The Senses:
Is your loved one constantly asking people to repeat themselves? Does he or she have a difficult time following a conversation that involves more than one person? Is your loved one withdrawing from social situations? Chances are, your loved one may be experiencing loss of hearing.
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Caring for someone with hearing loss can be challenging and a little scary. A caregiver worries about the safety of their loved one no matter what, but knowing the way they live in the world is compromised can put anyone on edge even more. Dealing with hearing loss from the onset can prevent larger concerns and disputes in the future. This unfortunate symptom of aging is one that has highs and lows, literally and figuratively.
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Is your loved one constantly asking people to repeat themselves? Does he or she have a difficult time following a conversation that involves more than one person? Is your loved one withdrawing from social situations? Chances are, your loved one may be experiencing loss of hearing.
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Have you or your loved one noticed that his or her vision isn’t as clear as it used to be? Cataracts may be developing in your loved one’s eyes. Cataracts are one of the most common medical conditions for older adults - so common in fact, that more than half of all 80-year-old Americans have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
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Your loved one has trouble seeing and has been diagnosed with a cataract. Surgery is typically recommended to treat this condition. It is a very common, and low risk surgery, but you will still want to be prepared to help your loved one through the procedure and recovery.
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As a diabetic—or a loved one of a diabetic—you have many things to remember, including blood sugar regulation, diet, medication, and equally important, an annual comprehensive eye exam. Anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. This disease occurs as a result of a leakage or bursting of blood vessels in the retina and can cause vision loss. Since there are often no symptoms in the early stages of this disease, it is critical for all diabetics to have regular exams.
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How many different kinds of wax can you think of? There’s car wax, floor wax, waxed paper, beauty wax for removing unwanted hair, furniture wax – even hot pepper was for repelling ants and other garden pests.
Then there’s ear wax. This oily, sticky, yellowish substance is produced in the ear canal by the cerumen glands. Its purpose is to make it possible for you to hear. It also prevents damage to the ear drum and ear canal by keeping bits of dirt, dust, water, insects, bacteria and other foreign objects out of the ears.
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Macular degeneration is a serious eye disorder and the most common cause of vision loss in people over 60. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula – the part of the retina that sends light from the eye to the brain. It causes blurred central vision so inpiduals with the condition have difficulty reading, sewing, and driving. An estimated 13 million people have symptoms of macular degeneration and 250,000 are legally blind because of the disorder.
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Changes in vision are a common part of the aging process. If you care for a relative over 60, chances are he or she suffers from poor eyesight. According to statistics from the National Eye Institute over 800,000 Americans over 60 suffer from blindness or poor vision.
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Older adults often complain that people mumble more than they used to. It's difficult to hear on the telephone or following conversations in restaurants and other noisy places. On the other hand, you complain that the radio and TV are too loud. You're tired of repeating yourself because your mom didn't hear what you said to her.
All of these situations are signs that your older family member may be hard of hearing.
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If you are caring for an older adult you need to be alert for even small changes in your relative's health. Cataracts are most common cause of vision loss in older people and are a natural part of aging. They develop slowly, causing the lens of the eye to become cloudy and gradually reduce vision. Over time your relative's vision will diminish. More than half of people over 80 have at least one cataract.
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