Spring in New Mexico includes two things: wind and seasonal allergies. The typical hay fever symptoms in the spring are brought on by the hefty increase in pollens in the air, as well as more dust stirred up by our spring winds.

In the elderly, allergies can certainly be present but sometimes may be tied to other illnesses. A runny nose and sneezing may be indicative of a chronic illness like COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or it may be a simple cold or allergy.

More than 50 million Americans suffer with allergies each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. A senior who has never experienced seasonal allergies before can suddenly be affected. Telltale signs of allergies include sneezing; a runny or stuffy nose; the feeling of congestion in the ears; itchy sinuses, ears, or throat; postnasal drip; and itchy or watery eyes.

Prevention

Reducing the exposure can help reduce the systems of allergies. Keep outside doors and windows closed to keep pollen and dust away, particularly in the early morning and evening hours. If your family member has been outside during the day, it may also be helpful if they change clothes that are carrying allergens.

Inside the home, dust and clean surfaces regularly. In damp areas such as bathrooms, clean wet areas to remove any mold or mildew that develops. Running a humidifier may be helpful with dry, itchy sinuses and sore throat. If you do, be sure to regularly clean the humidifier and its pads so that mildew doesn’t add to the allergy problem.

Some believe that vitamin C or D can help lesson allergies but be sure to discuss that with the senior’s physician. Maintaining hydration with enough water can reduce the body’s histamine response.

Medications

Before giving a senior any type of allergy medication, it’s best to check with his or her physician. Many types of antihistamines can increase blood pressure or interact with other prescription medications. Antihistamines can also cause side effects such as dizziness, a dry mouth, confusion, or retention of urine, which can potentially lead to a urinary tract infection, common among the elderly.

If appropriate, the physician may prescribe an oral or nasal medication that can help with symptoms but not conflict with other pharmaceuticals needed by the elder.

Watchfulness

For family members or caregivers, it’s important to keep a close eye on the senior who may be suffering from seasonal allergies. The body’s response to histamines can cause increased drowsiness, dizziness, and other issues. At BeeHive Homes, our trained staff develop keen eyes for any changes in our residents’ health. In our small-group, intimate assisted-living homes, we get to know each resident well, monitoring changes in their day-to-day behavior.

Making each day as good as it can be through assistance with daily living, home-cooked meals, quality of life activities, and watchfulness regarding health issues and safety is our mission at BeeHive Homes. If we can be of help to your family member in one of our New Mexico homes, please give us a call.

As we all grow older, we find that our bodies just don’t work the same way they did when we were younger. Adults who are in poor health or those who are elderly may find that pain becomes more and more of an issue in their daily lives.

Identifying pain is an important part of managing its affect. Whether your family member is living independently or in an assisted living or skilled care facility, it’s a good idea to inquire periodically about any pain they are experiencing.

Just as a medical professional does, ask your elderly family member to assess their pain level on a 1 to 10 scale. If his or her response is toward the top of the scale, that should be brought to their physician’s attention.

Pain can happen in many parts of the body. Joints such as the hip or knee that have become arthritic can cause pain, as well as diseases such as cancer. Unfortunately, some elderly adults view pain as just a part of life. But usually pain above a 5 or 6 needs to be assessed and managed. If it’s frequent or long-lasting, and if it interferes with daily living, it’s definitely something to talk with a physician about.

Sciatic pain can affect the nerves in the hip, buttocks or leg which can interfere with walking or sleeping. That begins a ripple effect on overall health. Arthritic fingers can not only be painful, but the swelling can interfere with fastening clothing or not being able to open food containers.

It’s always advised to talk with the person’s physician before taking over-the-counter pain medications, but if pain continues or worsens, don’t hesitate to follow-up with the doctor. Seniors living with ongoing or increasing pain levels is a difficult and confining issue that can be helped with medical intervention. Because aging can slow the gastrointestinal tract, adverse effects of pain medications should be considered.

At BeeHive Homes, we get to know your family member and assess their overall health on a regular basis. Our caregivers monitor their movements and even facial expressions as a gauge of how each person feels. If we notice changes or what may be an increasing pain level, we can bring it to the family’s attention. Our mission is to provide small, home-like assisted living homes to care for aging adults. We work to provide not only a comfortable home-like environment, but to be alert to any changing health issue in your loved one. If we can help serve your family, please give us a call.

If your parent or spouse is showing signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll notice that their connection to what’s happening today is not as strong as to memories of past times. In the early stages of these diseases, memory loss and confusion may be mild. But as the damage to brain cells progress, some patients may have little interest or memory of recent events or family members.

If your loved one talks about family members who have passed away as if they’re still alive, what should you do? Go along with it or try to bring him or her back to reality? Psychologists with the Alzheimer's Association recommend entering into the reality of the person with dementia, not trying to orient them to today’s reality.

If your parent or spouse seems to be living in 1963, try to be in that time with him or her. Ask questions about the memories that they have of that time. Those people are still very alive in his or her changing brain. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and learn about your heritage, their feelings about the people they interacted with, or the events of that time.

If they tell the same story again and again, think of it as if it’s their favorite piece of music. Focus on the way they tell it, if they laugh at certain parts. Don’t think of these interactions as pacifying the elderly person, these moments are how you can communicate as dementia or Alzheimer’s progress.

During that progression, your family member will also experience physical and emotional changes. Signs of dementia and possible causes are things to be aware of. If the time comes that you’re not sure if he or she is safe to live alone, or if their care is becoming more difficult for family members to provide, know that the staff at BeeHive Homes can help. Our assisted living homes are small, usually just 12 to 16 residents. That makes an easier transition that a large nursing home that’s much more regimented. Our staff is large enough to provide excellent care, but small enough that they are familiar faces.

Our assisted living homes also offer memory care, dementia care, and Alzheimer’s care for seniors affected by these issues. Trained BeeHive staff provide elderly care and assistance with the activities of daily living in our comfortable homes located across New Mexico. If we can be of help to your family, please reach out.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be painful. But why do they occur more often in the elderly and cause confusion in some seniors?

Why Older Adults?

Older adults can be more susceptible to UTIs. As we age, the muscles in the pelvic floor and bladder can weaken, leading to urinary incontinence or retention of urine. When urine stays in the urinary tract, bacteria can potentially multiple. Other factors such as the use of catheters to empty the bladder, or having diabetes or kidney issues, can also contribute to UTIs. While women are more prone to UTIs, men can also develop an infection. Those who have dementia also seem to be at a higher risk.

Symptoms of UTIs

In the elderly, a UTI often presents as a change in the person’s level of confusion. If that seems unusual, consider that any infection places stress on the body. In a senior adult, that stress may present as confusion. Falls, increased agitation, or sudden incontinence can also be indications of a UTI. In a younger person, a UTI usually causes painful burning when urinating. That may not be present in the elderly person.

Family members caring for a senior should know the signs of a possible UTI. That might include a burning sensation while urinating, lower abdominal pain, feeling as if the bladder is not empty, possible fever, chills or not feeling well. Sudden confusion may occur, even if the other symptoms are not present.

Preventing UTIs

To help prevent a UTI in the elderly:

1. Encourage the senior to drink 8 glasses of water per day
2. Add cranberry juice to his or her diet. This makes bacteria less likely to stick in the urethra.
3. Limit caffeine; avoid alcohol
4. Check adult diapers every 2 hours and change if needed
5. Careful cleaning of the area, wiping front to back. As dexterity changes in a frail senior, this may become harder for them to do, and assistance may be needed.

Diagnosing a UTI in a senior includes a urinalysis. If you suspect a UTI, contact the senior’s physician. If a urinalysis is ordered, you can usually call the lab and arrange to pick up a specimen cup to collect the urine sample at home. Then return it to the lab.

At BeeHive Homes, our assisted living caregivers are very attentive to changes in our residents. Our small group homes allow frequent contact with each person, so we’re cognizant of small changes in behavior or mood. We check our residents’ adult briefs frequently, ensuring their comfort and health.

Having a family member who can no longer care for themselves is a difficult transition for the senior and for their family. We’re here to help, with assisted living homes in many New Mexico communities.

A significant finding published in late 2021 may offer the probable cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The study was conducted at Curtin University in Australia. And published in the PLOS Biology journal. It identified that a probable cause for the disease was the leakage of blood of fat-carrying particles transporting toxic proteins in the brain.

Blood to Brain Pathway

The “blood to brain pathway”, researchers say, are likely leaks into the brain of particles in the blood called lipoproteins that carry fat particles. "While we previously knew that the hallmark feature of people living with Alzheimer's disease was the progressive accumulation of toxic protein deposits within the brain called beta-amyloid, researchers did not know where the amyloid originated from, or why it deposited in the brain," Professor John Mamo said in the article.

As such, researchers believe that if they can manage the levels of lipoprotein-amyloid in the blood and prevent leakage in the brain, new treatments can be developed to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and slow memory loss during aging.

In 2020, the US Center for Disease Control estimated that 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease. While younger people can develop Alzheimer’s, it mostly affects those 65 years of age or older. For every five years beyond 65, its prevalence doubles.

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. Ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s include:

1. Memory loss that interferes with daily life
2. Issues in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with the time or place
5. Difficulty understanding visual cues or spatial relationships
6. Developing problems with words
7. Losing items and unable to retrace steps to find them
8. Poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from others
10. Changes in mood or personality

Another 2021 study documents the link between cataract removal and the development of dementia. Those who have cataracts removed have a 30% lower risk of developing dementia from any cause than those who do not have the cataract removal. It seems to tie specifically to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

At BeeHive Homes our mission is to serve our seniors and their families. Our assisted living and memory care homes help seniors live independently while safely enjoying a home-like atmosphere. Our caregivers get to know each resident. And are trained to notice signs of dementia. We keep the family apprised of changes as well as work with the senior in memory care activities.

Many resources are available for those who begin to experience dementia. Or who may begin developing Alzheimer’s. We are happy to help connect you with them. BeeHive Memory Care Homes believe in making every day as good as it can be for our residents across all our homes in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and Arizona. We hope that in the near future treatment options for those experiencing Alzheimer’s disease will be markedly better.