Health Info & Resources for Seniors
The Importance of the Home Health Aide
When children and families are away and seniors are alone, home health care agencies provide valuable services, such as helping seniors stay safe and assisting them to complete their daily tasks and activities of daily living.
I first understood the importance of the services that aides provide when I worked as a Social Service Coordinator at a subsidized senior living facility. Though residents living in this building envisioned being able to live independently, many were not thriving. Emerging health problems, social isolation, and mental health issues, among other factors, greatly limited many of the residents I saw on a daily basis.
Food For Thought Spring 2018
South Mountain Memory Care - Chef Cheryl Feist
Why do you want to work in a senior living community?
I take great pride in working with the senior population who may no longer live alone and cannot prepare homemade meals any longer so sometimes they resort to prepackaged or frozen foods. Most days you become their personal chef.
How do you modify recipes to make sure they are healthy?
There are so many different options to modify recipes to make them healthier. You can use puree or mashed fruit, pureed beans or soft tofu. I like to revise and do a taste testing with staff before we serve it to our community.
Diabetes and Heart Disease: An Unhealthy Relationship
Diabetes, which is prevalent among older adults, significantly increases one’s risk of developing heart and vascular disease, including stroke. In fact, about two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes actually die from complications of cardiovascular disease. “If you have diabetes, your risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is the same as someone who has already had a heart attack,” says Bankim Bhatt, MD, chief of endocrinology, St. Luke’s University Heart Network. “In fact, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes.”
When It Is No Longer Safe To Live At Home
Most seniors are able to age in place in their homes for many years, but there comes a time when one’s quality of life is better in a senior living environment. Sometimes a fall or significant memory issues can trigger the transition to senior living, but the most difficult circumstances occur when seniors have no triggering events. Families often wonder ‘for how long is it safe to allow mom or dad to live at home’? Are you worried about a loved one and think they may need Assisted Living? Here are some signs to that can indicate the time has come.
Colonoscopy Can Save Lives
Reduce Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer
The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. In fact, according to cancer.net, the average age at the time of diagnosis for men is 68 and for women is 72. For rectal cancer, it is age 63 for both men and women. Older patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer face unique challenges, specifically with regard to cancer treatment. But, fortunately, colonoscopy can help reduce your risk.
How Many Steps Did You Take Today?
Inactivity can lead to a number of health and personal issues, including weight gain, onset of chronic and acute illness and even low productivity in work and daily life. Constant activity can prevent and may even reverse many of these issues. Moving around – by walking, running, even fidgeting in your seat, can help boost a person’s overall health.