Seniors Feeling More Confident about Their Looks

In today's world, we're surrounded by "the beautiful people" at every turn: TV shows and endless infomercials telling us how we can "improve" our faces and lose those love handles with the latest and greatest diet, and magazines with every other page featuring a digitally-altered model with a caption telling us why we need to look just like them.  Although we can all have moments of self-doubt, today it's even more understandable than ever for feelings of self-consciousness to surface, considering what's going on in the world around us.  But don't fret.  It doesn't have to be that way; in fact, research shows that the older we get, the better we feel about ourselves.

According to a Gallup survey of 85,000 people, here's what they found out from respondents aged 65 and older:

• 66% responded that they were happy with their appearance
• 64% of males who responded are happy with their looks, while 60% of women have the same feeling

The numbers above are the highest of any age group in this survey: in the 35 to 64 age range, only 54 percent were happy with their looks, and 61 percent in the 18-34 age group.  There are a few reasons why seniors may feel more confident in their appearance:

• Many seniors may be more relaxed in all aspects of their lives---this feeling can also carry over into how they feel about themselves and how they look.  For example, although they still want to look good, the sometimes unseen pressure of keeping up with the latest fashion trends is not the same as when they were younger.
• According to the American Senior Fitness Association, the overall number of seniors who exercise has increased over the years.  Exercise not only builds strength and stamina, but also builds confidence, both inside and out.
• The Gallup organization also surmised that another major reason for confidence expressed by seniors is that as we grow older, the expectations from society changes, leading seniors to feel better about their appearance.

To sum it up, when it comes to our appearance, confidence really does increase with age.  If you are exploring home care options, assisted living placement or in-home care for a loved one, contact us for a selection of options that may be right for you.

Seniors Can Be Athletes or At Least Active Regularly

We all know the adage, "You're only as old as you feel."  For owners of a non-medical home care business, you know how this applies to your clients. Some are active and able to garden and to participate in sports activities. Others are fairly sedentary and inactive.  Fun does not have to stop because one's age reaches a certain number. There are plenty of great examples of seniors still achieving amazing sports goals.

Seniors Who Are Star Athletes

In June, at the age of 91, Harriet Thompson ran the fastest marathon time (90-94 year old group) in U. S. history in her fifteenth running of the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.  Illinois Wesleyan University professor D. Paul Miller was the oldest cyclist in the 19-sport competition of the 2013 National Senior Games. He was 96 years old at the time.

Seniors also participate in extreme sports. There is a club named Skydivers Over Sixty that jumps in large and intricate formations for fun and entertainment. Other extreme sports with senior participants include:

• Snowboarding
• Mountain climbing
• Waterskiing
• Parasailing

Activities for Seniors that have Specific Health Benefits

Encouraging seniors to become "athletic" does not require inborn natural talent or joining a professional team. It means trying an activity to see if they might enjoy it.  Many physical activities have the added benefit of increasing blood flow to the brain, which helps improve memory in older people. Senior care givers can start by encouraging their clients who have video games such as the Wii to try some of the bowling games or others with physical movements to get the client up and moving around.

Studies have shown that participation in Martial Arts can decrease falls in seniors. The low-impact exercises increase balance and flexibility (which decrease with age) and learning falling techniques has helped prevent some broken hips. Tai Chi increases muscle agility and increases coordination. It also increases core strength, all of which fight against depression, arthritis and slow blood circulation in older people.

Aerobic exercises have been established to improve the blood's circulation and oxygenation. Current research also indicates it may slow aging, improve memory and provide a higher blood flow to the brain, including the hippocampus, which affects the development of Alzheimer's.  Several gyms, recreation departments and other community resources offer Martial Arts classes especially for older adults and seniors. Research what is available in your community so you can pass this information along to your clients.

Laughter Can Help Improve the Memories of Seniors

Laughter is a universal sign of happiness and joy. Laughter means you are enjoying the moment and it makes you feel good. We all enjoy having a good laugh and usually feel better afterward without truly understanding why. There are actual physical changes that laughter causes in the human body. One of the changes, a recent study discovered, is improved memory for senior adults.

The Effects of Laughter on the Brain

A recent study conducted at California's Loma Linda University indicated that when a group of elderly test subjects laughed, their recognition and memory improved and their laughter actually helped them remember those enjoyable moments.  Two groups of subjects were studied to determine the levels of cortisol in their brains.  Cortisol is a stress hormone that can cause brain damage if too much of it collects over time.

One group of seniors watched a funny 20-minute long video. The other did not. The results found that the cortisol levels were much lower in the group of seniors who watched the video than the cortisol levels of the control group that did not. Lower cortisol levels result in less impact on the brain from stress, and thus, on memory. The seniors who laughed remembered the experience in more detail.

Laughter also has the pleasant effect of releasing endorphins, which chemically produce the good feelings we get when we laugh and are happy.  Laughter has been thought through the ages to have healing properties for all age groups so laughter literally is one of the best medicines. It can also decrease the risk of developing mental illness.

Indications for Elderly Care Services

Those offering home care services should consider the possible applications of this information in the services you offer all your clients and in the training that you provide to your home care providers. Bringing some laughter to your senior clients could easily become a goal of your services. Considering its beneficial effects on memory and emotional outlook, it should easily become a requirement.

Providing DVDs of funny movies, taking seniors on trips to the movies and going to see a professional comedian perform are all ideas to consider. Even something as simple as having your home care givers teach seniors with a computer how to watch funny cat videos on YouTube during in-home care sessions will bring laughter to their lives.

Senior Vision Health Tips

Many seniors in today’s society are living longer, happier lives because of the contributions that non-medical home care has provided them. While most seniors are able to stay in their homes longer and maintain their independence, many seniors have vision issues that persist as they age. Below are a few helpful tips and suggestions to maintain healthy eyesight in seniors:

Schedule regular eye exams for yourself

It is crucial for everyone to have regular eye exams, regardless of age. However, this is especially important for senior citizens. Vision can worsen in a short period, and that prescription you received only a few months ago could be much different than your current level of vision.

Be sure to protect your eyes properly

When you are outside, you must do what you can to protect your eyes from the harsh sunlight. It is particularly ideal to do so during the summer. Wear a hat and some sunglasses with adequate UV protection to keep your eyes from being damaged by UV radiation from the sun.

Take multivitamins daily

A multivitamin provides a great balance of nutrients that you will need for many things, including good vision. By taking them every day, you will ensure that your body has the right amount of nutrients to improve the chances that your vision will be maintained.

Eat the right amount of vegetables and fruits

Be sure to eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. That way, you will get a rich variety of vitamins. Studies have shown that there are many benefits to senior citizens eating a diet with an abundance of these foods, especially when it comes to vision.

Quit smoking

People who smoke can have their blood flow to their eyes restricted. This may contribute to eye conditions.

Use enough light when reading

If you are going to be reading or doing something that requires you to use your eyes a great deal, it is important to have adequate lighting to avoid strain.

Do not strain your eyes

Take frequent breaks from watching TV or using electronics. Be sure to do this before your eyes begin hurting.

Do your best to maintain a high quality of life and follow these tips for your vision. As you become older, these strategies will be extremely valuable to you. Consult with your elderly living specialist to learn more about vision health or to have a vision health cheat sheet constructed for your reference. 

Reviewing 3 Services of Home Care Agency Always Best Care

When loved ones become senior citizens and are confined more and more to their home as they become more medically fragile, the services of a home care company such as Always Best Care are invaluable to both the senior and his or her family members. The client receives the assistance with everyday tasks needed to remain at home and independent while family members gain peace of mind knowing that their loved one is being taken care of when they cannot be present themselves.

Three Always Best Care Senior Services

There are a variety of services provided for seniors by Always Best Care to serve their needs. One of these is a remarkable free service called Always in Touch. Offered to anyone in the US and Canada through application, this is a telephone program designed to reassure seniors that they are not alone and to make sure that those who live alone are okay on a day-to-day basis. Designed for the isolated and homebound disabled adult or senior citizen, this weekday "safety check" gives the client an opportunity to socialize and have contact with a friendly person so they don't feel so alone.

Always on Call is a telemedicine service offered to clients who use five or more hours of monthly in-home care. The client or a family member can call a physician 24/7 for non-emergency medical issues, for prescription refills (non-narcotic only) or when their primary physician is not available. The client does not have to leave home, wait, or pay a doctor. Six free consultations are available per year, with more available for a small fee.

Always Safe is a way to combine in home care services three times a week with a 24/7 fall prevention and detection coverage free of additional charges.  Fall prevention is a key safety concern in the homes of seniors and early fall detection and assistance is critical to a good recovery.

This comprehensive plan begins with a 35-point home inspection to identify hazards and make home safer for the senior. The caregiver works on fitness and strength to help the client remain active and mobile. The client is monitored through Lifeline with AutoAlert, which automatically calls for help when a fall has been detected.  Help is immediately available and emergency response can be called if needed. This provides 24/7 protection for the client and peace of mind for the family.

Like many other home care agencies, Always Best Care offers some great services that seniors utilize on a regular basis. If you or somebody that you know or love is in need of home care services, it may be well worth your time to consider Always Best Care. 

Tips for Caregivers of Dementia Patients

When you are called upon to care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia, you must bring two key qualities with you to the task. One is a positive attitude and the other is patience.  For many caregivers, this is their opportunity to lovingly give back to someone who is important to them.  For others, for whom their relationship with the patient has been problematic or hurtful in the past, it may be particularly trying to offer empathy and kindness during patient care so a great support system will be vital for them.

Caregiving for Dementia Patients

Receiving the diagnosis of Alzheimer's may be harder on you than your loved one as time goes on. As their condition progresses, it may be necessary to gently remind the person that they have Alzheimer's as they question why you will not allow them to do things they used to do themselves (cook while alone, drive and use power tools, for example).  Simply refer to the person's "memory problems" as the source of the changes. Be prepared to patiently repeat something you have already said again and again, as the person will not remember it.

Learning to communicate both verbally and non-verbally is critical. Your positive attitude is vital as dementia patients are very able to read and respond to body language, positive or negative. Let the person know you heard their question and answer it, even if it has been asked three times already. That is the nature of the disease. If a request is irrational or inappropriate, do not argue or try to change their viewpoint, but gently redirect to a more appropriate way or topic. Offer lots of love and affection, if this has been natural in your relationship. Otherwise, be patient. Be positive in responding to the patient.

As the disease progresses, a person in senior care with dementia needs certain behaviors from their caregivers. These include:

• Respecting their worth and needs as a person: love, human contact, gentle touches, being spoken to-just as a baby responds to a caregiver, so too will a dementia patient. If treated poorly, they feel grief, rejection and emotional pain.
• Accepting their declining capabilities: Remain patient, calm and supportive while having flexibility in your care plan.
• Managing behavior problems: Aggressiveness, forgetfulness and wandering are symptoms of the disease and not to be taken as personal attacks against you. Medication may be of assistance in some cases.
• Accepting that this is harder on you than it is on them: You are fully aware of the person's declining condition. Mercifully, they are not.
• Having a steady caregiver: Seek a support group and/or supportive friends to help you through this time of grief and strain. Take time out and have home care help for a day or two each week to allow you to recharge yourself for your own well-being.

Above all, practice maintaining your patience when offering a dementia sufferer senior care at home.  The dementia patient is not aware of their memory loss or how it is affecting you, so be prepared for repeat behaviors. Always remember that they can still respond to your smiles and touch.

Home Care Visits Lessen Need to Be Hospitalized Again

The results of a recent study conducted at North Shore University Hospital clearly indicate that patients who receive follow-up home care from a nurse practitioner following cardiac surgery were less likely to need readmission to the hospital within 30 days of their initial stay, and also achieve a higher survival rate than patients who do not.  In fact, patients who had no assistance at home after their surgery were re-hospitalized at triple the rate (almost 12 percent) of those who do have in-home assistance (almost four percent).

The Advantages of In-Home Care

According to Dr. Michael Hall, who is NSUH's Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery, the nurse practitioners who cared for the patients in their homes had also cared for them during their hospital stays and so were familiar with their conditions and their particular needs.  The NPs visited their patients at home for the first two weeks following discharge twice weekly.  During these visits, the Nurse Practitioner's job was to:

• Provide the patient with a physical exam
• Provide management of the patient's medication
• Serve as a liaison for the patient with his/her family doctor, cardiologist, pharmacist, others
• Contact social service agencies for future needs, if necessary

The NPs participating in the studies had special smart phones that were encrypted for patient information privacy to allow them to send the surgeons patient data, vital signs and photographs of patients' surgical sites for care instructions. The patients continued to receive the latest in updated care for these weeks following their surgery even though no longer being supervised in a hospital setting but enjoying the comfort of home.

Additional Findings of NSUH Continued Care at Home Study

As summarized by the May 2014 article on this study in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Hall also spoke of some of the problems the NPs dealt with while working with the patients in the study that are indicative of the reasons patients without care at home fare poorly and must return to the hospital for further care. These are:

• Failure to fill new prescriptions due to cost issues
• Substituting their old prescriptions instead to save money because they erroneously believe they are still good or appropriate, when they are not
• Not following up with seeing doctors in the community for lack of transportation

Nurse practitioners were able to help patients with these and various other issues on an individual basis because they could respond within that patient's community to his or her needs once they visited them in their home.