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When living with serious or even terminal illnesses, seniors have a variety of options for the care they receive. One of those options is called palliative care, which is designed to help seniors manage pain and other symptoms and make them more comfortable during the final stages of life. The staff at Tucson Home Care Assistance , a premier provider of senior home care Tucson families can trust, explains some of the ways palliative care can enhance your elderly loved one’s life quality of life. Meets Emotional Needs Serious illnesses and their accompanying treatments can be emotionally draining, causing depression, anxiety, and feelings of confusion. Palliative caregivers can address these feelings, giving your loved one the opportunity to talk through…

Many experts on senior nutrition recommend including salads in the diet on a regular basis. However, some salads are less healthy than advertised because the ingredients can vary and some have little to no nutritional value. The staff at Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care in Tucson, has put together a list of healthy ingredients your senior loved one can enjoy in a salad. Kale This dark leafy green is antioxidant-rich and provides many anti-aging benefits. The antioxidants found in kale have been shown to ward off bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Kale has also been shown to lower the risk for conditions such as atherosclerosis and autoimmune disorders, and the calcium found in kale…

Being respectful toward an aging parent may seem challenging at times, but applying this approach in daily life can have a positive impact on your parent’s overall wellbeing. There are many reasons why respecting your senior parents is important, and Tucson, AZ, caregivers want to share a few. Foster a Good Relationship Whether your relationship with your parent has always been healthy or whether it’s been strained, treating him or her with respect can help foster a positive relationship between the two of you. If you and your parent have always had a close bond, respecting his or her wishes can ensure the bond doesn’t change. If your bond has been tenuous at times or even non-existent, now is the time…

To many seniors, driving equals freedom, which makes them reluctant to give up this privilege. However, general aging and changes in health can make it more difficult to stay safe when behind the wheel. Tucson 24-hour care experts have a few tips to help your aging loved one have a safer driving experience. Test the Eyes Many seniors have refractive eye problems, cataracts, or glaucoma, all of which can make it difficult to see well enough to drive. Encourage your loved one to get regular eye exams and update his or her eyeglass prescription as needed. Because multifocal lenses do not always provide the necessary field of vision for driving, your loved one may want to invest in a pair…

Extreme Arizona temperatures paired with providing Tucson senior care can make it hard to maintain a robust social life, much less peace of mind. However, it’s important for family caregivers to relax and recharge whenever they can. Following are a few restorative activities you can engage in over the summer. Have a Family Get-Together A cookout at your home gives both you and your elderly loved one the chance to socialize with family and friends. A get-together can seem overwhelming, but if you limit its duration, ask everyone to bring a dish, and plan it around your loved one’s schedule, it is more likely to go smoothly. Gathering your friends and family also gives you the opportunity to request additional…

Blueberries are more than just a delicious snack. Research indicates they also offer many health benefits for seniors with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s. Tucson Alzheimer’s care experts want to share 4 ways blueberries can boost your elderly loved one’s cognitive health. 1. Reduce Age-Related Memory Loss The anthocyanins found in blueberries help protect seniors from age-related memory damage. When eating blueberries, your loved one also consumes vital antioxidants that slow the progression of free radicals, which exist to build a barrier between blood flow and the brain. To preserve memory skills and combat the free radicals that lead to brain aging, your loved one should include more blueberries in his or her diet. 2. Protect the Brain from Stress Stress…

Aging adults are reluctant to give up the familiarity and comfort of their own homes even when changes in mobility, cognitive functioning, and overall health make self-care a challenge. Fortunately, there are many ways families can make independent living both easier and safer for their elderly loved ones. Make Essential Changes to the Home Making minor modifications to your loved one’s living space can minimize the likelihood of tripping and falling and simplify a number of essential tasks. These changes can include installing grab bars in the shower, removing floor mats or rugs, and getting rid of clutter. Adding a few assistive devices in the kitchen can make cooking easier and safer, and installing walk-in bathtubs or automated medication management…

Dyslipidemia is a disorder that develops due to an abnormally high level of lipids in the blood. Because this condition can increase the risk of more serious health complications, it’s important for your elderly loved one to focus on living as healthy a lifestyle as possible. There are many risk factors for dyslipidemia, and Tucson live-in care professionals discuss 4 of the most common. 1. Cholesterol High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are a major contributing factor to the risk of developing dyslipidemia. For example, high LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, which causes the body to make fatty deposits in the skin, arteries, tendons, and brain. To help keep LDL levels low, your loved one can lose weight through…

Many studies have recently shown the cognitive benefits associated with scrapbooking for seniors. These benefits can help reduce the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s and alleviate the depression associated with old age, making scrapbooking especially useful for seniors receiving home care in Tucson. Here are a few reasons why your aging loved one might want to take up this hobby. Evokes Memories Scrapbooking allows seniors receiving Tucson dementia care to look back on stories from their lives through pictures and documents. By allowing your loved one to place these items in a consecutive, easy-to-understand order, his or her mind is being stimulated and trained to remember. This process can help your loved one manage dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. Staves Off…

Muhammad Ali’s fight against Parkinson’s helped encourage others with the disease to open up, and his efforts also triggered a massive public health and research mission to determine the true cause of Parkinson’s. The research is still ongoing, but progress has been swift and fascinating. Tucson, AZ, Parkinson’s care experts explore some of the reasons why Ali became such an important figurehead in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. Early Assumptions About Ali’s Diagnosis Many observers and medical professionals assumed Ali’s Parkinson’s diagnosis was at least partially caused by repeated blows to the head. Many researchers claimed this viewpoint was intuitive, and few people in the general media questioned the analysis. Although the National Parkinson Foundation still lists head injuries among the…