Alzheimer’s is a widespread health issue that affects many Canadian seniors. This is a fact that you’re likely aware of, but I bet you’re not familiar with the real numbers. Will there be an increase in the number of seniors with Alzheimer’s? Are we prepared as a society to help provide care for these individuals? These numbers give you an idea of where things stand, and the truth is a little bit frightening.
• Prevalence – it’s estimated that today more than 500,000 seniors have Alzheimer’s disease in Canada. As the senior population grows with the baby boomers, there may be a rapid increase of adult onset Alzheimer’s just because of the sheer number in the demographic. Right now, the numbers equate to 1 in every 11 Canadian seniors
• Impact upon health care – with health care provided to Canadian seniors, the costs are estimated to be about $15 million each year.
• Caregiver impact – 1 in 5 people in Canada provide care to an older adult, typically a family member. There is a greater occurrence of emotional issues in those that care for someone with Alzheimer’s as they witness someone they love changing drastically before their eyes
• Timeline for a cure – researchers suggest that there may be a cure, or at least better treatment options within 7 to 10 years for Canadian seniors. Considering baby boomers are already entering their senior years, it might not be soon enough to handle the increased need for Alzheimer’s care
Mississauga Home Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Nearly 5 years ago, Canada’s Health Minister recognized the need for a better strategy to address cardiovascular disease; the country’s number one fatal health issue. $5.2 million was promised to focus more upon the detection and prevention of heart disease, rather than the retroactive methods traditionally used.
One major benefit of the implementation of this program is that it was designed to really create an alliance throughout the country. Whereas individual provinces and branches of healthcare may have had different approaches to heart health; this strategy would ensure that it was a joint effort by health care providers, non-profit agencies and more.
Naturally, a program like this is not designed strictly to target seniors since it focuses upon early detection and prevention; however, with improved heart health throughout life with awareness, the real benefits really come to light in the senior years!
If you are a caregiver, or know anyone with a heart condition, you could benefit from watching the following clip, which features a modified form of CPR called CCR that is easier to learn, easier to do and can save even more lives!
Home Care Mississaugahelps seniors remain active and independent in their own homes.
We’ve all been warned about what’s in store for the future as the number of seniors increase, but that doesn’t mean that care professionals, seniors and family members really recognize what that means for the trends of the future. Canada’s care structure really will see some changes in the upcoming years.
1. Yes, Canadians are living longer – seniors are living so long that there are now two categories of older adults – the younger ones and the older ones! This is not something seen previously, because fewer actually lived long enough into older adulthood to make up a large population of older seniors. Young seniors are aged 65 to 74 and older seniors are over 85
2. Long lives don’t mean good health – Canadian seniors might be living longer, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily healthier. Seniors need to start focusing on their physical and mental health as well, and this can be done through lifestyle changes and professional services
3. Seniors shouldn’t rely on the government – while many Canadian seniors have access to programs that help them financially with their Long Term Care needs, the increase of seniors needing such service should change this. Seniors should be in a position emotionally and financially to seek their own care when they need it
4. Family caregivers will always play a major role – Canadian families are still caring for their older loved ones and this trend isn’t going anywhere. Women are still the primary family caregivers
Home Care Mississaugahelps seniors remain active and independent in their own homes.
Walking is one way to attain better health, and for seniors it’s a lower impact activity that can be done virtually anywhere. However, when beginning an exercise program later in life, exercising due caution is necessary to prevent accidents, health problems and other occurrences. Any senior looking to get active should give walking a try, and for those who care for seniors; it’s an activity that can easily be done together for the motivation and companionship.
1. Choose the right shoes – a store that specializes in providing running shoes, or an orthopedic shoe store can make sure that seniors get the right shoes to provide support and comfort
2. Stretch and warm up – never just jump straight into a workout, warming up and stretching is essential and so is cooling down after a workout
3. Be aware of warning signs – seniors need to pay attention to the signs that their body provides them. Any pain, circulatory issues or other physical changes could indicate that they’re pushing themselves too hard and may require a doctor’s attention
4. Think about the weather – with the varying climates in Canada, particularly in Ontario, seniors need to be aware of changing weather conditions. Cold weather can create numbness in the feet and limbs; hot weather might lead to an increase of physical exertion, and of course inclement weather can pose risks
5. Talk to a doctor – before beginning an exercise program all seniors need to talk to their doctors. A professional can provide insight into safe exercise programs for any seniors specific health issues, such as those with diabetes
With the New Year here, there’s no better time for seniors to start making improvements to their homes that can make them more comfortable and safe while living independently. Not all seniors can afford to make changes that will keep them at home, which is why many lower income Canadian seniors are eligible to receive assistance from the Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence Program.
In order to qualify for the program, seniors must:
• Be 65 years or older
• Have more limited mobility as a result of aging
• Meet the income criteria
• Live at a permanent residence independently (though home can be shared with other family members)
• Changes must be permanent to the home and improve seniors abilities to navigate around their home and generally increase safety. Common approved changes include hand rails, grab bars, levers on doors, and movement of storage spaces so they’re more accessible
The holiday season yields a unique opportunity for seniors and their families. Most families come in closer distance of relatives and loved ones, opening up days for quality family time. However, once Christmas passes, most feel the gifts have been given and there is nothing else to do for their senior citizen. That notion could not be farther from the truth. Senior caregivers, without question, will tell that all grandpa may want over the holidays is a conversation, visit, or outing with family. There are many different activities families can do with their senior such as helping them make a family photo album or taking them out for lunch. While these activities may sound simple, the importance they give a senior is much more complex. Seniors feel better knowing that family wants to spend some extra time with them over the holidays, meaning much more to an elderly loved one than a material gift. With extra time off for the holiday season, families have the opportunity to keep the gifts coming from their seniors, even if it is just the simple act of spending time with grandma and grandpa.
The upcoming holiday season is very much a family time, highlighted with visits and gift-giving. But, there are many seniors in our community who are alone, are isolated and in need. Home Instead Senior Care, has joined with Shoppers Home Healthcare, Mississauga Seniors Centre and the Alzheimer Society of Peel to decorate a tree with gift requests. The tree is set up at Shoppers Home Healthcare Applewood Plaza 1077 North Service Road and everyone in the community is invited to visit the tree, pick one of the gift requests and purchase that item. Also, on December 11th, everyone is invited out again to help in wrapping the gifts. Can you imagine the smile on a lonely senior’s face and how much brighter the holiday season would be when he or she has a gift to open? For more information please visit www.beasantatoasenior.com and see how you can help in such a great cause.
Over the holidays, it’s not uncommon to give seniors gifts like holiday and seasonal plants, or for them to use them in decorating their homes. But, did you know that many holiday plants can actually be poisonous, so having them around the home, particularly at the eye level of children and pets can present a major danger?
Plants such as holly, Jerusalem cherry, mistletoe and bitter sweet all have toxic properties that can have dangerous consequences if pets or children get their hands, or rather their mouths on them over the holidays. So, think again about choosing these plants as a holiday gift for a senior if they’re likely to have grandchildren in their homes over the holidays, or if they have pets. Seniors who receive them or choose to have them around the house anyways, should ensure that they are well out of reach of little hands and mouths, or choose the artificial variety to prevent any unfortunate medical emergencies!
As a family caregiver, particularly for a senior with Alzheimer’s, it’s crucial that you understand something about the medications that your loved one takes on a day-to-day basis whether or not you’re the one who’s administering it.
Here are the common medications used to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms in Canada, and some basic information about their purpose. If your care recipient is suffering from Alzheimer’s in older adulthood, it’s likely he or she is taking one of these medications, and by understanding them, you can help to make better informed decisions about their care.
1. Cholinesterase Inhibitors – the main class of medication used to treat Alzheimer’s in Canada which include Aricept, Exelon, and Reminyl. These drugs help to reduce the breakdown of a chemical called acetylcholine, which is important for learning and memory.
2. NMDA Receptor Antagonists – medications which are believed to help with transmission of information to the brain. Only one drug is currently approved in Canada that falls under this class and that is Ebixa
Welcome to the Home Care Mississauga blog. Visit often for updates, tips, and education on helping aging loved ones stay in their homes.
Family Caregivers and readers, please ask your questions in our comment section. What is it like for you and your siblings? How did you minimize the defensiveness that your parents may have felt when bringing up hard topics such as finances or home safety or taking the keys away? We know these are hard topics and we would like you to share your stories.
1. Don’t speak to your parents like they are children, we call it Forget the Baby Talk! Remember, your parents or aging loved one is an adult, not children. What puts adults on defense is patronizing speech or communications. It could give the message of ill respect. Always put yourselves in their shoes, it helps the message delivery.
2. Always try to move in the direction that maximizes their independence. With their cooperation and together, look for answers that optimize strengths and also compensate for problems or their weaknesses. Remember Home Instead Senior Care can help.
3. If, for example, one parent passes away and soon afterward, the other parent seems to be depressed and doesn’t keep the house clean, it may not be because that living parent is ill. But instead it could be that he/she is suffering from the loss of a life long partner. You can help by making sure that parent has an active social life. We advise that families Stay Tuned in to the parent’s life, keeping a watchful eye.
4. Ask for help. We can assist you in resolving many of these issues by providing your parent(s) with the added support they need to maintain their independence. Resources such as Area Agency for the Aging and Home Instead Senior Care Mississauga can provide solutions.
Alzheimer’s is a widespread health issue that affects many Canadian seniors. This is a fact that you’re likely aware of, but I bet you’re not familiar with the real numbers. Will there be an increase in the number of seniors with Alzheimer’s? Are we prepared as a society to help provide care for these individuals? These numbers give you an idea of where things stand, and the truth is a little bit frightening.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2c9f6f49-ade5-4e02-87d3-2f97fb4be051)
