5 Ways to Keep Your Elderly Father Healthy

With Father's Day right around the corner, it is a great idea to reflect on the eldercare that you provide for your dad and how you can improve his quality of life. Personal eldercare allows you to help your father to retain the highest degree of independence possible without compromising his safety; however, it is extremely important that you pay close attention to his health. Care for elderly individuals is an activity that forces you to pay attention to details and dedicate your time to making the life of your senior as positive as possible. How better to say thank you to your dad for all he has done than to boost the level of care that you provide?

1. Collaborate with your father's doctors to ensure that all of his medical needs are met. Given his medical history and other factors, he may need certain health screenings at precise intervals. Scheduling appointments in advance can help you take a proactive approach to health.
   
   
2. Make sure your father has fresh fruits and vegetables on hand at all times for healthy snacks. Additionally, help him to make certain that he addresses the nutrition needs that he might have due to his medical history.
   
   
3. Join your dad in exercise activities, such as going for a walk. Keeping your father active is important to maintaining his health and you both will enjoy these activities more if you do them together.
   
   
4. Make sure that your dad's home is safe and free of any clutter, uneven flooring, ripped carpeting, etc. Falling is one of the most risky accidents in terms of a senior's health, so minimizing the odds that your father will fall by keeping his home clean and neat is a great idea.
   
   
5. Pay close attention to your dad's mental wellbeing. People often forget that mental health is an important consideration with regard to eldercare. Visit often, encourage your dad to engage in social activities, and do what you can to keep him in high spirits. 

These are great ways in which you can keep your father healthy both now and for years to come.

What Is the Connection Between Berries and Cognitive Decline?

Cognitive decline is an issue that many seniors face, as the ability of the brain to function efficiency wanes as the aging process takes place. This is natural, but it can be slowed with the right approach. A study published in 2012 in the Annals of Neurology shows that the consumption of berries may actually help to reduce the rate of cognitive decline that seniors experience. For dementia care and Alzheimer's care, Chapel Hill, professionals, this is a wonderful breakthrough, as it supplies eldercare providers with information that can help them to assist their seniors in maintaining the highest degree of cognitive function possible.

How Do Berries Slow Cognitive Decline?
Professionals who provide care for the elderly are encouraged to understand just how berries work with the brain to improve function. According to a blog post that recaps the findings of the study, berries are able to achieve this goal because of their high concentration of flavonoids.1 The flavonoids that berries contain are called anthocyanidins, which are unique in that they are able to cross the blood brain barrier. As such, they can directly infiltrate the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that plays a major role regarding memory and learning. The blog post explains that the ability to cross the blood brain barrier is key, as the inability to do so is what prevents many new drugs from being effective.

In addition to entering the hippocampus directly, these flavonoids are useful because they are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. When the brain becomes inflamed or undergoes stress, the blog post explains, it shows a decline in function.

Adding Berries to Your Senior's Diet
While eating berries every day cannot completely prevent cognitive decline, research indicates that it can slow the process. As such, it is a good idea to encourage your elderly loved one to eat berries by keeping a fresh supply on hand. Go ahead and wash the berries and store them in containers in your senior's refrigerator so that they can snack on them whenever they would like. Additionally, you might add them to your loved one's breakfast or dessert.

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1 http://blog.alz.org/why-berries-may-delay-memory-decline/

Working with Your Siblings to Care for Your Senior

When it comes to homecare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, there are many options open to your elderly loved one. But in order to determine which eldercare decisions are best for your family it is important that you work with your siblings to create a care plan for your elderly parents. While it may seem difficult to get all of your brothers and sisters on the same page regarding your loved one's needs, it is important that you have the support of your siblings during this process—particularly if you are opting to provide care for your senior instead of hiring a professional.

Below are some great tips from the professionals who are trained to care for elderly individuals that should help you to create a care plan that will meet your loved one's needs.

• First and foremost, determine whether or not you will need assistance from trained eldercare providers. This may be necessary if you and your siblings cannot share this responsibility due to geographic location, work obligations, family responsibilities, etc.
• If you and your siblings do decide to work together to provide the care your loved one needs, create a schedule to ensure that everyone is clear on when they are needed. Having a weekly schedule will also make it simpler for you and your siblings to balance the other aspects of your lives, as it is important that you are able to maintain your other responsibilities while offering care to your parent.
• If you have siblings who live out of state or who are not able to physically help, involve them by asking them to spearhead other activities, such as calling in prescription refills, making doctor's appointments, handling financial issues, etc. This will keep them involved and will ensure that all aspects of your loved one's care are managed.
• Make your senior a part of the decision making process if possible. It is important for you and your siblings to remember that caring for your loved one is a priority, but it does not mean that you need to make every decision for them. Keep your senior as active in decision making tasks as you can. 

Working with your siblings is a wonderful way to bond with family members while ensuring that your loved one gets the care they deserve.

5 Ways to Prevent Falls for Elderly Individuals

Since June is National Safety Month, now is a wonderful time to discuss one of the most important aspects of care for elderly individuals: fall prevention. Homecare professionals understand that falling is one of the most dangerous risks that seniors face, as it can result in a long list of injuries that range from mild to fatal. Below are some of the ways in which today's eldercare professionals encourage you to help protect your loved one against this risk.

1. Maintain a clean living space. Whether your senior lives with you or in their own home, it is essential that you make certain that they have a clean living environment that is free of clutter. When items are left on the floor and are not put away properly, seniors are more likely to trip over them and suffer from the injuries of their fall. Try dedicating one day per week to helping your loved one clean their living space and put away any items that are left out and about.
   
   
2. Fix any uneven flooring, including chipped tiles, warped hardwoods, and snagged carpets. In many cases, seniors who fall do so because they trip. If the flooring in your loved one's home is not even and well-maintained it can pose a high degree of threat to your senior's wellbeing.
   
   
3. Move any electrical cords that may obstruct the walkway. In many cases, individuals have to get creative when it comes to running electrical cords from televisions, DVD players, and other items. Having wires that cross walkways, though, is a major problem for seniors. If necessary, rearrange the furniture to ensure that your loved one can walk through their home with ease.
   
   
4. Improve safety by replacing worn rugs, installing non-slip backing, and fixing upturned edges of carpeting. Rugs are wonderful for keeping a space warm and comfortable, but when they become worn, start to slide, or their edges begin to turn up they can prove dangerous to your loved one.
   
   
5. Install slip-resistant materials in the bathroom. Adding slip-resistant mats and other products to the area in front of the toilet and the area in front of the bathtub—as well as the bottom of the tub—can help keep your loved one safe. 

With these five tips, you can better safeguard your senior against a fall.

Health Screenings for Men 75+: What Tests do Seniors Need?

Elderly individuals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, have access to a wide range of qualified, experienced healthcare professionals who are able to see to it that their medical needs are met; however, it is important that seniors and their caregivers are well aware of the preventative screenings that can help to keep them in the best physical shape possible. Taking a proactive approach to your elderly loved one's health means more than simply making doctor's appointments—it means educating yourself and your senior regarding the health screenings that can assist doctors in detecting any medical concerns.

When taking your loved one to the doctor, it is crucial that you discuss preventative measures with the healthcare professional and that you are aware of the screenings that your senior needs. AARP recommends the following tests for men aged 75 and over: 1

• Colorectal Cancer Screening: Colorectal is a very difficult type of cancer to detect without this particular test, which is why this form of screening is essential to your loved one's health. Through a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool sample analysis, depending on the recommendations of the doctor, your senior can be screened for abnormalities in the colorectal area of the body, such as polyps, ulcers, and cancerous tissue. 
• Blood Pressure Screening: Blood pressure is one of the many vital statistics that can give a bit of insight to medical professionals regarding the overall health of their patients. Blood pressure is linked with cardiovascular health, so it is an essential tool when determining heart health and whether or not changes to one's lifestyle are in order. This particular test is recommended once every two years; however, it is normally conducted at the beginning of standard medical appointments. 
• Cholesterol Screening: Like blood pressure, cholesterol can indicate other medical concerns. As such, it is important that individuals have a blood test to measure cholesterol levels at least once every five years. 

If your senior is over the age of 75 they are at risk for numerous health conditions that can become quite serious; however, having the proper health screenings conducted on a regular basis can assist your elderly loved one in maintaining the highest degree of health possible.
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1 http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-09-2010/screenings_by_age_and_gender.10.html