Jim, Author at Senior Care Central

About Jim

CFO - Senior Care Central, LLC

Tips for Talking About Mental Health With a Loved One

According to the latest statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. face a diagnosable mental health condition. Sadly, many refrain from seeking help. When it comes to having a discussion about mental health with a loved one, it can be difficult to find a place to start. For the listener, it’s often difficult to find the right words to say or determine the best way to offer support. For the individual seeking help, it can be hard to describe just how they are feeling or even find the best course of action to do so. That is why we have compiled some advice to help you begin a conversation about mental health with your loved one.

Actively Listen

It’s a meaningful step for a loved one to open up about their mental health, so having an open ear to actively listen is key to understanding how you can best offer support. Being engaged in the conversation can be made easier by limiting distractions. Leave electronic devices turned off and put away when possible, and avoid bustling spaces like eateries or parks. Find somewhere private and comfortable. This will put you both at ease and also allow you to focus on what your loved one is expressing.

Don’t Judge

It’s also important to listen without judgment or comparison. It’s okay to share experiences that offer insight into coping mechanisms or that build trust and relatability, but try to refrain from making it a competition of who has it worse. This may make the individual seeking help feel as if their experience is not valid. Try your best as the listener to set opinions or biases aside to allow your loved one to express themselves without fear of disappointing you or feeling judged or embarrassed. Instead, listen with an open mind to learn and offer insight based on their specific mental health experience.

Do Your Research

When a loved one comes forward to discuss their mental health, it may be a challenge to really understand just what they are going through on a day-to-day basis. This is where ample research can help you as the listener. Find relevant online resources, like this example from WebMD, that give a digestible overview of specific mental health disorders that your loved one may be struggling with. Bring this research to the conversation and make note of their unique mental health experience and how it applies to what you have learned. This can allow you to be a better resource for next steps and set plans of action to help them cope with their mental health.

Be a Resource

Once you’ve determined the next steps based on the discussions you have had with your loved one about their mental health, set those steps in motion. Review everyday habits they can instill in their routine to feel a better sense of control over their mental health. Be present enough as well to know when to seek help that you, as the listener, can not provide yourself. This may include suggesting the need for professional help. Online psychiatry resources make it easier than ever to commit to routine help from professionals, all while staying in the comfort of your own space. As the listener, this can be a difficult topic to broach, but don’t be afraid to push your loved one to seek professional help if needed and reassure them that you will be with them every step of the way.

By Jim|2023-08-25T18:57:19-05:00September 13th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Pets Provide Significant Health Benefits

Pets Provide Significant Health Benefits By Rachel Blankmeyer, DVM

Some of our closest companions, especially as we age, are our four-legged friends. The human-animal bond provides many benefits to people who may otherwise be isolated due to emotional, behavioral, or physical problems. Research shows several health benefits of pet ownership for older adults, including lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels. A study by Friedmann & Thomas in 1995 showed that pet ownership actually resulted in increased survival rates after a heart attack. Other studies have shown that pets may provide social support similar to that of a family member for older adults. Consider additional general health benefits such as weight control and stress reduction, and pet ownership seems like a win-win situation!

You may have heard of the Alzheimer’s patient study performed by Edwards & Beck in 2002, where persons with Alzheimer’s disease observed a facility fish tank and demonstrated improved relaxation, alertness, and eating habits. This is a huge deal for patients dealing with dementia because at least 50% experience weight loss, increasing the mortality rate and progression of disease. Stroke survivors may also specifically benefit from animal companionship through improved communication, dexterity, mobility and balance. As a veterinarian, I may be biased, but the facts don’t lie: animals help all of us have a more active daily life, and can enrich our lives emotionally! So, consider the cost-benefit ratio:

Adopting your new forever friend from your local shelter…$35
Pet food for one month…$10
Years of companionship and improved health…priceless.

By Jim|2023-08-25T18:55:50-05:00September 3rd, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: Common Skin Conditions Affecting the Elderly

No matter how well we take care of ourselves, advancing age eventually takes its toll – especially on our skin. Over time, the various components that make up our bodies gradually become less able to resist the onset of decay. The epidermis, which is the body’s largest organ, is no exception. As we age, it dries out, grows thinner, and becomes more vulnerable to disease. These naturally-occurring difficulties are compounded when an elderly patient is confined to a long-term care facility.

In some cases, a skin problem may indicate an underlying condition that has gone undetected. Skin conditions can also arise from problems in positioning for patients who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair for an extended period. Once the wound has been healed, the caregiver should make sure that its cause is determined and addressed, and nothing else is being overlooked.

While there are many possible skin disorders that can affect the epidermis of an elderly patient, not all of them will require treatment. Some do, however, and the following are a few of the more common conditions and their possible treatments.

Allergic Reactions

It has been estimated that approximately 5-10% of people 65 or older suffer from an allergic disease. In addition to those who suffer from allergies throughout their lives, some individuals only develop allergies once they reach an advanced age. Underlying medical conditions, memory issues, the use of several medications simultaneously, and overall poor health, can also contribute to the late appearance of an allergy problem in an elderly patient.

Prescription medications are often the culprit when a geriatric patient develops a systemic allergic reaction. Because of this, anyone who does have allergies should be asked about any recent new medications he or she may have begun taking. However, there are other potential causes, including exposure to detergents or mites. Allergic reactions can present in a wide array of symptoms, making it difficult to sometimes narrow down a specific cause.

Allergic reactions should always be treated with topical steroids for one to two weeks. The caregiver should also make sure that the cause of the reaction has been addressed.

Fungal Infections

The most common fungal infection, regardless of a patient’s age, is candidiasis, which is a yeast infection that tends to appear on occluded regions of the epidermis, such as in the folds of the skin or under dressings. It’s most dangerous to older patients and most transmittable to patients who are confined to bed or a wheelchair. In geriatric patients, candidiasis presents with chills, fever, pustular skin lesions, and in some cases, symptoms indicating sepsis.

Fortunately, candidiasis can be prevented by applying miconazole powder to at-risk patches of skin. When it does appear, it should be treated by applying clotrimazole or nystatin cream to the affected areas. If it becomes a recurring problem for patients, bowel eradication using nystatin pastilles should be considered. The provider should also be sure to check the patient for signs of retinal lesions, as many elderly patients suffer from cataracts.

Another common fungal problem is seborrheic dermatitis, which is caused by infection from a different type of yeast, malassezia furfur. It presents as red and scaly patches of skin typically found in areas where hair is present; particularly the head, neck, and chest. It can be treated with ketoconazole (nizoral) 2% shampoo or selenium sulfide 2.5% (Selsun Blue).

Staph and Strep infections

Staph and strep infections are also among the most common problems health professionals will face in patients at a long-term care facility. Studies have estimated that, at any given time, 30-40% of long-term care residents are experiencing a fungal infection.

A staph infection typically results when bacteria enter the epidermis through a sore or a cut (including in areas where a patient may be attached to a catheter or other medical device). The infection presents painfully as a red, swollen patch on the skin. This may be accompanied by pus drainage, a skin abscess, warmth in the area, and a fever as well. In more severe cases, patients may even experience shortness of breath, chills, chest pain, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and rashes.

When a geriatric patient is suffering from a staph or strep infection, it should first be treated with a topical antibiotic such as mupirocin (bactroban). If this does not cure the infection and it enters the surrounding tissue, a tissue culture should then be taken to determine what organism is causing the problem. Depending on the results, a systemic antibiotic – usually augmentin, bactrim, ciprofloxacin, or tetracycline – should be given to the patient.

By Jim|2023-07-31T12:47:31-05:00August 22nd, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: 5 Signs of Mental Health Issues for Seniors

When you’ve started to notice changes in an elderly relative, you may wonder if a mental health issue is the cause. While it is important a mental health professional diagnoses these issues, some signs exist indicating that the time has come to make an appointment.

Depression
Depression can occur for a host of reasons. Elderly individuals may be suffering from the loss of a loved one, or they may feel alienated, isolated or otherwise separated from their friends or from their interests outside of the house. Individuals who seem filled with sadness and negative emotions or who are hinting about emotional turmoil may need outpatient or inpatient treatment for depression.

Anxiety Issues/Bipolar Disorder
You may also notice that your loved ones are having heightened periods of elevation followed by periods of deep sadness. They could be suffering from bipolar disorder. Serious anxieties could begin to manifest at this age too. For example, you may notice that your elderly relatives always seem to be thinking about their own death or about expected loss of other loved ones.

Memory Loss
As people age, you may think that it is a normal occurrence for them to forget information that they would have once remembered. However, these early slips could be signs of a more serious problem that is coming into fruition. Your loved ones might now be forgetting about certain dates or social events, but these struggles could turn into failures to take medication or complete other necessary medical tasks.

Personal Care
If you notice that your loved ones are not taking care of themselves as they used to, this situation could also be a sign of mental health issues. For example, you may have noticed that your relatives are no longer brushing their teeth or bathing on a regular basis. Seeking professional help can uncover the root of the issue so that a plan of treatment can be devised.

Social Withdrawal
Your loved ones might also seem to not want to participate in social activities anymore. Whether they are constantly declining invites to attend family functions or they do not want to participate in community activities any longer, these decisions could be signs that a mental health issue is present.

As your loved ones age, you may be the lookout for physical health issues. While addressing these problems is imperative, so is watching for signs of mental health struggles. May is mental health awareness month, get involved to help bring awareness to this important cause!

By Jim|2023-07-31T12:46:32-05:00August 16th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Introduction

As mindfulness encompassing natural issues keeps on developing, more people are looking for ways of taking on eco-accommodating practices in their day-to-day routines. One region in which maintainability assumes an urgent part is in our food decisions. Selecting eco-accommodating eats helps the climate and supports a solid way of life. By zeroing in on maintainable obtaining rehearses, we can guarantee that the food we devour isn’t just great for us yet additionally created with deference for the planet. In this article, we will investigate what practical obtaining means for our food decisions and how it adds to a solid and ecologically conscious way of life.

1. Organic and sustainable agriculture

Sustainable sourcing encourages agricultural practices that are less harmful to the environment. It underlines natural cultivating strategies instead of ordinary ones that depend intensely on pesticides and engineered composts. Natural cultivating maintains a strategic distance from the utilization of these hurtful synthetic substances, diminishing water contamination, soil debasement, and damage to helpful bugs, birds, and untamed life. Consuming natural produce dispenses with possible openness to poisons and guarantees a higher substance of supplements because of the shortfall of destructive compound buildups.

2. Diminished Carbon Impression

Maintainable obtaining decreases fossil fuel byproducts related to food creation and transportation. By focusing on privately obtained fixings, less energy is exhausted in moving food from far-off areas. This implies fresher and more nutritious choices with a significantly lower carbon impression. Picking occasional and privately created food varieties upholds nearby ranchers and organizations and diminishes dependence on petroleum derivatives in food transportation.

3. Encouragement of Biodiversity

Practical obtaining adds to the conservation and insurance of biodiversity. It empowers the development and utilization of assorted and legacy crops, supporting seed banks and hereditary variety. This natural practice shields plant species, guaranteeing their reasonability and versatility despite environmental change and other ecological difficulties. We aid in the preservation of ecosystems and contribute to the maintenance of a balanced and resilient environment by consuming foods that are sourced sustainably.

4. Moral Creature Cultivation

Supportable obtaining stretches out to creature farming, advancing moral and capable practices. It places the humane treatment of animals first, ensuring that they are raised in sustainable natural settings. Natural and feasible cultivating frequently underscores unfenced and field-raised creatures, where creatures approach normal scrounge and are not exposed to packed or upsetting conditions. By consuming creature items from such practices, we support the compassionate treatment of animals and add to the strength of our planet.

5. Keeping Freshwater Resources Safe

Additionally, freshwater conservation is a primary focus of sustainable sourcing practices. Horticulture is a significant water customer, and impractical cultivating practices can drain dirty water sources. Conversely, supportable horticulture executes water protection methods, for example, dribble water system and water collecting that limit water squandering. By picking reasonably obtained food sources, we advance the safeguarding of clean water sources, helping us and people in the future.

6. Foods that are local and high in nutrients

Manageable obtaining supports the utilization of nearby and supplement thick food sources. Privately obtained produce frequently calls for less investment and assets to ship, bringing about fresher and more delectable choices plentiful in nutrients and minerals. Eating an eating regimen bountiful in new natural products, vegetables, entire grains, and reasonably obtained proteins advances, by and large, well-being and decreases the gamble of persistent sicknesses.

7. Kratom of the Red Sort: An Eco-accommodating Choice

Among the different eco-accommodating choices, red strain kratom is an imperative expansion. Kratom is a spice that numerous people use for its other properties, including relief from discomfort and unwinding. Selecting economically obtained red strain kratom guarantees that the sauce is collected and created utilizing harmless ecosystem strategies. This indicates that the plants are harvested ethically, processed without chemicals, and grown naturally. Picking a feasible red strain of kratom upholds a sound way of life while being aware of the climate.

Conclusion

Integrating supportable obtaining rehearses into our food decisions is a fundamental stage toward a sound and ecologically conscious way of life. From natural cultivating to diminishing fossil fuel byproducts and supporting biodiversity, maintainable obtaining offers various advantages. By choosing economically obtained food varieties, we focus on our prosperity while regarding the planet. Allow us to pursue cognizant choices that line up with maintainable acquiring works, selecting eco-accommodating eats that add to a better world for us and people in the future.

By Jim|2023-08-11T09:01:50-05:00August 11th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

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