A senior couple spread their arms wide in front of a clear blue sky as a symbol of overcoming chronic pain in older adults.

Chronic Pain in Older Adults: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

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A senior couple spread their arms wide in front of a clear blue sky as a symbol of overcoming chronic pain in older adults.

Comprehensive care and understanding can alleviate chronic pain in older adults.

Imagine waking up every day to the persistence of relentless pain, feeling discomfort as you move to sit up and begin your day. Picture the struggle of performing simple tasks that exacerbate this pain, and the difficulty in finding restful sleep at night. This is the harsh reality for millions of individuals who live with chronic pain. In the United States alone, chronic pain affects approximately 50 million adults, with seniors being particularly vulnerable. It’s estimated that up to 85% of older adults endure some form of chronic pain, making it a widespread issue that significantly diminishes their quality of life. Read more

A cartoon man is investigating the traumatic brain injury symptoms in someone’s head.

Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms for Varying Parts of the Brain

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A cartoon man is investigating the traumatic brain injury symptoms in someone’s head.

Learn the traumatic brain injury symptoms for each part of the brain.

The brain is undoubtedly the most complex and integral part of the body, controlling everything from major heart functions to breathing. It operates behind the scenes, making sure we stay alive, and, in the foreground as the home of our awareness. That is why, clearly, when a person encounters a traumatic brain injury, there is so much fear. Read more

Older adult woman providing support for her mother who is experiencing vision changes in Alzheimer’s.

Seeing the World Differently: Exploring Vision Changes in Alzheimer’s

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Older adult woman providing support for her mother who is experiencing vision changes in Alzheimer’s.

Family caregivers can help a loved one adapt to vision changes in Alzheimer’s with these tips.

The complex steps necessary to make it possible for us to use our sense of vision are mind-boggling. In the blink of an eye, our brains can take transmitted details from the world around us, translate that data based upon input from our other senses, thoughts, and experiences, and then develop an understanding of that information to help make us aware of what we are seeing. Read more

Woman Helping Senior Neighbor To Remove Jar Lid

Beyond Medication: Effective Strategies for Managing Osteoarthritis Pain

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Woman Helping Senior Neighbor To Remove Jar Lid

There are a number of alternative strategies that can assist with managing osteoarthritis pain.

Osteoarthritis impacts nearly 27 million Americans, which makes it the most widespread form of arthritis. It is a significant source of work disability and reduced quality of life. However, managing osteoarthritis pain does not mean only popping pills to find relief. The home health care team at Harmony Home Health & Hospice can help individuals diagnosed with osteoarthritis manage the pain through a variety of alternative methods.

After being correctly diagnosed, there are various strategies to manage the pain of osteoarthritis. Some approaches tend to be more traditional than others, but considering not every person reacts to therapies in the same way, it is a good idea for each individual to try several techniques (with the recommendation of a physician) to find out what works best.

What Are Some Strategies for Managing Osteoarthritis Pain?

Controlling Weight

One of the most important strategies to manage the discomfort of arthritis is controlling weight. For each pound of weight lost, there is a 4-pound drop in the weight exerted on the knee when performing everyday activities; and losing 11 pounds can reduce the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis by an astounding 50% for some people.

Exercise

Regular exercise helps keep joints active, diminishes pain and makes muscles around the joints stronger. Swimming is ideal for individuals with osteoarthritis because the water’s buoyancy allows for exercise with minimal impact stress to the joints, while at the same time, developing strength and increasing range of motion.

Relaxation

When treating the body for osteoarthritis pain, do not neglect the power of the mind. The mind plays a crucial role in how an individual experiences pain and responds to illness. Coping with tension through relaxation tactics can give a sense of control and wellbeing that makes it easier to manage osteoarthritis pain and may also minimize depression, anxiety, and sleeping issues.

Cold and Warm Therapy

Cold and warm therapy can also be beneficial pain management treatments. Heat therapy, including a warm shower, hot pack, or heating pad, can loosen rigid and sore muscles. Cold therapy, including cold compresses and frozen gel packs, can help by numbing nerve endings in afflicted spots. Note that individuals who have Reynaud’s syndrome should not use cold therapies.

Occupational Therapy

A physician may recommend occupational therapy for a person with osteoarthritis. Occupational therapists can help with body mechanics (learning how to move the body in such a way that will not increase pain), joint protection techniques, and modifying daily activities to conserve energy.

Harmony Home Health & Hospice is available to help individuals with arthritis remain independent and in control of life. We recognize the unique needs of people diagnosed with arthritis and offer a number of home health care solutions based on each person’s needs.

Contact Harmony Home Health & Hospice at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE for more information on our home health care services and to learn about partnering with an agency that can provide support when a helping hand is needed. We proudly offer our top-rated services in New Mexico and Utah. Visit our Service Area page to learn more about the communities we serve.

Recovering at home

Modifications for a Wheelchair-Friendly Home

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Recovering at home

Creating a wheelchair-friendly home starts with basic modifications to ensure safety.

Home is our sanctuary; it’s where we feel most comfortable, even during the more trying times in our lives. That’s why so many older adults are choosing to age in place in the comfort of home. However, as people age, loss of mobility due to chronic illness, injury, or general frailty can become an issue. To help people in this situation, the use of a wheelchair is often recommended. But incorporating a wheelchair into the home can present a variety of challenges when it comes to safety and access. Read more

Positive old grandfather holding walking stick resting on couch

Maintaining Independence with Assistive Devices for Seniors

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Positive old grandfather holding walking stick resting on couch

Assistive devices for seniors can be easily incorporated into daily life and help maintain independence.

Consider the various tools you utilize every single day – your phone, hairbrush, toothbrush – simple items, but ones you cannot picture living without. Now, imagine struggling to use those items and finding it challenging to accomplish daily tasks. Having access to assistive devices for seniors could mean the difference between living at home and facing a move to assisted living. However, almost half of seniors living at home aren’t utilizing these useful tools – despite the fact that prices are minimal. Read more

Senior man sitting and looking at his medication despondantly

Safe Medication Management for Seniors: Strategies to Avoid Common Issues

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Senior man sitting and looking at his medication despondantly

With a majority of older adults taking at least one prescription daily, safe medication management for seniors is a top priority.

A study of over 2,000 older adults revealed that a remarkable 87% take a minimum of one prescription drug, and a staggering 36% are taking 5 or more – as well as 38% using over-the-counter meds on a routine basis. Safe medication management for seniors is essential, as there are a number of risks and dangers that can occur in the process.

As specialists in aging care, Harmony Home Health & Hospice’s caregiving team helps older adults to ensure meds are taken when and how they are prescribed. It’s also extremely important to understand common problems older adults experience with using their prescriptions, and how to conquer them. As an example:

Sometimes, signs or symptoms continue in spite of taking medications properly. Busy medical practitioners may prescribe what is known as a “starter dose” of a medication, which calls for follow-up to figure out if modification is necessary; but in many cases, that follow-up never occurs. Make sure to schedule a subsequent visit with the doctor when a new medication is prescribed, and make certain the older adult keeps that appointment.

Side effects could very well be worse than the condition being treated. Of particular issue are medications that impact a senior’s balance and thinking – escalating the chance of a fall or other hazardous consequences. Drugs to be particularly cautious about include anticholinergics, sedatives/tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and opiates. Consult with the physician if any of these medications are prescribed for an older relative and carefully weigh the possible risks against benefits.

Staying compliant with medication adherence may be a challenge. Remembering that one particular med needs to be taken with food, while another on an empty stomach, another with a full glass of water, one before breakfast and two at bedtime, can make it tremendously challenging to take prescriptions precisely when and how they are prescribed. Engage the services of a home health care agency, such as Harmony Home Health & Hospice, for medication reminders and management.

Cost may be prohibitive. When cost for a specific prescription is high, older adults could very well be tempted to reduce their dosage amounts to reduce cost – a very risky behavior. Older adults should instead talk with their doctors about generic versions of medications, or any other methods to keep cost at a minimum.

Be informed on likely interactions with other meds. Bring a full listing of all the medications a loved one is taking to a physician or pharmacist with knowledge in polypharmacy, who is able to confirm that the drugs can safely be taken in conjunction with one another. Be sure to include any over-the-counter medications taken regularly as well. For a fast online evaluation, this drug interaction checker lets you enter each of a senior’s medications and view any concerns, which can then be discussed with his or her doctor.

Contact Harmony Home Health & Hospice online or at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE for more medication management tips, as well as for professional hands-on assistance with a full range of home health care services. For a full list of all the communities in New Mexico and Utah where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.

Senior woman on a video call with her doctor

Medications That Increase Fall Risk in Seniors & Tips for Prevention

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Senior woman on a video call with her doctor

Learn about medications that increase fall risk in seniors and learn how to ensure a loved one’s safety.

We’ve long known that there are particular medications that increase fall risk for seniors. Twenty years ago, slightly over half of all seniors were impacted by that risk; yet now, that number has risen considerably – to an astounding 94% of seniors who are now vulnerable to falling due to medication side effects. Not only that, but deaths from such falls are occurring at more than double the prior rate.

The research doesn’t expressly identify these medications as the cause for fatality in the falls experienced, but suggests the need for further research into the dosages being prescribed. Joshua Niznik in the geriatric medicine division at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine notes, “We’re starting to understand now that the dose of the medication that someone is on is really what we should be looking at probably with the greatest level of scrutiny, and that really has a strong correlation with falls.”

It is essential for seniors and their physicians to work together to strike the perfect balance between managing the conditions that require these medications and preventing additional complications from a fall.

Amy Shaver, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, and lead author of the research study, states, “These drugs are all necessary medications, but there needs to be a conversation about risks and advantages, that pro-con conversation about: For this particular patient at this particular point in time, what can we do?”

What Medications Increase Fall Risk for Seniors?

Medications that are specifically connected with fall risk include those for depression, blood pressure management, seizures, pain, and psychosis, among others. Women are most often prescribed these types of medications, and those 85 and older are experiencing the highest spike in fall-related deaths.

One step seniors can take to help is to have the home assessed for fall risk, and to implement any recommended safety precautions. Harmony Home Health & Hospice is pleased to offer an evaluation, scheduled at a time convenient to you. We can also help minimize fall risk through services such as:

  • Making sure that medicines are taken just as prescribed
  • Aiding in safe walking and transfers
  • Encouraging older adults to engage in physician-approved exercise programs to bolster balance, flexibility, and strength
  • And so much more

To learn more about how our home health care team helps families in New Mexico and Utah, schedule an assessment today by contacting us online or giving us a call at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE!

A sticky note that says UROLOGIST

Tips for Living With Chronic Kidney Disease

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A sticky note that says UROLOGIST

Help a loved one living with chronic kidney disease maintain quality of life with these tips.

Hiccupping. Itching. Changes in appetite and sleep. These are just some of the seemingly innocuous red flags that might indicate a person is living with chronic kidney disease. And with upwards of 20 million people in the U.S. alone diagnosed with the disease, in addition to many more who are as yet undiagnosed, it’s essential that individuals experiencing these symptoms bring them to the attention of the physician.  

What’s the Best Way to Manage Chronic Kidney Disease? 

If kidney disease is identified, sharing these tips from the National Kidney Center with the person you are caring for can help them to improve quality of life: 

  • Become educated. Power is obtained through knowledge, and motivating the person to learn as much as possible about the disease will help with better managing it.  
  • Gain control. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the individual with kidney disease to be aware of their symptoms, monitor test results and treatments, and manage the disease and daily life choices. As the person’s caregiver, you can empower them to be mindful of their sense of control. 
  • Stay healthy. Following a diet that’s suggested for kidney disease, in addition to participating in doctor-approved physical exercise and taking medications as prescribed are necessary for the person’s health. 
  • Be productive. Both physical and mental health are positively affected when the person has purposeful work and activities to do. Help the individual you love to continue to be active through volunteering with a cause of interest. 
  • Be proactive. Motivate the person with kidney disease to think through a plan for the future, including different treatment options to consider if their condition should worsen or change. 

Most importantly for those with kidney disease – or any other health condition – it’s crucial to remain socially connected with family and friends who can provide encouragement and inspiration. As the individual’s main family caregiver, you play a vital role in offering necessary companionship, meal planning and preparation, personal care services, housekeeping, and the many other ways you provide assistance to improve quality of life. Make sure that while you are providing care for your loved one you are also taking plenty of time for self-care, something that is incredibly important but often overlooked by overwhelmed family caregivers. 

At Harmony Home Health & Hospice, we work one-on-one with clients and their families to provide education and support for those with kidney disease and a variety of other long-term health conditions. Contact us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE to find out more about how our home health services help families in New Mexico and Utah. 

Help ease the side effects of cancer treatment with these tips.

These Tips Will Help Ease the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

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Help ease the side effects of cancer treatment with these tips.

Help ease the side effects of cancer treatment with these tips.

Cancer, as well as the treatments for cancer, can cause a number of troubling side effects. If someone you love is navigating a cancer journey, you will want to do whatever you can to help ease the side effects of cancer treatment. While simply being there with them to offer comfort and companionship is extremely helpful, there are additional practical steps you can take as well. Read more