Senior home care Dallas Texas (TX), Elder Care, Senior homecare & In Home Care Dallas (TX) By Berken Senior Care

Keeping Track of Dallas TX Seniors With Alzheimer’s

Val — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:54:18 +0000

Keeping track of seniors with Alzheimer’s

The e-mail alert shouted its message: “Missing Person with Alzheimer’s. PLEASE HELP.” It was sent to Alzheimer’s Assn. chapters and to law enforcement officials within hours after an Orange County woman disappeared while on a short trip to visit a friend…

That story has a happy ending, but many confused seniors who become lost are never found again. The Alzheimer’s Assn. estimates that 60% of individuals with Alzheimer’s will wander at least once during the progression of the disease. Up to 70% of these individuals wander more than once, and up to several times. One study reported that nearly half of those not found within 24 hours die — usually from dehydration, exposure or injury.

Visit www.berkenseniorcare.com for caregiving assistance available in the area.

Seniors Happy During ‘The Golden Years’ in Frisco, Texas

Val — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:32:23 +0000

Senior years really are golden: Happiness increases after age 50, Gallup poll finds

Aging may seem like a pain, but a new study suggests that getting old is no reason to despair.

The study, based on a Gallup poll from 2008, finds that most people feel increasingly happy starting around age 50.

In general, life satisfaction is high at age 18 but sinks until about 50. Then, it starts to climb again, increasing so steadily that most people feel better about their lives at 85 than they did at 18.

“It’s a very encouraging fact that we can expect to be happier in our early 80s than we were in our 20s,” Andrew J. Oswald, who teaches psychology at Warwick Business School in England, told The New York Times. “And it’s not being driven by things that happen in life. It’s something very deep and quite human that seems to be driving this.”

If you are in need of care for an aging loved one in the Dallas TX area, visit www.berkenseniorcare.com.

Can Exercise Delay Dementia for Plano, Texas Seniors?

Val — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:06:42 +0000

A growing body of evidence links exercise and mental acuity

I do some of my best writing on the run. I mean literally. When the words won’t come, when the syntax doesn’t feel right, when I just can’t figure out what angle to take on a column, I’ll often go for a good, hard run.

And usually it works. With the sweat pouring and lungs working overtime, the mental fog lifts. I make connections I hadn’t seen earlier. How to be clear becomes, well, a little more clear.

If you work out routinely, I bet you’ve had the same experience. Three researchers I interviewed for this story say they have achieved it regularly, on a treadmill, on outdoor runs and on a bicycle, respectively. A couple of studies seem to confirm it.

The tantalizing question for those of us in middle age and beyond (I am 52) is whether this short-term cognitive benefit can be replicated over the long haul. Can exercise help keep our minds sharp? And if so, can it help delay or prevent the truly terrifying mental deterioration of dementia, most commonly seen as Alzheimer’s disease?

Researchers studying both animals and humans increasingly say the answer is yes.

Visit www.berkenseniorcare.com for caregiving assistance in the Dallas TX area.

Strokes Can Be Prevented-Learn More in Dallas County, Texas

Val — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:12:32 +0000

Learn how to prevent a stroke during Stroke Awareness Month. Visit us at www.berkenseniorcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the area.

Your Health: Strokes can be prevented

Don’t have a stroke.

It’s excellent advice, given that stroke is the nation’s third-leading killer and a major cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. And it’s advice you can act on today, even as scientists continue to study the reasons why nearly 800,000 in the USA have “brain attacks” each year.

How to Know When You Need Home Care for an Aging Parent in McKinney, Texas

Val — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:08:07 +0000

How do you know when in-home care is required for your parent?

Carol Bradley Bursack

Most of us want to take care of our own families, so arriving at a decision to hire a stranger to come into the home to help with the care of a loved one can be difficult. Still, once people find a good home care agency and regular caregivers to help care for a loved one, they often wish they’d taken action earlier.

Visit www.berkenseniorcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the Dallas TX area.

Age Strong and Live Long in Collin County, Texas

Val — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:26:31 +0000

Older Americans Month 2010

Age Strong! Live Long!

May is Older Americans Month—a tradition dating back to 1963 to honor the legacies and ongoing contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter the next stage in life.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme—Age Strong! Live Long!—recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new technologies in medicine, communications, and industry while spearheading a cultural revolution that won equal rights for minorities, women, and disabled Americans.

These remarkable achievements demonstrate the strength and character of older Americans, and underscore the debt of gratitude we owe to the generations that have given our society so much. But the contributions of older Americans are not only in the past.

Older Americans are living longer and are more active than ever before. And with the aging of the baby boomer generation—the largest in our nation’s history—America’s senior population is expected to number 71.5 million by 2030.

While keeping the growing population of older Americans healthy and active will increase the demand for senior services, what is remarkable is the extent to which older Americans themselves are supporting each other. As the new generations of seniors become better educated and more financially secure than their predecessors, they are spending more time making significant contributions in their communities through civic and volunteer opportunities.

In fact, older Americans are a core component of service delivery to seniors—embodying and modeling the drive to Age Strong! Live Long! They volunteer at group meal sites and deliver food to homebound seniors; they act as escorts and provide transportation for older adults who cannot drive; they help seniors with home repair, shopping and errands; and they provide vital counseling, information and referral services. Their energy and commitment reminds all Americans—not just senior citizens and their caregivers—to do their part to enhance the quality of life for older generations.

The annual commemoration of Older Americans Month is our opportunity to recognize the contributions of older citizens and join them in providing services and support that empower the elderly. Americans of all ages and backgrounds can volunteer with programs that improve health literacy, increase access to quality health services, offer food and nutrition services, provide financial and housing counseling, sponsor social activities and community engagement, and more.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting http://www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116 to find out what you can do to strengthen services for older Americans, this month and all year round.

Visit us at www.berkenseniorcare.com for information and assistance with home care for a loved one in the Dallas TX area.

Concerns Over New Health Law Checked Out-Learn More in Dallas and Plano, Texas

Val — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:18:52 +0000

True or False: Seven Concerns About the New Health Law Checked Out by Kaiser News Staff

Does it ration care for elderly? Will it disrupt Medicare Advantage plans? Is it the end of TRICARE?

The sweeping health care overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama is more than 2,000 pages long and has been dissected by analysts, politicians and pundits. It’s no wonder that some consumers are confused – and perhaps frightened – about how the law might affect them. Some concerns were raised during the congressional debate or have been swirling around the Internet.

Visit www.berkenseniorcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the Dallas TX area.

Omega-3 May Be Key to a Healthier Life for Frisco and Richardson, Texas Seniors

Val — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:03:13 +0000

Omega-3 fatty acids are key to a healthier life

Research shows they promote heart health and reduce pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis. They also may help treat autism, bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD and prostate cancer.

For help with an aging loved one in the Dallas TX area, visit www.berkenseniorcare.com.

With Age Comes Wisdom for Plano and McKinney, Texas Seniors

Val — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:32:21 +0000

With Age Comes Wisdom: Study

Seniors better able to see other points of view and seek compromise to smooth social conflicts

There just might be plenty of truth to the old adage, “With age comes wisdom.”

A new study finds that seniors are better equipped than younger folks to solve social conflicts. Seniors could more easily see multiple points of view, were more interested in searching for compromise and were more willing to acknowledge that there might be things about a difficult situation that they didn’t know.

Taken together, those attributes make people 60 and older generally wiser than younger people, the researchers said.

Visit us at www.berkenseniorcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the Dallas, TX area.

April is National Parkinson’s Disease Month-Learn More in Dallas and Frisco, Texas!

Val — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:51:35 +0000

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that affects the transmission of messages to the muscles. It is characterized by tremor, stiffness of the muscles, and difficulty in initiating movements. Over one million Americans have Parkinson’s disease. It occurs most often in later life, but can also affect younger people. Men face almost twice the risk of developing the condition.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease, which means that it normally worsens over time. It usually, but not always, develops slowly. No one knows what causes Parkinson’s disease. Certain “Parkinson-like symptoms” can result from the side effects of some drug therapies, or can be caused by conditions such as a brain tumor, arterial disease, viral encephalitis, stroke, or head injury.

What are the Symptoms?

Tremor or involuntary movements-One or both hands or limbs may exhibit an involuntary trembling, which lessens when the person is using the affected part. Involuntary movements of the hand are common, and the person may seem to be “rolling” something between the fingers.

Rigidity of muscles; slowness of body movement-Posture may be stiff or stooped, with diminished movement of the arms and legs.

Shuffling gait-The person may take small, cautious steps, or may alternate slow steps with rapid ones.

Loss of facial mobility-The person’s face may seem to be expressionless.

Speech difficulties-Speech may be slow and expressionless, and the voice a low-pitched monotone.

Impaired balance-The person may have difficulty balancing or sitting up straight.

Deteriorating handwriting-The person’s writing becomes cramped, smaller and more difficult to read.

How Is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?

At present, there are no laboratory tests that can confirm the diagnosis of

Parkinson’s disease. In order to arrive at a diagnosis, the physician takes a family and health history from the person, and performs a thorough physical and neurological examination, observing the person’s movements and muscle function. The physician will also rule out other disorders that can cause similar symptoms. Early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is important so that appropriate treatment can begin.

Managing Parkinson’s Disease

For now, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. But with early diagnosis and an effective plan of treatment, the symptoms of the disease can often be controlled or lessened. Treatment varies widely for each individual, and may include:

Medication therapy-A number of drugs can help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The choice of correct drug or drugs, the dosage, the method of taking medication, and the risk of side effects of drugs vary from person to person, requiring careful physician supervision.

Rehabilitative therapy-Physical, occupational and speech therapists can assess the person’s abilities and needs, and provide exercises to help maintain the highest possible range of motion, muscle tone, balance and flexibility, and communication ability.

Lifestyle alterations-Exercise helps maintain muscle tone and strength. Diet is important for nutrition, for maintaining an appropriate weight, and because protein level may be a factor in the person’s condition. Rest and stress reduction are also important.

Support groups and counseling are available to help the person and family members deal with the social and emotional impact of Parkinson’s disease.

Find more information at http://www.parkinson.org/

Visit us at www.berkenseniorcare.com for information and assistance with home care available in the Dallas TX area.