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Alzheimer’s disease is complicated. Scientists and doctors are working every day to learn more about the disease. They are hoping to learn more about what causes the disease, how to treat it, and, hopefully one day, a cure. One aspect of the disease scientists have been researching is why it occurs more often in women than in men. According to an article posted on AARP’s website, 66 percent of people living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. In fact, women who are older the age of 60 are twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s than breast cancer. Recent research suggests that the reason for this may have something to do with differences in the female brain.   Brain Differences May Increase Alzheimer’s Risk Researchers intrigued by the fact that women often outperform men on verbal memory tests even with brain changes due to Alzheimer’s. This typically leads to women being diagnosed in later stages of the disease than men. To examine this, researchers involved 1,000 seniors in a study in which they all underwent a brain scan to measure the development of amyloid plaques. In addition, they determined how well their brains used glucose. Because glucose is what gives the brain energy, if the brain doesn’t use it effectively, the function of the brain is impaired. The results of this study confirmed that women perform better on verbal memory tests with mild to moderate development of amyloid plaques. It turns out that the reason for this may be that the female participant’s brains were processing more glucose than male brains, allowing them to overcome deficiencies. However, when there are more significant amounts of amyloid plaques in the brain, this difference disappears, causing a rapid decline in memory. In another study, researchers focused on tau, which are clumps of protein that cause brain cells to die off. Again, the scientists found that women’s brains were able to compensate better during early stages of the disease. They also found that there were more tau clusters in women’s brains and that they were more complex. Once the tau clusters affected more of the brain, women’s memories deteriorated quickly.   How Senior Care Can Help Whether your aging relative is male or female, senior care can assist them to live a better quality of life with Alzheimer’s disease. A senior care provider can not only ensure the older adult is safe when family caregivers cannot be there, but they can also help them to be happier. Senior care providers can offer companionship and a sense of well-being when memory loss and cognitive decline can make the world a frightening place. Senior care providers can assist with all the tasks that become difficult due to the disease, including making meals, getting dressed, bathing, and taking care of the house. If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources Aarp.org

You’ve helped your mom and dad clear their clutter. That part is done, but they would like to try to make some money selling their gently used items. How do you get the maximum amount? Remember that People Like Bargains People go to garage sales looking for bargains. You don’t want to price things so high that shoppers lose interest, but you don’t want to price too low. If you go very low, there is that chance that someone would have paid more money. Look online for similar items. See what the person selling it has it listed for and see how long it takes them to sell it. If it doesn’t sell or takes longer than expected, the price could be too high. It could also mean that people just are not that interested in that type of item. A general rule is that furniture should sell for about 33 percent of what it would cost buying a similar item from a furniture store. Clothes that are not stained or torn can sell for up to $5 usually. Dishes are more likely to sell in the $1 to $3 range. Inexpensive jewelry shouldn’t be more than $5. If it’s real jewelry, art, or an antique, get a price from a jeweler/antique dealer first.   Try to Match the Season If you’re trying to sell winter boots in the middle of the summer, you may not have as many takers. Waiting until the boots are high in demand will help you sell it. Try to sell items when they’re in the highest demand, and you’ll get a better price.   Be Prepared to Haggle Don’t take the buyer’s lowest offer. If they offer you $10 on a $20 item, meet them at $15. If they still balk, don’t cave. If they really want the item and it’s priced fairly, they’ll take it at the higher price. If there are items you insist get sold for the price you’ve given, put the word “firm” on the price tag. Once your parents’ home is clean and organized, hire home care aides to help keep it that way. With regular weekly visits, your parents’ home won’t get cluttered again. If it starts to, you have a caregiver giving you reports.   Home care services help with cleaning, but that’s not all that your parents will gain in benefits. They also gain friendship during routine visits. Call now to arrange home care visits.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Burbank, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

What is the thyroid? This gland is found in the neck. It is mainly responsible for regulating your metabolism. If the thyroid stops working effectively, it can impact health. Thyroid Diseases and Conditions You Should Know Thyroiditis occurs when the thyroid becomes inflamed. It often occurs because the thyroid is producing too much hormone.   -Thyroid cancer is most common in women. It often doesn’t appear until a person is over the age of 30. There are rarely symptoms that are noticeable until the tumor grows to a point it becomes noticeable under the skin. Not all lumps are cancerous. Thyroid nodules are so common it’s estimated that 9 out of 10 people will have at least one nodule by the age of 80.   -Hypothyroidism is a common condition when the thyroid fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. Adults with hypothyroidism may feel sluggish and tired. They often feel colder than others. They also may find that they don’t have much of an appetite. Skin and hair are often dry.   -Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism. In this case, the gland produces too much thyroid hormone. It leads to overeating. It can make you feel anxious and have a rapid heartbeat. It can also lead to tremors in the hands and excessive sweating.   -Goiters occur when the thyroid gland grows to be abnormally large. It often becomes so large that you can see the lump on your neck. If left untreated, it may put pressure on the trachea and esophagus, which makes it hard to breathe and swallow.   How Are Thyroid Diseases and Conditions Treated? The treatments used to heal a thyroid depend on the condition. Nodules and tumors may need to be surgically removed. Recoveries are usually fast, and thyroid cancer is one most people survive. If your mom needs surgery, expect an incision that’s often somewhere in the range of 3 to 5 inches in the lower part of the neck.   Radioactive iodine treatments are used to kill the excess portion of the thyroid gland when it comes to a goiter. Prescription medications are often used to treat hyperthyroidism. If necessary, your mom might be prescribed a beta-blocker to lower her heart rate and ease the hand tremors.   Make Sure Your Mom is Supported at Home Have you considered easing your mom’s burden by bringing in elderly care services ? If she’s tired and struggling to keep the home clean or take medications on time, have caregivers help her. Services are available daily, weekly, or as needed. Call an elderly care agency to talk about the best schedule for your mom.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Silver Lake, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources: https://www.endocrineweb.com/ https://www.endocrineweb.com/ https://www.endocrineweb.com/

One out of four people develops acute insomnia every year. Estimates are that acute insomnia affects as many as 70 million people in the U.S. Of those people, 75 percent find it improves within a year. For those who end up with chronic insomnia, it can really take a toll on physical and emotional health. Chronic insomnia is defined as difficulty falling or staying asleep at least three nights per week for at least one-quarter off the year. While it can happen at any age, there is a prevalence of insomnia in older adults.   For people with chronic insomnia, health risks include anxiety, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. It’s important to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. To ensure that your mom does, she can try these tips.   Avoid Too Much Water Before Bedtime Your mom wants to stay hydrated, but she needs to watch how much she drinks. If she has too much water right before bed, she’s going to end up needing to use the bathroom. This break in the sleep cycle can make it hard to get back to sleep.   Limit Alcohol Alcoholic beverages can make it hard to stay asleep. Alcohol can help trigger deep sleep, but it also messes with your circadian rhythm. In the middle of the night, you’ll wake up and have a hard time getting back to sleep. Alcohol blocks REM sleep, which is also important if you want to wake up feeling alert and refreshed.   Avoid Naps Napping for too long in the afternoon can make it hard to sleep at night. Instead of a long nap, your mom should set a timer and stick to 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, she needs to avoid drifting back off to sleep. She needs to get up, get some water, and go take a walk or find an appealing activity.   Create a Bedtime Routine To get a good night’s sleep, your mom needs to create a bedtime routine that triggers her body’s drift into sleep. She could read for 30 minutes before turning out the lights. White noise in the background, a soothing scent that helps de-stress, and room darkening blinds will help her fall and stay asleep.   Take Some of the Stress Away What stresses your mom the most? Does she feel overwhelmed trying to keep her house clean on days that her arthritis is flaring up? Has she stopped driving and can’t easily get to the doctor’s office? Caregivers help with these challenges and others. Hire caregivers to help your mom stay active, happy, and safe. With one call, you’ll know more about pricing and services available in your mom’s hometown.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in San Marino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources: Sciencedaily.com Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Sleepfoundation.org

Hepatitis A is a kind of infectious liver infection. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted through contaminated food or water or by close contact with someone who has the virus. The rate of infection has risen sharply over the last three years, by 300 percent in fact. Understanding hepatitis A is the key to preventing your aging relative from becoming infected. General Information About Hepatitis A Most of the time when people get hepatitis A, they are able to completely recover without any permanent damage to the liver. In fact, mild cases may not even need treatment. However, there can sometimes be complications, and older adults are at greater risk for them. Hepatitis A can occasionally lead to an abrupt loss of liver function, which can result in the need for a liver transplant. Older adults who have a chronic liver condition are more likely to develop complications. Hepatitis A is most commonly spread through ingesting food or drink that has been contaminated with fecal matter containing the virus. It is not spread when a person sneezes or coughs.   Some of the ways the virus is spread are: Consuming foods that have been handled by someone who has the virus and did not thoroughly wash their hands after using the bathroom. Drinking water that has been contaminated. Eating raw shellfish that comes from contaminated waters. Close contact with someone who is infected.   Symptoms of Hepatitis A The symptoms of hepatitis A usually don’t start until after the person has had the virus for a couple of weeks. However, not everyone experiences symptoms. If they do, they may have the following symptoms: Pain or discomfort in the abdomen, mostly on the right side beneath the ribs where the liver is located Fatigue Sudden vomiting or nausea Stool that is clay-colored Lack of appetite Darkly colored urine Fever Joint pain Jaundice Itching   Hepatitis A Prevention There is a vaccination available for hepatitis A, which is the best way to prevent the condition. It is a two-step vaccine with a second shot being given about six months after the first one. Talk to your aging relative’s doctor about whether the vaccination is appropriate for them. Following good hygiene practices, such as thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom, can also prevent the spread of hepatitis A.   If your aging relative needs a vaccination for hepatitis A, a senior care provider can drive them to the clinic to get it. Senior care providers can also help seniors who have the condition to manage the disease and prevent spreading it to others. If the doctor has prescribed medications, a senior care provider can remind the older adult to take them. Senior care providers can also assist older adults to wash their hands thoroughly.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in La Canada, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources Webmd.com Mayoclinic.org Cdc.gov

Gout is a kind of arthritis that often causes sudden and intense pain in the toe joint. The pain can be so severe that it interrupts sleep. If your aging relative suffers from gout, one of the things you may wonder is how long the pain will last. Knowing more about gout can help you to know what to expect and better manage the condition. About Gout -Gout happens when urate crystals build up in a joint, which makes the joint swell and hurt. Urate crystals come from having too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down purines, a substance found naturally in the body and in some foods, like organ meats and seafood. Certain foods can also encourage the body to produce more uric acid, like beer and drinks that contain fructose. The crystals that form as a result are sharp, which is what causes the pain and inflammation. -People who are overweight or eat a diet high in meat, seafood, and sugary drinks are at a higher risk of developing gout. Some medical conditions and medications can increase the chances of getting gout, too.   The symptoms of gout typically come on suddenly and frequently occur at night. Some of the symptoms of gout include: -Severe Pain: The pain of gout is usually at its worst during the first 4 to 12 hours of an attack. Gout most often affects the joint in the big toe. Other frequently affected joints are the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. -Lasting Discomfort: Once the worst pain is gone, joints continue to feel uncomfortable for a while. -Inflammation: The joint looks swollen, red, and may feel warm to the touch. Being touched can be painful.   Length of An Attack -The average gout attack lasts somewhere between 3 and 10 days. It may even last a few weeks. Just how long your aging relative’s gout attack will last depends on the following factors: -Number of Attacks: A first gout attack usually doesn’t last as long as subsequent attacks will. -Treatment: Getting treatment for gout can lessen the symptoms and make the attack go away sooner. There are also at home treatments that can help, like using a cold pack and resting the affected joint. -Diet: Avoiding foods that cause a rise in uric acid can make gout attacks less severe and reduce the chances of suffering another one.   Elder care can help older adults to manage gout and reduce the discomfort of an attack. Elder care providers can assist the senior in applying an ice pack to the painful joint. An elder care provider can also bring the senior items they need so that they don’t have to get up and can rest the joint. And, an elder care provider can remind the older adult when it is time for them to take gout medications. If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in West Hollywood, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388 Sources Mayoclinic.org Universityhealthnews.com

Balancing multiple health issues is not as easy as you think it might be. Most of the time small changes in one area can send something else out of balance and then you’re starting all over again. So how can you stay sane? Talk to Your Senior about Her Priorities Talk to your elderly family member openly and honestly about how she wants to prioritize her health. The health issues that you might feel are most important may be less of an issue as far as she’s concerned. Having this conversation allows you to know for certain what your senior wants to focus on most. Everything else can flow out from there once you know what your senior feels is most important.   Stay up to Date with Research Research is something that you’re going to need to do more often. Multiple health issues can mean that there’s always something new to learn and to try in terms of new treatments and lifestyle approaches. Even if you and your senior don’t want to try every new therapy, treatment, or option that pops up, it helps to know as much as you can about as many of them as possible.   Make the Best Decisions Possible with All the Information You Have As you’re collecting information, talking to your senior’s doctor, and including your elderly family member in these discussions, you’re likely going to feel as if you’re missing things. Remember that you’re doing the best that you can, and therefore making the best decisions that you can make, with all of the information you have available. If you’re beating yourself up, that’s going to slow you down and make you second guess everything that you do.   Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own If you’re trying to do everything on your own, you’re going to burn yourself out way too quickly. Enlist the help of home care providers to increase what you can do. They’ve got experience in helping caregivers and aging adults juggle all of the tiny details involved in keeping someone as healthy as possible. They may even have some ideas that can help you to feel more organized and on top of everything. You’re also going to need to take some time just for you and senior care providers can ensure that you do that without feeling guilty or as if you’re leaving your senior on her own. Balancing multiple health issues is never an easy thing to do, but it’s something that you and your senior can do with patience and with help from other sources.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring  Home Care Services in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

In a survey by AARP, about 35 percent of those questioned admit to being lonely. People who feel their health is poorly reported being lonely more often than those in good health. Why is loneliness concerning? Studies find that people who are lonely tend to die sooner than those who actively socialize. Loneliness also can impact mental health by increasing the risk of depression. Isolation, which often goes hand in hand with loneliness, can impact the body’s immune system.   If your parent is lonely, there are ways to boost socialization. Here are some of the most effective methods.   Hold Regular Pot Luck Dinners Gather the family every other week for a pot luck dinner at your parents’ house. With everyone bringing a dish, you don’t have to stress over cooking an entire meal. You can bring paper plates to make cleaning up a breeze. People can bring their own drinks so that your parents don’t feel obligated to pay for things they don’t usually buy. During that meal, you can catch up on family news. Your parents have time with grandchildren and other family members who are important to them. They also have a filling meal and companionship, which is beneficial to their physical and mental health.   Join a Club or Group Get your parent involved in a local club or group. You’ll find them at public libraries, senior centers, and museums. Book clubs are commonly found at libraries. There are crafting groups at local senior centers. You can find gardening clubs in almost every community. Once you know what your parent wants to do, you can search community listings to find things that are appealing to her. Check if your mom or dad’s town has a recreation department. You’ll find many opportunities there.   Get them to Volunteer If your parents are still able, have them, volunteer. They can go read books to area school children. They could help at the local food bank or serve food at a soup kitchen. When your parents don’t have full mobility, they can still volunteer. There are knitting clubs that knit hats and socks for newborns in neonatal wards. There are hospitals that need volunteers to direct people to different areas in a hospital.   Hire Caregivers to Provide Companionship Services Your parent could have caregivers stopping by every day or once a week to provide companionship. With a caregiver, your mom or dad can have help with activities of daily living like meals and transportation. Caregivers can join your parent for daily walks, play games, or take your mom or dad to a local museum. Call now to discuss rates and the full range of care options.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring  Elder Care in Toluco Lake, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388   Sources: https://www.aarp.org/

Anxiety is a condition of mental health that is characterized by excessive worry and fear and manifests via certain symptoms. Anxiety disorders are on the rise for many people of all ages, including elderly adults. Family caregivers who may be concerned about an aging loved one should pay attention to their actions and determine whether they may be developing a problem with anxiety. Other people who spend time with the aging adult, such as friends, neighbors or elderly care providers, can also share their observations to see if the senior may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Here are some questions that family caregivers, elderly care providers, and others should focus on when they talk to the aging adult: Does the aging adult seem to worry about everything lately, both large and small issues? Are they often tense, trembling and breathing rapidly? Have they been moodier lately, swinging from high emotion to lethargic and uncaring? Are they overly preoccupied about a certain topic, such as their health? Do they struggle with gastrointestinal distress and/or headaches often? Have they complained about feeling tired, weak or unable to focus? Do they avoid activities and social events they once enjoyed? Are they struggling to get through daily routines? Has their intake of alcohol increased in recent weeks and months?   All these actions could be a sign that the aging adult is dealing with an anxiety disorder. Family caregivers and elderly care providers should try to be reassuring and talk to the elderly adult about their worries. They should encourage the aging adult to be more social, focus on the positives in life and help them eat nutritious meals and get some exercise. However, lifestyle changes can only do so much to an anxiety disorder the aging adult needs professional treatment to truly overcome anxiety. Treatment options with the most success involve a combination of medication and therapy. A doctor can evaluate the aging adult and determine if they are suffering from anxiety and rule out any physical cause of the symptoms. Some health issues can trigger feelings of anxiety, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. The therapy aspect must come from a trained mental health expert who will work on cognitive behavioral therapy exercises with the elderly adult. Together, they can practice some coping strategies and focus on reducing stress to alleviate the anxiety as much as possible. Anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness that has the potential to lower an aging adult’s quality of life significantly. It can also lead to other health issues that are detrimental to seniors. Family caregivers and elderly care providers have a responsibility to keep the aging adult safe and healthy, so it’s important that they act immediately if they notice the telltale warning signs of anxiety.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring  Homecare in Encino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

Very often depression is a result of situations that weigh on your elderly family member. Understanding which situations are more likely to lead to depression can help you to help your senior in the ways that she needs help. Chronic Illnesses and Pain Being ill or in pain, especially when that situation has no end in sight, is very likely to lead to depression for anyone, but especially for older adults. Work with your senior’s doctor to determine the solutions that are most likely to help her. Having a treatment plan can at least help to manage these situations for her.   Trouble with Cognition It’s upsetting for anyone to realize the fact that how their brain functions is changing. If your senior is struggling with memory and with problem-solving, that can lead to depression. Tips and tricks to work with her brain as it functions now can help her to get over what she might have lost over time.   Moving There are lots of lists out there that talk about the most stressful activities that people can engage in during their life. Moving tends to make even the shortest lists, because it really is stressful, even if your senior knows she needs and wants to move. Your senior may be moving into your home or into another home, but it’s still worth taking the time to help her work through her feelings about the move.   Isolation Life changes can often mean that people you’re senior interacted with are no longer as available as they once were. Or your elderly family member may not be as able to get out and about as she once did. This can lead to isolation, which in turn can lead to depression. This is somewhere that senior care providers can help quite a bit. They can stop in and offer companionship while also helping out with a variety of tasks.   Grief A loss is something that everyone has to deal with over the span of a life. Your senior may have lost too many people that she loves, including pets. But there are other types of losses, too. Losing mobility due to chronic pain is a huge loss and it can cause your senior to grieve what she can no longer do.   Losing Independence One big loss that can lead to depression is the loss of independence. Even though your senior may be grateful for the assistance, that doesn’t mean that she enjoys feeling dependent on anyone, even you. It might be a struggle sometimes for her to accept help, even when she needs it very much.   Depression is something that you and your elderly family member can manage, but first, you need to recognize it and then do something about it. Talk to your senior’s doctor and determine what might help your elderly family member in her particular situation. There might be more tools and solutions available than either of you think that there are.   If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring  Home Health Care in San Marino, CA , please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388