Hospitalized Alzheimer’s Patient at Increased Risk for Cogitive Decline, Death
Harvard researchers have found that a hospital stay is related to a faster rate of mental decline and a heightened risk of dying or entering a nursing home for those who already have AlzheimerÛªs disease.
A study following nearly 800 individuals with mild AlzheimerÛªs disease found that:
- Those who had been hospitalized during the course of the research were nearly twice as likely to experience increased mental decline or death.
åÊ - One in 16 passed away.
åÊ - One is seven had to move to an institutionalized setting.
åÊ - One in five suffered mental decline within one year of getting out of the hospital.åÊ
åÊ - If the individual experienced delirium during his hospital stay, it increased the risk for a poor outcome by about 12 percent.
“Delirium prevention may represent an important strategy for reducing adverse outcomes in this population,” said Dr. Tamara Fong, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.åÊ
Delirium can be prevented through:
- Visits by a family member or other familiar person.
åÊ - Supplying the individual with necessary eyeglasses and hearing aids, as well as encouraging the individual to get out of bed often for walks.
åÊ - Delirium can also be prevented by keeping older people out of the hospital and treating them in their homes, said Fong.
Lesson – stay out of the hospital.
Courtesy: ALFA
Make Your Home Safer to Prevent Falls (VIDEO)
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Make Your Home Safer to Prevent Falls
Would you allow your child to wander outside alone, in the dark, without supervision? The answer to this question is inevitably ÛÏno.Û However, for some if this question was replaced with ÛÏparentÛ the answer immediately changes to ÛÏyes.Û But as parents get older, they may need protection too, even from things that seem the norm.
As we age, simple tasks that never seemed challenging or frightening can suddenly become a difficult part of our day. In fact, the chance of a senior citizen becoming physically or cognitively impaired in their live is 2 out of every 3! So it is vital that their homes are safe and free of hazards that are easy to overlook and there are several ways to do so. Some examples are:
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Telephones should be in each main room, and should be low enough so they can
åÊåÊ be reached from the floor in case of a fall.
åÊåÊ be reached from the floor in case of a fall.
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Keep a working flashlight on the nightstand; check the batteries periodically.
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Remove throw rugs from any high traffic areas.
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Replace glass shower doors with unbreakable plastic or shower curtains (which
åÊåÊ should be changed every six months.)
åÊåÊ should be changed every six months.)
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Fix the height of the bed so it is easier to get out of.
åáåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊåÊ Use unbreakable dishes in the kitchen.
There are many other ways similar to the ones above that will help you safe-proof the home. This planning doesnÛªt need to be as complicated, and in fact, we can take simple, commonsense steps along the way to help ourselves or our loved ones live a more fruitful, independent life during their elderly years. Following these senior safety guidelines will help you keep key areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and outside secure.
Prevention steps may seem simple, but they are often easily overlooked. Unfortunately, at 80 years old, over half of seniors fall annually. Making your or your parentÛªs home safe shouldnÛªt be delayed. Review these senior safety steps åÊwith your loved ones to ensure that their own home is safe and everyone can enjoy their peace of mind.
Lonliness Affects Health in Elders (VIDEO)
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New Study Shows Severity of Alzheimer’s Caregiving on Working Women (VIDEO)
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