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As you get older it could be that you lose your appetite. There are many reasons for this, whether it is due to medical issues such as dysphagia, stomach and digestion issues, or mental health conditions that make them not hungry. This can be a struggle for a carer or family member who looks after them as they need to eat to get vital nutrients and minerals in their body to ensure they keep their strength up. If you are looking for ways to combat lack of appetite in the elderly, here are some ways that you can help. Whether you are a home carer or looking for a home carer to assist with your personal care at home services, then we are here to help.

Think about food texture

It is important to consider the texture of food when giving it to someone. If they are suffering from difficulty swallowing, sore gums or a dry mouth then you don’t want foods that are going to exacerbate that. It is a good idea to try foods such as soups, stews and smoothies which can help provide them with nutrients without being painful or difficult to eat. You can also liaise with their doctor to see if there is anything they can advise.

Enjoy meals with them

Meals can be much more enjoyable if they are eaten with someone. As a home carer, you might not be able to eat at the same time as your client, but you could stay and keep them company. Sometimes just having a bit of extra company while you eat can be a real encouragement. Alternatively you

Find flavoured foods

As you get older your taste buds can weaken and this can make food seem much more unappealing. If this is the reason for loss of appetite then it is a good idea to focus on food that stimulates flavour. This includes things such as garlic, chilli and other herbs and spices. Plain food such as rice or pasta can seem extremely flavourless if they are served on their own.personal care lack of appetite

Encourage meals that are smaller but more often

If your loved one or the one you provide personal care for has a lack of appetite then it could be that they benefit more from meals that are little or often. A big meal can seem overwhelming so instead, try to help them to eat a few times a day, with less on their plates. As long as they are getting the right nutrients and vitamins throughout the day it doesn’t matter how many meals this is spread over.

Look into a meal delivery service

It can be a struggle for elderly people to cook food and if they have something such as dementia they might forget to prepare something or not remember how to use the oven. It might also be dangerous for them to do so. If this is the case, it can be a good idea to use a meal delivery service. There are many companies out there where you select meals for the next week the week before, and then they get delivered at mealtimes. These are healthy and nutritious and can cater for dietary needs.

If an elderly relative or someone you care for is suffering from a lack of appetite then these top tips can help to get them back on track. For care at home service that can assist with personal care then please get in touch today.

Looking for a job in personal care or as a home carer? We have a number of vacancies here. Find out how you can help and find your ideal new role today.

If a loved one has dementia it can be a difficult time for all those involved. Family members that were once kind and gentle can become prone to angry outburst and accusations – through no fault of their own. When we think of the main symptoms of dementia we tend to focus on confusion and memory loss, but the personality changes that their loved ones experience can often be some of the worst side effects that come with the condition. When a person you know completely changes the way they act to something out of character it can be a difficult thing to witness and you may be thinking about getting dementia care.

There is currently no cure for dementia, though a lot of research is ongoing. It has been found that those with dementia are more sensitive to emotional contagion which is the ability to mirror another’s feelings. This means that if they see a carer or family member upset or frustrated, they might mirror this. This combined with an inability to express how they are feeling and what they need is what likely leads to these outbursts. While these outbursts aren’t nice for anyone involved, there are a few things you can do to try and help with the anger that they might display and hone it in before it escalates. Here are some top tips for dementia care with anger.

Don’t snap back

While a natural response can be to argue when someone shouts or isn’t very nice to you, this is the worst thing to do. Instead, take a deep breath and reassure your loved one instead that everything is okay. Their reaction is likely to be a knock-off effect from the frustration of not being able to express their needs properly, so try and find other ways to decipher what these needs are.
Dementia care - helping with anger outbursts

Keep a record of their behaviour

Is there a certain time of day that they seem to get more angry or frustrated? Or is it when they are trying to do a certain task or think of something in particular? By keeping a record of it you can see what might be causing these outbursts to happen and prevent them from happening as often in the future. You could write it down in a notebook and look out for any patterns in how they react.

Adjust the environment that they are in

In dementia patients, they can be triggered by over-stimulation so try to make their space as calm and distraction-free as possible. Reduce as much noise as you can and get rid of unnecessary clutter. Put on some relaxing music and offer them a weighted blanket or something that can help them to feel soothed. You could read a book or offer them another form of distraction that should help them.

Be sure to give yourself time off

If you are a dementia carer for your loved one, it can become draining and take an impact on your mental health. That is where Secure Healthcare Solutions Dementia Care services come in. We have a range of dementia care services near you that can help ease the burden on you and give them an extra level of care too.

Remember to not take it to heart when a loved one gets angry and that they don’t mean it. Just be there for them and seek extra dementia care near you if needed. Find out more about our dementia care services and how we can help here.

If you are looking for a role as a carer or a specialist dementia carer we have a range of job roles available. You can view those here.

Talking Point is a helpful online community where anyone who is affected by dementia can receive valuable support.

It’s free, open day or night, and can be accessed online.

‘I really appreciated the help and support I get from people I’ve never met. This helped me to cope with my situation, deal with my feelings, frustrations, worries and fears. I felt as though there was always someone I could turn to, and no matter when I posted, I always received a reply from someone within hours.

‘When you are dealing with someone with dementia, this is so important. With statutory services, I have often had to wait days for anyone just to ring me back.’

On Talking Point you can:

  • ask for advice
  • read other people’s stories
  • offload your concerns about dementia
  • share helpful information.

How is Talking Point run?

Talking Point is run by a small team of staff and supported by brilliant volunteers. The volunteers all have personal experience of caring for people with dementia. They help to welcome new members, point people toward useful resources and provide on-going support for the service.

As the community isn’t manned by professional advisers, it cannot provide medical or legal advice. Help is instead provided through shared experience and peer support.

Register to Talking Point

Visit Talking Point now to register and join the community.

You can begin by posting a message to introduce yourself in our welcome forum. You may prefer to browse the community for a while, and simply read what others have written, before posting a message.

If you have any questions, please refer to Talking Point guide or contact our team on TalkingPoint@alzheimers.org.uk.

We pride ourselves on ensuring persons needing support are Safe, our care treatment and support helps you to maintain quality of life based on best available evidence, our staff involve and treat you with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. We ensure our services are responsive to your needs and our management ensure high quality care is provided based on an individuals needs.

When faced with illness or immobility, it can be a struggle to carry out everyday activities that you may have once performed with ease. Our discreet personal care service is designed to support you with your day-to-day living, as well as providing you with the encouragement and emotional support that you may need to remain living independently. Our personal care service can assist you with personal hygiene needs ( washing, dressing, continence care) administering medication, at a time to suit your convenience. Maintaining your dignity is of paramount importance to us, which is why our Carers will ensure you feel comfortable at all times.

With Secure Healthcare as your home care service provider, you will enjoy personalised service built around your needs. Secure Healthcare pride ourselves on treating people with the same care, kindness and dignity that we would expect our loved ones to be treated.

The best person to know what support you need to remain as independent as possible in your own home is you. That is why everything we do is designed around your needs and goals. These can be relatively simple like help with shopping through to high dependency 24 hour care.

  • Housekeeping
  • Personal care
  • Companionship
  • Support with information and advice
  • Housing support
  • High dependency care
  • Live-in care
  • Respite care
  • Medication management
  • Hospital to Home service
  • Complex and specialist care

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

Not from Wolverhampton ?

We are pleased to inform all your clients that we now provide social care, homecare services in the following areas : Bilston, Willenhall , Codsall , Essington , Ettingshall, Coven, Brude, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, West Brom,Tettenhall, Wednesfield, Bradmore, Finchfield,wombourne, penn, Walsall, Penkridge, cannock, essington, newport (telford), Albrighton,Perton and Stourbridge

Let us help you get the care you need for the life you want

Secure Healthcare Solutions will find for you an experienced candidate that will suit all your needs.
Call us on 01902 302017 or write us to homecare@securehealthcaresolutions.co.uk

The brains of SuperAgers (those 80 years old and older whose memories are as sharp as healthy people in their 50s and 60s) shrink much slower than their age-matched peers, resulting in a greater resistance to ‘typical’ memory loss and dementia, a new path-breaking study that shows.

 

This is a MRI scan of a SuperAger’s brain. The portion between the yellow and red lines is the cortex, which contains neurons. SuperAgers’ cortices shrunk over two times slower than average-age peers’ in a recent Northwestern Medicine study, which may contribute to their superior memory performance.

Credit: Northwestern University

The highly engaged and delightful conversationalist, who reads, volunteers and routinely researches questions on the Internet, is part of a new path-breaking Northwestern Medicine study that shows that SuperAgers’ brains shrink much slower than their age-matched peers, resulting in a greater resistance to “typical” memory loss and dementia.

Over the course of the 18-month study, normal agers lost volume in the cortex twice as fast as SuperAgers, a rare group of people aged 80 and above whose memories are as sharp as those of healthy persons decades younger.

“Increasing age is often accompanied by ‘typical’ cognitive decline or, in some cases, more severe cognitive decline called dementia,” said first author Amanda Cook, a clinical neuropsychology doctoral student in the laboratory of Emily Rogalski and Sandra Weintraub. “SuperAgers suggest that age-related cognitive decline is not inevitable.”The study was published in JAMA. Senior author Emily Rogalski will present the findings at the 2017 Cognitive Aging Summit in Bethesda, Maryland, April 6.SuperAger research at Northwestern is flipping the traditional approach to Alzheimer’s research of focusing on brains that are underperforming to instead focusing on outperforming brains.

” It’s Dementia Awareness Week and we are standing united with @alzheimerssoc against dementia

#DAW2017 #UniteAgainstDementia ”

Dementia currently affects around 850,000 people in the UK, with a staggering one in 14 people over the age of 65 living with the condition. To coincide with Dementia Awareness Week, running from 14-20 May, get to know the symptoms and causes of the health condition, along with the treatments and how it can possibly be prevented.

The word ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour.

“Everyone, from banks and supermarkets to the local corner shop and hairdresser, share responsibility

for ensuring that people with dementia feel understood, valued and able to contribute to their community.”

What causes dementia?

There are a number of diseases that result in dementia, with the most common cause being Alzheimer’s disease. This is where an abnormal protein surrounds brain cells and another protein damages their internal structure. Over time the chemical connections between brain cells are lost and cells begin to die.

Another common type of dementia is vascular dementia; this occurs when the oxygen supply to the brain is reduced because of narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, leading to brain cells becoming damaged or dying. The symptoms can occur suddenly, following a stroke, or develop over time after a series of small strokes.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

The different types of dementia can affect people in different ways, especially in the early stages. However many of the problems will be cognitive, and a person with dementia will often have problems with some of the following:

Day-to-day memory: Including difficulty remembering events that happened recently.

Concentrating, planning or organising: This could include having difficulty making decisions, solving problems or carrying out tasks.

Language: A person may have trouble following a conversation or finding the right word for what they want to say.

Orientation: They may lose track of the day or date, or become confused about where they are.

Visuospatial skills: This could include problems judging distances and seeing objects in three dimensions.

A person with dementia will also often have changes to their mood. They may become frustrated, irritable, easily upset or unusually sad. The symptoms will gradually get worse over time as dementia is progressive, however how quickly this happens varies from person to person.

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How is dementia diagnosed?

There is no single test for dementia; a diagnosis is based on a combination of factors, including…

Case history: The doctor will talk to the person and someone who knows them well about how their problems developed and how it is affecting their daily life.

Physical examination and tests: Blood tests and other physical examinations will help doctors to rule out any other possible causes for the person’s symptoms.

Mental ability tests: Some tests may be carried out by a doctor or psychologist to assess a patient’s memory and thinking.

A scan of the brain: This can help to confirm a diagnosis and assess which type of dementia a patient has.

Read more about diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

What is the treatment for dementia?

There is currently no cure for dementia, however there is ongoing research into how to help symptoms or to slow down their progression. Non-drug treatments available include advice, support and therapies for dementia patients. Talking therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy and cognitive rehabilitation may help some patients, while people with dementia are also encouraged to stay as active as possible – both mentally and physically.

There are some medications available to dementia patients including memantine, a drug that may be offered in the moderate or severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease to help with attention and daily living. Meanwhile people with vascular dementia are likely to be offered drugs to treat the underlying medical conditions that cause dementia, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or heart problems.

How can dementia be prevented?

While there is no proven way of preventing dementia, following a healthy and active lifestyle could reduce the risk of developing the condition. This includes maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet, staying active and avoiding excessive alcohol and smoking, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries. It has also been suggested that staying mentally and socially active into later life may reduce a person’s risk of dementia.

Caring for a loved one with dementia ?

For more information on dementia visit alzheimers.org.uk. If you think that you or anyone you know may have dementia it is important to visit your GP or talk to one of our care professionals at secure healthcare solutions .

How to Get Involved

If you need help around the home, a good option is to have a care worker come in to your home to help you.

Types of homecare available

Homecare comes in many forms and has many names used to describe it, including home help, care attendants and “carers” (not to be confused with unpaid family or friends who care for you).

Homecare can suit you if you need:

  • personal care, such as washing or dressing
  • housekeeping or domestic work, such as vacuuming
  • cooking or preparing meals
  • nursing and health care
  • companionship

Homecare can be very flexible, in order to meet your needs, and the same person or agency may be able to provide some or all of these options for the duration of your care:

  • long-term 24-hour care
  • short breaks for an unpaid family carer
  • emergency care
  • day care
  • sessions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24-hour assistance and everything in between

If you believe that you might benefit from some help at home, the first thing to do is to contact your social services department to ask for an assessment of your care and support needs. To contact social services, go to GOV.UK: find your local authority

If you are eligible for homecare services, the local authority may provide or arrange the help themselves. Alternatively, you can arrange your own care, funded by the local authority, through direct payments or a personal budget.

If you have chosen direct payments or a personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local authority help and want to get care privately, you can arrange it in several different ways.

Questions to ask when using a homecare agency

The fees some agencies charge can be quite high. Before deciding to go ahead with an agency, you should ask questions about the fee and what it covers, including:

  • Does the agency check references?
  • What training and supervision do they provide?
  • What is their complaints policy?
  • Who will be responsible for insurance?
  • Is there any out-of-hours or emergency contact if needed?
  • Will they be able to provide staff if your own care worker is ill or away? (If an agency contracts to provide care every day, it must ensure that it does.)

With Secure Healthcare as your home care service provider, you will enjoy personalised service built around your needs. Secure Healthcare pride ourselves on treating people with the same care, kindness and dignity that we would expect our loved ones to be treated.

We pride ourselves on ensuring persons needing support are Safe, our care treatment and support helps you to maintain quality of life based on best available evidence, our staff involve and treat you with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. We ensure our services are responsive to your needs and our management ensure high quality care is provided based on an individuals needs.

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

When you and your family have decided that home care is necessary, you can either hire an individual on your own, or hire a caregiver through an experienced provider. Trusting a professional licensed agency (CQC) has many advantages over finding home care privately.

Treating your family members like our own

With Secure Healthcare as your home care service provider, you will enjoy personalised service built around your needs. Secure Healthcare pride ourselves on treating people with the same care, kindness and dignity that we would expect our loved ones to be treated.

We pride ourselves on ensuring persons needing support are Safe, our care treatment and support helps you to maintain quality of life based on best available evidence, our staff involve and treat you with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. We ensure our services are responsive to your needs and our management ensure high quality care is provided based on an individuals needs.

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

So what are the benefits Of getting Care at Home?

Living independently at home is something most of us would like to do for as long as possible. When that time comes to make the decision to ask for extra support to continue to live independently as much as possible, our home care services are tailored for exactly that.

Our trained caring friendly staff have your Dignity and respect at the forefront of delivering personalised care in the comfort of your own home. When providing home care for yourself or a family member or friend, we take the time to get to know you and make sure you are continually happy with the care you received and the staff that support you.

Home care can be arranged on an hourly, daily, weekly basis or a much longer plan to suit your needs. We provides in-home care and support services to people so they can live as independently as possible in their own homes and communities. We support people to live life the way they choose.

The best person to know what support you need to remain as independent as possible in your own home is you. That is why everything we do is designed around your needs and goals. These can be relatively simple like help with shopping through to high dependency 24 hour care.

  • Housekeeping
  • Personal care
  • Companionship
  • Support with information and advice
  • Housing support
  • High dependency care
  • Live-in care
  • Respite care
  • Medication management
  • Hospital to Home service
  • Complex and specialist care

How Much Does Private Nursing Cost?

How Much Does Private Nursing Cost?

When care and support in the home is needed it is often difficult to know where to start, or how the service will be funded. You may choose to pay for care services yourself privately, in which case please contact us and we can arrange an initial meeting to discuss your needs.

One of our advisers will arrange to meet you to discuss your care and support and will be able to offer advice and guidance, spending time with you to discuss the type and level of support that best suits you and make an assessment.

Once the initial assessment has been completed we will create a personal support plan based on how you would like us to help, ensuring that you receive the services you need, when you want them. At this point we will be able to understand more about your requirements and establish what will work best for you and those around you.

Charges are usually based upon an hourly rate but we can accommodate a wide variety of requirements, from the occasional hour or part of, up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are here to provide support based on your specific needs.

Funded home care

Alternatively you may be entitled to funding support subject to your financial circumstances. For more details contact your local social services who can advise you further.

If you have already been assessed by your local council as needing social services you are likely to be allocated a personal budget this can be paid in the form of Direct Payments Individual Service Funds (ISFs) or Individual Budgets. You may come across many other phrases for these but fundamentally they all mean the same important thing that you have more choice and control over the care and support you receive.

Read more about Home Care Costs and Funding here : http://dev2.securehealthcaresolutions.co.uk/homecare/costs-and-funding/

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

How Much Does Private Nursing Cost?

What areas do we cover and serve ?

We are proud to provide excellent home care services to all the West Midlands region focusing our energy on the following towns : Wolverhampton, Bilston, Willenhall , Codsall , Essington , Ettingshall, Coven, Brude, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, West Brom,Tettenhall, Wednesfield, Bradmore, Finchfield, Wombourne, Penn, Walsall, Penkridge, Cannock, Essington, Newport (telford), Albrighton, Perton, Stourbridge

WE ARE NOW REGISTERED BY CQC AND ARE OFFERING THESE SERVICES IN HOMECARE.

 

We will always be there for you

Secure Healthcare Solutions will find for you an experienced candidate that will suit all your needs.
Call us on 01902 302017 or write us to homecare@securehealthcaresolutions.co.uk

The winter can be an incredibly difficult season for anyone, but it is especially challenging for the elderly. With a plethora of various ailments and accidents waiting to strike, elderly people are the most at risk during this precarious time of year. These weather-related disasters are best to take precautions against, and the folks with live in care can prevent most of the possible dilemmas associated with the winter by following a few steps.

When It Comes To Hypothermia…

Hypothermia is a state of bodily distress caused by the internal temperature dropping to a dangerous level. The changes that accompany ageing can increase the risk of hypothermia. The possibility of someone having hypothermia is indicated by cold skin, fatigue, confusion, and slowed heart rate. To prevent against the dangers of hypothermia , you should

  • Refrain from being outdoors for very long.
  • Stay dry and keep clothes warm.
  • Layer your outfits so that you can stay warm.

When It Comes To Frostbite…

The indicators of frostbite are ashy coloured skin and pain in the extremities, but frostbite is most likely to affect the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Though it is not normally fatal, it can result in the loss of a limb in the extreme. To prevent against the dangers of frostbite, you should

  • Cover all parts of your body, which includes wearing mittens and something over your face.
  • Run the cold parts of your body under warm water to keep them from becoming damaged.
  • Have your live in care professional ready and able to call 999 if needed.

When It Comes To Shoveling Snow…

Though snow shoveling in and of itself is not a bad thing, it can result in some very unfortunate circumstances for the elderly. The heart works extra hard to pump blood throughout the body during the cold, and this additional strenuous activity can cause some serious strain on the heart. It is also a dangerous activity for people with osteoporosis, because it can result in falls that damage bones. To prevent against the dangers of snow shoveling, you should

  • Watch out for iced pavements, including sidewalks!
  • Hire someone else to shovel the snow and salt the walkways.
  • Keep a pair of nonslip boots nearby to help control possible slipping.
  • Consider the use of additional support options, like a cane fitted with an ice pick.

As you get older, we know how important it is for you to maintain your independence and to keep enjoying the things you have always done. But have you ever considered hiring a professional carer that can help you stay in your own home spending your time doing the things you love instead of having to do the everyday chores that life requires!

We are able to offer care for a wide range of personal requirements, conditions and circumstances. Whether you want companionship and some help around your home; more specialised care for conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s; or if your family carer simply wants a holiday… whatever you require, your needs are always our priority.

The best way to find out more is to call us and allow one of our advisers to come and see you and your loved ones and make sure you feel safe and your needs can be met.

Contact our Homecare Department:
Call us on 01902 302017 or write us to homecare@securehealthcaresolutions.co.uk

 

 

The winter can be an incredibly difficult season for anyone, but it is especially challenging for the elderly. With a plethora of various ailments and accidents waiting to strike, elderly people are the most at risk during this precarious time of year. These weather-related disasters are best to take precautions against, and the folks with live in care can prevent most of the possible dilemmas associated with the winter by following a few steps.

When It Comes To Hypothermia…

Hypothermia is a state of bodily distress caused by the internal temperature dropping to a dangerous level. The changes that accompany ageing can increase the risk of hypothermia. The possibility of someone having hypothermia is indicated by cold skin, fatigue, confusion, and slowed heart rate. To prevent against the dangers of hypothermia , you should

  • Refrain from being outdoors for very long.
  • Stay dry and keep clothes warm.
  • Layer your outfits so that you can stay warm.

When It Comes To Frostbite…

The indicators of frostbite are ashy coloured skin and pain in the extremities, but frostbite is most likely to affect the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Though it is not normally fatal, it can result in the loss of a limb in the extreme. To prevent against the dangers of frostbite, you should

  • Cover all parts of your body, which includes wearing mittens and something over your face.
  • Run the cold parts of your body under warm water to keep them from becoming damaged.
  • Have your live in care professional ready and able to call 999 if needed.

When It Comes To Shoveling Snow…

Though snow shoveling in and of itself is not a bad thing, it can result in some very unfortunate circumstances for the elderly. The heart works extra hard to pump blood throughout the body during the cold, and this additional strenuous activity can cause some serious strain on the heart. It is also a dangerous activity for people with osteoporosis, because it can result in falls that damage bones. To prevent against the dangers of snow shoveling, you should

  • Watch out for iced pavements, including sidewalks!
  • Hire someone else to shovel the snow and salt the walkways.
  • Keep a pair of nonslip boots nearby to help control possible slipping.
  • Consider the use of additional support options, like a cane fitted with an ice pick.

As you get older, we know how important it is for you to maintain your independence and to keep enjoying the things you have always done. But have you ever considered hiring a professional carer that can help you stay in your own home spending your time doing the things you love instead of having to do the everyday chores that life requires!

We are able to offer care for a wide range of personal requirements, conditions and circumstances. Whether you want companionship and some help around your home; more specialised care for conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s; or if your family carer simply wants a holiday… whatever you require, your needs are always our priority.

The best way to find out more is to call us and allow one of our advisers to come and see you and your loved ones and make sure you feel safe and your needs can be met.

Contact our Homecare Department:
Call us on 01902 302017 or write us to homecare@securehealthcaresolutions.co.uk