Nov 28

Winter is the time for blizzards, sub-zero temperatures, and visiting the ER for the reason that you fell on the ice. For the elderly, all that ice and snow signifies an increased chance of falls and slips.

Here are a few things one can do to make winter a bit less perilous:

- If you have to walk through an icy parking lot or sidewalk, try to find a firm arm to lean on. Nearly everyone is happy to help an older person move along a slippery walkway. All you have to do is ask.

- Bring a cell phone when you get out of the house. If you fall, it could sometimes be hard to get up. Keeping a cell phone with you whenever you go out can give you composure.

- If you have railings going up to your front door, make sure that they are sturdy. They should be able to support you in case you slipped.

- Check your footwear. Examine your boots and shoes. Better traction can help keep you extra stable on icy surfaces.

- Keep the shovel and salt inside your house. The reason you need a shovel and salt is so that you do not have to walk across a slippery sidewalk. If you need to traverse through the ice and snow to get to your garage where the salt and shovel are, that defeats the purpose.

- Slow down. It is when you rush that you end up losing your balance. Keep in mind that being a bit late is better than rushing and then falling.

- Strengthen your legs. Strong leg muscles could help you steady yourself if you lose your balance. Moreover, if you do fall, it would be a lot easier to get back on your feet. You should exercise your legs frequently to keep them strong.

These little tips, when used together, could make the winter elements a bit less intimidating.

Oct 10
Natural Anti-Aging Tips
icon1 Cheryl Weisz | icon2 Health Tips | icon4 10 10th, 2010| icon33 Comments »

If you want to expedite your aging process, sleep late and drink lots of alcohol and caffeine.

Anti-aging face creams will not do any good if you are not getting at least 8 hours of sleep and you continue to drink toxins that can age you quickly.

Nevertheless, if you wish to slow down the aging process, look great, and have more energy, limit your treats to once a week.

Drink herbal tea to calm you down instead of taking in caffeine-fueled coffee. Even decaffeinated coffee has the same effect as caffeine. Herbs like ginseng, maca, and rhodiola have active ingredients that suppress aging. They boost energy levels and strengthen the immune system.

Stimulating the pressure points on your feet (reflexology) reduces stress, and if you are relaxed, you look younger. To abate stress instantly, press into your solar plexus point using your thumb. This is located exactly below the ball of your foot. Press down for one minute and do the same on your other foot.

Mind to body techniques such as tai-chi and yoga can help you feel less worn out or stressed.

Whereas the right amount of sun can help you look younger with tanned, glowing, healthy skin, too much sun can cause irreparable skin damage. The aging effects of too much sun exposure deplete your body of vitamin B. Continuous sun exposure is responsible for premature skin aging and skin cancer. To look younger, keep your skin from harmful UV rays.

An occasional detox is amazingly effective as well. This can be anything from a light one day juice fast to a full-scale water fast. But of course, you need to check with your health care provider before embarking on any new diet or exercise.

It is also best to stop smoking if you do because this can accelerate the normal aging of your skin and produce wrinkles.

Based on numerous studies, obesity and its associated diseases cause premature aging. Diets with excessive saturated and trans fats agitate the body and promote free radicals that lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and joints disease. Dietary choices are crucial in delaying aging and age-related diseases. To age well, it is substantial to eat well. The anti-aging diet is high in fresh fruits and vegetables, low in trans fatty acids, and moderate in protein and lean dairy products.

Jun 6

For people beyond their 50s, aging gracefully is often a challenge. While bones and muscles begin to deteriorate as we grow older, these have more to do with inactivity than aging.

Usually, at this age, people change in lifestyle and they start spending more time at home or under the close supervision of caregivers. Thus, the consequences are rapid muscle deterioration and increase in fat deposits.

Unexpectedly, cardio exercises alone are not as successful in older people as compared to those who are still at their prime. Once we reach 50, we must combine exercise with a balanced diet. An ideal combination of cardio exercises and healthy meals will make sure that we maintain flexibility of muscles and slower weight gain.

Unless you are stuck on a wheelchair, you should try to have an active lifestyle by doing some simple activities. Gardening, playing golf, or walking regularly are some of the easy ways to keep you active.

A good and balanced diet is important for all age groups. You cannot remain fit and fat free unless you take proper care of what you eat. Go for nutritious, fiber rich food as much as possible. Avoid eating fast food and junk food as much as your grandchildren should.

You can easily stretch yourself whenever you get the time. Simple activities help a lot in maintaining flexible muscles and strong bones. Even if you have limited walking abilities there is always a way round that. Proper walking equipment, like the ones available at DoAbility, can you help in getting you active again.

Jan 9

Bathrooms at home usually need adaptation if an elderly or disabled wants to stay in the house and remain independent. Ensuring bathroom access and safety may require room customizations.

Falls often happen as people get in or out of the bathtub. Non-slip suction mats or non-skid tub liners or stickers can help prevent falls and provide firm footing.

Grab bars around the tub are a must for safety. These bars should be institutional-grade and installed according to the manufacturer’s directions for firm and solid support.  Using towel rods in place of them is strongly discouraged. Improperly installed bars, as well, will not support a person who loses balance.

Various types of bars and poles are available from plumbing supply companies. The type, number, and positioning of supports depend on:

  • The wall space around the tub;
  • The wall structure;
  • The plumbing arrangements; and
  • The disability of the person using the tub.

Two kinds of grab bars are often needed at the bathtub for the disabled or elderly:

1. For use in getting in and out of the tub from a standing position;

2. For use when lowering and raising the body to and from a seated position in the tub.

U-shaped bars are available in 12- to 40-inch lengths. They may be installed vertically or horizontally to a wall.

A vertically placed U-bar, attached to the side wall at the foot of the tub, allows safe entry and exit. Note that the foot of the tub is the end where the water faucets and drain are located. This vertical bar should be about 32 inches long, and placed near the edge of the outer tub.

Horizontally placed support bars are best for lowering and raising the body to and from a sitting position in the tub. A 12- to 15-inch bar may be placed at the foot end of the tub and a longer one along the back wall.

Diagonally placed grab bars are not recommended because the hand may slide; and if footing is not secure, falls are more likely to occur.

If the tub is free-standing at both ends, like in most older homes, and the end wall is too far for grab bars to be secured, a vertically placed pole on the access side of the tub may be used. This pole should be about 1.5 inches in diameter and extend from floor to ceiling. Place it between 1 foot 3 inches to 1 foot 6 inches from the end of the tub, close enough to the access side to reach from a sitting position. It also can be used to grasp with one hand while operating the water controls.

Angle bars from the back wall or behind the tub to the floor, with wall posts, may be used when one or both tub ends are enclosed by a wall. This is useful for persons needing to use both hands to enter and exit the tub.

A variety of portable seats, chairs, and benches are also available if sitting on the bathtub floor is difficult or impossible. One seat has side flanges that adjust to fit any bathtub. Inside-the-tub chairs with backs for greater comfort are also sold in the market today. An inside/outside transfer bench with adjustable legs allows the person to sit on the bench that extends outside the tub then slide to the inside of the tub.

Any chair or bench must have non-slip rubber tips and should be safe and comfortable. When using this type of seats in the tub, a hand-held shower head is preferable to use.

An angle bar attached to two walls provides support while standing, and also aids in sitting and rising from a bath bench or chair.

If the shower floor is slippery, non-slip suction mats or rubber silicone treads should also be used there.

A non-skid bath mat on the floor outside the shower is a necessity.

The standard 15- to 17-inch height of toilet seats creates a problem for many people, especially those with arthritis, hip, knee or back problems. Elevating the seat 5-7 inches more will give better leverage in regaining a standing position.

There are several types of removable and permanently fixed raised toilet seats available in stores. For a more permanent raised toilet, a plumber can put the stool on a wooden platform made to fit the toilet bowl base. If you are building a new bathroom, consider a wall-hung toilet that can be hung at any height.

A portable bidet for cleaning the perineal area without hands or paper may be attached to any standard toilet bowl. It is electrically powered with a mechanism for spray washing with warm water and drying with a flow of warm air. This promotes independence for persons with very limited hand/arm functions.

Grab bars around the toilets are a must. Many types are available, and the choice will depend on:

  • Available wall space near the toilet;
  • Nearness to other fixtures in the room; and
  • Needs of people in the household.

If you have a physical limitation, we recommend you consult a physical therapist or a housing specialist to help you select and recommend placement of grab bars and other accessories for safety in the bathroom. If you are unsure of your wall structure, or do not have proper tools or skills, we suggest you hire a carpenter to install and/or make the new adaptations.

And for the latest bathroom and toilet aids for the disabled and the elderly, visit www.doability.co.uk.

Dec 8

‘Tis the season to be jolly.. however, some people go into depression during the Christmas season. This is mostly true for those who are away from their loved ones during this time of the year, and also for our disabled and elderly loved ones who feel that they cannot be part of the merriment and celebration.

Depression is often synonymous to being sad. Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives, although not everyone will really succumb into depression.

Depression is not just limited to sadness. Sometimes it is caused by discouragement, helplessness, and a lack of self-worth. In some cases, it becomes a medical condition, a physical illness with many other symptoms than just an unhappy mood.

While depression can hit any one in all ages and in all walks of life, nobody is more prone to it than people with disabilities and the elderly. For the disabled, depression comes from the feeling of helplessness experienced as a result of their disability and lack of independence. They feel and believe that there is nothing they can do on their own, and worse, it leads to a feeling of emotional and mental emptiness. The elderly are at high risk for depression, too, because they are more likely to have experienced illness, death of loved ones, impaired function, and loss of independence compared to younger people. The cumulative effect of negative life experiences may be overwhelming to an older person. Not to mention the physical impairments caused by old age. In general, they pretty much have the same experiences as the disabled.

There is hope though for these people, since in many cases depression can be avoided or eliminated all together. Here are a few helpful tips to reduce depression:

  • The first and most important thing to do to get out of depression is to set your mind. You have to convince yourself to stop becoming a “victim” of depression. Stop dwelling on what you cannot do or what you cannot control. Believe that you are not helpless. Think positively.
  • Once you have set your mind to it, the second step is to consider what you can still do. In short, count your blessings. Focus on what you have, what you can do and what you can use. Plan to use them to your advantage.
  • The third step is to take action. Execute your plan. Of course, if depression is a reaction to an illness, or caused by a disease, then the best way is to cure that disease or illness first. For the disabled and elderly, there are living aids that help reduce the feeling of helplessness causing the depression. Mobility equipments aid people with disabilities and the elderly to be more independent and live a normal life, and this is really the most important step in battling depression. These devices have been specifically designed to aid people in maneuvering around with minimal effort and facilitating tasks, from opening a jar of jam to using the bathroom.

Depression can be beaten. It is just a matter of having the personal will to get out of it. Of course, a little bit of support from friends and family wouldn’t hurt as well.

*** For all your disability equipment needs to assist in getting rid of depression, visit www.doability.co.uk.

Dec 8

Christmas is fast approaching.
To the Christian world, it is the most anticipated holiday of the year when families and friends get together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas, however, is no longer just for Christians anymore. People from different cultures and religions all across the world celebrate this special day. It is a day of gift giving, of merry making, of being together. To children, it is all about the gifts under the Christmas tree or inside the Christmas stockings left by Santa Claus.  To adults, it is all about preparing a hearty meal for family and friends and decorating the whole house with a Christmas tree and festive lights. It is, arguably, the happiest season for many people, except some.

Sadly, there are the elderly and the disabled among us who cannot enjoy the season as much as we do. Because of their conditions, they are often confined indoors. Their movements are very limited and the things they can do will require a lot of effort on their end. It doesn’t mean, however, that they are doomed to have a sad Christmas. This is where family and friends come in and help out.

The first and perhaps most important thing to do to make it a happy Christmas for them is for their family and friends to be with them. There is nothing lonelier than being alone and away from your family and friends during Christmas. Elderly and disabled people tend to be emotional and are at high risk of depression than the rest. The mere presence of people who care for them and people they care for makes a big difference. A short visit or, much better, a dinner with them will surely uplift the emotions of these people and would surely make them feel good. And I guess this is true even for the young and healthy.

If being physically present is not possible, being “virtually” there will work wonders. A short phone call, a web chat, or even a handwritten postal mail coming from a loved one is better than nothing. Just the fact that they know they are remembered and are not forgotten on such a special day surely goes a long way. As the old saying goes, it’s the thought that counts.

Surely, it doesn’t stop there. There are more ways that we can make our elderly and disabled loved ones feel special and loved this Christmas. We can give them gifts, of course, but not just gifts. We can give them gifts that are appropriate for their conditions and gifts that can help them move around and enjoy the yuletide season more. Gifts like coats for the cold weather, walking aids and other mobility products are perfect for them. It gives them a semblance of independence and capability to do some activities that they can’t do by themselves. With these, they can join you in your stroll outside to go greet the neighbors a Merry Christmas. They can roam around the house and mingle with guests during Christmas dinner. They can even walk towards the porch or the lawn and see their grandchildren enjoy the snow and build a snowman on an early Christmas morning. Doing all these things makes them feel alive, special and important. These are moments that money cannot buy but because of some well-thought-of material gifts, you can make all these possible for them.

*** Make your elderly and disabled loved ones the happiest people this Christmas, buy them the perfect gift at www.doability.co.uk.

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 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.