is bad for you when you are trying to fall asleep.

Thus the first way to get a better night’s sleep naturally is for you to make your bedroom a technology-free zone.

Keep cell phones, tablets and yes, even televisions out of your bedroom.

It is also helpful to put away all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before you fall asleep.

Avoid eating and drinking before bed.

Eating and drinking (a glass of water or tea is fine) before bed is not advisable because apart from the fact that it can contribute to obesity, it also interrupts with your sleep patterns.

Your body has a circadian rhythm. This is an internal clock in our bodies that regulates multiple functions naturally- including sleep.

When you eat just before you go to bed, you are providing the circadian rhythm with information that says “I am eating now so I am not ready to fall asleep”.

If you happen to eat late, allow at least 2 hours to pass before you attempt to fall asleep.

Avoid drinking caffeine before bed.

Drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks is useful for staying alert throughout the day.

Drinking it before bed will not help you sleep naturally.

Limit coffee consumption to at least 4 hours before you go to bed.

Create a bedtime routine

Creating a bedtime routine will help you sleep better naturally because it informs your brain and body that you are ready to go to bed.

Bedtime routines don’t have to be complex or elaborate. However, creating one will put you in the mindset to fall asleep.

Activities like turning off all your electronic devices, turning off all the lights except night lights (we still need to work to avoid falls!), brushing your teeth, washing your face and wearing your pajamas are excellent items to include in your bedtime routine.

Exercise

If you make exercise a part of your daily routine, you will increase your chances of sleeping better naturally.

Exercise helps you stay healthy. It also makes your body tired.

A tired body that needs sleep is more likely to fall asleep.

Include exercise into your daily routine so you can sleep better naturally!

Closing Thoughts

When you sleep, your body is able to heal and repair itself so you can stay healthy.

For many older adults, the aging process sometimes means that you are not getting enough sleep for your body to perform these functions.

This can lead to health issues along the line.

In this post, I have shared five ways to help you sleep better naturally.

These may not completely solve all your sleep problems but I can assure you that they will help immensely.

Did you enjoy this post?

Consider sharing it with someone who is looking for natural ways to fall and stay asleep.

Summer is gone. One of the best things about the Fall Season is the opportunity to volunteer.

If you live in San Diego and are looking for volunteer opportunities that allow seniors to serve their community, here are 8 opportunities are for you.

A huge benefit of volunteering is that it brings us into contact with other people, helps us get rid of boredom and helps us to live longer.

In fact, volunteering can even delay conditions like dementia.

Are you ready to wield this life-prolonging weapon?

Let’s get right into it.

8 Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors In San Diego

Pet/animal shelters

Organizations like the San Diego Humane Society and the San Diego County Animal Services are always looking for help with things that need to be done in and around the shelter.

If you’re a pet-lover, you can get in touch with them to find out how you can help.

Volunteer at Sports Events

The fall season also means they will be all kinds of team sports going on with the schools and within the community.

These events are always looking for volunteers who will help with tickets, organizing teams, clean-up etc.

Look at your local bulletin to find these events to volunteer for!

San Diego Audubon Society

The San Diego Audubon Society is a non-profit organization that promotes the conservation of birds and wildlife in and around San Diego county.

If you love animals, have a background in conservation science or would simply like to contribute to the good of our environment, the San Diego Audubon society is a place you can look up.

City of San Diego

The City of San Diego also has many opportunities for you to volunteers.

These programs include the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP). In this position, you will help area police stations perform vacation house checks, You are Not Alone checks and promote community awareness of the the RSVP program.

You will have to pass a background check and have a clean criminal record.

Go here to learn more about volunteering with the City of San Diego.

Meals on Wheels

Other elders struggle with insufficient food and just plan hunger.

As a Meals on Wheels volunteer, you will deliver meals to other seniors who live at home. These seniors struggle to get healthy cooked meals at home.

You will be alleviating hunger!

Go here to learn more about volunteering for Meals on Wheels in San Diego.

Keep someone else company

We all need someone else to keep us company. Why not volunteer by playing a game and keeping another senior company?

Volunteer at your retirement community

If you live in a retirement community, ask the activities coordinator if there is anything you can help with in and around your retirement community.

Perhaps you will be able to help with organizing events or helping other retirees with different activities.

Volunteer at area hospitals

A lot of hospitals in our area depend heavily on volunteers. Volunteers assist with activities like reading to children and the delivery of warm blankets to waiting patients.

If this is something you are interested in, get started by visiting websites of area hospitals.

Closing Thoughts

Volunteer opportunities are all around us!

If you are looking for a way to volunteer this Fall, here are 8 excellent ways for you to do so.

I know. I know.

With the record hot temperatures we have been experiencing this summer, flu season is the last thing on anybody’s mind.

But, the reality is that as soon as the weather starts cooling off and the leaves start falling, flu season will be here.

Historically, flu season has started around October and until April or May of the following year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), flu season peaks around February.

Any doubt that you and I need to be ready for flu season?

In this post, I will be discussing what you can expect as far as flu symptoms go, what you can do to prevent the flu and how you as an individual or caregiver can get through a bout with the flu.

Ready?

Let’s delve into it.

What is the flu?

Influenza (flu for short) is a contagious illness that affects the respiratory system. It is caused by the flu virus.

One of the interesting things about the flu virus is that they “change” what they look like each year. So the flu virus that was prevalent in 2005, may not be the flu virus affecting people in 2018.

Because of this, getting a flu shot is important because each year, the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health are able to tell us what flu virus is causing all the havoc and thus design vaccines that can specifically protect you against the “virus of the year”.

Older people and people who have a weakened immune system due to another illness are at a higher risk of getting the flu and experiencing flu complications.

Symptoms of the flu

Be aware of the following symptoms of the flu so you can report them immediately.

Fever or feeling feverish/chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Intense fatigue/tiredness
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults.

It is important to note that not everyone who has flu will have a fever or chill.

Thus if you are a caregiver, it is important to take a note of the other symptoms and report those as soon as possible.

How the flu spreads

A person can spread the flu even if they don’t know they have symptoms as well as well they have full blown flu.

In spite of this, people are the most contagious about 3 to 4 days after they have the flu.

How to prevent the flu

Preventing the flu starts with getting a flu vaccination each year.

As I mentioned earlier, the type of flu virus causing disease changes each year. Therefore, a previous year’s vaccination may not be effective in fighting the current virus.

This is why it is so important for you to get a vaccine each year.

Cost shouldn’t stand in your way of getting a flu shot.

Find out if your health insurance or long term care insurance covers flu shots- you might be pleasantly surprised.

Some workplaces even have the flu shot for free for employees. Ask about these.

The other major way to prevent the flu from spreading is to stay away from people who are sick.

This is very important. Simple things like covering mouths during a cough and frequent hand-washing are effective in keeping flu at bay.

Special Instructions for Adults Over 65

According to the CDC, adults older than 65 should also get the pneumococcal vaccine.

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. All of these can be fatal complications of the flu. Vaccinating against them means you reduce the risk of developing these complications if you do get the flu.

Ask your provider about the pneumococcal vaccine when you go to get your flu shot.

Flu treatment- what you should know

What should you suspect you have the flu?

You need to see a doctor immediately so they can perform tests to confirm that you have the flu indeed.

If you have the flu, antiviral drugs will be prescribed.

If you have antivirals prescribed it is important to finish the entire drug course even if you feel great after the first one or two doses.

Closing Thoughts

The flu season will be here before you know it.

Arming yourself with the knowledge above will help keep you and your elderly loved ones healthy through the season and help you fight it if you do get infected.

If you enjoyed this post, consider sharing it with someone else who is looking for this information for the flu season.

What is there to know about urinary tract infections (UTI), you ask?

I’m glad you asked.

In this post, I am going to share what you should expect as far as urinary tract infections in the elderly go and what you can do as a loved one or caregiver to support your elderly loved one diagnosed with a UTI.

Urinary Tract Infections In The Elderly

Urinary tract infections start becoming common in adults after age 19.

Women are four times more likely as men to get a UTI.

The urinary system is your body’s way of getting rid of unwanted waste in your body.

Your urinary system consists of your kidneys and two tubes which lead away from the kidneys called ureters.

The ureters in turn lead to the bladder and then the urethra through which we rid our bodies of urine.

Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria infect your urinary system.

Typically, your urine would wash such bacteria away. In UTIs however, the part of your system that keeps UTIs away is not functioning properly.

Common causes and risk factors for UTIs

Common causes of UTIs include:

If your elderly loved one uses a catheter, the risk for a urinary tract infection increases.
This tip is for women especially. Once your elderly loved one is done using the bathroom, it is important that they wipe away from the vaginal opening instead of towards it. Bacteria from feces can enter the urinary tract this way and cause infections.
A woman who has gone through menopause is more likely to face an infection.
People who have spinal cord injury are more likely to experience a UTI.
Kidney stones.
An enlarged prostate in men.
Last but not least, uncontrolled diabetes can also lead to a UTI.

Symptoms of a UTI

The symptoms of a UTI are immediately noticeable. You can expect.

A burning sensation during urination.
Pain in the lower abdomen or in the lower back.
A frequent urge to use the bathroom and even then, you pass little urine.

In order for a doctor to diagnose a UTI, they will need to test if your urine has bacteria in it.

Usually urine that comes straight from the urethra is sterile (until it comes into contact with microorganisms that live in the air).

If they test the urine and there is bacteria, coupled with the symptoms described above, a doctor will diagnose your loved one with a UTI.

What can you do to help your elderly loved one with a UTI?

If your elderly loved one is reporting a combination of the symptoms above to you, it is important that you report the situation to a doctor immediately.

The earlier the infection is controlled, the better.

If there are no other negative indications, it is likely that a doctor will prescribe antibiotics for your elderly loved one.

And here is the deal with antibiotics.

They are great but lots of bacteria adapt to them quickly.

What this means is that a person can be put on several antibiotics until one finally works.

One way to prevent this from happening is to encourage your elderly loved one to complete the entire antibiotic course.

Sometimes, when people start feeling great after they have taken an antibiotic, they stop taking it.

This is what makes bacteria become resistant to them.

Secondly, as a caregiver, you will have to encourage your loved one to drink more fluids.

This helps to flush out the offending bacteria.

There is some impressive research and personal reports that shows that cranberry juice is also effective in helping to treat UTIs.

If your loved one is not allergic to cranberries, this could be one of the fluids you encourage.

For women, a doctor might advice that your loved one desist from inserting objects into the urethra- for example catheters and tampons.

Closing Thoughts

Getting a UTI is uncomfortable and can get expensive with doctors treatments.

If you suspect your elderly loved one is experiencing one, report it immediately to avoid further complications.

And since prevention is better than cure, simple things like not inserting foreign objects into the urethra and drinking more fluids can be practiced to prevent a UTI from happening in the first place.

Over time, diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet. It can also affect blood flow to your feet and cause foot problems that are directly related to diabetes.

Additionally, it is a well known fact that wounds heal slower in people with diabetes.

And one of the areas of our body that sustains wounds regularly is our feet.

It is therefore important if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes that you to take good care of your feet.

Failure to do so can lead to loss of the foot or leg and we want to avoid that.

In this post, I will be sharing 8 tips on how to take care of your feet when you have diabetes.

Foot care and diabetes

#1- Take care of your diabetes

The first step to taking care of your feet is to take care of your diabetes.

Keeping diabetes under control happens because of a series of things you do.

Checking your blood sugar levels at set times during the day so that you are not spiking it too high or having it drop too low.
Regular exercise. Apart from exercise helping with weight control, it also allows for better blood blood to your hands and feet which also reduces the risk of non-healing wounds.
Healthy diet choices.
Regular visits to the doctor to make sure your medication is working for you.

#2- Check your feet on a daily basis

This can be either you or a caregiver checking your feet on a daily basis to make sure there are not cuts, blisters or wounds.

If there are any cuts or wounds, report them to your doctor immediately for appropriate care and advice.

#3- Good skin care is a must

Wash your feet everyday and make sure to dry the spaces in between your toes well.

Apply lotion to your feet to keep the skin on your feet from cracking.

#4- Don’t walk barefoot

Do your best to wear socks or shoes as you walk around your house to protect your feet from unnecessary injuries.

Make sure to check the insides of your shoes before you ear them.

#5- Ask about shoes that support your feet

Wear shoes that are not too tight or too loose.

There are also shoes that are designed specially for people with diabetes.

Ask your doctor about those and find out if your health insurance will pay for it.

#6- Trim your toenails regularly

Use a nail clipper to trim your nails regularly or use a file to file them straight across.

Avoid using sharp razors on your foot as this might cause an infection.

#7- Protect your feet from hot and cold extremes

Because diabetes can affect your the nerves in your feet, it is possible for you to not even feel when your feet are too cold or being burned. It is therefore important for you to protect your feet from hot and cold extremes.

It is important that you keep your feet away from heaters and open fires.

Make sure you wear shoes if you have to go to the beach or walk on the pavement especially in the summer.

Avoid putting hot water bottles or heating pads directly on your feet.

Wear socks at night if your feet get cold.

#8- Regular visits to the doctor are a must

Last but not least, it is important that you visit your doctor or podiatrist regularly so they can help take care of your feet properly.

When problems are detected early, it is possible for measures to be put in place to avoid further complications.

And there you have it.

Eight tips for taking excellent care of your feet when you have diabetes.

If you found this helpful, share it with someone else who needs this information.

Last week we talked about what diabetes is and the symptoms you should look out for if you’re a caregiver.

In today’s post, I will be going over diabetes complications you should know about as you provide care to your loved ones.

Because diabetes can go undetected for years, there are complications of the condition can develop because of late detection.

It is however important to watch for complications because diabetes complications can be disabling and even fatal.

The good news however, is that diabetes complications can be avoided with the right care and good control.

Diabetes complications you should know about

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia simply means “low sugar”.

It happens if a diabetic patient has not had enough to eat or receives much more insulin that they need.

The sugar available to the person’s cells becomes low and they begin to show the following symptoms, with the most severe symptoms at the bottom of the list.

An irregular heartbeat
Complaints of tiredness/fatigue
Shakiness
Hunger
Sweating
Clumsy movements (almost like they are drunk)
Slurred words
Tingling sensation around the mouth
Blurred vision
Confusion
Loss of consciousness

Hyperglycemia

On the other hand, a diabetic patient can struggle with “too much” sugar in their blood.

Hyperglycemia happens when there is not enough insulin to allow sugar to enter into a person’s cells.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

Increased thirst
Heachaches
Increased urination
Weakness and tiredness
Blurred vision

It is important as a caregiver that you know when to give your loved one insulin and how much.

Too much can tank their blood sugar whereas too little causes as elevation in their blood sugar than can be dangerous.

Wounds that don’t heal

Never ignore wounds on your elderly loved one that don’t seem to go away.

In a healthy individual, you should begin to see signs of wound healing a day or two after the fact.

Therefore, if a week after a person has sustained an injury, there are no signs of the wound healing, it is very important that you report the situation to a doctor so measures can be taken immediately.

If you don’t do this, a wound that could have been taken care of in its’ earlier stages can continue to get worse until an amputation of a body part is needed to prevent the wound from spreading.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is when diabetes has cause damage to a person’s nerves so they cannot feel their certain parts of their bodies especially their feet or fingers.

This condition and the tendency for wounds not to heal in diabetic patients are a terrible combination.

They can lead to amputations if immediate care is not given.

Because a person with neuropathy cannot feel their feet or fingers, they could sustain an injury and not realize it until it gets bad.

Thus as a caregiver, it is important to inspect your loved one’s skin to make sure it is all intact.

And it is important that you report any wounds that don’t heal after a week or two immediately.

Glaucoma

As I mentioned above, nerve damage is a complication of diabetes that can affect different parts of the body.

When the nerves of the eyes become damaged, it leads to glaucoma- a severe eye condition that causes vision loss and in severe instances, blindness.

Kidney disease

Diabetes is a common cause for kidney disease.

High blood sugar damages the blood vessels that lead to many organs.

The kidneys are the organs in the body that filter fluids and allow your body to create urine.

When your body creates urine, it “cleans” the blood. Without this cleaning mechanism, toxic substances will accumulate in the body.

A failure to properly control diabetes can lead to damaging the blood vessels that lead to the kidney and thus causing the kidneys to fail.

This is called diabetic nephropathy.

If your elderly loved one has diabetes, it is important to have their kidney function screened regularly.

Heart disease

According to the American Heart Association, 68% of people with diabetes over the age of 65 years die of heart disease while 16% of them die from a stroke related to diabetes.

There are many factors that intertwine with diabetes to give this abysmal outlook. These include smoking, unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity.

Preventing diabetes complications

Diabetes complications can be kept at bay to a large extent.

Thus as a caregiver, the best you can do is to encourage these preventative measure.

Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes at least 3-4 times per week.
Lose weight.
Quit smoking.
Eat a healthy balanced diet that emphasizes vegetables and lean proteins.
Blood sugar levels should be checked during the cause of the day to prevent dangerously low or high sugar levels.
The right amount of insulin has to be administered at the right time.
Talk to your doctor regularly about any changes you are feeling in your body so they can help diagnose and treat the condition before it gets worse.

Why your HbA1C levels are important

One major way to keep diabetes complications at bay is to have a doctor check hemoglobin A1C levels.

This is an even stronger measure of a person’s blood sugar that looks at a profile over a period of 8-12 weeks.

Hemoglobin A1C levels give doctors a much better look at a person’s overall trajectory with diabetes.

Getting this checked regularly is a smart idea.

Closing Thoughts

Now you know!

As a caregiver, you are now equipped with knowledge to help your elderly loved one with diabetes.

If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it with someone else!

Kidney stones are as painful as they sound.

Anyone who has been through the experience of having kidney stones will confirm this.

One of the things we strive to do here on the blog is to educate you on common healthcare problems you can expect to encounter as a caregiver and how you can offer your assistance when these problems arise.

By the time you’re done reading this post, you will know:

What kidney stones are and symptoms
The kind of medical care you can expect for kidney stones in the elderly
What complications can arise from kidney stones
The kind of support you can provide your elderly loved one during an episode with kidney stones

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard mineral and salt deposits that form in your kidneys. They can be as small as a grain of sand and you can pass it without even knowing. Or they could be as large enough to prevent a person from passing urine.

Your kidneys are the main organ in your urinary tract and is responsible for creating urine.

Typically there are natural chemicals within your kidney that dissolves salts and minerals. When there is a malfunction in the production of these natural chemicals, kidney stones can form.

While doctors are not completely sure what causes kidney stones, there are certain factors that can increase a person’s risk for kidney stones.

Lack of water. Your kidneys need water in order to produce urine. If a person’s water intake is low, this could lead to kidney stone formation.
Foods that are high in oxalate. In people who are prone to kidney stones, eating foods that are high in oxalate like rhubarb, spinach, beets, wheat germ and peanuts could increase the likelihood of kidney stones. A doctor may thus advise that you restrict the intake of these foods.
Kidney stones can form in response to a urinary tract infection (UTI).
If kidney stones are related to frequent UTIs, UTI monitoring pads may help

https://dependabledaughter.com/product/pixie-smart-pads/
In some instances, there is a hereditary link to kidney stones. In these individuals there is usually an overproduction of the amino acid cysteine because of the disorder.
Obesity.
Digestive problems.

Symptoms of kidney stones in the elderly

The following symptoms are associated with the presence of kidney stones.

Sharp pains in the back, side, lower abdomen and groin
Pink, red or brown blood in urine
A constant need to urinate
Pain while urinating
Difficulty urinating
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

In severe instances, these symptoms may be accompanied by

nausea
vomiting
fever and
chills

Any or a combination of these symptoms should be reported immediately to a medical professional or health facility.

It is especially important to note that if the kidney stones are being caused by an infection- usually indicated by cloudy or foul-smelling urine- not seeing medical attention could lead to sepsis.

Sepsis is a medical condition where an infection spreads into a person’s blood stream.

Sepsis is especially difficult to treat and can lead to death.

What you can do as a caregiver to support your elderly loved one with kidney stones

Prevention is always better than cure.

Thus, as a caregiver, you can encourage your elderly loved one to drink more fluids so they don’t become dehydrated.

If you suspect the presence of a kidney stone based on the reports of your elderly loved one, report them to a doctor immediately.

Immediate medical attention is the key to making sure there are no complications.

Treatment of kidney stones is based on the size of the kidney stone, where they are located and what type of kidney stone it is.

If the kidney stone is small enough, the doctor may simply send your elderly loved one home with advice to drink more fluids so they can pass the stone while they are urinating.

The doctor may ask that you save the stone and bring it back so they can study what type of stone it is and give you better advise on what to do to reduce the risk that it will happen again.

If the stone is too big to be passed, a specialist doctor called a urologist may use a procedure called shock wave lithotripsy to break up the kidney stone into smaller pieces so they can be passed.

Alternatively, a surgical procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy where the doctor goes into the kidney through a small cut in the back to remove the kidney stone. This will require a few days stay in the hospital so the doctors can observe recovery.

It is also possible that the doctor will prescribe medications to prevent kidney stones from forming in the future.

Whatever the case may be, you as a caregiver will be providing support throughout this very painful experience.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, kidney stones are far from a walk in the park.

In this post, you have learned what kidney stones are, what causes them and what you can expert in terms of medical care for your elderly loved one.

If you found this post useful, please consider sharing it with someone else.

Families often struggle with when to initiate home care.

Each situation is so unique, and depends on the needs of the client, the day to day support a person already has, resources, and care goals. Adult’s who could benefit from care support sometimes worry they will lose independence, or won’t like having someone in their personal space. Adult children don’t want to force care on their parents, and hesitate to get involved when they aren’t sure care is necessary. While thoughtfulness is an important part of the care planning process, there are times when outside help is very appropriate, and should be a priority.

Falls

When a loved one has a history of falls, and is still at risk of falling, it might be a good time to bring in outside help. Identifying fall triggers like nighttime bathroom trips, or shower times can help families decide when care would be helpful, and might augment a person’s independence. Initiating physical therapy through a doctor is often covered by medicare, and can help regain some strength and stability. In home care professionals can work with client’s to make the home space more maneuverable. Geriatric care managers are often medical professionals that can offer unbiased advice to families making care plans. The often charge for their services, but have resources and experience that can help clients make informed plans.

Retirement from Driving

Changing driving habits can be a good time to initiate outside care support. Making the decision to retire a driver’s license often means some limitations in flexibility and independence. Offering seniors support with transportation is one important function of non-medical home care companies. Changes in transportation style do not mean a person cannot continue participating in activities. Professional caregivers can help support a person’s regular activities and routines, making driving retirement an easier transition.

Changes in Behavior

Cognitive changes can happen slowly over time, or can suddenly become pronounced and pervasive. Sometimes individuals suffering from dementia need help with following routines that involve toileting, eating, and sleeping. Outside professionals can help a client navigate daily activities, and find tasks that are enjoyable and engaging. Even having a caregiver prepare meals a couple of times per week, can help a loved one remain safely at home.

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