Epilepsy and seizures in the elderly affecting the overall quality of life for seniors

Epilepsy Day is here and so is the time to raise awareness of this brain-numbing disorder among our loving seniors. As many suggest, epilepsy is life-threatening and can easily take a hefty toll on seniors. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is undefeatable.

When the mental health of seniors is in its best shape, epilepsy could be a mere speed bump in their lives.

“I run a race called epilepsy. If I reach a hurdle, stumble and fall I pick myself up, dust myself off and keep running the race until epilepsy exists no longer. God, please let this be a race that we all finish together.”

– Sagitarian Ricky.

All it takes to overcome epilepsy is opting for a proper diet, featuring foods for good memory. If you are one of those currently burdening the pain of epilepsy, take a look at some of the best foods and food products that could play a crucial hand in winning against this deadly disorder.

·         Carbohydrates – Provides an immense energy boost. The wholegrain version of these foods provides additional vitamins and minerals and could play a handy role in the battle against epilepsy seizures.

·         Fats are found in oils, nuts, and seeds and are primarily used to keep our bodies warm.

·         Proteins help in maintaining a healthy immune system and strong muscles.

Post-stroke care is essential

One of the circumstances that may predispose a senior to develop epilepsy is a stroke. If you've recently had a stroke, the next phase is critical, and your chances of developing epilepsy are entirely dependent on how well you care for yourself during this time.

The best to avoid post-stroke seizures is by taking anti-seizure medicines with the doctor’s approval. But, apart from the medication, it also depends on the way you treat your body over the initial few days following a stroke.

Here are some of the tips that might come as a blessing to a few seniors:

·         Keep yourself hydrated

·         Avoid overworking your body with strenuous walks, jogs, and workouts. Seizures can occur as a result of overexertion.

·         Don't let your blood sugar drop to dangerously low levels.

·         Consider having someone supervise you while cooking, swimming, etc.

There’s also another major factor that could lead to epilepsy - brain injury in seniors. In specific, seniors recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) carry a high risk of developing epilepsy and epileptic seizures.

The seizures don’t necessarily have to occur right after the injury. In some cases, seniors have had epileptic seizures days and even months after the TBI.

Dementia and Forgetfulness

With ageing, our memory power tends to weaken and may sometimes lead to a condition called Dementia. There are multiple forms of dementia but the most common one is Alzheimer’s, which is usually found in people over age 65. 

Interestingly, there is a common misconception about dementia; many people believe that dementia only causes memory loss. However, in reality, it completely destroys cognitive functioning, which is more than enough to ruin a senior's quality of life.

Seniors with dementia may also struggle with language skills, visual perception, and attention. Some people experience personality shifts.

When to seek medical help with Epilepsy?

There are occasional symptoms that might suggest that the senior is on the verge of developing dementia. They are sometimes quite evident, but, most of the time, the signs are subtle and they tend to go unnoticed.

Here are some of the signs that suggest a senior could have cognitive problems which portray as one of the major root causes of epilepsy:- 

·         Inadvertently asking the same question or repeating something

·         Frequently getting lost in places the senior is normally familiar with

·         Having trouble following directions

·         Showing signs of confusion when it comes to remembering a person or place

·         A lack of self-care, such as not bathing and eating poorly

Athulya Home Healthcare for safe Recovery from Epilepsy

Are you seeking a way to recover from epilepsy from the comfort of your home? Athulya home care services offer you all assistance you might require on the road to recovery.

Athulya’s skilled medical team promises a healthy recovery through home medical counselling, which can subsequently play a crucial role in leading a peaceful life without many obstructions.