CDC Promotes Preventative Medicine for Older Adults

Preventative medicine is not always considered a priority for American seniors, particularly those who have concerns about their financial future with their retirement approaching when they are in their 50’s or 60’s. Preventative medicine might seem unnecessary, but it can ensure that there are fewer medical issues that arise in the future and associated costs. That’s why the CDC is creating an awareness program to promote preventative medicine for individuals aged 50 to 65.

Preventative medical services that older adults can benefit from include:

• Vaccinations  – middle-aged adults and seniors should receive routine vaccines for illnesses like influenza pneumococcal disease

• Blood tests and screening – routine doctor’s visits should be encouraged which allow medical professionals to monitor cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels which can both prevent and allow for early diagnosis of health issues

• Technological screening – the technology today allows for less invasive screening for conditions like breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer and should be done regularly, dependent upon family history, age and the advice of a doctor

Older adults may put off preventative care in order to reduce their costs, but by following through with preventative steps they can secure their future health and costs that can arise from the treatment of much more serious medical conditions.

Via: CDC

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care Florida, Elder Care Florida, Senior Care Melbourne, FL, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Florida 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..

Want to maintain your health well into your senior years? Who doesn’t. While we can’t promise these tips will keep you free from every illness or ailment, there 5 tips will help you to stay young, body and mind!

1. Combine fiber with water –a diet of fiber with water can help with the digestive process and put limited pressure on the intestines. Fiber and water can also help you to feel full so you don’t overeat. Choose vegetables, whole grains, oats, beans and fiber-filled cereals

2. Sweat it out – don’t be afraid to sweat, the harder you’re working the better the favor you’re doing for your cardiovascular health. Walk everyday for at least 30 minutes, but try to break a real sweat for at least an hour a week

3. Focus on calcium – most older adults require additional calcium in their diets for strong bones and great health. Choose calcium rich foods, but also take chewable calcium supplements

4. Improve balance – to prevent falls, work on improving your balance. Lift dumbbells or try activities like yoga to help build strength and improve posture and balance

5. Step back – time to relax is so important. Take a few minutes, sit back and breathe, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or not

Via: Real Age

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Florida and Senior Home Care Florida 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 don’t like to feel like they’re going to lose their independence; after being in control of their own lives for so many years, it can be hard to accept help from a family member or even a professional caregiver. Seniors might be in denial that they receive help, or they might be insulted by the idea; but whatever their resistance, convincing a loved one help is needed can be a big challenge. Here are a few ways that you can convince a senior to accept senior care help when it’s needed:

1. Remember change is difficult for everyone – their resistance might be frustrating, but think about how you would feel in the same situation
2. Give him/her time to come around – introduce changes slowly, but don’t force them. Eventually, the changes if for your senior’s benefit will be more accepted, once they get past denying they need help
3. Keep on trying – if you try to introduce a change and it’s not accepted, wait and try again. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a world of difference
4. Keep them involved in decisions – let your senior know he/she does have a say in making decisions about care. However, do try and be persuasive about introducing care options
5. Offer a trial period – if they are resistant, persuade your senior to give your suggestion a try. A trial period with a home caregiver or with you helping around the house may help them to realize how much it can ease their burden
6. Present it as help for them – when suggesting you help them out or hire a caregiver, don’t present it as a result of their limitations, tell them it’s to have someone available to clean up around the house so they don’t feel obligated, or to help with moving of heavy objects
7. Know when to stop pushing – remember, that despite your concerns, your senior is still someone who is capable and allowed to make their own decisions. If you have tried the above to no avail, no when to stop pushing otherwise you might risk your relationship

Via: National Caregiver’s Library

Image Source: www.jupiterimages.com

Home Care Florida and Senior Home Care Florida 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.

Age does not place a limit upon success – but you can inhibit what you’re able to achieve by believing that it does. Don’t let your age be anything more than a number when it comes to setting goals and meeting them; implement these 10 ways you meet your goals in older adulthood, and accomplish something great in your retirement!

1. Think positive – visualize yourself accomplishing whatever it is that you want to achieve with success. Avoid negative thoughts and negative people

2. Set your goals – be specific about your goals, whatever they may be. Set a date and stick to it, for example, tell yourself “next month I am going to start volunteering in the community”

3. Stick to your goals – if you set a goal, find a way to make it happen. Don’t make excuses or let fear hold you back. Without follow through goals don’t mean anything!

4. Embrace new wisdom – you’re never too old to learn something new, and you can never think that you know everything. Take a class, whether it’s at a Florida college, or to learn a new hobby from a craft store or other place that will teach you about your new interest

5. Be persistent – not all goals can be accomplished immediately, but if you keep your eye on your goals and work through any trials and tribulations, you’ll get there

6. Make decisions wisely – get all the information you need an analyze decisions before you follow through

7. Invest in your future – if you have a goal, it’s okay to filter your time and money into achieving it. Don’t feel guilty or let anyone stand in your way!

8. Communicate – talk to others about your goals, ask them to be open and honest and give them the same in return

9. Be different – don’t set goals just because someone’s told you there’s certain things you should achieve in older adulthood, do what’s right for you!

10. Admit when you’re wrong – it’s okay to make mistakes, just make sure you admit it when you’re wrong

Sources:

1. About.com

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Florida and Senior Home Care Florida 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.

Q – I’ve heard about a large number of elderly friends of the family who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia going to live in Florida nursing homes to care for their condition. My mother is in a similar situation, but I don’t like the idea of putting her in a home; is there another option for Florida seniors?

A – Traditionally, people had the perception that seniors who are unable to adequately care for themselves independently at home needed to be moved into a nursing home to get the assistance they needed. Unfortunately, while there are a large number of new care options today that focus on care at home, many Florida families don’t lean towards them for senior care and Alzheimer’s assistance due to lack of knowledge. However, as the care structure changes with more of a focus on independence in the home and allowing seniors to preserve their lifestyle, hopefully more families will embrace home care as an option for seniors with Alzheimer’s.

Agencies like Home Instead Senior Care specialize in providing care and assistance in the home, and have caregivers with specific Alzheimer’s training. So, when looking for care options for your loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s in Florida consider home care as an alternative in order to allow them to preserve their independence, and hang onto an important part of their life that’s familiar to them.

Sources:

1. Alz Info
2. Home Instead Senior Care

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

When it was time to approach my mother about getting some help for her at home, I was so worried that telling her that she was getting too old to take care of herself would be devastating both to her and our relationship. I knew from previous conversations that the last thing my mom wanted was to end up stuck in a Florida nursing home and assisted living facilities, so before I even brought up the subject, I did some research on what the options available in the area were. I came across professional in-home care as an option and immediately landed on it as the best choice; allowing my mother to maintain her lifestyle and independence while taking away some of the physical and emotional burden of struggling more and more with the care of a home and herself.

When I finally decided it was time to have the conversation, my mom was surprisingly receptive. I approached her saying that I felt that taking care of the home was getting to be too much for her, and I wanted to get her some help to take the stress away. I let her know that taking her away from her home was the last thing I’d suggest for her, because I wanted her to keep her life. Because she knew only her best interests were in mind, and because I’d clearly taken her specific needs and wants with regards to senior care into account, she agreed almost immediately. If I could suggest anything to another adult child trying to talk their loved one into accepting help, it’s to make sure you use the right approach that’s sensitive to the senior’s needs so you don’t insult or degrade them, and make it clear you’re making the suggestion to better their lives.

Sources:

1. Senior Journal

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

With many home care agencies, you never know who’s going to turn up on a Florida senior’s doorstep each day of their scheduled care. But what this means is that seniors never have the opportunity to trust, bond and form a friendship with their senior caregivers. At Home Instead Senior Care, we know that the right caregiver is one that a senior can get to know, begin to trust with their home and their care, and someone who will become an important companion. Every day a senior has home care scheduled, we send the same caregiver to provide consistency and because through our process we ensure that the caregiver sent is one that meshes with the senior’s personal needs and personality.

When we send a new caregiver to a senior’s home for the first time, we complete an in-depth assessment to evaluate the needs of the senior and the type of caregiver who would be best suited for the role. However, just because a senior has been sent a caregiver, doesn’t mean that they’re stuck with them forever. If a senior or their family is not satisfied with the caregiver, we will be happy to send a replacement that better meets the request.

Once the right caregiver has been matched with a senior, you’ll never be able to separate them!

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Image Source: portlandinhomecare.com

The decision to become a family caregiver for an aging parent in the Florida area can be one of the most challenging and rewarding choices you’ll ever make. Naturally, when taking a dive into elder home care you want to ensure that your senior loved one receives the best care available; so how do you prepare to become a caregiver? Start by arming yourself with information; use the internet, like you are now, and other home care resources to learn how to deal with the emotional aspects of caregiving.  Seek out additional resources within your local Florida community; including caregiver support groups, transportation services, adult day cares and local medical centers. Whether or not you and your senior will require some of the services today, it’s wise to have an understanding of what’s available when you need them.

It’s also important to work with your parents to have all the legal and financial documentation prepared and available should you need to assist them in managing their affairs. Ask them to put together a list of important account numbers and contacts and keep it in a safe and secure place. You don’t need to be savvy to the information today, but it’s a good idea to have it available. You should also ensure that your parents have a living will prepared, so that you can ensure their medical wishes are carried out appropriately if at some point they are unable to speak for themselves.

Sources:

1. Associated Content

2. Adsense Blog

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

When hiring a new caregiver for an elderly loved one through a senior care agency ensure there is a trial period that allows the caregiver and senior to get to know each other without a firm commitment. Many Florida senior care agencies will replace the caregiver at any time if he or she doesn’t meet expectations or mesh personality wise with the senior; however, since not all do, you want to ensure you can change your caregiver at no fault if the arrangement doesn’t work out.

When introducing a new caregiver to a senior and their home, ensure that guidelines of responsibilities are set based on the senior’s needs at the time; but be flexible and listen to suggestions from the caregiver for the highest quality care. Also request that the agency complete an assessment; as eldercare professionals they may see additional areas of daily life that a senior needs help with and be open minded to their feedback.

Sometimes a senior can be invaded by a new presence in their home, whether it’s a family member or a professional caregiver, since it could be their first real loss of independence. Allow the relationship to grow by having the caregiver spend shorter periods of time with the senior at first and acting as a companion. As the senior becomes more comfortable, the caregiver can then take greater control over the household as appropriate.

Sources:
1.    Senior Care
2.   Ottawa.ca – Common Caregiver Questions

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Easter can be fun for the whole family, whether you celebrate it for religious reasons or for the joy of the spring season. For many seniors, one of the most welcomed gifts would be to spend time with family; however, families can also show the senior’s in their lives how appreciated they are this Easter with fun Easter baskets, that fit the senior’s needs and interests and let them know their family is thinking of them. Easter gift ideas for seniors that can be included in a seasonal basket include:

•    Assistance with medical care – gift certificates for health stores and pharmacies to help them to pay for their medications and vitamins can be placed in an Easter basket to alleviate a senior’s costs.
•    Informative books and magazines – reading materials about senior lifestyle and healthy living might help them to reach their goals in their elderly years.
•    Pampering products – include products or gift certificates in the gift basket to allow seniors to relax and feel pampered. Purchase bubble baths, lotions or candles for their home or spa gift certificates.
•    Scrapbooking and photography – include a scrapbooking kit and family photos, or other craft items that a senior can complete with a family member, friend or caregiver.
•    Gardening kits and plants – provide a senior with gardening tools, plants or flowers to bring joy to their home.

Sources:
1.    Associated Content
2.   Ideamarketers

Images:  Montgomery Churches Website

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.