Senior women are in a high risk category for heart disease, and while there’s no way to outright eliminate the potential onset of an illness that effects the heart, it is possible to reduce risk factors with positive lifestyle changes and elimination of bad habits.
1. Stop smoking – smoking is the number one cause of heart related issues such as high blood pressure, hypertension and heart disease. With women already at risk, smoking nearly guarantees heart issues of some variety in older adulthood
2. Get moving – exercising for 30 minutes every day at a pace that you’re comfortable with can help improve circulation. Seniors should always talk to their doctor before beginning a new exercise program, and also be aware that there are times where blood pressure can increase when beginning new physical activity and this needs to be monitored
3. Keep alcohol intake low – for women especially, 1 alcoholic drink per day should be the limit. This is especially important in older adulthood
4. Keep weight in check – excess weight increases the risk of heart disease, so a diet with high nutritional value and lean protein can help keep everything in moderation
Often when you talk to an older adult, whether it’s a family member, or someone that you can for in a professional medical environment, they complain about the number of medications that they take. Many older adults do find themselves taking a kind of drug cocktail at the advice of their doctor. Few like taking so many pills, and some choose to stop doing so without first discussing their concerns with a medical professional. While many have valid reasons, like the ones below, they shouldn’t make decisions without first exploring the alternatives with their doctor in order to ensure that their health isn’t compromised:
1. They may forget – seniors that take multiple medications, particularly those that struggle with dementia may need assistance in managing their medications to ensure they are taken correctly
2. They may not like the side effects – some drugs do have side effects, even those that are required for seniors to take. Sometimes seniors decide they simply don’t like the side effects and don’t want to bother with taking them anymore
3. Seniors might not understand why they require the medication – particularly for those seniors who take multiple medications, some may feel that certain medications are unnecessary because they don’t understand the reason behind taking them, so they simply stop
4. They feel the medications are too costly – medications can become a financial burden to seniors, and this can influence their decision about whether or not to continue using a specific medication
Can it be possible that certain medications increase the chances of a senior experiencing a fall? After research was completed, the studies have indicated that this is true. There are many medications that contain sedatives. These medications, including sleeping pills and antidepressants, can in fact increase the chances of a senior experiencing a fall. If you are a senior, or have an elderly family member, it is important to review current medications with a doctor to see if there is an increased risk of a fall. Below is a list of facts associated with falls.
1. Elderly individuals are usually more sensitive to prescription drugs. They cannot metabolize the medication as well as younger patients. This can cause adverse events, including falls.
2. One third of seniors who reside at home experience at least one fall per year.
3. 90% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Of this percentage, 15% of the patients will have to move into a long-term care facility.
4. Any drug that contains a sedative, including antidepressants, anti-psychotics, sleeping pills and some high-blood pressure medications, will increase the risk of a fall.
A senior’s release from the hospital can be an exciting time, but for families, it’s when the hard work really begins to help with their recovery process and ensure that they receive the best care possible. There are a few things that families can do in order to help the transition from hospital to home:
1. Don’t expect too much – release from the hospital doesn’t mean that a senior has recovered; there will be lots of hard work at home for many seniors
2. Ask questions – understand the senior’s diagnosis and their future prognosis. Take notes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions
3. Talk to a hospital discharge planner – a discharge planner can help families determine if a senior will require home care or nursing care after they leave the hospital. They can also advise families on additional supplies and equipment needed
4. Make sure you’re prepared at home – before the senior goes home, purchase any necessary safety equipment; hire a care provider, and make sure you have medications on hand
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – get the contact information of hospital staff who provided care to your loved one, and don’t be afraid to contact them with any questions or concerns after your senior has left the hospital
Seniors with Alzheimer’s are notorious for wandering away from home, which is a big issue that senior caregivers need to deal with as it poses a great risk to the health and safety of the seniors that they care for, as well as others that might be affected. It’s important that caregivers take steps to preventing wandering in seniors with Alzheimer’s, and here are some useful tips:
1. Install alarms that tell you when external doors or windows are open – you need to give seniors with Alzheimer’s the freedom to move around their home, but even a home alarm system that chimes when doors or even windows are opened can warn you that your loved one might be wandering away
2. Disguise doors – if you don’t want seniors wandering between rooms or outside, paint rooms so the doors blend with the walls
3. Discourage wandering with signs – post signs on doorways inside the home, reminding seniors with Alzheimer’s what can be found on the other side. If there are rooms that seniors should not go in, or doorways that lead to outside, label them with “do not enter”!
4. Give seniors a safe area to walk around – seniors with Alzheimer’s often find themselves restless. Having a secure backyard or garden area can get them out of the home when they feel the need to wander in a safe manner
We’ve all heard a story in the news at some point, about a senior with Alzheimer’s or dementia wandering away from their Palm Desert home only to disappear for hours or sometimes days at a time while their loved ones frantically search, all the while concerned for their health and safety. Unfortunately, it’s a common phenomenon with 60% of seniors with Alzheimer’s getting lost at least once, either by wandering away from home or forgetting where they are or where they live when leaving to go on an errand.
GPS gadgets come with controversy, as many feel that it’s not appropriate to track the movement of elders 24/7 and compromising their independence, but with devices like the Ambulatory Tracking Shoes, it’s a question of safety. It’s okay to say that you won’t track someone you love who has Alzheimer’s, but the first time they wander away from home and get lost you might be singing another tune.
The shoes are set to go on sale in the spring, and Medicare might cover part of the $200 to $300 retail cost. Regardless, it’s a worthwhile investment for those who worry about the safety of their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, since their location will always be available, transmitted back to an active computer.
Would you feel comfortable using a device like this to help in the care of your senior with dementia? Or do you still stand by the argument that people just shouldn’t be tracked.
Proper pill management is as important for seniors as it is for people with tuberculosis, which is why a smart pill box designed with the latter in mind. For many seniors, just like with tuberculosis, it’s absolutely necessary that prescription medications are taken according to schedule and that no dosages are missed or duplicated. For seniors taking medication to manage their health, like with tuberculosis, taking medications can mean the difference between life and death. Here’s how the new smart pill box can help seniors and other individuals taking a drug cocktail keep on top of things:
uBox Smart Pill Box Features:
• Storage - 14 chambers for pill dispensing for 2 weeks worth of medication or multiple types of prescriptions
• Alert system – seniors who find themselves unable to remember when it’s time to take their medications are alerted with flashing lights and a buzzer
• Protection against duplication – so seniors do not accidentally take the same medication again, seniors cannot get the device to open unless it’s time to take a pill
Since it’s often seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia who have difficulties with managing their medications due to difficulties recalling when and if they need to take their pills, this system could save inadvertent lethal doses of medication being administered and allow seniors more independence.
Traditional walkers help provide Palm Desert seniors with stability while they get around; but while their safety might be moderately increased, walkers don’t greatly improve their level of mobility. Seniors who use traditional walkers are typically left moving at a slow pace, because walkers help keep them stable but have no real effect on their overall level of physical mobility. For that reason, the electric walker has been introduced.
About the ICIO Personal Transporter for Seniors:
• It has a convertible design
• Seniors can choose to use the personal transporter as a traditional 3 wheeled walker
• During periods when they’d like to move at a faster pace, they can stand on an attachable support and activate the electric function
• The device is suitable for seniors as their level of physical mobility changes, since it also converts into a mobile scooter with a seat
• With the personal transporter, seniors can venture out for exercise and convert the device if they get tired, giving them the security that they won’t be stranded
We’ve seen many devices lately that increase the option for seniors to remain independent throughout their elder years, and this is just one more innovative way that seniors can use in order to stick with their chosen lifestyle as long as possible!
Few seniors want to give up their car keys, even if it puts them out of harm’s way in older adulthood. Statistics show that accident rates do increase substantially after age 70, and that can impact some 70 million Americans who are still hanging onto their car keys. However, in California, efforts are being made to improve the safety of older adults who want to maintain the independence by getting behind the wheel. Although the state of California has not yet jumped on board, accelerating the frequency that older adults need to renew their licenses by way of road tests, eye tests or written exams; an act has been passed to improve the safety of seniors on the road.
The Older Driver Pedestrian Roadway Enhancement Act of 2009 will require that cities invest $500 annually into making roadways safer and easier to navigate for seniors across California. If implemented, cities will need to create more left turn lanes with advanced signals, and increase the size of road signs so that they are easier to understand. Of course, even with improved road safety, Palm Springs seniors and their families need to take a hard look at their driving skills to ensure that getting behind the wheel won’t be hazardous to their own safety or that of other drivers and pedestrians.
Today’s seniors are changing the way we look at aging. No longer are they seen as small and vulnerable, today’s seniors are feistier than ever, and those on the wrong side of the law just might have another thing coming if they try to take advantage of today’s empowered elderly. Recently in the news, seniors in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s have all fought off robbers, animals, and the stereotypical purse snatcher – and many of them have been women! All seniors can learn from these examples, and also take advantage of the things that they have on hand that can help them fight off those meaning them harm. Of course, all seniors need to evaluate the situation and determine how the criminal will respond to a fight, because in the case of a purse snatcher, sometimes it’s just better to let a robber take what they want so something much more important isn’t stolen; a senior’s life. Here are some basic tips for self-defense for seniors
1. Use what you have – a form of martial arts using canes has become popular and even if seniors don’t have specific training (which will be available across the US in nursing homes and senior centers) they can use their cane in self-defense
2. Remain fit – physically strong seniors have a better chance of fending off attackers, so all older adults should work out with cardiovascular activity, weight training, balance and flexibility activities
3. Take regular self-defense classes – knowing the points to hit on an attacker are crucial for surviving an attack. Self defense classes can teach these areas and also help seniors make sure that they remain safe and free from injury even when defending themselves.
Senior women are in a high risk category for heart disease, and while there’s no way to outright eliminate the potential onset of an illness that effects the heart, it is possible to reduce risk factors with positive lifestyle changes and elimination of bad habits.
