October 14, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia requires creativity, patience, and empathy, being able to step away from your individual logic and reasoning and realize why a specific behavior is occurring, and then to know just how to effectively deal with dementia behaviors. That is certainly the case with an older adult who will not change his or her clothing, no matter how dirty or unkempt an outfit has become. (more…)
October 8, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Looking at the past several months, family caregivers have had to manage seemingly unsurmountable challenges associated with the care of the older family members they love. With COVID-19’s specific dangers to seniors and people with underlying health concerns, such as COPD, diabetes, heart problems, and others which can be common in older adults, families have struggled with how to best protect and keep their older family members safe. (more…)
September 18, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Disbelief. Shame. Awkwardness. Discomfort. Each one of these feelings can cycle through a family caregiver’s mind when a senior with dementia showcases disinhibited behaviors, such as:
- Rude or tactless comments
- Inappropriate sexual remarks or advances
- Removal of clothes at improper times
- Other socially unacceptable actions
(more…)
September 14, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

While circus clowns and comedians may stir audiences to laughter over such stunts as slipping on a banana peel, there is nothing funny about falling when it comes to the elderly, who are at an elevated risk for serious injuries which could bring about a lengthy rehabilitation process. Not only that, but there’s a lesser known complication that typically arises from a senior’s fall: a fear of falling again which can be extreme enough to impact quality of life and health. (more…)
September 8, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

The COVID-19 pandemic put our world on pause, including, among a great number of other activities, medical appointments and elective procedures. In fact, approximately one-half of all adults either canceled or put off routine medical care and elective procedures since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, leading physicians to grow concerned about the effects. (more…)
August 27, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine who thought they were examining connective tissue cell protein got quite a shock when they instead stumbled upon a treatment to eradicate the observable symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Not only that, but the treatment could potentially be useful in many different conditions that call for the need to replace damaged tissue: diabetes, spinal cord injuries, even coronary disease. (more…)
August 20, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

It can come seemingly out of the blue: you put your loved one’s favorite tuna sandwich on the table – light on the mayo, no onions – something which usually brings her happiness. But this time, she pushes the plate away and refuses to take a bite, insisting that you’ve poisoned the meal. (more…)
August 13, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

After months of isolating, quarantining, and distancing from family and friends, stay-at-home orders have been relaxed. However, for senior citizens in particular, is it safe to think about going out? What do you need to consider when thinking about the safety of senior loved ones? (more…)
July 22, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Those diagnosed with COPD have needed to remain especially vigilant since the COVID-19 pandemic started, because they are likely at both a greater risk for contracting the virus and for developing more severe complications. A recently available study published by the European Respiratory Journal reported that people with COPD were more likely to be admitted into the ICU, require ventilator care, and succumb to the virus compared to those without the disease. (more…)
July 14, 2020 by Dean Bellefeuille

Loneliness. Isolation. Confusion. These feelings are becoming commonplace for many of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, but when you factor in the element of Alzheimer’s, the difficulties and frustrations are heightened to a whole new level. Our experts in home health care in Memphis, NY and surrounding areas understand this firsthand, and can help. (more…)