Hip Fracture Cases Dropping

There has been a significant drop in the number of seniors who are breaking hips. Many seniors have trouble moving around, which can lead to falls and broken bones. However, studies have shown that these numbers are dropping. There are fewer seniors fracturing hips, which is great news to the senior population. Below is a short list containing some additional information.

1. When a senior breaks a hip, they have a one in four chance of spending a year or more in a nursing home after the injury. The break will also cause serious threats to mobility, possibly preventing the patient from walking.

2. There is no explanation on why the rate of hip fractures is dropping, but it is doing so in large numbers. Hip fractures are much more common among older women, but the decline in the cases of fractures has reduced in men over 85 and women over 75.

3. Some believe this is because older people are healthier and much more functional, which can help prevent falls. Older people are also developing stronger bones that have helped prevent hip fractures.

Source: New Old Age Blogs

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Sleeping Tips Benefit Seniors

Sleep is essential in order for seniors to maintain their health. When seniors do not sleep well at night, their whole life will be affected. They will be drowsy during the day, have the inability to concentrate and may become anxious and stressed. The list below provides seniors with some useful tips that can help them get better sleep and begin to enjoy the days better.

1. Do not drink coffee or tea before going to bed. Some doctors suggest stopping drinking caffeine by 2 in the afternoon so it has time to leave the body.

2. Do not eat a heavy meal before going to bed. Some foods can help seniors sleep, such as whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables and chicken breast. Late night snackers should choose cottage cheese with fruit slices.

3. Avoid wine before retiring for the night. Have a glass of wine at dinner, but no later.

4. Take baths earlier in the day. While some people may become relaxed after a bath, it will raise the body temperature and make it difficult to sleep.

5. Gentle stretching may help seniors sleep better. Avoid excessive exercising before bed, but yoga can help relax the body and the mind.

6. Keep the room dark and cool. Dim lights around the house a few hours before bedtime, using the least amount of light as possible.

7. Shut off cell phones and computers at least an hour before bed. This will help seniors unwind and let the day end.

Source: CNN

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Choosing a Nursing Home for a Senior

When caregivers are faced with making the decision on a nursing home, there are many issues and factors that must be taken into consideration. The main concern is that the medical needs of the seniors will be met. To ensure this, there are some important things to look for when comparing various nursing homes. Below is some information on how to judge a nursing home and make the right choice.

1. Always ask to talk to the nurses’ aides. These are the people that will be spending the most time with the senior.

2. Most nursing homes will deny this request because there is such a high turnover rate of aides. There are very few nursing homes that staff aides for any length of time.

3. More than 70 percent of aides and nursing assistants will change jobs within the year.

4. When talking to aides and assistants, always ask how long they have been doing this kind of work and how long they have been at this nursing home.

5. When you are able to find a home that has a low turnover rate and a reliable staff, this may be a good choice.

6. The key is to look for a nursing home that has a constant staff. When a senior is in a nursing home, they should be able to rely on people and having the same aides for a long period of time is very beneficial.

Source: New Old Age Blogs

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Blogging, Seniors and Keeping Up with Technology

Keeping up with technology can be difficult since it changes almost daily, but there are many seniors who are not entering the world of online blogging. Many senior sites have blogs available where seniors can read or write about their thoughts, ideas and experiences as a senior. Not only does open a door to communicate with other seniors, but it also provide a lot of useful information.

1.    Blogging can be a great thing for seniors. It allows them to express their thoughts and feelings and it is a great way to reach out to other seniors. Many seniors even develop friends through blogs by getting responses to a topic they have posted and discussed.

2.    Some of the most common blogs by seniors include information on health issues and conditions. These can be a wealth of information, especially for seniors who are dealing with the same health problems.

3.    Some of the blogs are geared towards seniors who have recently retired. Here, seniors can meet others who are at the same point in their lives and discuss different things that happen when one retires.

4.    More seniors are becoming involved with blogs on the internet. The Ageless Project is a web page that contains a collection of blogs by seniors. This is a great way to express views and share some experiences that could make a difference in the lives of other seniors.

Source: http://jenett.org/ageless/

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Seniors, Dementia and Communication

When a senior has dementia, one of the most difficult things is communication. Not only can the senior struggle with communicating, but they will also have trouble understanding what others are saying. This is why it is very important for friends and family members to learn how to communicate in different ways so that the senior has a better chance of understanding. Below are some useful tips.

1. Dealing with a person who has dementia can be frustrating, but it is important to always remain calm and never show anger or impatience.

2. Try to communicate in an area with very little distraction. There should be minimal amounts of background noises and low levels of activity.

3. Be very specific when speaking. If possible, only use short sentences. If you are asking a question, be sure to only ask one thing at a time.

4. Pay attention to the response from the senior. Watch for confusion or understanding. When speaking, try to position yourself at eye level.

5. Allow seniors time to process what was said. Dementia will cause seniors to have a delay in their reactions, so be sure to allow them enough time when communicating.

6. Since memory loss is an issue, always talk about things in the here and now. Trying to communicate past events will not be beneficial because the senior has very little memory.

Source: http://www.ccerap.org/pdfs/pubsDocs/7CommunicationStrategies.pdf

Driving in Poor Weather – Tips for Seniors

Many seniors continue to drive well into old age. While this is a great way to maintain independence, there are some situations that can make senior drivers prone to accidents. Driving in bad weather is not enjoyed by most seniors. In fact, when the weather is poor, seniors will get nervous behind the wheel. The following list offers some tips to keep senior drivers safe in bad weather.

1.    Make sure to allow enough time to reach the destination. If the weather is bad and the visibility is poor, seniors should try to leave the house about 15 minutes earlier than they normally would.

2.    Always maintain the vehicle. Making sure the car is in good condition is one way to make sure seniors stay safe while driving in poor weather conditions.

3.    When buying a newer car, consider options that will increase safety, such as all-wheel drive and traction control.

4.    Be sure to keep an emergency kit in the car. These kits can help seniors who have car trouble during bad weather. Most kits will have blankets that will help seniors stay warm and comfortable until help arrives.

5.    Always drive with the headlights on.

6.    Stay in the middle lane on the highway. Most roads are built higher in the middle, allowing water to runoff to the other lanes.

7.    Avoid pools of water. There could be potholes beneath.

Source: Senior Living.About.com

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

How to Eat Healthy on the Road

Finding something healthy to eat while traveling can be somewhat of a challenge for seniors. Many times, seniors will want a light and quick meal to hold them over. When traveling, the options are slim, so the list below can help seniors choose foods that will be healthy. Eating healthy is important for seniors, so even while on vacation, they need to find healthy foods.

1.    Try to avoid the temptation of junk food from convenience stores. Eating junk food will fill the body with calories and fat, leaving seniors feeling fatigued and irritable.

2.    When eating breakfast in the road, try to avoid foods that have high amounts of sugar. A meal that is high in carbs will elevate the mood, but a high amount of sugar can cause drowsiness. If the senior is driving, this is never a good combination.

3.    In a restaurant, choose a meal that is as healthy as possible. Opt for an omelet with vegetables and whole-grain toast.

4.    Oatmeal with fruit is a great breakfast and snack during the day. It will provide the body with nutrients and energy.

5.    For seniors who are craving something sweet, try a bran muffin or whole-wheat toast with a little jelly.

6.    Fresh fruits, hard boiled eggs and yogurt are great in the hotel or for snacking.

7.    If seniors have to eat at a service station, avoid sugars. Try a protein bar or a breakfast sandwich.

8.    Try to avoid fast food. Go for soup, salad, vegetables and fish for dinner or lunch.

Source: http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/a/healthyeating.htm

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Active Seniors are Healthy Seniors

It has been proven that seniors who are active have far fewer health problems than those who do not exercise at all. While it may be difficult for many seniors to begin exercising, more seniors have trouble sticking with it. To help with this issue, the list below offers some useful tips that can be beneficial to seniors.

1.    Seniors need to set goals for exercise and stick to them. They should start with small goals, such as exercising a few times a week. The goals should be realistic and achievable.

2.    Make a purchase! Buying a new bathroom scale can help seniors monitor their weight. Many newer scales will also display the body fat percentage. Seniors should set goals to reduce body fat. Seniors should also use the scale to keep track of their results from exercise. Most scales will have a built in memory, so seniors can monitor weight loss and gain.

3.    Do not think of exercise as a chore. It can actually be a social event if done in groups. Get together with other seniors for a walk. Socialization is linked with many health benefits, so seniors who combine exercise with a social activity will reap many benefits.

4.    Seniors do not have to engage in rigorous exercise routines. They should set short-term goals that are realistic. Most seniors will benefit from just 2 ½ hours of exercise each week.

Source: Consumer Healthday

Home Care Jacksonville, Elder Care Fort Walton, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.