PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH

April is Parkinson’s awareness month. In simplest terms, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a central nervous system disorder than can affect movement, often involving tremors. These tremors can be exhibit themselves in outer extremities such as legs
and arms, or internally such as one’s larynx impacting their ability to swallow.

Though many are aware of the term Parkinson’s, few know early signs of Parkinson’s.

The Parkinson’s Foundation lists 10 early signs of “PD” Parkinson’s Dementia.
1. Tremors
2. Small Handwriting
3. Loss of smell
4. Trouble sleeping
5. Trouble moving or walking
6. Constipation
7. A soft of low voice
8. Masked face
9. Dizziness or fainting
10. Stooping or Hunching Over

A symptom of Parkinson’s that can be easily overlooked is dysphagia, which is a swallow impairment. Tremors present in the larynx impact the safety of the swallow mechanism increasing the individual’s risk of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration is when a foreign particle, such as a liquid or food, enters past the vocal folds of the trachea and into the powerhouses of our body: our lungs. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) are the healthcare practitioners that will work within the interdisciplinary team to provide diagnosis and treatment for dysphagia.
There are 3 types of dysphagia:

1. Oral Dysphagia: swallow impairment that occurs inside of the oral cavity. Impairments generally are impaired mastication, or chewing, of food, and/or decreased propulsion of the food or liquid bolus resulting in oral residue.

2. Pharyngeal Dysphagia: swallow impairment that occurs in the pharynx which can result poor transit of the bolus to the esophagus or decreased coordination of pharyngeal elements resulting in aspiration.

3. Esophageal Dysphagia: impairment in the esophagus where bolus does not transmit to stomach area. A referral to a GI specialist is needed.

An individual can experience dysphagia in multiple phases of the swallow. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms in swallowing or early signs of Parkinson’s, consult with your Doctor who can make the appropriate referrals. As Parkinson’s progresses, more assistance may be required to support you in your activities of daily living such as meal prep, housekeeping, and medication reminders. If this is you, contact Perfect Solutions for Seniors, a senior in home company, with a Speech Language Pathologist leading the staff in best communication and assistive practices for their senior clients.

#eldercare #inhomecare #seniorcare #sarasota #caregiver #CNA #RN #helpinmyhome

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NUTRITION AND AGING

As we age, our needs change. Physically, emotionally, and mentally we are needing different things to satiate us. What most often gets overlooked is that nutritionally our needs change as well.

As we age, our resting metabolic rate declines, which can lead to weight gain and increase your risk for chronic illnesses. At the same time, we are losing lean muscle mass. So what can you do to decrease this?

Harvard Medical School cites these recommendations

1. Increase your physical activity
2. Begin resistance training to strengthen muscles, add muscle mass and overall increase your metabolic rate
3. Improve your diet. Add whole grains, fruit and vegetables, lean protein such as white fish, and non-fat or low-fat dairy
4. Enjoy your favorite foods! But in Moderation!
For some, this may be a big lifestyle change, but small steps lead to great rewards. Start by walking around the block once a day, or add a vegetable to one meal a day.

Need assistance with meal planning, cooking or other activities daily living?

Perfect Solutions for Seniors is the premier provider in Sarasota, Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. We provide free in-home consultations to fully understand what your needs and concerns are. We are family and privately owned. We know family because that is who we are!

#seniorcare #inhomecare #seniorinhomecare #eldercare #homecare #sarasota #bradenton #veniceflorida #dementiacare #aginginplace #nutritionandaging

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Senior in Home Care

Did you know we have two levels of care available for senior in home care? We employee caregivers and Certified Nursing Assistant’s Caregivers provide companionship, light housekeeping, homemaking etc. This level of care is for someone who does not need any hands-on care. Our Certified Nursing Assistants provide the above as well as hands on care. This can include hands on assistance for toileting, transfers, dressing and other activities of daily living.Our Registered Nurse on staff develops a care plan specified for you, and our CNA follows it. Your care plan is updated every 90 days or if a change in condition occurs.Depending on your level of care, we will always conduct a free in-home assessment to ensure the right level of care is provided.At Perfect Solutions for Seniors, we aim to increase the quality of eldercare in the Sarasota area, and that starts with ensuring our client’s get the right care!
#inhomecare #seniorcare #eldercare #aginginplace #sarasotafl #cna #rn #caregiver

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DEMENTIA PROGRESSION: THE SIMPLE EXPLANATION

Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, Alzheimer’s and dementia are actually two different terms. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe several conditions, which includes Alzheimer’s, as well as other conditions with shared symptoms. More than mere forgetfulness, an individual must have trouble with at least two of the following cognitive areas to be diagnosed with dementia:

Memory

Communication and speech

Focus and concentration

Reasoning and judgment

Visual perception (including trouble detecting movement, differentiating colors, or experiencing hallucinations)

Although there are many people who suffer from dementia (approximately 14% of those aged 71 and older), no individual progresses the exact same way, but there is a natural course of the disease. And unfortunately, it can be guaranteed that with time, the ability to function will worsen. The progression of dementia disease is typically characterized into three levels (mild, moderate and severe) as typically used by the general public. Using these designations to identify the correct stage of your loved one can assist with determining the best treatment approaches. Read on to discover symptoms of each stage, where your loved one falls and how the progression of the disease often goes according to the symptoms they display.

Mild Dementia

In this earliest stage of dementia, individuals still function primarily on their own. They are able to travel to familiar places, recall familiar faces and are largely aware of time and place. Many of the symptoms seen in this early stage are typically connected to the normal aging process, with minor deficits in concentration and memory starting to surface. For instance, there may be a slight memory lapses for recent events or word finding problems, but they are still able to maintain a social life. In this stage, difficulties may develop with higher functioning tasks like planning, organizing and concentrating which becomes particularly evident for someone who may still be in the workplace. Difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and paying bills may become more challenging. Simple reminders along with written to-do lists and schedules can often be enough to compensate for the deficits in this stage, although some may require mild assistance for some of the more complex tasks. Individuals may also experience changes in their emotions with decreased reaction to some scenarios and could start to withdraw from challenging situations. This is the time to ensure that all legal and financial matters are taken care of, should the need for more care arise in the future. Moderate DementiaThe middle stages of dementia are characterized by enough brain damage that deficits become more obvious to the layperson. Someone at this stage can no longer function independently. Symptoms such as difficulty expressing their thoughts, performing daily tasks and short term memory impairments start to become more troublesome. Many people develop some type of aphasia (the loss of ability to express or understand speech) and use jumbled speech such as word substitutions (“book” for newspaper), object description in place of the word (“thing you sit on” for chair) or nonsense words (“thing-a-ma-jig” for watch or any other object). As a caregiver, it is helpful to use to a clear, slow rate, supplement speech with non-verbal communication and provide prompts or assistance to maximize understanding and maintain an individuals safety during day-to-day activities.

An individual in this stage demonstrates noticeable short-term memory deficits and might not remember their address, might be unable to recall their personal history and may get confused as to their location. They retain some memory of their past, but it is spotty and incomplete. They become disoriented with time and place and may not remember the name of their spouse, even though they see them daily. They are typically unable to count to backward from 10 to 1, and sometimes not even forward from 1 to 10. They may also become incontinent at this stage and require assistance for toileting and hygiene. They are no longer able to complete IADLs. Other common symptoms of this middle dementia stage include mood and behavior changes. Delusional thoughts and/or paranoia may develop, such as accusations of spousal infidelity, that the spouse is an imposter, that the house is not one’s home, or that someone is stealing personal belongings. This may result in anxiety, agitation or aggression even towards family and loved ones. Behaviors such as wandering and rummaging may pose safety risks and require more supervision. At this stage, many will present with repetitive speech, gestures, and mannerisms which can be difficult to redirect at times. Other symptoms such as difficulty sleeping or hoarding may also develop.

Severe Dementia

Someone in this last stage of dementia, also known as advanced dementia, will have significant issues with communication, often only using single words or short phrases when speaking, with an inclination toward parroting or repetitive speech. Towards the end of this stage, they may also become completely non-verbal. In this stage, both long term and short term memory often become affected and they may not be able to recall what they ate for lunch, who their family members are, or even what time period they are currently in, often times reverting back to childhood or another significant period in their life. Individuals may no longer be able to walk and will require extensive assistance with daily living activities, such as personal hygiene. They are incontinent of bowel and bladder.

Swallowing also becomes an issue in late stage dementia, and caregivers have to make adaptions, use strategies and alter food consistencies to keep their loved ones from potentially choking or acquiring aspiration pneumonia. Someone in this stage typically requires 24-hour care and will require physical assistance to complete most tasks, including transfers, eating, hygiene, and grooming. Towards the end of this stage, most individuals are bed bound with the inability to roll or sit up in bed, making them bed-ridden at high risk for bed sores. During this stage, caregivers will focus mostly on providing comfort and quality of life. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2018), there are 16.1 million unpaid caregivers of people with dementia in the United States. While many Americans are caregivers for loved ones, many people also hire someone to provide care or supplement the care they are already providing. There are many options for care, such as in-home care, adult day care, and nursing home care, and there is also financial assistance available. It’s important to remember, providing care for a loved one can be stressful, and self-care is a must. Click here to learn about ways to deal with stress, finding support, and more.

While the exact symptoms described in each stage can differ between individuals, this can be used as a general outline to help families know what to expect and when to expect it. Is your loved one following this path? Share your experiences in our forum or leave your comment below.
To Know More:- https://www.perfectsolutionsforseniors.com

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National Safety Month - Fourth of July Independence Day

With Fourth of July coming up, and many celebrations to enjoy, here are some activities to incorporate an elderly loved one.

1. 1. Include them in meal prep for the big barbeque. Have them toss together the coleslaw, or put the silverware together.
2. 2. Have them guide a craft activity for the little ones in the family. There are many pintables that are free online, and your loved one can easily follow to guide the little ones.

3. 3. Set aside a quiet room in the home where they can read out loud to the little ones or vice –versa. At times with too many people, the noise level can be overwhelming, so it is important to have a place for them to relax and have some one-on-one time with a family member. Remember this room is not meant to isolate.

These are just a few ideas but the list is endless! Remember to incorporate your loved one into the activities. They may need guided assistance or supervision but it is important not to isolate.

If the Holidays have you feeling overwhelmed with activities and caring for your loved ones, we can help! Perfect Solutions for Seniors offers respite care (eldercare) to help families that need assistance only for a short time.

Our consultation is always FREE for our senior in home assessments. Give us a call, we would love to meet you! 941-378-5553 or to know more click here: Perfect Solution For Seniors

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Announcement of New Corporate Partner

What is Pragmatics?
Pragmatics is subfield of linguistics of how a person uses language in a social setting. Language or the meaning of message is changed depending on context, social engagement or even a change in prosody.
Pragmatics also includes body language, tone and facial expressions to convey a message and also the ability to tune into these social cues.
As we age we may have less ability to practice our pragmatic skills secondary to social isolation or decreased ability to communicate. This is why Perfect Solutions for Seniors, we are excited to announce our Corporate Partnership with The Senior Friendship Center in Sarasota Florida!

The Senior Friendship Center is a place where our client’s can go to socialize, participate in events, and even have medical services. It is a wonderful organization that provides so many events from music to support groups.
They have a booming event calendar at their two locations, Sarasota and Venice Florida. Visit their website and check them out!
#dementia #corporatepartner #inhomecare #seniorliving #socializationandaging #seniorcare #aginginplace

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Are you asking the right question when looking for a home care agency ?

If you are looking for a great home care agency in Sarasota who can assist your loved one in their home or yourself, DO NOT just look at price.  There are other things to consider before making an important decision. Your little bit of effort or queries not just give you complete peace of mind, but it also makes sure that yourself or loved ones will have decreased likelihood of issues with the chosen home care company. So, without wasting more time, lets jump into questions that you need to ask your potential home care agency!

First question that you need to ask without any hesitation is “Is the company in question providing a criminal records check to all  CNA’s  and HHA’s?”.  You want to ask specifically if they are Level II background check, which is more in-depth and requires fingerprinting. If your home care is not cross-checking their home carers profile, then it will not just harm them but also can be threatening to the life of your loved ones. At PSFS, all our CNA’s and HHA’s are Level II background checked, and if not employed for more than three months, we will provide background check and fingerprints again. This increases the safety of our clients as well as providing respectable individuals in their home.

As yourself or loved ones may spend most of their time in home, it is your responsibility to confirm the number of services or amenities provided by the home care. Read their brochure and if possible, cross-check all the services by visiting their office or asking to speak to their administrator. Here at PSFS, our administrator is always accessible via her own personal cell phone number.

Ask what kind of assisted services they provide outside of home, such as transportation to Doctor appointments or grocery shopping, do they assist with transferring to a highly rated senior community? etc. Included in our services at PSFS are all the above and more!

Lastly, request an in- home consultation. This should ALWAYS be FREE. This is an opportunity not only for the company to interview you as their potential client, but for you to INTERVIEW THEM.

At Perfect Solutions for Seniors, we pride ourselves as being one of the most reputable family owned home-care company in Florida. We are currently available in the 3 locations Sarasota, Tampa, & Palm Harbor.

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Tessy's Story - Perfect Solutions For Seniors

I grew up in Peru and moved to the U.S. when I was sixteen. I was very young and green, scared,  but I knew the opportunities that the U.S. would bring. Myself and my 5 other brothers and sisters, worked hard to become citizens and made our lives in this country.
During this time, my mom wanted to stay in Peru though we all wanted her here in the U.S. with us. When she no longer could care independently for herself, my family and I didn’t know what to do. We were all here, with our families and responsibilities. It was a tough emotional time for me, not knowing what I could do for her, being thousands of miles away.

We thankfully found a live-in to be with my mom in Peru, and it was such a blessing and relief knowing that my mother could go on living in a home that my family bought for her.
I realized that there are other families that are going through the same thing, and knowing the frustration and turmoil my family and I went through looking for someone to help my mother in a different country, I  looked into starting a homecare company. When Perfect Solutions for Seniors was founded in 2005, I was a one-woman show. I was the owner, receptionist, administrator, marketer and even the caregiver! I am no stranger to hard work and starting from the bottom! It was difficult at the beginning, but I believed in providing great care for Seniors. For 11 years perfect solution for seniors was a homemakers and companion company until I spoke to my daughters and we decided to become a home health agency. With Francesca’s intelligence and Cassandra’s dedication we obtained our license, in 2018.
Family is everything to me. Family gave me the reason to look into starting my own company, and family is the foundation for what keeps Perfect Solutions for Seniors striving to provide the best care for our clients.

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Seizures and Elderly Sarasota Florida

Seizures and Elderly

Seizures or medical term, epilepsy, is a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

3 Types of Seizures that can occur in the elderly and their symptoms are as follows :
Simple Partial Seizures
• Jamais vu ( familiar things suddenly become unfamiliar
• Trembling that moves up one side of the body
• Déjà vu
• Out of body experiences
• Sudden shifts in mood
• Unexplained anger or fear
• Disturbed speech
Complex Partial Seizures
• Lip smacking
• Lack of response to others
• Repeated phrases
• Senseless, clumsy movements
• Disrobing
• Being briefly unaware of danger or pain
Generalized Seizures
• Brief staring
• Sudden muscle contractions
• Sudden falls
• Convulsions
Here at PSFS, we gladly will attend all your Dr. appointments and become a liaison for you and your family if they cannot attend. As always, its our family taking care of yours.



For more details: Seizures and Elderly Sarasota Florida
#seizures #eldercare #seniorinhomecare #caregiver #CNA #homecare #sarasota #pinellas #tampabay #venice #perfectsolutionshomecare #dementiacare #dementiaawareness

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Best Caregiver Company Sarasota Florida

I’ve always had a passion for serving Seniors. When I was receiving my education for Speech Language Pathology, I knew I wanted to take the medical/ Adult route to serve Seniors with neurocognitive Impairments (i.e. Dementia, Parkinson’s, Stroke, ALS, etc.). I wanted to get to the source of where these impairments where, and assist patients to regain their communication, story telling knowledge, so they can keep and form relationships.
I worked at skilled nursing facilities and hospitals providing therapy for my patients to regain their independence and return home safely. I wasn’t making the impact that I always saw myself doing-I had multiple patients re-admitted for the same issues such as a fall, even though we worked intensively on increasing safety in the home. I kept asking “Why is this happening? We worked on this! “

It was difficult to educate families on the patients’ cognitive needs. Many families would cite, “Well that’s just how he is”. I was worried and concerned that once discharged home, I did not know if my efforts were successful in terms of my patients continuing therapy and demonstrating improvement.
In 2018, I was integrated into my mom’s caregiver company, Perfect Solutions for Seniors.
As a collective group, my mom, my sister and I knew we could provide higher level services to our already clientele. With my assistance and my sister’s, in 2018 we become a licensed Homecare company which allowed us to place qualified CNA’s into Seniors homes—This new licensure enables us to provide higher level homecare to allow the client to stay in their home surrounded by the memories they have cultivated over the years. I love going to client’s homes on the initial visit, and seeing generations of photos on the walls. It reaffirms the love of what I do.
It’s here, where my clinical skills and passion for Seniors’ really came alive. I use my clinical skill set to provide hands on education to my staff and I am able to see how much my client benefits in their home. I am able to see my client in their home environment and cultivate a plan that allows effective communication and for their wants and needs to readily be met—I set high standards for our employees and educate them on how to achieve successful outcomes using a comprehensive training program. Now I can rest easy knowing that our client’s cognitive skills, physical needs and emotional well being are all being successfully achieved, improving their overall quality of life. It is extremely satisfying and invigorating because I can see difference we are making in improving my client’s lives. .

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Drug Nutrient Reactions and the Eldery

What is it?

A drug nutrient reaction simply put a reaction between a medicine and one or more nutrients ( vitamins and minerals). These can either be nutrients present in the food we eat, or additional supplementation.

One of the most well known drug nutrient reaction is foods high in Vitamin K ( such as any greens, kale etc) should not be eaten when a person is on blood thinners. These foods ( broccoli, spinach etc.) can impact the affects of blood thinners.

There is also drug nutrient depletion that can occur. When a person has long term use of a medication it can affect that person’s ability to maintain within normal limits nutrient levels.

Take for example, diuretics can cause potassium levels to be low in the body.

How can someone combat this?

It is imperative when having a new medication prescribed that you inform your doctor of all medications that you are taking as well as vitamin supplementation.  Ask what the long term effects are of the medication. If you are an inpatient at a hospital, ask to speak with the pharmacist prior to discharge, to be fully educated on any medication use, administration and effects.

If you or your loved one are overwhelmed with this process, call us! Our Certified Nursing Assistants can assist you with recalling when to take your medication, as well as accompany you to Dr. Appts, take notes/logs and communicate that information to family.

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Best Senior Healthcare Solutions in Florida

Senior citizens need lots of attention along with love and care same like a child, but unfortunately, because of some unfortunate reasons and certain conditions, it is hard for families to take care of their parents. Know that even if you or your family is giving time to your parents still sometimes it is getting very tricky to handle the situation. Seniors need round the clock nursing care and professional medical service depending on their medical condition as no matter how hard you try you can’t handle the critical situation.

If you love your parents and you are worried about their health then feel fortunate yourself as there are many senior healthcare solutions available around you, all you need to pick the one who provides perfect solutions for seniors.

Let us help you a little bit here so you can save your time on researching and analyzing the senior care services. We want you to recommend Perfect Solutions for Seniors especially if you live in Florida. It is one of the best senior healthcare solutions that offer senior care services 24x7.

Many people ask services like 24-hour care for the elderly in their own home. Well if you are one of them, then you will be not disappointed. Perfect Solutions for Seniors is one of the best examples of better home health care service that you would love to choose for your parents.

At the end have a look elderly home care services that your parents will get at Perfect Solutions for Seniors:

•                    Certified nursing assistant

•                    Geriatric care management

•                    Dressing guidance

•                    Nutritious meals

•                    Bookkeeping & secretarial

•                    Travel companions

•                    Medication reminders

•                    Caring companions

•                    Laundry & Linens

•                    Groceries & errands

•                    Appointment transportation

… and many more.

Still, have any question? Visit perfectsolutionsforseniors.com and get your answer.

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