Exploring Home Health Care Services

Posted on: 7 April 2015

As your parents and other loved ones begin to age, you will likely notice that their memory eventually begins to fade and falter. This can occur gradually over several years or come on all of a sudden. Sometimes this is just a normal part of the aging process. However, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, though not natural parts of the aging process, are quite common among the elderly.  When you begin to consider hiring senior care services for your loved one who is having memory problems, you should also keep in mind that your loved one may have medical disorders that are contributing to their memory loss. So, get to know some of these conditions so that your hired senior care service of choice can also help to manage and monitor any of these conditions. 

Diabetes

Diabetes, though it is technically a digestive disorder, can have a profound effect upon all systems of the body. As you may know, diabetes is a condition in the body in which the digestive system (the pancreas in particular) cannot regulate blood sugar (blood glucose levels).

When the glucose levels in the body cannot be properly regulated and maintained, it is easy for a person to suffer from hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) or hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). Glucose is an important nutrient for proper brain function and memory. Because the brain is constantly active, it requires a constant supply of sugar to operate.

When your loved one's blood sugar is out of balance, they may find it difficult to concentrate, remember new information, and if it continues for long periods of time, the damage can be permanent. So, if your elderly loved one has diabetes, be sure that you and their senior care service staff closely monitors their blood glucose levels, especially if you begin to notice that they are struggling with memory and concentration.

Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Proper nutrition not only helps to keep a person's body functioning and in shape, but also has a profound effect upon brain function. Nutritional deficiencies can and will affect your loved one's memory if you do not address them as quickly as possible. 

Vitamin B-12 deficiency can result in a condition known as pernicious anemia. And the initial symptoms, particularly in older people, are confusion, mental slowness, and general malaise and dementia. This vitamin deficiency can occur due to a lack of B-12 in the diet, but is more likely the result of a person's body being unable to absorb the nutrient through food. However, regular vitamin injections can help to fix this problem and may repair damage done to the memory.

As you can see, medical conditions that would seemingly have little or nothing to do with your loved one's memory may have a serious effect on their ability to concentrate, recall information, and lucidly navigate the world. So, make sure that the senior care service that you hire closely monitors any existing or suspected medical problems that may be contributing to their memory loss or dementia.  If you're looking for a senior care service, visit ComForcare Home Care - Venice, FL.