How Seniors Can Cope with an Illness

Seniors who have a chronic illness can have difficulty dealing with health issues. This is common for many. Below is a list of tips that help to cope with illnesses. The list can be beneficial to help seniors find the positive and to deal with their health conditions.

1. Tend to your spirit. Try to find things to do that provide a positive outcome. Participate in activities that make you feel whole.

2. Always speak your mind and never be afraid to express yourself. Many seniors will have regrets over something they wish they would have said while they had the chance.

3. Accept the situation and take things one hour at a time. Chronic illness often prevents seniors from making long-term plans, but they should live for the moment.

4. Laughter and humor can heal. Seniors with a chronic illness should try to expose themselves to light-hearted humor.

5. Try to avoid stress.

6. Spend time with those who are important. These people will often raise spirits and bring smiles to seniors.

7. Eat a healthy diet and make sure foods are nutritious.

8. Exercise as much as possible. Short walks can be beneficial and can help seniors clear their mind.

9. Be part of your health care. Try to get as much information as possible and be involved in decisions that are made.

10. Learn as much as you can about your illness. This will help seniors understand their situation and can help them cope better.

Source: Healthy Holistic Living

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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.

A Few Questions to Ask Your Senior’s Eye Care Provider

If you are concerned about your aging loved one’s eye-sight, you may want to set up an appointment with their usual eye care provider to test for glaucoma and cataracts. Help your senior by accompanying them and asking the doctor the following questions:

• If he/she uses Medicare, will it cover the cost of cataract surgery? Does Medicare cover the cost of new glasses after surgery?
• How long can he/she take to decide about cataract surgery?
• If he/she waits a year or more before having surgery, will this make it more likely that surgery won’t restore his/her vision?
• How will he/she know if the cataracts are getting worse?
• He/she has _____ other health conditions. How can he/she best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions that he/she needs to follow?
• Should he/she see a specialist? What will that cost, and will his/her insurance cover it?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that he/she can take with him/her? What Web sites do you recommend?
• What will determine whether he/she should plan for a follow-up visit?

Source: The Mayo Clinic

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.

Men and Testosterone – Link to Frailty

When men age, their levels of testosterone will begin to decrease. This is actually a normal part of aging, but it can also be the cause of frailty in many men. It is important to monitor testosterone levels, especially if men begin to experience loss of strength. Below is a list that contains some additional information that senior men should be aware of.

1. It is normal for testosterone levels to begin to deplete with age.

2. When levels are too low, men will begin to lose bone density, muscle mass and some of their physical strength. Also, red blood cell production will begin to slow down.

3. Various studies are being conducted to prove the link between low levels of testosterone and these medical issues. Currently, there is no way to determine if frailty in senior men is actually caused by the lack of the hormone.

4. Some recent research has shown that men who have a lower level of the hormone will be more likely to become frail within the next four to seven years.

5. At this time, it is not known if testosterone replacement therapy will be beneficial. Unfortunately, the hormone levels could be masked by another disease or illness that could be the primary cause of frailty.

Source: Reuters

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Dementia Facts and Information

Each year, more seniors are diagnosed with dementia. With no available cure, these seniors are at the mercy of the disease and its progression. Despite the facts that many people do not believe the disease exists, the millions of seniors that are affected is proof. The following list provides some facts about the disease.

1. In 2050, more than 14 million people will be affected by this disease.

2.  This increase will cause huge cost increases for the healthcare system.

3. There are a few medications that are being used to help slow the progression of the disease. Some patients report positive changes, but many do not notice a difference at all.

4. The actual cause of the disease has not yet been discovered. There has been many research projects conducted and the results indicate that there could be many factors involved in the development of dementia.

5. In the case of dementia, each senior will react differently. They will have different symptoms, different progression rates and will react differently to medications. Doctors are now focusing on the individual instead of the disease as a whole.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

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.

Sleep Problems in Senior Population

It is not uncommon for seniors to battle with sleep issues. Some seniors may not be able to fall asleep at all. This could be because of different reasons, including what the senior is doing just before going to bed. The list below provides some useful tips for seniors to try to get better sleep at night.

1. Seniors should not consume and caffeine for up to six hours before going to bed. This includes coffee, tea and soda.

2. It is advised to turn off the TV before trying to go to sleep. The television could be the reason seniors wake up in the middle of the night.

3. Do not perform any type of strenuous exercise prior to bedtime.

4. Long naps during the day can cause seniors to be unable to sleep at night.

5. Smoking and drinking alcohol should not be done for at least 2 to 4 hours before going to bed.

6. Try to listen to soothing and soft music when there is difficulty falling asleep.

7. Warm baths before bed can help seniors relax. This may help them fall asleep easier.

8. If you cannot fall asleep, do not just lay in bed. After about 20 minutes, get up and read a book or do something calming until you feel drowsy.

9. Try to have a routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.

Source: Assisted Living Facilities

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.

Kitchen Safety for Seniors

Seniors are prone to buying food in bulk. Many cannot turn down a great sale and they will buy more food than is needed. This can lead to spoiled food being stored in the kitchen. Caregivers should take some steps to help seniors shop differently and be aware of what is in their kitchens. The list below can be beneficial in achieving a safe kitchen for seniors.

1. Seniors need to learn that they do not have to buy in bulk. Buying too much food leads to a lot of wasted money as well as rotting food in the kitchen.

2. Look for anything that has expired and throw it away. This includes canned goods, as well as frozen foods.

3. Many seniors are so used to feeding large families that they have difficulty buying for just themselves and a spouse. Caregivers may need to take some time to shop with seniors to show them how to buy in small amounts.

4. The kitchen is often the place for clutter. Seniors will often leave mail and many other things on the kitchen table. This can create a fire hazard and can also affect the cleanliness of the kitchen as a whole.

Source: Caregiver’s Home

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The Right Medicine for Seniors

It may seem impossible for seniors who have just been diagnosed with a disease to find the right medicine. However, this process does take some time and it is very important to make sure the right medicine is found. Since each individual will react differently, this process may take time, but it is beneficial. More information on finding the right medicine is provided below.

1. Tibetan medicine breaks things up into categories. It states that there are 404 diseases that are further classified by 101 diseases, those of which are classified by cause.

2. Finding the right medicine can involve many factors, including age, diagnoses, dosages and side effects that may cause other health problems.

3. Patients who have the same disease will respond differently to treatments. This is why it is important to treat each individual, not the disease over all. This means that many seniors with the same conditions may be on different medications and treatment plans based on the individual person and how they respond to a particular medication.

4. There is no one form of healing. Each senior has a different body make-up. This will affect how certain medications will affect the patient. Trying to find the right medication may take time. It will also involve the patient trying different medications until one is found that does the job.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

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.

Treating Chronic Disease in the Right Order

Following the right order when treating a chronic illness or disease is very important. Each of the following steps play an important role in treatment of a disease. Seniors should be aware of these steps and should make sure their doctor is implementing each step into the treatment plan.

1. The first thing is to determine the actual cause of the illness.

2. Daily diets play a large role in maintaining health. It is important for any senior with a chronic illness to make sure all allergens are removed from their diet.

3. The digestive system is also important. Seniors should be tested to make sure there are no problems with their digestive tract.

4. Increase the intake of essential nutrients. Many times, seniors will have a diet that does not allow them to get the nutrients they need to help fight off illness.

5. Poor diets can have an impact on the balance of hormones in the body. Insulin resistance, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, axis dysfunction and subclinical adrenal insufficiency, thyroid dysfunction and sex hormones all need to be in balance.

6. Increasing the metabolism can be helpful. This will provide seniors with more energy, which can help them remain healthy.

7. Detoxification is important. Removing mercury and lead from the body will help with cleansing.

8. Seniors need to know how to take care of their minds and body. These work together to help seniors achieve optimal health.

9. Hidden infections can be the cause of resistance to certain medications.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

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.

Alternatives to Ibuprofen

Seniors are all too familiar with ibuprofen. In fact, almost every senior is using this to battle their aches and pains throughout the day. While this is an effective way to manage pain, seniors may benefit more by using some natural spices and foods to combat their pain. The following list contains some common items that can provide relief for seniors.

1. Any food that acts as an anti-inflammatory can be referred to as Nature’s Ibuprofen. These include many spices and herbs that are typically found in a healthy diet.

2. Organic berries offer many benefits. They can fight inflammation, but they also have anti-oxidant powers. These berries also include high amounts of fiber, which is important in any senior diet.

3. Some seniors do not like to add spices to their foods. However, there are certain spices that can offer great benefits. Seniors should consider using oregano, garlic and turmeric when preparing a meal.

4. Green tea also offers some anti-inflammatory properties.

5. Foods that contain rosemary and ginger will help seniors with an inflammatory disease.

6. No matter what the medical condition is, if seniors are taking ibuprofen daily to battle aches and pains, they should consider including these foods and spices in their daily diets.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

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.