Boston Aging Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Food poisoning and foodborne illnesses are common concerns for seniors. Since seniors have a weaker immune system, they can get severely ill from food that is not prepared safely. The following tips can help seniors ensure that they are taking the necessary steps to safely prepare their food, avoiding unnecessary risks.
1. Hand washing is essential. More than half of the potential cases of foodborne illness can be removed by properly washing your hands. Make sure to wash hands before, during and after all food preparation. Washing during preparation reduces the chances of cross-contamination.
2. Check refrigerator settings to make sure the food is being stored properly. The setting should be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. After shopping, put perishables away quickly.
3. Clean the refrigerator often. Any lunch meat that has been open for more than 5 days should be discarded.
4. When thawing food, do not just leave them on a counter. Place them in the refrigerator overnight to thaw them properly. Foods can also be thawed by running them under cool water or placing them in the microwave, but both of these methods should only be used if the food will be prepared immediately.
5. Wash preparation surfaces often to prevent contamination. This is very important when preparing raw meats. It is suggested to have two separate cutting boards, one for raw meat, poultry and fish and the other for breads and vegetables.
6. Be aware of proper cooking temperatures. Always make sure food is thoroughly cooked.
Our Boston Caregivers enable seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Seniors with food allergies need to be especially careful when they eat. A food allergy could trigger a serious and life-threatening reaction. There are different types of food allergies and many people are allergic to more than one. The list below provides some helpful facts on the types of food allergies and how seniors can manage their allergy issues.
1. Food allergies are the most common types of allergies. These could include an allergy to fish and shellfish, eggs, milk, peanuts and tree nuts, soy and wheat. If a senior has an allergy to one of these foods, they need to know how to manage that allergy and how to deal with the possible reaction if they are exposed to it.
2. There are more than 160 foods that are known to cause allergic reactions. However, 90% of all food allergies are to the foods listed above.
3. Wheat, soy and milk allergies are the most difficult to deal with. This is because these ingredients are in almost everything we eat. Those with wheat allergies need to be on a gluten-free diet. Potato bread is a great substitute for other breads that contain wheat. Soy is in most processed foods, so this allergy is especially hard to manage.
4. No matter what the food allergy is, seniors should make sure that everyone is aware of the allergy. This is important when others are preparing food.
Boston Elder Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Seniors often suffer from food allergies and intolerances. It is quite common for seniors to have to battle both of these ailments. This can make things very difficult when trying to maintain a healthy diet. Seniors with allergies and intolerances have to avoid eating certain foods that will trigger a reaction. The best way to battle these conditions is to gather as many facts as possible and alert others to the medical condition. The list that is below contains some important facts for seniors about allergies and intolerances.
1. There are eight foods that account for more than 90% of all food allergies. These include eggs, peanuts, milk, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Many people can have an anaphylactic reaction when they ingest a food they are allergic to.
2. Anyone with a food allergy or intolerance should know what foods make them ill and do their best to avoid these foods. It is important to make mention of any food allergies to anyone who is preparing food you will be eating.
3. Food allergy symptoms appear almost immediately after eating the food. The symptoms can include itchy nose and throat, watery eyes, shortness of breath or hives. There are many symptoms, but these are the most common.
4. Food intolerance is when the body cannot digest the food components. This is common with foods that contain lactose or sulfides. The symptoms may include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea or nausea. Unlike food allergies, food intolerance is not life-threatening.
5. If you have a food intolerance or allergy, make sure to meet with a dietician to understand what foods you need to avoid. You also need to learn about food ingredients so you know what to watch for. Make sure to read all labels on packaged foods and inform family members and friends of the intolerance or allergy.
Boston Senior Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
In order to provide effective services to a senior, caregivers must remain healthy. This applies to mental and physical capacities. If a caregiver neglects their own health, they will not be able to provide the necessary services to a senior. The list below contains a few tips that will help caregivers stay on track and keep healthy so that they can carry on providing those important services.
1. Caregivers should remember that they are not alone. The role of a caregiver can be stressful, exhausting and demanding. Many times, caregivers suffer from depression. While it may seem like the caregiver must do this alone, family and friends can offer much support and make a big difference.
2. Caregivers need to know their strengths. It is important to reward yourself for a job well done. Knowing your strengths as well as your limitations will help you become a better caregiver.
3. Many caregivers neglect their own health because they are so preoccupied with caring for a senior. Your personal health should be your number one priority. Never put aside your own health needs.
4. It is ok to ask for help. If you begin feeling overwhelmed, there is no shame asking for help. This could be as simple as words of encouragement. Family members may also be able to help you care for an elderly relative. This can make a huge difference because you will not be responsible for every aspect of care. It is ok to take a break!
5. Caregivers need to be an advocate for seniors. It is important for every caregiver to know their own rights in addition to the rights of the senior receiving assistance or treatment.
Home Care Boston enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Many times seniors will make a resolution that will affect their over-all health. While these resolutions provide great outcomes, they are often difficult to keep. There is no harm asking friends and family for a little help as you try to make some small changes in your daily life. The list below provides some useful tips for seniors on how to keep their resolutions.
1. Have a support network, Friends and family can provide emotional support. This can be beneficial if the resolution included some drastic changes to daily living. If you have made some tough resolutions, you may benefit from being in the company of others who are also making changes to their lives. This can help seniors stay on track. Positive support groups are essential.
2. Resolutions can be difficult to keep, depending on what they are. Many seniors choose to lose extra weight or start an exercise program. The key to being successful with these resolutions is to just do them. If you have a new diet, stick to it. If you have a new exercise regime, make time for it each day. These changes can greatly improve health and mood, so stick with them regardless of how it feels at the time.
3. If you slip up on your resolution, do not quit completely. Many people make little mistakes. This does not mean the time you have already put into keeping the resolution needs to be thrown away. Just count that day as a loss and pick up where you left off.
Boston Aging Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Seniors are often affected with diabetes, which is why it is important for them to have as many facts as possible. There are three different types of diabetes. All types have their own set of risk factors. These factors place individuals at a higher risk of developing diabetes. The list below provides the risk factors for three types of diabetes.
1. Type 1 diabetes risk factors include family history and genetics. If you have family members who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, you will be at a higher risk of developing the disease. Disease of the pancreas or injury to the pancreas can have an effect on how the body produces insulin, placing you at a high risk. Rare infections and illnesses that affect the pancreas are also a risk factor.
2. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being over-weight, having an impaired glucose tolerance and having insulin resistance. In addition, your ethnic background could also be a risk factor. Type 2 diabetes occurs more often in Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native Americans, Alaska natives, African-Americans and Asian-Americans. High blood pressure, family history, no exercise and age can all be risk factors.
3. Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women. The risk factors for this type of diabetes include obesity, age, family history and previous glucose intolerance.
4. The best way to reduce risks associated with diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight, exercise daily, have a healthy and balanced diet and manage your blood pressure. These things can reduce the chances of developing all types of diabetes.
Home Care Boston enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Hiring a caregiver for a senior can be as complicated as you make it. There are many agencies to choose from, each offering a staff of caregivers that provide various services. Once you have determined the type of service needed, you will have narrowed down the playing field. Then it is time to make some choices as to who the best caregiver will be. This is a serious decision and should not be made in haste. Below is a short list of tips that will help finding a caregiver less of a chore.
1. Check local Home Care Agencies. These companies staff many caregivers. However, they do provide different levels of service, so take the time to make sure all services that are needed can be provided.
2. If the senior in need of a caregiver is approved for care that will be paid for by Medicare, the Health Care Agency must be Medicare certified. This ensures that the agency meets the minimal federal requirements.
3. If the senior only requires personal care or homemaking services, caregivers do not have to come from an agency that is certified for Medicare.
4. If there is no Medicare coverage, the cost of the caregiver will have to be paid by the person receiving services. These services can be expensive, but there are some low rates for personal care attendants, also known as PCA’s. They are typically paid by the hour at rates between $13 and $35.
5. Do not be afraid to contact multiple agencies. It is important to find the right caregiver that will provide all services needed by the senior.
Home Care Boston enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Any senior will tell you, there is nothing better in an older person’s life than to be happy and healthy. With heart disease serving as the leading cause of death in the United States, the elderly need to be even more aware of how to keep those hearts healthy. It may seem like there is little a senior can do or the process is too complicated, but that is not the case when heart health is simplified.
• Lower Those Cholesterols Levels—People with coronary artery disease can monitor their cholesterol to ensure they don’t become another statistic or victim of heart disease.
• Practice Good Nutrition—Seniors worried about heart disease can eliminate some of that worry by merely changing their diets to follow healthier guidelines.
• Exercise—By taking that afternoon walk, seniors can decrease their chances of heart and circulatory problems a great deal. Exercise not only makes you feel good by getting out of the house, but also does a number on your heart.
• Read Up On Heart Health—So many publications nowadays offer great information when it comes to practicing good heart health. Seniors can turn to any of these publications such as the Harvard Heart Letter. This report helps seniors understand heart and circulatory health and the effects heart problems can have on emotional health. Such reports also provide detailed tips as to what you can do to lower your risk.
If you are a caregiver, or know anyone with a heart condition, you could benefit from watching the following clip, which features a modified form of CPR called CCR that is easier to learn, easier to do and can save even more lives!
Home Care Bostonenables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Often times, people do not think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday, but for many seniors, it is. It is a day of love, a day to tell others how you feel and what they mean. This is a great day to express to a senior your love, gratitude and thanks. Regardless of age, everyone loves to receive a Valentine’s greeting on this day. Below is a list of some ideas that are great for seniors.
1. Make handcrafted Valentine’s cards. This can be a great project for school classrooms as well as adult groups. Seniors would be very appreciative of any cards that were hand delivered. Taking the time to make and deliver something by hand can have a huge effect on seniors.
2. Small gifts provide a bit of cheer. For senior family members, use a heart shaped picture frame to display family photographs and present to your senior loved one.
3. Chocolates and cookies make great gifts. Be sure to check if the senior is on a restrictive diet before buying sweet treats. Many sugar-free chocolates are available and cookies that are made at home can also be made to suit a particular diet.
4. A “heart attack” is not always a bad thing! If you are able to decorate living spaces with hearts and other Valentine’s symbols, you will be giving a senior a positive “heart attack.” This can also be done through the mail by filling an envelope with heart shaped paper and confetti.
At Home Care Boston, we realize that many seniors are not aware of their daily sodium intake. If seniors are affected with high blood pressure, this is one thing that should be a concern. Monitoring the amount of sodium intake each day can help combat high blood pressure and other health issues. The list below provides some helpful tips and facts about sodium.
1. The government passed regulation to label products differently. Anything with more than 480 mg will be labeled as high in sodium.
2. When you reduce sodium intake, you will notice foods taste differently. Do not give up. In a short time, your taste buds will adjust!
3. Do not cut out sodium completely. The body does require some intake. For adults, the minimum amount is 200-500mg/day. Those with high blood pressure should not exceed 1500mg/day.
4. Lower intake by reading food labels and being aware of sodium contents, make records of daily sodium intake, change some eating habits and find low-sodium alternatives to what you normally eat.
5. When dining out, eat from the salad bar and avoid soups and sauces. Also ask for a low-sodium menu.
6. Read labels. Manufacturers are required to tell you how much sodium is in a product based on a serving size. Look at the serving size and then at how much sodium is in each size.
7. Keep in mind that many of your medications may contain sodium. Check with your doctor for tips on how to lower sodium intake. Also remember that tap water contains sodium as well, so try to drink bottled or filtered water.
Food poisoning and foodborne illnesses are common concerns for seniors. Since seniors have a weaker immune system, they can get severely ill from food that is not prepared safely. The following tips can help seniors ensure that they are taking the necessary steps to safely prepare their food, avoiding unnecessary risks.
Seniors are often affected with diabetes, which is why it is important for them to have as many facts as possible. There are three different types of diabetes. All types have their own set of risk factors. These factors place individuals at a higher risk of developing diabetes. The list below provides the risk factors for three types of diabetes.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=575f6de9-3724-4f73-b308-ad8d1e450eb9)
