Senior Health

The Exciting New Cancer Treatment on the Horizon We have no doubt about how remarkable our body’s immune system is in fighting invading bacteria and viruses and restoring us to health after an illness. Even so, the current outcomes from a report by Cardiff University are set to generate a new and unanticipated advancement: stopping cancer in its tracks. Scientists uncovered a particular kind of immune cell, a T-cell, located in our blood, which can scan and destroy threats – including an array of cancer cells: ovarian, cervical, blood, kidney, prostate, lung, colon, and many more. And astonishingly, this new cancer treatment left all normal tissue intact.  The newly uncovered T-cell works with a particular molecule located on the surface of every cell throughout our body, referred to as the MR1 molecule. The theory is that the MR1 is alerting the T-cell of any cancer cell distortions. Garry Dolton, who was part of the research team, explains, “We are the first to describe a T-cell that finds MR1 in cancer cells – that hasn’t…

Dehydration in Seniors Is More Dangerous Than You May Think. Find Tips to Help Here. Do you realize…roughly 50% of all older adults are chronically under-hydrated, based on a recent research study conducted at UCLA? Not only that, but seniors over age 65 represent the highest category of hospital admissions as a result of dehydration.  Dehydration in seniors can sneak up quickly, as older adults frequently have a decreased sensation of thirst, may experience medication side effects that can cause hydration problems, or incorrectly believe that drinking less will lessen incontinence issues. Senior dehydration can be very dangerous, raising the risk for health issues which include: UTIs Kidney stones and/or failure Blood clots Seizures Hypovolemic shock And many more Dehydration is often detected by the following symptoms: Early stages: Reduced amount/darker-colored urine Dry mouth Feelings of weakness, dizziness, and/or tiredness Muscle cramps Irritability Advanced stages: Confusion and disorientation, such as problems with walking Low blood pressure levels and weakened,…

Coping with Dementia Tip: Laugh Your Cares Away! Caring for a person you love who is coping with dementia is certainly nothing to laugh about. Yet research is increasingly pointing towards the benefits of humor, and incorporating it into dementia care could possibly be exactly what the doctor ordered to improve total well-being for your loved one. For example, an Australian research study recently reported that humor therapy can lessen agitation in people who have dementia as thoroughly as antipsychotic medications, with no unintended side effects. Shared laughter connects us, and helps those diagnosed with cognitive difficulties to feel accepted, safe, and at ease. As stated by Lori La Bey, founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, “When anyone is sick or having a hard time, they still like to laugh. I spend a lot of time teaching people that feelings don’t go away, and it’s okay to get back to that zone.” Laughter also produces endorphins, which inhibit stress hormones, and may even improve blood pressure levels and minimize pain for…

What You Need to Know as Your Loved One’s Senior Care Advocate Of all of the many responsibilities a family caregiver encounters, perhaps one of the more overwhelming is managing health issues. The National Council on Aging reports that about three quarters of all older adults are diagnosed with at least two chronic diseases, and are seeing on average four healthcare specialists.  As your loved one’s senior care advocate, it is very important to know how to communicate effectively with those on the senior’s medical team, and also to come to appointments thoroughly prepared to address any and all issues. The following four questions are a great starting point: Are all of the prescription drugs essential? With most seniors taking many medications, you’ll need to maintain a detailed list and review regularly with the doctor along with the pharmacist, both of whom will be able to ensure there aren’t any duplications prescribed by different specialists, or any contraindications between meds.  If prescribing anything new, what side effects might…

Accepting a Chronic Illness Diagnosis Is Not Giving Up In Isaac Asimov’s opinion, “The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.” It is a common belief for lots of family caregivers when their loved one is diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as dementia. Even though this might instill some level of comfort in assuming that life can go forward as it always has, if only we refuse to acknowledge this new reality, the truth, needless to say, is that acknowledgement is essential to obtaining necessary support.   It’s understandable for family members to wish to accomplish everything possible independently to provide the care that a senior needs. Nonetheless, often at the crux of denial are thoughts of guilt, helplessness, and in some cases, incompetence in the ability to “fix things.” But you will find important benefits to be obtained – both for the individual and for his or her family members – by facing the situation head-on, like the chance to savor time together, and to uncover effective ways to take care of…

Windsor-Essex In-Home Care: What We Now Know About Cancer Prevention Each year since 1999, we have achieved a decline in cancer-related deaths, an encouraging trend which is poised to carry on as experts learn more and more about the causes of cancer, cancer prevention and the development of new and better treatment options. Nonetheless, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada – making it important to continue to push forward with persistence to find a cure. Here is what we have observed up to now: Diet makes a difference. Although a diet abundant in antioxidants can help minimize cell damage (and protect against cancer), a recently available research study showed that in some cases, cancers reap the benefits of a nutrient-rich diet, leading to hastened metastasis. As a result, the advice is to avoid antioxidant supplements except when your physician prescribes them. Get your antioxidants from fruits, veggies, and beans instead, as the added molecules in whole food has an impact. On top of that, a connection is suspected between sugary…