Boston

Seniors are Living Longer and Healthier

Seniors who life a healthy lifestyle are living a lot longer. In some cases, seniors are living in excess of 10 years longer than their ancestors. Public awareness and improved health care play a large role in this. Below is a list of facts in regards to the increasing life expectancies within the senior population.

1. Medical intervention and awareness are responsible for a large portion of the reason seniors are living longer.

2. Over the past 170 years, life expectancy has increased at a rate of 2.5 years each decade. This is equal to gaining 6 hours of life each day!

3. Most individuals who were born in 2000 or later will reach the age of 100.

4. Since people are living longer, it may be time to make some changes to lifestyles. A proposal would be to have younger people work fewer hours. This would allow them to work longer as they age instead of entering retirement and then living for another 30 or 40 years.

5. Seniors are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This should include a well-rounded diet, daily exercise and social involvement.

Source: Duke News

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Seniors and Walking

Seniors can reap many benefits from taking walks. Studies have indicated that walking can be a great way to reduce tension. Many seniors do not get the necessary levels of physical activity, so walking can also help in this department. The list below provides seniors with some facts about walking.

1. Walking can reduce stress and tension. Short walks can have positive effects on the mind and body.

2. If you feel stress building, try taking a short, but brisk walk. If you cannot fit in a walk, do some simple stretches to move your body around. This will also help to reduce stress.

3. Do not look at walking as though it is an exercise. Take it as time to be alone and clear your mind while reaping the benefits of a physical exercise.

4. Focus on the surrounding and breathe calmly. Sights, sounds and smells can make seniors relax and reduce tension.

5. Bring along a friend for the walk. This is a great way to socialize while getting some exercise. Walking partners can make the walk seem very short and enjoyable. The same goes for pets. Take the dog for a walk each day. The pet will benefit, and so will you!

Source: AARP

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

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.

Source: cdc.gov

Image: oregon.gov

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Boston Aging Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Cancer prevention is an important concern for all seniors. Most seniors already have various health issues they are dealing with, so cancer is always a fear. There are some things that seniors can do to prevent the risk of developing certain cancers. The list of tips provided below can help seniors take preventative steps to avoid cancer.

1. Make sure to have cancer screenings every year, no matter what age you are. These screenings are usually for cervical, colorectal and breast cancer.

2. Detecting the disease early is the best way to control cancer. The sooner it is detected, the sooner a treatment can begin, limiting the spread of cancer and allowing senior patients to control the disease.

3. Obtain routine medical care. This is one way to avoid cancer. Seniors should try to avoid smoking, drinking and excessive exposure to the sun.

4. Having a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are also ways to prevent the development of cancer. Seniors should have a diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits.

5. The risks of some cancers can be reduced by receiving a vaccine. A hepatitis B vaccine can reduce the chances of liver cancer. The HPV, or human papilloma virus, vaccine can reduce risks of cervical and vaginal cancers.

Source: cdc,gov

Image: hclplc.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Boston Home Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Bringing cheer to a senior is a great way to make sure they have happiness in their life. Seniors have often experienced many things that could lead to depression. To prevent this, try to use some of the following tips to cheer up a senior and make their day bright. Simple things can make a world of difference. These little tips only take a few moments of time and can be very rewarding.

1. Read an amusing book. This is a great way to escape from reality while providing a sense of happiness. Try not to look too far down the road. Having short views of life can be rewarding. It helps to ensure that the little things are not overlooked!

2. Make time for friends and people who bring a smile and offer some amusement. This can make seniors very happy by giving them a social outlet as well as someone to laugh with.

3. Enjoy the outdoors. Fresh air can be invigorating and can increase mood.

4. Do not be hard on yourself. Life is too short to dwell on shortcomings. Try to focus on positive aspects each and every day.

5. If there is a location in the home that makes a senior feel comfortable and happy, try to arrange daily living so that much time is spent there.

Source: happiness-project.com

Image: tom.intellisite.com

Boston Non Medical Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Seniors, as well as their caregivers, need to know what signs could signify a decline in health. There are many health conditions that produce various signs. These signs are a warning that something is medically wrong and that the senior could be declining in health. Below is a list of signs to look for when caring for a senior.

1. If seniors suddenly lose interest in something they previously enjoyed, there is cause for concern. This includes socializing with friends, involving themselves in hobbies or losing interest in physical activity.

2. When seniors become less active, there may be an underlying problem. It is important to talk to a doctor when seniors begin to be less physically active on a day to day basis.

3. Be aware of how seniors move. If they normally move at a normal pace and suddenly begin to slow down, there may be a medical reason. Seniors should try to remain as active as possible. If they suddenly walk differently, make sure to talk to a doctor.

4. Seniors who begin to lose weight rapidly and have changes in appetite or eating habits could have a medical problem. These changes are unhealthy and should always be taken seriously. Be sure to report any changes in weight or eating habits to a doctor.

5. Many seniors do not walk as well as younger adults. However, if seniors begin to wobble when they walk, this is a warning sign. Seniors who lose their balance could have a medical problem that needs treatment.

Source: getmommoving.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

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!

Source: health.harvard.edu

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

It might not sound right, but it is; working seniors are healthier than those that retire immediately when they hit that age. Despite the stress of work, despite the physical responsibility, seniors who work part-time, temporarily or from home to help transition them from a full-time job to complete retirement have proven health benefits. This is great news for all of those seniors who don’t feel they’re ready to retire or can’t due to financial elements!

Benefits of Work on Senior Health:

• With a transition period from full-time work into retirement with part-time work, temporary work or work at home, seniors find it’s less of a shock to their mental health. Seniors who immediately retire from full-time work can find that feelings of loss of purpose can cause anxiety and depression

• Seniors who remain in the workforce longer, even part-time are more functional, and often have greater mobility while remaining active members of society

• Instances of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and stroke are some of the common medical problems that are reduced in working seniors

Via: Home Instead Senior care

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

As we age, our bodies begin to process vitamins and minerals less efficiently, which can result in deficiencies of necessary vitamins in seniors. Taking vitamin supplements to increase intake of calcium, vitamins B & D, iron, etc. seems to be many seniors’ answer for the lack of nutrients they’re getting, but the benefits are still up for debate. According to a study released by the Archives of Internal Medicine, vitamin supplements may not do anything when it comes to improving senior health.

Studies have proven that vitamins, minerals and nutrients derived from fruits, vegetables and whole grains do promote healthy aging, however, when these vitamins are extracted and taken as vitamin supplements, they don’t have the same affects upon preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases as they do in their natural forms. While the belief is that there are no adverse affects from taking vitamin supplements, there is little medical data that supports there is a benefit to regular use.

Seniors looking to improve their overall health and prevent the onset of potentially fatal diseases and illnesses should not rely on vitamin supplements alone; in order to receive the 15 minerals and 13 vitamins required for healthy living, the elderly should focus on proper nutrition and receive their vitamins directly from the source.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/17/vitamins-health-effects-lifestyle-health_0217_vitamins.html

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.