Brain health is one of the most frustrating aspects of senior care. Unlike body health, brain health cannot be seen until the effects are quite severe, and sometimes at this point, there’s not much that can be done to effectively treat it. There have been a few breakthroughs over the years as far as treating the brain, such as including daily exercise within any senior care strategy, but this isn’t always an easy thing to accomplish. However, testing for brain health standards has become a lot simpler recently. One of the new tests that has been devised is absurdly easy; it involves looking at balance while standing on one leg.
Why is this an important test? Because, when someone is unable to stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds, it can be a sign that there has been small blood vessel damage within the brain. Balance issues can reveal this damage much more quickly than clinical tests are able to. And the earlier that issues are detected, the sooner that they can be treated. When it comes to things like strokes–which are one disease that could cause vessel damage–the earlier treatment is administered, the better the prognosis for the person suffering becomes.
What’s even better about this is that it’s something that every caregiver can administer, even if they are not professionally trained within the medical field. An in-home care giver could easily do this for the person that they are helping with a few times each year, just to make sure that there has been no change in the cognitive state of the person receiving care. Simple balance exercises can also help prevent injury and build muscle, both of which also have positive impacts upon elderly folk. It’s a form of exercise that can be beneficial, and it is incredibly simple at the same time.
The study that discovered this looked primarily at the elderly, and found that most of those that did have significant issues also had high blood pressure and thicker carotid arteries. These are all warning signs of cardiovascular issues, too, but they are not necessarily something that can be observed with ease. Blood pressure needs to be measured, and artery thickening can’t really be determined unless you have medical tests done. But balance is something that an untrained individual can see.
It’s certainly not a replacement for seeing a doctor on a regular basis, but it is something that can give you a little advantage when it comes to monitoring health. Some in-home caregivers may be willing to do this once in a while, others might not be comfortable with it. If this is something that’s important to you when selecting a service, make sure you discuss it before finalizing an agreement. The best caregiver services will always want to meet with you prior to beginning care to get a feel for your loved one and any concerns or questions that you might have when it comes to their health and safety. This is a great opportunity to talk about things like this.
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