Health

Our eyes are our windows to the world, but we often don’t see just how vital our vision is until it becomes compromised. Diabetes can affect almost all parts of the body, quite literally from head to toe, and diabetics are at an increased risk for both blindness and other minor vision impairments.

If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, keep an eye out for these top eye conditions that may affect diabetics, according to the American Diabetes Association:

Glaucoma: Since diabetics are at a 40% higher risk of contracting glaucoma, it’s imperative to be screened regularly. The risk also increases with age and with the length of time a person has had diabetes. There are medications available to reduce pressure in the eye, and surgical options as well.
Cataracts: As with glaucoma, the risk of cataracts is more common … Read More »

“No cake for you!” “You shouldn’t eat that bread either.” As the number of cases of diabetes in America continues to rise, so, sadly do the myths that surround the disease. For years, there have been many common misconceptions about diabetes, but the California senior care experts at Hired Hands Homecare want to help set the record straight. We’ve compiled a list of some common diabetes myths and the facts that go with them to help you make more informed choices about diabetes care.

Myth: Diabetes isn’t that serious.

Fact: Diabetes is a serious disease. Diabetes causes more deaths per year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. People with diabetes can often live relatively normal lives, but they must adhere to their doctors’ prescribed treatment for the disease which … Read More »

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes or simply high blood pressure, chances are your doctor has advised you to take weekly or daily blood pressure readings with a home blood pressure monitor. But how do we know these readings are accurate? And furthermore, what do those two numbers even mean?

For a quick definition, Harvard Health explains that the top number (systolic pressure) measures artery pressure at the instant the heart beats (when the heart contracts), while the bottom number (diastolic pressure) tracks the pressure between heartbeats (when the heart is resting). They also share the latest normal and high blood pressure guidelines from the Journal of the American Medical Association:

Among adults age 60 and older with high blood pressure, aim for a target blood pressure under 150/90
Among adults age 30 to 59 with high blood pressure, … Read More »

Nearly half of all Americans have one of the three key risk factors of heart disease: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking. Too many people make poor lifestyle choices every day that negatively affect their heart. Poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, and physical inactivity are just a few things that can do permanent damage. It’s easy to forget to implement the basic ways to take care of our hearts, but it’s one of the most important things to remember. Go back to the basics and protect your heart with these tips provided by Hired Hands Homecare.

Avoid tobacco: If you smoke; quit. If someone in the household smokes, he or she should be encouraged to quit. It’s tough, but it’s tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease.

Be more active: Be … Read More »

We all know the story about the ugly duckling who turned out to be a beautiful swan. The obvious moral of that story is that some things, upon first glance, are not what they appear to be. It is with that story in mind that Hired Hands Homecare invites you to celebrate Women’s Heart Health Month with the “IF She Were a SWAN…” Challenge.

As with men, a woman’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain. But while some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most of them actually start slowly with mild discomfort. The National Institutes of Health notes that women often experience physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing the actual heart attack. Additionally, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience and report some of the other less predictable symptoms. Use the … Read More »

When a loved-one experiences a heart attack or stroke, it seems logical to focus on a laundry list of steps that can be taken to ensure that the damaged heart heals and the person’s lifestyle choices that contributed to the heart attack are changed. Hired Hands Homecare receives calls from families throughout California, from Marin to Sonoma, requesting, as part of their in-home care, lists of actionable items – to-do lists for care and heart health. In a situation fraught with chaos, lists give caregivers a sense of control. They are the instruction manual for the caregivers’ new reality, helping them know what they should do to encourage healing and keep another heart attack from happening.

That information is available, and when combined with Hired Hands’ in-home care services, makes a tremendous difference in a patient’s outcome. However, there is another … Read More »

Vitamins and minerals are a vital aspect of health for people of all ages. However, as we’ve noted in previous blog posts, nutrition needs change as we age, and it’s important for seniors to talk with their doctors to ensure that their particular nutritional needs are being met.

The National Institute on Aging highlights the following vitamins and minerals as being crucial for seniors in the right quantities:

Vitamin D: For those over age 70, a level of between 800 and 4,000 IU is recommended (up from the 600 – 4,000 IU recommended for ages 50 – 70). Good sources for vitamin D include milk, fish, fish oil and some cereals.
Vitamin B6: Found in liver and other organ meats, whole grains, and some cereals, women need 1.5 mg each day, while the need increases for men to 1.7 mg.
Vitamin B12: For those … Read More »

While many of us struggle with how to eat less and lose weight, many older adults have the opposite problem. Age-related issues can make it difficult for seniors to eat enough to maintain proper health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides some solutions to help seniors overcome common eating problems, such as:

Chewing problems: For seniors who cannot chew food well, meats and fresh fruits and vegetables can be a problem. The FDA suggests the following substitutions:

Instead of fresh fruit, try fruit juice, apple sauce, or canned peaches and pears.
Instead of raw vegetables, try vegetable juices or mashed and cooked vegetables.
Instead of large pieces of meat, try ground meat, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products.
Instead of sliced bread, try cooked cereals, rice, bread pudding and soft cookies.

Upset stomach: Too much gas and other stomach problems may cause people … Read More »

In our previous blog post, we talked about how the new MyPlate for Older Adults nutritional model reflects the dietary needs of today’s seniors. MyPlate for Older Adults provides guidance on the types of foods that could provide nutritional benefits to adults 65 and over, but it’s also important for seniors to find a balance of meeting the same nutrient needs as when they were younger, yet consume fewer calories. The following are some tips to help seniors meet their nutrient needs, while staying within their caloric limits:

Drink low-fat milk: Low-fat milk is more nutrient-dense than higher fat milk. Its nutrient content is the same, but it has fewer calories because it has less fat.
Get steamy: Steaming is the best way to cook vegetables because it preserves nutrients. Boiling leaches nutrients from vegetables, but the leftover cooking water can be … Read More »

Everyone knows that a healthy diet is essential for a healthy body. What many people don’t realize however is that, as you age, your dietary needs change.  Researchers at Tufts University have developed the MyPlate formula, an upgrade on the old food pyramid, which provides updated and improved nutrition advice for people age 65 and over.

The MyPlate for Older Adults model emphasizes the importance of foods that are high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat, salt and sugar; however, it also includes guidance regarding recommended regular physical activities and fluid intake, components that are of particular concern for older adults.

Due to decreased activity, older adults tend to need fewer calories as they age, but their bodies still require the same or higher levels of nutrients and regular activity for optimal health. MyPlate for Older Adults recommends focusing nutrition … Read More »