Thursday, 23 June 2016

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack including Heart Attack Symptoms of Women


Some heart attack signs and symptoms are sudden and intense — the classic "movie" heart attack signs. No one doubts what's happening when they see these signs and symptoms. But a heart attack usually starts slowly for both men and women, the only signs and symptoms being mild pain or discomfort. Often men and women having a heart attack aren't sure what the signs and symptoms mean and wait too long before getting help. Women with signs and symptoms of a heart attack typically wait longer, often to their detriment.

Classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack

Chest discomfort. For both men and women, the classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack usually involve discomfort in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The pain can be stabbing or crushing, or feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or a burning pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Other heart attack signs and symptoms men and women experience include squeezing pain in the chest or left upper arm that radiates to one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw or stomach.
Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. This feeling often accompanies chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.
Other heart attack signs and symptoms that can occur without chest pain: Breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason, severe indigestion, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, dizziness, weakness, extreme fatigue, fainting, heart palpitations (pounding heartbeats), or a sensation of panic with a feeling of impending doom.

Heart Attack Symptoms of Women

Some women report symptoms that are different than men report. For women, they usually involve chest pain. But, women may also experience any of the other problems described above, especially nausea, shortness of breath or pain to the arm, shoulder or neck.

Dementia Care Dos & Don’ts: Dealing with Dementia Behavior Problems

Mid-to-late stage dementia and Alzheimer’s disease often presents challenging behavior problems. The anger, sadness, paranoia, confusion and fear that people with the disease are experiencing can result in oppositional, aggressive and sometimes violent speech or actions.
Understand and learn which strategies are most effective in dementia behavior management.

Dealing with Dementia Behavior

Communication difficulties can be one of the most upsetting aspects of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or some other type of dementia — and it’s frustrating for those with the disease and for loved ones.
Although it can be hard to understand why people with dementia act the way they do, the explanation is attributable to their disease and the changes it causes in the brain.
Familiarize yourself with some of the common situations that arise when someone has dementia, so that if your loved one says something shocking, you’ll know how to respond calmly and effectively.

Common Situation #1: Aggressive Speech or Actions

Examples: Statements such as “I don’t want to take a shower!,” “I want to go home!,” or “I don’t want to eat that!” may escalate into aggressive behavior.
Explanation: The most important thing to remember about verbal or physical aggression, says the Alzheimer’s Association, is that your loved one is not doing it on purpose. Aggression is usually triggered by something—often physical discomfort, environmental factors such as being in an unfamiliar situation, or even poor communication. “A lot of times aggression is coming from pure fear,” says Tresa Mariotto, Family Ambassador at Silverado Senior Living in Bellingham, WA. “People with dementia are more apt to hit, kick or bite” in response to feeling helpless or afraid.
Ann Napoletan, who writes for Caregivers.com, is all too familiar with this situation.
“As my mom’s disease progressed, so did the mood swings. She could be perfectly fine one moment, and the next she was yelling and getting physical. Often, it remained a mystery as to what prompted the outburst. For her caregivers, it was often getting dressed or bathing that provoked aggression.”
DO: The key to responding to aggression caused by dementia is to try to identify the cause—what is the person feeling to make them behave aggressively? Once you’ve made sure they aren’t putting themselves (or anyone else) in danger, you can try to shift the focus to something else, speaking in a calm, reassuring manner.
“This is where truly knowing your loved one is so important,” says Napoletan. “In my mom’s case, she didn’t like to be fussed over. If she was upset, oftentimes trying to talk to her and calm her down only served to agitate her more. Likewise, touching her–even to try and hold her hand or gently rub her arm or leg–might result in her taking a swing. The best course of action in that case was to walk away and let her have the space she needed.”
DON’T: “The worst thing you can do is engage in an argument or force the issue that’s creating the aggression,” Napoletan says. “Don’t try to forcibly restrain the person unless there is absolutely no choice.” Mariotto agrees: “The biggest way to stop aggressive behavior is to remove the word ‘no’ from your vocabulary.”

Common Situation #2: Confusion About Time or Place

Examples: Statements such as “I want to go home!”, “This isn’t my house.”, “When are we leaving?  “Why are we here?”
Explanation: Wanting to go home is one of the most common reactions for an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient living in a memory care facility. Remember that Alzheimer’s causes progressive damage to cognitive functioning, and this is what creates the confusion and memory loss.
There’s also a psychological component, says Mariotto:
“Often people are trying to go back to a place where they had more control in their lives.”
DO: There are a few possible ways to respond to questions that indicate your loved one is confused about where he or she is. Simple explanations along with photos and other tangible reminders can help, suggests the Alzheimer’s Association. Sometimes, however, it can be better to redirect the person, particularly in cases where you’re in the process of moving your loved one to a facility or other location.
“The better solution is to say as little as possible about the fact that they have all of their belongings packed and instead try to redirect them–find another activity, go for a walk, get a snack, etc.,” says Napoletan. “If they ask specific questions such as ‘When are we leaving?’ you might respond with, ‘We can’t leave until later because…’ the traffic is terrible / the forecast is calling for bad weather / it’s too late to leave tonight.”
“You have to figure out what’s going to make the person feel the safest,” says Mariotto, even if that ends up being “a therapeutic lie.”
DON’T: Lengthy explanations or reasons are not the way to go. “You can’t reason with someone who hasAlzheimer’s or dementia,” says Ann. “It just can’t be done.” In fact, says Mariotto. “A lot of times we’re triggering the response that we’re getting because of the questions we’re asking.”
This was another familiar situation for Ann and her mother. “I learned this one the hard way. We went through a particularly long spell where every time I came to see my mom, she would have everything packed up ready to go–EVERYTHING! Too many times, I tried to reason with her and explain that she was home; this was her new home. Inevitably things would get progressively worse.”

Common Situation #3: Poor Judgment or Cognitive Problems

Examples: Unfounded accusations: “You stole my vacuum cleaner!” Trouble with math or finances: “I’m having trouble with the tip on this restaurant bill.” Other examples include unexplained hoarding or stockpiling and repetition of statements or tasks.
Explanation: The deterioration of brain cells caused by Alzheimer’s is a particular culprit in behaviors showing poor judgment or errors in thinking. These can contribute to delusions, or untrue beliefs. Some of these problems are obvious, such as when someone is hoarding household items, or accuses a family member of stealing something. Some are more subtle, however, and the person may not realize that they are having trouble with things that they never used to think twice about.
According to Napoletan,
“There came a time when I began to suspect my mom was having problems keeping financial records in order. At the time, she was living independently and was very adamant about remaining in her house. Any discussion to the contrary, or really any comment that eluded to the fact that she may be slipping, was met with either rage or tears. It was when she asked me to help with her taxes that I noticed the checking account was a mess.”
DO: First you’ll want to assess the extent of the problem. “If you’re curious and don’t want to ask, take a look at a heating bill,” suggests Mariotto. “Sometimes payments are delinquent or bills aren’t being paid at all.” You can also flip through their checkbook and look at the math, or have them figure out the tip at a restaurant.
The Alzheimer’s Association says to be encouraging and reassuring if you’re seeing these changes happen. Also, you can often minimize frustration and embarrassment by offering help in small ways with staying organized. This is what Napoletan did for her mother: “As I sifted through records to complete her tax return, I gently mentioned noticing a couple of overdraft fees and asked if the bank had perhaps made a mistake. As we talked through it, she volunteered that she was having more and more difficulty keeping things straight, knew she had made some errors, and asked if I would mind helping with the checkbook going forward. I remember her being so relieved after we talked about it.” From there, over time, Napoletan was gradually able to gain more control over her mother’s finances.
DON’T: What you shouldn’t do in these circumstances is blatantly question the person’s ability to handle the situation at hand, or try to argue with them. “Any response that can be interpreted as accusatory or doubting the person’s ability to handle their own affairs only serves to anger and put them on the defensive,” says Napoletan.
FOR MORE DETAILS:www.APlaceforMom.com

Age Dementia Symptoms Alzheimers Symptoms Senile Dementia Symptoms


Alzheimers disease and other age related dementia cause many problems for patients and their families. Many problems are due to memory loss. Common symptoms for Alzheimers and other age related dementia are listed below, but not everyone has all of these signs.
Also, not everyone with these symptoms has Alzheimers or age related dementia — prescription drugs interactions and other treatable causes often mimic age dementia symptoms. According to Consumer Reports on Health, "Any new health problem in an older person should be considered drug induced until proven otherwise." To see if medications could be the cause of your loved one's symptoms, click on Prescription Drugs Interactions.
Recent memory loss. Everyone forgets things for awhile, but remembers them later. Dementia patients often forget things, and never remember them. They might ask the same question repeatedly, each time forgetting that you already answered it. They don't even remember they already asked the question.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Patients might cook a meal but forget to serve it. They might even forget cooking it.
Problems with language. Dementia patients may forget simple words or use the wrong words, making it hard to understand what they want, causing an outburst of anger directed at the person they're talking to.
Time and place disorientation. Patients may get lost on their own street, forgetting how they got to a certain place and how to get back home.
Poor judgment. Anyone might get distracted and forget to watch a child closely for a short time. Dementia patients might forget about the child and just leave the house for the day.
Problems with abstract thinking. Anyone might have trouble balancing a checkbook from time to time; dementia patients can forget what numbers are and how to use them.
Misplacing things. Patients may put things in the wrong places — an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Then they can't find them later.
Changes in mood. Everyone is moody occasionally, but patients may have fast mood swings, going from calm to tears to anger in just minutes.
Personality changes. Patients may have drastic changes in personality, often becoming irritable, suspicious or fearful.
Loss of initiative. Patients may become passive, not wanting to go places or see other people.
Important Note: Even if your loved one has some of these problems, they may not have Alzheimers. Many treatable health conditions have the same signs. Among them are:
--Prescription drugs interactions and side effects
--The combined effect of weight loss/gain and medications
--Dehydration
--Vitamin B12 deficiency
--Falls and concussions
--Depression
--Alcohol use

Caring for Mom By Dorothy Sander


My 95 year old mother likes to believe she's independent. Over the past five years since my father died I have encouraged her to live with me and my family. She stubbornly refuses to depend on or interfere in her children's lives. Instead, she lives in a retirement community, one that has taken her and my deceased father's entire life savings to pay for and still requires ongoing monthly input from her five children.
Mom believes she's independent but in reality it takes all five of us, a ton of patience and more than one glass of wine to keep this 98 pound woman going and she is in near perfect health, other than the annoyances of poor eyesight, hearing, balance and memory. My siblings, two brothers and two sisters, each handle the situation differently, some with more aplomb and dignity than others. There are as many different ways of dealing with the care of our aging parents as there are people. My siblings and I are a microcosm and can afford a brief look at some of the varying reactions to this life event. 
One sister, who has always had the least ability to understand or accept Mom's contrariness, restlessness and just plain stubbornness, has the misfortune (or God given challenge) of taking care of my mother's day to day needs. Catherine lives closest to Mom and has a flexible schedule without job or family constraints. She has taken on the task with gusto, as is her style, and has made it her full blown responsibility to do the best job possible. Mom, however, is rarely content.
"Why can't she just be happy? I do everything in my power to make her happy! I buy her plants, I take her to the doctor, and I arrange her hair appointments and physical therapy. The other people that live in her community are busy doing things and enjoying life," she continues, "Why can't she?" The anger and frustration oozes out between her words like thick molasses. Her question is a reasonable one. But Mom's always been contrary.
Early on, I learned to give up trying to change my mother making it easier for me to accept and even come close to understanding my mother's way of handling her journey into aging. Her increasing disregard for her appearance and her disinterest in socializing make some sort of sense to me. These things are no longer priorities to her.
"Why is she wearing that ratty old thing? She has a closet full of clothes!" Catherine erupts. Most of which she bought Mom in an attempt to get her to "shape up."
Mom recently said, "If I had someone to wash and iron my clothes, pick them out and lay them out for me to wear, I think I could live forever." I believe this reveals her growing difficulty and lack of energy to undertake even the smallest tasks. As each day passes even the most enjoyable activities become more difficult. It's a struggle for her to hear the words spoken on TV, or to clearly make out the words on a page in a book or magazine she is trying to read. Having a conversation with a neighbor requires her to rise above the insecurity induced by not being able to think of the words needed to express what she is thinking. "I just feel so dim-witted! These people are so smart and I can't carry on a conversation that makes any sense. Even if I have something I want to say, I can't remember the details or find the words I need." Proud of being a college graduate in a time when women didn't often go to college, it hurts her pride. Opening a bottle of aspirin requires a pressure on the fingers that is now painful to her and impossible to do. She tries to bake cookies for her neighbors and can't keep track of the ingredients, often leaving out one ingredient or another. What she once did easily is now monumental.
My sister, unfortunately, isn't ready to let Mom just be who she is. It's tough to accept your own mother's aging process in all its imperfection and unsightliness. So Sis continues to run herself ragged buying Mom clothes, cleaning and organizing the closet, all the while terrified of not making her happy. Maybe she feels as though she is running out of time to accomplish this feat. I try to tell her, like I repeatedly tell myself, that it is not our job to make her happy, a truism in all relationships. That still falls on Mom's shoulders.
Another sister living in the same town has chosen to put her own life first. "I just decided I'm not going to let her ruin my life. I'm done letting her do that," she said. And so she relegates Mom to a small corner of her life. She runs errands and takes her to the hairdresser, mostly to help Catherine out, but avoids as much emotional connection as possible. Sandra is not an unloving, or uncaring person. She simply has chosen to deal with my mother's aging her own way. Maybe it's less painful that way, but I wonder if regrets will set in after Mom is gone.
My two brothers live a 15 hour drive away. They share responsibility for financial matters and visit or call as often as they can. They don't worry like my sisters and I do about her daily happiness or psychological well-being. As long as she's relatively healthy, they keep their concerns to the practical side of matters. My brothers do all the guy things Mom dreams up for them to do when they visit and their wives send notes and pictures of great grandchildren. My oldest brother Tom is working tirelessly to gather genealogical information and old photos, documenting every item any of us possess that represents our heritage. Mom is the oldest living relative in either her family or my father's and she will carry a treasury of our family history with her to the grave. Tom carries a tape recorder with him when he visits recording the anecdotes she relates about her past. Recalling and reliving their life is a common activity for the elderly and part of the process.
I live three hours and 20 minutes away. I do not have to deal with Mom daily but she comes to stay with us for a week to 10 days on a regular basis and I visit her in-between. Yes, she tries my patience and I am always relieved when she goes home, but I have come to cherish her visits.
The siblings and spouses struggle with how much responsibility we can handle and how much time we can devote to the task. As with all families, we carry psychological baggage and the unfinished business of any parent/child relationship. Each time she visits though I learn something new about her or myself. Spending time with her to sit and listen has helped me grow, especially in understanding our relationship. I know her better and can finally accept her for who she actually is, not who I want her to be or think she is. Sometimes it is difficult to just sit and chat when I have so many other things to do, especially when I hear the same story 10 times, but it has made me stop and consider the aging, dying process.
We often forget that our aging parents are still people, albeit difficult, cantankerous and certainly demanding. Trite though it may sound, it is helpful to realize, and more importantly accept, that their lives are dwindling down to memories of the past and their focus on the future is narrowing. They are closing in to themselves, both physically and emotionally. It is time for them to look backward and evaluate. They no longer want or need to look forward and plan. They are not interested in replacing the 20 or 40 year friendships they've lost to death. Their story has been told and they often have little need to write another chapter.
They are trying to let go. We can't and shouldn't interfere with this process but rather accompany them, as we are able, along the journey.
Erik Erikson who is known as "the father of psychosocial development" believed that each of us passes through 8 stages of development in our lifetime. The elderly are in the last stage that he called "Integrity vs. Despair." In this stage a person looks back over their life and evaluates whether or not it was as fulfilling as they had hoped it would be. If they affirm that it was a good life, they become ready to face death. If they cannot affirm their lives they fear death.
As our parents wait for death, our gift as children and grandchildren is to accept their individual method of traveling the course and to take as much time out of our busy lives as we can to just be with them; to sit and listen to their stories, to share a meal and to give them an extra hug or two along the way. It goes without saying their physical needs must be dealt, but it is their growing sense of isolation and aloneness that can be most frightening to them, especially if they are struggling to accept their lives as they've lived them. They are finding their way onto a new and unknown path they must travel alone. But we can walk with them as far as we can.
If we can find our own way down this emotional and often difficult passageway, we're better for it. But we need to weigh our own emotional and physical strength and ability to cope with our aging parents and find a way that is comfortable for us. I try not to judge my sisters and brothers for their way of caring for my mother, though I can't say I don't wish sometimes they'd see things more my way. I understand we are all at different places in our emotional development and have different life pressures. We handle things as well as possible. The most important part of this process isn't the care-taking, the errands and chores that won't change the outcome. For me, I want to accompany her along her journey and do what I can to help her face and accept the process. The chores still need to be done, but they are just added to my to-do-list and no longer carry the emotional weight they once did. When viewed this way "taking care of her" allows time to sit down with her and have a cup of tea without any expectations.


Dorothy Sander lives at home in Durham, NC with her husband and two college age sons. She has a M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, works with her husband in their family owned and operated painting contracting business and is a freelance writer.

Information copied from:

http://www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.com/Pages/Articles_04.html

Thursday, 16 June 2016

"On this Day, I call upon Member States and civil society to strengthen their resolve and redouble their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence and abuse against older people." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Anybody heard of World Elder Abuse Awarness Day??.I am sure that most of you haven't.I myself never thought,such a day will be given some importance.But then why is it significant??Why do we need such a day??
.
The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025. Around 4 to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.
World Elder Abuse Awarness day  was launched on the 15 june in  2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.
The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Given below is the link to an article by Times Of India on Hospital reach out to elderly:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-stress/Hospitals-reach-out-to-elderly/articleshow/52757669.cms

Have you ever wondered how you could help the 'aged' around you??
For people who wants to make a difference,you have opportunities to volunteer or to create  volunteer projects.

     

Volunteer

“Things of the spirit differ from things material in that the more you give the more you have.”   ~Christopher Morle
  • FIND OR CREATE A VOLUNTEER PROJECT
  • Every day, volunteers work to educate stakeholders, improve conditions for vulnerable adults, and strengthen intergenerational ties. Share your skills, time and experience by finding or creating a volunteer project which serves a cause that’s important to you.
  • Learn about local opportunities to become involved in programs that provide assistance and support for seniors and people with disabilities. Examples include:
    • Friendly Visitor
    • Telephone Reassurance Calls
    • Respite Care
    • Long-Term Care Ombudsman
    • Volunteer Transportation
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Pet-Sitting or Pet-Walking
    • Organizing donation drives for Adult Protective Services clients and Long-Term Care Ombudsman residents
    • Organizing events and programs to honor elders and people with disabilities
    • Organizing events and programs to foster intergenerational respect and collaboration
    • Sharing information/Becoming a volunteer speaker on how to protecting against abuse, neglect and exploitation
    Visit Eldercare Locator’s Topic Page on Volunteerism, call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116, or visit one of the websites below to find or create a volunteer project that fits you.
    • United We Serve is a nationwide service initiative providing resources for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.
    • RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and over. Join RSVP and you join nearly 500,000 volunteers across the country who are tackling tough issues in their communities.
    Explore ways you can help make a difference
  • For more details, visit :
    http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Get_Involved/Volunteer/index.aspx

How Do You Know When Your Aging Parent Needs Emergency Care?

“I don’t feel well.”
Those four words can mean very different things depending on who says them — from “I ate too much at dinner” to “I’m having chest pain.” When it’s your aging parent or another older family member speaking, it sometimes means there’s something seriously wrong.
Judith Welsh, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Emergency Department, advises adult children to listen closely to these types of seemingly minor complaints. “In the ED, we’ve found they’re often related to a very serious underlying disease,” she says.
When to call 911 or visit the ED
“If you’re concerned about the possibility of stroke or heart attack, call 911 immediately,” Dr. Welsh says.
Any symptom of vascular blockage, such as with a stroke, is an immediate cause for concern, she emphasizes. “Chest pain, weakness in the arm, legs or face, and slurred speech are common symptoms, but some people may just feel short of breath or exhausted.”
The signs of a heart attack are sometimes just as subtle.
“Elderly patients are less likely to have ‘typical’ symptoms of a heart attack, and they may look fine but actually have a life-threatening issue,” Dr. Welsh says. “Look for any signs of weakness, confusion or lethargy. Dizziness, falls and heartburn symptoms can also be signs of a heart attack.”
What does the emergency department need to know?
You’ll need to provide as complete a picture of your parent’s medical history as you can.
Be prepared to provide a list of medications, health conditions and allergies.
You’ll also need to have your parent’s insurance information and a name and contact information for his or her doctor.
What if you don’t live nearby?
Don’t wait until there’s an emergency to prepare.
Identify and keep a list of phone numbers for two or three neighbors or friends who live near your aging parents. Ask them to help keep an eye on your parents regularly.
And then call on them to check in if your parents don’t answer the phone or if you think your parent sounds “off” when they talk to you.
Look up the local non-emergency number for police dispatch and keep that handy, also. “You can ask for a welfare check to make sure your parent is awake and alert and not having a medical crisis,” says Dr. Welsh.
What if your parent resists going to the ED?
Emphasize the risks of avoiding treatment. And call for backup if there’s a friend or family member who tends to get better results when persuading the person.
“Sometimes it’s even the primary care doctor or nurse who is more convincing to the person,” says Dr. Welsh.
Remember that your parent may be confused and may even start to panic.
Having a plan in place for an emergency you hope never happens can help you stay calm and do what it takes to get mom or dad the help they need as quickly as possible.


  • The given content is copied from: <https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/03/know-aging-parent-needs-emergency-care/>