Best Ways to Incorporate Calcium in Senior Diets

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on August 6, 2015

Even if your elderly loved one does not have lactose-intolerance, he or she may find it difficult to eat enough calcium-rich foods. To help protect your loved one from calcium deficiencies and other related conditions, the senior care experts at Anchorage Home Care Assistance suggest incorporating the following calcium-rich meals in your elderly loved one’s diet. 1. Cream Sauce Pasta with reduced-fat cream sauce is an easy way to incorporate osteoporosis-fighting calcium in senior diets. A condition in which a person’s bones become very brittle, osteoporosis is at the root of many senior fractures. To reduce the amount of sugar in a single dish, choose whole-wheat pasta, which has a lower glycemic index and is less likely to raise blood sugar…

Bathing Safety Tips for Seniors

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on July 30, 2015

Water combined with slippery surfaces make bathrooms the number one room in the home for falls. To help protect your aging loved one from slips and other accidents while showering, you may consider taking certain safety measures. Read on for four senior safety tips for bathing, presented by Anchorage Home Care Assistance. 1. Install Grab Bars Bathing is particularly dangerous for seniors with limited mobility. To help seniors who have difficult navigating the bathroom, install grab bars inside and outside the bathtub or shower and near the toilet that seniors can hold onto as they move in and out of the tub or when moving from a sitting to standing position. The grab bars should be screwed into wall studs…

5 Ways to Improve Blood Circulation in the Elderly

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on July 23, 2015

As a result of certain age-related conditions, many seniors have poor blood circulation. If your elderly loved one experiences the symptoms of a weak circulatory system, including cold or discolored extremities, beginning an exercise regimen or making other lifestyle changes may help. At Anchorage Home Care Assistance, our senior care experts suggest the following five strategies to promote a healthy circulatory system. 1. Start Walking Daily walks are one of the best ways to promote healthy circulation. When seniors are sedentary for extended periods, blood may pool in the legs, ankles, and feet, which can hamper circulation. Walking requires the leg muscles work and makes the veins begin pumping more blood from the lower extremities back to the heart. If…

4 Films from 2015 for an Elderly Population

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on July 16, 2015

While sometimes it can be difficult to find movies that your senior loved one will like, this summer, Hollywood has a handful of new films that every demographic will love. Give your elderly loved one a reason to head to his or her local cinema with this list of new movie releases. Presented by a leading provider of senior home care, Anchorage families count on, here is a list of current films that will appeal to an elderly audience. 1. Love and Mercy Love and Mercy is a biographical film about Brian Wilson, the front man of the popular 60s band, The Beach Boys. This film delves into Wilson’s struggles with creativity and mental psychosis as the band evolves into a worldwide…

3 Ways to Soothe Sundowners

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on July 9, 2015

If your elderly loved one develops dementia or Alzheimer’s, he or she may experience Sundowner’s Syndrome, a condition where the hours around sunset make your loved one agitated, restless, or aggressive. While these tips may not help all seniors with Sundowner’s, Anchorage senior home care experts suggest trying the following methods for soothing sundowning symptoms. 1. Exercise Sundowner’s is often associated with nighttime agitation and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can be alleviated by light exercise every day, providing a release for nervous energy, producing endorphins that boost mood, and increasing overall health and stamina. With assistance from your loved one’s Alzheimer’s or dementia caregiver in Anchorage, encourage your loved one go on short walks, do some easy stretches, or even…

What’s the Connection Between Melanoma and Parkinson’s Disease?

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on June 25, 2015

According to new research, people with Parkinson’s are at a higher risk of melanoma. Anchorage home care experts from Home Care Assistance present the following information to help families and caregivers understand the connection between Parkinson’s disease and melanoma. What is Melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a rare and very dangerous form of skin cancer that is treatable if detected in the early stages but can be fatal if it progresses undiagnosed. Melanoma usually presents as a mole, particularly one that is unevenly shaped, does not look like other moles on the body, or has uneven coloring. What’s the Link to Parkinson’s Disease? While the relationship between skin cancer and Parkinson’s is not well known or understood, studies show that Parkinson’s may make…

Best Father’s Day Presents for Seniors

By Rob Buck, 9:00 am on June 18, 2015

One of the challenges of Father’s Day is finding a present that will show your elderly father that you care. At Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of high-quality senior home care Anchorage families can count on, our caregivers have picked up some wonderful Father’s Day gift ideas over the years. If you’re trying to find a gift that will delight your aging father, read on for a few recommendations. Tablets and Cellphones A tablet with Skype capabilities or a prepaid cellphone can be two gifts rolled in one. You guys can enjoy one another’s company while you teach him the basics of his new tablet or cellphone. Start a text message conversation or Skype session with a loved one…

The Benefits of Home Care for Seniors with Dementia

By Rob Buck, 8:00 am on June 11, 2015

If a senior you love has dementia, he or she may be unable to perform routine tasks independently. While it is possible to get help outside the home, many seniors with dementia would much prefer receiving senior home care Anchorage families can count on. The following are a few of the primary benefits of providing your loved one with in-home care. Familiar Surroundings One of the primary symptoms of dementia is extreme confusion. If your loved one has dementia, keeping him or her in a familiar place can help abate some of this confusion. Being comfortable and familiar with his or her surroundings will mean your loved one will feel more relaxed and less disoriented. Safety As one of the symptoms…

Is Home Care Right for My Aging Loved One?

By Rob Buck, 7:38 pm on June 4, 2015

Though many options are available for providing care to an aging loved one, it can be challenging to decide which avenue will be the best fit for your relative and your family. Understanding what kinds of assistance home care agencies, Anchorage Home Care Assistance, offer is important step in deciding whether it will work for your loved one. Family Caregiver Assistance Many family members like to be their loved one’s caregiver, but doing so can eventually become overwhelming. A professional caregiver can offer a period of respite for the family caregiver, or take over as the full-time caregiver. One-on-One Care Home care is the right alternative for your relative if you prioritize having one-on-one care. With home care your loved…

Aging in Place: An Emerging Senior Care Trend

By Rob Buck, 9:56 pm on May 28, 2015

Most seniors want to continue living in their own home, even after they have begun experiencing notable changes in memory, overall cognitive functioning, and mobility. They value their independence and often fear losing it. While this choice might cause concern among family members, Anchorage Home Care Assistance shares a few things that families can do to support aging adults in their decision to age in place. Why Aging in Place Might be Best In many instances, aging in place is the safest and most cost-effective option available to seniors. They do not have to entrust their safety and wellbeing to strangers by moving into live-in care facilities. More importantly, they can continue enjoying the resources they already have. By maintaining a…

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