Mar 28

Caring for your elderly loved ones at home is both challenging and rewarding. Sometimes caregivers are unaware of all the medical aides and products, as well as mobility equipment and supplies that are available to help them care for a senior loved one. Some examples of very practical items that would be very helpful for both you and your ward are bed rails, eating and drinking aids, rollators, shower safety mats, and shower seats.

Additionally, one of the best things any caregiver could possibly do for the elder under their watch is to be informed and knowledgeable. After all, even if your intentions are in the right place, you can inadvertently be harming them if you cannot provide the level of care that they need and deserve. As such, make sure that you are fully versed in signs of common ailments such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and stroke.

Having this kind of senior health information can truly mean the difference between well being and further harm. Especially with life threatening conditions, recovering from the condition is a matter of getting medical attention as soon as possible. However, you cannot do that if you do not see the symptoms early on. Therefore, if you are considering caring for an elderly family member or friend, make sure you are ready and willing to do the necessary research.

To check out some of the practical products mentioned above, visit DoAbility UK today.

Nov 13

I am no stranger to minor accidents at home and outside. Slips, trips, and falls happen to a lot of people of all ages, from all places, and in all walks of life. These would sometimes lead to injuries which would require hospitalization, or at least a visit to the nearest doctor.

What a lot of us do not realize is that these falls happen to patients in the hospitals and medical facilities, too. There is nothing worse than injuring a person who is already sick, and the cause of such injury is the person who is supposed to be taking care of the patient, like the doctor or nurse. It is like adding injury to an existing injury.

Patient safety has been constantly one of the most pressing challenges in the health care industry, and a significant part of patient injuries come from falls while confined in the hospitals and nursing homes. Reducing harm from falls is becoming one of the top priorities of hospitals and health care organizations around the world. Patients, regardless of age, fall. While certain risk factors are common in younger people, falls are most likely to occur in older patients and they are much more likely to experience serious injuries. A significant number of falls result in injury, or even death, costing millions per annum for immediate health care treatment alone, not to mention the additional costs of rehabilitation and social care. In addition to these financial costs, there are additional costs that are more difficult to quantify. It not only includes the obvious distress, pain, injury, but also loss of confidence and independence to the patient.

There are lots of researches and reports around the internet on patient safety, specifically on how to reduce harm from falls, but it seems that there is not one single guide for all. What is apparent is that non-profit organizations from countries like the UK, Sweden, Australia, Canada and the USA are at the forefront when it comes to these initiatives with The Institute for Healthcare Improvement IHI in Cambridge, Massachusetts providing the main thrust. In the UK, there is Patient Safety First Campaign sponsored by the National Patient Safety Agency, the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and The Health Foundation. In Australia, there is the Australian Patient Safety Foundation. While in Canada, there is the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.

The approaches are varied, localized, and sometimes isolated depending on the case. But what is common is the need to recognize these harms, identify patients prone to falls, record, monitor, and measure these incidents to be able to come up with actionable plans. These are for more organizational solutions though. Ultimately, it all boils down to the care and dedication given by our doctors, nurses, and caregivers that would spell a big difference.

Accidents do happen but a lot of them can also be avoided with the right actions and presence of mind. For those that cannot be avoided totally, there are ways to reduce the harms and risks brought about by these accidents. While this is easier said than done, it is doable with a little effort and good luck.

Aug 8

August is known to be a month when the temperature is higher than normal. The summer months can definitely be bothersome because of the heat, but even more so when a heat wave strikes. Six years ago, one of the worst and deadliest natural disasters in Europe for the last one hundred years struck the continent and took more than 30,000 lives. Majority of the casualties belong to the most vulnerable groups of the population: the chronically ill, the very young and the elderly.

While the recent weather has been rainy and overcast, it pays to still be prepared for whatever consequences that extreme weather conditions can bring. The weather can be very unpredictable, and so it wise to remember August 2003 and the lessons we can learn from that disastrous heat wave.

One of the Worst Natural Disasters in Europe

In France, the temperature soared to 104°F in some parts of the country. Paris, the capital of France, recorded the highest temperature that year since the government began recording temperatures in 1873.

On August 10, 2003, in the UK, a record-breaking temperature of 101.3 °F was recorded in Brogdale Orchards 1.6 km southwest of Faversham, Kent. London, on the other hand, experienced its first three-digit temperatures (in Fahrenheit) for the first time. An estimate of 900 people died from the heat that day.

Lessons Learned

The average body temperature of a person is at 98.6°F. The body tries to maintain this temperature even when subjected to extreme heat. This is done by adapting to the extreme temperature by varying blood circulation and perspiring. However, the body can only do so much. When body temperature gets past 104°F, vital organs become affected. The body can be dehydrated, some organs may begin to shut down or malfunction. If the temperature is not immediately brought down and stabilized to the ideal, death occurs.

The elderly are more are more susceptible to dehydration and have higher risk of heart attacks due to their old age. The risk increases as age increases. A research conducted in Athens, Greece, found an increase of mortality in people over the age of 70. And this is linked directly to a consistent rise in temperature and humidity. The elderly, when subjected to extreme heat, suffers a great blow to their circulatory system. This is among the many causes of death during the European Heat Wave of 2003.

Now government officials across the European have learned their lesson – to give adequate attention to heat wave planning and go the extra mile to make sure that the elderly are given specialized medical attention and assistance. The United Kingdom, as a preventive strategy, has begun to pay visits to the elderly – through inspecting nursing homes and occasionally visiting those who live alone.

Heat Wave Plans

Every year, the UK’s Department of Health releases Heat Wave Plans to inform the public and get them ready for the summer. In spite of the recent rainy and overcast weather, it is still very much important to be educated on these Heat Wave Plans. The weather can be very unpredictable, and it really pays to be prepared than sorry.

The following are the Heat Wave Plans for this year, courtesy of the Department of Health. Feel free to download the PDF files and share them with your family and friends. Remember, knowledge and preparedness can lessen the effects of what can be an even bigger disaster.

Jul 21

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently published a study on the correlation of injuries related to walking aids and its proper usage. The study was conducted using ER records from 2001 until 2006. It was found out that that a total of more than 47,000 American senior citizens are sent to emergency rooms each year, with a third of this number requiring hospitalization.

Some findings of the study include:

  • 6 out of 10 accidents associated with walkers and canes occur at home.
  • People 85 years and older are more susceptible to fall-related injuries; the study shows that the chances of accidents involving walkers and canes increase with age.
  • 33% of accidents involving walkers and 28% of accident involving canes required hospitalization.

This is rather alarming. Walking aids and other mobility equipment are created to assist the elderly and the disabled to keep them safe.

“Walking aids are very important in helping many older adults maintain their mobility. However, it′s important to make sure people use these devices safely,”" said Judy Stevens, Ph.D., the study’s lead author. “Walkers are often used by frail and vulnerable older adults; people for whom falls, if they occur, can have very serious health consequences.”

Now that even the walking aids that we rely upon to assist our elderly is questionable, what can we do about it? Are there other underlying issues we need to address to keep our elderly safe? Note that the study involved American senior citizens. From whom do we have to expect action on this matter? Social welfare? The health ministry? Or the manufacturers of mobility equipment?

What can we learn from the study?

From this study we can learn that having walking aids is not enough to assist the elderly. It is also important that they are provided with quality walking aids and are knowledgeable in how to use such aids correctly and safely. It is highly recommended that physical therapists provide counseling to teach the elderly, as well as their caregivers, how to properly use walkers, canes, scooters and other mobility equipment. Doctors and other health care professionals must also take time in ensuring that a walking aid or any other mobility equipment fits properly with the user’s stature.

A concern is raised.

The study was conducted with American seniors as subjects and findings show that the problem stems from incorrect usage of walkers and canes. However, one cannot help but surmise if the problem is also aggravated by the quality of mobility equipment. How can the quality of one brand compare with another? It cannot be denied that equipment with inferior quality contribute to accidents. However, we cannot prove anything without numbers or statistics. The study did not mention anything about the quality of walkers and canes and how it relates to the number of accidents relating to fall, but it remains to be something worth looking into, for the welfare of our elderly.

For a full copy of the study, visit the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Jul 14

The summer holidays are here. It’s the time when families go traveling, hiking, camping, swimming and simply lazing around under the sun. But what happens to grandma and grandpa when everybody else is out enjoying the summer holidays?

I am sure you are looking forward to spending time with your children while school’s out for the summer. On the other hand, you might be having second thoughts about traveling or going out frequently during the holidays because of an elderly in your home who needs round-the-clock care and supervision. If you are in such a dilemma, you may want to consider placing your elderly loved one in a residential care facility, if only temporarily, for the duration of the summer holidays.

You might be wary about placing your loved one in a residential care facility or a nursing home, since they have a reputation for being a place you do not want to go. However, a residential care facility is a perfectly safe environment for elderly care which will help relieve your worries of who will tend to your loved one.

Here are some things you might want to consider when choosing a nursing home for your loved one.

Consider the Location

Where would you like your loved one to stay? Do you want a nursing home near to your home or near to another relative? If your elderly needs specific medical requirements or regular visits to the doctor, you might want to consider nursing homes within a convenient distance from a hospital.

Personal Requirements

List down all the requirements of your loved one. Take note of important factors such as special diet, medical requirements and other facilities for physical therapy and even entertainment. You might also want a nursing home which has a great nursing staff. A great nursing staff is not only professional, but genuinely caring for the welfare of the elderly as well.

Make a List

Now that you have an idea of what you are looking for in a nursing home, you can begin your search. You can try looking at directories, asking for recommendations from your local health office or even search the internet. Try visiting http://www.nursinghomes.co.uk or http://www.carehome.co.uk and search for nursing homes in your ideal locations.

Make Visits

Contact the nursing homes in your list. Look for the Director of Nursing or the Admissions Coordinator to set up an appointment for a visit. Getting to know the nursing home staff and seeing the services and facilities the home can offer your loved one will surely help you decide on which nursing home will best suit your loved one’s needs.

Placing your loved one in a nursing home that you trust to have quality service and facilities will surely help both you and your loved one. It’s a win-win situation. Your loved one will get the best care possible while you are away, and you can enjoy the summer holidays with your children without having to worry too much.

Oct 8

When we age, our bodies lose their strength and a house can, over time, become a dangerous place use this risk assessment safety guide to keep your elderly loved ones safe.

Improve indoor safety: even though you can’t prevent every fall, you can help reduce risk factors.

Here are a few ways to improve safety:

  • Keep floors clear of clutter to avoid falls. The easier it is to move around, the less likely a person is to fall. Keep things within an easy arm’s reach.
  • Well lit rooms make it easy to see whether the floor is clear of obstacles. Be sure to have flashlights on hand in case the power goes out.
  • Safety railings: Installing grab bars and railings around the house can improve safety. Places that should have railings would include the bathtub and beside the toilet. Installing bed railings will stop your loved ones from falling out of bed.
  • Non-slip mats: Placing non-slip mats under rugs, on stairs, and in bathtubs will improve traction.

Improving outdoor safety

It’s also important to be safe outside, but it’s not as easy to make modifications. If you hold your loved one’s arm while walking, you will be helping to ensure their safety. Sprinkle sand or salt on icy roads and sidewalks to prevent falls on slippery surfaces. A cane can help with navigation on uneven ground or other devices may be needed such as a walker.

What should be done if someone falls?

Despite all precautions, accidents occur; it is impossible to prevent all falls. If something does happen, keep calm.

Don’t panic, staying calm will keep your loved one calm. If they cannot get up, keep them warm by placing a blanket over them until the ambulance arrives.

It’s not always possible to prevent every accident or fall. Fortunately, most of these mishaps can be prevented. Home is where people spend most of their time, so it’s a key place to start with this risk assessment safety guide for your elderly loved ones.