Chapel Hill Senior Care: Treatment Options for Diabetes-Related Skin Conditions

By:  Todd Palmer

Chapel Hill Senior Care: According to the American Diabetes Association, up to 33 percent of individuals who suffer from diabetes also develop skin disorders that are related to this condition.[1] Most of these skin problems are resolved by getting blood sugar levels back under control, as they subside when diabetes is properly managed; however, there are some skin infections that are related to diabetes that need additional care. These bacterial and fungal infections impact many individuals who have diabetes in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and should be taken seriously. Here is some additional information from the American Diabetes Association regarding these infections and how to best treat them.

Bacterial Infections

Individuals who develop a bacterial infection may see it emerge in a variety of ways; styes, boils, folliculitis, carbuncles, and nail infections are all indications of a bacterial infection and should be attended to by a medical professional. Oftentimes, the area that is impacted by the infection becomes inflamed and swollen. It may become hot to the touch, turn red, and create pain.

To treat these infections, antibiotics and blood sugar management techniques are recommended. Bacterial infections can be fatal if not addressed quickly, although innovations in modern medicine have reduced the number of fatalities associated with such infections drastically if they are caught in time. If you believe that your senior has a bacterial infection it is crucial that you get them to the doctor as soon as possible. To prevent this issue encourage your elderly loved one to practice proper skin care.

Fungal Infections

Seniors who have diabetes may find themselves suffering from Candida albicans, which is a fungal infection akin to yeast that can cause a great deal of discomfort. The tell tale signs of this infection include moist, red patches of skin that accompany blisters. Additionally, the skin becomes scaly in texture.

Fungal infections can be treated with a prescription and, if your senior seeks medical assistance early, can be cured quite quickly; however, as with all skin conditions, it is important that your elderly loved one sees a medical professional as soon as possible.

Diabetes-related skin conditions can be extremely uncomfortable, but understanding that your elderly loved one is at higher risk for these issues—and knowing how to treat them—can help you better care for your senior.

Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

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[1] http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/skin-complications.html

Durham Senior Care: How to Adjust to Vision Loss Related to Diabetes

By:  Todd Palmer

Providing Durham Senior Care we see Diabetes as a health condition that can cause many different complications. One of the most common is vision impairment, which is sparked by a long list of issues that can arise. According to WebMD, "diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74."[1] For this reason, it is integral that you ensure that your elderly loved one has access to regular eye examinations if they have diabetes. Additionally, it is imperative that you are able to assist them in adjusting to vision loss that may take place due to this disease.

WebMD explains that several different complications can cause vision loss in individuals with diabetes. These include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy

While these conditions impact the eyes in very different ways, they can be detected by a few of the same symptoms. If your senior experiences dark spots, flashes of light, blurriness, or "holes" in their field of sight it is important to get them into their ophthalmologist's office as soon as possible.

If your elderly loved one is, indeed, experiencing vision loss due to diabetes they will certainly need your support in adjusting to this new development in their health. The first thing to do is ensure that they have the best healthcare available. In some cases, your senior's ophthalmologist may have the ability to alleviate or slow the degeneration of their vision. As such, it is essential that your senior can make it to the necessary doctor's appointments and access the medications and other treatment options that are recommended.

In terms of the day to day care of your senior, you may find it necessary to transfer your loved one into a nursing home if their vision impairment is severe and home care is not an option. If home care is a possibility, though, ask your senior if they would rather move into a nursing home or continue aging in place with the assistance of an elder care professional.  No matter what they choose, it is important that they have the assistance they need to remain secure and uphold the highest quality of life possible. The senior care professionals of Durham, North Carolina, can help you and your elderly loved one determine the best arrangement for your senior.

If you have any questions regarding Senior Care in Durham, please visit us at Always Best Care for Chapel Hill and Durham. 

Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

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[1] http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-problems

Dementia Care Chapel Hill: Redirecting an Individual with Memory Loss

By Todd Palmer
Dementia Care Chapel Hill - Memory loss is something that naturally occurs as people age. Whether your senior has the mild memory loss that stems from the aging process or is afflicted with dementia, the inability to remember certain events or details can be extremely frustrating. As such, it is important that you, as your senior's caregiver, are able to recognize when your elderly loved one is involved in a confrontation due to their memory loss. The home care professionals of Always Best Care in Durham, North Carolina, have provided the following tips to assist you in reducing the stress of the situation and helping to alleviate the anger involved in this particular circumstance.

1. Make an effort to remove your senior from the situation. If they are engaged in a confrontation with you, concede the argument and walk away; if they are fighting with another person, discretely let the individual know that memory loss is causing the confrontation and encourage them to stand  down. If necessary, you may need to physically remove your senior from the room in order to redirect their attention to another topic.

1. Try not to make it seem as though it is your senior's fault. While they may be causing the confrontation because they do not remember a certain detail, it is important not to place blame on your elderly loved one. Instead, remain as positive as possible when extricating them from the situation.

1. Gently reminding your loved one about the events that have taken place may help in redirecting them, depending on the type of memory loss they are experiencing and the severity of their condition. In some cases, going over certain details or looking at family pictures can help to end confrontation and remind your senior about the information over which they are fighting.

Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Memory loss is, quite honestly, a very scary thing to experience. As such, your senior may feel frustrated, insecure, or uncomfortable when they cannot remember certain details. The key to keeping them from continuing to carry on a confrontation is to stop the argument and either explain the situation to your senior or, if they have severe memory loss, move on to a new topic of conversation.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

Dementia Care Chapel Hill: Recognizing the Signs of Dementia

By Todd Palmer

Dementia Care Chapel Hill - Dementia is a progressive condition that impacts a large number of elderly individuals. While there is no cure for the many forms of dementia that exist, there are ways in which medical professionals can treat and manage its symptoms to assist in slowing the progression of the disease.[1] The key, though, to best caring for a senior who has dementia is to catch it early, as treatment is more effective in situations where the issue is addressed during the earliest stages. At Always Best Care of Chapel Hill we are constantly monitoring patients and alerting families at the first sign of loss.

Chelsea of Durham, North Carolina, provided home care for her mother before it was time to transfer her to a nursing home. Chelsea was able to detect dementia in her mother early, and has since advocated for the improved awareness of the symptoms of this disease. Here, Chelsea shares these symptoms to assist you in catching this condition as early as possible should your elderly loved one experience it. The most common signs of dementia include:

• Memory loss 
• Trouble communicating 
• Difficulty planning 
• Impaired organization 
• Inability to retain new information 
• Changes in personality, behavior, and judgment 
• Motor function and coordination impairment 
• Trouble reasoning 
• Paranoia 
• Hallucinations 
• Agitation

A lot of these symptoms are difficult to pinpoint because, in many cases, they are also the natural signs of aging. As such, it is important to pay close attention to your senior's condition in order to determine whether or not they need medical attention. The best rule of thumb to follow is to schedule an appointment for your elderly loved one with their doctor should any of these issues arise. After an initial investigation of these conditions, make it a point to take your senior into the doctor should they suffer from symptoms that interfere with daily life (i.e. disruptive memory loss).

Chelsea and her family experienced the process of identifying and treating dementia first hand, and as such she can say that it is a difficult process for both seniors and their family members; however, managing this disease is easier if it is caught early, and Chelsea encourages you to understand these warning signs so that, should dementia develop, your family can have as much time with your senior as possible.

Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

[1] http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131/DSECTION=symptoms

Diabetes Care Durham: Preventing Diabetes: How Can a Healthy Diet Help?

By:  Todd Palmer

Diabetes Care Durham:  Diabetes is a disease that affects a large number of seniors. Both dangerous and difficult to manage in some cases, diabetes is actually, in various situations, a preventable condition. Jerry of Durham, North Carolina, did a bit of research into the prevention of diabetes when his father was warned by his doctor of his pre-diabetic state. In digging up information to help his father improve his health, Jerry discovered that the right diet can actually assist the body in warding off the development of this illness.

Here are some of the highlights of Jerry's research to help you in assisting your elderly loved one in creating a meal plan that will prevent diabetes:[1]

1. Increase the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (as opposed to simple carbohydrates).
2. Maintain a positive attitude by focusing on the healthy foods that improve wellbeing, rather than the junk foods that aren't on the meal plan any longer.
3. Turn to lean meats, like chicken and turkey, instead of red meats.
4. Skip sweets, such as sodas, cookies, and other unhealthy snack foods.
5. Plan weekly menus to make shopping and cooking easier, which will allow seniors to better stick to their diet.
6. Stock up on healthy essentials, such as brown rice and whole grain crackers, to ensure that there is always access to foods that will stave off diabetes.
7. Reduce the intake of both sodium and sugar by adding less of these substances to meals. Additionally, choosing canned goods that do not have these substances in additional quantities is a great idea.
8. Encourage healthy snacks, such as fresh fruits and salads.
9. When eating out, order foods that are grilled instead of fried. Additionally, ordering sauces on the side is a wonderful way to better control the sugars, calories, and carbohydrates that are consumed.

Jerry understands that maintaining a diet that prevents diabetes is not always easy; however, he and his father have worked on incorporating these ideas into their diets and both have found that they feel healthier and have lowered their risk for this disease. By introducing your elderly loved one to these tips and helping them to implement these tricks, you can assist them in reducing the odds that they develop diabetes. 


Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

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[1] http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/checkup-america/healthy-eating.html

Alzheimers Care Chapel Hill: Alzheimer's-Related Diabetes

By Todd Palmer

Alzheimers Care Chapel Hill:  At first, a connection between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes may seem improbable. One of these conditions concerns the brain and the other pertains, most basically, to the hormone insulin—how can they be related? While studies have yet to reveal the entirety of the connection between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes, they have uncovered links between these two illnesses that are important to understand.

The studies that have thus far indicated a connection between these diseases assert that individuals who have diabetes, particularly the type 2 variety, are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease when they get older.[1] As a result, it could prove possible (although research has yet to confirm the theory) to reduce the odds that an individual develops Alzheimer's disease by engaging in preventative and maintenance activities related to diabetes.

The link between these diseases that has been, so far, uncovered lies in the damage that diabetes does to the blood vessels. When blood vessels in the brain are impaired by diabetes, they may lead to vascular dementia. A form of dementia like Alzheimer's, this particular condition leads to a decline in cognitive abilities. Because Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia share many symptoms, it is not yet understood how one can lead to the other; however, it has been asserted by some researchers that these two diseases may interact in a way that worsens them both simultaneously.

But the connection between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes may also be rooted in the fact that diabetes changes the way that the body processes glucose. Type 2 diabetes has the power to alter the body's ability to respond to insulin, as well, and this may cause the brain and other important organs to develop different conditions due to this abnormality.

Finally, the connection may also lie in the fact that diabetes can enhance the odds that an individual will develop mild cognitive impairment. This condition is seen as a bridge between normal aging processes and the damage done by dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

The relationship between Alzheimer's disease and dementia is yet to be clearly defined; however, understanding that this link exists can help individuals in engaging in preventative activities that may decrease their risk of developing dementia as they age.

Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care in Chapel Hill, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.

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[1] All information from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-and-alzheimers/AZ00050                                         

Elder Care Chapel Hill - What Can a Concerned Person Do to Stop Elder Abuse?

By:  Todd Palmer

Elder Care Chapel Hill - The senior care professionals of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are aware that elder abuse is, unfortunately, an issue that many families must address. The proper way to handle this situation depends, though, upon the environment in which the abuse takes place. No matter where the abuse happens, or who commits it, it is crucial that you and your family do everything possible to protect your elderly loved one against such mistreatment.

Abuse Committed by Professionals

Whether it is in an assisted living, nursing home, or home care setting, abuse at the hands of professional elder care providers is something that does take place. If you suspect that your senior is suffering at the hands of a professional caregiver, it is crucial to get them out of the situation as soon as possible. This might entail requesting that a different home care provider is assigned to your loved one, moving them out of a nursing home, or having them transferred to a new assisted living facility.

While it is important to quickly protect your senior, it is equally as important to, after they are removed from danger, ensure that the allegations against professional caregivers are true. The company that employs the accused caregiver should be willing to work with you to find out what, exactly, has taken place.

Abuse Committed by Family Members

Taking care of an elderly family member can be incredibly taxing, particularly if the responsibility falls to one single person. But the immense stress of the situation does not make it acceptable to abuse seniors physically, emotionally, or financially. If you are worried that your elderly loved one is being mistreated by a family member, it is important to speak to both your senior and their caregiver. If necessary, have another trusted individual take over care until the situation is resolved. Should abuse allegations be true, counseling is often recommended—as well as hiring a professional caregiver or having another family member take over the responsibility.

Elder abuse is, unfortunately, something that many families must face. Should your senior fall victim to any form of abuse at the hands of a caregiver, whether they are a professional or a family member, it is incredibly important to step in and address the situation.


Please take advantage of our free e-book that provides information on senior care and an overview of the services we offer.

Memory loss is, quite honestly, a very scary thing to experience. As such, your senior may feel frustrated, insecure, or uncomfortable when they cannot remember certain details. The key to keeping them from continuing to carry on a confrontation is to stop the argument and either explain the situation to your senior or, if they have severe memory loss, move on to a new topic of conversation.

Please visit our YouTube page, where you'll find short, informative videos on issues surrounding elder care.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Todd Palmer and the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill and Durham at (919) 357-1440 visit their website.