Home Safety Tips for Seniors

Senior safety is a huge issue and concern. Many seniors who cannot see well will experience a higher number of injuries at home. This is because the home is not safe for seniors who cannot see. To help with this, the following list provides some great ideas on how to make the home safer for any senior who has low vision.

1. Make sure all rooms are well lit.

2. Try to use task lighting, such as desk lamps, to make everyday activities simpler for seniors.

3. Always use nightlights in bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways. This will help seniors be able to navigate through the house in the dark.

4. Make stairways safer. This can be done by placing a piece of brightly colored tape along the edges of each stair.

5. Paint door frames a contrasting color from that of the walls so they stand out.

6. Eliminate as much clutter as possible to reduce the chance of falling. Clutter is one of the main causes of falls in the home.

7. Try to position televisions so that the sun does not shine directly on the screen.

8. Seniors who take medications should always use pill organizers. This will help to ensure they are taking the right medication at the right time.

Source: Senior Living

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.

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.

Senior Health – Kitchen Safety

An important concern among the senior population is kitchen safety. While the seniors themselves do not see any problems, caregivers and family members may notice certain things, such as expired food in the cabinets and freezer. These foods can breed bacteria and cause health problems for seniors. The list below contains some great tips on how seniors can have a safe and healthy kitchen.

1. Seniors need to learn that they do not have to buy in bulk. Buying too much food leads to a lot of wasted money as well as rotting food in the kitchen.

2. Look for anything that has expired and throw it away. This includes canned goods, as well as frozen foods.

3. Many seniors are so used to feeding large families that they have difficulty buying for just themselves and a spouse. Caregivers may need to take some time to shop with seniors to show them how to buy in small amounts.

4. The kitchen is often the place for clutter. Seniors will often leave mail and many other things on the kitchen table. This can create a fire hazard and can also affect the cleanliness of the kitchen as a whole.

Source: Caregiver’s Home

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.

The Right Medicine – Facts for Seniors

Finding the right medicine can be frustrating. However, even though it is a lengthy process, seniors can benefit from a trial and error period. This is when various forms of healing are tested to see what works best for the individual. Finding the right treatment can take some time, but seniors will benefit in the long run. Additional facts are provided below.

1. Tibetan medicine breaks things up into categories. It states that there are 404 diseases that are further classified by 101 diseases, those of which are classified by cause.

2. Finding the right medicine can involve many factors, including age, diagnoses, dosages and side effects that may cause other health problems.

3. Patients who have the same disease will respond differently to treatments. This is why it is important to treat each individual, not the disease over all. This means that many seniors with the same conditions may be on different medications and treatment plans based on the individual person and how they respond to a particular medication.

4. There is no one form of healing. Each senior has a different body make-up. This will affect how certain medications will affect the patient. Trying to find the right medication may take time. It will also involve the patient trying different medications until one is found that does the job.

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.

Seniors and Chronic Disease – The Right Order

Millions of seniors are diagnosed each year with a chronic disease. While most of these seniors are receiving some type of treatment, they may not be going through all of the required steps. The following list contains some important information on the right order in which to treat a chronic disease.

1. The first thing is to determine the actual cause of the illness.

2. Daily diets play a large role in maintaining health. It is important for any senior with a chronic illness to make sure all allergens are removed from their diet.

3. The digestive system is also important. Seniors should be tested to make sure there are no problems with their digestive tract.

4. Increase the intake of essential nutrients. Many times, seniors will have a diet that does not allow them to get the nutrients they need to help fight off illness.

5. Poor diets can have an impact on the balance of hormones in the body. Insulin resistance, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, axis dysfunction and subclinical adrenal insufficiency, thyroid dysfunction and sex hormones all need to be in balance.

6. Increasing the metabolism can be helpful. This will provide seniors with more energy, which can help them remain healthy.

7. Detoxification is important. Removing mercury and lead from the body will help with cleansing.

8. Seniors need to know how to take care of their minds and body. These work together to help seniors achieve optimal health.

9. Hidden infections can be the cause of resistance to certain medications.

Source: Ultra Wellness Center

Senior Health – Avoid Clutter

Avoiding clutter can be a challenge for many seniors. Older people are prone to keep things they do not need or use on a daily basis. This could lead to many problems. Below is a list that can help remove clutter and understand the potential problems that could arise if the clutter issue is not corrected.

1. Take a look in the kitchen cabinets and look for unused pots and pans.

2. The refrigerator and freezer should not hold any food that is old or expired.

3. If a caregiver notices piles of mail on the table, this could mean that the senior is not paying their bills.

4. Clutter in the bathroom can create hygiene problems. Check the medicine cabinet for outdated medications.

5. Cluttered basements are common in the senior population. While this may seem harmless, it can create a perfect space for rodents, mildew and mold.

6. Stairways should be free of clutter to prevent falling.

7. Bedroom closets should not have too much in them. If they are cluttered, it could cause the senior to get confused.

8. Extra papers and magazines lying around the house could be a fire hazard. They should be discarded regularly.

Source: Home Instead

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.