Topics on Home care
Aging parents: Warning signs of health problems #4 and #5
Posted by: | Datefrom Mayo Clinic staff online article 2011 April
Are your aging parents in good spirits?
Note your parents’ moods and ask how they’re feeling. A drastically different mood or outlook could be a sign of depression or other health concern. Also talk to your parents about their activities. Are they connecting with friends? Have they maintained interest in hobbies and other daily activities? Are they involved in social organizations or clubs? If they’re religious, do they attend regular worship services?
Are your aging parents having difficulty getting around?
Making the Distinction: Parkinson’s or Essential Tremor
Posted by: | DateFrom http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Making the Distinction: Parkinson’s or Essential Tremor
For many older adults, the involuntary shaking of the hands, head, or any other body part conjures up fears of Parkinson’s disease — a progressive and incurable movement disorder, the most recognizable symptom of which is tremor. But the more likely explanation is a condition called essential tremor. While Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor both share the symptom of tremor, that’s just about all they have in common.
The nature of the tremors of essential tremor is quite distinct from that of the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson’s tremor is a resting tremor — it comes on when the hands are completely rested and goes away with directed movements,” Zoltan Mari, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and the Director of the National Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, explains. “On the other hand, essential tremor goes away when the hands are rested and comes on when your hands are in posture or during movement, such as lifting a cup or using a fork.” Tremor with Parkinson’s disease usually begins or is more prominent on one side of the body, while essential tremor tends to affect both sides equally.
People with essential tremor also have none of the other prominent symptoms that accompany Parkinson’s disease. These include unusual slowness of movements (bradykinesia) and increasingly stiff and rigid muscles, a condition known as cogwheel rigidity.
The causes of Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor also are likely dissimilar. Parkinson’s disease stems from a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.
While the exact cause of essential tremor remains unknown, it’s thought to be the result of a distortion of neurological impulses somewhere in the brain. This, experts think, leads to oscillations that cause the tremor.
Still, for reasons that are unclear, people with essential tremor are at higher risk for developing Parkinson’s disease later in life.
Essential tremor often worsens with age, but a change in the character of the tremor can indicate the early onset of Parkinson’s disease. That is a rare occurrence, however. “Oftentimes, with advanced age an essential tremor patient’s hands or head may not shake in a rapid, fine-movement pattern as it did before, and the tremor will become slower and coarser,” Dr. Mari notes. “This can make the tremor seem more prominent, causing many people to think they are developing Parkinson’s while it’s really only a worsening of essential tremor.”
Posted in Healthy Living on February 23, 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician
How do you know if your elderly parent needs home care?
Posted by: | DateHow do you know if your elderly parent needs home care?
Here are some detailed warning signs to look for:
· Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
· Missing important appointments
· Lost documents—tax information
· Unpaid essential bills—electric, water turned off for non-payment
· Unexplained bruising = falling!
· Trouble getting up from a seated position
· Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
· Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
· Forgetfulness –forgets to call you; forgets to take medications; forgets to eat.
· Unpleasant body odor; infrequent showering and bathing
· Strong smell of urine in the house —dirty dishes piling up—pet needs not met
· Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care —wears soiled clothing
· Dirty house, extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up
· Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
· Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
· Poor diet or weight loss—lives on sugary and other empty foods
· Loss of interest in hobbies and activities—becoming a hermit
· Changes in mood or extreme mood swings—angry outbursts, overly weepy
· Forgetting to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage
· Unexplained dents and scratches on a car –must not be ignored!
· Diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s
· Refuses to go to doctor. Breaks appointments after weeks of waiting.
Should aging parents move in with their kids
Posted by: | DateWith the economy continuing to struggle, more retirees are saving money by moving in with their adult children but is the emotional cost too high? CNBC personal finance correspondent Sharon Epperson and psychologist Dale Atkins weigh the pros and cons with TODAY’s Tamron Hall.