Seniors Site

The other day, I was talking about how to protect your knees, today, I’m going to blog about what to do if it’s already damaged. We’ve heard about knee replacement surgery, as well as its twin sister—and equally gruesome, if truth be told—hip replacement. For a senior like me, I find it weird that parts of the body can be replaced with bolts, nuts and whatnot, making us, more or less, look and feel like half-man, half-robot.
Kidding aside, knee replacement surgery is a major operation. Seniors are the most likely candidates for such operation since their knees are usually beyond repair. Knee replacement surgery should be your doctor’s last resort. That is, if all else fails. Which means to say, there are many treatments available for your aching knees and you should try them all before subjecting yourself to a knee replacement operation.  By the way, it takes years of wear and tear before your knees finally give up, unless of course if it’s eating itself away!
In a knee replacement surgery, the doctor will remove the damaged knee and replace it with metal and sometimes, plastic held together by wires and cement. You would know if it’s time for you to undergo a knee replacement surgery if there is a persistent pain in your knee area despite of medication and treatments. This pain should be characterized by sharp, crippling pain which prevents you from doing normal activities of the body such as walking or just simple bending of knees. For seniors, there are many factors considered before a knee replacement surgery, some of which are:  age, overall health and bone density. Keep in mind that your doctor will still try to find other ways to save you from your aching knees other than surgery since the cons sometimes outweigh the pros. Total knee replacement is NOT recommended for adults 40-50 years of age, unless they suffered a badly damaged joints as those of athletes’.
For seniors who are having doubts about having their knees replaced, there is a new procedure which aims to lessen the recovery time after surgery but still achieve the same result as that of total knee replacement. MIS knee joint replacement or Minimally Invasive Surgery will only require a small incision to insert the implant. However, due to the “newness” of the technique, only a couple of doctors are known to do such procedure. If your doctor is not one of them, you are most likely to be referred to someone who does.
What you should expect after a surgery? Seniors are required to undergo physical therapy the soonest possible time to avoid stiffening of the surgical area. To avoid blood clots from happening, you will be given a series of medications to thin the blood. Bear in mind as well that these implants are not intended to live forever. They, too, wear out in time. However, in the mean time, you should enjoy your newfound knees and use it while it’s as good as new.

For as long as I can remember, there’s always a pain present in and around my knees. They may differ in intensity and levels but I tell you, they never, not even once, leave me. They are just always there; dull, crippling, whatever! Some say, it has something to do with gender but I’ve seen members of the opposite sex in much worse shape than what I have now which, by the way, I could consider manageable at times.
When I was young, my coach used to tell me to always protect the knees when engaging in sports, no matter how fit and athletic you are. It’s because like a cracked eggshell, the injury never really heals, they just keep themselves together. However, they are bound to bring hell come 45 years and up, some even younger. Which brings me to my point:  fit or unfit, seniors are vulnerable to aching knees.
Here are 10 easy ways to protect your knees and hopefully, make aches and pains of the knee a little more manageable!
·    Know the enemy. Are you prone to osteoarthritis? Know that osteoarthritis has several factors which could trigger the said disease. These are:  age, weight, past injuries, hereditary factors, and inactivity leading to weak muscles.
·    Assess your current health status. Did you know that some diseases and illnesses you may have right now could affect your knees? For one, diabetes is known to cause joint troubles particularly around the knee area. Get your doctor involve by assessing your health condition together.
·    Maintain a healthy weight all throughout your life, especially when nearing the golden age as this is when the knees are at its weakest. Know that the knees take the most pressure of the body’s heaviness and weight so please be kind to your knees. The lighter you are, the kinder it is to your knees.
·    Avoid activities that can injure your joints. These are activities in which your joints are regularly subjected to high-impact stress. These are very common in the sports industry. Prolonged standing can also induce too much stress on your knees.
·    Move adequately enough. Try to build and strengthen muscles around your knees by performing exercises which have a lighter impact on the joint itself. Muscles support and protect the joints.
·    Walking devices prove to be helpful especially when there’s already an ache present. No need to induce stress to an already hurting knee.
·    In an event that you fall, trip, hit or whatever your knees, consult your doctor at once and have them evaluate the extent of damage. Never self-assess!
·    Try to find a fitness program or regimen that is kind to the joints. It is best if you train under a professional instructor’s supervision.
·    Take pain reliever if you need to. You don’t have to endure pain and have it run your life, take control!
·    Eat healthy. You will need calcium, vitamin D and those with omega-3 fatty acids to make your bones stronger and keep inflammation at bay.

Why constipation today? I just had a bout this morning just because I ran out of my fiber sachets and forgot to stock up right on time! I used to be a fan of natural laxatives such as senna in tea bag form but have moved on to fiber sachets just because they are milder on the digestive tract as compared to senna leaves and pods, or so my doctor said. I believe it’s only a matter of one’s preferences but certainly it won’t hurt to consult a doctor considering our age.
Chronic constipation is very common to seniors and elderly people. It’s because as we age, our digestive tract begins to slow down in activity as well. Notice how foods that our stomach received well in past cause trouble when introduced today? One good example is Chinese food, especially those greasy ones with glass noodles on it. No matter how good they are, you know that it will only be a matter of time before your stomach acts up, rendering you almost unconscious!
Generally, constipation is when you are having a hard time passing stool. It should be every single day, as a normal, average person would have it. A senior with constipation however, could have bloody stool, a direct effect of too much “pushing” or could have that bloated, uneasy feeling that you would like to “go” but apparently, it’s a “no-show”! Some of the known causes of constipation, aside from our own age are:
·    Diet that is low in fiber. We should be doubly aware of the food we eat as we near the golden age. As I’ve said before, things inside us are not anymore what they used to be and would need some boosting to perform their tasks. Fiber-enriched foods will help you prevent constipation from happening.
·    Dehydration. Water is needed if you need your stool to go southward. Drink plenty of it.
·    Lack of exercise. For some reason, when you exercise, you’ll feel the need to “go” soon after!
·    Your medications. Yes, you heard it right. Sometimes your medication can cause constipation without your doctor even knowing it. However, if you suspect your medications to be the culprit, discuss it with your doctor so he’ll be able to weigh the pros and cons and how to go about it.
·    Health conditions. Particularly that of the digestive tract. Seniors should be aware that some medical conditions such as colon cancer can easily put seniors at risk for constipation. In fact, it is one of the signs of the said disease.
Also, if you are a chronic laxative user, you might want to seek healthier alternatives since laxatives are known to damage the nerves and muscles of the colon. Some studies found out that regular use of laxative could even worsen your condition, and it is never good for seniors unless prescribed by your doctor.

There have been debates and indeed, different opinions of which comes first to a person: is depression an end result of obesity or obesity stands as a byproduct of depression. Studies have been made to pinpoint how one affects the other. However, the mystery remains uncertain and the issue still baffles the mind of researchers the world over!
As to why the issue was made important is that if medical science will be able to know exactly what triggers what, it will be easier for health care providers to help their patients overcome one or both conditions. Treatments will be more target-specific to the problem thus preventing it from getting worse.
It was a known fact that there’s a link between depression and obesity. A depressed person is most likely to suffer obesity in the future while those battling obesity tend to get depressed easily. Some say, it has something to do with our hormonal behavior which tends to go haywire in both events. The reason why these things are important for seniors to know is that they will be able to understand their condition better, helping them deal with their feelings better.
What’s undeniable however is that the positioning of these two is interchangeable. An obese person is indeed susceptible to depression. In case of an obese senior, it is almost always their health that depresses them, running in close second is their physical appearance and of course, limited range of motion. The latter denying them of time to have fun with their family and friends.
On the other hand, depression creates havoc inside our bodies. It messes up our hormonal behavior, sending false signals to different parts of the body. When we are stressed, we usually find ourselves craving for food even if we are not hungry. Comfort foods, which are usually sugary and sweet, give the body a certain high in a way that we often seek them when we need uplifting. Also, when a person is depressed, his energy level is too low that the best thing to do is to lie down and be immobile for as long as the body permits. Poor eating habits and non-activity are the perfect combination for obesity so in a way, obesity may be a direct result of depression.
What researchers suggest is for health care providers to examine closely the root cause of the problem before intervening or attempting cure. Sometimes, an obese person does not always require dieting especially if the person is nursing a depression deep within. The same goes for prescribing anti-depressant to someone who only needs proper nutritional counseling. They further recommend to treat an obese/depressed person for both conditions at the same time instead of treating each individually.

Cancer proves to be one of the most financially draining diseases—if not the most—that strikes seniors. In fact, it knows no age and not only the patient’s financial status gets badly jeopardized but also his families’ and friends’ in attempt to save their loved-ones’ life. The problem with cancer is that it requires long-term treatments in which every treatment costs a lot. Health insurances on the other hand can only do so much in aiding the patient financially, sometimes their families will still need to find financial help somewhere else which proves harder than anyone thought. Some may resort to fundraising or even groups and associations for support and advice.
If you are seriously thinking of getting financial help now, whether for you or for your cancer-stricken loved-one, be forewarned that it will take some of your time and energy in finding them. Also, make sure that you have every little thing covered as one overlooked piece might be your clue to solving this puzzle. The best way to do this is start with the one nearest to you then go broader until you find what you’re looking for.
Equally important is getting your doctor involved with your problem. You see, when the doctor knows you’re now in a financial rut over the treatments and cancer whatnot, he would be able to think of other ways to, at least, lessen the bills or find other alternative, not to mention cheaper, ways to save the patient’s life. If high bills are inevitable to the cancer treatment, seek help from the hospital’s financial counselor as some hospitals are willing to make payment arrangements that suit your pocket nicely.
Cancer centers are a goldmine of information and resources covering all aspects of cancer, including its financial side. Bear in mind that millions of people go through this situation yearly, with that said, you should know that this is not the first time cancer centers encountered such problem and certainly they have the answer to your problem. Just go ask.
Cancer organizations can also help you in finding a sponsor company. Sponsor companies give financial aid to cancer patients as part of their “giving something back to the community”. Start with popular cancer organizations such as National Cancer Institute and do your research as there are hundreds of such organizations out there. If general cancer organization can’t help you right away, then go more specific such as organizations for breast cancer, lung cancer, liver and so on..
It will be a hard and long road, but with the help of your family and friends, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to overcome the problem no matter what.

After a long and tiring day, all your tortured and weary body could ever think of is a good massage. No matter what kind or type it would be, just as long as it will knead all those knots you’ve been feeling due to stress endured all throughout the day! Just imagine how good it will be to just lie down and relax while a pair of capable hands sooth every inch of your tired muscle!

However, for seniors especially those really old ones, massage therapy becomes valuable to alleviate pains and aches that come with an aging body. But, not all types of massage work with seniors. Due to the ever rising number of seniors requiring massage minus the therapy facilities and doctors, many expert therapists are now developing massage techniques that will benefit seniors tremendously. Massage therapy for seniors, commonly referred to as geriatric massage, is more target-specific to seniors’ needs. Furthermore, geriatric massage is a sure-fire way to relax a senior’s body which proves to be very helpful in maintaining a positive outlook in life.

While strokes used in a geriatric massage are no different than a regular massage, trained therapists are more conscious not to hurt or administer unnecessary pressure to the client’s body while applying them only to points where they are needed. Also, some seniors require special attention such that positioning of the body during a massage is very important. Aside from the therapeutic effects of a massage, as well as its instant relaxing feel, it has many benefits.

Therapeutic body massage is known to improve a senior’s mobility, flexibility and range of motion. In a way, it will make one’s quality of life better and more livable. Some of the most bothersome diseases that seniors may have right now such as arthritis and joint pains can be relieved by regular massages. Not only that, even your blood circulation is greatly improved, part of the reason why health care providers specializing in elderly care approved of the practice.

According to studies, massage therapy or even touch therapy, can be extremely beneficial in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease since the sense of touch seems to be the hardest memory to erase. Moreover, the sense of touch involves every inch of your skin. That’s why every time the skin is stimulated, the body remembers.

Therapeutic massage should never be considered as a cure, instead doctors and health practitioners deem them to be complimentary medicine wherein it should work hand-in-hand with scientific-based medication. While its affects are indeed felt, there is no existing medical explanation as to why it does that and to what extent it can help a person.

Our age has long been associated with Alzheimer’s disease although the connection wasn’t clearly established. There had been debates on whether Alzheimer’s disease comes with age or the disease stays dormant for a long, long time—obviously taking its sweet time to blossom into full-blown. It is important to know which of the two comes first in a patient as it will be the only way to provide solution to a long-overdue problem. If it’s the latter, then even a 20-year-old is at risk to this terrible disease, given a situation that the disease be triggered by some unknown factor. However, researchers are leaning towards the former as they strongly suspect that age has something to do with it.

Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs at age 65 and quickly progresses from there on. On the other hand, those who are blessed with good genes which enabled them to live longer lives are usually without wasting diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This provided a hint to researchers that the way we age is a big factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease and it may also be the root cause of the said disease. According to recent study released by Salk Institute for Biological Studies late last year, these researchers might be on their way to successful discovery!

According to the study, by simply delaying the aging process, we could protect ourselves from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors who are actively participating in the study believe that this might be the key to treatment and prevention of the said disease. Furthermore, they encourage seniors to try to live a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain a biologically young age. This simply means your body should be maintained in a state wherein it’s 20 or even 30 years younger than your chronological age. And no, it doesn’t simply mean youthful looking skin, it should also come from within!

One of the marked characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is plaques in the brain. More plaques there would signify the severity of the condition. With this study, they were able to determine why old age has something to do with it. During the course of the study, they found out that young, healthy cells were able to flush out plaques before they get the chance to accumulate. Unfortunately, aging bodies do not have the same amount of healthy cells to control these plaques from forming in the brain. In the case of lucid centenarians, it was believed that their bodies are able to process and drain away these plaques even if they are way pass the golden age as opposed to what a normal person’s body could do.

Have you ever wondered why some people age faster than others while some blessed few with good genes look young longer than their contemporaries?.. While genes are said to be the major contributing factor to one’s aging, our nutritional intake also plays a vital role. With that said, obviously the things you take everyday contribute to how fast—or slow—your aging would be. To further prove the “hereditary” point, just look at your grandparents’ picture, or even your parents’ and you are bound to see a pattern there!

Two of the most popular vitamins included in anti-aging products are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. However, vitamin C has proven itself to be more than just an anti-aging component since it can also save you from several health conditions. It was reported that vitamin C can stop and reverse Werner Syndrome, a rare disorder which is characterized by premature aging, usually starting from age 20 and continues to show age-related conditions until the sufferer’s body ultimately succumb to death, usually before age 50. Due to this report, there’s also a possibility that vitamin C could delay the signs of aging, no matter how natural these changes are.

Appropriate amounts of vitamin C in a senior’s diet are now recommended by health care providers since there seems to be no harm in trying and seniors may even benefit from doing so. However, please be warned that taking it in large amounts doesn’t mean you’ll live a longer life, the report only shows that you need to have adequate amounts of vitamin C in your body to help delay signs of aging. Supplementing your vitamin C intake is indeed important as the body’s own production tends to decrease with age. Furthermore, vitamin C also performed great in terms of speeding up one’s metabolic rate. While this area remains unexplored, vitamin C can now be viewed as a fat burning substance which can help overweight seniors to lose some unwanted fats.

Recognized as an instant cure for common cold, Vitamin C is now all that and more! It helps the body in producing collagen which makes our skin plump and younger looking. Applying vitamin C topically proves to rebuild damaged skin in no time. Like vitamin E, it is an anti-oxidant which protects cells from free radicals and at the same time, it boosts your immune system.

Seniors who would like to delay signs of aging, or even alleviate its symptoms can surely benefit from a diet with adequate amounts of vitamin C. Since it has a lot to offer to an aging body, health care providers see no harm in recommending them.

In our effort to lead a much healthier life this year, we must first raid our own medicine cabinet—in this case, our collection of vitamins and supplements taken on a regular basis to keep us strong and nourished!

It was said that seniors are spending billions every year for supplements that promise better health, improve memory and endurance—sex included. No wonder, as they are considered as the top three concerns in a seniors’ life. In general, anything with the word anti-aging printed on the packaging is sure to grab our attention!

Aside from eating healthy, we seniors need to take additional supplements. Admit it or not, our bodies can no longer process our food the way it used to. The food we eat, no matter how healthy, can no longer provide us our daily nutritional needs. On the other hand, too much synthetic vitamins and we get a chemically-drenched body. With that said, it is but normal to have a balance somewhere.

Nowadays, alternative health products are popular. Part of the reason why there are thousands, if not millions of health products sporting the words “natural” and “herbal” to go along with “anti-aging”. Before we continue with the list of recommended supplements for older adults, it’s highly advisable for seniors to buy only from reputable companies. They may be a little expensive but you know you’re getting the real deal. Also, please remember that anything you take—even food—can react with the medications you are currently taking so it is wise to consult your doctor first if a certain product interests you, to avoid any health complications from happening.

·    Vitamin E. Vitamin E has a long-established reputation of being an anti-aging supplement which works from within. Since it is naturally occurring in our bodies, it is assumed that Vitamin E can do no harm to one’s body when introduced moderately.
·    Calcium. Of course, who doesn’t want stronger bones in their golden years? Unfortunately, it seems that the recommended minimum age for taking calcium is getting lower and lower by the minute! Maybe this generation is not getting enough calcium in their diet hence the supplements.
·    CoQ10. Naturally produced by the body, CoQ10 is said to decrease in number as we age resulting to heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and even cancer. It also aids in metabolic activities inside the body.
·    Garlic. When eaten raw and in large amounts can help stabilize your cholesterol levels, albeit temporarily. Garlic is known to improve blood circulation.
·    Melatonin. For seniors who are having trouble getting their goodnight’s sleep, this is for you! Melatonin is naturally produced by the body but like any other substances found inside of us, it tends to lessen with age.

What I like best when a new year comes in is that it gives a feeling of hope and something to look forward to while shaking away all those bad things that had happened to us in the year that’s about to leave. Sometimes I find myself smiling broadly and acting giddily minutes before the turn of the year.

With all the things that we seniors have been going through and experiences we have had, sometimes what we really hope for is finding happiness and be able to maintain it for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, happiness is one thing that’s quite hard to achieve especially if we still haven’t come to terms with our own selves.

To start the year right, we must include happiness in our to-do tasks for the year 2010 a.k.a seniors’ new year’s resolutions. Sometimes happiness involves conscious effort in our part and even if it was said that you don’t go searching for happiness as it should find you. In today’s world, it’s important for you to know what brings happiness in your world, keep it within reach and use it when life strikes hard at you. Happiness is your own weapon, something that will never fade nor vanish which makes it all the more important for seniors whose life seemed stable and monotonous but in reality, is full of surprises!

Like stated earlier, happiness starts with accepting your own self. Be it wrinkly skin or gray hairs, or even a bad knee, if we are not happy with what we have and make the most out of our situation, it’s impossible to be happy. If we insist on carrying the heavy load of regrets and disappointments, seeing all those beautiful things in life would be hard, much less appreciate the things that have been kind to us.

Seniors’ lives are full of transitions. There will be adjustments. Companions come and go, even our loved-ones tend to just disappear in nanosecond. Then there’s the issue of soul-searching and finding answers that could even be nonexistent. Happiness can only be found if we focus on doing what matters most to us and stop doing things for other people, unless of course, the deed satisfies you. In order for happiness to come, seniors should make it possible by paving the way.

Older adults should never think that time is running out for them, instead, focus on what you can do now and what you can still accomplish with your own resources. As the old saying goes, there’s no use in crying over spilt milk. Age is given but what you can do with your life is something you choose and decide on.