Household Aids to Help Keep Seniors Safe at Home

More and more seniors are opting to grow old in their own homes so it is important that the house is equipped with the tools they require to help keep them safe and provide peace of mind.  Many companies offer a line of ADL's (Activities of Daily Living) products designed to aid seniors’ mobility and maintain independence and accessibility throughout the home. 

 

If you or a loved one requires assistance to move safely in the home, you will want to go through room by room to determine what type of ADL household aids would be the most useful.  Common places where seniors can benefit from adaptive aids are in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.  One potentially dangerous problem for a senior is falling out of bed as well as safely getting in and out of bed.  Bed rails are a simple and relatively inexpensive solution to help keep seniors safely in bed and can offer the assistance they need getting in and out.  They are available in a variety of configurations and sizes to fit most beds.

Other important, life-saving home aids are fall and wandering alarms.  Available in a variety of models, the most sophisticated ones contain features that transmit both visual and audio alarm notifications in the event of an emergency. 

No matter what age, the bathroom can be the site of many accidents and to help address some of the dangers for the elderly, there are a whole host of products designed to offer assistance.  Easy to add ADL aids include grab bars, grip mats, shower and bath seats, and raised toilet seats.  There are even bath rails available that can be easily installed or removed without requiring any tools.     

At Austin’s SYNERGY HomeCare, our mission is to provide seniors compassionate and respectful non-medical care to help them maintain their independence and privacy in the comfort of their own home.  We will work closely with your family to ensure your loved one’s needs are met and to provide you with the peace of mind knowing you are getting the best home care services available.

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most respected agencies in the Greater Austin area for non-medical home care.  Our affordable, compassionate and services provide families with everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us to discuss our range of options for providing your family peace of mind with the best Austin area home care services.    

Source: agingcare.com/Products

Seniors Need to Protect Their Eyesight

There are steps we can take to ensure we protect our eyesight as we age.  One of the most important things we need to do is to have our eyes examined annually by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.  For those over the age of 65, it should also include a yearly dilated eye exam.  Also for anyone suffering from diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, eye care is critical as these diseases can lead to serious eye problems. 

Anyone can suffer from eye problems but it is typically more common for older adults to experience vision problems.  Keep in mind that while many eye problems can be treated easily, sometimes they can be a sign of more serious diseases.   

One of the most common changes to our vision affecting seniors is the condition known as Presbyopia.  This is where we lose the ability to clearly see close objects and small print.  Presbyopia is a normal aging process and can be corrected with reading glasses.

Another problem often reported by seniors are tiny specks or spots often called “floaters” that appear to float across your field of vision.   Although these can be normal for anyone with aging eyes, they can also be a sign of more serious eye problems such as retinal detachment.  It is important to have it checked out by your eye doctor.  

Many seniors experience dry, uncomfortable eyes that can cause itching, burning and sometimes even loss of vision.  The Cleveland Clinic advises that your doctor “may suggest using a humidifier in your home, nutritional supplements, such as flaxseed oil, medications to reduce inflammation as a cause, or special eye drops that simulate real tears.”   On the other side of too dry eyes, many elderly adults suffer from too many tears.  This can occur from a sensitivity to light, wind or temperature changes.  Protecting your eyes by wearing sunglasses can sometimes help but check with your doctor to make sure it is not a more serious problem such as a blocked tear duct or an infection.  

Other more serious eye diseases include cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders.  Cataracts form over time and if they start to affect your eyesight can generally be removed by surgery.  Glaucoma and retinal disorders are very serious and need to be treated as early as possible in order to protect your vision. 

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the San Antonio area’s most trusted agencies for non-medical home care.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from short term wellness visits to live-in care.  Please contactus to discuss the range of services we can provide for you or your loved one. 

Sources:my.clevelandclinic.org/services/cole-eye/diseases-conditions/hic-vision-problems-in-aging-adults, nia.nih.gov/health/publication/aging-and-your-eyes,

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/basics/definition/con-20015113

The National Institute on Aging’s Report on Aging

As one of the world’s most comprehensive and longest running longitudinal examination of human aging, the National Institute on Aging’s Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) celebrated its 50^th year in 2008.  Right from its inception, the study’s primary purpose was to thoroughly examine the question of what it means to age normally, and thus far, two major conclusions have emerged. 

The first thing the study has taught us is that “normal aging can be distinguished from disease.”  While we know that our bodies change as we age, these changes do not necessarily lead to disease such as diabetes, hypertension or dementia.  Rather many of the diseases the elderly suffer from are “a result of disease processes, not normal aging.”

The second important finding from the 50-year long BLSA study is that there is not a single, chronological timetable for human aging, but instead we all age as individuals.  Just as children do not go through the various development stages at an exact time, the same is true for older people.  The research indicates that genetics, lifestyle, and disease processes are all a part of what affects the rate of aging for an individual. 

As the BLSA study has progressed and we learn more and more about the basic concepts of aging, researchers are looking at other common health issues such as “obesity, loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia), disability, and cognitive disorders.”  One fascinating study from BLSA looked at cognitive changes in the brain and how visual memory and mental skills were related to structural changes in the brain.  Participants underwent brain scans over a 9-year period and the results showed that even healthy older adults lost a significant amount of brain volume in the normal aging process.  Check out the National Institute on Aging’s website to learn more about the study. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most trusted agencies for non-medical home care in the Greater Austin area.  We provide families with affordable, reliable and compassionate services that include everything from live-in care to short term wellness visits.  Please contact us so we can offer your family peace of mind knowing you are getting the best professional home care available in Austin.

Source:nia.nih.gov/health/publication/healthy-aging-lessons-baltimore-longitudinal-study-aging/introduction

Your Memory Loss May Just Be a Lack of Sleep

Seniors should be aware of the fact that memory loss, especially during stressful situations, is not always a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.  In a recently published report from Uppsala University of Sweden, sleep researchers Jonathan Cedernaes and Christian Benedict proved that something as simple as not getting enough sleep can affect long-term memory. 

As we already know that short-term memories are transferred to our long-term memories when sleeping, the researchers set out to discover what role sleep plays in memory retention when someone is subjected to acute cognitive stress.  In the study two groups of participants were taught a series of paired card locations on a computer screen.  The next day, the participants with only 4 hours of sleep had a 10 percent decrease in retaining the learned information while exposed to loud noises.  On the other hand, the group who got a full night’s sleep experienced no memory loss of the learned pairing even when exposed to stressful conditions. 

The researchers explained that while “losing half a night of sleep may not impair memory functions under baseline conditions, the addition of acute cognitive stress may be enough to lead to significant impairments, which can possibly be detrimental in real-world scenarios.”   Furthermore, Cedernaes added that, "An important next step will be to investigate how chronic sleep loss and or more chronic stress may interact to impair the ability to retrieve memories that are consolidated during sleep.”   

In another study from Uppsala University, the same group of researchers discovered that elderly men with a history of sleep problems appear to have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.  Their findings suggest that “strategies aimed at improving sleep quality in late life may help reduce the risk to develop Alzheimer's disease." They also note the importance of following a healthy lifestyle such as a good diet and exercise. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is one of the most respected agencies in Central Texas for non-medical home care.  With three offices located in the greater Austin area, we provide senior care, recovery assistance and respite for family caregivers as well as assist clients dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, Parkinson’s and more. Please contact us to discuss our range of options for providing your family peace of mind with professional home health care.

Sources:uu.se/en/media/press-releases/pressrelease/?id=2778&area=3,8&typ=pm&lang=en

seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2014/20141028_Elderly-Men-Reporting-Sleep-Problems-at-Higher-Risk-for-Alzheimers-Disease.htm    

CDC’s Latest Information for the Upcoming Flu Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted their latest recommendations and information regarding the upcoming flu season.  In the United States, the flu season typically starts in October and may last into May, while the peak season is from December through February. 

The CDC’s current recommendations are for everyone from 6 months of age and older to get an annual flu shot starting as soon as the flu shot becomes available, usually in early September or October.  They state that since it takes about two weeks for the antibodies to develop, this helps to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before the season gets underway.  Although they also say that it is never too late to get vaccinated.  

While everyone can benefit from getting a flu shot, it is especially important for anyone with a comprised immune system and women who are pregnant, the elderly and children 6 months or older with chronic medical conditions.  This group is at a higher risk of developing life threatening complications from the flu. 

For those at risk of developing serious complications, the CDC’s advice is to treat patients with antiviral drugs.  “Studies show that prompt treatment with antiviral drugs can prevent serious flu complications.” They add that receiving prompt treatment can make a difference between someone experiencing a mild illness as opposed to suffering from a very serious illness that may require a hospital stay.

Flu shots are widely available through doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers.   In addition many employers and schools offer flu shots.  The CDC suggests several other steps we can all take to help reduce the spread of the flu such as when we are sick to stay home.  In addition everyone should frequently wash their hands and avoid being around sick people. 

**This blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Always consult your health care provider regarding all medical decisions. **

 
As one of the most respected agencies for home care in the Greater San Antonio area, SYNERGY HomeCare offers families affordable and compassionate services for all ages, from expectant mothers to seniors.  We work with you to create a customized CarePlan for in home care for yourself or a loved one.  Contact us for a complementary home visit to discuss the ways we can provide your family with the best professional care.     

Source: cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2015-2016.htm