Boston Home Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
The development of cancer is a fear for most seniors. Since so many seniors already have numerous health problems, it is important for them to be aware of the ways they can prevent cancer. The list below contains some important ways seniors can do this. Cancer is a difficult disease to fight for most seniors because their immune system is already weakened. These tips can be very beneficial.
1. Have routine screenings. This is important for senior women. Having annual screenings for breast and cervical cancer can help reduce the risk of developing cancer. It will also allow for early detection if cancer does develop which increases the chances of survival.
2. Seniors should try to avoid using tobacco and alcohol. By avoiding these things, cancer can be avoided. Seniors should also use caution when exposed to ultraviolet rays. This will help prevent skin cancer.
3. Eating a well-balanced diet can also help prevent cancer. By adding fresh fruits and vegetables to a daily diet, seniors will get the necessary nutrients needed to battle cancer.
4. There are various vaccines available that will prevent certain types of cancer. These include the human papilloma virus vaccine and Hepatitis B vaccine.
5. The more information seniors have on cancer, the better they will be able to avoid it. Screenings, vaccines and healthy lifestyles are essential.
Boston Non-Medical Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
There are many things seniors have to be concerned about, including their own health, finances and quality of life. These things are also important to the staff at the Healthy Aging Program. This program was designed to offer assistance to seniors who may require some guidance and additional services at home. The list below contains some useful information about the program.
1. One of the main goals of the program is to promote the health of aging adults. This is done by increasing the community’s ability to identify and implement various strategies and programs.
2. The program strives to improve the quality of life for seniors.
3. Preventative services, caregiving services and mental health services are all part of this unique senior program.
4. The program only employs professionals who are trained in aging issues. These professionals can offer a wide array of services. Seniors who are interested in improving their health and living a longer life can greatly benefit from taking advantage of the Healthy Aging Program.
5. In 2005, the Healthy Aging Program expanded and now includes the Healthy Alzheimer’s disease segment. Now seniors with the disease can get extra assistance they require at home.
6. The Healthy Aging program can also offer financial planning. The program tries to help seniors by slowing the growth of health care costs.
Boston Senior Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.
Active seniors are typically healthier than other seniors who do not engage in physical activity. Seniors benefit from being active. Daily physical activity can help keep muscles and bones strong. Activity also enhances mood and helps seniors who suffer from depression. The following list provides seniors with some facts and tips about staying active.
1. Physical activity on a daily basis can help prevent frailty. It can even reverse the signs of frailty. Seniors should be active for a short period every day. The more physical activity a senior engages in, the better they will feel. They will also maintain health and keep muscles and bones strong.
2. Daily exercise can have mental and emotional benefits as well. It has been shown that exercise can help battle depression. Many seniors suffer from depression and an increase in physical activity may help.
3. When a senior engages in daily physical activity, they are strengthening their body and their mind. This can help in the future as health issues begin to occur. Seniors can tolerate aging issues and problems much better by building their physical and mental reserves from physical activity.
4. Being active does not have to involve anything strenuous. Seniors should be as active as possible. Some seniors do have physical restrictions which may not allow for extensive activity. It is suggested that seniors engage in as much activity as they can tolerate.
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.
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.
Last week, while visiting a Boston geriatric specialist, my 87 year old grandmother confronted a nurse who chose to treat her like a child when instead of giving her instructions directly; the nurse chose to speak only to the family member who escorted her. After the nurse delivered her final instruction, which was to “make sure she keeps her shoes off” my grandmother turned directly to the nurse and said “You know, I may be old, but I’m not stupid; you can speak to me.”
While it may seem unfathomable to treat an adult like an incompetent child, less drastic examples that parallel senior care to child care are used everyday, right or wrong. Some eldercare experts refer to “parenting the parents” when speaking of family caregivers; while terms like “adult daycare” resurrect images of young children, who lack independence, playing with blocks.
Family caregivers providing care to a Boston aging parent or elderly relative do need to adapt to changing roles in their family structure, but need to remember they are there to help and guide the seniors in their care; not represent a figure of authority. Naturally, the amount of influence a caregiver might have upon a senior varies with an older adult’s capability of making their own decisions and living independently; and overtime the amount of care needed can change as seniors become more reliant upon their caregivers to live their lives. As a caregiver, it’s important to accept a senior’s opinions and values, and remember to treat them with the dignity and respect they have earned during their lives.
