Older people can suffer from any number of illnesses, just like younger people. Nevertheless, a few chronic disorders are predominating in the elderly. Heart disease, stroke and cancer are the leading killers, along with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes effects a significant number of senior citizens, and the numbers are increasing ever year. Diabetes is a major cause of disability in those over 65, but no matter how old the patient is diabetes can be treated with success.

What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t manufacture enough insulin, or fails to process its insulin well. This causes sugar to build up in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is usually present from childhood and requires insulin shots to survive. Type 2 diabetes, accounting for more than 90 percent of all cases, usually occurs in adulthood. Type 2 cases may or may not require insulin shots.

Who is Affected?

With a general population that is increasingly obese and sedentary, diabetes is on the rise in the United States, and it hits older people the hardest. One if five people over 60 has diabetes. Women suffer a disproportionately high toll, as do African American, Hispanic, and American Indian populations.

Obesity and physical inactivity are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes in adults. Not coincidentally, most elderly women with diabetes are 20 percent or more over their desired weight.

What Should You Look For?

In addition, about 40 percent of the middle-aged population has pre-diabetes, meaning they run a higher risk of developing the disease. Tests for blood sugar levels are an easy and effective means of detecting pre-diabetes. Otherwise, the disease can be hard to spot in its early stages, when it may produce few symptoms, or when its symptoms may not seem serious.
Symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability

People with some of these symptoms should see a doctor. Sugar in the blood may sound harmless, but it leads to a host of serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and deaths from flu and pneumonia. The average cost of health care for a diabetic is 10 times that for a person free of the disease.

Diabetes Care

Though a cure for diabetes has yet to be discovered, its deadly complications can be prevented or postponed with early detection and careful self-management. Those with diabetes, and their caregivers, must educate themselves about care and be careful with diet, exercise, and doctor’s visits. They should have regular eye exams, blood pressure checks, foot exams and flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

Keep an eye out for the symptoms of diabetes when caring for an elderly loved one, and let their doctors know if you notice any of the warning signs. Diabetes is manageable, but only if both you and your loved one are vigilant and careful.

You’ve got a dozen messages in one hand, the phone in the other and a reminder for your elderly father’s doctor’s appointment on the desk in front of you. You’ve only got two hands, but you’re juggling your own needs with the demands of caring for your aging parent.  Being a primary caregiver and working another job can stretch you so thin, you may feel like you’re going to snap.

Over 30 million Americans are in that boat with you, struggling to meet the challenges of work responsibilities while also caring for an elderly parent or loved one. It’s no surprise that these caregivers usually wind up exhausted, both mentally, physically and emotionally. How can anyone handle so much at once?

Because so many American workers are finding themselves in this position, many employers are finding ways to work with them. Some companies have programs in place to assist caregivers, helping them find help in the community, respite care, and financial assistance. Other companies offer caregivers leave and work options that are more flexible and lenient.

To find out if your employer can work with your changing needs, start by telling your boss about your situation. Be direct and honest about your caregiving role and the difficulties you’re dealing with. Your boss will respect and appreciate your honesty, and be more willing to work with you when he knows what’s happening.

Be sure that you know your rights. Your company should be able to provide information about the Family and Medical Leave Act, which entitles eligible workers to take up to 12 weeks per year of unpaid leave for illness or caring for family members who are ill, without losing their job or health benefits.

When you’re at work, do your very best to really be at work, and leave your caretaking chores at home. If you need to make phone calls related to your loved one’s needs, do that on your break, not during work hours.

Stay organized and use lists to keep your priorities in order. Make efficient use of your time both at work and at home. Get the important tasks done, and don’t beat yourself up if the lesser important items don’t get done.

If your company is able to offer you flexible work hours, or if you are able to work from home a few days a week, this can be a lifesaver. Ask your employer; you may be surprised by their willingness to work with you during this difficult time.

And when things get better for you, be sure to thank those who went out of their way to help you. Take on extra work when you can, and be willing to take up the slack for a co-worker who is going through a similar time. Communities start with the people you know. Don’t be afraid to reach and ask for help with you need to juggle the difficulties of work and caregiving.

All five of the senses – vision, touch, smell, hearing and taste – need a minimum level of stimulation, called a threshold, before they register a sensation. This threshold rises with age. As the senses no longer respond to delicate stimulation, the resulting dimming of sensation can leave an older person feeling isolated and depressed. Loss of vision is especially difficult to deal with.

By middle age, almost everyone experiences age related changes to their vision. Otherwise healthy older people should visit the eye doctor at least once a year; if they have vascular diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, they should go more often.

Normal changes to our vision as we age include dry eyes, worsening peripheral vision, and decreased visual sharpness. Almost everyone over the age of 55 needs glasses at least part of the time. Glare and transitions from light to dark or dark to light become more difficult. The ability to distinguish greens and blues diminishes, so your father’s mismatched outfits may be a sign of poor vision, not poor taste.

Older people are also at higher risk for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, all of which can lead to blindness if left untreated Of these, cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye, are the most common affliction and the easiest to treat. Fifty percent of people 65 to 74 years old and seventy percent of those over 75 have them. Symptoms include poor night vision, cloudy or fuzzy vision, halos around lights, loss of color intensity and trouble with glare.

A standard eye exam should detect cataracts. Mild cataracts might need no treatment beyond eyeglasses. More serious cataracts usually require outpatient surgery to remove the lens and replace it with an artificial one. These procedures are typically successful and patients often wind up with better vision than they’ve had in quite some years.

Glaucoma is a less common but more serious disease, in which fluid within the eye builds up, putting pressure on the optic nerve. Without treatment, nerve cells can die, resulting in partial or total blindness. Symptoms of chronic glaucoma include slow loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, a rainbow halo around lights and mild headaches.

In its early stages, chronic glaucoma has few symptoms. Older adults should have regular eye exams in order to detect it. Treatment involves either medication or surgery to relieve the fluid pressure. Early detection is important in treating glaucoma.

Impaired vision can seriously affect an older person’s quality of life, so caregivers should help their elderly loved ones pursue solutions to the maximum extent possible. Reading tools for the visually impaired range from magnifiers to computerized devices that convert text to speech. Other tools such as talking watches, large display or talking calculators, and even specially designed cooking accessories will help a senior continue to live safely and productively.

It is well documented that exercise is beneficial to a person’s health. This is also true when we reach our later years in life. As a matter of fact, the exercise benefits for the elderly are astounding. Most senior citizens will see benefits from some form of exercise, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Water Exercise and Arthritis

One exercise in particular that can be beneficial is water aerobics or water walking. The beauty of working out in the water is that the water absorbs the pressure that would otherwise be disseminated to the joints. The exercise increases strength in the thighs, calves and arms and is highly recommended for people who suffer from arthritis.

Strengthen Your Heart!

For people with muscle problems, bone and join issues, performing water exercises regularly can lead to decreased pain as the muscles strengthen and are better able to support the body. In addition to strengthening joint and bone support, water aerobics also strengthens the most important muscle in our body – our heart!

A Natural Mood Lifter

Water exercise and exercise in general also has amazing psychological benefits as well. Exercise releases endorphins, which are the body’s “feel good” chemicals. These types of exercise classes are also a great way to get your loved one into a social situation.

It is never too late to introduce exercise into an elderly person’s regimen and when done sooner than later, all of these benefits can help your loved one maintain their independence longer. By being physically fit they will feel better physically and mentally. It’s really a win-win.

For more information on how water exercise can help those with arthritis please visit the Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org. You can find a wealth of information on the different types of water exercise, as well as AF sponsored classes in your area.

Arthritis is a painful disease that is an inflammation of the joints and has become one of the most common diseases in those over the age of 15. It has been proven that with early diagnosis the pain patients suffer from this disease can be better managed. Below are 5 things you should know about arthritis that can help you understand and perhaps manage the disease a little better.

• There are many types of arthritis. Most people think that there are only two forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While these may be the most commonly diagnosed, there are actually over 100 forms of the debilitating disease.
• Arthritis can be treated, but it cannot be cured. Unfortunately, modern science has not come up with a way to cure arthritis just yet. There are, however, many ways to treat arthritis both holistically and medically. Consult with your physician about your options for mobility and pain management choices.
• Arthritis is not just found in the elderly. Arthritis affects people of all ages and all walks of life; it is not a discriminatory disease. Juvenile arthritis is a form of arthritis found in children under the age of 18. Over  294,000 children are affected by this painful disease and there is no known cause.
• Early diagnosis is the key to managing arthritis. There is significant evidence that finds that early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis leads to a better response to medications. Delaying assessment for the disease can lead to joint damage later on.
• Living a healthy lifestyle can help you manage arthritis. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco products and alcohol and getting regular exercise are just a few of the lifestyle changes you can make to improve the management of arthritis. Getting enough vitamin C and keeping off the extra pounds that might produce stress on your joints are also beneficial.

As people get older it can sometimes become difficult for them to perform many of the daily tasks they used to do. Older adults have a higher risk for injury in the home than any other age group. Often, these adults are placed into living facilities designed to provide assistance when they need it. An alternative to choosing an assisted living facility is to use a home care service. There are several reasons why an in-home caregiver is better than an assisted living facility.

The Top Five Reasons why Home Care is Better than Assisted Living

Reason #1: The cost involved in hiring a caregiver vs relocating to a new dwelling.The units designed to provide care to their residents on a twenty-four hour basis are not rented for the same price as other apartments. These units charge anywhere from three thousand to seven thousand dollars a month depending on where they are located and what amenities are included. Home care can be scheduled around the needs of the individual, which greatly reduces the amount of money spent each month.

Reason #2: It is better to keep someone at home because they retain their sense of independence. People who feel they still have control over their surroundings are less likely to become depressed. Seniors who give up their homes often suffer from depression.

Reason #3: When people are in their own homes they can choose to invite friends over or socialize with family members without having restrictions. Assisted units have regulations their residents must adhere to when they move in, which can include the times they are allowed to entertain guests.

Reason #4: People who receive in-home care get personalized service. The type of care hired for in-home is often a nurse or nurse’s aid. This individual is hired to be there on a scheduled basis, which makes it easier for the senior they are providing care for to get to know them. Seniors are more responsive to people they know and feel comfortable with. The person providing the care also gets to know the adult on a one-to-one basis and can pick up on clues which can indicate something might be wrong.

Reason #5: Community involvement. Most older adults have set routines and know the people at their grocery store, bank and church. When they can remain in their own home, they are more likely to remain active in their community. An alert and active senior citizen is less likely to become ill than one who is not.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease and it accounts for fifty to eighty percent of the reported cases each year. Dementia is a progressive illness that slowly becomes more profound and more noticeable as the years go by. There are three distinctive stages that an Alzheimer’s patient can experience beginning with mild, then moderate, and finally degenerating to severe. The symptoms of each stage are easily identifiable and although the disease is not curable, there are medications and treatments that have been proven to slow the process and lesson the severity of the symptoms.

The first signs that you or a loved one will experience are those that one would expect to see in an aging person. The early signs may include but are not limited to being unaware of their environment when in a familiar place, having difficulty when handling money or conducting business like paying bills. Some patients have a harder time performing everyday activities or may take longer to do things they used to do in a short time. Confusion is a symptom as well; sometimes a patient may misplace everyday items such as putting the iron in the freezer, or display lack of good judgment by dressing for warmth during the peak of summer. In the mild beginning stage, a loved one may show signs of personality change or sudden mood changes.

As the patient progresses to the moderate stage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s becomes increasingly more pronounced. The symptoms and signs to observe range from more acute memory loss and a greater amount of general confusion during situations that should be everyday and routine for them. It is at this stage that a patient suffering from dementia may exhibit difficulties recognizing family members or close friends. The individual may become complacent in regards to their personal hygiene and appearance as multi-stepped tasks become more difficult.  In this stage, the sufferer may repeat stories and favorite sayings or expressions more than usual. At this point combination therapy should be considered because studies have shown that a combination of two major medications have slowed or lessened the effects of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.

If or when an Alzheimer’s patient reaches the severe stage, full-time care will be necessary. This can be the most difficult and heart-breaking point for friends and family to undergo because the patient will no longer have any sustainability as far as recognizing loved ones or themselves. There will be an inability to communicate either verbally or in writing, the patient will be sadly reduced to groaning, grunting, and moaning. The severe stage is also typically accompanied by a loss of bladder and bowel control, accidents become more frequent.

With the right combination of medication and therapy, Alzheimer’s disease can be treated but not cured. Combination therapy has been proven to slow the rate of decline in patients loosing thinking power, behavioral nuances, and functionality. It is important to maintain a constant vigilance over loved ones in order to catch the disease at a manageable stage while being careful not to misdiagnose the symptoms as general signs of aging.