Rhode Island

Fewer Seniors Breaking Hips

Breaking a hip can be one of the worst things that can happen to a senior. When an older person breaks a hip, they will often need a lot of time to recover. Even so, they may never have the mobility they once had. The good news is that hip fractures are on the decline. There is no reason for this, but many studies have shown that there is a decreased amount of patients with hip fractures.

1. When a senior breaks a hip, they have a one in four chance of spending a year or more in a nursing home after the injury. The break will also cause serious threats to mobility, possibly preventing the patient from walking.

2. There is no explanation on why the rate of hip fractures is dropping, but it is doing so in large numbers. Hip fractures are much more common among older women, but the decline in the cases of fractures has reduced in men over 85 and women over 75.

3. Some believe this is because older people are healthier and much more functional, which can help prevent falls. Older people are also developing stronger bones that have helped prevent hip fractures.

Source: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/hip-fractures-good-news-wrapped-in-a-mystery/

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Sleeping Tips Benefit Seniors

Many seniors are searching for ways to get better sleep at night. In fact, there are some things that seniors do during the day that could be preventing them from sleeping well at night. The following list contains some tips that will help seniors lead a healthy lifestyle and sleep better at night.

1. Do not drink coffee or tea before going to bed. Some doctors suggest stopping drinking caffeine by 2 in the afternoon so it has time to leave the body.

2. Do not eat a heavy meal before going to bed. Some foods can help seniors sleep, such as whole wheat pasta, fresh vegetables and chicken breast. Late night snackers should choose cottage cheese with fruit slices.

3. Avoid wine before retiring for the night. Have a glass of wine at dinner, but no later.

4. Take baths earlier in the day. While some people may become relaxed after a bath, it will raise the body temperature and make it difficult to sleep.

5. Gentle stretching may help seniors sleep better. Avoid excessive exercising before bed, but yoga can help relax the body and the mind.

6. Keep the room dark and cool. Dim lights around the house a few hours before bedtime, using the least amount of light as possible.

7. Shut off cell phones and computers at least an hour before bed. This will help seniors unwind and let the day end.

Source: CNN

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Finding the Right Place – Judging Nursing Homes

When it comes time to place a senior in a nursing home, there are many options. Since every senior has a different set of needs, this should be taken into consideration when comparing nursing homes. Another important factor in making the right decision is the turnover rate of the staff. The list below provides some important information on this topic.

1. Always ask to talk to the nurses’ aides. These are the people that will be spending the most time with the senior.

2. Most nursing homes will deny this request because there is such a high turnover rate of aides. There are very few nursing homes that staff aides for any length of time.

3. More than 70 percent of aides and nursing assistants will change jobs within the year.

4. When talking to aides and assistants, always ask how long they have been doing this kind of work and how long they have been at this nursing home.

5. When you are able to find a home that has a low turnover rate and a reliable staff, this may be a good choice.

6. The key is to look for a nursing home that has a constant staff. When a senior is in a nursing home, they should be able to rely on people and having the same aides for a long period of time is very beneficial.

Source: New Old Age Blogs

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Blogging Facts for Seniors

Blogging is not just for the young. Many seniors are now using the internet to post blogs in various senior forums. Doing so allows seniors to share with other seniors. These blogs can be of any nature. Some seniors will blog about health issues, retirement tips or hobbies. It is also common for seniors to blog, and brag, about grandchildren. Seniors are urged to take advantage of this form of communication and reap the benefits of blogging.

1.    Blogging can be a great thing for seniors. It allows them to express their thoughts and feelings and it is a great way to reach out to other seniors. Many seniors even develop friends through blogs by getting responses to a topic they have posted and discussed.

2.    Some of the most common blogs by seniors include information on health issues and conditions. These can be a wealth of information, especially for seniors who are dealing with the same health problems.

3.    Some of the blogs are geared towards seniors who have recently retired. Here, seniors can meet others who are at the same point in their lives and discuss different things that happen when one retires.

4.    More seniors are becoming involved with blogs on the internet. The Ageless Project is a web page that contains a collection of blogs by seniors. This is a great way to express views and share some experiences that could make a difference in the lives of other seniors.

Source: http://jenett.org/ageless/

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Seniors Protect Against Skin Cancer

Protecting seniors from skin cancer is a major issue. Many seniors have other health problems, so the last thing they need is a diagnosis of skin cancer. To help seniors protect themselves from the damaging rays of the sun, there are some useful tips provided below. Keeping seniors safe and healthy throughout the summer can be done with a few simple steps.

1. Try to avoid exposure to the sun between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. This is when the UV rays are the strongest.

2. Always use a sunscreen on all areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun.

3. Seniors should wear light and airy clothing that will protect their skin from the sun. This can be difficult during the heat of the summer, but seniors need to keep their arms and legs covered as much as possible.

4. Wear a hat when in direct sunlight. This will help to protect the face, neck, head and ears.

5. Sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays can be beneficial.

6. During the midday hours, seniors should try to stay in the shade as much as possible if they will be outside for any length of time.

Source: CDC.gov

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Senior Driving Safety

It is very common for seniors to continue driving. Many of these seniors lead an active lifestyle, so they are always out and about. Being active is a great way to maintain health, but seniors do need to take precautions when driving in bad weather. Many seniors will get tense and nervous when the weather is poor. To help battle this, the list below offers some great driving safety tips.

1.    Make sure to allow enough time to reach the destination. If the weather is bad and the visibility is poor, seniors should try to leave the house about 15 minutes earlier than they normally would.

2.    Always maintain the vehicle. Making sure the car is in good condition is one way to make sure seniors stay safe while driving in poor weather conditions.

3.    When buying a newer car, consider options that will increase safety, such as all-wheel drive and traction control.

4.    Be sure to keep an emergency kit in the car. These kits can help seniors who have car trouble during bad weather. Most kits will have blankets that will help seniors stay warm and comfortable until help arrives.

5.    Always drive with the headlights on.

6.    Stay in the middle lane on the highway. Most roads are built higher in the middle, allowing water to runoff to the other lanes.

7.    Avoid pools of water. There could be potholes beneath.

Source: Senior Living

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Seniors and Keeping Active

Seniors need to have a certain amount of exercise to remain healthy. It is never too late in life to begin exercising. However, getting seniors to move around and be active can be a challenge sometimes. Many seniors have difficulty sticking to an exercise regime. This is due to various reasons, including the fear of falling, having balance [problems and not being able to maintain a schedule. Below are some tips on how seniors can get moving and stay active.

1.    Seniors need to set goals for exercise and stick to them. They should start with small goals, such as exercising a few times a week. The goals should be realistic and achievable.

2.    Make a purchase! Buying a new bathroom scale can help seniors monitor their weight. Many newer scales will also display the body fat percentage. Seniors should set goals to reduce body fat. Seniors should also use the scale to keep track of their results from exercise. Most scales will have a built in memory, so seniors can monitor weight loss and gain.

3.    Do not think of exercise as a chore. It can actually be a social event if done in groups. Get together with other seniors for a walk. Socialization is linked with many health benefits, so seniors who combine exercise with a social activity will reap many benefits.

4.    Seniors do not have to engage in rigorous exercise routines. They should set short-term goals that are realistic. Most seniors will benefit from just 2 ½ hours of exercise each week.

Source: Consumer Healthday.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Information on Alzheimer’s

Much research is being done on Alzheimer’s disease. This disease affects thousands of seniors. Some researchers feel that we may not be doing enough to push research along. Finding a cure for this disabling disease is the ultimate goal. This is the most common form of dementia in older adults. The list below contains some additional information on how researchers hope to solve the puzzle of Alzheimer’s

1.    More than 5 million seniors in the US have Alzheimer’s and many of these cases are severe, resulting in the loss of daily functions.

2.    As the population continues to age, the number of people that will be affected by Alzheimer’s will also be on the rise. Currently, a senior in the US develops Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds. This is expected to become every 33 seconds in the next decade.

3.    Those who are researching early detection of the disease say they are on the road to substantial advances.

4.    Alzheimer’s drugs are now being used on many senior patients. The medication focuses on amyloid, which is a protein that clumps in the brain of those with the disease.

5.    Researchers are optimistic that once an anti-amyloid drug is perfected, the disease could be stopped in its tracks. It will also allow the disease to be detected by using scanning technology.

6.    Currently, there is no national plan aimed at researching the disease. Not enough funding and lack of researchers is the reason more progression has not yet been made.

7.    Researchers have a goal of perfecting medications and learning much more about this debilitating disease.

Source:  Consumer Healthday

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.