Senior workouts may be even more beneficial than medication.

If you made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more this year, hopefully you’re continuing to stick with it! As it turns out, adding more physical activity to your daily routine is one resolution we should all be keeping – and this is even more important for older adults, many of whom take multiple medications for a variety of conditions.

Research is showing that, surprisingly, doctor-approved senior workouts can be as effective as many typically-prescribed medications in treating or preventing some of the leading causes of death. In the study, scientists compared how effective various medications and exercise routines were in reducing deaths among those who had been diagnosed with several common and serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. The results consistently indicated that both … Read More »

Be sure to include laughter in your program of exercises for seniors.

Have you ever found yourself in the awkward situation where you’re about to bubble over with uncontrollable laughter, usually at the most inappropriate moment – standing in a crowded elevator, sitting in a quiet waiting room, or in the middle of a religious service? While there are, naturally, times when we should suppress the silliness, author Jane Heller explains that, “Humor can keep us balanced, even in the grimmest of times. It reminds us that despite illness and disability, there are moments of real joy in life and we need to embrace them.”

The health benefits of laughter are simply incredible, including:

Releasing endorphins
Strengthening brain connectivity
Providing a social boost
Relieving pain
Enhancing the immune system
Improving mood
And many more

When putting together a plan of senior exercise, be sure to … Read More »

Seniors and technology are the perfect match when facing these issues.

Whether you are looking to tune a guitar, study a new language, or just add cats’ ears to a selfie, there is an app for that! And when it comes to seniors and technology, specifically when older adults choose to age in place at home, high-tech tools are often an extremely important component in increasing safety, comfort, and overall quality of life.

Take Amazon’s Alexa, as an example. Whereas its current benefits for seniors are numerous, such as the ability to track sugar levels, make doctor appointments, and research information related to a specific health issue, it’s actually poised to dig even further into the medical care arena – possibly even detecting heart attacks and helping doctors obtain precise diagnoses.

Here are a few additional technology … Read More »

While we may envision a Norman Rockwell-worthy Thanksgiving celebration, with the whole family enjoying quality time together and Grandma’s traditional feast, the reality for many families includes something unexpected: a hospital visit. In fact, statistics show that E/R visits for the elderly jump an astounding 10 – 20% during the holidays. What can you do to avoid a hospital visit this holiday season?

While pinpointing the exact reasoning behind this increase is difficult, it stands to reason that one factor could be family members who haven’t spent time with an elderly relative in the months prior to the holiday season, only to discover then that his or her condition has deteriorated.

Dr. Tamara Kuittinen of Lenox Hill Hospital explains, “It’s an issue of out of sight, out of mind for many people. If you haven’t seen your mom … Read More »

Setting medical care goals is beneficial when facing chronic conditions.

When it comes to chronic diseases, the elderly are usually the experts, hands down, with as many as three out of four older persons impacted by several conditions that are ongoing, necessitate extensive medical treatment, and put limits on activities. With the continuous barrage of bloodwork as well as other tests, doctors’ appointments and procedures, and medications, managing chronic conditions usually takes both a physical and emotional toll, and may very quickly become overwhelming.

Dr. Mary Tinetti, chief of geriatrics and internist at Yale School of Medicine, states, “Once you get three, four, or five and six diseases, several things happen: Number one, almost guaranteed, trying to get one of these diseases under control is going to make one of the other diseases worse. Number two: The more … Read More »

Facing a chronic disease diagnosis head-on does not mean giving up.

In Isaac Asimov’s opinion, “The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.” It’s a standard feeling for many family caregivers when their loved one is faced with a chronic disease diagnosis, such as dementia. Even though this can instill some measure of comfort in thinking that life can carry on like it always has, if only we don’t acknowledge this new reality, the truth is that acknowledgement is extremely important in order to get the necessary support.

It is understandable for a family member to wish to deliver all of the care a senior loved one needs. Nevertheless, frequently in the crux of denial are feelings of guilt, helplessness, and in some cases incompetence in the ability to “fix things.” And you will … Read More »

Learn why dementia care at home may be best from the senior living team at Hired Hands Homecare.

Although an incredible number of older adults are dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, an even greater number of family members are trying to cope with caring for them. Incredibly, nearly 75% of family caregivers are managing their older loved ones’ dementia care needs by themselves, with only 26% seeking professional care services.

Of course, families want to do all they possibly can to satisfy their loved ones’ needs, but dementia caregiving can lead to an extremely high level of both mental and physical stress. This takes a toll on the caregivers’ own overall health over time, particularly once the disease progresses. And some family members think there is an all-or-nothing strategy: either manage their loved one’s needs at … Read More »

Learn why giving up the car keys can lead to social and physical decline.

It’s one of the most difficult decisions we face as we grow older, and a highly sensitive issue for adult children to broach with their senior parents: unsafe driving, and the need to explore giving up the car keys. Driving a car, while offering a great sense of freedom and independence, can become risky due to a number of variables. And giving up that independence in order to remain safe can feel defeating.

On the other side of the equation, we need to take into account the latest research findings that show that giving up driving can lead to both mental and physical decline. Giving up driving, can lead to health decline through isolation, despondency, and reduced physical activity.

The study, as shared in … Read More »

Ensure senior safety by learning about these 3 types of elder abuse.

Even though abusing an older adult is something that would never cross the mind of most people, it’s a tragically frequent situation in the U.S. Elder abuse can arise in many variations, from physical to emotional, and it impacts the most frail and vulnerable among us.

Given that elder abuse is in many cases a voiceless problem, it’s imperative for families and friends of seniors to be familiar with the symptoms and signs of elder abuse to protect older loved ones. Our home care team have gathered together several of the warning signs that may suggest elder abuse.

Physical Abuse:

Evidence of injury such as bruises, scars, or welts, especially if they are noted symmetrically on both sides of the body
Sprains or broken bones
Drug overdoses or regularly missed medications
Cracked or … Read More »

For seniors who struggle with sleep problems, these tips can help.

A restful night’s sleep isn’t easy for many seniors – and for those who provide care for them. When the sun goes down, seniors can find it is a challenge to relax and fall asleep, or to remain asleep through the duration of the night. Sleepless nights then lead to sluggish days that can do more than just make someone feel sleepy. In fact, a chronic lack of sleep can impact a person’s overall health, making good sleep on a regular basis vitally important.

Taking steps to proactively prepare for a restful night’s sleep can help older adults and their caregivers get the sleep they need now to prevent health problems in the future. Try taking the steps below to improve sleep patterns:

Get regular exercise: Exercising several hours before … Read More »