‘Tis the Season……. Are You Ready?
Yes, it’s here! As if you haven’t already read in the newspaper or heard on the news, or if you are relatively new to the area, the 2022 hurricane season began June 1st. And it runs all the way through the end of November! NOW is the time to prepare! These storms, often spawning tornadoes, flooding, power outages and the like are especially menacing for the senior who lives alone and cannot summon immediate help! Remember the anxiety we all felt during prior hurricanes like Irma, Charley, Frances
Our Brains Need Exercise, Too
Most people notice changes in their thinking and memory as they grow older. Neurologists tell us that although a certain percentage of older adults develop Alzheimer’s disease or other type of dementia, most memory changes are age related and normal.Staying physically active benefits every organ in our bodies—and that includes the brain. But did you know that we also need to give our brains a good mental workout?It was once thought that genes were the top factor for aging brain health. But associate
Living at Home With Parkinson’s Disease
Each year more than 60,000 people in the U.S. find out they have Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrollable body movements, muscle stiffness and balance problems. Speech may slow and expressionless, with personality changes common. Parkinson’s is diagnosed based on the person’s health history and a physical examination. Blood tests and other laboratory tests are only useful to rule out other conditions. The National Institutes of Health reports that diagnosis is
Respiratory Infections in Older Adults
Most people are aware of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on older adults. While people of every age have been affected by the virus, statistics show that 75% of deaths have occurred in people aged 65 and older. This is a typical pattern with almost all respiratory infections. Among younger people, most respiratory infections cause mild illness that might cause a person to spend a few uncomfortable days and miss a few days of work or school. But the symptoms can be more serious, even life
Loneliness Among Older Adults is a Serious Health Risk
When the pandemic began, visits to senior living facilities were curtailed. Seniors living at home were advised to shelter in place. Many in-person support services were suspended. While the nation pivoted to online communications, many older people have been unable to access these technologies. The media has often reported on the resulting sense of isolation experienced by seniors. But loneliness among older adults is not a recent problem. During the past decade, numerous studies have revealed that an
Help Older Loved Ones Overcome Challenges to Eating Well
Eating a nutritious diet can add more years to our life, and improve the quality of those years. A diet that is rich in nutrients, and low in unhealthy ingredients such as bad fats and added sugar and salt, lowers the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, frailty, vision loss, and even Alzheimer's disease. It also helps seniors maintain a healthy weight. But as we grow older, we can face barriers to good nutrition. Here are five common challenges and how family can work with older
When Spouses Face Health Challenges
For married couples, or those in a committed relationship, health is an intricate connection. Both partners influence each other’s diet, exercise, stress level and compliance with health care recommendations. Spouses even influence each other’s attitudes about aging, which can have an impact through the years. When one spouse experiences health challenges, the support of the other spouse can make allthe difference in their well-being. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recently reported that
Coping With a Life-Changing Diagnosis
An older adult notices symptoms that suggest a health problem. Their doctor performs an examination and some tests, and arrives at a diagnosis. It might be cancer or another life- limiting illness. It might be a health condition that will surely change the patient’s life, such as dementia, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease or a progressive vision loss. What’s next? Experts say steps the patient and family take now can affect their well-being as they move forward. Emotional Tasks After
Older Feet Need Special Care
Right at Home of Longwood/Lake Mary is your locally owned in-home senior care provider serving the areas of Altamonte Springs, Heathrow, Longwood, Lake Mary in Seminole County, Eatonville, Fern Park and Maitland in Orange county. Our mission is to provide safe, compassionate in-home care for seniors who need assistance with maintaining their current lifestyle in their own home, wherever home is. An engineering team hardly could have come up with a structure more complicated than the human foot. Our bodies
‘Tis the Season……. Are You Ready?
Yes, it’s here. As if you haven’t already read in the newspaper or heard on the news, the 2021 hurricane season began June 1st. And it runs all the way through the end of November! NOW is the time to prepare! These storms, often spawning tornadoes, flooding, power outages and the like are especially menacing for the senior who lives alone and cannot summon immediate help! Remember the anxiety we all felt during prior hurricanes like Irma, Charley, Frances and Jean several years ago? It’s
Addressing Later-Life Sleep Problems
Some changes in our sleep patterns are perfectly normal as we grow older. Older adults tend to go to sleep earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. Research shows that older adults may need a little less sleep than they did in younger years. This is good to know, because, ironically, worrying about our sleep can actually make it harder to sleep! But not all sleep changes seniors experience are normal. Incontinence, pain from arthritis or osteoporosis, digestive problems, and the
