Living with Parkinson's Disease (PD) can be incredibly challenging and stressful. In this blog, we'll provide an overview of the daily challenges associated with an advanced stage of PD and how you can best help your loved ones living with the condition.

A caregiver's job is not at all easy. It's both mentally and emotionally taxing. That's why it's important for them to have their own support network. Here are the elements of a strong caregiver support network.

Common colds and flu are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. According to CDC, flu is caused by influenza viruses, while several viruses, including parainfluenza and rhinoviruses, cause colds. A significant difference is that a common cold is a milder respiratory illness, while the flu can make one feel quite ill and result in serious health problems.

Cold is contagious and can be transferred to another person if proper measures are not in place. For instance, if one has close contact with an infected person, touches a contaminated surface, or breathes respiratory droplets containing the virus. In fact, seniors are susceptible to complications from getting a common cold due to a weakened immune system.

Read on to learn more about colds and how to prevent the spread of the illness.

The flu is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the throat, nose, and lungs. According to the CDC, influenza infections peak during the fall and winter, terming it the flu season. With so much attention paid to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's easy to forget how hard the flu season can hit.

Eating locally grown, seasonal produce can be really good for seniors because it tastes amazing and is chock-full of vitamins and minerals which the body needs. Buying local produce is a great way to support your community's business owners, and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables is also a more sustainable option. Below is a list of end-of-summer produce you can get and recipe ideas you can do at home!

Owning a dog has been shown to have a number of benefits, from making the owners more sociable to helping them to live longer. For seniors in South Bend, another essential benefit of having a dog is that it can keep them fit. Most dogs do need to be walked at least once a day. Plus, there are other activities that become necessary when you have a dog. Overall, you'll find that seniors who have dogs are more fit and exercise more than those who don't. Below are some ways how seniors can build a fitness activity with their dogs.

Seasonal allergies can develop at any stage of life. Even something as simple as moving to a new location can cause people who were once entirely allergy-free to experience unpleasant reactions to common allergens. Surprisingly, however, many aging adults find that their seasonal allergies gradually abate with time. Research shows that changes in immune functioning during the golden years can make the normal allergy season infinitely more tolerable.

At Senior Helpers of South Bend, we believe that improvements in seasonal allergies can be a positive thing. However, it's still important to investigate their possible underlying causes.

The elderly prefer living in their homes for as long as possible. However, handling ordinary household chores may become increasingly challenging as they continue to age.

While continuing to perform household chores in old age isbeneficial for their health (boosting attention span, cognition, and physical vigor), sometimes their strength may fail them. It could even be risky at times, especially if they're too frail to perform certain chores without risking a fall.