Background

Once thought to be mainly a disorder of children, recurrent seizures or epilepsy is thought to be present in about 7% of older adults (Spitz, 2005) and is usually related to one of the common comorbidities found in older adults (Bergey, 2004; Rowan & Tuchman, 2003). Epilepsy affects up to 3 million Americans of all ages (Velez & Selwa, 2003). Davidson & Davidson (2012) summarized findings of most studies on epilepsy in older adults with these main points:
Seizures can be caused by a variety of conditions in older persons, but “the most common cause of new-onset epilepsy in an elderly person is arteriosclerosis and the associated cerebrovascular disease” (Spitz, 2005, p. 1), accounting for 40–50% of seizures in this age group (Rowan & Tuchman, 2003). Seizures are associated with stroke in 5–14% of survivors (Spitz, 2005; Velez & Selwa, 2003). Other common causes of epilepsy in the elderly include Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumor.
There are three major classifications of epilepsies, although there are many additional types. Generalized types are more common in young people and associated with grand mal or tonic-clonic seizures. A number of cases have an un¬determined origin and may be associated with certain situations such as high fever, exposure to toxins, or rare metabolic events. In older adults, localized (partial or focal) epilepsies are more common, particularly complex partial seizures (Luggen, 2009). In contrast to young adults, Rowan and Tuchman (2003) cite other differences in seizures in the elderly: low frequency of seizure activity, easier to control, high potential for injury, a prolonged postictal period, and better tolerance with newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Additionally, older adults may have coexisting medical problems and take many medications to treat these problems.

Risk Factors/Warning Signs

Risk factors for seizures in older adults include cerebrovascular disease (especially stroke), age, and head trauma. The most obvious signs and symptoms of epilepsy are seizures, although changes in behavior, cognition, and level of consciousness may be other signs. Also, note that exposure to toxins can cause seizures that are not epilepsy. Complex partial seizures in older adults may include symptoms such as “confusion, memory loss, dizziness, and shortness of breath” (Davidson & Davidson, 2012, p. 16). Automatism (repetitive movements), facial twitching with following confusion, and coughing are also signs of the more-common complex partial seizure (Luggen, 2009).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by careful description of the seizure event, a thorough history, and physical. Eyewitness accounts of the seizure incident can be quite helpful, although many community-dwelling older adults go undiagnosed because their seizures are never witnessed. In addition, complete blood work, neuroimaging, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG) help determine the cause and type of seizure (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence {NICE}, 2012).

Treatment

Treatment for epilepsy is aimed at the causal factor. The standard treatment for recurrent seizures is antiepilepsy drugs (AEDs). The rule of thumb, “start low and go slow,” for medication dosing in older adults particularly applies to AEDs. The elderly tend to have more side effects, adverse drug interactions, and problems with toxicity levels than younger people.
Research has suggested that older adults may have better results with fewer side effects with the newer AEDs than the traditional ones, though about 10% of nursing home residents are still medicated with the first-generation AEDs (Mauk, 2004). The most common older medications used to treat seizures include barbiturates (such as phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (such as diazepam/Valium), hydantoins (such as phenytoin/Dilantin), and valproates (such as valproic acid/Depakene) (Deglin & Vallerand, 2005; Resnick, 2008).
Several newer drugs are also used, depending on the type of seizure. Second-generation AEDs, including gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), levetiracetam (Keppra), pregabalin (Lyrica), tiagabine (Gabitril), and topiramate (Topamax), are generally recommended over the older AEDs; however, older AEDS such as phenytoin (Dilantin), valproate (Depakote), and carbamazepine (Tegretol) are the most commonly prescribed treatment options (Resnick, 2008). Each of these medications has specific precautions for use in patients with certain types of medical problems or for those taking certain other medications. Regarding side effects in older patients, watch for potential stomach, kidney, neurological (especially poor balance or incoordination), and liver problems. Additionally, some newer extended-release AEDs are thought to be better tolerated and have a lower incidence of systemic side effects (such as tremors) (Uthman, 2004).

Adapted from Mauk, K. L., Hanson, P., & Hain, D. (2014). Review of the management of common illnesses, diseases, or health conditions. In K. L. Mauk’s (Ed.) Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care.Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Used with permission.

 

Are you thinking whether you should be taking care of your pet as you age?

When you age, you wonder if you should adopt a pet?

This guide will help you decide on the best choice for you. Studies have shown that having a pet can be advantageous both physically and psychologically for people of all ages. In the case of senior citizens, only 15 minutes of bonding with an animal causes a chemical chain reaction in the brain, reducing rates of fight-or-flight hormone, cortisol, and the development of nostalgic hormone serotonin.

The result: a sudden decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress rates. Long-term relationships between pets and humans can minimize cholesterol levels, fight depression, and even help protect against heart disease and stroke.

Getting a pet or engaging with one will enhance elderly people’s health and wellness, improving both physical health and mood. Get emotional support animal registration for trained animals as per your requirement.

There are a few key reasons why elderly people should keep pets.

Lower blood pressure

Scientists think stroking a dog or cat will help you relax and therefore reduce blood pressure. A 2002 study revealed that dog or cat owners had lower resting heart rates and blood pressure than those who did not have pets.

Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke

According to scientists, owning a dog can relieve stress and anxiety and therefore reduce the risk of heart disease. A study that looked at over 4400 adults aged between 30 and 75, including half who owned a dog, showed that 3.4% had died from a heart attack over ten years. 5.8 per cent had died from heart attacks in the community who had never owned a pet.

Better mood

Stroking a dog can be comforting to both parties. If you stroke a dog, a hormone called oxytocin is released, which is linked to anxiety relief. A study conducted at Uppsala University in Sweden presented at the 12th International Conference of Human-Animal Interactions in 2010, showed that friendly human-dog interaction releases oxytocin in both humans and dogs. It is interesting if you walk down the street with a dog how many people look at him and it brings a smile to their face. That really stimulates a positive emotional response.

Fewer visits to the doctor

According to Pets for The Elderly Foundation in the US, 21% of older people with a pet have fewer veterinarian visits. Owning a pet like a dog will make you more active. Being regularly active is noted for reducing heart disease and the risk of having a stroke, as well as reducing the risk of developing diseases like dementia and some cancers. Experts also agree that post-sickness or surgery pets will help us heal faster.

Better social contact

Walking a dog is more likely to promote social interaction and conversations with others and lead to an increased likelihood of new friendships. When you walk a dog, there is more risk of starting up conversations with pet owners in parks and other public areas.

Less stress

Stroking a pet is thought to reduce the level of stress-related hormones in the blood according to Professor Adnan Qureshi from Minnesota University. Reducing stress can help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rate.

More affection and love

Focusing on taking care of an animal is a great way to give and receive love. Recognizing the treatment and bonding value of owning a dog and focusing emotional energy on a pet is a good thing.

More active

Dog walkers will naturally be active. A 1991 study showed that pet owners typically had higher rates of activity and less mild health issues.

A greater sense of comfort and security

The pets can be their key source of support for many elderly people who lack daily social contact and company. Ninety-five percent of the elderly people talked to their pets in a survey by Pets for the Elderly Foundation, while 82 percent said that their pets support them when they felt sad.

A positive focus and a sharper mind

A researcher noticed a marked improvement in her late mother, who had vascular dementia when caring for her dog. ‘My mother loved her dog and was always happier when she was around. When her dog passed away, mum was understandably distraught, but I also noticed a change in her mood and mental function. Her dementia seemed to get worse – she became less focused, more detached, and more easily confused. Her dog had given her a sense of purpose and focus.’

Animal therapy

Animal therapy is common in care homes, as it has been shown to reduce anxiety and enhance social contact in people with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society actively encourages those with dementia to keep pets for as long as they can or interact with them as much as possible. However, if you are taking a pet into a care home or to a person’s home, make sure they have the right temperament and will comfort the person rather than cause more stress. Make sure dogs are unlikely to leap or bark excessively and make sure pets are friendly and unlikely to bite when stroked.

Improved overall health

According to researchers, pet owners look safer than those who don’t own pets. According to pet study Allen R McConnell, a psychology professor at Miami University, people with a strong relationship with their pets are on average happier than those who do not have pets.

Hope this article gave you the reason to keep a pet for yourself or for your elderly loved ones. Spread love!

 

A diet is simply a way of eating. Some people diet with too much food, some people with too little food. But for most people, it’s just the wrong foods. However, one thing is for sure, diets don’t work. They never had and they never will. Just ask anyone who has been on any of the well-known, celebrity-endorsed diet plans for any length of time.

Note: Check out this guide to flexible dieting on how to escape the dieting life!

Dieters are often excited about the quick weight loss, but invariably, the diet doesn’t last forever and they quickly find that not only did they gain back all they lost, but they have taken on extra pounds too.

Dieting in the typical sense actually sets you up to fail in your attempt to lose those extra pounds. Immediately on any diet plan, your caloric intake is limited. That in itself isn’t a bad thing. Most meal portions have become unnecessarily large these days and actually need to be kept in check.

When you limit the number of calories consumed to get quick weight loss results on your diet plan, your body has to compensate for this loss. That’s when it begins to break down muscle tissue so as to maintain energy levels. The body also adjusts its requirements for energy and slows down its rate of metabolism.

But what happens when you go back to eating the way you did before? Well, your body is still functioning in diet mode. Your metabolism has slowed, so all that extra food is stored as fat. So you end up heavier than you were before you started dieting.

It’s also important to stress that activity can play a vital role in this too. If you can maintain your normal activity while dieting then you’re one of the few. Take a look at athletes for example. They follow a nutrition plan that that’s heavy in calories as activity like rugby training needs to be fueled. Dieting wouldn’t be an option for athletes and they do not put on unnecessary weight. The point here is that you need to also try and be active to help with your new lifestyle, dieting makes it even harder.

Aside from calorie restriction, here are other reasons why dieting isn’t sustainable for most people;

Too Restrictive – frankly speaking, diets are depressing. They take away all the fun foods and all of a sudden you can’t have chocolate anymore. Oh, now all you see is chocolate, it’s everywhere and everyone is having a bite… except you. Then, you cheat and go right back to square one.

Your Body Rejects It – your body likes eating and wants to eat. Denying your body means your body fights you to get more food. It forces you to cheat and go right back to square one.

The ‘fad diet of the week‘ is not right for your metabolism – your body needs certain nutrients. Your cravings match those nutrients. When you force your body to eat a way it doesn’t like, it slows downs, becomes clogged, and sick. You don’t even need to cheat and you’re worse now then you were at square one.

So how do you really lose fat and keep it off for good?

Getting down to your ideal weight and maintaining it means eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise. It doesn’t mean a severe restriction in calories and spending hours at the gym. Simply pay more attention to the foods you eat and move around more.

Easy exercises like walking, cycling and swimming can go a long way to shaping a leaner, healthier you. Even walking 5 minutes per day is enough to get started. Then, work up to better and better exercises until you are exercising every day, alternating between strength training, cardio, and stretching.

Attaining and maintaining a healthy weight is as much about adjusting your self-concept and attitude as it is your lifestyle.

When you change the way you see yourself, it’s easy to make those necessary changes. In fact they often happen subconsciously. Your weight is governed by your self-concept. When you change the assumptions about yourself and your body, you change the results. That’s how you master weight loss forever.

 

 

If you are one of the over 40 million family caregivers in the U.S. providing care for an aging parent or relative, chances are you wear several hats including chauffeur, insurance wrangler, cook, housekeeper, pharmacist, nurse, and therapist. The truth is that many seniors struggle with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, and it falls to their care network to help them stay positive and seek help.

Everything from hearing loss to mobility impairment can strip a senior of their sense of independence and self-reliance, so finding creative and fun ways to boost their mood is a must. Check out these top ideas:

 

Give Their Mobility Aid a Makeover
If having to use a cane, walker, or wheelchair has your loved one feeling down in the pits, help them embrace the situation more positively by upgrading their mobility aid with some helpful add-ons. Personalize your wheelchair or your loved one’s with helpful accessories like bags, baskets, and hanging pockets that make toting around personal items easier. Decorate their cane or walker with a bright-colored paint job. Add padded grip covers and cushions for extra comfort or don their cane with a helpful wrist strap.

Volunteer Together
Few things fill the heart quite like helping others. Even if your aging parent isn’t able to get out of the house to help at the food pantry or join the walk-a-thon, they can still make a difference in the lives of others right from home. Online tutoring, making a meal for a local children’s shelter or neighbor in need, joining a local political group to make calls or do neighborhood canvassing, putting together bags of toiletries, water, socks, and snacks for homeless people . . . the ideas are endless. Serving others helps to re-instill a sense of purpose in your loved one’s life and can be just the silver lining they’re looking for.

Video Chat Faraway Friends and Family
Maintaining strong social connections and interacting with other people goes a long way to fighting depression in seniors as well as keeping their minds sharp. It’s not easy to make long trips to see faraway relatives and friends, and talking on the phone isn’t always the clearest experience. Set up a free, live video chat for your loved one instead with services like Skype or Google+ Hangout. You will need a webcam/mic if you don’t already have one installed on your computer, however, it’s super easy to video call someone over Wifi (for free!) and chat with them face to face.

Listen to Music

A growing body of research is pointing to more and more benefits when it comes to the idea of ‘music therapy’. Music has not only been shown to help thwart motor impairment associated with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, but it can also improve mood and help relieve stress. For older adults with dementia, listening to nostalgic music from their younger years may help stimulate stronger memory and cognitive functioning too. Free services like Spotify and Pandora let you create playlists of songs based on genres and artists your loved one enjoys, try them out today!