by San Diego Home Care

Understanding the Differences in Depression and Dementia

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Elderly woman looking out a window

Would you recognize if a senior loved one had depression or dementia?

Visiting Mom recently revealed a number of concerning signs. Though she has always been up and out of bed before 7 a.m., now it’s difficult to wake her before noon. Rather than going to great lengths to prepare an elaborate home-cooked meal, she would rather merely warm up a can of soup; and can barely finish a small bowlful. On top of that, she’s lost interest in enjoying time with her best friends from her knitting club. Could she be suffering from depression or dementia? 

There are a number of similarities between the two, like:

  • Eating and sleeping changes
  • Reduced interest in formerly enjoyed interests and hobbies, and spending time with others
  • Reduced memory and the ability to focus

There are, however, a number of distinguishing differences to help identify whether depression or dementia could be at play:

Dementia:

  • A slow, progressive decline in mental functioning
  • Noticeable problems with motor and/or language skills
  • Difficulty with memory, without being aware of these problems
  • Confusion in knowing the correct date, time, and surroundings

Depression:

  • A more rapid decline in mental functioning
  • Difficulties with concentration
  • A bit slower, but still normal motor and language abilities
  • Difficulty with memory issues, but being aware of the problem
  • Awareness of correct date, time and surroundings

Sometimes, both conditions can impact a person simultaneously. Brent Forester, MD, director of the mood disorders division in the geriatric psychiatry research program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA, shares, “40 to 50% of people with Alzheimer’s disease get depression, but depression also may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.”

If you suspect either depression or dementia in a senior loved one, arrange for an appointment as soon as possible with his/her doctor. Receiving a correct diagnosis and beginning a treatment plan is imperative. 

Help for depression can include an antidepressant along with therapeutic counseling, or hospitalization if the difficulties are severe and require more intensive treatment. Dementia care usually involves medications that help with specific symptoms, like sleep problems, memory loss, or changes in behavior. 

If a senior you love has been diagnosed with either depression or dementia, or is struggling with any other difficulties of aging, San Diego Home Caregivers can help. With our skilled dementia and elder home care services, we’re here for whatever specific needs your loved one is facing. Contact us online or at (619) 487-9000 for more information on dementia care in La Mesa, CA, or to request a free in-home consultation. For a full list of all of the communities where we provide care, please visit our Communities Served page.

by corecubed

Help for Seniors Who Want to Stay in Their Own Homes

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Portrait of a beautiful smiling senior woman

Portrait of a beautiful smiling senior woman

The great majority of seniors wish to remain at home for a lifetime, rather than relocating to an assisted living facility or nursing home – nearly 90 percent of them, according to research conducted by AARP. And who can blame them? The comfort of familiar surroundings, the freedom to go wherever, whenever you would like, the opportunity to prepare the meals you want when you want them are all priceless commodities. 

But although it seems like the perfect plan for growing older, there are some real concerns to think through as well: 

  • Will the older person stay safe?
  • How will the older adult get around once driving, or even walking, becomes a challenge?
  • What happens if the older person gets sick or injured and no one’s close by to help?

Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever for seniors to stay safe and well at home. Considering the following can assist you in taking the necessary precautions to ensure the senior you love is prepared for these needs and any others, now and in the future: 

  • Assess the home, both inside and out, from the viewpoint of the senior’s safety. Check to verify that: 
    • Grab bars are in place near the tub and toilet. 
    • Throw rugs and any other fall hazards are removed. 
    • There is plenty of lighting, including in hallways and stairways. 
    • Commonly used items are located within easy reach. 
    • Emergency numbers are posted in a highly visible location. 
  • Create a transportation plan, so it is ready to implement when driving is no longer possible: 
    • Look into public transportation choices that are available and easy to access. 
    • Put together a volunteer tree of reliable people the older person can turn to for transportation when needed: friends, family members, neighbors, religious organizations, local senior centers, San Diego Home Caregivers, etc.
  • Make sure the senior has access to the technology that can be used in an emergency to reach out for help when alone, such as a PERS (personal emergency response system). 

The perfect way to ensure older individuals remain safe and well cared for at home, however, is by hiring a professional home care agency, such as San Diego Home Caregivers. Our caregivers are trained and have experience in providing elder help for San Diego seniors such as personal care services, transportation, meal planning and preparation, and companionship, and are available to help for as much or as little care as needed. 

Our San Diego in-home caregivers start with the development of an individualized plan of care to address the senior’s particular needs and wishes, and then we continually monitor that plan and adjust as needs change – ensuring that the senior remains safe and can live life to the fullest, where it’s most comfortable: at home. 

As the leading providers of senior companion care in San Diego and nearby areas, we invite you to contact us online or at (619) 487-9000 to learn more about how we can provide help for seniors in multiple ways.

by San Diego Home Care

How to Help Seniors Maintain Independence and Safety

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Independence and Safety at Home

Our goal is always to help seniors maintain independence and safety at home.

Ask most elderly people if they wish to stay in their home, even if they are having difficulty coping, and the reply is normally a resounding “yes!” Having to move away from their home, the place which includes so many memories, can be frightening, even if they realize that it’s getting more challenging to cope. But, wishing to continue to be at home and having the option to remain at home, all alone, are two different things. So what can you do? Even as a full-time, live-in family caregiver, you are not able to do it all independently. You need help and it may be that our elder care services are the solution.

Lots of families find that planning for this kind of care necessitates the input of a professional who thoroughly understands all of the options. And it’s true — appropriate care coordination from an aging care specialist will help every person involved feel much more organized and secure.

Who Can Help?

Many older people have the need for assistance with a number of aspects of their life, including meal preparation, getting to and from doctors’ appointments, taking medications, and conducting the activities of daily living. Trying to organize all of these facets can be a daunting task for a family caregiver. What many people do not recognize is that home care agencies, like San Diego Home Caregivers, can help identify, locate, and coordinate all of the components for successful aging care at home. They can even unearth possibilities that may not have been first considered.

Home care agencies have resources and contacts that can be incredibly beneficial for families who are in the process of planning for long-term care. Our experienced caregivers are always on hand for help with senior in-home care in San Diego and the surrounding communities. We can help you figure out the right plan of care for your loved one and assist with all his / her care needs, always customized to each individual and including a wide variety of services, such as:

  • Assistance with personal hygiene needs, such as showering, dressing, etc.
  • Planning and preparing nutritious meals
  • Providing friendly companionship to boost socialization
  • Light housecleaning and laundry
  • Errand-running, such as grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions
  • Transportation and accompaniment to medical appointments and pleasant outings
  • And much more

Call us at (619) 487-9000, so we can arrange for an in-home evaluation to learn more about the challenges your loved one is facing, and offer solutions. We would love to share more about our senior in-home care in San Diego, CA and the surrounding areas.