Category: Alzheimer’s Care

Seniors with Alzheimer’s frequently forget familiar people, places, and things, especially as the disease progresses. The neurological condition causes significant damage to brain cells, increasing the risk of memory loss. Continue reading to learn about Alzheimer’s disease and the types of memory it affects.

Short-Term Memory

When short-term memory is impacted, seniors may have difficulty remembering things that happened in the previous couple of hours or days. For example, your aging loved one could forget what he or she ate for breakfast this morning. Some people associate these types of memory lapses with normal aging, but you should take your loved one to the doctor if you notice a pattern of mishaps related to short-term memory. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow the progression of the condition and boost your loved one’s cognitive abilities.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, help is just a phone call away. There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Senior Stride Home Care is a leading Oshkosh in-home care provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.

Episodic Memory

Damage to the part of the brain responsible for episodic memory makes it difficult to connect specific memories to special times from the past. For example, your loved one may forget what he or she wore to his or her senior prom, even if he or she had discussed the occasion a few days before. Detailed memories of significant life events may begin to fade over time, which can be difficult for both you and your loved one. Continue to show your loved one family photos and home videos to boost his or her mood, regardless of whether any memories are triggered.

Aging adults who need help managing mental and physical health issues can benefit from the assistance of highly trained professional caregivers. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Semantic Memory

Understanding the meanings of various words and phrases is a part of semantic memory. For example, you can say the word “family,” and your loved one can declare what it means. However, when Alzheimer’s prevents the brain from functioning normally, the semantic memory decreases, reducing language and communication abilities. In these instances, you need to remain calm and give your loved one a brief explanation of certain words and phrases. You can also use photos and flash cards to provide clarity and insight.

Procedural Memory

Procedural memory allows your loved one to perform everyday actions, such as riding a bike, cooking a family recipe, or reading a book. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, procedural memory begins to decrease. The ability to do familiar things is affected, regardless of how simple the tasks are. Encourage your loved one to continue enjoying his or her hobbies, and find ways to make the activities less challenging. You may need to explain the instructions multiple times, but the objective is to engage your parent and find ways to keep him or her happy. The steps should be short, clear, and concise. Allow your loved one to complete each task at his or her own pace instead of rushing him or her and increasing the risk of combative behavior. 

Seniors with Alzheimer’s have much to gain when their families opt for professional Alzheimer’s care. Oshkosh families can rely on compassionate and dedicated caregivers to help their elderly loved ones manage the various challenges of Alzheimer’s disease so they can enjoy a higher quality of life. Call Senior Stride Home Care at 920-717-1767 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.

As people age, their food preferences may change and their appetites may diminish. Many aging adults with Alzheimer’s lose interest in eating, but the failure to eat regularly can put seniors at risk for severe weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Here are some interventions that may motivate a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s to eat.

1. Remove Distractions

Seniors with Alzheimer’s can get easily distracted. When this happens, they may be unable to focus on eating. Turn off the television and temporarily relocate pets to another room until mealtime is over. Once distractions are removed, your loved one may be more interested in eating.

2. Present Attractive Meals

Since seniors with Alzheimer’s may need more encouragement to eat, you’ll need to make meals as attractive as possible for your loved one. When the food looks good, your loved one is more likely to eat it. Colorful fruits and vegetables—such as bell peppers, carrots, apples, tomatoes, pineapple, and kiwifruit—are both visually stimulating and full of nutrients. Different food textures and shapes can also enhance the attractiveness of dishes, prompting more interest in eating.

A trained Alzheimer’s caregiver can provide expertise and additional support to encourage your loved one to eat. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Oshkosh families can rely on Senior Stride Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.

3. Make Pleasant-Smelling Meals

Aromatic seasonings, spices, and other ingredients can stimulate the appetite and spark an interest in eating. Foods such as freshly baked biscuits, muffins, roasted turkey, chicken soup, and meatloaf may spark pleasant thoughts and memories while stimulating the appetite. Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and apple pie are other foods that may appeal to seniors with Alzheimer’s.

4. Ask for Help

Inviting your loved one to participate in meal preparation is another way to get him or her interested in eating. Elderly people, even those with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, take pride in their accomplishments. When your loved one feels good about a dish he or she has helped you prepare, he or she may be more likely to eat. Make sure you supervise your loved one when he or she is handling sharp utensils or working near the stove.

Helping an aging loved one get proper nutrition when he or she doesn’t want to eat can be exhausting. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality senior home care, Senior Stride Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.

5. Invite Companions to Share Meals

Inviting close friends or family members over to dine may also encourage a senior with Alzheimer’s to eat. Many people with Alzheimer’s enjoy social situations and like to be included in group activities. The social stimulation and time spent with familiar people can enhance your loved one’s mood, and when his or her mood is brighter, your parent’s interest in eating may be stronger.

6. Address Grasping Issues

If your loved one has lost the ability to grasp standard eating utensils, he or she may be uninterested in eating. While you could feed your loved one, promoting as much independence as possible is always preferable. Offer utensils with thicker handles that are bulkier and easier to grasp. Once your loved one is able to hold a utensil without dropping it, he or she may be more likely to eat. 

Professional caregivers with specialized experience in Alzheimer’s care can be a wonderful source of support for older adults with the disease. Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to manage. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Oshkosh Senior Stride Home Care provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Senior Stride Home Care at 920-717-1767 today.

Even though there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, you can lessen some of the worst symptoms with a comprehensive treatment plan. Studies have revealed that lifestyle habits play a major role in Alzheimer’s, and you can greatly boost your senior loved one’s quality of life by making some simple changes. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to provide world-class care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

1. Create a Strict Routine

One of the most effective ways to minimize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s is to follow a strict daily routine. Your loved one should eat meals and take medications at the same times every day. You must also come up with a bedtime routine your loved one follows every night. Sticking to that routine can enhance your loved one’s sleep schedule and help him or her avoid fluctuating energy levels. It might also enhance your loved one’s demeanor, making your job much easier in the coming years.

One of the most important things to consider is whether and when to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated home care service providers can reach out to Senior Stride Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.

2. Keep Your Loved One Occupied

Seniors with Alzheimer’s often become reclusive, but isolation can worsen the symptoms of the disease. Throughout the day, you should have plenty of activities planned for your loved one, including mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles and board games. Studies have revealed that challenging activities can boost cognitive and emotional health.

A professional caregiver with experience in Alzheimer’s care can be an outstanding resource when it comes to cognitive stimulation for your loved one. Families who need help caring for a senior loved one can turn to Senior Stride Home Care, a leading provider of Oshkosh homecare services. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

3. Encourage Exercise

There are quite a few reasons seniors with Alzheimer’s need to remain physically active. In addition to keeping your loved one at a healthy weight, exercising may stabilize his or her sleep schedule. If your loved one doesn’t seem to be sleeping at night, try to find at least a few rigorous activities he or she enjoys. Going on long walks, gardening, and doing household chores are all great options for seniors with Alzheimer’s.

4. Limit Distractions

You might be able to block out television shows and radio chatter, but those distractions could consume your loved one. They could also make conversations and mealtimes very difficult, which is why you need to create a quiet and relaxing environment inside the home. Putting heavy drapes over the windows and removing clutter from the walls could put your loved one at ease as well. Every senior with Alzheimer’s is slightly different, so you’ll need to make gradual changes around the home until you create the perfect environment for your loved one.

5. Make Sure the Home Is Safe and Secure

Household accidents are extremely common among seniors with Alzheimer’s, and you must do everything in your power to make sure the home is as safe as possible. All medications and toxic cleaning products must be locked away in a cabinet or placed where your loved one can’t reach them. Many caregivers also install wireless monitoring systems that include cameras, smoke detectors, and fire alarms.

Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Oshkosh Senior Stride Home Care provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Senior Stride Home Care at 920-717-1767 today.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s at home is possible, as long as you take safety precautions. You need to remove all hazards and ensure your loved one is secure while inside the house. Here are some ways to increase home safety for a senior parent with Alzheimer’s.

Keep Potentially Dangerous Items Out of Reach

You shouldn’t keep weapons in your loved one’s home, but if you choose to, make sure they’re locked up in a place where he or she has no access. Leaving sharp and dangerous items out in the open could increase your parent’s risk of causing harm to him or herself, you, or others. When cooking, doing home improvements, or working on other tasks that require the use of potentially dangerous tools and objects, make sure your loved one is never left alone with these items. If he or she is helping you with the tasks, you should be the one to handle the sharp utensils and tools to prevent accidents and injuries. 

There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional senior home care. Oshkosh families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place.

Clear Out Clutter

Your loved one may forget where particular objects are stored in the home as Alzheimer’s progresses, increasing the risk of bumping into furniture and other harmful items. Help your loved one clear out all clutter regularly, and move things around to make sure there are clear pathways throughout the home. Do a thorough cleaning with your parent at least once per year. During this cleaning, you can throw out items he or she no longer uses. Some personal belongings will have sentimental value, so be considerate of your loved one’s feelings when trying to toss out the objects.

Remove Alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages can lead to confusion in seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, which is why you should remove alcohol from your loved one’s home. Even if the beverages are safely secured inside the home, your loved one could break the glass of a cabinet or find the keys to the locks and open the cases to have a drink. When you drink wine, beer, or any other alcoholic beverage, never leave a glass unattended because your loved one could mistake the alcohol for water or juice. 

One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide at-home care. Oshkosh families can turn to Senior Stride Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.

Lock the Doors and Windows

Keeping the front and back doors secure could prevent your loved one from wandering, especially at night. Wandering is a common issue seniors with Alzheimer’s disease experience, which is why all entrances and exits should be locked at all times. Your loved one can go out and enjoy a walk in the neighborhood as long as you or a caregiver accompanies him or her to keep your parent from getting lost. Keeping the doors and windows locked can also lower the risk of someone entering the home without permission. Seniors are often the targets of break-ins and scams because of their age.

Every senior living with Alzheimer’s deserves high-quality Alzheimer’s care. Oshkosh families can rely on the caregivers at Senior Stride Home Care to keep their loved ones safe while managing the symptoms of the disease. Using our Cognitive Therapeutics Method, our caregivers help seniors regain a sense of pride and accomplishment while promoting cognitive health. Call us today at 920-717-1767 to learn about our high-quality in-home Alzheimer’s care services.

Researchers at the University of Southern California believe they may have found an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s. Instead of using chemicals to protect synapses and brains cells, they are now testing microchips that could potentially mimic cognitive function. The initial tests on mice and monkeys were extremely successful, and they have now advanced to long-term human trials.

Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable elder home care. Oshkosh, WI, families trust in Senior Stride Home Care to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Brain Function

Alzheimer’s develops when pockets of protein attach themselves to brain cells and eventually kill them off. As the cells are destroyed, it becomes nearly impossible for electrical signals in the brain to get to the correct synapses. This damage causes many of the symptoms we now associate with dementia-related conditions such as behavioral changes, mood swings, confusion, difficulty with motor skills, and memory loss. Most of the current Alzheimer’s treatments are designed to slow the rate of decay, but they do nothing to restore cognitive function. This might all change in the future with neuroprosthetics.

The Berger Chip

Dr. Theodore Berger is currently working with a research team at the University of Southern California to develop a microchip that will simulate the electrical impulses created by the brain. The Berger chip helps redirect the impulses so they reach the correct neurons. The chip will not restore a senior’s memory, but it could potentially help him or her create and access new memories. These chips are being tested on humans, but Dr. Berger claims the advancements over the next few months will be significant.

Implants and Neuroprosthetics

Scientists have made considerable headway with brain implants over the last two decades. Implants are currently being used to help paralyzed people manipulate robotic limbs with nothing more than their thoughts. Much like Berger’s chip, these implants assess the electrical impulses as they are being created by the brain. Thousands of deaf people have also benefited from cochlear implants that recognize nerve impulses within the ear. The next logical step for this technology is to save, organize, and emit the impulses that affect memory. Future iterations of Berger’s chip might be able to fully take over all brain processes in the event of a degenerative disorder.

These implants may also be beneficial for seniors living with other dementia-related disorders. Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care, Oshkosh seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to slow cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Senior Stride Home Care.

The Future of Alzheimer’s Treatments

Dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s are extremely complex, and there is no single treatment that works for everyone. Doctors around the world are working on many different procedures that could potentially help seniors with Alzheimer’s, including injections that can break apart the strands of protein that cause brain damage. Currently, the most effective way to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s is a blend of prescription medication and lifestyle changes. While there is no permanent cure for this disease, early diagnosis can enhance a senior’s quality of life.

For reliable Alzheimer’s care, Oshkosh families can turn to Senior Stride Home Care. We are a leading provider of professional memory care designed to help seniors maintain a higher quality of life. In addition to Alzheimer’s care, we also provide comprehensive dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care. From revolutionary care programs to compassionate and dedicated caregivers, we can meet all of your Alzheimer’s home care needs. Call 920-717-1767 to speak with a friendly Care Manager to find out about our flexible care plans.

In lieu of recent events taking place within the Alzheimer’s Association, six of the 54 localized affiliate chapters decided to distance themselves from the national office. According to the defected chapters, growing concerns stemmed from various factors, including the possibility of losing functional and operational authority along with financial independence.

Alzheimer’s Association Actions

The national office sought to obtain a 501c merger with all of the affiliate chapters. Although individual chapters were invited to vote on the proposal, the main office passed the merger despite an even 27 to 27-tie vote in favor of and against the merger. This action led some local chapters to believe that their voice was no longer being heard at the top.

Additionally, many local chapters willingly provide the national office with up to 40 percent of their fundraising revenues. Tensions grew when chapters received disclosure of Alzheimer’s Association expenditures. It’s been reported that by 2012, the organization’s CEO was receiving $2.8 million dollars as an annual salary. Staff payroll also increased from $18 million to $45 million. Even more troubling was the fact that monies allocated for Alzheimer’s research declined from $28 million to $13 million.

Additional Chapter Concerns

Given that the voices of individual chapters seemingly went unnoticed during the merger vote, various small chapters are growing increasingly concerned that they may also soon lose authority over funds received locally. Chapter money typically goes where local organizations feel the funds are needed most. Projects include Oshkosh, WI, Alzheimer’s caregiver support programs, outreach and training. Becoming independent from the national organization ensures that monies received will stay within the state or community and benefit the caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients therein.

Individual chapters are also unhappy over having to send clients to the national office’s 1-800 number for information or resources. These chapters prefer having the option of working directly with clients on a more personal level in order to ensure that needy families receive the best service possible.

One of the best resources you can turn to when you care for a senior with Alzheimer’s is Senior Stride Home Care in Oshkosh. We provide premier Alzheimer’s and dementia care designed to stimulate senior cognition, memory, and spatial reasoning skills in the familiarity of home. Additionally, our Alzheimer’s caregivers offer safety monitoring, medication reminders, mobility assistance, and more. Call us today at 920-717-1767 to learn more about our premier Alzheimer’s and dementia home care and schedule a free consultation.

The age-related brain degeneration that occurs during Alzheimer’s disease can be extremely challenging for Oshkosh Alzheimer’s caregivers to witness. Though many researchers are working on discovering a cure for the condition, it is impossible to treat Alzheimer’s without understanding why it occurs in the first place. Some new research by scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University was recently published in a journal called Scientific Reports and lead researcher Vladimir Polshakov to share an exciting discovery about the possible trigger that may spur Alzheimer’s disease.

How Amyloid Plaques Cause Alzheimer’s

Beta amyloid peptides are a type of protein that typically resides in the membrane surrounding nerve cells of the brain. These proteins are supposed to protect the brain, but for some reason, as people age these proteins begin to stick together in clumps known as amyloid plaques. These clumps block the signals between individual synapses, and when the immune system tries to destroy the amyloid plaques, it ends up accidentally harming brain cells instead. The result of this damage manifests as the cognitive decline Oshkosh at-home caregivers witness while caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The New Discovery That Causes Amyloid Plaques to Form

Using several experimental techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance, the researchers studied how amyloid plaques formed. When certain isomerized beta-amyloid peptides interacted with zinc ions, the researchers realized that the peptides began to rapidly bond with each other. After coming into contact with zinc ions, the forming amyloid plaques bonded so quickly that it was hard for the scientists to even see the plaques forming.

Hope for a Future Cure

Now that the scientists realize that zinc ions facilitate rapid peptide bonding, they are optimistic about the potential for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, they emphasize that more research needs to be done to understand why it is only isomerized peptides that are affected by zinc. After more research, it may be possible for them to create a medication that will block zinc ions from creating amyloid plaques.

In the meantime, family caregivers have other resources to help take care of their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Senior Stride Home Care in Oshkosh provides comprehensive Alzheimer’s home care designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s manage the disease in the comfort of home. This includes safety monitoring, mobility support, personal care assistance, medication reminders, and so much more. We even supplement Alzheimer’s care with our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method at no additional cost to help delay dementia symptoms, strengthen senior cognition, and boost self-esteem. Call a compassionate Care Manager today at 920-717-1767 to learn more about Alzheimer’s home care and schedule a free in-home consultation.