Being able to communicate at any age is important, but this is most true of the elderly. Situations can easily spiral when older adults are unable to articulate their needs, be it pain or another pressing issue, or even just a simple issue. Speech therapy can be particularly helpful for seniors when recovering from the debilitating consequences of a stroke or dementia, and may as well be necessary after a head injury. The idea of speech therapy often calls to mind images of adults struggling to speak through a stutter, or one probably thinks of school-based specialists helping children with pronunciation of a certain letter or to get rid of a lisp. However, speech therapy is much more than that as already mentioned above. Speech language pathologists (SLPs) provide speech therapy, which is a process that addresses problems with speaking and swallowing that may occur for any number of reasons, and it can be crucial for seniors’ overall health and ability to communicate. One of the
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to come in the way of day to day tasks. Aside from the symptoms, a person with Alzheimer’s may have other health complications over time, as all older adults do, which can lead to more confusion and behavior changes. Due to the effects Alzheimer’s has on the body, it also increases an individual’s risk for other health complications, especially as the disease progresses. It becomes more difficult to treat other health conditions in a person with Alzheimer’s due to cognitive changes, impaired judgment and memory loss brought on by the condition. For example, people afflicted with the condition may fail to follow a prescribed treatment plan for another illness and may fail as well to notice any other medication’s side effects, which might lead to a minor health issue turning into a severe problem. If you need assistance with taking care of