Month: March 2020

Patient Safety Awareness

Patient safety is a public health issue. One in 10 patients develops a health care acquired condition during hospitalization. Medical error causes the death of 44,000 to 98,000 hospital patients a year.

Work is being done at the federal, state and local levels to address these issues but it takes all of us within the care continuum to stand united. According to United for Patients Safety “As a result of the federal Partnership for Patients initiative, there was a 1.3 million estimated reduction in hospital-acquired conditions from 2011-2013.”

Once you leave the hospital, there are steps to ensure your safety.

Medicine for Home

When you get ready to leave the hospital, your doctor may order medicine for you to take at home. There are a few things you can do before you go home from the hospital to make things easier:

– Make sure to tell your doctor about the medicine (self-prescribed or prescribed by your doctor) you were taking when you came to the hospital. Having this information is helpful to make sure your new prescriptions do not have adverse reactions to your current prescriptions.

– Have available the name and telephone number of your pharmacy.

– Check if your pharmacy offers home delivery services, or bubble wrapped daily prescriptions, also if the prescription is long term you may be able to save time and money by ordering them on-line.  

– Call your pharmacy to check on availability of the medicines you will be taking when you get home.

– Depending on the type of medicine you bring home, you may need to purchase some of your medicines at the hospital outpatient pharmacy until your regular pharmacy can obtain your medicine.

– Plan how you will pay for your medicine.

– Tell your doctor if you are unable to obtain the medicine needed for going home.

Follow-Up Appointments

It is important to make sure either yourself or your family is an advocate for you during your stay at the hospital, there will be a lot of people coming to meet with you and give you instructions for when you leave the hospital.

– Make sure you write down the name and office telephone numbers of the doctors with whom you need to schedule appointments after you go home.

– Know the reason for each appointment and what information you will need to bring with you.

– Schedule an appointment to see your primary care physician after you are home.

– Communicate your discharge instructions to your primary care physician and obtain referrals as necessary.

– Know what other types of care you will need, such as physical or occupational therapy, or cardiac rehabilitation. Find out whether you need to call for an appointment or whether the appointment has already been scheduled for you.

– If you are unsure of anything, make sure you ask for clarification. It is incredibly important that you understand what has happened to you during your stay and the expectations of your recovery once you are home and how you can help and hurt your recovery.

Home Health Services

Your doctor may order a nurse or therapist to visit you at home and/or medical equipment such as oxygen and wheelchairs.

Choosing a home health care company

– Ask your doctor, family or friends for home healthcare company recommendations. Let your nurse know if you need help in choosing a home health care company.

– Check your insurance company’s preferred provider list for home healthcare companies.

– Contact the home health care company to determine if they can provide the service your doctor ordered and can send a nurse or therapist to your home when you are discharged.

Preparing for home health care services before you leave the hospital

– Give the home health care company your telephone number and the address where you will be staying after you leave the hospital.

– Know what home nursing services and/or medical equipment your doctor ordered.

– Know when the first home nursing visit is scheduled to begin.

– Confirm the time of delivery and delivery address of medical equipment (your hospital room or your home).

– Confirm your portable oxygen tank is full before you leave the hospital if applicable.

– Make sure your take-home supplies will last until the first home nursing visit.

– Obtain the name, telephone number, and name of a contact person at the home nursing company.

When you arrive home

Call the home health care agency to let them know you have arrived at your home.

Taking Care of Yourself When You Get Home

You may need help caring for yourself when you go home from the hospital, particularly with bathing, cooking, cleaning, and laundry, grocery shopping and traveling back and forth to the doctor’s office. Typically, you may be weaker than usual and tire more easily when you first come home from the hospital. If family and friends are not available, or your recover is long-term, you can have an In-Home Care company come and take care of your needs during your recovery.

Home Environment

– Know that if you have stairs to enter into your home you will need help getting up and down those stairs for a while. This is one of those times when a caregiver comes in handy; you do not want to have to bother your neighbors or family constantly.

– Plan to make your bedroom on a floor with a bathroom if possible. Sometimes this means having to make temporary changes to your home. A sitting room or dining room may need to be converted into a bedroom during recovery.

– Use night-lights in strategic areas to prevent falls at night.

– Place the telephone and emergency telephone numbers near you.

– Keep hallways, stairways and pathways clear of clutter.

– Wear snugly-fitting, non-slip, low heeled shoes or slippers.

Everyday activities

– Clarify bathing instructions with your doctor (sponge bath, shower, tub bath), having someone there to help you with bathing, especially at first is important.

– Clarify activity instructions with your doctor (cooking, cleaning, driving).

– Ask your doctor if there are specific foods you should eat or avoid eating, if there are, make sure you write them down.

– Schedule quiet time for yourself. There will be friends and family wanting to stop by and see how you are doing, but make sure you give yourself time to rest.

 Arriving Home

Coming home is a day full of activity and joy. You and your family have been preparing for this day, having a caregiver there as soon as you get home is also helpful so you do not have to feel overwhelmed by all of the activities that need to be done. Reacquaint yourself with your home environment by reviewing the helpful hints mentioned above and your discharge instructions.

Enjoy your homecoming.

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National Kidney Month

March is National Kidney Month and it is a great time to think about your kidneys and see your doctor for a well-deserved checkup.

Facts about your Kidneys:

– Kidneys filter 200 liters of blood a day

– Kidneys help regulate blood pressure, the body’s salt, potassium and acid content and direct red bloodc cell production

– Removes drugs from the body

– Balances the body’s fluids

– Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure.

– Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones.

– 1 in 3 Americans is at risk for kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney failure

– There are more than 26 million Americans who already have kidney disease, and most don’t know it because there are often no symptoms until the disease has progressed.

During National Kidney Month in March, and in honor of World Kidney Day on March 14, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) offers the following health activities to promote awareness of kidneys, risk factors and kidney disease:

Free Screenings: On World Kidney Day and throughout the Month of March, NKF is offering free screenings to those most at risk for kidney disease – anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney failure. Locations and information can be found on their calendar at www.kidney.org/news/keephealthy/KEEPHealthyEvents.

Facts on Kidney Disease:

– Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the country.

– More than 26 million Americans have kidney disease, and most don’t know it.

– There are over 95,000 people waiting for kidney transplants.

– More than 590,000 people have kidney failure in the US today.

When it comes to aging, your kidneys can be affected or damaged by a variety of diseases and conditions. One of the biggest problems as you age is getting a urinary tract infection. Kidney problems can also increase the risk of other conditions such as cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease. 

Although, kidney diseases can be serious, early detection and good management can increase the life of your kidneys. The problem with kidney disease is, it does not always have warning signs. If you have one of the risk factors for kidney disease, it is recommended that you have a kidney health check (blood test, urine test and blood pressure check) from your doctor at least every two years.

Older people are more at risk of some kidney and urinary tract diseases. These include:

Inflammation or swelling of the kidneys – this can be caused by conditions such as glomerulonephritis, which is an acute inflammation of the kidney, typically caused by an immune response.

Diabetes – Damage can occur to blood vessels and nerves, even when the diabetes is well managed

Urinary tract infections – if left untreated, a urinary tract infection may spread into the kidneys. It is important to see a doctor if a kidney infection is suspected, because lasting damage can occur if it is left untreated. Urinary tract infections in the elderly can also cause confusion, agitation, hallucinations, poor motor skills or dizziness, falling and other behavioral changes.

Urinary incontinence – this is uncontrolled leaking of urine from the bladder, which can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. Your doctor should check any problems linked to passing urine, as they may indicate more serious kidney problems or other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate in men

Reno vascular disease – fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium and other substances are deposited in the inner lining of the arteries, causing narrowing or blockage of the renal artery. This affects the kidneys’ filters and reduces the blood supply to the kidneys, resulting in high blood pressure and reduced kidney function. This is the most common cause of kidney failure in the elderly

High blood pressure – if left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and loss of vision

Hereditary kidney diseases – including polycystic kidney disease.

Tips to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

– Eat a diet low in salt and fat

– Be physically active

– Keep a healthy weight

– Control your cholesterol

– Take medicines as directed

– Limit alcohol

– Avoid tobacco

Kidney Failure Risk Factors

While these organs act as a delicate factory much of the time, there are some conditions that can set the stage for kidney malfunction, also referred to as “kidney failure” or “renal failure” (renal is a Latin form of the word kidney). One of the key risk factors that contribute to the disruption of the regular working of the kidneys is increased age.

The kidneys can experience a sudden change in function called “acute kidney failure” or slower developing problems that build over time called “chronic kidney failure”. During acute renal or kidney failure, a number of scenarios may have caused a loss in kidney function. The origin of the issues may be endless but could include:

Dehydration or fluid depletion as a result of diarrhea or vomiting

Damage to the blood pathways to the kidney

Infection in parts of the kidney itself

Presence of kidney stones or calcified material which blocks functionality

Bladder issues which effect the toxins to have no outlet from the body

When acute renal failure is present, the symptoms normally appear in both kidneys and can be seen as:

– Blood or protein in the urine

– Abnormal blood test results for Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine and filtering abilities of the kidneys

– Swelling of the extremities

– Increased need for urination, which may be painful

The elderly are at the highest risk for acute kidney failure when there are past medical complications such as heart difficulties, weight issues, management issues related to diabetes and liver disease.

Kidney malfunction that is acute can be sudden and frightening while chronic renal failure may develop more slowly over a number of years without symptoms even being noted. Some of the subtle indicators of chronic kidney failure would include:

– Shortness of breath as the body is struggling to carry toxins as well as oxygen

– Excessive urination at night with limited urine output

– Skin rashes may occur from impurities in the body that are building up with no ordinary way to escape

– Frequent fatigue

– Increased thirst

– Chronic management issues with diabetes or high blood pressure

Acute kidney failure can usually resolve itself if the condition is treated quickly but chronic kidney problems that result in permanent damage may require either a kidney transplant or regular dialysis treatment. Dialysis is an artificial process where a person with kidney failure is hooked up to a special filtering device that removes waste products from the body.

Remember that advanced age does not automatically mean you will face kidney failure but conscious awareness of the risk factors and preventative measures will keep your kidneys humming through your senior years.

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May is American Stroke Awareness Month

May is American Stroke Awareness month and it is a good time to make sure you know how to keep yourself healthy and a few steps you can take to try to avoid having a stroke. It is also important to know the signs of a stroke, and what to do if you or a loved one is having a stroke.

People of all age, race, creed, and color can be affected by a stroke. It is important to know how to safeguard yourself against stroke.

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC), “Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. In 2008 alone, more than 133,000 Americans died from stroke—or one person every four minutes—died from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.”

A brain attack, which is what a stroke is sometimes call, happens when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Most people think strokes only affect the elderly; however, nearly ¼ of all strokes happen to people under the age of 65 years old.

Almost 800,000 strokes occur each year in the United States. Strokes often lead to serious, life-changing complications that include:

Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body.

Problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory.

Problems understanding or forming speech.

Difficulty controlling or expressing emotions.

Numbness or strange sensations.

Pain in the hands and feet.

Depression.

Learn what steps you can take to help protect yourself and your loved ones and prevent a stroke and how to spot a stroke if one occurs.

Lowering Your Risk for Stroke

Factors include, family history, sex, age, and race/ethnicity can all play a role in an individual’s stroke risk. There are things you can do, regardless of your background to lower your chances of having a stroke. Some lifestyle changes you can make or improve upon to help lower your risk of a stroke are; exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet that is low in sodium, maintain a healthy weight, prevent or control diabetes, and limit your alcohol intake (fewer than two drinks per day for men, or one drink per day for women).

We all know how disgusting and bad smoking cigarettes are for you, but, did you know that one in five strokes are contributed to by smoking? You can also give your loved ones a stroke because people who inhale second hand smoke are at a higher risk as well. Two more great reason to stop smoking!

From the CDC website: “In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services launched the Million Hearts™ initiative to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. A primary focus is on the ABCS to prevent cardiovascular disease, including stroke, and contribute to overall health:

Know your ABCS of health:

Appropriate Aspirin therapy: Ask your doctor if taking aspirin is right for you.

Blood pressure control: Keeping your blood pressure under control reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. More than half of the world’s stroke deaths are caused by elevated blood pressure levels.

Cholesterol management: Get your cholesterol checked regularly and manage it with diet and physical activity or with medication, if needed.

Smoking cessation: Get help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Recognizing the Signs of Stroke

When responding to a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.

Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Remember, getting immediate medical attention for stroke is crucial to preventing disability and death, 

so don’t delay—dial 9-1-1.

To learn more about reducing your risk for stroke, visit Million Hearts™ , a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over 5 years.

Acting F.A.S.T. Is Key for Stroke

Acting F.A.S.T. can help stroke patients get the treatments they desperately need. The most effective stroke treatments are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not be eligible for the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following simple test:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

To learn more about prevention and signs of a stroke, visit the CDC website.

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Arthritis Awareness

The number one cause of disability in the United States is arthritis, which is a disease that affects more than 50 million Americans. That means 1 in every 5 adults, 300,000 children and countless families are affected by arthritis.

Statistics from The Arthritis Foundation:

Nearly 53 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis; that number is expected to grow to 67 million by 2030.

Almost 300,000 babies, kids, and teens have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.

Working-age men and women (ages 18 to 64) with arthritis are less likely to be employed than those of the same age without arthritis.

1/3 of working-age people with arthritis have limitations in their ability to work, the type of work they can do or whether they can work part time or full time.

People with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis –two major kinds of arthritis – miss a combined 172 million workdays every year.

Arthritis and related conditions account for more than $156 billion annually in lost wages and medical expenses.

There are nearly 1 million hospitalizations each year due to arthritis.

57% of adults with heart disease have arthritis.

52% of adults with diabetes have arthritis.

44% of adults with high blood pressure have arthritis.

36% of adults who are obese have arthritis.

1/3 of adults with arthritis age 45 and older have either anxiety or depression.

People with arthritis live in a “catch 22” life, one of the things that will make them feel better, exercise, is one of the things that hurts to perform. Because of this, people who have arthritis and other chronic health condition have trouble getting enough physical activity to improve their health. Regular physical activity is an important strategy for relieving pain and maintaining or improving function for people with arthritis. Studies have shown that 38 percent of adults with arthritis report no leisure-time aerobic activity (compared with about 27 percent of those without arthritis). Twenty million people with arthritis are limited in their ability to do daily activities, such as standing, bending, walking, and climbing stairs. People commonly think of arthritis as an old people’s problem. However, arthritis is not a disease of old age, infants, as young as 1 year old, can get a potentially serious disease called systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under age 65, including an estimated 300,000 children. Nevertheless, the risk of arthritis does increase with age; almost half of adults 65 years old or older have arthritis. Doctor-diagnosed arthritis is more common in women (26 percent) than in men (18 percent). In some types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, women far outnumber men. Arthritis has a greater impact on minorities. Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and other minorities’ populations in the U.S. have lower rates of arthritis compared to white population. However, they experience greater severity of pain and more work and daily activity limitations than whites.

When it comes to prevention, there are certain groups, such as women, and those who are predisposed to arthritis through having a family history of arthritis (genetic profile) and have little options in the way of prevention. However, there are some forms of arthritis, which can be avoided through proper lifestyle choices. Osteoarthritis can be avoided by maintain a healthy weight, Rheumatoid arthritis do not smoke to avoid Rheumatoid arthritis, and  eating a healthful diet, low in sugar, alcohol and purines will help keep away gout. The activities you engage in when you are younger will also have a large impact on your body and joints later in life. It is important to take care of your bones and try to avoid breaking any of them, however, if you do break a bone it is important to make sure you properly take care of the break and follow through on any physical therapy necessary for a full recovery.

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What Your Eyes Say about Senior Health

May is Healthy Vision Month and making sure you have regular checkups is important at every age, but as a senior there are numerous complications that can arise if you do not get your eyes checked frequently.  Senior eye health depends on awareness and early diagnosis of potential problems. Elderly vision loss, macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma are among the most common issues affecting senior eye health. Fortunately, the eyes are more than ready to disclose these potential difficulties, as well as other impending health concerns, if you know where to look

Your eyes can say a lot without speaking a word. So what can the eyes reveal?

A recurring sty could indicate cancer, particularly if eyelashes around the sty have fallen out. An ophthalmologist can examine the sty and determine if a biopsy is needed.  Bulging eyes often indicate an overactive thyroid (Graves’ disease). Other symptoms include weight loss, blurry vision, fatigue and nervousness. Physicians can order a blood test to measure thyroid levels and decide on medication or surgery for treatment. Cholesterol Spots which can be a warning sign of an underlying health condition are fatty deposits under the eyelid. Brown spots or bumps can be a sign of a possible malignant tumor, it is important to check your eyelids regularly, as well as, the rest of your body for unusual marks, spots, or bumps. If you do find something, go to your doctor immediately. Detecting and treating are the best ways to avoid spreading. Cataracts are something all seniors need to be aware of, the first sign is cloudiness around the eyes. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in the U.S. The most effective solution is surgery to remove the cataracts. Glaucoma presents as pain in the eye, halos around lights and blurred vision, it can also cause nausea. These are all signs you need to be aware of and visit a doctor immediately.  Sometimes as we get older, double vision or vision loss can be signs of a stroke. These signs along with weakness in extremities, especially on one side of the body can signal a stroke. Seek immediate medical attention if you exhibit these symptoms. If you notice a yellowish hue, (jaundice) in the whites of your eyes, it could be a buildup of bilirubin, which is a substance produced when the liver breaks down red blood cells. This is typically caused by hepatitis, or cirrhosis, or possibly a gallbladder issue, consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Macular degeneration is when a small central portion of the retina (the macula) deteriorates. This is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60 years old. There are currently no cures for macular degeneration, but there are prescribed treatments to slow the progression of the disease. Bell’s palsy, which is a temporary paralysis on the side of the face, and typically your eye, is not the result of a stroke. Seek medical attention immediately, if diagnosed as Bell’s palsy symptoms typically clear up in around ten days.

According to Alzheimers.net “Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles discovered that beta amyloid protein, a dementia-causing protein in the brain, can also be found in the retina of the eye; giving the medical community a much simpler way to predict Alzheimer’s disease. This is great news considering Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise from 5.1 million in 2010 to 13.5 million in 2050 and is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.”

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016  

Today is the 23rd Annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day!!

Today over 100,000 older adults will participate in activities at more than 1,000 locations throughout the U.S., as we celebrate the 23rd annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day. The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. This event is always the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the nation’s largest annual health promotion event for older adults. 
There are so many things seniors can do to stay active! You do not have to run a marathon or climb Mount Everest to stay fit (in fact, we do not recommend attempting Everest) you can do something as simple as chair yoga to keep your muscles and bones active. 
Best Exercises for Senior Health
To stay fit in your senior years, focus on these three types of exercises:
Flexibility exercises. The simplest exercises are stretching and flexing, and they tend to become more important as people get older. The older we get to more we tend to have range of motion problems in our joints. These exercises maintain the ability to get around and enjoy your life. Practices such as yoga or Pilates can improve flexibility; many gyms also offer stretching exercise programs designed for seniors. Try to stretch every single day. If you have problems with balance, be sure to do your stretching while sitting or lying down.

Strength exercises.  Strong muscles are very important to daily living, whether you are getting out of a chair, or carrying groceries. Strength training can reduce the rate at which your bones become weaker. If you have a little more muscle around the bone and you fall, it could help prevent a fracture. Try to perform strength exercises on all of your major muscle groups at least twice a week for 30-minute sessions, but do not exercise the same sets of muscles on back-to-back days. Start with lighter weights, and then move up as you gain in strength. In addition, be sure to pay attention to your form to avoid injury. Especially when starting out, have an instructor spot you. Always make sure to consult your doctor before starting any new exercise routine. 

Aerobic exercises. Getting your heart rate up can benefit your entire body and make it easier for you to walk or perform just about any everyday activity. Depending upon your abilities, you should try to perform at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise nearly every day of the week. The main concern would be if individuals have problems with balance they might want to switch to a treadmill versus walking outside.” This modification can make the exercise safer.
Getting older should not mean surrendering to a sedentary lifestyle. Staying fit should remain a part of your daily routine.


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Mental Health and Older Adults

As science and technology have advanced, the average lifespan has increased. Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. Between 2015 and 2050, the percentage of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double, from 12 percent to 22 percent. Along with an increase in our elderly population and the fact that people are living longer lives, mental health and emotional well-being are as important in older age as at any other time of life.

Approximately 15 percent of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder. Neuropsychiatric disorders, which can include; addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychosis and sleep disorders, account for 6.6 percent of the total disability for older adults. Older adults, those aged 60 or above, make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce. While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as other health conditions such as diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, as people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.

The problem

The World Health Organization informs us that the world’s population is ageing rapidly. The amount of people over the age of 60 is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the next 35 years. Older people face special physical and mental health challenges, which need to be addressed.

In adults over 60, over 20 percent suffer from a mental or neurological disorder (excluding headache disorders). These disorders in the elderly population account for 17.4 percent of Years Lived with Disability. The most common neuropsychiatric disorders in this age group are dementia and depression. Anxiety disorders affect 3.8 percent of the elderly population, substance use problems affect almost one percent and around a quarter of deaths from self-harm are among those aged 60 or above. Substance abuse problems among the elderly are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

Due to the stigma caused by mental illness, people are hesitant to reach out to a medical professional, especially the elderly. Because of this, mental health issues are widely un-diagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed

Risk factors for mental health problems among older adults

The type of mental health a person has at any point of their life can be due to many social, psychological, and biological factors. As a person ages they typically are unable to live independently due to either limited mobility, constant pain, weakness, or other body and/or mind issues. In addition, older people are more likely to experience events such as bereavement, a drop in socioeconomic status with retirement, or a disability. All of these factors can result in isolation, loss of independence, loneliness and psychological distress in older people.

Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. For example, older adults with physical health conditions such as heart disease have higher rates of depression than those who are medically well. Conversely, untreated depression in an older person with heart disease can negatively affect the outcome of the physical disease.

Older adults are also vulnerable to elder abuse – including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious losses of dignity and respect. Current evidence suggests that 1 in 10 older people experience elder abuse. Elder abuse can lead not only to physical injuries, but also to serious, sometimes long-lasting psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety.

Dementia

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities. It mainly affects older people, although it is not a normal part of ageing.

It is estimated that 47.5 million people worldwide are living with dementia. The total number of people with dementia is projected to increase to 75.6 million in 2030 and 135.5 million in 2050, with majority of sufferers living in low- and middle-income countries.

There are significant social and economic issues in terms of the direct costs of medical, social and informal care associated with dementia. Moreover, physical, emotional and economic pressures can cause great stress to families. Support is needed from the health, social, financial and legal systems for both people with dementia and their caregivers.

Depression

Depression can cause great suffering and leads to impaired functioning in daily life. Unipolar depression occurs in 7 percent of the general elderly population and it accounts for 5.7 percent of YLDs among over 60 year olds. Depression is both underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings. Symptoms of depression in older adults are often overlooked and untreated because they coincide with other problems encountered by older adults.

Older adults with depressive symptoms have poorer functioning compared to those with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, hypertension or diabetes. Depression also increases the perception of poor health, the utilization of medical services and health care costs.

Treatment and care strategies

It is important to prepare health providers and societies to meet the specific needs of older populations, including:

Training for health professionals in care for older persons;

Preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases including mental, neurological and substance use disorders;

Designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care; and

Developing age-friendly services and settings.

Health promotion

The mental health of older adults can be improved through promoting Active and Healthy Ageing. Mental health-specific health promotion for older adults involves creating living conditions and environments that support wellbeing and allow people to lead healthy and integrated lifestyles. Promoting mental health depends largely on strategies which ensure the elderly have the necessary resources to meet their basic needs, such as:

Providing security and freedom;

Adequate housing through supportive housing policy;

Social support for older populations and their caregivers;

Health and social programs targeted at vulnerable groups such as those who live alone and rural populations or who suffer from a chronic or relapsing mental or physical illness;

Programs to prevent and deal with elder abuse; and

Community development programs.

Interventions

Prompt recognition and treatment of mental, neurological and substance use disorders in older adults is essential. Both psychosocial interventions and medicines are recommended.

There is no medication currently available to cure dementia but much can be done to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers and families, such as:

Early diagnosis, in order to promote early and optimal management;

Optimizing physical and psychological health and well-being;

Identifying and treating accompanying physical illness;

Detecting and managing challenging behavioral and psychological symptoms; and

Providing information and long-term support to caregivers.

Mental health care in the community

Good general health and social care is important for promoting older people’s health, preventing disease and managing chronic illnesses. Training all health providers in working with issues and disorders related to ageing is therefore important. Effective, community-level primary mental health care for older people is crucial. It is equally important to focus on the long-term care of older adults suffering from mental disorders, as well as to provide caregivers with education, training and support.

An appropriate and supportive legislative environment based on internationally accepted human rights standards is required to ensure the highest quality of services to people with mental illness and their caregivers.

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Summertime in Sacramento for Seniors (Part 1)…

Events, Classes, Music, Theater, and more…

Just because we are a little older, and maybe do not move as quickly, doesn’t mean there are not plenty of things we can still do! Sacramento is home to a wide variety of places and events that are geared towards seniors, and those that incorporate people of every age! We have decided to help put some of those events and places together to help you plan your summer excursions.

The Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center is the heart of operations for the City of Sacramento Older Adult Services division. In addition to providing a wide array of services, the center is a gathering place for people who come together to stretch their horizons, have fun, learn new things, make friends and discover the joys of life after age 50.

The Sacramento Senior Citizens Club at the Hart Senior Center is a great place to go to connect with other seniors in your area. They offer different social gatherings, such as:

 The Manitos, which is a group of Spanish speaking seniors, the group is conducted entirely in Spanish and features games, food, songs, exercise and more. Educational seminars and other presentations are scheduled frequently. The gatherings are free. Blind Social which is for blind, low-vision and seeing friends get together for conversation, socialization, games and snacks. Volunteers assist group members as needed. The gathering is free.

Older Women’s League (OWL) is the only national grassroots membership organization that focuses exclusively on issues unique to women as they age. OWL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts research, education and advocacy activities to improve the status and quality of life of mid-life and older women.

Sacramento Senior Citizens Club provides events for the entertainment, education, and social interaction of Sacramento seniors. This social group offers monthly casino trips, as well as weekly Bingo games and Sunday dances. The group holds their regular meetings at the Hart Senior Center. Club membership includes dues.

The Wisdom Project mission is to create a community for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) elders and allies in the greater Sacramento area. Community meetings will feature guest speakers, social networking, community building and valuable information for LGBT older adults.

These are just a few of the wonderful programs offered by The Hart Center.

If theater is more up your alley, the B Street Theater is where you need to be! Whether you prefer to watch from a seat or be a lead in the play, the B Street Theater has something for everyone! They offer classes for both children and adults and performances for the light hearted to the serious theater Aficionado.  Located at 2711 B Street, Sacramento CA 95816

If you are more interested in cooling off this summer, head out to get one of Sacramento’s  frozen-treat institutions: Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream, serving specialty ice creams including Swiss Orange Chip and Green Tea; Vic’s Ice Cream, with favorites like Cappuccino Chip; Burr’s Fountain, where you can order a milkshake made with any ice cream flavor on the menu; and The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze, which uses Merlino’s famous recipe to make its tasty treats in flavors such as mango, mint chocolate chip and coconut cream.

Tour the Capitol. It’s free, it’s architecturally stunning and it’s historically rich: You can get the complete history of California’s governors as you wander among their portraits in the squeaky-clean hallways. (Check out former Gov. Jerry Brown’s portrait on the third floor—painted in an unconventional abstract style compared to the other, more realistic gubernatorial portraits. No surprise.) The tour is informative and entertaining with fun stories about the history of the architect and builders, and of the Governors who have resided there.

Tune into local music at Pops in the Park, concerts held in East Sacramento and River Park neighborhood parks; Friday Night Concerts in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown; and Harmony on the River, held along River Walk Park in West Sacramento.

Sacramento has so many wonderful activities to offer to the senior community, make sure you get out and enjoy them!

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

Making Your Home Safer

Independence is important to everyone, starting the day they take their first step. The feeling of freedom and having the ability to do and go anywhere is wonderful! However, as we age, we begin to lose our freedoms and even being in our own homes can become unsafe. Nearly 90% of individuals over age 65 want to stay in their home for as long as possible, according to a research report by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the AARP Public Policy Institute. As we age our bodies begin to turn against us and no longer want to run the way we once did, and we need a little help making sure our environment is safe to help avoid any unnecessary accidents or falls.

One way to ensure you have a safe home is to walk through and look for ways you can fall and hurt yourself. Clutter on the floor, such as, books, newspapers and magazines, electrical cords, pet dishes, and small furniture are all things that could cause an accident and should be removed or reorganized to avoid being a hazard. Make sure there is plenty of room to get around the furniture, if you have to turn sideways to get past the arm chair you could very easily lose your balance and fall. If need be, downsize your furniture a little, there is probably at least one piece of furniture you can do without in your home. Do you have hardwood floors and rugs? Make sure the rugs are securely fastened to the floor, and the ends are not frayed or folding up. If you have carpet, make sure it is in good condition with no rips or holes along the edges where you could get a shoe or toe stuck. Clean up spills immediately and make sure the area is completely dry; a small wet spot could turn into a major accident. Poor lighting both inside and outside of your home can attribute to falls, make sure you get someone to change your lights as soon as they burn out, and if needed add more lights to make it easier to see the things around you. Having a light within reach of your bed and night lights in the bathroom and hallways will help when getting up during the night. Make sure to have a flashlight next to your bed in case of a power outage, and check it every six months to ensure the batteries are working. If you have stairs, make sure you have a strong rail installed on both sides of your stairs if you can, and keep your stairs area well maintained and clutter free, do not leave mail, newspapers, magazines, or other clutter that can cause you to fall. Your bathroom is a big hazard if not properly safeguarded. Make sure you have non-slip mats inside and outside of the tub and hand rails inside and out. To help prevent hazards in the kitchen, such as fires started when a burner is left on, there are a number of options. You might consider temperature-controlled cookware. If cooking becomes a difficult task, it may be time to simply avoid the stove. The microwave for heating meals is a safer alternative. If the individual has memory issues, sometimes it is best to just disconnect the stove so there are no concerns of an accident. For eating and drinking, a travel mug is great for carrying beverages to avoid spills, lightweight dishes and silverware are a good idea, and adding nonslip mats to counter-tops and under small appliances can be helpful as well.  If you do live alone and do not have anyone checking in on you, some sort of alert system should be in the home. There are non-invasive alert systems that you can wear on your wrist and around your neck and if you have an emergency you have a way to call for help. There are many ways you can stay in your home longer while still making sure you are staying safe, but it is important that you take the safety precautions necessary to ensure you will be able to stay in your home for years to come!

In-Home care services are incredibly valuable to keep you at home for as long as you want. In-Home care companies offer an array of services from light housekeeping, meal preparation, and medication management, to games and routines focused on memory care, as well as exercise and outings, and many more services and options. In-Home care will help to keep you safe and in your home for years to come.  Please give us a call and we would be happy to recommend the right In-Home care company for your needs. 

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

PTSD Awareness Month

PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. When you see the letters PTSD, where does your mind go? What type of person do you picture? Most likely you think of a Veteran who served in Vietnam, or Iraq, maybe one of the hundreds of men and women who were part of the search and rescue after 9/11. When I think of PTSD I imagine, as I assume most people do, a person who has been through a very intense experience, typically some type of war or similar experience. However, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anyone can develop PTSD at any age. This includes not only war veterans, but children, the elderly, and people who have been through a physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster, or any other serious events. According to the National Center for PTSD, about seven or eight out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and genes may make some people more likely to develop PTSD than others. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people develop PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or harm. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also lead to PTSD.

Older adults who experience a serious fall may develop symptoms of PTSD in the days following the event. In an article by the Center for Advancing Health they discuss a study published in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry which found symptoms associated with PTSD in 27 out of 100 people over the age of 65 who had been admitted to a hospital after a fall. A young and healthy person may have a hard time imagining having PTSD after a fall, but if you look at the experience from an elderly person’s point of view it is easy how this can happen. If you are getting older and it is harder to get around, maybe your legs do not lift your feet off the ground as high as they used to, or your home has become over cluttered and it is hard to get around, this can easily cause a fall, and when your bones become brittle and weak they break very easily. Have you ever been in a car accident? Did you relive that moment over and over for a while after the accident? Did you have any problems getting back behind the wheel, or driving on the same road at the same time? It is the same for an elderly person and falling, you relive that moment when you lost control and were unable to stop the accident from happening, but when an older adult falls it is something that most likely would not have happened at a younger age and the trauma that can be caused by reliving that moment or living in fear that it will happen again can put unnecessary stress and trauma on a person.  Talking about the fear, maybe joining a support group, and taking steps to avoid the situation from happening again are great ways to overcome PTSD, it does not happen over night, but you can move past the fear.  If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, such as, reliving the experience through nightmares or flashbacks, avoiding situations that remind you of the event, or having negative changes in feelings and beliefs, talk to your doctor about getting help.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home  Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.