Kare Nursing Agency
Kare Nursing Agency
Our Blog
Our Blog
An ongoing series of informational entries
An ongoing series of informational entries
Parkinson’s Care
Parkinson’s Care
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.
The 5 Stages of Parkinson's
uncontrollable shaking and tremors.
slowed movement (bradykinesia)
balance difficulties and eventual problems standing up.
stiffness in limbs.
What is the life expectancy for a person with Parkinson's disease?
According to research, on average, people with Parkinson's can expect to live almost as long as those who don't have the disorder. While the disease itself isn't fatal, related complications can reduce life expectancy by 1 to 2 years
Cancer Care
Cancer Care
Cancer cells do not die at the natural point in a cell’s life cycle.
Cancer is a broad term. It describes the disease that results when cellular changes cause the uncontrolled growth and division of cells.
Some types of cancer cause rapid cell growth, while others cause cells to grow and divide at a slower rate.
Certain forms of cancer result in visible growths called tumors, while others, such as leukemia, do not.
Most of the body’s cells have specific functions and fixed lifespans. While it may sound like a bad thing, cell death is part of a natural and beneficial phenomenon called apoptosis.
A cell receives instructions to die so that the body can replace it with a newer cell that functions better. Cancerous cells lack the components that instruct them to stop dividing and to die.
As a result, they build up in the body, using oxygen and nutrients that would usually nourish other cells. Cancerous cells can form tumors, impair the immune system and cause other changes that prevent the body from functioning regularly.
Cancerous cells may appear in one area, then spread via the lymph nodes. These are clusters of immune cells located throughout the bodyCancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.
Self Care( CareGiver)
Caring for yourself is one of the most important – and one of the most
often forgotten – things you must do as a caregiver. When your needs
are taken care of, the person you are caring for will benefit, too.
The 3 R’s of Caregiving
Respect is closely linked to admiration, esteem and reverence. These
words are used here to describe you – you as a caregiver. You deserve
to be held in high opinion by yourself. By respecting yourself, you ensure
that your body, mind and spirit remain whole so that you can carry on the
tasks of being an effective family caregiver.
Realistic expectations – it’s easy to say but more difficult to achieve.
It’s hard to have realistic expectations when you are new to caregiving
or when you are so involved in the process that you risk losing a sense
of perspective. But with time, experience and knowledge you can learn
to take control and to say “NO” when expectations become unrealistic.
Better time management involves delegating, planning ahead, prioritizing
and accepting offers of help. You may feel overwhelmed as you try to
divide your time and energy between your own family’s needs and those
of your loved one. If you do, ask yourself these four questions: What can
I realistically do to help? What is it that I cannot do? What can my loved
one do to help? And who can I turn to for help?
Respite means taking a break or finding a
breathing space in your day. Be good to yourself
as you care for your loved one.
Ways of Taking Care of Yourself
•Signs of Caregiver Burnout (or compassion fatigue)
If you feel like the stress of caregiving is beginning
to take its toll, check the following list of typical
symptoms:
• Weariness and exhaustion
• Inability to eat or sleep
• Inability to concentrate or think clearly
• Increased dependence on tobacco, alcohol or drugs
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Loss of contact with friends
• Irrational outbursts or frequent moodiness
See your healthcare professional if you have any of
the above symptoms. A number of resources are
available to people suffering from caregiver burnout.