Jason Wu

If your aging relative has been advised to follow a gluten-free diet for health reasons, such as celiac disease, you might think their diet is severely limited. However, there are many alternatives to foods that contain gluten. The trick is knowing which ones.

 

Elderly Care in Elk Grove CA: Gluten Alternatives
Elderly Care in Elk Grove CA: Gluten Alternatives

 

Following a Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten is a kind of protein that is found in certain types of grains. Grains that contain gluten include:

  • Wheat.
  • Barley.
  • Rye.
  • Triticale.
  • Oats (unless specified as gluten-free).

 

Grains are used to make many common foods, including:

  • Pasta
  • Bread
  • Pastries
  • Baked goods
  • Cereal
  • Beer
  • Breakfast foods, like pancakes and waffles
  • Communion wafers

 

 

To follow a gluten-free diet, it’s important to carefully read the labels of foods. Gluten can be present in unexpected places, like soups and processed lunch meats. You can quickly eliminate a food by looking at the ingredients list and allergen warnings for grains that have gluten. Another quick way to identify if a food is appropriate for your aging relative’s diet is to look for the label to state the food is gluten-free. However, not all foods that don’t contain gluten have the gluten-free label, so don’t rely solely on that or you may be unnecessarily limiting the senior’s diet.

 

Gluten Alternatives

Fortunately, food manufacturers have started making gluten-free versions of many foods. You can find them in the health food aisle of the grocery store. You can also shop online specialty stores that specialize in offering gluten-free foods. But there are also lots of substitutions you can make to keep the older adult’s diet varied and nutritious.

Some alternatives you can choose are:

-Pasta: Instead of regular pasta, choose those made with rice or buckwheat. There are also pasta’s made with vegetables. Or, you can shave fresh vegetables to create “spaghetti noodles.” Zucchini and carrots are commonly used this way.

-Bread: Instead of making sandwiches with bread, make a wrap using lettuce leaves.

-Oatmeal: Use rolled quinoa as a substitute for regular oatmeal. Prepare it in the same manner you would oatmeal.

-Flour: There are many gluten-free flours on the market. Look for flour made from tapioca, soy, almond, quinoa, or rice, as well as several other alternatives.

 

Senior care can assist your older family member to follow a gluten-free diet. Senior care providers can drive them to the grocery store and help them shop. They can read the small print on food labels to look for ingredients that contain gluten. Senior care providers can also prepare meals using gluten-free alternatives.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elderly Care in Elk Grove, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

 

Sources
Beyondceliac.org
Runtastic.com
Thestonesoup.com
Celiac.org
Mayoclinic.org

The holidays are one of the most popular times of year to travel, and in fact, the days around Thanksgiving see more travelers than any other time of the year.
If you are going to be heading out for a holiday trip, it is very important to keep your caregiver efforts in mind and prepare yourself for the care you will need to give you a loved one while on the road, and after you have arrived for your holiday celebrations. Finding as many ways as possible to simplify your care not only it makes it easier on both of you to prepare for and follow through with the travel itself, but also enables you to relax more and enjoy the holidays while still knowing your senior’s getting everything they need.

 

Home Care Services in Natomas CA: Traveling for the Holidays

 

Some ways you can simplify care when traveling for the holidays include:

Ask your senior’s doctor if they can write a partial prescription for any medications your senior might need, and call it into a pharmacy near your destination. This allows you to minimize the amount of medication your senior is traveling with, and also feel confident they have access to their medication if their supply is lost or damaged, or return travel home is delayed.

  • Research the area ahead of time and identify the location of hospitals, doctors offices, pharmacies, and 24-hour grocery stores so you feel confident you can access the services and supplies you will need for your parent as necessary
  • Consider staying in a hotel rather than in the home of a family member. This will allow you to spread out more, provide more privacy, and may help your parents feel more at ease receiving care and support
  • Consider bringing your parent’s home care provider along with you, or arranging for home care in your destination area. This ensures your senior has access to dedicated and consistent care throughout the entire celebration so you can relax and focus on enjoying yourself
  • Send a copy of your parent’s schedule and routine to the family at your destination so they can be prepared in advance, and can schedule holiday activities and events around this as much as possible

 

If your senior is unable to travel for the holidays, this does not mean you have to be left out.

Respite care can allow your parents to continue receiving the dedicated care they need while giving you the opportunity to travel and participate in holiday celebrations without worrying about them and their needs. With respite care, a home care provider steps in on a temporary basis to provide dedicated care tailored specifically to your aging loved one’s needs. This in-home senior care services provider follows your senior’s normal schedule and routine as much as possible and ensures they stay safe and healthy while you are away. This allows you to relax, relieve your stress, and focus on spending quality time with your family or participating in other activities.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Natomas, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

Caregiver support groups are incredibly helpful but so many caregivers are reluctant to join them and to attend meetings. The reasons for this response vary, but there are so many reasons you should reconsider participating in a support group. Finding a group is easier than you think, too.

 

Elder Care in Modesto CA: Caregiver Support Group

 

It’s a Safe Place to Vent

Support groups are meant to be a safe place for you and for other caregivers. In this space, you can express your feelings and know that you’re being heard. No one is going to judge you for having the feelings you’re experiencing. In fact, they’ve likely experienced the exact same emotions. They can help you to deal with those emotions in a safe way.

 

You Can Share Your Experiences

Part of being a member of a caregiver support group is that you can ask for advice. Caregivers who have been doing this for a long time have a measure of experience from which you can benefit. You likely also know a lot more about being a caregiver than you think you know. Sharing your experiences can help lots of caregivers who are even more new to this than you are.

 

You’ll Feel Less Alone

Being a caregiver can leave you feeling far more alone than you expect it to. This can be a really difficult situation to reconcile because you’re right there with your elderly family member, but you can still feel so alone. When you find a community of caregivers, it’s amazing how accepted and united you’ll feel with the caregivers that you’ve met. Even if all you do is listen in during meetings, you’ll feel less alone.

 

You’ll Meet Other Caregivers that Become Friends

Some of the caregivers that you’ll meet at your support group meetings are likely to become close friends. They understand exactly what it’s like to be a caregiver and they can support you more fully as your friends. You may find that you’re able to trade off helping each other and make life easier for each other in other ways, too.

Being able to get away from the daily routine of being a caregiver is vital for you. If you need someone to stay with your elderly family member, senior care providers are the perfect solution. They don’t need a lot of time to learn your senior’s routines and you’ll be able to focus on what you want to accomplish at your support group meeting.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elder Care in Modesto, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

Depression is often overlooked in senior citizens. While rates of clinical depression are low for the elderly at 8 to 16 percent, mild depression affects up to 50 percent of older men and women. Do you know the common symptoms of depression in the elderly?

elder-man-stock-photo
Elderly Care in Roseville CA: Senior Depression

#1 – Appetite Changes

Your dad is eating more than usual. Someone providing elderly care cooks his meals, but he picks at the items on his plate and doesn’t eat anything. Either can be a sign of depression. Watch for weight gain or loss as they can also be symptoms of certain illnesses, so it’s best to talk to a doctor.

#2 – Difficulty Sleeping Through the Night

Your dad struggles to fall asleep and stay asleep. He’s up wandering at 2 a.m. even though he feels tired. He just can’t sleep. That can be depression affecting him. It can also be a sign of dementia.

#3 – Extreme Unexplained Anger

Your dad was happily watching TV and suddenly flies into a rage. He’s yelling at everyone nearby. Depression can present itself as extreme anger.

#4 – Forgetfulness

When an elderly parent becomes forgetful, it can be dementia or simply age-related forgetfulness. It can also be an indicator of depression.

#5 – Headaches

Headaches that appear suddenly and intensely can be a warning sign of a stroke. Headaches can also be a sign of stress, anxiety, or depression.

#6 – Increase in Anxiety and Agitation

Your dad is more anxious or agitated than you’ve ever seen him. You might be able to pinpoint why he is more anxious. If you can’t, it could be depression.

#7 – Unending Feelings of Sadness

Sadness every now and then is fine. It’s okay to have days when you don’t feel chipper or like your usual bubbly self. When the sadness goes on for months and months, it’s not always okay. Depression can be to blame.

#8 – Unexplained Pain

Your dad is in pain, but he doesn’t understand why. Unexplained pain is a symptom of depression. It can also be linked to muscle strain, tumors, and infections. A doctor will be able to tell if there is a urinary tract infection, tumor, or other cause for the pain. If nothing is found, it can be depression to blame.

With any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out other health issues. If he is suffering from depression, counseling may be the recommended treatment. Make sure your dad has a ride to his appointments. Adding companionship to his lifestyle can also help. An elderly care agency can get you started.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elderly Care in Roseville, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

Sources:

Ajgponline.org

Chronic health conditions can really take a toll on your aging adult, but they don’t have to leave her drained and hating her life. With a few simple changes, she can live life to the fullest, even with a health issue.

 

Elder Care in Stockton CA: Chronic Illness Tips
Elder Care in Stockton CA: Chronic Illness Tips

 

Take a Solid Look at What She’s Eating

Eating the right foods can help your senior to get the nutrition that she needs to be able to deal with a variety of different health conditions. Depending on her specific health issues, your senior might even be able to avoid or reduce medications. People eating a healthier diet might not have as many issues with high blood pressure, for instance.

 

Formulate a Plan

Talk with your senior’s doctor and get a plan going. The plan doesn’t have to be a complicated one or highly involved, but it’s a good idea to at least map out some of the activities that can help your senior to stay healthier. This can also help her to feel more in control, especially if the health issues she’s facing are ones that take a lot out of her.

 

Ease in Exercise

If exercise is something that her doctor recommends, your senior may want to ease into an exercise plan slowly. She doesn’t have to start working out like crazy right out of the gate. In fact, jumping into exercise too fast and too intensely can cause injuries and leave her feeling negative about the experience.

 

Help Her to Accept Her Limitations

There may be some things that are more difficult for your senior to do after being diagnosed with a chronic health condition. She may not have the same amount of energy that she used to have and that can make keeping up with certain tasks more difficult. This is where hiring elder care providers can help her to appreciate and respect her own limitations and allow other people to help.

 

Make Room for Activities She Enjoys

It’s really important that your senior is able to engage in activities that she enjoys. Everyone needs to have things to look forward to and your aging adult is no exception. Maybe she wants to pick up a hobby that she used to enjoy or perhaps it’s time for her to find a new activity. The possibilities are endless.

You might also want to consider helping your senior to find a support group for other people like her. Talking to other people who are dealing with the same types of illnesses and ailments can help her to feel more informed and less isolated than she might be feeling.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elder Care in Stockton, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

Gout
Homecare in Stockton CA: Sleep Apnea And Gout

Gout is a terribly painful kind of arthritis that generally attacks just one joint at a time. The most common joint attacked is in the big toe. The condition varies between periods of activity,

called flares, and periods when no symptoms are present called remission.

The symptoms of gout are extreme pain, swelling, heat, and redness. The flares are brought on by an excess of uric acid in the body that causes crystals to form in joints. There are several things that can make a person more likely to experience gout. Recently, scientists discovered what might be a new risk factor for developing gout—sleep apnea.

 

The Sleep Apnea and Gout Connection

The study was published in Arthritis & Rheumatology and co-lead by Edward Roddy, a clinical lecturer in rheumatology at Keele University in Staffordshire, England. It involved data from nearly 80,000 people. All of the participants were followed for an average of six years.

The information gathered from the study revealed that people who suffer from sleep apnea had a 42 percent increased risk of developing gout. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person’s airway to be intermittently blocked while they sleep. As a result, they stop breathing for a moment, which affects the quality of sleep and can lead to serious complications.

The researchers determined that people were at the greatest risk for getting gout within two years of having been diagnosed with sleep apnea. And, the study showed that people who have sleep apnea and are of a normal weight are at more risk for gout than those who are obese or overweight.

 

Preventing a Gout Attack

The study did not definitively prove that sleep apnea is a cause of gout. However, the link between the two suggests that caregivers for older adults with sleep apnea may want to take steps to prevent gout.

 

Some ways to prevent a gout attack are:

  • Limit alcohol consumption, especially beer.
  • Avoid eating foods that can increase uric acids, such as meat, bacon, yeast, and sardines.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Drink plenty of liquids.
  • Take medications prescribed by a doctor.

 

If your aging relative suffers from gout, a senior care provider can help them to prevent attacks and manage them when they occur. A senior care provider can remind the older adult to take over the counter painkillers during a flare. A senior care provider can also prepare an ice pack to ease the pain and swelling. To help prevent gout attacks, a senior care provider can prepare healthy meals that are low in uric acid and encourage the person to drink water throughout the day.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Homecare in Stockton, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®.  Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties. Call Today 877-916-9111

Sources
Webmd.com/sleep-disorders
Webmd.com/arthritis
Cdc.gov
Nhlbi.nih.gov
Arthritis.org