Category: Senior Health

Spring is in the air, and unfortunately, so are seasonal allergies. Pollen, mold, and smog can bring on runny noses, sneezing fits, and itchy eyes, and sometimes those symptoms can be exacerbated among seniors. Here are a few tips for Oshkosh hourly caregivers looking to help seniors conquer the season of the sneeze.

Keep Allergens Outside

Allergens often come into the house on your shoes and clothes. Keep the pollen count at a minimum by removing and leaving shoes at the door. Vacuum your loved one’s home frequently and use machine-washable area rugs on the floor. Keep filters on any air conditioners clean and when pollen counts are high, use the air conditioner rather than opening a window. These steps will keep allergens outside where they belong.

See an Allergist

For severe allergies, make an appointment with your loved one’s allergist. They can prescribe different medications and work with seniors to develop plans to avoid pollen, mold, and the situations that can bring on serious allergy attacks. It helps to stay a step ahead and develop a strategy before allergy season hits.

Change Clothes Regularly

Synthetic fabrics attract pollen when they rub together because these materials create an electrical charge, and pollen is also charged. Look for more natural fabrics for your loved one to wear. Seniors who’ve been around allergens should shower and wash their hair and clothes afterward. Be sure to use a dryer for the clothes. Hanging them on a clothesline allows them to collect more allergens.

Choose the Best Times to Be Active

Pollen counts are lowest before dawn, in late afternoon, and during the early evening. Use those times to take walks or exercise outside with your loved one to keep allergies at a minimum. Be sure to monitor daily pollen counts and smog alerts online or on the news as an added measure.

Get Out of Town

If your senior loved one can’t seem to escape the pollen at home, it may be best to get away for a while. Provided that your loved one is well enough, consider taking a vacation to a beach during the worst allergy periods. Pollen and other allergen counts are lower near the ocean as the breeze blows the pollen away.

Allergies can dampen the excitement springtime usually generates for seniors. If your loved one has trouble managing seasonal allergy symptoms, turn to Senior Stride Home Care of Oshkosh. Our reliable Oshkosh elder care promotes senior health and wellbeing and allows seniors to age in place while maintaining their independence. Learn more today by calling 920-717-1767 and scheduling a no-obligation consultation with a friendly Care Manager.

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is difficult for everyone involved. For seniors, it can be even more difficult because they may not have easy access to groups that could help them accept and adapt to their diagnosis. This is where online cancer outreach can make a huge difference. There are a number of great sites that seniors and their loved ones can turn to to learn more about cancer and reach out to others in the cancer community. Oshkosh 24 hour care providers recommend the following cancer resources.

Cancercare.org

This site is one of the most popular cancer resources online. It offers information for seniors with cancer and survivors, as well as for caregivers who want to learn more about how to help their loved ones. There are forums where any member can ask questions and get answers from professionals in the medical field. There are also tips regarding coping with and accepting a diagnosis, which is why seniors will benefit from making this site their first resource.

American Cancer Society

This national society for patients and survivors of difference cancers offers information on treatment options and research. There is also a chat forum that allows people from all over the country to ask questions and share insights. This site is a useful tool for seniors and family caregivers who want to stay updated on all of the latest cancer research information.

Association of Cancer Online Resources

The Association of Cancer site offers a plethora of options for numerous types of cancer. You can select the topics you are interested in and find all manner of resources whether you’re looking for medical trials or in-home care in Oshkosh. They also provide information regarding side effects of chemo and radiation, making it one of the most thorough cancer online resource directories available.

Livestrong Foundation

This site provides guidance to help seniors from the moment of diagnosis right through the recovery process. There are tips on living healthy while undergoing treatment as well as how to continue to enjoy life when there are no more treatment options available.

When you and your elderly parent or family member need help finding the right support, turn to Senior Stride Home Care. We are a leading provider of in-home services that specializes in dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, and Alzheimer’s home care for seniors in Oshkosh. Additionally, we help seniors age in place while tending to their individual needs such as personal care, housekeeping, and medication reminders. To learn more about how we can help your loved one at home, call a dedicated Care Manager at 920-717-1767 today.

When we age, we often develop emotional, mental, and physical disorders that can’t always be remedied with traditional medicines. Some seniors may prefer holistic medications, while others will look to programs like music therapy. If you’re curious about the health benefits of music therapy for seniors, Oshkosh caregivers will explain several advantages of this alternative treatment.

Lowers Blood Pressure

In a study by Dr. Jean Tang at Seattle University, results revealed that seniors could greatly lower their blood pressure by listening to certain types of music three times a day. Music specifically designed to promote relaxation had the highest benefit, but classical music by Mozart also significantly lowered blood pressure.

Boosts Cognition

As people lose cognitive function, music is one of the things the brain remembers longest. Dr. Paul Williams at the University of Toronto conducted a study that showed caregivers found it significantly easier to help seniors with dementia when they listen to their favorite music. Seniors receiving dementia home care in Oshkosh can perform daily tasks better and deal with change easier if caregivers play tunes that seniors have always liked.

Promotes Memory

Music is known to boost memory, so it stands to reason that it helps unlock old memories for seniors with Alzheimer’s. It also turns out that the memory-improving effects of music help seniors with Alzheimer’s to retain new information. Professor Brandon Ally from Boston University found that people with Alzheimer’s can remember and learn new things if the information is presented as a song.

Increases Mobility

For seniors with arthritis or other diseases that result in painful bones and joints, listening to music can be quite beneficial. The small finger and arm movements required to play music are gentle enough to avoid pain, but they are enough to stretch and work joints while increasing mobility, flexibility, and fine motor skills.

Reduces Pain

Data analysis discovered by researchers from the Barts Health NHS Trust shows that music could soothe both physical and emotional pain. While recovering from an operation, a senior may not be able to take pain or antianxiety medications due to side effects. Any type of music that the senior enjoys can calm them and reduce pain perception.

Treatments like music therapy provide numerous health benefits for seniors in terms of physical, emotional, and cognitive disorders. To supplement your loved one’s music therapy treatments, turn to Senior Stride Home Care of Oshkosh. We provide comprehensive home care seniors can rely on no matter what their individual needs require. Our trusted caregivers offer transportation to and from therapy sessions, help with nutritious meal preparation, diligent medication reminders, and more to help seniors age in place with dignity. Get your loved one the care he or she needs today when you call 920-717-1767 and schedule a free consultation with a friendly Care Manager.