Maintaining an active lifestyle is great for the heart, blood pressure, and the waist, but it’s also good for the brain, especially as we get older. By studying brain scans of older adults, researchers have learned that areas of the brain related to memory and decision making perform better among those adults who stay active. The active seniors in the studies tended to think faster and have a better memory.

By keeping active, seniors can improve their odds of avoiding memory loss and dementia. This benefit even rings true for seniors who are frail and limited in motion. The studies showed that even these adults can benefit from physical activity that is appropriate and safe for their condition.

When seniors make the decision to get active, it’s best to start slow and work up to longer or more difficult activities. A good goal would be 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week, but it’s okay if it takes some time to get there.

There are plenty of options older adults can choose from to stay active, and it’s important to pick something they really enjoy. A walk in the park, aquatic activities, or even dancing can all be counted as physical activity.

Adults who are frail or starting to experience limited range of motion should check with their doctors before they decide on a physical activity. They will likely require the presence of an able-bodied adult for safety reasons.

Keeping active is just one way seniors can improve their mental health. At Cura-HPC we want to help seniors stay mentally sharp and improve the quality of life for anyone in need of Tulsa hospice care. If you have a loved who needs hospice and palliative care, call Cura-HPC. 

As the primary caregiver for a loved one, families will spend the most time with a patient, which means they have the best opportunity to spot changes in a hospice patient. Catching these changes early can help doctors make better decisions and improve the quality of the care provided. Here are two kinds of changes families should be looking for.  

Physical

Changes in a patient’s physical condition almost always warrants a conversation with someone on the hospice medical team. Common physical changes include:

• Increased Number of Falls
• Pain when moving or lying down
• Refusal or sudden inability to turn or move
• Skin changes such as sores, tears, bruises, rashes, itching, or a change in color
• Bladder or bowel functions
• Eating or drinking habits
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of sight or hearing

Mental

Changes in patient’s mental state can be just as important to note as physical changes, but they aren’t as easy to spot. Families need to be vigilant and watch out for:

• Increased sleeping during the day
• Difficult to wake from sleep
• Confusion about time, place, or people
• Restless (picking or pulling at the bed linen)
• Talking about things unconnected to the events or people present
• Increased anxiety, fear, or loneliness at night
• Suicidal thoughts or depression

A patient receiving end-of-life care via hospice and palliative care will likely go through lots of mental and physical changes, which makes it hard to know which changes need to be brought up with the nurses and doctors. When in doubt, it’s always best to let the hospice medical team know about changes. Having more information will only help them create a care plan that’s right for a patient’s unique needs.  

Palliative care is a unique form of care that is vastly different than other forms of medical care. The unique nature of palliative care makes it ideal for meeting the needs of patients, under the correct circumstances. It’s important to understand the basic definition, goals, and applications of palliative care.

Definition

Palliative care is a specialized form of medical care for patients with terminal illnesses. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a terminal illness. It is suitable at any age and for any kind of terminal illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.

Goal

The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care teams focus on treating people suffering from the symptoms and stress of terminal illnesses. This type of care treats pain, depression, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and any other symptoms that may be causing discomfort.

Administration

A pure form (meaning only palliative with no curative) of palliative care is most commonly found in a hospice setting. However, palliative care methods are also used in conjunction with curative care as well. Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support.

If you or a loved one is in need of palliative and hospice care, call Cura-HPC. Our experienced team will provide the highest level of care and compassion to all patients under our care. We are able to provide the full range of hospice services including pain management, personal assistance, spiritual care, coordination of care, and bereavement care.