5 Star Home Care – Fight Memory Loss with These 10 Brain Boosting Tips

5 Star Home Care the best homecare for seniors in Atlanta 404-719-4118. Serving all of Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, and Gwinett County.

Fight Memory Loss with These 10 Brain Boosting Tips

by 5 Star Home Care

Brain function and the ability to recall details change as we age: it only takes one round of the card game concentration with a child to learn a valuable lesson about how our memory can decrease over time. The aging process in our brain begins in our twenties, when we start to lose brain cells and produce less of the chemicals needed for optimal function. As aging continues, information can become harder to recall as your brain changes the very way it processes memories.

Memory loss is not only an age-related concern; it’s also a function of our hectic lifestyle. In our world today, we are inundated with information and are expected to multitask nearly everything we do. In this high-pressure, digital age, it’s no wonder many of the day-to-day details slip by relatively unnoticed: they have no time to be stored safely in your brain for recall later.

Talking about memory loss is, sadly, a bit of a cultural taboo in our society. This is unfortunate because there are a lot of ways to improve your brain function, and in some cases even reverse age-related memory loss. It’s important to note however, that if you or a loved one suffers from significant memory loss you should talk with your doctor. Recurring problems with language or changes in behavior and personality are not signs of normal aging, and should be discussed with your physician.

Fighting memory loss is not as difficult as you might imagine, and you definitely don’t have to assume that simply because you’re getting older you’ll have memory issues. There are many steps you can take, and small changes to your daily routine that can help bolster your memory:

1. Rest and Relaxation
As muscles require periods of rest, so does your brain need some time off to process events and unwind. Bodybuilders build lean muscle mass by working their bodies hard, followed by a period of restorative rest – you should do the same for your brain. Yoga practitioners believe a a few moments spent in quiet without outside stimuli, is extremely beneficial to your overall mental state. 2. Exercise your Mind
Some video games are actually great for stimulating your mind, especially brainteasers and puzzle games. Continuing to stimulate and challenge yourself to recall facts or solve puzzles will help you retain this function later in life. It seems there is much truth to the saying, you have to use it or lose it.

3. Meditation
One scientific study of long term practitioners of meditation found they had the highest level of gamma wave patterns in their brains of anyone ever tested. This is the pattern of brain activity associated with attention, memory, and learning. Meditation is a calming, de-stressing practice for your mind that has been shown to enhance your ability to learn and sharpen your memory. One way to meditate is to sit comfortably and bring awareness to your breath. Or you may want to try a form of movement meditation; find a yoga class or go for a mediatative walk outside.

4. Tune Out and Tune In
Pay undivided attention to one task at a time. As difficult as it can be today, the more you turn off your cell phones, iPods and all general chatter as much as possible, the better the chance you’ll have to process and recall what’s going on around you. When you multitask, your brain physically processes the information differently and your memories will contain fewer details (such as the name of that awesome restaurant, or the name of the person standing in front of you awaiting introduction).

5. Use Memory Aids
You have two secret weapons to help you recall details: your calendar, and repetition. Writing down important information, names, and dates helps your recall for two reasons: writing focuses your attention, and many people can recall written communication better than aural. If you don’t have a chance to write something down, simply repeating out loud what you want to remember will help implant the memory. Repetition is especially useful for names when you’re introduced to someone new.

6. Exercise your Body
Aerobic exercise increases blood flow throughout the body, including flow to the brain. Studies suggest those who participate in regular cardiovascular exercise have greater brain volume and white matter (more brain cells, and better connections between them). Benefit from yoga by practicing inverted postures that nourish the brain by increasing the circulation of blood and oxygen.

7. Eat Your Veggies
Studies suggest that increasing your vegetable intake helps decrease memory loss. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) and leafy greens high in iron (spinach, kale) are excellent memory boosters. Foods containing certain phytochemicals such as red grapes, blueberries, eggplant, red onions, red cabbage, beets, red apples and apricots are known to actually reverse age-related memory loss.

8. Drink a Glass of Red Wine
Alcohol increases blood flow and lowers cholesterol. The net effect is an overall increase in blood flow which increases the availability of nutrients reaching and nourishing your brain. In addition, red wine contains resveratrol which studies suggest can help ward off Alzheimer’s by preventing the formation of a protein found in Alzheimer patients.

9. Check Your Prescriptions
Many common prescription and over-the-counter medications affect memory, though this side effect is often overlooked. As you age your metabolism slows, meaning these drugs will remain in your system for a longer period of time. What this means, is that you may become more prone to contraindications with medications, and may experience a greater occurrence in severity of side effects such as memory loss.

10. Go Ahead and Have Your Coffee
Mild stimulants such as the caffeine found in coffee and tea, act to jolt your system and stimulate proper brain function. There actually might be some truth to the old adage “I simply can’t function until I’ve had my cup of coffee in the morning”. If you’re not a fan of coffee, rosemary and green teas also contain stimulants known to have a similar effect.

For More information on memory loss and homecare please call on of our representatives at 5 Star Home Care at 404-719-4118 or visit us on the web at www.5starhomecare.com

Senior Care In Atlanta, Dekalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, Gwinett County

Senior Care At Home – What Are Your Options?

by 5 Star Home Care

Call 5 Star Home Care in Atlanta for a free in home assessment at 404-719-4118.

Many surveys have shown that people prefer to stay in their own homes as long as possible as they age. We should not be surprised. Most of us would rather stay where we are comfortable than move to someplace unknown with new schedules and someone else’s rules.

Home Care has come a long way in recent years. Seniors living at home are able to hold on to the feeling of independence while having the help they need with every day life. Being in familiar surroundings can be therapeutic in so many ways. Often the caregivers are family members at first, but before long, a new level of help may be needed. If your loved one needs or soon will need extra help, what are your options?

The decision on the level and frequency of care will often be based on health conditions as well as the realities of daily life. In-home care can be provided on a daily basis, or the caregiver may live-in to provide round-the-clock availability. How well a person is able to handle the “activities of daily living” will be a basic question. Does your loved one need regular help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, or transferring? The amount and frequency of assistance needed, plus the need for monitoring medications, will indicate what level of in-home care is best for your loved one.

When you select an senior care service provider, make sure that designate a Care Coordinator who will work with you and create a plan that meets your loved one’s needs.

To learn more about home care services, please visit www.5starhome.com, or call (404) 719-4118 for a complimentary in-home assessment. 5 Star Home Care is committed to excellence in senior care, for we know that your loved one’s health blossoms with tender care.

Home Care Services In Atlanta,Fulton County,Dekalb County, Cobb County,Gwinett County

5 Star Home Care the best care for Seniors in Atlanta 404-719-4118. Serving all Metro Atlanta including Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinett Counties.

Personal Care Services

Personal care services are some of the most important home health tasks our caregivers are prepared to perform – and of course, will perform with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity.

 Personal hygiene assistance

One’s personal hygiene is not only important to their comfort, it is important to their help. The caregiving team at HomeWell Senior Care is specially trained in conducting routine personal hygiene including teeth and denture care and bathing assistance.

Routine transfer assistance

When someone is unable to get around on their own, our caregivers are able to help them move from the bed to a chair and vice versa. They are specially trained in proper body mechanics to avoid injury to their clients, as well as trained in using a Hoyer lift and a Gait belt.

Bed positioning

Placing a person into a correct posture position is essential to keep the body’s many systems functional. It helps to eliminate pressure on bony areas and joints, which can cause bedsores. Caregivers are specially trained to not only position bed-bound clients correctly, but to watch for pressure sores and other issues they can usually face.

Assist with light exercise

No matter the age, staying physically active is an important part of staying healthy. From taking walks, gardening, swimming, and dancing, our caregivers can incorporate these exercises into their daily visits.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia care

Our caregivers are more than willing and able to work with those with Alzheimer’s disease or any other dimentia. From providing hospice relief care, respite care, or full-fledged assistance, we will be there.

Help with restroom use

Assistance with using the bathroom is a highly personal and sensitive need that affects many seniors and small or disabled children. It is a service that our caregivers provide with the utmost sensitivity and care. They are trained to assist with all toileting needs from minimal assistance to full assistance including incontinence care.

Transportation

Whether it’s a hospital pickup, visiting a friend, a shopping trip, or a regular doctor’s appointment, our caregivers can provide the transportation needed to complete these tasks, therefore allowing those in need to retain their independence.

Bathing and showering

Bathing is essential to an individual’s sense of well being. It refreshes the spirit and provides relaxation while cleansing the skin and stimulating circulation. Our caregivers can do whatever is needed to provide this necessary home health related service. Whether it is preparing the room for a bath, assisting with the transfer into the tub, staying nearby in case of an emergency, helping with a partial bath, or providing a full bed bath – our caregivers are trained and sensitive to this need.

Assistance with dressing

Those that have had debilitating illnesses, surgeries, or permanent movement problems may have problems doing an essential daily task – getting dressed. Our caregivers can help you or your loved one get dressed while in or out of bed.

Hair care

Shampooing and styling one’s hair can make a person feel and look good. Our caregivers can help their clients shampoo their hair in a bath, shower, or sink – and also help dry and style it to their preference.

Please call 5 Star Home Care  at 404-719-4118 for more information or visit us on the web at 5starhomecare.com

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA CARE IN ATLANTA, DEKALB COUNTY, COBB COUNTY, FULTON COUNTY, GWINETT COUNTY,

TIPS FOR CARING FOR A PERSON WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

By 5 Star Home Care

5 Star Home Care–  Atlanta Alzheimer’s Care and Elder Home Care in Metro Atlanta including Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, Gwinett County- Call us at 404-719-4118.

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease at home is a challenging task that  can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new demands and opportunities  as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. In any demanding situation, the better you care for yourself, the better you will be able to care for your loved one.

Setting up home care

Soon after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, it will be necessary to get started on making changes that help provide a sense of well being and physical safety for the affected person. Things that were taken for granted before, such as home safety and socializing, will now require some planning. There will be a need to communicate in new ways and make changes to the home environment. These changes include:

• Adjusting your communication style to the patient’s changing needs as the disease progresses. This is discussed throughout Part II of this series from talking to the early-stage Alzheimer’s patient who is in denial, to handling aggressive or paranoid behavior in the middle stage, then relating to the dying patient.
• Scheduling visitors to avoid surprises and have something to look forward to. Even if the elder with dementia does not recognize those who visit, the contact is nonetheless valuable for them.
• Establishing routines in activities of daily living
• Maintaining social contacts and fun
• Setting up a safe home environment
• Considering  a private duty  home care agency to provide a licensed caregiver for your loved one to ease the stress on the family
• Placement in a facility if caregiving becomes unmanageable at home

Promoting comfort and safety

As the symptoms of Alzheimer’s progress, the person becomes more emotionally fragile. At first, there may be the sense of grief and dread that accompanies the awareness of having a progressive terminal illness. During this early stage of the disease, caregivers can promote the patient’s sense of well being by providing emotional support and by helping to maintain familiar activities and social contacts. Eventually though, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is forgotten and the ability to be rational fades. Logical thinking can no longer be used to help alleviate fear and confusion. As problems with memory and judgment increase, the patient becomes more vulnerable to accidents and injuries. Problem behaviors develop that place the person at increased risk of getting lost or getting hurt. Caregivers must hone communication skills and make changes to the home environment in anticipation of the problems of mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Following are some tips for promoting physical safety and emotional comfort.

Be sensitive and gentle about informing the patient of the diagnosis.

There will be times when you’ll want to remind the person that they have Alzheimer’s. At other times it might be better to refer to a “memory problem.” Even if you repeatedly tell the elder that they have Alzheimer’s disease, they may not remember that you told them. Be prepared to patiently repeat the information at times when you’re trying to help the person understand why they can’t do something or why you are taking over a task the person used to do.

Develop a positive attitude.

Many people look on their caregiving responsibility as a way of being involved with their loved one. Their caring is based on unconditional love, and they do not consider it a burden. Dementia patients are able to read body language and to respond to the positive attitudes of the caregiver. Where patient and caregiver have had problems in their past relationship, it can be especially challenging to empathize and be kind, so a support system for the caregiver is most important.

Learn to communicate with an Alzheimer’s patient

Acknowledge requests and respond to them. Don’t argue or try to change the person’s mind, even if you believe the request is irrational. Be affectionate with the patient, if this feels natural.
Try not to set up a cycle of paying attention only when the person displays problem behaviors. Break this negative cycle by being supportive of positive behavior.

Remember the worth of the person as a human being.

Even if they don’t seem to respond, the person deserves to be loved and cared for, touched, and spoken to. Much like an infant, the dementia patient thrives on human contact. If treated poorly, the person feels rejection, loneliness, grief, and pain. Your warm, supportive care is essential to the dementia patient’s well being.

Please contact 5 Star Home Care to inquire about our services at 404-719-4118 or visit us on the web at www.5starhomecare.com