Health Info & Resources for Seniors
Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season
Putting up decorations is one of the best ways to get in a holiday mood, but they can be hazardous. “Angel hair,” made from spun glass, can irritate your eyes and skin; always wear gloves or substitute non-flammable cotton. Spraying artificial snow can irritate your lungs if inhaled; follow directions carefully. Decorate the tree with your kids in mind; move ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks toward the top.
Use Holiday Visits to Assess Parent’s Safety at Home
Senior Assessment Services Can Help Determine What Help Is Needed
There’s no place like home for the holidays. And there’s no better time to observe parents and other elderly loved ones than when you are home for the holidays. “Having the opportunity to observe your parents in their home while they go about their daily routine can be particularly enlightening, especially if you live a distance away,” says Carrie Fleckenstein, St. Luke’s University Health Networks Senior Network Director, Senior Care Services. “On the telephone, many older adults paint a rosy picture – whether out of pride, a desire not to worry their children, or fear that they will be forced to give up their home. While you’re in the home, however, you can spot signs of struggle.”
Wounds Become More Frequent and Harder to Heal with Age
By Steven R. Bowers, DO
Years ago, you hardly noticed a little scape, scratch or bruise. Within a short while, the wound healed and before long the sore was long forgotten. Today, it seems wounds appear more often and take longer to go away. It’s not your imagination. As you grow older, you become more susceptible to wounds and they take longer to heal. A number of factors contribute to this including the effects of aging, decreased movement and disease.
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Sites
Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D takes place from October 15 through December 7, 2017. The following is a list of locations where you can inquire about enrollment in Social Security and its various supplemental plans.
Continuing Care at Home Moves Into the Lehigh Valley
Recently, residents in the Lehigh Valley have been learning about continuing care at home, a program that helps seniors age in place by delivering health and wellness solutions to their homes. This service is relatively new in the Valley, and until now, it has only been offered by Phoebe Ministries’ Pathstones. Now, more options have arrived for residents in the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton areas who desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
Skilled Nursing Facilities - The Basics
Many times when an individual requires care in a skilled nursing facility, the decision on where to place the patient needs to be made immediately. The decision is often triggered by a medical event, like stroke or a fall, and the patient is treated at a hospital and later discharged directly to a skilled nursing facility. It is important to know what skilled nursing is and which skilled nursing facilities are in the area.