First Choice In-Home Care Blog

"We all thought Gram was getting dementia, but then we figured out that she was responding to our questions strangely because she could not hear what we were actually saying to her," Lila, a family caregiver for her aged grandmother, says.

Lila's experience is not unique. There are many cases of families who discover that what they thought to be signs of dementia in their aged loved ones are, in actuality, signs of hearing loss. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing.

Forgetfulness can be a normal result of aging. But many seniors are worried that an occasional bout of forgetfulness may signal a much more serious problem such as Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. This is not an entirely baseless worry, as 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 has Alzheimer's disease.

If you are providing care for an aged love one, you may also have some concerns about cognitive changes in your senior. What is normal senior forgetfulness and what are warning signs of Alzheimer's? Here are some signs provided by the Alzheimer's Association to help you determine if and when to consult with a physician concerning your loved one's mental health.

Memory Loss: By far, the most recognizable symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss. It is perfectly normal to forget a name or an address once in a while. But, if your senior's memory lapses are interfering with his or her daily life, then it is time to consult a doctor.

Bill Laidlaw, president of Nine Cloud Beds, has three decades of experience expert in the bedding industry.

We recently checked in with Bill to learn more about bedding options for bedridden, elderly and disabled individuals. Here's what he had to say:

Baby Boomers, now entering headlong into their retirement years, are even more intent on aging in place than were previous generations. Huffington reports: "The old standard of retiring and shuffling off to a retirement community is being re-written by baby boomers who want to enjoy their homes, embrace their communities and age in place as long as they can."

The Benefits of Homecare

Seniors with this mindset find home health care to be an increasingly attractive option. Home health care enables seniors to:

• remain in familiar and comfortable environments
• maintain a sense of control and autonomy
• maintain cherished ties to nearby family and community
• access highly personalized care from professional care providers

In addition to providing seniors assistance with activities of daily living, homecare providers can also help seniors with household chores, shopping, transportation, and medication support. Working with a homecare provider provides peace of mind for seniors and their families by assuring all involved in caregiving that the needs of seniors are being consistently and competently met.

Parents with medically fragile children are often engaged in a delicate balancing act. Weighing the unique needs of your child against your own needs and ability to handle the special care for your child can be exhausting and fraught with anxiety.

In many cases, a child with special needs requires in-home healthcare. Finding healthcare providers who are professional and experienced is just as important as considering how a caregiver will fit into the family dynamic and provide the best possible situation for your child.


Finding a caregiver to handle the special needs of your child is doable, with some research and help.