Diminishing Geriatric Healthcare Professionals and What This Means for Your Elderly Loved Ones
In the coming years, the need for geriatric care in the United States will be greater than ever. Yet, while the number of senior citizens continues to grow at an enormous rate, the number of geriatricians has leveled off — it might even be shrinking. For families throughout the United States, this is an extremely […]
What Are the Effects of Influenza on the Elderly?
Each year, influenza infects hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country. While the flu impacts people of all ages, it can be life-threatening for senior citizens and other vulnerable people. As reported by The Washington Post, the 2017-2018 flu was a record-breaking season — 80,000 were killed by influenza. Early signs suggest that 2018-2019 […]
What is Sarcopenia and is it Preventable?
Sarcopenia is the reduction of muscle mass that adults experience in middle and old age. Although it can begin as young as 50 or so, the muscle loss becomes more rapid at any point from age 65 to 85. Sarcopenia is often what causes older adults to become frail and more likely to fall and […]
What Is Colon Cancer?
Even if you do not know much about the colon or its functions within the human body, you probably realize that any type of cancer can be serious. Though it is curable when caught early, treatment can be extremely challenging and it takes its toll on the patient. The recovery period may be extensive, so […]
Warning Signs of Malnutrition in the Elderly
Proper nutrition is essential to overall health and well-being, physically and mentally. At any age, a diet rich in lean proteins, fresh produce, and healthy carbohydrates does the human body good. Yet, even when you know the importance of good nutrition, you may have an elderly loved one in your life that suffers from malnutrition. […]
What to Expect When Preparing for Geriatric Surgery
According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), about half of all people aged 65 years or older will have some sort of surgery during their lifetimes. When you consider that 78 million Baby Boomers are transitioning into this age group, there is reason to be concerned about geriatric surgery. Whether you are the patient […]
Helping the Elderly Cope with Dysphasia
Dysphasia is a language disorder characterized by difficulty expressing thoughts verbally. When an individual experiences dysphasia, he or she can face difficulty speaking, reading, writing, and gesturing to communicate with others. This can make it extremely difficult for the individual to manage day-to-day tasks, sometimes to the point of inhibiting his or her ability to […]
The Difference Between Delirium and Other Forms of Mental Illness in the Elderly
As we age, we become more susceptible to a variety of physical and mental health conditions. Many of these conditions have symptoms that overlap with each other, which can make it difficult for individuals facing these conditions and their caregivers to identify their actual conditions and provide appropriate care. If you recognize symptoms of delirium […]
What Is Vascular Dementia?
Though vascular dementia is rare, afflicting less than 200,000 people in the US every year, it is a serious type of brain damage that primarily affects older adults. The most extreme symptoms are memory loss and confusion, which means many patients must rely upon others for daily tasks of living. Fortunately, free home healthcare services […]
Recognizing Risk Factors for Heart Attack in the Elderly
If you are charged with the care of an elderly loved one, you obviously want to know about any medical conditions that are more common with age. Heart attacks are some of the most abundant among them, and the short- and long-term implications can put a lot of stress on family and caregivers. Free home […]