Senior Health

How Seniors with Chronic Health Conditions Are Being Empowered to Take Control On the subject of chronic health conditions, seniors are the experts, hands down, with nearly 3 out of 4 seniors impacted by several conditions that are ongoing, call for long-term medical attention, and put limitations on activities. With the continuous barrage of bloodwork and other exams, doctors’ appointments and procedures, and medications, managing chronic diseases takes both a physical and emotional toll, and may very quickly become daunting. Dr. Mary Tinetti, chief of geriatrics and internist at Yale School of Medicine, said, “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 we ask people to do, the more overwhelmed they get and the less they are likely to do.”  For these reasons, Dr. Tinetti has established the Patient Priorities Care approach, with the goal to lessen the burden of treatment by…

Providing Senior Care in the Home for a Loved One? Prevent Injuries with These Tips! Even though the ultimate goal is to increase health and safety for the aging adults they love, family caregivers, unfortunately, typically end up diminishing their own health in the process. The truth is, an incredible 94% of caregivers in a recently available study conducted by Ohio State University documented musculoskeletal pain in more than one part of their body – and 66% revealed that this pain is affecting their quality of life. And know that a “family caregiver” can be anyone in the family who helps out another person with daily activities.  At Amy’s Helping Hands, we know firsthand the amount of lifting, bending, and weight-bearing required in satisfying the care needs of a senior loved one, which is why each of our professional caregivers is well-trained in methods that safeguard both themselves as well as the loved one for whom they are providing senior care in the home. Injuries might result from even the most mundane of tasks that require more physical strength than…

Save Your Health! Flu and Pneumonia Tips As we grow older, our immune system naturally weakens, making it particularly important for seniors to take steps to prevent illnesses such as the flu and pneumonia. The tips in our FREE Save Your Health Flu and Pneumonia Tip Sheet can help! Learn prevention tips, signs to watch for that might indicate the flu versus a cold, signs to watch for that might indicate pneumonia and tips on knowing when to call the doctor. To download this helpful resource, simply complete this short form, and you’ll receive instant access to our Save Your Health Flu and Pneumonia Tip Sheet. For additional resources on senior health or to hire a professional in-home companion to help with medication reminders, light housekeeping and homemade, warm meals, contact Amy’s Helping Hands at 519-915-4370.

Windsor-Essex Care Management: How Low Blood Sugar Could Negatively Impact Senior Diabetics. The most up-to-date recommendations from the Endocrine Society about the elderly and diabetes are surprising, to say the least: lower blood sugar isn’t necessarily best. And for people who’ve been keeping a regimen of finger pricks, insulin injections, and careful monitoring of food consumed, this alteration might be rather tough to swallow. Known as de-intensification, geriatricians are now frequently taking the approach with the elderly that the advantages to be acquired by aiming for exact blood sugar control are not outweighing the health risks inherent with the aging process and illness. When A1c and glucose levels are held at really low levels in the elderly, it might possibly lead to a greater occurrence of hypoglycemia.  With as many as one out of three seniors currently diagnosed with diabetes, these new guidelines are positioned to have an astounding effect on the treatment and management of the disease for older adults, requiring a shift in mindset for most.  And not surprisingly,…

Dehydration in Seniors As summer temperatures and humidity soar, warm weather has the ability to increase the risk of dehydration. Not enough fluids can pose a serious health problem for anyone, but older adults are at particular risk. Why Seniors Are at Risk There are a few reasons why older adults are more susceptible to fluid and electrolyte imbalances. With age, our body’s ability to conserve water is reduced. This can make it more difficult to adapt to things like fluctuating temperatures. Additionally, the sense of thirst diminishes with age. By the time someone actually feels thirsty, essential fluids could already be extremely low. Certain medical conditions and medications can affect a senior’s ability to retain fluids. Individuals with dementia may forget to eat and drink, and in more advanced stages may have difficulty swallowing. Drugs like diuretics, antihistamines, laxatives, antipsychotics and corticosteroids can cause frequent urination that depletes water and electrolytes. Furthermore,…

The Information You Need to Know Before a Senior’s Next Doctor Visit On any given day, a doctor typically has about 20 patients to see – in addition to phone calls, paperwork, and other administrative duties. It leaves precious little time spent with each individual, which is why it’s crucial to maximize that time and ensure you clearly understand the outcome of each visit. At Amy’s Helping Hands, our care professionals provide transportation and accompaniment for seniors to medical appointments, and suggest the following strategy: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. With such a time crunch, your doctor may tend to relay information to you quickly, and it’s up to you to hit the pause button to make sure you clearly understand everything that’s being said and to speak up with any questions you may have, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant you may think they are. And, plan ahead for those questions. It can be hard to process everything being shared with you in the few minutes spent with the doctor. Preparing a list of questions in advance…