Tag Archive for: caregiver

parkinson's caregiver support - home nursing care salt lake city

Parkinson’s Caregiver Support: Is It Parkinson’s Disease or Something Else?

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parkinson's caregiver support - home nursing care salt lake city

Parkinson’s symptoms often mimic a completely different disease.

Each year, thousands of American seniors are told they have Parkinson’s disease, but in reality, they don’t. For many of these seniors, the actual diagnosis is a similar but lesser-known disease: dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). As part of our Parkinson’s caregiver support, our home health experts are here with the information you need to understand the differences between these two conditions.

Dementia with Lewy bodies impacts as many as 1.3 million Americans, as reported by the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). That estimate may very well be too low, considering that some individuals who’ve been incorrectly identified as having Parkinson’s still have not been given the correct diagnosis.

Symptoms for the two diagnoses can be extremely similar, especially as they progress, given that they mirror the same root modifications in the brain.

Below are the signs and symptoms you should watch for, as reported by the LBDA:

  • Worsening dementia – Growing confusion and minimized attention and executive function are common. Memory impairment may not be apparent in the early stages.
  • Frequent visual hallucinations – These are typically intricate and detailed.
  • Hallucinations of other senses – Touch or hearing are usually the most common.
  • REM sleep behavior disorder – This may show up years prior to the onset of dementia or Parkinson’s.
  • Repeated falls and fainting – Including unexplained loss of consciousness.
  • Other psychiatric disruptions – Most of these vary from patient to patient.

Is a correct diagnosis actually critical? Diagnosing DLB quickly and accurately may well mean the difference between life and death, according to Howard I. Hurtig, M.D., Chair, Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania Hospital and Elliott Professor of Neurology. Improperly treating DLB can not only lead to significant adverse reactions, but could even exacerbate symptoms and preclude accurate symptom management.

Some of the confusion among medical professionals stems from the fact that both Parkinson’s disease and DLB come under the same umbrella of Lewy body dementias.

The primary distinction is in the “one-year rule” related to cognitive symptoms. Patients with Parkinson’s disease typically do not present cognitive issues until at least one year after mobility symptoms begin. DLB is typically the exact opposite, with cognitive symptoms emerging first for at least one year.

Harmony Home Health & Hospice, the leading provider of home nursing care in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, is always here with the Parkinson’s caregiver support and education you need. Reach out to us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE to arrange for a free home care assessment or to find out about how we can assist your loved one.

Diabetes Symptoms

If You Notice These Diabetes Symptoms, Seek Medical Attention

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Diabetes Symptoms - home health albuquerque

Make sure you’re informed about these diabetes symptoms.

The statistics are sobering: as many as 29 million Americans are currently diagnosed with diabetes, accounting for nearly 10% of the nation’s entire population. It’s important for all of us to learn as much as possible about the disease, whether for ourselves, to catch it early if it arises, or for better diabetes management for our loved ones.

Diabetes is now more prevalent in the U.S. than ever before, and providing care for a loved one impacted by diabetes symptoms is something many of us are familiar with. While each person’s experience with diabetes is unique, there are some particular diabetes symptoms that can crop up with little to no warning, requiring that family caregivers remain vigilant in watching for anything out of the ordinary in the day-to-day lives of those in their care.

Below are just a few examples from the American Diabetes Association of diabetes symptoms to keep an eye out for:

  • Overwhelming tiredness and fatigue
  • Blurriness in vision
  • Cuts or bruises that seem to heal too slowly
  • Loss of weight – even when the person is eating a sufficient amount
  • Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and/or feet

Be sure to call the person’s primary care physician if any of these potential diabetes symptoms are experienced. And then call on the professional home health team at Harmony Home Health & Hospice for additional in-home support. We offer a wide range of home health services to improve quality of life and overall wellbeing for those with diabetes, or any other chronic disease or concerns of aging, such as:

Although a serious, chronic condition, diabetes can be effectively managed with the professional help of Harmony Home Health & Hospice, the top-rated providers of home health Albuquerque and the surrounding areas have to offer. Let us help your loved one experience a higher quality of life; call us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) or answer a few simple questions on our online contact form to learn more.