Many seniors choose to be more sedentary in older adulthood for fear of falling or injuring themselves. A recent study shows that they’re just not doing themselves any favors, because high-impact activities can improve bone density. It is important that seniors looking to make serious changes to their exercise routine follow a process to ensure that health and safety comes first at all times:

1. Start slow – particularly for those seniors who don’t exercise regularly, it’s important to build up strength, balance and endurance. Jumping right into high-impact activity could cause too much strain. Starting with light weights, aerobics and other activities will help to prepare seniors

2. Talk to your doctor – before beginning any exercise program as a senior, it’s essential you get clearance from your doctor. The study shows that your bone health could benefit, but of course, specifics depend upon your background and health. Seniors don’t want to do harm while trying to find benefit

3. Find exercises that work for you – high-impact exercises include anything that get your feet off the ground. Running, jumping rope, jumping jacks, and step aerobics can all have their benefits

4. Listen to your body – with any activity, particularly as you age, listen to what your body is telling you. Stop if it hurts or seems to cause strain; push yourself, but not too hard

Via: Xomba

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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

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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..

There are a number of common health issues that older adults face. Some might fall into the realm of normal, while others can be more concerning. Oftentimes both of these categories surface in similar ways:

1. Symptoms from medical side effects – side effects that develop from medications should be discussed with a doctor. Some side effects might be normal; others might be a result of mixed medications. All concerns should be addressed with a medical professional

2. Awareness of self-medication – when caregivers see signs that a senior is self-medicating, it should be addressed. Even using over-the-counter medications combined with multiple prescriptions can cause complications

3. Understanding anxiety and depression – unmanaged depression can lead to more serious health complications. Caregivers should recognize the signs and encourage their loved ones to receive treatment

4. Changes in mobility – although physical changes can occur with seniors, changes in mobility do need to be addressed. First, a doctor can investigate any underlying medical problems; and second, changes to a senior’s home can be made to make it a safer environment

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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..

If you’ve got a case of the holiday blues with Christmas right around the corner, you’re not alone. Many older adults and their caregivers can find a hard time to participate in the joy of the season. Try to cope with the blues by following these tips”:

1. Surround yourself with people – even if you don’t have family or friends around that you can spend time with, do join other social events taking place in your community

2. Volunteer – no matter what’s happening in your life, you’ll feel great when you volunteer and give back to those in need

3. Join a support group – sometimes it’s not easy to talk to family about the emotions you’re struggling with, so join a support group that allows you to share your feelings

4. Don’t put pressure on yourself – it’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays, don’t push yourself. Get involved with those things that make you happy, and don’t get down on yourself if you don’t feel joyful

5. Avoid alcohol – alcohol can depress your mood, so even though the wine and eggnog is flowing over the holidays, stick to the non-alcoholic stuff!

6. Know the signs of depression and seek treatment – the holiday blues are one thing, but you also need to recognize depression and get help

Via: Health in Aging

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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..

Many senior caregivers are hesitant to talk to the loved one that they care for about incontinence even after it’s an issue that they are facing. It’s an embarrassing subject from all sides, but it is possible to get through it and ensure care isn’t compromised because of lack of communication.

1. Ease into the issues gently – caregivers need to ensure when talking about incontinence, that they appear concerned. They can’t make it into a personal issue or make the senior feel embarrassed

2. Understand if it’s appropriate for you to bring up the topic – depending upon your relationship with your senior care recipient, you might want to bring up the topic, or have a friend or medical professional break the ice

3. Try to anticipate how they might react – if you’re bringing up the topic yourself, or even if you’ve talked to a doctor about approaching the subject of incontinence, try to anticipate how the senior might react. Will he/she be embarrassed? Combative? Accepting? This can help you to manage the situation better

4. Empathize – let them know that you care, and while you can’t understand exactly what they’re dealing with, make sure they know you hate that they’re going through it and are there for them

5. Know when to back off – particularly when approaching such a touchy subject, don’t push too hard about your beliefs; know when to back off

6. Talk to a doctor – encourage the senior to seek medical attention to determine the source of the incontinence and appropriate treatment. Caregivers can provide in-depth details to medical professionals if seniors are uncomfortable talking about it

Via: Caring.com

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..

While many elderly patients rely on medication to manage their knee pain caused from arthritis, a new study has revealed that a form of exercise could have the same effect. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art. The exercise involves slow movements that are responsible for reducing stress and pain while improving mental health and well-being. Elderly patients have reported that they have in fact experienced less pain after implementing a Tai Chi routine into their lifestyle. The following list provides some facts about Tai Chi exercise and its relation to knee osteoarthritis.

1. The elderly population is at the highest risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

2. More than 4.3 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with this condition.

3. Research has shown that Tai Chi exercise provides many mental benefits. The exercise can combat the negative effects of daily pain by promoting positive perceptions of over-all health.

4. After a few months of regular Tai Chi Exercise, most patients report a significant decrease in their level of knee pain.

5. Physical function, balance and strength are improved when a Tai Chi regiment is introduced.

Source: sciencedaily.com

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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..

It’s hard to make assumptions about what future generations of seniors might face, but a new study indicates that boomers and later generations of seniors might have to cope with more disabilities. A study conducted revealed that seniors just might develop increased instances of conditions that can affect their mobility and health; requiring additional medical care and senior care services. With this information out there, these industries have the opportunities to plan:

1. Caregivers can arm themselves with knowledge – with this study already circulating, professional caregivers and families with other generations alike can take this opportunity to become more knowledgeable. Professional caregivers can increase their knowledge about dealing with disabled seniors on a large scale, and families can take a long hard look at their prospective care options should this issue become a reality for their family

2. Organizations can improve personal mobility devices – new technology that can assist in the senior care industry is constantly becoming available on the market, but if  there is a greater need that’s upcoming, there’s room for further development and preparation

3. Studies can focus on preventative measures – increased numbers of disabled seniors, particularly if the boomer demographic is affected, could put a strain on the health care system. With this knowledge, health care professionals care work proactively to try and find preventative medicine or establish techniques that may reduce the likelihood that the number of disabled seniors will increase

Via: MedicalNewsToday

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In the past, some looking to invest in their retirement were skeptical about the AARP’s offerings, because they didn’t seem t cater to a senior lifestyle. In recent years, however, they’ve really made some big changes that make their RRSP products great for seniors because of the following features:

1. Costs are low – high investment costs are not something that seniors are looking for, particularly when living on fixed incomes. With that in mind, the AARP creates RRSPs that have low costs.

2. They are lower risk – all of the AARP’s mutual funds are index funds, which means that they are a lower risk, which is great for seniors!

3. Seniors can discuss needs with financial planners – like many financial institutions, the AARP provides financial planners to help seniors make investment decisions that are right for them. Though, it is important to keep in mind that they are paid staff of the AARP, so it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion from an involved party!

4. Low minimums – some RRSPs require seniors to make large deposits and have a big lump sum of money to invest initially. All of the AARP’s RRSP plans require only $100 to open an account and deposits of at least $25 at a time

Via: MoneyWatch

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Despite age, senior citizens continue to travel all over the globe. However, every senior should know several things about traveling to eliminate any problems or mishaps that may arise while on vacation.

• Contact a Travel Agent – Travel agents offer additional discounts for senior citizens on vacations, along with age-appropriate itineraries and travel packages.

• Take Your Time While Traveling- Seniors should not pack too much sightseeing into one day. Make sure to take several breaks throughout your trips so you do not become too exhausted. It is a vacation after all.

• Pack All Medications, Special Equipment and Items You Can’t Live Without- All necessary medications should go in every senior’s suitcase before leaving on a trip. However, plan accordingly as some countries do not allow certain medicines on their soil. If you need a wheelchair be sure to pre-arrange one with airlines and hotels before leaving the house. Also, pack all items you can’t live without such as an extra pair of eyeglasses.

• Think About Your Safety While on the Move- When traveling do not fall victim to thievery. Carry only the amounts of cash you need for the day. Also write down your credit card company’s phone number should your wallet or purse be stolen.

Via: eHow

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Many people feel educational vacations are geared towards young travelers. This is not always true. These types of vacations are perfect for elderly travelers. Everyone enjoys visiting a new location and learning new things. An educational vacation will provide a senior traveler with the opportunity to involve themselves in new experiences while seeing places they have never seen before. When planning an educational vacation for seniors, there are a few tips that will be helpful.

1. Use a travel agent that you trust. These agents will often have information that you would not get if you booked the vacation online. The travel agent will also be able to get the best deal and available senior discount.

2. Set some limits. Traveling somewhere new is exciting, but it is difficult to take it all in within the amount of time you are allowed. Try to narrow the scope of interest to include points of interest, historical sites or museums.

3. When on the vacation, make use of hired guides. These guides have great knowledge of the area in which you are visiting. They will be able to inform you of local history as well as other valuable information.

4. Take physical limits into consideration. If you are a senior, you know what your body can handle. If you are a caregiver who is planning the trip for another, make sure you are aware of what that person can handle physically.

Source: www.ehow.com

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..