Category: Blog

Changes to the skin are simply part of the aging process. However, making sure you take the proper steps to protect your skin from harmful exposure is ultimately up to you.

Guaranteeing quality skin care for seniors can become a stressful battle with wrinkles, age spots, and sun damage. As the warmer summer months are approaching, consider keeping these tips for proper skin care in mind for battling the sun’s harmful rays.

Monitor Changes in Temperature and Weather

Make it a part of your regular routine to check the news in the morning or use a weather app on your phone for monitoring the current conditions outside. Staying aware of the coming weather conditions makes it easier to plan your day. Always try to leave the house prepared!

Dress Accordingly Based on the Forecast

Choose the appropriate attire based on the day’s forecast. If you have to be out in the sun for a considerable amount of time, choose loose-fitting clothes that cover you well. For aging adults with Alzheimer’s, getting dressed properly is an important step in their daily routines. It’s important to not leave that out.

Apply Moisturizers & Sunscreen Regularly

On sunny days, be sure to apply a water-resistant, oil-free sunscreen that is rated SPF 30 or higher. Also, consider leaving a travel size in your purse or car. Use moisturizers after showering or during periods of intense dryness. These may be the result of weather or medications.

Take Advantage of Protective Accessories

There are many accessories that can help seniors battle the sun’s harmful rays. Wear large-brimmed hats to keep the neck and face covered. Also, wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from UV light exposure. If you’re planning on leaving your car parked outside for a significant amount of time, keep it cool by using a reflector in your windshield.

Avoid Tanning and Sunburn

There is really no need for seniors to engage in sun tanning or the use of tanning beds that simulate the sun’s rays. Prolonged exposure to these types of light can increase your risks for dangerous skin conditions and even cancer.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Have you ever felt cold after cooling down from an exhaustive workout? Sweating is your body’s way of keeping your skin cool when it’s hot outside. Proper hydration throughout the day ensures your body has enough fluids to keep you cool when needed.

Seniors who have someone actively monitoring these risk factors and environmental influences can ensure they are getting the quality skin care needed to remain healthy at home. A Place At Home believes that maintaining your senior’s health and wellness through successful at home living is the most important thing we do.

As we age, our bodies change and so does the nature of the medical care required to meet our needs. It is important to understand the difference between the types of treatments available at each stage in our lives. Two types of medical care that are commonly confused are hospice care and palliative care.

While they are both necessary throughout the treatment process of a disease or serious illnesses, the two differ primarily in the timing of their implementations.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care can begin as soon as a patient is diagnosed, and can accompany curative treatment methods that work to eliminate a disease’s symptoms. In contrast, hospice care begins only when a patient’s treatment has unsuccessfully run its course, accompanied by a very short life expectancy and low survival rate.

In general, to palliate means “to make comfortable.” The goal of palliative care is to offer the patient an improved quality of life by targeting the negative side effects of a disease or serious illness, including any physical, emotional, social and spiritual problems.

As Medline Plus states, “a serious illness affects more than just the body. It touches all areas of life, including the family.”

In these situations, communication is key. Be vocal about exactly what is bothering you the most and what you feel is the most important to your process of treatment and recovery. Unlike hospice care, palliative care can be given any time, from the initial diagnosis to right before death. As a result, palliative care measures can be taken within hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, hospices or homes.

What is Hospice Care?

In the event that the disease or illness has taken a turn for the worst, patients are able to refuse the use of any further life-prolonging treatments by entering hospice care. Hospice care offers patients an opportunity to experience the comfort needed to deal with the emotional stress of dying, without the demanding side effects of treatment.

Hospice care is geared towards those with a life expectancy measured in months rather than years. It is no surprise then, that most hospice care patients choose to spend their final moments at home or in a living facility outside of the hospital receiving care. Healthcare organizations and hospitals can offer hospice care within specialized residences, nursing home facilities and even within hospitals themselves.

Getting These Types of Care Covered By Your Insurance Company

In general, both palliative care and hospice care are likely to be covered by your health insurance. Some palliative care treatments and medications may not be covered by Medicare/Medicaid, but hospice care is entirely covered as long as you qualify.

Article Sources:

• What is Palliative Care? – Medline Plus
• Hospice vs. Palliative Care – National Caregivers Library
• Palliative Care – WebMD
  

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Understanding the types of medical care available to you or your loved ones can lessen the level of stress and anxiety that usually accompanies major treatment decisions. At A Place at Home, we can help you navigate the complexity of the health care system to help you identify the best solution.

For most adults, posture is typically an afterthought at both work and home. But as we age, retaining good posture actually becomes even more important to our physical health and wellness.

What Causes Poor Posture for Seniors?

Avoiding a wholly sedentary lifestyle is the key to good posture for people of all ages. However, it is unfortunately common for seniors, especially those with pre-existing health complications like arthritis, to take up inactive lifestyles. This can also lead to poor posture.

Seniors who are recovering from a recent injury or surgical procedure may also encounter similar difficulties staying fit and sitting right. Families and caregivers must encourage their aging loved ones to correct poor posture. Performing a minimum amount of daily exercise to improve balance and muscle strength will help this.

Good Posture Prevents Falls for Seniors

Did you know that seniors who are mindful about their postures are more likely avoid injuries and even falls? According to the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, “when you have good posture, your body will work the way it is supposed to, keeping your muscles balanced.”

When you sit or stand with proper posture, you are doing your body a favor by not overexerting yourself. Overexertion can cause unnecessary strain on weaker muscles. Additionally, being mindful of your posture is great for balance.

Steps for Improving Posture

• Don’t give up; Improving posture can be done with time and focus.
• Discuss your current weight with a doctor or caregiver. The conversation should reveal expectations of an acceptable weight for your age, sex, and body type, as well as a plan for how to stay there.
• Take up a regular schedule of exercise, if you haven’t already. There is evidence that group nature walks can provide mental benefits for seniors, beyond just delivering a dose of physical activity.
• Evaluate the lumbar support of the chairs and other seating options in your home. If necessary, consider purchasing a new chair that encourages better posture.

It is important to correct poor posture as soon as possible to avoid further health complications, like neck and back pain. Keeping our bodies in motion is essential to avoid the consequences of living an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle.

A Place at Home specializes in providing Compassionate Care delivered by Passionate Professionals. Our skilled caregivers advocate for the health and wellness of those who want to remain in the comfort of their own homes.

CPR is a life-saving technique that can be used in a number of emergency situations when an individual’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. It is encouraged that everyone learn basic CPR, however you do not need to take a class in order to administer basic chest compressions in an emergency.

In fact, the American Heart Association recommends performing CPR to the best to your ability before paramedics can arrive on the scene. Simple hands-on CPR (chest compressions) at the rate of about 100 a minute can be enough to save a life before help can arrive.

Assess the Situation in an Emergency

Making decisions during an emergency can be extremely stressful. If you are in the company of a loved one whose breathing or heart beat has stopped, stay calm. Regardless of that person’s age, keep these three tips in mind before administering CPR:

1. Identify if the individual is still conscious or not. Ask “are you OK?” in a loud voice while clapping or tapping the person’s arm.
2. Ask a friend to call 911 while you begin CPR. If you are alone, always call 911 first unless you are dealing with a victim of drowning or suffocation. It is imperative to deliver immediate CPR to someone who is unresponsive because of suffocation.
3. Use an AED if it is available. Follow the instructions on the device to deliver a single shock before starting CPR.

Keep this Acronym in Mind: CAB

Memorize this simple acronym to properly administer CPR. Remember, even if you are not formally trained, you can still administer hands-on CPR in the form of chest compressions.

• C for Compressions. Chest compressions aid with restoring blood circulation after breathing has stopped. These should begin immediately.
• A is for Airway. Clear the airway by tilting the head backwards while lifting the chin forwards as the individual is laying down flat on his or her back. (See photo)
• B is for Breathing. Rescue breathing is the final step in administering CPR and should only be done by those trained to do so. Use only when an injury prevents the airway from opening. If you have reason to believe the person is unconscious from a heart attack, forgo rescue breathing and continue chest compressions until help can arrive. Rescue breaths are administered in cycles in combination with chest compressions. One full cycle: 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths.

Perform up to five cycles before using an AED, if available. If you have access to an AED, administer a single shock, then continue CPR. If no AED is available, continue administering full cycles until help arrives.

A Place at Home specializes in providing Compassionate Care delivered by Passionate Professionals, including urgent care. Our skilled caregivers advocate for the health and wellness of those who want to remain in the comfort of their own homes. Contact us today!

Taking proper care of your heart requires a lifestyle commitment that not everyone is willing to make.

People of all ages can get caught up in bad habits like smoking, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise. Celebrate American Heart Month this February with the American Heart Association by evaluating your focus on heart health.

Live smoke-free

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. Smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year.

The act of smoking is extremely harsh on our hearts and blood vessels. Smoking gives way to increased blood pressure and depleted oxygen levels. In just 20 minutes after that last drag, blood pressure levels and pulse rates begin dropping. After a full year of quitting, a person’s chance of a heart attack is diminished by half. Reducing the risks associated with CVD begins with putting out that last cigarette, for good.

Remember, quitting tobacco products completely is the only working strategy to fully protect your heart from the negative effects of smoking.

Eat Healthy

Did you know that protecting yourself from heart attacks and other heart diseases can begin with a simple change in diet? Diets high in sodium can lead to increases in blood pressure and further complicate symptoms of an existing cardiovascular disease.

Limit consumption of unhealthy, solid fats and cut down on recipes that are high in cholesterol. Substitute plain fruits and vegetables into your shopping list for items that are high in sodium, like instant dinners. Consider buying from local producers to add an extra dash of freshness to your next meal.

Looking for a new culinary direction for your meals? Check out the delicious, heart healthy dishes that are common to the Mediterannaean Diet. Seniors can greatly benefit from the food choices associated with a Mediterranean diet, as well as the cultural emphasis on enjoying meals with friends and family.

Exercise Daily

One of the greatest challenges is pairing a nutritious diet with regular exercise. Older adults, who are at the greatest risk of heart disease, must engage in regular physical activity for lower, safer blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

If you are looking for ways to stay active, don’t underestimate the value of simply going for a walk if the weather is tolerable. Many adults with joint pain and arthritis will turn to yoga or water aerobics as their outlet for physical activity. Water provides a kind of low-impact resistance training capable of targeting your joints and muscles.

As always, family members and caregivers should work to improve mobility and fall prevention by finding exercises that target the skills and abilities that can keep seniors safe during their daily routines.

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A Place at Home provides a range of at home services, as well as R.N. advocacy and care coordination to the aging communities around Omaha and Council Bluffs.

The Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s was developed by Barry Reisberg, M.D.. Reisberg is a clinical director of the New York University of Medicine’s Aging and Dementia Research Center.

These seven stages make up a general guide to show the progression of Alzheimer’s. Each person responds differently to the onset of the disease, therefore making it difficult to place a person within one specific stage. Also, the symptoms may overlap.

Stage 1

First, Alzheimer’s begins before there is any evident impairment or memory problems. Dementia symptoms are not seen at this stage.

Stage 2

Next, the patient may experience mild cognitive decline. This can appear as normal age-related changes in addition to early signs of the disease.

Stage 3

Those around the patient may soon especially begin to notice memory issues. These may include:

• Trouble scheduling plans
• Remembering correct words or names
• Misplacing objects

Stage 4

Moderate cognitive decline and symptoms in line with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis are easily seen at this stage. Some may notice the following:

• Lapse of recent events
• Trouble remembering one’s personal history
• Difficulty doing complex tasks
• Becoming moody or withdrawn, in socially or mentally challenging situations

Stage 5

Soon after, patients may exhibit obvious gaps in memory and thinking. In addition, they may require assistance with some day-to-day activities, including:

• Stating the days of the week
• Recalling basic personal information; addresses and phone numbers
• Choosing proper clothing for the current weather or season

Stage 6

This stage marks the beginning of severe cognitive decline. Patients at this point require a great deal of assistance with daily tasks. Patients may:

• Lose sight of recent experiences and their surroundings
• Tend to wander or become lost
• Trouble remembering personal information
• Not be able to match a name to a familiar face
• Require help in the bathroom
• Have issues with bladder and bowel control

Stage 7

And finally comes the person’s inability to respond to their surroundings or carry on a conversation. In some cases, control of movement and motor functions disappear.

For help caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, contact A Place at Home today.

Article Sources:

• Alzheimer’s Association – The Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s

Finding activities that keep seniors active in their daily lives can be challenging. Recent studies have shown how yoga can be beneficial for both the minds and bodies of aging adults. If you or a loved one are looking for low-impact, low-resistance exercise, consider taking a yoga class or learning the positions at home with a friend or family member.

Build Strength and Improve Balance or Mobility

We all know that falls are the leading cause of injury among aging adults. But did you know that the movements and poses taught in yoga can improve muscle strength and balance over time? Practicing yoga can save seniors from future falls; guaranteeing mobility for years to come.

Minimize hypertension and Protect Your Joints

Yoga is a low-impact exercise that aides with the lubrication of joints that may have become stiffer with age. Regular yoga can slow the onset of painful joint disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. One key element of yoga is breathing. Slow, controlled breathing accompanied by the proper movements and poses can decrease nervous system activity and even tackle high blood pressure rates associated with hypertension.

Sharpens Mind, Reduces Anxiety, Boosts Mood

Focusing on an activity like yoga allows seniors to achieve a certain level of mindfulness in their daily lives. When your mind and body work together to perform a pose, it is common to enter a calming state of relaxation. Take this opportunity to block out negative thoughts and feelings that complicate your ability to focus. You may notice a boosted mood following your workout, and the ability to carry this focus into other activities in your life outside of yoga.

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Do you need a care provider for yourself or a loved one? Here at A Place at Home, we understand the importance of a regular schedule of exercise and offer at home care services that can accommodate your needs.