Seniors are often affected by low vision. This can create many problems in daily life, especially if the senior still lives at home. There have been many cases of senior injuries occurring because the home was not set up for a person with low vision. To make the home safer, there are some simple changes that can be made.
1. Make sure all rooms are well lit.
2. Try to use task lighting, such as desk lamps, to make everyday activities simpler for seniors.
3. Always use nightlights in bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways. This will help seniors be able to navigate through the house in the dark.
4. Make stairways safer. This can be done by placing a piece of brightly colored tape along the edges of each stair.
5. Paint door frames a contrasting color from that of the walls so they stand out.
6. Eliminate as much clutter as possible to reduce the chance of falling. Clutter is one of the main causes of falls in the home.
7. Try to position televisions so that the sun does not shine directly on the screen.
8. Seniors who take medications should always use pill organizers. This will help to ensure they are taking the right medication at the right time.
Cataracts tend to develop slowly, creating impaired vision that interferes with daily activities such as reading and driving (especially at night). If you think your aging loved one’s vision is deteriorating, have set up an appointment with their usual eye care provider. Appointments are usually brief, so you need to be prepared prior to your visit. Here is a list of items you should think about ahead of time:
Come up with a list of questions to ask your doctor.
Write down the symptoms, even those that seem unrelated to the vision issues your loved one thinks they are experiencing.
List out all medications that your senior is taking, including any vitamins or supplements.
Have a friend, caregiver or family member go with your aging relative. They may remember something that your senior forgot to ask.
Write down key personal information, including stressors and recent life changes.
Senior men generally have a lower level of this hormone. As they age, the body will produce less testosterone. The lack of this hormone could be linked to the development of frailty. This can cause other problems as well, including loss of strength and muscle mass. In the list below, men can learn some more about the importance of testosterone levels.
1. It is normal for testosterone levels to begin to deplete with age.
2. When levels are too low, men will begin to lose bone density, muscle mass and some of their physical strength. Also, red blood cell production will begin to slow down.
3. Various studies are being conducted to prove the link between low levels of testosterone and these medical issues. Currently, there is no way to determine if frailty in senior men is actually caused by the lack of the hormone.
4. Some recent research has shown that men who have a lower level of the hormone will be more likely to become frail within the next four to seven years.
5. At this time, it is not known if testosterone replacement therapy will be beneficial. Unfortunately, the hormone levels could be masked by another disease or illness that could be the primary cause of frailty.
Dementia is a serious disease that affects millions of seniors. Each year, more and more seniors are being diagnosed. There is no cure for this disease, though there are some medications that may help slow the progression. Some people will even argue that the disease does not exist, but it does. Below are some facts about dementia.
1. In 2050, more than 14 million people will be affected by this disease.
2. This increase will cause huge cost increases for the healthcare system.
3. There are a few medications that are being used to help slow the progression of the disease. Some patients report positive changes, but many do not notice a difference at all.
4. The actual cause of the disease has not yet been discovered. There has been many research projects conducted and the results indicate that there could be many factors involved in the development of dementia.
5. In the case of dementia, each senior will react differently. They will have different symptoms, different progression rates and will react differently to medications. Doctors are now focusing on the individual instead of the disease as a whole.
Many senior get frustrated because they are unable to fall asleep at night. There may be different reasons for this, but seniors need to take a close look at the things they are doing and eating before going to bed at night. Below is a list of sleeping tips that may be able to help seniors fall asleep quicker and stay asleep through the night.
1. Seniors should not consume and caffeine for up to six hours before going to bed. This includes coffee, tea and soda.
2. It is advised to turn off the TV before trying to go to sleep. The television could be the reason seniors wake up in the middle of the night.
3. Do not perform any type of strenuous exercise prior to bedtime.
4. Long naps during the day can cause seniors to be unable to sleep at night.
5. Smoking and drinking alcohol should not be done for at least 2 to 4 hours before going to bed.
6. Try to listen to soothing and soft music when there is difficulty falling asleep.
7. Warm baths before bed can help seniors relax. This may help them fall asleep easier.
8. If you cannot fall asleep, do not just lay in bed. After about 20 minutes, get up and read a book or do something calming until you feel drowsy.
9. Try to have a routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
Kitchen safety is a major issue for any senior that is still living on their own. Many seniors grew up during the Depression, which is why they will usually buy in bulk. This leads to having much more food that the senior can ingest before it goes bad. Having spoiled food can create an unsafe environment. The following list can help seniors take some steps to having a safe kitchen.
1. Seniors need to learn that they do not have to buy in bulk. Buying too much food leads to a lot of wasted money as well as rotting food in the kitchen.
2. Look for anything that has expired and throw it away. This includes canned goods, as well as frozen foods.
3. Many seniors are so used to feeding large families that they have difficulty buying for just themselves and a spouse. Caregivers may need to take some time to shop with seniors to show them how to buy in small amounts.
4. The kitchen is often the place for clutter. Seniors will often leave mail and many other things on the kitchen table. This can create a fire hazard and can also affect the cleanliness of the kitchen as a whole.
Since so many seniors suffer from disease and illness, many seniors are reliant on medicine. Healing comes in many different forms. Finding the right medicinal approach to healing will be a timely process. Seniors should know that not every senior with a similar condition is treated in the same manner. The list below provides some information on finding the right medicine.
1. Tibetan medicine breaks things up into categories. It states that there are 404 diseases that are further classified by 101 diseases, those of which are classified by cause.
2. Finding the right medicine can involve many factors, including age, diagnoses, dosages and side effects that may cause other health problems.
3. Patients who have the same disease will respond differently to treatments. This is why it is important to treat each individual, not the disease over all. This means that many seniors with the same conditions may be on different medications and treatment plans based on the individual person and how they respond to a particular medication.
4. There is no one form of healing. Each senior has a different body make-up. This will affect how certain medications will affect the patient. Trying to find the right medication may take time. It will also involve the patient trying different medications until one is found that does the job.
Having a chronic disease will involve many steps. These steps are essential to the successful treatment and management of a chronic illness or disease. Seniors should be aware of these steps and take whatever actions are necessary to follow these tips. Not only will they help with the chronic disease, but they can improve over-all health.
1. The first thing is to determine the actual cause of the illness.
2. Daily diets play a large role in maintaining health. It is important for any senior with a chronic illness to make sure all allergens are removed from their diet.
3. The digestive system is also important. Seniors should be tested to make sure there are no problems with their digestive tract.
4. Increase the intake of essential nutrients. Many times, seniors will have a diet that does not allow them to get the nutrients they need to help fight off illness.
5. Poor diets can have an impact on the balance of hormones in the body. Insulin resistance, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, axis dysfunction and subclinical adrenal insufficiency, thyroid dysfunction and sex hormones all need to be in balance.
6. Increasing the metabolism can be helpful. This will provide seniors with more energy, which can help them remain healthy.
7. Detoxification is important. Removing mercury and lead from the body will help with cleansing.
8. Seniors need to know how to take care of their minds and body. These work together to help seniors achieve optimal health.
9. Hidden infections can be the cause of resistance to certain medications.
Aches and pains are a common complaint of most seniors. To deal with this pain, seniors take ibuprofen. Instead of taking pills to battle pain, there are some natural ways to obtain relief. Below is a list that contains some common foods and spices that have been shown to have the similar pain relieving effects as ibuprofen.
1. Any food that acts as an anti-inflammatory can be referred to as Nature’s Ibuprofen. These include many spices and herbs that are typically found in a healthy diet.
2. Organic berries offer many benefits. They can fight inflammation, but they also have anti-oxidant powers. These berries also include high amounts of fiber, which is important in any senior diet.
3. Some seniors do not like to add spices to their foods. However, there are certain spices that can offer great benefits. Seniors should consider using oregano, garlic and turmeric when preparing a meal.
4. Green tea also offers some anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Foods that contain rosemary and ginger will help seniors with an inflammatory disease.
6. No matter what the medical condition is, if seniors are taking ibuprofen daily to battle aches and pains, they should consider including these foods and spices in their daily diets.
Having a lot of clutter in the home can lead to some serious problems for seniors. Not only does it create an unhealthy living space, but it could add to confusion and health problems. It is important to notice where clutter is accumulating and try to rectify the problem. The list below contains some information on clutter and what problems it may cause.
1. Take a look in the kitchen cabinets and look for unused pots and pans.
2. The refrigerator and freezer should not hold any food that is old or expired.
3. If a caregiver notices piles of mail on the table, this could mean that the senior is not paying their bills.
4. Clutter in the bathroom can create hygiene problems. Check the medicine cabinet for outdated medications.
5. Cluttered basements are common in the senior population. While this may seem harmless, it can create a perfect space for rodents, mildew and mold.
6. Stairways should be free of clutter to prevent falling.
7. Bedroom closets should not have too much in them. If they are cluttered, it could cause the senior to get confused.
8. Extra papers and magazines lying around the house could be a fire hazard. They should be discarded regularly.
