“Summerizing” Your Loved One’s Home
Heat-related illness strikes people who are working or exercising outdoors in the sun. But the inside of a dwelling also can grow dangerously warm — sometimes even warmer than the temperature outside. So, before the first hot spell this year, take steps with your loved one to “summerize” their home.
In-Home Care Supports Stroke Recovery
Each year, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke; 140,000 of them will die, and many more will be left with a serious disability. And as our population ages, this rate will increase — but stroke is by no means exclusively a disease of old age.
Helping a Loved One Manage Parkinson’s Disease
With the aging of our population, more people are living with Parkinson’s disease. Today an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. are living with this neurodegenerative disorder, and it is diagnosed in another 50,000 each year.
Polypharmacy and Its Burden on Aging Kidneys
Age-related changes aside, seniors are also more likely to have chronic health conditions that require the use of multiple medications. Statistics show that polypharmacy — taking five or more drugs concurrently — is observed in 44% of the elderly[2]. Polypharmacy not only increases the risk of drug interactions, but also burdens the aging kidney.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Health
As we age, the number of nephrons in our kidneys decreases as does the amount of kidney tissue, our blood vessels become thicker, and the blood flow slows down. All of these factors contribute to a gradual decline in our kidney function.
10 Ways to Help a Senior Loved One Manage Diabetes
Diabetes increases the risk of infection. It can damage the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes. It raises the risk of dementia, incontinence and falls. It reduces both the quality and length of life. Fortunately, diabetes can be managed. We've come up with 10 ways to help a senior loved one manage diabetes.
Why Is Dental Hygiene Important for the Elderly?
There are certain conditions that might make it more challenging to practice good oral hygiene. Arthritis can make it painful to hold a toothbrush, Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia can create irregularities in the approach to oral health, and those who have experienced a stroke or tremors can struggle to brush their teeth thoroughly. But both Starkel and Dr. Burket agree that with a little bit of planning and assistance from others, those who are living with chronic illnesses can maintain good oral hygiene.
Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing) in Older Adults
Dysphagia is the medical term used to describe difficulty swallowing foods or liquids. While people of all ages can experience dysphagia for a variety of reasons, it is more prevalent in adults over the age of 50.
Karen Sheffler, a speech-language pathologist, board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders, and founder of SwallowStudy.com, has dedicated her professional life to helping diagnose dysphagia and treat seniors who have the condition.
Personal Care Assessment vs. Skilled Care Assessment
When a local Right at Home office is contacted for service, a consultation is performed to assess the care needs of the client so a custom care plan can be initiated. As state regulations and services vary, differing consultations may be considered—a personal care assessment or a skilled care assessment will be conducted by a local care team member or a professional licensed nurse (a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse).
Turning Tragedy Into Triumph
“When you’re frustrated over something that you can’t control, you’re allowed to speak up for yourself,” says Amberley Snyder, the U.S.'s only paralyzed barrel racer and national rodeo champion. "You should remember you can advocate for yourself. You can make people aware that changes need to happen, because if not for you, it’s going to be for the person behind you, and that is what is important.”
Type 2 Diabetes Awareness, Prevention and Management
The American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone be screened for diabetes starting at age 45. Those with higher risk factors besides age should be screened earlier. A basic diabetes screening via a simple blood sugar test can alert you to indicators of diabetes before the disease begins.
What Is Specialized Healthcare?
In recent years, the U.S. healthcare system has shifted to offer more niche medical programs that provide specialized healthcare. These medical programs are often referred to as centers of excellence that focus on the same diseases, disorders or medical conditions with a team of the best and brightest medical specialists in their respective fields. When your health issues are beyond your primary care provider’s expertise, you will be referred to a specialist.
Home-Based Cardiac Rehab: Designing an Effective Approach
Right at Home is sponsoring a one-hour CEU webinar, “Home-Based Cardiac Rehab: Designing an Effective Approach,” on February 28, 2019. This webinar will provide an overview of home-based cardiac rehab programs and give the multidisciplinary care team ideas for designing and implementing a home-based cardiac rehab program. Karen Collins, nutrition consultant and David Schopfer, MD, a cardiologist and health services researcher at the San Francisco VA Healthcare System, will be presenting and answering questions live.
Low Vision Awareness Month
The Cleveland Clinic notes, “1 in 6 adults over age 45 has low vision; 1 in 4 adults over age 75 has low vision.” Because of a number of eye disorders and injuries, anyone of any age can be affected by low vision, but older adults are at highest risk for impaired vision. The American Optometric Association (AOA) lists 4 common causes of low vision.
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Rooms
Where do you seek medical care when your regular doctor or healthcare provider is close for the day? How are urgent care centers and ERs different?
CE Webinar on Addressing Health Issues Seen in Seniors Over the Holiday Season
On December 13, Right at Home is sponsoring a web seminar, Discovering and Communicating the Need for Care, hosted by the American Society on Aging. We cordially invite you to join us and learn more about how you can discover and communicate the need for care concerning a senior loved one.
Why the Flu is Bad for Diabetes Patients
"“The flu is challenging for anybody, but it is more so for people with diabetes,” explains Mary Stuhr, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with the Diabetes Education Center of the Midlands in Omaha, Nebraska. “Dehydration, a changed eating schedule and how the body responds to infection can all make the management of blood sugars more difficult.”
Advances in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Dr. Joel Stein, Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University in New York City, discusses a number of forward-looking stroke therapies. Dr. Stein is also Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and Physiatrist-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian hospital.
10 Frequently Asked Questions for Pharmacists
October is American Pharmacists Month, Lisa Sukin, a pharmacist with 20 years’ experience in hospital and retail pharmacy, shares her answers to common questions people ask about medications.
Respiratory Health Awareness for Seniors and Caregivers
“Many people don’t realize how crucial respiratory health is when it comes to aging well,” says Bill Osborne, Flight Respiratory Therapist at Atrium Health. “But keeping your lungs healthy can improve your quality of life and help you live longer.”
Support for Life After a Stroke
Every year in the United States, 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, and while some people recover completely from a stroke, nearly 70 percent of stroke survivors undergo rehabilitation to help recover from post-stroke disabilities.
Honoring 9/11 First Responder Paul Johnson
After working an overnight shift at the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Emergency Service Unit (ESU), Paul Johnson was sleeping when his sister pounded on his door the morning of September 11, 2001. The father of nine responded to the 9/11 attack immediately by heading out to the World Trade Center.
Vaccines for Seniors Covered by Medicare
Vaccines help those with weakened immune systems and chronic health conditions protect themselves against infections and diseases. Many people think vaccines only apply to children, but they can be life-saving for seniors, as well.
Preventing Dehydration in the Elderly
A study of more than 15,000 Americans found that among older adults age 71 and above, 95 percent of elder men and 83 percent of elder women do not drink enough water. These inadequate fluid levels can lead to serious or life-threatening health conditions including urinary and kidney problems, seizures and heatstroke.
U.S. Vacations for Seniors With Limited Mobility
You have reached your senior years and now have more time for vacations, but your limited mobility is a concern. With some advance planning and the tips we share here, you can leisurely travel most anywhere in the United States.
Joint Replacement Surgery and Transitional Care
Joint replacements are among the most common elective surgeries in the country. A recent study found that people are seeking joint replacements earlier in life, in part because people are staying more active as they age and they want a better quality of life through retirement.
Chronic Pain, Prescribed Opioids and Pain Management
Prescribing opioids for chronic pain remains controversial. What are the treatment alternatives and are there any resources for chronic pain management?
Cancer Care--Caregiving, Support and Resources
The suspect lump, mole or nagging cough may be a health nuisance, but for millions of people around the world, these changes in the body are warning signs of cancer. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide; the World Health Organization reports that cancer killed 8.8 million people globally in 2015.
Diagnosing Hearing Loss in Adults and Seniors
“People think hearing loss is an old-person thing,” says Maionchi, an audiologist. “But my average patient is in their mid- to late 50s."
How Healthy Is Your Heart?
World Heart Day was born at the turn of the 21st century, as a way for the World Heart Federation to spread awareness about heart health. Globally, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death each year, resulting in the loss of over 17.5 million lives. As a global organization, the World Heart Federation is determined to see a 25 percent reduction in “premature deaths from cardiovascular disease around the world” by 2025.
Pain, Opioids and Fall Risk
Many elders have chronic pain from musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis, from nerves damaged by diabetes or shingles, or from cancer. Consequently, more than 30 percent of people enrolled in Medicare Part D use opioid prescriptions to control pain.
The Connection Between Magazines and Falling
It’s irritating when you open a magazine and a bunch of subscription postcards fall out and scatter on the floor. For frail elders with poor balance, this irritation becomes a health hazard, as they can fall if they bend over to pick up the cards that have fallen out of magazines.
Bell’s Palsy vs. a Stroke
Bell’s palsy is a temporary paralysis of the face caused by inflammation, compression or trauma to the facial nerve. Typically, the disorder only affects one side of the face, and the resulting physical distortion occurs suddenly and peaks within 48 hours. Because of the facial paralysis and possible affected speech, Bell’s palsy may be confused with a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), but Bell’s palsy is not connected with either of these conditions.
The Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day® Event
Walk, stretch, dance and celebrate. Americans of all ages and fitness levels are invited to join in the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day® event to raise awareness and funds to fight Parkinson’s disease.
Why Test for Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by certain diseases, toxins, medications, infections or excessive alcoholic use.
How Epilepsy Affects Older Adults
Epilepsy is a neurological condition in which abnormal signals are sent between brain nerve cells, causing unusual body behaviors known as seizures. An estimated 65 million people worldwide and 3 million in the United States experience epilepsy.
Signs & Behaviors of Hoarding Disorder in Seniors
What an 87-year-old man counted as decades of treasures—jumbled mounds of well-aged newspapers, crumpled clothes, decayed food, a broken toilet and a long-dead refrigerator—most would consider throwaway junk. But he continued to crawl around the chaotic piles in an apartment with no heat and shattered window panes, huddling most days in one sparse spot in his living room.
National Mental Health Awareness Month - A Call To Help Those With Mental Illness
May is designated as National Mental Health Awareness Month, a call for helping those living with mental health conditions to get the resources and acceptance they need. Older Americans in particular are vulnerable to unrecognized and untreated forms of mental illness.
The Role Nutrition Plays During Cancer Treatment
Family caregivers play a major role in a cancer patient’s journey to recovery. They shoulder a myriad of responsibilities from helping the patient attend doctor appointments, to providing emotional support, to tending to the nutritional needs of the patient.
Better Digestion After the Thanksgiving Feast
You swirl another ladle of gravy on the mashed potatoes and gulp down another helping of turkey. But before the pumpkin pie is cut, you start to feel that internal restlessness. What happens to your body’s digestion when you overeat?
Socialization –– How It Benefits Caregivers and Care Receivers
Caregivers are frequently told how important it is for them to stay engaged socially, but I think we sometimes forget how beneficial it can also be for the care receiver.
5 Things We Learned From Reagan’s Alzheimer’s and Thatcher’s Dementia
In what is considered his farewell address to the American people, former President Ronald Reagan penned a November 5, 1994, letter announcing his recently diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, the irreversible neurological condition that is the most frequent form of dementia.
4 “Sugar Strategies” for People With Diabetes to Enjoy Desserts
Every year, Americans celebrate National Dessert Day (October 14) by sampling a full menu of sweets. Do you know which American age group is most likely to pick up their dessert fork or to dip a spoon in some dessert decadence?
Managing Medications Challenges Seniors; Why You Should Report Memory Issues to Your Doctor
These and other stories are in the October edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
Too Much Television Is Bad for You
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association finds that Americans who watch at least three hours of television a day double their risk of dying prematurely compared to people who watch TV an hour or less a day.
Pill Organizers Could Lead to Overdoses
According to a new report, pill organizers may actually be responsible for causing dangerous overdoses. Individuals who started to use a pill organizer suffered impaired mobility, episodes of dangerously low blood sugar, and falls.
Home Remedies for Aches and Pains of Aging
A 2012 National Health Interview Study found that 11.2 percent of adults report having daily pain.
Are Men’s Brains Smaller Than Women’s?
A Mayo Clinic study of 1,246 men and women between ages 30 and 95—with normal cognitive function—shows that the brain’s memory region, the hippocampus, shrinks more for men than women, especially past age 60.