Home Care Mississauga cares for a number of older adults who are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. This disease affects millions of seniors and can cause serious problems, not only for the patient, but for those around them as well. For many loved ones, it may be hard to understand the disease and what is happening. It is important for all caregivers, family and friends to understand what could possibly happen when Alzheimer’s is present. Below is a list of the ways Alzheimer’s can affect the life of the individual diagnosed.

1. Mental abilities are impaired. The individual will begin to forget things and may start to communicate differently. Their ability to make decisions will be affected and simple, daily tasks will become every difficult or even forgotten. Alzheimer’s causes memory loss and can also affect how the person speaks and communicates with others.

2. Moods and emotions will change. Many times, the patient will seem uninterested and can lose interest in things that they used to love. Some people will become more withdrawn and will not interact in conversations. Alzheimer’s does not cause the patient to stop feeling. They will still experience moods, including joy, anger, sadness and love. However, these moods may not coincide with current events.

3. The way the person reacts to their environment will begin to change in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. They will begin to repeat words and actions, may appear restless and can have physical outbursts.

4. Mobility and coordination can be affected which will lead to a decline in physical health. Daily tasks will be affected and the person may not remember how to eat, bathe or do other daily tasks.

Source: alzheimer.ca

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helps seniors remain active and independent in their own homes.

Most Canadians have heard of Alzheimer’s disease, but not all of those know what it really is, and in some cases that can include those family caregivers and even seniors suffering with the condition themselves. They understand that it’s a cognitive impairment that affects memory, but that’s sometimes where the knowledge starts and stops.

Here’s what everyone should know about Alzheimer’s:

1. It’s about more than memory – yes, memory is impacted by Alzheimer’s, but so is judgment, reasoning, communication abilities, and general disposition and mood

2. Knowing the basic biology of Alz – plaques and tangles are two parts of the disease that affect the brain. Plaques are dense deposits that scatter around the brain and are toxic to brain cells; tangles essentially choke the life out of living cells

3. The disappearance of brain tissue – Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t just affect abilities; it causes physical changes in the brain and actually shrinks brain tissue. The shrinking never stops and this creates further changes

4. It can’t be reversed – while some techniques have been proven to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s or help keep memories functioning in some way; there’s no way to reverse the damage caused to date

Via: Alzheimer Society

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helps aging seniors maintain strength to stay at home.

The Grey Bruce Heart Health Program in Ontario is one designed to help prevent heart disease in older Canadians and promote a healthy lifestyle that specifically benefits the heart. For those who don’t know how to get started on their own, this program has a number of focus areas and events and works in partnership with the community in the Owen
Sound area and provides resources to all
Ontarians such as:

• Walking programs that get seniors walking in ways that are enjoyable and incorporate socialization

• Awareness about the effects and risks of heart disease in women

• Information about healthy heart foods with an emphasis upon lean, low-fat diets rich in nutrients

• Affordable, nutritious food programs that help give low-income seniors access to healthy heart foods

• Community gardening programs which promote physical activity allow seniors to grow their own produce and socialize

• Recognition of those seniors in the local community who have adopted healthy heart lifestyles

• Campaigns to prevent the initiation of more smoke-free public places, plus resources to help seniors quit smoking!

Via: Grey Bruce Heart Health

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helps seniors and elders with doctor visits if your family member cannot be there with you.

Despite encouragement that exercise can improve their health, many seniors are still reluctant to believe that there will be noticeable changes that will truly make a difference in their lives. According to a new Canadian study, however, many seniors might be prepared to change their tune because a non-sedentary lifestyle can improve artery health, providing for a healthier heart.

The recent study evaluated the heart health of older adults in two groups – one that walked regularly according to a prescribed regiment; and the other that avoided any semblance of exercise. After a mere three month period, it was demonstrated that the active group improved arterial stiffness in their heart by as much as 15% to 20%.

So seniors, lace up your walking shoes, but make sure that you talk to your doctor and get a clean bill of health for any new exercise routine before you begin!

Via:Healthhabits.ca

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home care Mississauga cares for aging seniors and the elderly and we know that the heart is an essential  part of the human body, and for many seniors it’s a cause of grief as it presents health issues as they age, often due to genetics or lifestyle. While gene elements cannot be reversed, risk factors can be reduced with positive lifestyle changes such as:

1. Eating well – well-rounded nutrition with daily recommended values from every good group

2. Supplemental vitamins – to boost nutritional intake, vitamin supplements can be used. Those with proven benefits to the heart include Omega 3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10. The former lowers blood pressure, helps ensure a regular heart rhythm, and prevents plaque build up in the arteries

3. Keeping weight under control – diet, exercise and an overall focus on positive health can help seniors control their weight, and in turn, keep their heart in optimal health

While all of the above have proven positive effects to seniors in preventing heart issues, it’s important that they speak to their doctor before changing their diet, beginning an exercise program, or starting use of vitamin supplements.

Via: Senior Health Answers

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

In order to meet your financial goals this year to plan for later on in your senior years, or get other parts of your finances in order, you need a reputable financial advisor. To find the best person for the job, you want someone with experience that’s also reliable, and here are some home care tips for Mississauga seniors for ensuring that the person you
select checks all of the boxes.

1. Don’t just look at an individual’s title – Financial Advisors may go by a number of different interchangeable titles. The title doesn’t really matter, but the services they provide do. Look at what services are provided, and how you think those suit your needs

2. Ask about their clients – consider your goals, and ask about the type of people they normally work with and what their needs are to gauge their suitability to help you

3. Check qualifications – it’s okay to look into the skills and qualifications of a business or individual. Ask about their certifications and the education and other relevant information about their experience

4. Check to make sure the company is reputable – firms and individuals that are reputable should be licensed with the Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada

Via: Reader’s Digest

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Tips to Increase Brain Function

Maximize your brain power in the New Year, and fight off the sometimes effects of aging that can affect your cognitive functioning. This year, you want to make memories, but you also want to be able to remember them. By maximizing your brain power, you can help to secure your memories, and keeping your brain sharp is easier than you think.

1. Stay social – socializing does a lot more for your mind than you might ever realize. Having a conversation, even one that only lasts about 10 minutes has the same benefits as doing a crossword puzzle. You’ll find that your memory and thinking skills are improved

2. Keep forming new brain cells – have you heard that old saying, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it? Well, that applies to your brain too. Brain cells not used self-destruct, so make sure you keep your brain active

3. Don’t be afraid to yawn – you might have been taught that yawning in public isn’t polite, but it actually cools off brain cells and improves blood flow so it can maximize your brain power

Via: Reader’s Digest

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

It’s a New Year, and those seniors who still get behind the wheel to drive, whether it’s just around town or for longer distances, one great goal is to resolve to be a safer driver. Here are some tips that will help you as a senior become a safer driving, both for yourself and others on the road.

1. Acknowledge that driving skills can change with age – it might not be true for everyone, but reflexes, perception and other abilities needed for driving can change with age and seniors need to recognize this and take added precautions for safety

2. Avoid weather conditions – Canadian winters can be harsh, and this winter in particular has brought us colder temperatures and a great deal of snow. Whenever possible, avoid driving in snowy and icy conditions. But for when it’s necessary, make sure your car is fully equipped

3. Stick to routes you are more familiar with – take roads you are comfortable with, especially when driving at night and if there is inclement weather

4. Plan routes in advance – if you need to travel to areas you don’t normally, plan your route in advance to find one that will be the most accommodating

5. Take a course – if you feel you need to hone your skills, take a refresher course in driving

Via: About.com

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

While most of the population looks back on the previous year with fresh goals and aspirations for 2010, senior citizens do not seem to be doing the same. Most seniors do not even make those promises to the self. However, there are several improvements and changes to keep in mind heading into 2010 in order to extend an elderly person’s physical and mental health.

• Take a daily walk—Most people resolve to get into shape on New Year’s Eve. Seniors can do the same by exercising more into the New Year, helping to maintain better health.

• Quit those bad habits—With old age, most senior citizens believe in enjoying life and taking every day as it comes. However, those seniors that smoke and drink heavily can extend their lives a great deal by quitting the bad habits.

• Learn something new—Just because you are getting older, does not mean you cannot still learn new things. Not only is it good for the mind, but it could also prove useful to a senior. One ever-important task to know could be how to use a computer. A dialed-in senior can communicate more often with family and friends online.

• Enjoy life—Sometimes it can be a challenge to enjoy life to the fullest with painful illnesses or medical conditions putting a damper on attitude. Seniors can find those activities like board games and puzzles that help lift the spirits. Sometimes the best medicine for a senior may be just staying positive about life.

Source: niagarafallsreview.ca

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

You might notice that a loved one appears to be losing weight, and while in some cases that can be attributed to the aging process, there are other issues that can be at play. Seniors may change their eating habits for a number of reasons, and it’s not always to the benefit of their health.

• Senses change – food may just not be as appetizing as it used to be. As we age, our senses of taste and smell can change, making food taste differently or poorly

• Cooking may become challenging – getting to the grocery store, and navigating around the kitchen for meal prep may become a bigger challenge for seniors, resulting in poor nutrition habits

• Some seniors may worry about their health – as other health issues arise like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, seniors may cut out all foods they perceive as bad, including goods with “good” fats.

It’s important that family members notice any physical changes in their loved ones, and bring any concerns to the attention of a doctor. Severe weight loss could indicate another health issue, or could mean that seniors are struggling with some of the above that could cause future complications. It’s essential that improper nutrition is addressed before it has grave consequences for Canadian seniors.

Via: How to Care

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Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.