The positive factors of remaining physically active are extensive and apply to everyone, young and old alike. Very often when we hear professionals make suggestions for people to become more physically active, we incorrectly think that they are encouraging us to become athletes, runners, or body builders. We may also erroneously think that we need to hire a personal trainer, join a gym, or sign up for a 5K. Instead, what experts are motivating people to do is really quite simple – get your body in action and keep it moving as much as you can. This applies to seniors and exercise just as much as it is to their younger counterparts. As a matter of fact, seniors may even benefit more than younger adults from staying active.

If you think about it, moving can consist of a very wide range … Read More »

It’s no problem at all for us to get plenty of exercise while we’re young; physical activity is just a natural part of our hectic, daily lives. As we grow older, however, it’s not uncommon for the pace of life to slow down, sometimes quite dramatically; and there are many people who assume that with aging comes a reduced need for physical activity, or maybe even that exercise for seniors could be dangerous.

The good news, however, is that these assumptions are completely false. Studies have shown that routine exercise for seniors offers both physical and psychological benefits in older adults, and that even just a small amount of exercise can go a long way. The Office of Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shares that an exercise plan can:

Lower the level of disability in older adults
Improve … Read More »

The benefits of exercise don’t diminish as we age, and it’s incredibly important for older adults to maintain as active a lifestyle as possible. Even those who are bedridden or wheelchair-bound have a full range of options available to strengthen, improve resistance and flexibility.

The first step is always to check with the physician to get a recommendation on the best exercises for seniors that fit with your loved one’s activity level and medical history. Initially, exercising even for as little as a few minutes a day, repeated several times throughout the day, can greatly enhance the senior’s health and wellbeing.

Following are several examples of the best exercises for seniors:

Aerobic Exercises: If whole body movements aren’t possible, exercises from a seated position are available to build cardio strength. When possible, good options include:

Swimming or water aerobics
Dancing
Walking
Tai Chi
Bowling

Resistance Exercises: To build and … Read More »

It’s not an aspect of elderly personal care that’s as commonly discussed as other tasks, but is crucial to keeping seniors healthy nonetheless. Aging skin care issues can cause a wide variety of distress for seniors, including discomfort, bruising, dryness, itching, and more.

The home care professionals at Hired Hands Homecare work hard to keep older adults safe and healthy from head to toe, and that includes healthy skin. We’ve outlined below some of the more common skin difficulties in aging, and some suggestions to help.

Dryness

According to Medscape, an overwhelming majority of adults over age 65 are troubled by dry, flaky, itchy skin, which results from a reduction in sweat and oil glands.

How to help:

The senior should take less frequent showers or baths, using warm (not hot) water, gently dry the skin, and apply moisturizer
See if “dry bath” products work … Read More »

While the holiday season is usually thought of as a joyous time, full of visiting loved ones and buying gifts, it’s important to remember that holidays for seniors can be anything but merry and bright. A combination of lost loved ones, memories of holidays past, health problems and more can impact seniors with feelings of loneliness and sadness.

At Hired Hands Homecare, we care deeply about helping seniors feel included in the festivities and to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest. These tips can help the whole family experience the joy and wonder of the holiday season together:

Create a cookbook with recipes from all family members. Compile all the recipes, and then make copies of your new “family cookbook.”
Take a drive to look at holiday lights. Perhaps you can visit an old neighborhood that your senior family member has memories … Read More »

When it comes to odd disease names, the shingles virus tops the list. The name of the disease might cause you to picture someone with rows and rows of roofing materials layered over his skin. In actuality, shingles, also known as the herpes zoster virus, is a very painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox in younger people. If you’ve ever had the chickenpox, unfortunately you are now at risk for also contracting shingles. Shingles risk increases with age, with a full one-half of adults contracting the shingles virus by the age of 80.

To see what the shingles virus really looks like, take a look at this page of photos from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. It is estimated that there are a million instances of shingles diagnosed in the U.S. each year. For that … Read More »

As summer winds down, parents are busy shopping for school supplies, checking last year’s clothing to see what still fits, scheduling appointments for physical and dental exams, and more often than not, subjecting their children to vaccinations. But fall isn’t just the time for school kids to roll up their sleeves for the dreaded shots. This time of year, even adults should get in on the act, including seniors over age 60.

According to this report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults over the age of 60 should be up to date on the following vaccinations; and if your senior loved one needs a booster, our California senior care services can help!

Influenza – every year
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis – every ten years
Varicella (chickenpox) – two doses throughout one’s life
Herpes zoster (shingles) – one dose after the age of 60
Pneumococcal (PPSV23) … Read More »

Technology is amazing, and it’s not just for the younger generation to enjoy! Homebound seniors, in particular, can benefit from the social connections available through technology to allow them to remain actively involved in the world around them. Studies have shown that remaining social benefits our health in a plethora of ways: from reducing our risk of disability, to protecting the brain from mental decline, and even lowering pain and our likelihood of becoming depressed.

Hired Hands Homecare Santa Rosa is pleased to offer the following five ideas to help jumpstart your senior loved ones’ enjoyment of technology:

Social Media: Older adults age 74 and above are the fastest growing demographic among social networks, according to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Social media offers older adults and their families an easy way to check in with each other, … Read More »