Seniors Site

Exercising is truly a fun activity to do. Aside from that, it has many great benefits for the body. For one, it helps the body relieve itself of harmful toxins trapped inside by way of sweating. In terms of digestion, I find that it keeps constipation at bay and for some reason, it aids in everyday bowel movement which is a great news for many seniors who have been having trouble in this area. Also, one good reason to exercise is knowing you will feel great afterwards.

Feeling great is only half of the story. When you see aesthetic results finally manifesting right before your eyes, there’s a tendency to work out more or train more to boost your progress. Oftentimes, these good intentions can quickly turn into a disaster especially if you find yourself quite addicted to exercising. It’s no joke, and it really can happen. While training your body to be physically active is good for you, doing it in excess can also do you harm.

Take note that overtraining is not limited to gym-goers only, it can occur in just about any sports as long as you are pushing your body over its comfortable limits. Doubly harmful is going from sedentary lifestyle to an all-out war in making your body fit, taken into consideration is your age, of course. In fact, it is highly advisable for seniors to train under a very watchful eye of a certified fitness instructor each and everytime to avoid straining the body too much. Remember that your body is no longer an oiled machine and it needs time to adjust when introduced to a new lifestyle. Not only that, it also needs to recuperate and get itself together after stressing it no matter how much training you did that day.

Some of the warning signs which will indicate if you are training too much are low energy levels, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depressions and sleeping difficulties. Infections can also occur frequently if the body is experiencing overtraining. If you find yourself having these symptoms, you might want to take it slow by readjusting your fitness program and consulting your doctor about the problems at hand. Or, you can find another fitness activity which suits your body more.

There are two areas in which overtraining can occur. One is too much exertion and another is not having enough breaks in between training. Having to train 4 to 5 times a week makes a lot of difference than training every single day. Exercising should make you feel good, both physically and mentally and it should never feel as if punishing yourself will yield greater results. Adapting a proper mindset will help you get in-tuned with your body all the more.

Your fashion sense should not go as you age. Granted, it’s somewhat insane to wear the clothes you used to love 20 years back and seniors are encouraged to choose comfortable cuts in subdued colors but that doesn’t mean seniors are not allowed to look good and feel good in what they wear everyday!

Bear in mind that “fashion rules” for seniors are made with their health and comfortability in mind. We all know that sometimes being fashionable involves great stress and risks. For one, wearing outrageously high heels are not advisable for seniors since by this time, they couldn’t establish good balance anymore thus it can put seniors in great risk for injuries. No matter how healthy you are right now, being fashionable means knowing what looks great on you regardless of age. Fashion need not be painful; here are some easy fashion tips for elderly women:

·    Forget about fads. Usually they are made for younger people and somewhat unfit for seniors. Don’t seek counsel from magazines too especially if they are not for seniors. The best thing to do is browse through catalogs and online stores selling senior clothes. This way you’ll have an idea of what looks good and what probably won’t work for you.
·    Wear the clothes that compliment your lifestyle. If you are having trouble hand-washing your clothes then go for those you can machine-wash. Having trouble with zippers? Then go for Velcro.
·    Cardigans and sweaters are staples to a senior’s closet. Invest in them by purchasing only those durable ones since they can withstand everyday wear and tear. The greatest thing about this kind of clothing is that they know no age and they do come in cute designs too.
·    Go for comfortable shoes. For everyday shoes, go for flat ones. When you need to wear heels, opt to wear those low-heeled ones so you can still look good and stay safe at the same time.
·    Right accessories make an ensemble even brighter. Choose accessories that will compliment your style. Classic jewelries are the best choice for seniors since they can be paired with almost anything you have in your closet.
·    Lost when it comes to fashion? Take after senior celebrities. Choose your own fashion icon whom you can imitate. Just make sure that the one you have chosen is more or less your size and shape so that you won’t look awkward wearing her style.
·    Wear your self confidence. The clothes you wear don’t make you fashionable, it’s how you carry yourself. When you are comfortable with what you are wearing, you feel great. That alone will warrant great success in being fashionable at any age.

Man boobs in general is an embarrassing condition. However, the causes of man boobs differ from one age bracket to another. When you notice your grandchild to possess man boobs, there’s nothing to worry about yet—given that he is 12 years old or below. This is because a boy going through puberty is expected to have a very confused hormone running through his body and man boobs, almost always come from high levels of girlie hormones in contrast with lowered man hormones. In time, it will eventually go on its own.

On the other hand, man boobs in older adults usually indicate obesity, if not your body is leaning towards roundness and sports a little fat here and there which is okay, if only it kept away from settling around your chest area. But did you know that aside from hormones and fats, there are other causes of man boobs? It seems that in order for you to get rid of your man boobs, you must skim down where it is really coming from or else, it will just go on and on.

Some of the known causes of this very embarrassing condition are hormone, diet, medication and health. Man boobs or medically termed as gynecomastia can be avoided if you know what you are up against. First and foremost, gynecomastia is a reaction of the body no matter what causes it. Second, it is not an immediate health risk but if the cause is not remedied at once, it could lead to other health complications. Most heath care providers don’t recommend surgical removal unless it’s a last resort for the patient.

For seniors with man boobs, try to assess your current health status first before deciding which route to take in getting rid of your man boobs. If it’s your diet and weight, try to lose weight and manage it within an adequate number. Proper diet coupled with chest exercises will eliminate your man boobs faster than you expect. Still, if you suspect that it is your medication reacting with your hormones then consult your doctor at once, preferably the one who prescribed the man-boob inducing drug and ask the good doctor if he or she could perhaps change the prescription. One word of advice though, some doctor would listen to your concerns but a couple of them won’t especially if the prescribed medication is used to treat other illnesses you may have that proved to be more fatal than your man boobs.

However, if a senior is not too fat nor in medication but still suffers man boobs then maybe it’s time to submit yourself to overall health evaluation since it could signify a disease yet to be discovered. Some of serious health conditions that may trigger the development of man boobs are testicular cancer, kidney, thyroid and liver diseases.

Again, it is critical to know the underlying cause of your man boobs since it cannot be completely eliminated if you will just have it removed surgically. Moreover, seniors are not encouraged to undergo unnecessary surgeries especially if it is not life threatening at all since it can aggravate other diseases that you may have.

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.

We all know that chronic illnesses and lifestyle diseases are indisputable when seniors are in question. There are lots and lots of health concerns which plague senior citizen and it all starts from the early age of 50. As the age accumulates, so do health issues. But, no matter how many diseases a senior may acquire as they grow old, AIDS has never really made it to their typecasting.

When we talk about AIDS or HIV infection, it is almost always gays and addicts. What we don’t know, there are victims somewhere between these stereotypes which we will never acknowledge. There are kids born to moms with AIDS; victims of straying partners; nurses who accidentally jabbed themselves by infected needles while caring for AIDS patients and other unfortunate events which are beyond our control. AIDS is real as sex and sex is natural; as long as humans engage in sex, there is AIDS and nobody is really safe from it—promiscuous or not.

If anybody can contract AIDS even if they are maintaining a decent sex life, then what will set senior citizen aside then? They are just about as human as everybody else and they enjoy a good sex every now and then. Some even maintained a regular sex life even if they are way beyond their expected age. Also, let’s not forget all those necessary medical treatments which expose them to AIDS as much. Unfortunately, it was found out that cases of seniors contracting HIV are steadily increasing since last year.

These figures don’t imply as your average senior going sex-crazed and it is nowhere near that notion as well. Lack of formal information for seniors would be the number one cause of these rising numbers since anti-AIDS campaigns are primarily focused to teenagers and younger adults. Most of seniors don’t practice safe sex because they just don’t believe in it and are not fully aware of the risks. Years ago, the only way a senior could catch HIV was through blood transfusion but now, even engaging in heterosexual contact can be very dangerous to seniors, no matter how long they know their partners. Drug abuse can also bring about HIV and a handful of seniors are now enjoying this kind of lifestyle, never minding its health risks and complications.

Sadly, AIDS in seniors can be overlooked due to other health issues since AIDS symptoms are more or less similar to other diseases. The usual HIV symptoms are dry cough, fatigue, cold sores, and swollen glands—all natural occurring to an aging senior. Another thing to consider is their doctor’s perspective. More often than not, a geriatric doctor would not suspect AIDS to a senior patient. It will almost always something other than AIDS and usually after so many hits and miss, by now the AIDS is already full blown and it will be too late for any kind of treatment.

AIDS is a terrible disease caught by engaging in either sex or drugs but sufferers should not be discriminated in any way especially seniors who need strong support system with or without HIV infection. AIDS, just like any other lifestyle diseases out there, will not spare anyone. Would you condemn someone obese just because he ate too much? Of course not.

At around 25%-50% of our senior population showed evidences of medication noncompliance and unfortunately, it’s still gaining in numbers due to many varying reasons, primarily being the stiff cost of these prescribed medications—something our health care providers fail to see or they just simply ignore.

Usually upon reaching the age of 40, there are already maintenance drugs that will be prescribed by your physician. These are drugs that will prevent further damage or worsening of your condition considering all factors such as hereditary and lifestyle. Within this age bracket, your prescribed medications are typically multivitamins, soft gel capsules and others—all of which are within reasonable price range and of course, they are not too detrimental to your health if you skip one day.

If only seniors could stay this way forever; unfortunately as seniors grow older, the costs of their medications grow alongside them as well. Plus let’s not forget all those reports we are receiving about these prescription drugs namely: their long term side-effects and potential complications. To a senior buying them at high prices, one thing is definitely running in their minds, “..and I am paying for those as well?”

Although it is quite understandable at times but seniors must know that it is indeed dangerous for their health to stay noncompliant to their prescribed medications. Noncompliant simply means cutting back on prescribed dosage or not taking the medications at all and it is a very rampant practice among senior citizen today.

Another survey revealed that sometimes seniors tend to inadvertently forget their medications or confuse them with other drugs—something that seniors can’t help doing so either by accident or mental illness. This mistake proves to be very unsafe and can be fatal at times.

Medication noncompliance committed by seniors can immediately lead to serious health issues and untimely death. Over-medication can cause liver problems to seniors while under-medicating will expose you to your dormant disease’s complications. For every chronic condition that you may have right now, there is almost always a drug or two to take care of it so the more illnesses you have, the more medications you have to manage. Certain medications can cause you problems such as sleeping difficulties, dizziness and others but it is not advisable that you stop them at once. In cases like these, talking to your doctor will be the next best step a senior like you should take. If you are planning to stop taking all your prescribed medications for some reason, it is much better if you take your case to another doctor rather than not seeking professional medical help at all.

There are also other alternatives that you may want to explore such as herbal medicines, alternative health practices and lifestyle changes. All of these can assist you in managing your health problems better but you still need a professional advice for that. It is extremely important for seniors to regularly check with their doctors because they are the ones that can help us in time of need.

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.

Normally, stretching is done to warm-up the body before an exercise and cool-down after a workout. Stretching improves one’s flexibility, strengthens the muscle and helps establish good balance. Of course, we all know how important balance is to seniors since good balance prevents accidents such as trips and falls.

For seniors, stretching is a whole exercise regime similar to yoga and pilates. This is because stretching has lower impact than any other exercises out there. Being a low-impact exercise, it creates lesser risk for fractures and accidents to seniors but nonetheless, provides them the exercise they need daily.

Stretching gives seniors many health benefits plus it provides them improved quality of life. It improves blood circulation all throughout the body especially in the heart, where they need it the most. Due to good blood circulation, seniors become more alert and have enough energy to perform everyday tasks without the need for aides and help—something that is important for seniors, independency. Stretching can prove very beneficial to seniors looking for a perfect exercise for their aged bodies.

Aside from the fact that stretching can give flexibility, the program itself is flexible for seniors. It can be modified to one’s needs and limitations. This is something that can’t be done successfully with other exercise programs. The instructor can modify according to one’s comfort and ability while the program’s phase and intensity can be adjusted.

Stretching is a fun and relaxing way for seniors plus it gives them the soothing-feel all seniors need. Also, stretching is good for the joints alleviating arthritis problems for seniors. Stretching can be done at home, in the gym and with workout classes. There are some stretch-at-home DVDs you can buy and follow if you don’t feel like going out.

For beginners, you should consult your doctor first before starting any workout program. Although stretching is safe for seniors, you need to know if it is recommended for you or if you need some minor modifications. Also, there are health centers which can assist you with your workouts especially if you need special care.

It is also recommended for seniors to start slow. About 10-15 minutes of low intensity stretching per day then gradually increase in minutes and phase until you reach your most comfortable phase. It is natural to feel some mild pulling discomfort after each stretching session but if you feel persistent or stabbing pain, you need to stop at once and consult your doctor.

Stretching should be done correctly everytime to avoid injury. Allow your body some time to adjust to your new workout. Doing it the right way will benefit your body likewise bring calming effect to your mind.

For seniors, the best way to recharge their batteries is to have some fun, just to break the monotony of it all. Anything that will drive their mind away from pressing problems, both seen and unseen, will do just fine. You see, when you reach a certain age, you tend to worry less about the present and more for the unpredictable future. This is why sometimes, seniors are deemed paranoid since younger generation, assuming they know all about life, couldn’t see the impending danger. You just don’t say that to someone who survived wars and multiple crises. Younger adults should know how to recognize and respect that so seniors won’t end up in some home care facilities which are really uncalled for.

Like everyone else, seniors use their brains and naturally, these brains need to rest even for just a little while or else, it will take its toll. Seniors need to relax and feel safe with families and friends. They need to feel connected, needed and loved. For seniors, this doesn’t necessarily mean making new memories but sometimes, they just need to go back to their happier times. These past memories are from childhood memories, teenage years, married life, family life and midlife. For seniors, these are valuable, priceless memories that no money can buy.

What better way to improve our little walk down the memory lane than incorporating it with sports that we actually enjoy doing. Considering our age, doing a sport is important to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Of course, healthy and strong means good quality of life for us, right? It is important to be active likewise having fun while at it. Choose a sport that will keep you moving and busy but safe enough to prevent fractures. Meaning, you should not do contact sports anymore unless you want to spend the rest of your life in your bed, unable to move. But of course, there are some few exemptions especially if you are a pro. If it’s the only way to get you moving, then by God, do so!

For seniors, engaging in a sport doesn’t necessarily mean competition. Most of them won’t care if they take home the price or not. From time to time, seniors need to unwind and start anew. This allows them to shut down to the world for a moment and say hello to their own selves. Funny as it may seem, sometimes while trying hard to fit in, we lose ourselves in the process. Sports can save you from drowning in this kind of mud since it releases tension and promotes good camaraderie, companionship and belongingness to other human beings.

Choose your sport. Don’t hesitate to turn your back to something that scares you away. If you don’t feel like doing some exercise with this kind of equipment, there’s a bigger chance that you won’t use this thing anyway so don’t bother. Fishing is a good sport as well as swimming. These sports are kinder to the body and will not put you in too much stress. A mere 30 minutes, 5 times a week is enough for seniors trying to maintain a fairly active life and of course, it will benefit you tremendously in the long run, bills and all.

Exercising can be a bit drag for seniors. It can be boring, too strenuous, task orientated, so on and so forth but as you can see, if you take up a sport you really love, then you eliminate all these daunting feelings and go get moving. This is the magic of sport as oppose to exercising. It is really important to be passionate about the things you do and to the things you keep. Do this with your friends for instant bonding moments. Enjoyable activities should be shared with loved ones. Remember that your body is designed to move and lack of movement will bring disastrous results. Physical limitation is something you should conquer, not the other way around. Consult your doctors for options.

Sports are fun. Try one now!