Senior Health – Information on Colds

People suffer through a cold during the winter. Others may be severely affected by the flu. For older adults, both of these could include other complications, which is why it is important for them to seek treatment as soon as any symptoms are noticed. The information below can be useful for seniors during the flu season.

1. Flu symptoms will include fever, sore throat, congestion, muscle aches and cough. Colds usually include a stuffy or runny nose.

2. There are different strains of the flu and seniors need to be aware of these as well. The swine flu shares many symptoms with the regular flu but patients will also experience vomiting and diarrhea.

3. Most people will not develop a fever when they have a cold. With the flu, patients will typically run a fever between 100-102.

4. The flu will cause a lot of fatigue and will last for many weeks. Seniors with a weak immune system or chronic disease could battle the flu for more than a month.

5. Headaches are not reliable indicators of the flu or a cold.

6. Seniors with lung issues need to be cautious of getting the flu because it could turn into pneumonia.

7. A sore throat can be a symptom of colds and the flu, so seniors need to make note of other symptoms they have to determine what they have.

Source: WebMD.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Seniors and Diabetes – Tips for Halloween

It’s Halloween time! A nightmare for people living with diabetes. Older adults who are diabetic need to be careful and avoid sweets. It’s easy to be tempted but you must turn away the offer of even a few pieces of candy. If you do not, eating sweet treats can have serious implications on your health. Here are tips on diabetes at Halloween time.

1. When seniors have diabetes, they have to be very careful of what they eat on a daily basis. Ingesting too much sugar could produce serious health conditions and even death.

2. Even though candy is the temptation during Halloween, some seniors may be tempted by other treats, such as pasta, pizza and pretzels. These items also contained refined ingredients that could affect sugar levels.

3. The best thing to eat when craving something sweet is fresh fruit. However, there are some fruits that diabetics should avoid, including oranges, grapefruit, plums, peaches, nectarines and papaya. In addition, bananas, strawberries and grapes should be avoided because they have sugar pulp.

4. Keep an eye on beverages and make sure the sugar content is not too high. Diabetic seniors should avoid soda, tea and coffee.

Source: Lifestyle

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Older Adults Need Good Oral Hygiene

Even though seniors may believe dental care is not important as it was when they were young, following good oral hygiene helps seniors maintain overall health. These tips help maintain dental health.

1. Have a healthy diet. This will help improve oral health. Eating green and raw vegetables will be beneficial.

2. When brushing teeth, do not forget about the tongue. Daily brushing of the teeth on a daily basis is not as effective unless the tongue is also brushed at the same time.

3. Omit refined sugars from your diet. There are many products that will provide seniors with a sweet tooth the satisfaction they are looking for without the sugar intake.

4. Always provide your dentist with medical records. This will ensure you receive the proper medications if necessary.

5. Just because dentures are not real teeth, they should not be treated any differently. Brush and clean them daily.

6. No matter what the circumstances are, never decrease brushing. Always make sure to brush on a regular basis to maintain oral health.

7. Be sure to keep those dental visits. Routine cleanings are just as important for seniors as they are for young adults.

Source: Health.Priguide.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Eating Tips for Traveling Seniors

Traveling seniors still need to find healthy foods to eat while on the road. If driving to the destination, seniors will pass many food establishments in their travels. It is important to eat where healthy food is served. If this is not possible, there are some tips below that can help seniors eat healthy and enjoy their vacation.

1.    Try to avoid the temptation of junk food from convenience stores. Eating junk food will fill the body with calories and fat, leaving seniors feeling fatigued and irritable.

2.    When eating breakfast in the road, try to avoid foods that have high amounts of sugar. A meal that is high in carbs will elevate the mood, but a high amount of sugar can cause drowsiness. If the senior is driving, this is never a good combination.

3.    In a restaurant, choose a meal that is as healthy as possible. Opt for an omelet with vegetables and whole-grain toast.

4.    Oatmeal with fruit is a great breakfast and snack during the day. It will provide the body with nutrients and energy.

5.    For seniors who are craving something sweet, try a bran muffin or whole-wheat toast with a little jelly.

6.    Fresh fruits, hard boiled eggs and yogurt are great in the hotel or for snacking.

7.    If seniors have to eat at a service station, avoid sugars. Try a protein bar or a breakfast sandwich.

8.    Try to avoid fast food. Go for soup, salad, vegetables and fish for dinner or lunch.

Source: http://nutrition.about.com/od/foodfun/a/healthyeating.htm

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Tips for Keeping Seniors Active

When a senior has a low activity level, they are more prone to health problems. To avoid this, seniors should have some form of exercise in their life. It does not have to involve going to a gym or even joining exercise classes. There are many things that can be done to increase activity and promote good health. The tips below can help seniors with their exercise routines.

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

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Questions to Ask Eye Doctors

If you are concerned about your aging loved one’s eye-sight, you may want to set up an appointment with their usual eye care provider to test for glaucoma and cataracts. Help your senior by accompanying them and asking the doctor the following questions:

• Are cataracts causing his/her vision problems?
• What are other possible causes for vision problems?
• What kinds of tests does he/she need?
• Does he/she need cataract surgery?
• Will cataract surgery correct his/her vision problems?
• What are the potential risks of cataract surgery?
• How much time will he/she need to recover from cataract surgery?
• Will any usual activities be restricted after cataract surgery? For how long?
• After cataract surgery, how long should he/she wait before getting new glasses?

Source: The Mayo Clinic

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Control Wandering

Controlling a wandering Alzheimer’s patient can be a difficult thing. Many patients 2will wander off to find something that is familiar to them. There are some simple things that can be done to help with this issue. Controlling wandering is a way to ensure the safety of the patient. Below is some information and useful tips on how to control wandering and make sure the patient remains safe.

1. Some patients may wander to escape something that is causing them stress and anxiety. This could be too many conversations or a lot of noises. Try to minimize conversations and reduce background noises as much as possible.

2. In many cases, Alzheimer’s patients will wander it an attempt to relive the past. This is especially true for those who had a strict schedule for many years.

3. Wandering can also be triggered by certain medications.

4. To prevent wandering, address triggers, such as offering food and water, encouraging physical activities. Providing a family photo can also help reduce wandering.

5. Use visual cues to help the patient notice where they are. This can be done by putting photos on doors and walls to identify objects and areas of the home.

6. Try to keep them active and involved. The more interested a patient is in something, the less apt they are to wander off.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Levels of Testosterone in Senior Men

The level of a man’s testosterone is an important factor as they age. When these levels begin to decrease, these men will start to lose bone density. This could eventually cause frailty. While it has not been concretely proven, various studies have indicated that low testosterone levels can be linked to the development of frailty. More information is provided below.

1. It is normal for testosterone levels to begin to deplete with age.

2. When levels are too low, men will begin to lose bone density, muscle mass and some of their physical strength. Also, red blood cell production will begin to slow down.

3. Various studies are being conducted to prove the link between low levels of testosterone and these medical issues. Currently, there is no way to determine if frailty in senior men is actually caused by the lack of the hormone.

4. Some recent research has shown that men who have a lower level of the hormone will be more likely to become frail within the next four to seven years.

5. At this time, it is not known if testosterone replacement therapy will be beneficial. Unfortunately, the hormone levels could be masked by another disease or illness that could be the primary cause of frailty.

Source: Reuters

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Senior Facts on Dementia

Seniors who are in the early stages of dementia realize that there is very little hope to battle the disease. There is no definite cure for this and many seniors are feeling as though their life is already over. What makes matters even worse is the large number of people that deny the existence of dementia. The list below contains some facts about the disease.

1. In 2050, more than 14 million people will be affected by this disease.

2.  This increase will cause huge cost increases for the healthcare system.

3. There are a few medications that are being used to help slow the progression of the disease. Some patients report positive changes, but many do not notice a difference at all.

4. The actual cause of the disease has not yet been discovered. There has been many research projects conducted and the results indicate that there could be many factors involved in the development of dementia.

5. In the case of dementia, each senior will react differently. They will have different symptoms, different progression rates and will react differently to medications. Doctors are now focusing on the individual instead of the disease as a whole.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Information for Seniors with Sleep Issues

Senior sleep issues are a common problem in the population. The majority of seniors have difficulty sleeping. They either do not fall asleep or cannot stay asleep. There are many reasons for this, some of which may be medical. Before trying sleep aids, try some of the tips from the list below. They may be the answer to a restful sleep.

1. Seniors should not consume and caffeine for up to six hours before going to bed. This includes coffee, tea and soda.

2. It is advised to turn off the TV before trying to go to sleep. The television could be the reason seniors wake up in the middle of the night.

3. Do not perform any type of strenuous exercise prior to bedtime.

4. Long naps during the day can cause seniors to be unable to sleep at night.

5. Smoking and drinking alcohol should not be done for at least 2 to 4 hours before going to bed.

6. Try to listen to soothing and soft music when there is difficulty falling asleep.

7. Warm baths before bed can help seniors relax. This may help them fall asleep easier.

8. If you cannot fall asleep, do not just lay in bed. After about 20 minutes, get up and read a book or do something calming until you feel drowsy.

9. Try to have a routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.

Source: Assisted Living Facilities

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.