Supportive Technical Aids for the Elderly

The lack of autonomy in the elderly or in patients with mobility limitations does not have to translate into absolute dependence on a caregiver or family member. When the deterioration of these motor skills is not disabling, the elderly can use the different alternatives offered by technical aids for daily life and recover part of their routines with some independence and one way to achieve this is with the help of support products for seniors.

Mark Berger Chicago, Chief Executive Officer of Villa Healthcare will share more about the technical aids that bring support for the elderly.

Rheumatoid Arthritis In The Elderly

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that affects the elderly. It is important to know well how this affects the person in order to be able to help them in the most appropriate way.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. That means that it has no possible cure and is characterized by its degenerative quality. The disease progressively worsens over time and requires specific care. Mark Berger Chicago, founder and CEO of Villa Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, indicates that the proper type of care will be the best method to minimize this progression by improving the quality of life of the elderly who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Here, Mark Berger Chicago explains more about rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

The main cause of the ailment is the inflammation of the membrane called synovium that covers and protects the cartilage. These tissues are found in the joints and in the areas that surround them, although on many occasions the disease affects a wider radius, damaging other organs.

“Sometimes older people see how arthritis affects their kidneys, heart or lungs, notably worsening their health and progressively reducing their quality of life,” says Mark Berger Chicago.

The aforementioned inflammation of the joint membranes causes great pain and considerable stiffness that immediately leads to a loss of mobility. These characteristic aches and pains are felt more intensely in the morning, improving with activity throughout the day.

Mark Berger Chicago, who has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector, indicates that, if the inflammation is not treated properly and remains uncontrolled, the degeneration of the tissues increases and the disease progresses rapidly and can damage bones, surrounding ligaments and tendons.

The direct consequence of this progression of the disease is the deformation of the damaged joints and, with it, an increasingly marked loss of their ability to move. Thus, with a higher incidence in the elderly, the inability to move and the difficulty in performing simple tasks becomes more and more noticeable and daily life becomes an effort that ends up requiring the assistance of other people, such as family members and caregivers.

To avoid reaching this situation of dependency, it is important to take specific care of the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis in older people. According to Mark Berger Chicago, the relief of pain, the improvement of symptoms in general, and the brake that can be put on the relentless progression of the disease allows these people to maintain their independence and personal mobility for longer, favoring a healthier and much more complete life.

How to Detect the First Symptoms of Alzheimer's

 

Alzheimer's is one of the most common degenerative diseases in the elderly. It supposes a progressive loss of the cognitive functions of the brain and affects aspects such as memory, language, orientation and attention. Likewise, it also affects the emotional and behavioral capacities of the patient, which prevents them, on many occasions, from carrying out the daily activities of their day-to-day life.

The definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's is not immediate and is usually based on the observation of the elderly's behavior and a series of interviews and questionnaires carried out by the neurologist to check if the elderly person has the most common symptoms. For this reason, it is important that the people in charge of caring for the elderly know how to detect the first symptoms of Alzheimer's and thus be able to go to a specialist to start with the usual patterns of the disease and help the elderly have the highest possible quality of life .

Detecting these symptoms is not always easy and generally, the first signs that alert family members are related to behavioral changes or mild memory loss, such as the elderly forgetting a prescription that they used to make regularly or not remembering to perform any of the tasks they normally do. Knowing when these signs are related to Alzheimer's and going to a specialist is difficult for family members. Therefore, as a nursing home owner and expert in care for the elderly, Mark Berger from Chicago is going to give you five signs that should watch.

MEMORY CHANGES THAT MAKE EVERYDAY LIFE HARD

Alzheimer's patients lose the ability to learn new things, so it is normal for them to forget things they learned less time ago first, such as dates, important events, or health issues such as taking medication.

It is also common for these patients to ask the same questions over and over again, it is not because they do not understand the answer, they simply forget that it has been answered. This in many occasions hinders the normal behavior of the elderly and they feel frustrated.

DIFFICULTY IN PLANNING OR SOLVING PROBLEMS

The decline in the cognitive abilities of Alzheimer's patients also affects problem solving and calculating with numbers, so it is common for patients to start having problems managing their money.

Taking out too much, not remembering of withdrawing it, losing it or hiding it and not finding it are some of the usual behaviors of the elderly with Alzheimer's. According to Mark Berger Chicago, it is best that some accompanies the elderly to the bank when we begin to identify these behaviors.

DIFFICULTY TO PERFORM REGULAR TASKS AT HOME, AT WORK OR IN THEIR FREE TIME

Forgetting how the electrical appliances work, leaving the fire burning or not remembering to go to the supermarket are also common behaviors in Alzheimer's patients. Little by little, these patients will lose the ability to do it alone, so they will need help to carry out daily tasks and leave the house. As the CEO of Villa Healthcare, Mark Berger Chicago makes sure the care-giving stuff is trained in providing care, support and connection throughout the course of the disease.

 

DESORIENTATION OF TIME OR PLACE

It is also very common for people with Alzheimer's not TO remember what year they live in, what day of the week it is, or how old they are. It is even normal that if we ask them about a current issue such as who is the president, they answer the last one they remember and it is no longer the current one for decades.

DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING VISUAL IMAGES

It is less common but it can happen that Alzheimer's patients begin to have vision problems such as difficulty measuring distances, differentiating colors or even reading. If the old man drives, it is best to have his license withdrawn if he begins to have these problems.

Preparing for Covid-19 in Nursing Homes

 

Many of the COVID-19 cases in the United States occurred among older adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Villa Healthcare founded by Mark Berger Chicago, acted fast to ensure its residents and team members had everything they needed to adapt to the changing times. Making our residents feel at home while keeping them safe is our top priority, stated Mark Berger, Chief Executive Officer at Villa Healthcare.

Actions to take

·         Strictly follow the establishment's infection prevention instructions.

·         Notify staff immediately if you feel ill.

·         Consult your caregivers about the steps they are taking in your nursing home or long-term care facility to protect you and your loved ones, including whether and how they limit visits.

A Message to Caregivers: If your loved one is unable to ask or communicate with facility staff, please help them take the actions recommended on this page by Mark Berger Chicago.

Symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, and can sometimes lead to death. Symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

In some cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying conditions may have symptoms that are not usually seen in other people, or fever or other symptoms may take longer to develop.

Febrile symptoms

The normal body temperature of older adults may be lower than that of younger adults. For this same reason, body temperatures that indicate fever may be lower in older adults.

If you are an older adult with a fever or other symptoms and want to be tested, call your healthcare provider first. You can also visit your state or local health department website or external site icon to view the most up-to-date local information about screening tests.

If you are caring for a patient 65 years of age or older, be aware that a single temperature measurement of 100ºF (37.8ºC), several measurements above 99ºF (37.2ºC), or an increase in temperature greater than 2 ºF (1.1 ºC) relative to the patient's normal (reference) temperature could be a sign of infection.

Why you might be at greater risk

The community-based nature of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, as well as their population (typically older adults, who also tend to have underlying conditions), increase the risk of infection and severe COVID-19 in people living in these establishments.

If you are a healthcare provider

If you are a healthcare provider in a nursing home or long-term care facility, remember to take extra steps to protect yourself and the older adults in your care. Viral testing for SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, is an important addition to other infection prevention and control practices.

It is now more important than ever to get a flu vaccine during the 2020-2021 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Getting a flu shot is particularly important for adults 65 years of age and older, who account for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from flu and COVID-19.

How to Evaluate Housing Options for Your Aging Loved One

As your loved ones age, it is sometimes necessary to consider other options than living alone or in the family home. They can resist the idea of moving and stop being independent, but in the long run, only they can make that decision. Fortunately, there are many options. Help them understand each one. In this article, Mark Berger Chicago, owner of Villa Heathcare, shares his tips for you to make the best possible decision.

Living with the family: Moving with family members, whether in their home or in an adjoining apartment or independently located on the same land, may be a good option for some older adults. Some families choose to do the opposite; the caregiver (and in some cases, their families) moves into the loved one's home to provide care.

Sharing a home: Another option for older adults is to share a house or apartment. Generally, they will have separate bedrooms (and possibly their own bathroom), but they share the kitchen and other living areas; they also share household chores. Sometimes older homeowners who prefer not to live alone or who need income, rent rooms to other older adults. Also, the owner may decide to share the home in exchange for help with cooking, cleaning, and other chores. Some community or religious groups subsidize large homes shared by multiple people.

The Growing Need for Health Care for the Elderly

Providing long-term care for an increasing number of elderly, in conditions of increased life expectancy, not only in good health but also in people with disability, is certainly one of the issues our country will have to deal with in the context of an increasingly aging population and changed family models.

American lifespans have increased exponentially over the past century, and with people living longer lives and elderly populations growing at a more rapid pace, finding ways to provide quality healthcare for these individuals is going to become all the more important. According to healthcare executive and nursing home manager Mark Berger Chicago, founder and CEO of Villa Healthcare, a premier provider of high caliber rehabilitation nursing care, the healthcare industry is going to have to make a number of changes in order to care for the growing number of elderly patients.

Like many other countries, the US has faced serious demographic problems and challenges in recent decades. Declining populations, a continuing drop in fertility and an increasingly pronounced aging are the main demographic features in the early 21st century.

The negative consequences of such demographic trends are primarily expressed in the area of ​​population aging, which has reached a worrying scale. The aging process is first and foremost due to the low birth rate, which has been below the level required for simple population recovery since the mid-20th century.

Extending the median life expectancy has also affected the aging process, but to a lesser extent in developed countries. In particular, it should be noted that the increase of life expectancy in the past is more owed to the reduction of infant mortality than the extension of life expectancy of the elderly. Migration, mainly emigration, has also contributed less to aging. Population projections warn that the aging process will not only continue but will intensify as well as the aging population.

Long-term care service at Villa Healthcare is intended for seniors who are experiencing growing addiction to other people's care and assistance in daily life. Care at Villa Healthcare, managed by Mark Berger Chicago, is based on a professional and warm approach that gives customers the pleasure of a fulfilled life. Individualized care plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of the users, with the support of experienced and highly-skilled teams.

Finally, a warm and sociable atmosphere fosters friendly relations between users and significantly improves their quality of life. To learn more about the essential aspects of living in such facility, visit Mark Berger Chicago blog or contact him directly and request a free consultation regarding permanent placement.

When it is Time to Decide on Skilled Nursing Care?

With an aging loved one, it can be difficult to decide on specialized care. However, often times it is more beneficial for both the caregiver and loved one to consider an array of senior care options. Nursing homes offer a wide range of senior care options including social interaction, professional medical care, personal care, and round the clock supervision. Here, Mark Berger Chicago, founder of the Illinois based healthcare company Villa Healthcare, offers some guidance on how to start the process, and help them get appropriate care.