Seniors Site

Vacation is fun but it seems that it has its own aftermath that most seniors find it regrettable after going home and contending with it for months to come. Actually, this is a common problem to most vacationers since people that are on a vacation tend to throw every ounce of discipline out the window come vacation time. The problem:  overeating.

It is not uncommon for vacationers to let go of their diet plan since vacation is closely associated with good food and great time. These two go hand and hand. Quite frankly, a vacation is never complete without going home with one satisfied stomach. For most seniors, dining out and simply enjoying what the vacation has to offer are the highlights of a good vacation. Although vacations should be fun and are without any restrictions, one must also think of their health when out vacationing or risk ending up in some hospital’s bed. Here are some great tips to stay slim and sexy this summer vacation:

·    You would know you’re on a vacation when something good and interesting is sitting on your plate. It’s okay to savor a local delicacy since most memories of your vacation will fade quickly but never the ones that are remembered by your stomach. That doesn’t necessarily mean you must eat them with every single meal especially if they are not too healthy. Once a day is okay, then makeup for it by eating healthy for the rest of the day.
·    When dining out, plan your meals accordingly. Decide the things you’re going to order even before you get there so you won’t go overboard when the “ordering” time comes.
·    ALWAYS eat your breakfast, no matter how sleepy you get in the mornings. Without breakfast, your chances of pigging out come lunchtime are much higher. Also, breakfast, being the most important meal of the day will keep you going for almost half of the day.
·    Make grocery stores your bestfriend. They are cheap and very flexible. You can even cook a good dinner if you are staying in a place that has a kitchen. Also, packs of healthy foods such as instant oatmeal, teas, and trail mixes can be found in most supermarkets and convenience stores. These things you can bring along with you and munch on when hungry.
·    Vacations are meant to be enjoyed thus most chores, responsibilities and obligations are left back home. Take advantage of this “nonduty” time by catching up with your almost-forgotten fitness routine. Jog, run and stretch in the mornings.
·    Stay away from fast food chains, instead find local restaurants that are serving home cooked meals.
·    If your knees can afford it, use stairs instead of elevators. You’ll burn extra calories this way. Also, use your feet and walk around town to get the feel of the area.
·    Stay hydrated. When you get dehydrated, your mind will trick you in thinking you’re hungry when you’re not. The same goes for the amount of sleep you get since it affects your hormones particularly those that control your hunger pangs.

Of all the health conditions a senior must face upon reaching an advance age, mental problems prove to be the hardest to detect. In fact, even the senior himself won’t know if he is already experiencing these problems up until the time an expert tells him so. Furthermore, mental health problems usually go undetected since other potentially fatal illnesses should be ruled out first. Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of conditions that share the same symptoms, mental illnesses usually go full-blown before they get proper medical attention.

It was said that old age should be the time when seniors reap the rewards of their lifelong hardships and battles. This should be the time they relax, let go of some obligations and just be happy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for most seniors especially now that many have been delaying retirement for financial reasons. There’s always the pressure of living our daily lives and sometimes, it makes a powerful impact in the way we think without us knowing it. If this reason alone could make us go crazy then just imagine what seeing our friends gradually fading right before our eyes, major illnesses hit us left and right and losing a spouse can do to us. No matter how matured we have become as seniors, there’s no way these incidents would go unfelt.

When we talk about mental illnesses, it is quite impossible for the sufferer to feel the symptoms, much less for him to arrive in a conclusion that he is indeed suffering from it. Most of the time, it is the caregiver or someone who lives in the same house who would notice these warning signs. This is why it is extremely important for the caregiver to be very alert and vigilant of these signs especially if the senior is currently undergoing a lot of stress. It is also important to note that if and when a senior experiences sudden lifestyle change, the caregiver should be more observant of the senior’s behavior and reaction. Here are some warning signs that could signify mental problems in seniors:

·    The average, healthy grieving period for an adult would be anywhere between 6 months to a year. This is depending on the degree and the type of loss they had. Within this period, the grieving senior should be able to function entirely normal with little pockets of sadness every now and then. When you notice depression lasting two full weeks or more then it is time to seek help.
·    Take note of the senior’s ability to concentrate and focus on the task at hand.
·    Although it is but natural for seniors to think of their death, it is not normal for someone to be obsessed about it.
·    Weight loss is the number one sign of all diseases which means if someone experienced sudden weight loss, he or she is sure to have something that the body couldn’t take very well.
·    If the senior has trouble sleeping or if their sleeping patterns have become very erratic these past few days, something is wrong.
·    Most of the time, addictions are a result of depression. This is the mind’s way to forget painful things or even emotions that the mind couldn’t process.
·    Chronic pains with no evident source. When the mind is deeply hurt, it creates pain anywhere in the body to divert the feeling. In most cases, seniors who suffer depression welcome these pains instead of dealing with their emotions.

Baldness in medical term is what your doctor would refer to as Alopecia. Baldness can be very frustrating and unfortunately, it is prevalent among older adults and progresses overtime. But, alopecia is not limited to seniors only as it also strikes younger adults especially if they are predisposed to the said hair condition. As experts would say, alopecia can be a result of many different factors, genetic being the most persistent of them all. Some seniors who are suffering from alopecia stated that the condition started more or less, in their mid-30s while others start later in life. It can manifest as partial or total baldness depending on what fate decides to give you since its extent cannot be fully determined until your hair stopped growing.

While it can lower one’s self-esteem, older women being the most affected than their male counterparts, alopecia’s damage is not at all life-threatening. Healthcare providers believe that alopecia—particularly diffuse alopecia or androgenic alopecia—is an age-related condition along with couple of others like diminishing eyesight and/or deafness. What concerns healthcare providers the most is that alopecia can also be a symptom of an underlying disease, illness or condition that the senior may have. For one, severe depression can cause hairfall, even if the senior hasn’t recognized it yet. It is always advisable for seniors to consult your doctor when your hair starts falling to rule out any possible health risk.

Age-related baldness cannot be prevented altogether, although it can be delayed and in some cases, remedied as with any other conditions that come with aging. Androgenic alopecia is referred to as such since the condition was found out to be a result of declining androgen hormones but it doesn’t necessarily mean that this type of alopecia is exclusive to men. Androgenic alopecia can also hit older women although the hairfall pattern tends to be diffused whereas male pattern baldness creates a horseshoe-like shape in one’s head.

There are treatments available for seniors who suffer alopecia and are growing quite conscious of it. For mild cases, there are medical preparations you can buy that may improve your hair’s current state. However, these preparations can only improve or delay but never cure since as of the moment, there is no known cure for baldness. Some seniors who lost a lot opt to have cosmetic surgery or hair transplant and fortunately, most of them come happy and satisfied with their decisions.

This summer proves to be the worst season for seniors since it’s becoming hotter everyday. Every year, local authorities prepare for this season and proceed with caution while keeping an eye to senior housing facilities and communities present in their area. These round-ups are done since seniors are the most vulnerable to heat-related incidents that can be fatal when overlooked.

Heat-induced stress can trigger health complications from other diseases that you may have. Volunteers from various organizations often take time to visit shelters wherein seniors are known to live alone and help them prepare for hot days ahead by informing them what to do in case they feel symptoms of heat-related incidents and assist these seniors in heat-proofing their houses as well. Other volunteer groups check-up on them every now and then just to know if the senior in question is still okay and not experiencing any life-threatening difficulties.

Although it seems that they got us all covered, we still need to do our own preventive measures just to make sure we get past this summer alive and well. Aside from the basics such as not going out during those times when the sun is at its hottest and staying cool indoors in well-ventilated places, there are some foods that actually cool down the body’s temperature thus alleviating the stress brought about by heat. Here are some cooling foods that can help you ease the heat away:

·    Your best bet would be watery foods or foods that are rich in water content. Great examples of which are watermelon, fruit juices and even cold soups.
·    Increase water intake. If you are not a water-person, any liquid that is not a diuretic will work as fine too but try to “like” water when possible since it’s better absorb by the body than any other liquids.
·    Coconut water is good for the body as it works similar to a sports drink. It has high sodium and potassium content to replenish your body all lost minerals when it perspire. Best of all, coconut water is naturally sweet so you don’t have to add sugar anymore. Best when served cold.
·    Take advantage of the summer season by experimenting with different kinds of seasonal fruits. Fruits are great for you since they pack fibers, beta carotene and vitamins needed by the body. Also, fruits are dieters’ bestfriend:  no fats but filling and delicious. Try mangoes.
·    There are types of vegetables that are best when served cold too especially the salad-types. Lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes are a great addition in your daily meals. When cold, they can be very satisfying to one’s stomach—and body temperature too!

In some cases such as accidents and medical emergencies, it becomes easier to determine when and how to intervene with your beloved senior’s life but unfortunately, there are times when your efforts are met with resistance and things steer into a much harder road of second guessing and lifestyle changes. Sometimes, decreased capacity to lead life normally in seniors is not that obvious and worst, if the senior don’t acknowledge this fact in the first place.

It was always said that the key to a successful intervention is good communication-relationship between the senior and the supposed negotiator or the caregiver himself since more often than not, seniors tend to be weary and untrusting to intruders—sadly, that’s you in this situation. If the senior could somehow feel sincerity in there, he or she will allow you to help them albeit reluctantly. But the question still remains, how would you know when it’s time?

Sending the senior to a long term care facility is way off the mark especially if there is no apparent reason for doing so. In fact, these facilities should be your last resort preferably in phases when the senior can no longer move on his own and he needs medical attention too. As much as possible, allow seniors to have a little breathing room because they still need their privacy as an individual. If your senior can still function normally, like caring for himself but having some trouble keeping the house up and running, then the most you need is a cleaning lady to keep an eye on the house and the senior too. This way you are meeting with the senior halfway.

Actually, the first thing to give way is the appearance of the senior if there is an existing problem with his mental and physical capabilities. It helps if you are good in observing their behavior but be careful not to point out everything you are noticing. Instead, try a different approach such as offering help with their daily tasks. When offering help, give reasons other than what it’s intentionally for such as doing their laundry just because you have nothing better to do this weekend or doing their grocery because you’re also getting yours. With this approach, seniors will give in easily thinking that they are not a burden on your side and you are willing to help with their odds and ends.

There will be times that the senior may mention some minor health problems, these are the times that you should be paying attention and reading between the lines. If your mom or dad is living with someone younger than them then ask this person what he or she thinks. As soon as you notice signs of deteriorating health, it is best to increase number of visits just to see if the situation progresses and how fast it goes. Be on the look out for safety risks that your parent may have left behind unconsciously such as burnt pots, open doors, and slippery floors. Moreover, a senior who is suffering depression needs assistance too and almost always, it is the hardest illness to detect so it pays to take note of that as well.

We all need sleep. Sleep helps in relieving our mind and body of all the stress we encounter when performing our daily activities. When we are sleeping, the body’s system goes on auto-function and heals itself to get it ready for the next day’s tasks. Whereas the body undergoes recuperation while fully relaxed, the mind on the other hand stays active and performs systemized organization of gathering data and information stored at different nooks and crannies of the brain hence the possible manifestations of dreams.

Unfortunately, as we age, our sleeping patterns suffer tremendously. As a newborn child would, it seems that the body doesn’t recognize time anymore and won’t respond to the circadian rhythm like it used to. Due to this very unfortunate occurrence, a senior’s body will have to put up with the very destructive effects of sleep deprivation.

While sleep problem with seniors has relatively unknown cause except for a couple of potentially plausible explanation such as medication side effects or diminishing sleep hormones, there are ways to induce “the mood” and help you achieve better sleep. Here are some of the ways you might want to try tonight:

·    If you find that alarm clocks work for you, then it too may work to remind you of your bedtime. The body needs to prepare itself for hours of sleeping even if you already had a long and tiring day. In other words, it needs conditioning, best if you can do it for about an hour. Within this hour, before-bedtime rituals should be done but they need to be relaxing such as reading a book or listening to soothing music. Set your alarm clock one hour before sleeping to remind you when it’s time to wind down.
·    Emotional status of the person prior to sleeping plays a big role in his or her capacity to sleep. We all know that it gets quite hard to attain sleep when you are bothered or troubled but try as we might, clearing up the head is easier said than done so the next best thing you can do is try to slow things down even for a bit.
·    Avoid worrying too much if sleep doesn’t visit you right away for there are days that it won’t really come easily. Just don’t do anything that will stimulate your senses in getting active again such as action-packed movies or exercising. Never force yourself to sleep when you are not feeling it since it will only create panic if it doesn’t come at once.
·    Seniors tend to suffer nocturia or night-time urination. This disorder is extremely common among men but it also manifests in women. Try to lessen your trips to the toilet during the night by avoiding drinking water and diuretics prior to sleeping.

Sleep deprivation has many effects on one’s health. It is most advisable for seniors to try to get sleep as much as they possibly can and not to be overly conscious of the time it arrives. One golden rule for seniors’ sleeping problem, when sleep strikes, grab the opportunity and sleep!

One of the many signs of aging is hearing loss. Actually, hearing loss can be experienced even by younger adults but unfortunately, almost all seniors get them since they come packaged with all the other age-related afflictions known to us therefore hearing loss is most associated with older adults.

Hearing loss is not an immediate health risk per se. There is no reported case of someone dying from deafness but many are having accidents which some lead to dying due to hearing problems. Due to this fact, it is only safe to consider hearing loss as an immediate threat to senior lives. The intensity of hearing problems can go from mild to severe—the latter being totally deaf. Hearing loss is a very serious condition and can be very embarrassing at times resulting to diminished self-esteem for seniors.

When you feel something is amiss with your hearing, it is best to see a doctor at once so he can better help your with the problem at hand. Seniors should know that hearing loss has different types and extent. These will be considered by your doctor prior to advising seniors of what to do with their hearing problems. Here are some signs that you might want to watch out for:

·    Having trouble with telephone calls and would shout when inquiring assuming that this is the right “loudness” for the receiving party.
·    It gets hard to follow spontaneous conversation especially when there are 3 individuals involved.
·    When you’re watching TV, others are complaining about its loudness which puzzles you since it seemed fine.
·    Too much mumbling from other people especially when kids are talking to you.
·    Words are harder to understand especially when there is an ongoing background sound.
·    You find yourself leaning towards the person you are talking to just to catch whatever he is saying.
·    You find yourself reading the words directly from the mouth of the person you are talking to and associating them with the little sound you hear instead of relying with the sounds alone

Hearing problems are best handled by otolaryngologist. Otolaryngologists are doctors specializing in ears, nose and throat. These doctors will assess the damage, extent and type of hearing problem the patient has and will then send the patient to an audiologist, if needed. An audiologist is needed if you’re prescribed to wear hearing aids for your hearing problems.

Aside from aging, some of the known causes of hearing loss are:  exposure to loud noises, infections, earwax buildup, medications, hereditary factors and even lifestyle diseases.

Good news for seniors across America, this is your chance to avail of a much-needed eye checkup free of charge! All you need to do is call EyeCare America and if you meet all qualifications for this public service program then you will be referred to one of 7,000 volunteer eye doctors who will see you at once. These doctors accept Medicare for full payment which means you don’t have to shell out cash anymore. They also accept other forms of insurances that you might have—just be sure to ask during the phone interview. On the other hand, for seniors who don’t have any insurance at hand, you will also be seen by these good doctors for free.

Interested senior citizens should call now since the program runs until August 31, 2009 only. Call them now:  1-800-222-EYES (3937)

Seniors EyeCare Program is just one of the many eyecare programs brought to us by EyeCare America. A program developed and maintained by the Foundation of American Academy of Ophthalmology. Aside from eyecare program for seniors, EyeCare America also provides help for those with glaucoma, diabetes, age-related macular diseases and even for your grandkids.

The “Don’t Lose Sight of Your Independence” program for seniors is intended to promote healthy eyes for the aging population. Its main mission is to provide seniors of the right information on how to take care of their eyes especially since they are more susceptible to age-related eye diseases and degeneration. Unfortunately, most seniors tend to submit themselves to these diseases when it can be very well prevented if attended to at once. Lack of information, almost always, produces disastrous results; these results are what the program is trying to resolve so that seniors would be able to enjoy their lives once more.

This referral program is open for you and your loved-ones. You can also inquire in behalf of your friend or family who won’t be able to make the call as of the moment. However, you’ll be ask of several questions regarding the patient so make sure you know everything you need to know before inquiring about the program. Some of the basic qualifications are:

·    Legal resident of United States.
·    65 years and above
·    Have not received any eye examination from an ophthalmologist for the past three years.
·    Not a member of an HMO or VA

To know more about this program, visit their website today: EyeCare America

When we speak of fitness for seniors, it need not be too rigorous, harsh and overly demanding for the body. Even experts will agree that a youth’s exercise is far different from an older man or woman. Actually, exercises differ from one person to another depending on their health level, endurance and resistance but it can certainly be improved overtime. That is exactly why there are fitness instructors who specialize in geriatric fitness; these people are highly trained to assist seniors who want—or need—to improve their physical health while nursing medical concerns.

It was said that seniors are now living better, longer lives than those preceding them and the quality of life they are enjoying right now has improved tremendously. Although aging and dying are two inevitable occurrences in our lives, medical concerns that are usually brought about by aging are delayed, if not prevented all together. Partly, we have preventive health care measures to thank for that; these preventive measures are now highly encouraged by health care providers to seniors worldwide and it seems to be helping a great deal on seniors’ survival rates on common age-related illnesses.

Of course, staying physically fit completes this picture. Together, preventive care and fitness will keep all seniors alive and happy. However, these are the same two things that are the hardest to maintain and keep up with. According to a survey conducted to people ages 60 and above who experience medical maladies—left and right, these people have never had proper exercise nor submitted themselves to screenings and vaccinations in the past while those who are conscious of their health feel and look youthful than their aging contemporaries. Curiously enough, when asked why these seniors never even tried adjusting their lifestyle, the resounding answers are:  lack of time and motivation—as if keeping themselves healthy and beautiful are not reason enough to alter their lifestyles even for a little bit!

If you’re quite concerned about your safety when engaging in exercises, these are some tips to help you get by:

·    First and foremost, consult your doctor before doing any kind of exercise no matter how mild it seems. Different health concerns require different sets of exercise a body could do.
·    Don’t jump in too soon especially if you’ve never been into sports ever in your life. When starting out, you will need to do it slow and give yourself sometime to adjust. Don’t force yourself to match those people who put too much of themselves into a particular sport, they might be doing it for some time now and their bodies are well adjusted to its demands.
·    Join exercises, activities, classes etc that you will actually enjoy. This way, you’ll have better chances of sticking with the program rather than not going through it anymore.
·    Exercise is something that will require you to set time for it. Some people find it easier to exercise in mornings while some are better after work; if you already know what works for you, set your exercise schedule accordingly.
·    You should find comfort in everything you do. If you’ve decided to join classes in studios and gyms, the facility as well as the staff should make you feel comfortable and at-ease. If not, you move on to the next.

A recent study released by Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute for Aging Research warned residents of long term care facilities and/or their relatives about this new kind of bacteria which is resistant to common antibiotic medications. MDRGN organisms or Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative bacteria exceeded MRSA and VRE, in terms of strength and resistant and it is notably gaining prevalence in long term care facilities.

Unfortunately, studies have been focused only on these two common drug-resistant organisms and it looks like, they were barking at the wrong tree since MDRGN are much more deadly and went undetected for many years until now.

MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. They are very resistant to antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin. In general, this strain has the ability to resist all beta-lactam antibiotics and could cause trouble in hospitals and health care facilities since they can spread around fast. Elderly, children and others with compromised immune system especially those confined in above-mentioned places, are at a greater risk of MRSA infection.

On the other hand, VRE or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, is another mutant strain that has the ability to resist certain antibacterial drug Vancomycin. This stain can be found in the digestive system of an infected human and scarily enough, it can pass its uncanny resistance to other dormant bacteria inside the body, making it a battalion of mutant bacteria infecting and altering other neighboring organisms. Just like MRSA, VRE is commonly found in hospitals and health care facilities.

But now, apparently, MDRGN poses greater risk for seniors residing in long-term health care facilities. Residents may be infected but completely unaware since there are no obvious symptoms. This strain manifests by destroying tissues and can cause death when left untreated for longer periods of time. They invade the infected person’s blood stream and unlike MRSA and VRE, MDRGN is resistant to multiple groups of antibacterial/ antimicrobial preparations making it harder for health care providers to deal with.

Since this study was released, long term care facilities are now taking extensive precautions in treating their wards. MDRGN is now under close scrutiny while further analysis is taking place. MDRGN infection is suspected for higher mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays and staggering medical costs brought about wrong diagnosis and nondetection. Overall, Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative bacteria affect seniors’ quality of life and since it travels all throughout the body via the bloodstream, it causes immeasurable damage from head to foot. This can go undiscovered for a long time and can manifest at a later time, depending on your own body’s immune state.