#dentalhygiene #gumdisease #tmjdisorder #oralcare #alzheimer #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #nutritionandlifestyle #nutritionist #healthyaging #hearthealthydiet #seniorcare #familycaregivers
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Yes you CAN keep your teeth as you age? But why are Older Persons at risk for poor oral health?? WHY do Persons neglect dental Care? What is the danger of having fewer teeth?
A few risk factors:
🪥😁🦷Pain - fewer teeth mean chewing is painful, affecting nutrition; gum disease is also a factor
🪥😁🦷Depression and apathy - no desire ; poor socialisation for fear and embarrassment
🪥😁🦷Arthritis in the jaw (TMJ disorder for example - eating is just uncomfortable
🪥😁🦷Socioeconomic challenges - access to nutritious food AND Health Care
🪥😁🦷Some medication and NCds can cause gum disease, dry mouth and
🪥😁🦷Memory Impairment-- they simply forget ; in addition, many with poor oral hygiene are at risk for Dementia
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
🪥😁🦷 Brush (soft bristles) and clean TWICE A DAY - no toothpaste? - use Bicarbonate of soda and salt . REMEMBER your TONGUE!
🪥😁🦷Blend or puree or boil vegs and fruit hard to chew; remember protein
🪥😁🦷TALK to SOMEONE! A friend, hygienist, nutritionist (or a dentist!)
🪥😁🦷Pain relief -if chewing is painful
🪥😁🦷Be mindful of TMJ disorder and the ability to chew
🪥😁🦷Ask questions from the doctor if medication may cause oral side effects
SMILE!! (WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT OUR TEETH ?!)
One day, one hour, one TOOTH at a time!😁
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
Why Do Persons with Dementia and Alzheimers STOP Eating or Drinking? What to DO? 🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖
#alzheimer #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #nutritionandlifestyle #nutritionist #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #thelonggoodbye
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Dementia and its most common subset, Alzheimer’s disease are neurological brain disorders that cause impairment with memory, thinking skills, and behaviour.
Daunting? Yes!
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖As these diseases progress, they often affect taste, smell and mood, as well making mealtimes and hydration a "battle of wills"😖
Dangers: Dehydration, constipation, infection, frailty, poorer immune system, falls, fractures, death.
Reasons:
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖Pain
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖Depression and apathy - no desire
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖arthritis in the jaw- eating is just uncomfortable
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖Infection especially lungs and bladder - let's not forget anosmia from COVID-19
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖Some medication alter taste
🤷🏽♀️🍽️🥤😖Memory Impairment-- they simply forget to eat
What can you do?
🍽️🥤😊 Vary the colours and textures of food and the utensils; use "watery fruit" such as watermelob
🍽️Lightweight cups and mugs are easier to hold
🍽️🥤Be alert to signs of dehydration and when you may need the doctor
🍽️🥤 Seek the advice of the nutritionist
🍽️🥤When nothing works- walk away , cool heads and come back in a few minutes
🍽️🥤Eating is a SOCIAL event-, so eat WITH them- selfcare, comraderie, familiarity.
Let us embrace these "new normals" in an atmosphere of acceptance, understanding, empathy and love
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
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Overwhelmed? Let's connect: 📧lana@lanaannemd.com
For more insights and connect for a FREE face-to-Face 15 minute Zoom call, and a place where we can connect as Family Caregivers and fellow Physicians on my website: lanaslittlethings.com.
LLT #208 - Music and Dementia - What's the Connection? 🎶🎵👴🏽👵🏽🎷🎹🎺🎼💝
#dementia #dementiacare #alzheimer #alzheimersdisease #alzheimerawareness #elderlycare #healthyaging #brainhealth #seniorcare #familycaregivers #thelonggoodbye
Dementia is an umbrella term for several neurological brain disorders that cause impairment with memory, thinking skills, and behaviour which significantly impair everyday life. This includes Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular, Frontotemporal, Lewy Body and many others.
The reality, which can be very distressing, is its progression, its unpredictability and personally, a sense of loss. It is really "the long goodbye".
Whether early stages or full-blown Alzheimer's disease where verbal communication is gone and it may seem as if your loved one is just "existing".
What role does music play in our lives? Well, think about it; your life: 🎶🎵👴🏽👵🏽🎷🎹🎺🎼💝 🎶🎵👴🏽👵🏽🎷🎹🎺🎼💝
- Is there a "soundtrack" ? A song you go to, that stirs your heart?
- Is there a song that brings back memories?
- Is there a song that stirs your emotions and calms you when you feel anxious?
The same applies to persons with dementia, even when there is no obvious means of communication.
How can music help? Research has shown that music can help with
- Cognition
- Memory and
- Attention and Concentration
It brings back memories long forgotten, stirs emotions, calms agitation and relieves depression and anxiety, improves social connection in early stages; even reduce blood pressure.
Use music anytime the favourite music of your loved one; hold their hand, dance if possible, and have their friends over if feasible.
MUSIC is the soundtrack to our lives; play a tune, sing, dance!
Life is short!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
