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.
High blood pressure is a common problem in the senior population. While most people believe they have to take a medication to lower their blood pressure, there are other ways to go about it. Making some changes to your diet and your daily life can have positive effects on lowering blood pressure.
Home Care Bostonwants to remind all seniors that they should consult their doctor before making any drastic changes to their diet and exercise. The following tips however are a good starting place for anyone looking to lower blood pressure.
1. Reduce sodium intake. Daily intake for seniors or anyone over 50 should be less than 2,300 mg per day. Take the saltshaker off the table and try to eat foods that are low in sodium.
2. Change cooking habits and do not use salt. There are other ways to get great flavor when cooking. Use herbs and spices and avoid using bullion and prepared sauces. They contain high amounts of sodium. When dining out, ask for food to be prepared without salt or request a low sodium menu.
3. Check the medications you are currently taking. Many of them do contain sodium. Talk to your doctor about adding an aspirin to your daily regime. This can reduce chances of stroke and heart attack.
4. Reduce stress, add some exercise and quit smoking. All of these will lower your blood pressure. Losing a few pounds will also be beneficial.
5. If you can, monitor your blood pressure at home. If these changes do not work, you may have to ask for a prescription medication. Doctors will also suggest increasing your potassium intake.
Daily exercise programs are a great way to lower the risk of developing heart disease. Not only will exercise lower risks, but it will also have a huge effect on the rest of your life. There are many benefits to exercising daily. Seniors can benefit from an exercise program and the results can be beneficial in many areas. Below is a list that provides some facts and tips about exercise programs.
Before making changes to a diet or adding exercise, Home Care Boston wants to remind all seniors that they should always talk to their doctors first. Be sure to ask about medications, the ability to lift heavy objects and what exercises are safe for you.
1. Exercise can help circulation and strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system. It also lowers blood pressure, improves muscle tone and strength, boosts self-esteem and improves sleep.
2. Stretching exercises lengthen the muscles, preparing them for activity. It will reduce the chance of injury and muscle strain.
3. Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and will greatly improve the use of oxygen in the body.
4. Try to implement a walking program to start. Then you can move to jogging, biking or water aerobics.
5. An exercise session should last between 20 and 30 minutes to provide the best benefits for the body and over-all health. Exercise every day or every other day for the best results.
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.
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)
