Fall-Prevention for the Elderly

12th of June, 2017

Fall-Prevention for the Elderly:


As people age, their bones become more brittle and soft. Their gait also becomes more unsteady and balance becomes poor. This leads to unexpected falls and broken bones. Unfortunately, in the elderly, broken bones do not heal quickly or easily and can lead to permanent disability.
To prevent falls in the home and help them maintain their long-term independence, here are some tips:

Furniture should not be in the way where there is a lot of foot traffic. Rugs should be removed or secured using anti-slip backings. These backings can be bought in any supply store or online and put on the back of the rug. Tape or remove any loose wires, such as phone wires or internet cables, to prevent falls that way as well. Keep all objects off the floor and keep the apartment/house well-lit.

Bedrooms should be well-lit as well and there should be a lamp next to the bed, available for easy reach. A night light is also recommended to use. Night lights are cheap and affordable and provide a constant, dim light in a room for children as well as the elderly or those who have fears of the dark. Have a bed that is low to the floor so getting in and out of the bed is less challenging.

Bathrooms are the most important place in the home to safe-proof for the elderly. There are many dangers lurking that can cause a fall. For instance, use a non-slip mat or sticky strips in the tub to prevent falling when it gets wet and slippery. Grab bars are important to install outside the tub/shower as well as inside. This will allow a person to steady themselves when showering. A removable seat would also be recommended so sitting down while bathing could an option.

The same tips should be used in other areas of the home. It is important that if an individual does fall, that they have a way of calling for help. This could be by using a personal alarm system or by always carrying a cell phone with them.

We hope these tips prevent future falls for your loved ones.

Recognizing Dementia

21st of March, 2017

Recognizing Dementia:


Dementia can affect people from all walks of life. The likelihood of getting dementia increases with age but there can be early on-set of dementia as well. Occasional forgetfulness happens to everyone and does increase with age. It can be a normal part of life.
However dementia signs and symptoms are a lot more than just forgetfulness. Recognizing the early signs and symptoms is important to keep your loved ones safe.

Here are some early signs and symptoms of recognizing dementia:

Learn to notice sudden fluctuations in mood and personality. If your loved one becomes angry or frustrated more than normal, it may be a sign of dementia. They may have these sudden drops in mood due to their inability to make sense of their thoughts or their environment. They may also become aggressive or paranoid.

Notice any changes in their short-term memory but not long term memory. Long term memory, especially childhood memories, stay intact for a long time. Short-term memory is often disrupted during dementia.

Pay attention to your loved one having trouble wording ideas in speech or in writing. An individual experiencing dementia may stop their speech in the middle of a sentence of an idea. The pattern of speech may become disrupted.

Be aware that depression and dementia often go hand in hand. A dementia patient may frequently become depressed and lose interest in their usual activities. They may not want to interact as much with you or with other people around them.
These kinds of symptoms often worsen during evening time and therefore it is called "sun-downing."


*It is always recommended to see a professional to officially diagnose any kind of change in behavior.*

Seniors Behind the Wheel

20th of March, 2017

Seniors Behind the Wheel:


Seniors driving a car past a certain age can be worrisome for anyone; their loved ones, pedestrians and other drivers on the road. This is simply due to the fact that as we age, our vision, hearing and reflexes deteriorate.

So here are some tips for elderly and their loved ones to make driving safer for everyone.

Get a vision and hearing exam frequently. We recommend taking your older loved one to the doctor to get their hearing and vision tested at least 2 times a year. Rapid declines can occur for people ages 60 and above and this can increase with any kind of trauma.

Be aware of any side affects from medications. If your loved on is driving and is also on any medication that may cause sleepiness or drowsiness, please consult your doctor. It may be beneficial for them not to drive in this case if the medication needs to be taken frequently.

Drive during better conditions. Try to limit your loved one's driving to day time or morning driving when it is bright outside and it is easier to see. Encourage them not to drive during rainy or snowy weather conditions as factors such as poor weather and dark can increase the likelihood of an accident.

Check for stiffness in their joints. Does your loved one have symptoms of arthritis? It may be difficult to operate a vehicle with such conditions. Consult a doctor prior to allowing them to get behind the week.

It is also important to consider conditions such as dementia in an elderly driver. If they have beginning stages of dementia - it may be difficult to know when to take away their license. It may be very painful to see your parent or grandparent get older and not be able to maintain the same kind of abilities. However, it is in everyone's best interest if they do not drive and hurt themselves or someone else on the road.

Springtime Activities for Seniors

15th of March, 2017

Springtime Activities for Seniors:



Springtime brings plenty of opportunity to do something fun and outdoorsy. It is a great opportunity for seniors to spend time with their families and get some sunshine as well. So take advantage of our tips and the good weather and spend some time together doing these fun activities!

1. Go for for a walk/hike.
             Whether you live by a hiking trails, the beach or the woods - it is the perfect opportunity to go out and get some exercise and get in touch with nature. Dress comfortable and go out hiking or walking when the weather is good. Remember to stay hydrated.

2. Plant or garden together.
             If you don't want to go out into the nature - bring the nature to you. Purchase some seeds and begin planing fruits, vegetables or herbs together in your garden. It is a great way to pass time and you will have something delicious to eat later.

3. Have a picnic.
           If there are nice parks near by you can combine the best of both worlds (food and nature) and have a picnic somewhere! This can be relaxing and they will have a wonderful time spending time outdoors with their loved ones.

4. Shop and Cook.
           This is a fun activity for the elderly to do with their caregiver or their friend or loved one. Go to a local farmer's market and shop for ingredients together. After you can use the ingredients to cook a meal together and enjoy.

5. Go to a museum or art gallery.
           
If you live in the city or in a town with a nice art district, then this is good for you. This is an activity the whole family can enjoy- no matter what age. Get a few people together and go to the local museum or art gallery. It will be time well spent and you can discuss your favorite artwork for days to come.

Staying Safe During the Storm

13th of March, 2017

Staying Safe During the Storm:

Winter time can be challenging for everybody. It can cause mood disorders due to decrease in daylight, traffic jams and holiday stress. However, winter time can also wreck havoc on the elderly or disabled who live alone and rely on someone to help care for them. Many older adults rely on their caregivers to arrive but the caregivers are not able to due to the storm.


Here are some tips for the elderly and their families to follow to survive the winter flurries or the rain:

First, prepare all the groceries in advance. As everyone braces for the storm - grocery stores will be jam packed with people. Be smart and get there first - stock up enough food for several days to make sure you don't need to leave the house and have all the food you need. Make sure to prepare water and warm drinks as well (such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate).

Second, purchase flashlights, candles and enough batteries to last for a minimum of 4-7 days. Although unlikely, sometimes the power does go off during an intense storm. It is better to be safe than sorry - which is what will happen if you're stuck in the dark for such a long time. Prepare to light your own way through the house just in case the power goes out.

Third, have a first aid kit prepared for yourself and loved ones in advance. Most likely you will not need it - but is better to have it if you do, in case of emergency. Here are some things that must be in a First Aid Kit, courtesy of the Red Cross (this can also be found on their site):

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket) 
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches) 
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers

Some additional tips: 

• have the batteries in your hearing aides replaced so you don't run out. 
• charge your cell phones in advance
• enough pet supplies and food
• ample heating methods such as personal heaters or fireplace
• enough medication especially if you have an existing condition

Most importantly, stay warm and safe!

Take Advantage of Spring: Vitamin D

8th of March, 2017


Take Advantage of Spring: Vitamin D


As we begin to approach spring, the days are getting longer and the sunlight is available more hours of the day. There are great advantages to this; going for walks at the parks, hiking, beautiful beaches and just spending more time outdoors. One of the major benefits of spring is being able to spend time outside and enjoying the sunshine. The sunshine releases feel good chemicals such as serotonin and improves the mood. However, it is also a great source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D from the sun is essential to growing and keeping strong and healthy bones!

A large majority of elderly people do not spend a lot of time outside and unfortunately this contributes to the deterioration of their skeletal system. Taking your aging parent or grandparent for walks or to just sit in the sun is beneficial to preventing fractures during falls and deterioration of bones.

Vitamin D actually facilitates the absorption of calcium, which is also an essential part of healthy and strong bones. Getting Vitamin D just from your foods is not as advantageous as getting it from food AND the sun!

So this spring, take a walk outside and enjoy the sunlight - it has more health benefits than you think!

Lowering Your Cholesterol Levels the Natural Way

7th of March, 2017


Lowering Your Cholesterol Levels the Natural Way:


It is bound to happen to a lot of us, but rising cholesterol levels as we age are definitely preventable.
But is it reversible? It most definitely is with the right attitude, diet and exercise.

First let's find our how high cholesterol actually happens. Several factors affect cholesterol: aging, foods we eat, family history, being overweight. The negative aspects of cholesterol are possible heart attack, stroke, clogged arteries (atherosclerosis).

It is much more difficult to control cholesterol levels as we age, but is certainly not impossible. You can decrease your risks for high cholesterol by exercising several hours a week and eating a healthier diet consisting of fruits and vegetables. Decreasing foods from animal sources can also help decrease cholesterol. This means eating less meat, cheese, milk, etc. Not smoking cigarettes and decreasing alcohol intake are also a huge help! Increasing cardio and resistance training is definitely also a great source for lower cholesterol.

 While there are medications available for cholesterol control, changing old habits into healthier ones will take you a long way and have the most impact. Always consult your doctor prior to making any drastic changes to diet or exercise.

Pet Therapy to Boost Mood for Older Adults

7th of March, 2017


Pet Therapy to Boost Mood for Older Adults:


Aging is something we all must endure at some point in our lives. It is a process that brings many ailments with it and the most common one is clinical depression. There are many ways to help alleviate the symptoms of depression: exercise, socializing, medication, sunlight therapy. However, one of the newest ways of battling depression in older adults is through Pet Therapy.

Owning a dog generally has positive side affects on people and especially on the elderly. It significantly lowers blood pressure, risk of heart disease, and encourages them to exercise because the dog must be walked. Owning a dog has even helped improve vital signs for elderly experiencing dementia. Although it is not a cure-all for disease, it certainly improves the situation for a lot of people!

Spending time with dogs and petting them, releases "feel good" chemicals such as serotonin, oxytocin (a bonding hormone) and prolactin. These chemicals critically improve mood and alleviate depression.
So the next time you sense your parent or grandparent is depressed, let them spend a little time with the neighbor's pooch! It will go a long way.

What Home Care Costs?

What Home Care Costs?

As you investigate the different options available to you, you want to choose the type of care that fits into your lifestyle. One of the first things on your mind is how you care decisions will affect your bank account. You are not alone: many people searching for care are apprehensive about the potential financial burden of paying for long-term care. What will home care cost for you? It maybe more affordable than you think.

The Average Cost Of Care

The cost of non-medical home care varies depending on where you live and the amount of care you will need. According to the "Cost of care Survey" an annual report by Genworth, home care costs less than other options like adult day care, assisted living and skilled nursing. The national average cost of home care per hour ranges between only $ 10 to $ 36. By comparison, the average resident at an assisted living community pays $3,600$ per month. Nursing homes can cost up to $250 per day. In the past five years, the costs of assisted living and skilled nursing have risen by 3,5%.

Preventing Costly  Accidents 

In addition to being an affordable option, home care can prevent the accidents and injuries that lead to hospital stays and visits to the doctor. ComForCare Companion  Caregivers help with activities of daily living: they can help prevent falling and promote a healthier living environment. Falls can lead to head injuries and broken bones, and having a steady hand helps many seniors be more sure on their feet.

Keeping track of prescription  is also a challenge  for many people using home care services. Medication reminders given by a ComForCare Companion caregiver  can prevent our clients from forgetting to take their medication or overdosing, both of which can lead to more serious health concerns.

ComForcare Companion Care is proud to provide the services that lead to a higher quality of life for many people and their families. Contact our ComForCare Companion Care office in Brooklyn     New York to find out more about what home care cost for you.