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How to Keep Fit, Prevent Illness and Manage Your Health Care: Prevention and Care: Some Special Problems

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Prevention and Care: Some Special Problems

Health Care Programs - Health 2A minority of people, as they become older, suffer from special problems that can cause great distress. Because families do not like to talk about them, they may be unaware of what services are available, so may be missing out both on practical help and sometimes also on financial assistance.


Hypothermia

Elderly people tend to be more vulnerable to the cold. If the body drops below a certain temperature, it can be dangerous because one of the symptoms of hypothermia is that sufferers no longer actually feel cold. Instead, they may lose their appetite and vitality and may become mentally confused. Instead of doing all the sensible things like getting a hot drink and putting on an extra sweater, they are liable to neglect themselves further and can put themselves at real risk.

Although heating costs are often blamed, quite wealthy people can also be victims by allowing their home to become too cold or not wearing sufficient clothing. For this reason, during a cold snap it is very important to check up regularly on an elderly person living alone.

British Gas, electricity companies and the Solid Fuel Association are all willing to give advice on how heating systems can be used more efficiently and economically. (See telephone directory for nearest branch or ask at the Citizens Advice Bureau.) Insulation can also play a very large part in keeping a home warmer and cheaper to heat. It may be possible to obtain a grant from the local authority, although normally this would only be likely on grounds of real need.

Additionally, elderly and disabled people in receipt of income support may receive a cold weather payment to help with heating costs during a particularly cold spell: that is, when the temperature is forecast to drop to zero degrees Celsius (or below) for seven consecutive days. The amount paid is £8.50 a week. Those eligible should receive the money automatically. In the event of any problem, ask at your social security office. In the event of any emergency, such as a power cut, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or local Age Concern group.

Finally, every household with someone aged 60 or older will get an annual tax-free winter fuel payment of £200, while those with a resident aged 80 or older will receive £400. For further information, telephone the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on Tel: 08459 15 15 15; website: www.thepension service.gov.uk.

Incontinence


Bladder or bowel problems can cause deep embarrassment to sufferers as well as inconvenience to relatives. The problems can occur in an elderly person for all sorts of reasons and a doctor should always be consulted, as it can often be cured or at least alleviated by proper treatment. To assist with the practical problems, some local authorities operate a laundry service that collects soiled linen, sometimes several times a week. The person to talk to is the health visitor or district nurse (telephone your local health centre), who will be able to advise about this and other facilities.

Incontact (a new charity launched in September 2008, following the closure of the Continence Foundation in May 2008) is for people with bladder and bowel dysfunction. This charity incorporates and continues the work of the Continence Foundation and operates a helpline that is staffed by nurses with a special understanding of bladder and bowel problems. For further information, contact: Tel: 0870 770 3246; e-mail: info@incontact.org; website: www.incontact.org.

Useful Reading

Product information and free booklets on continence care are available from Coloplast Ltd. For further details, contact: Tel: 01733 392000; website: www.coloplast.co.uk.

Dementia

Sometimes an elderly person can become confused or forgetful, suffer severe loss of memory or have violent mood swings and at times be abnormally aggressive. It is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible as the cause may be depression, stress or even vitamin deficiency. All of these can be treated and often completely cured. If dementia is diagnosed, there are ways of helping a sufferer to cope better with acute forgetfulness and other symptoms.

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is usually found in people aged over 65. Approximately 24 million people worldwide have dementia, of which the majority (over 60 per cent) is due to Alzheimer’s.

Clinical signs are characterised by progressive cognitive deterioration, together with a decline in the ability to carry out common daily tasks and behavioural changes. The first readily identifiable symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are usually short-term memory loss and visual-spatial confusion. These initial symptoms progress from seemingly simple and fluctuating to a more pervasive loss of memory, including difficulty navigating familiar areas such as the local neighbourhood. This advances to loss of other familiar and well-known skills as well as recognition of objects and persons.

Since family members are often the first to notice changes that might indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s (or other forms of dementia) they should learn the early warning signs. They should serve as informants during initial evaluation of patients clinically. It is important to consult your doctor as soon as you have concerns. It is also a good idea to talk to the health visitor, as they will know about any helpful facilities that may be available locally. They are also able to arrange appointments with other professionals, such as the community psychiatric nurse and occupational therapist.

The charity Mind can often also help. Addresses to contact are:

Mind (National Association for Mental Health-NAMH): Tel: 020 8519 2122; e-mail: contact@mind.org.uk; website: www.mind.org.uk.

Mind Cymru: Tel: 029 2039 5123; website: www. mind.org.uk.

Scottish Association for Mental Health: Tel: 0141 568 7000; website: www.mind.org.uk.

Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health: Tel: 028 9032 8474; website: www.mind.org.uk.

There are two other helpful organisations giving support to people with dementia and their carers.

The Alzheimer’s Society; for further information, contact: Tel: 0845 300 0336; email: enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk; website: www.alzheimers.org.uk.

Alzheimer Scotland-Action on Dementia has local services throughout Scotland; for addresses and other information, contact: Tel: 0808 808 3000; website: www.alzscot.org.

Useful Reading

Caring for the Person with Dementia, published by the Alzheimer’s Society, £7 including p&p. Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk.

Understanding Dementia, £1, available from Mind Mail Order Service. Website: www.mind.org.uk at the address listed above.

Source: Frances Kay, “Your Health: How to Keep Fit, Prevent Illness and Manage Your Health Care,” Kogan Page, London, 2009

Republished by Health Care Programs



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