Seniors Site

You would think that vaccinations are only done to infants, well, let me tell you this, that notion is already a thing of the past, and for those who have a lifelong phobia of needles, you now have the perfect reason to go and have fainting spells.
Just like an infant’s shot, it is done to protect them from getting life-threatening diseases. They are safe and should not cause any health problem or complication. Of course, it is to be expected for the “shot” area to be red and sore few days after the vaccination. Here are some immunization shots recommended for older adults:
•    Influenza shot or Flu shot. This must be the most popular of all shots made for older adults. Since influenza virus is known to be highly contagious and it strikes thousands of people every year, it’s no surprise that a shot like this is most likely to be invented. Flu virus has the ability to adapt to its environment so it is important that you get your yearly flu shot so your body is ready when faced such modified adversary. Also, get your flu shot before flu season starts.
•    Shingles shot. Shingles are very common to seniors. It develops with age, actually, and so does the complications that may come with it. Your biggest risk factor for having shingles is a weakened immune system such that if you have had radiation therapy and chemotherapy or even an organ transplant. Those with HIV and AIDS are also prone to shingles. Shingles shot is designed to prevent shingles, not cure it, by the way and it is only given to seniors age 60 and above.
•    Hepatitis B vaccine. If you are an adventurous senior, travelling to and fro different cities, you need to get Hepa B shot for your own safety. Hepa B virus attacks your liver and it can be transmitted by intercourse and needles, the same way an HIV does.
•    Pneumonia shot. At around age 65, your doctor will recommend you to have a pneumonia shot, earlier if you are at greater risk of having pneumonia. It should be given only once, or in some cases twice in your lifetime but never exceeding two shots. Traditionally, pneumonia is treated by a round of antibiotic, however, the bacteria have become resistant to it that a vaccine is now more effective than antibiotics.

Liver Cleansing has been a popular topic nowadays. I have some friends even trying to get me do their liver cleansing diets and routines—I say, routine just because I consider everything done step-by-step as such. There are different types, one too many, to be honest—just the sheer number of it is enough to get you confused!
Ideally, liver cleansing is done to eliminate accumulated toxins inside the liver. If you just see it this way, you would think that liver cleansing is a must since we know how harmful toxins can be inside our body—you just have to get rid of them! However, it is important to see its health implications before you go overboard since liver cleansing is not as easy as it seems.
If you are interested in liver cleansing, it is advisable to consult your doctor first since liver cleansing, due to its popularity has already become a fad—a fad so riddled with misconceptions, it became harder to distinguish the truth. No matter how safe a liver cleansing method may seem, you need to have your doctor’s approval before undergoing one. Let’s take for example the most basic of all body cleansing method:  fasting. If you are a senior battling diabetes for only-God-knows-how-long, you know fasting and diabetes, when combined, can yield fatal result.
Liver detox diets should always be done with great care, and it won’t hurt if you throw some common sense to it as well. Such diets almost always require the cleanser to eliminate certain types of food, which, in an elderly vocabulary would mean yet another set of food to add to the long and never ending list of don’ts. Sure, there will be lesser fat and animal protein inside you and you may feel lighter than normal, may even cause weight loss as well which must be the most welcomed bonus of all but will it make the rest of your body happy? I think not. The problem with most liver cleansing methods is that they tend to be very restrictive to a point that it is no longer healthy for the cleanser. Healthy, young people can definitely take a short term onslaught of such cleansing however, the same cannot be said for seniors and older adults since their health are in their most vulnerable. Use it for long enough and you’ll definitely see damage even to the healthiest of bodies.
Your body has its own natural way of detoxifying itself, unless yours conks out. If it does, you’ll need a doctor to fix it, not by some alternative cleansing method. If you really want to take care of your liver, or prevent it from conking out proper diet is the best way to go.

Considering the amount of years and experiences we had behind us, it is so easy to set some standards on how we should be living our lives. However, as seniors, we tend to be overly critical and conscious of the things happening in and outside of our lives. More often than not, it is our beloved family and friends who suffer the most when we are being too hard on ourselves.
Being critical works both ways, you can be critical of yourself, always criticizing how you look or what you did or what happened to your life even if these things occurred beyond your control. You always blame yourself for what you are and what you will become. Then you can be critical of the people around you, wanting and expecting them to be more than what you are. Sometimes, it could be both which is, in my honest opinion, would be the worst kind of all.
As parents and grandparents, it is only normal for us to dream big for our kids and eventually their kids, however, there is a fine line between dreaming and expecting. We, seniors, the supposedly “wise” specie of the bunch should be able to distinguish it and know where exactly that fine line lies. If we let our self-loathing being out of control, we risk losing the ones we love. It is because no matter how much they love you, if you continue being hard on yourself and invite negativity, it becomes doubly hard to be near you.
Also, being self-critical is never good for your health. In fact, it can cause stress and ultimately, depression. Stress, in return, interferes with your productivity and can even affect your motivation. Seniors who suffer or develop such behavior are often advised by their doctors to submit themselves to a therapy before it’s too late.
Let’s take for example your weight—since it is one area of our life which we tend to be regularly critical about. We start dieting and exercising ‘till kingdom come for a week only to criticize our efforts if we fail to lose a pound within that period. We refuse to acknowledge our accomplishments, the fact that we worked hard for a week, just because we fail to achieve our desired result and because of that, you stop working on your weight altogether. Not really convinced you are being too critical of yourself? Here are some signs:
•    You strive for perfection, not reality.
•    You refuse to acknowledge your strengths, instead you hold on to your weaknesses.
•    Negative thoughts are as normal as you breathing air.
•    You compare your achievements to someone—anybody—and look upon yours as insignificant.
•    You hate looking at yourself in the mirror or even digging deeper inside you for an honest thought.

Have you noticed how freakin’ hot it is nowadays?.. FYI, this crazy, mean weather is not limited to America alone as it is reported that summer ‘round the globe just got crazier than ever! Everywhere, summer heat temperature records got broken, take for example the amazing 93 degrees in Astoria last Wednesday.
However, these numbers not only represent a problem our environment is currently facing but also its potentially fatal consequences in terms of human health. I would like to put emphasis on seniors’ health in particular. We all know how vulnerable seniors can get since we are constantly reminded by our health care providers to always protect ourselves from it. For seniors, such extreme temperature could mean a trip down to some hospital’s emergency room!
Heat related health conditions are scary since they vary greatly in degree. They can be just a slight discomfort or trigger an existing health condition resulting to death. They can be ever so slow or kill in just a blink of an eye. These factors make it more alarming for seniors especially those living independently. If you suspect that your senior neighbor might be suffering from extreme heat, please do take the liberty to get them out of the heat even for just a while or call an organization for assistance if you wish not to get involved.
Worst case scenario would be heat stroke as it can fatal for seniors. Sufferers usually experience sudden death at first attack. Common symptoms of heat stroke are: high body temperature, difficult in breathing, confusion, rapid pulse rate and lack of sweating. Its “warning” condition would be heat exhaustion which is considered as heat stroke’s precursor. A senior who is experiencing heat exhaustion is most likely to feel dizzy and nauseas. There would be heavy sweating and rapid pulse. If you start feeling this way, you must seek help as soon as possible.
There are ways to prevent heat related health conditions from affecting you. Here are some suggestions to help seniors protect themselves from the summer heat:
•    Choose appropriate dresses to wear during summer. As much as possible, you would want your body to breathe and never to constrict it. Try loose fitting clothes and cooling garments to keep your body at its comfortable temperature.
•    Drink plenty of liquids, preferably water and avoid diuretics. As common sense has it, you need your body hydrated at all times—especially during summer months.
•    Stay at cooler places, most recommended are air-conditioned and shaded places. You don’t even have to spend on electricity, you can hang out at the mall or visit community centers.
•    Be aware of common symptoms for heat-related condition. As soon as you feel them, seek help at once. It’s okay to cry wolf, as long as it will save your life!

Oftentimes, although we fail to acknowledge, our workplace becomes the very source of stress. For seniors, this spells catastrophe since your workplace should be one of the few places where you seek solace and refuge. This should be the place where you get creative and put together ideas, not something that represents chaos and depression.
Mind you, it happens—even to the most workaholic person I know of. Ever heard of complaints such as “I need a change” or perhaps “I don’t feel like working today”? That’s because their workplace is starting to feel like it’s closing in on them and there’s nowhere to run anymore.
It was said that your workplace represents your psychological—even mental—state. But what if it drives you crazy, would that mean you can easily be distracted by your environment as well? With these handy tips on how to rebuild your workspace, you are sure to get what you want from it and ensure it serves its purpose well!
•    List the things that annoy you the most when working. This should be easy as you are most certainly be noticing these things beforehand. Will it be the noise down the street or perhaps that neighbor’s dog barking up everytime someone passes their door? Annoying thing can be irritating and it really breaks your momentum causing you to slow down or lose interest altogether. These are the things you need to give attention first when rebuilding your workspace.
•    Your workspace should imbibe feeling of privacy—where you can be left alone with your thoughts. If you are working at home, the most ideal set up would be a whole room for your workspace. In an office setting, however, where cubicles are most popular. Try to pick a spot wherein you own at least one wall on any side just to avoid feeling too exposed.
•    Set up your workspace closer to the window. This gives you a breathing space when things are getting heavy without the need to leave your seat, or your work, for that matter. Also it creates an illusion that your workspace is much larger than it really is.
•    Have someone nearby but do not get in the middle of it all. This applies to seniors who are still working in an office set-up. Yes, you need your time alone but you also need someone to remind you that you are still a human and you are part of the office, not someone who should be taken for granted. On the contrary, getting yourself in the middle of it all will make you feel you’re just one of the many faces easily forgotten.
•    Proper lighting is important. If you cannot get enough natural lighting then have someone install a bulb in your workspace to enable you to see your work properly.

Just because you’ve prepared your retirement fund well doesn’t mean you no longer have to set aside an emergency fund for you and your loved-one! In fact, you will need an emergency fund now more than ever as there are many risks retirees are apparently facing.

See post:  Your Top Five Retirement Risks

An ideal emergency fund would be three to six months worth of living expenses. Out of retirement, this kind of money would be set aside in case you lose your job—sort of cushion your fall. For a retiree, an emergency fund will come in handy in cases of unexpected expenses. Although retirees are no longer in danger of interrupted cash flow as that of someone who just lost their job, their monthly “income” tends to be in fixed amounts, not very flexible in cases of emergencies if you come to think of it. Best to see emergency fund as large enough to pay for the emergency itself and tide you over until you’re able to recover from it. In a way, your emergency fund should be maintained all through your life, replenish it if you dipped your hand into it. Of course, you would like your emergency fund to be big enough to accommodate your needs such that when an emergency strikes, your boat won’t tip over.

Your emergency fund should be in a “liquid asset” form. In layman’s term, it should be easily convertible to cash and it need not yield much. Unlike your retirement fund which needs to be invested in order to grow, your emergency fund should be within your reach at all times. Emergency fund can be used for unplanned expenses such as renovating your house or fixing your car which can cost thousands of dollars. Ask a retiree and he will tell you about all those financial surprises awaiting you upon crossing the retirement threshold!—and indeed there be many.

And then there’s the matter of inflation. Prices of basic commodities go up and down—usually up. Pension payments are usually not set for such sudden changes so it only means that what you have thought as “more than enough” now can actually be insufficient 15 to 20 years from now. Your emergency fund can indeed help you cope with these sudden changes as you switch from one plan to another.

Market climate is yet another foe in a retiree’s way. Years ago, your retirement fund is at its safest in stocks and bonds. Now that these areas have taken a direct hit, market climate became erratic and unstable. You need a buffer, something to absorb the impact—your emergency fund will be able to fulfill this.

What’s scary about fires is that they usually come without warning and they spread fast. Worst, they come when you’re at your most vulnerable, that is, while you’re sleeping, or home alone or on a trip somewhere far.
For seniors with somewhat limited range of motion and impaired reflexes, it becomes doubly hard—even life threatening. Whether you are a senior living independently or a caregiver concerned about your beloved senior’s safety, you should observe fire safety measures to a tee before it’s too late.
•    Be always one step ahead of the fire season. For firefighters, fire season will be the summer months. During summer, wildfires are common so it would be wise to have the house fireproofed before summer and fix whatever is damaged soon after. Always do routine checkups for fire hazards in and out of your house.
•    Resist your innate packrat attitude. One rule in fireproofing your home: the less you own, the lesser your chances of catching a fire. Clear your house of all things unnecessary—and that includes your yard or lawn as well. Pay special attention to areas where you are supposed to be dashing your way out in case of a fire.
•    Clear your lawn. Maintain a well-cleared lawn by trimming trees and keeping grass at 2 inches minimum. To fireproof your home, you must consider the proximity of your house to nearby trees since they are combustible and can easily catch a fire.
•    Fireproof your lawn. Adding noncombustible materials like rocks and pebbles will make your lawn look nice but at the same time lessen your fire risk.
•    Store highly flammable materials outside of your home. Nowadays, you can buy whole outdoor storage sheds at very affordable prices which you can set up outside of your home. Consider its proximity from your home and store flammable substances such as paint and gasoline in your outdoor shed.
•    Clear the roof. Better yet, clean it. It won’t hurt you—in fact it can save your life—to have it checked regularly. Accumulated dead branches, leaves and other hazardous materials can bring fire to your home. Check chimneys, shingles and wirings on your roof.
•    Swap candles to rechargeable lamps. If you are using candles to enhance atmosphere of your home then it’s time to seek other alternative, something that is less combustible such as oils and potpourri.
•    Check and test your fire alarms. Some companies offer yearly checks for these alarms, do take advantage of them.

Life as it is can never be fully determined. You can be at your surest today only to find yourself lost tomorrow. Retirement, unfortunately, as it is something you plan ahead and happens in the future, holds the same risks. In other words, retirement is something you plan today and hope to God you’ll be able to see its fruition. With that said, seniors should be forewarned that alongside your retirement plans come risks you also need to prepare for.
Every year, there are about millions of people crossing the so-called retirement doorstep. Some may have doubts, others are just plain confident they have enough in their pockets. Then there are those who just won’t stop investing their nest egg. These top five retirement risks, on the other hand, won’t hurt you if you consider them when planning for your retirement:
•    Underestimating your retirement years—and I mean literally. Ask yourself now, how many years are you expecting ahead? Even if you are suffering from cancer or other life threatening disease that doctors can easily stamp life-years on your forehead, there can be miracles which will save you now and even give you 20 or 30 more years. Question is, are you prepared for those additional life-years?
•    Price increase and other market movements. There is always a risk of what’s enough today won’t be good enough tomorrow. Even if we already made our nest egg nice and comfy, we still need to keep an eye on the ever-changing market climate and have a backup plan if and when it turns for the worst.
•    Medical expenses. One of the worst nest egg killers is medical expenses especially if stricken by a disease which needs long term therapies—or if indeed, someone in the family needs it. Expenses for healthcare prove to cost seniors too much, particularly for those who only depend on their nest eggs to tide them over.
•    Policy and laws concerning retirees. You know how fast laws and policies can change. One minute seniors stand to benefit, next thing you know, it already turned almost 360. If you ignore these things, chances are you will pay charges that do not apply to you any longer OR you end up paying charges and fees for not knowing exactly what you are doing.
•    Changes in your personal life. As trivial as it may seem, your capabilities as a couple is a mile-different from what it will be living a single life—and vice versa. Changes in your marital status can really affect your retirement life especially in terms of assets and liabilities.

Annual checkups are a must especially for seniors or those nearing the retirement age. In fact, it is recommended for everyone as soon as you reach the age of 18, although not that mandatory. At age 30, there is the yearly pelvic exam for women and age 40 will have the recommended mammograms, then EKG for those 50 and above. In other words, as your age progressed, the more important it is for you to have regular annual checkups. It is also important to note that annual checkups are the best way to detect diseases—age-related and otherwise–early on.
But the question is, do we really do it? Ask a hundred seniors if they submit themselves to regular annual checkups and you are most likely to come up with 10-20 “yes” answers. I assure you, they belong to the health conscious group, no less.
For those who are planning to start anew with annual checkups, here are some of the most common tests and exams done every year and some helpful tips to remember before and during your checkup:
•    Routine checkups are done for both men and women. Your blood pressure will be taken as it should be with every visit to your doctor. Your height and weight will be measured too, to ensure you are of your ideal weight. Your blood will be tested for various problems such as glucose levels, mineral content and also for organ functions. Sometimes your doctor will request for stool exam to rule out colon cancer. Last in the list is, EKG for seniors 50 and above to check your heart’s electrical activity.
•    Of course, there will be other exams depending on your health status or your susceptibility to some diseases. For women, there will be mammogram and pelvic exam to ensure your reproductive system has nothing bad on it—or it stays healthy for its age. Bone density test will also be taken as women are prone to osteoporosis. Men on the other hand, will have to endure various exams specifically designed to detect abnormalities in their prostate.
•    This is also the right time to review the medications you are currently taking, including the supplements your body is receiving. Don’t forget to include over-the-counter medications you took for seemingly trivial health conditions.
•    Any changes you notice within your body must be discussed with your doctor. As your doctor, he should know what goes inside your body that cannot be detected by simple lab tests and exams. Things like sleeping problems, weight changes and appetite should be discussed for evaluation.
•    Past hospitalization, allergies, lifestyle and health habits should also be noted when submitting yourself to an annual checkup.

Varicose veins are very common. It can strike young and old, rich and poor. No wonder, since varicose veins are basically your supposedly invisible veins beneath your skin gone wild! These large, unsightly, sometimes painful veins are usually found in the lower extremities, i.e your legs since they must be the most abused part of our body, carrying the weight of the entire body all the time.
However, varicose veins are doubly common in seniors. We all know that when the body undergoes the natural aging process, almost everything that can be found inside your body starts to break down or behave rather abnormally. Veins grow weaker by the second putting us, seniors, in greater risk of bursting it open or clotting the blood that flows inside it. Normally, the blood inside the vein must flow upward. In a varicose vein’s case, the valve that regulates proper flow fails to do its job causing blood to seep. The blood will then collect in that specific area causing that vein to show.
For seniors, there are many factors to consider when determining the cause of their varicose veins. It could be the lifestyle they lead, especially if they are carrying extra and unnecessary weight, or if they are predisposed to it, i.e genetically. Also, their working conditions can tremendously contribute to them having problems with varicose veins now and in the near future.
It is important to note that varicose veins can never kill you, unless it’s death by humiliation of having one. They are nasty yes, and thank heavens there are treatments available for varicose veins—safe enough even for older adults. Nonetheless, if left untreated, it can be very annoying since it can be painful when walking or standing. There is also an apparent discomfort in the affected leg which can be itchy at times. Varicose veins sufferers are noted to have some swelling around the ankle and some distention in the area where blood seepage occurred. If these symptoms are beginning to interfere with your life then it’s time to take your problems to the doctor as varicose veins can worsen overtime and if left untreated.
There are many types of treatment for varicose veins. It can be surgical, nonsurgical, and less invasive treatments. Your doctor will help you choose what’s the best treatment for your case. Non-surgical treatments include using compression stockings which keep your veins in check and without disturbance. Elevating the legs when resting is also recommended to help calm your veins and at the same time release pressure. These treatments are usually recommended for mild cases of varicose veins.
Surgical procedure to remove the damaged vein is usually recommended for severe cases. Vein stripping involves removing the vein just so it won’t cause any more trouble to the patient. Other less invasive treatments include laser treatments and radiotherapy ablation.