July 4th. The birth of American indepence. Picnics, patriotic t-shirts, and brilliant firework displays.
It’s the quintessential mark of our very human desire to be free. The desire to ‘do it myself,’ like every two-year-old asserts.
Yet, what does Independence Day mean for those who are slowly becoming more dependent on those around them?
According to the CDC, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries every year. Less than half of seniors report their falls to their doctors.
The effects of a bad fall or home accident can be devastating.
Our bodies were made to experience and react to stress. Feeling occasional stress is normal and a sign that your reflexes are functioning properly. Cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, the stress hormones, get us to act quickly when faced with danger and often save our lives. However, these hormones are helpful only for immediate,
16% of Americans 65+ consume fewer than 1000 calories per day — that means a whopping number of seniors are at high risk for undernutrition (Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).
As we age, our bodies begin needing fewer calories, and more protein, calcium, B vitamins, and other nutrients. Seniors are particularly susceptible to malnutrition because they have different dietary needs than younger adults and few people are aware of these differences.
Before we deal with managing stress, let’s understand what stress really is. The definition of stress is your body’s response to a situation that requires action. In simpler terms, stress is how you react to challenging or threatening situations.
The causes of stress are called ‘stressors,’ which are defined by Wikipedia as “a chemical or biological agent,
You’ve decided it’s time to hire an in-home caregiver for your aging loved one — now what?
How do you choose the right caregiver? Caring for an aging loved-one can be an overwhelming job – emotionally, physically, and financially.
To help you, we’ve put together a list of eight things to take care of before you hire an in-home caregiver.
Connections are vital for every human being. These connections may be even more important for older adults, who may struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness. In addition, many of these older adults may also experience negative effects on their physical, mental, and emotional health when these connections crumble. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of social distancing has made maintaining these connections much more challenging.
One of the most devastating impacts of Covid-19 has been the sense of isolation that it has created. Many people report that they feel starved for physical touch, even a simple hug. This isolation has been especially challenging for older adults who have missed meaningful interactions with their children and grandchildren. Yet, the people who most miss these interactions —
Many people find doctor visits to be a stressful experience. Their blood pressure may skyrocket and they may have a tendency to forget all of the questions that they had before their appointment. This often leads to frustration and the sense that an expensive appointment was a waste of time and money. No one wants this to happen to them.
Many older Americans report that one of the hardest things about the Covid-19 pandemic is the sense of isolation and not being able to directly touch and interact with their grandkids. To remain safe, many grandparents have had to stop in-person visits with their grandchildren. However, thanks to technology, there are ways to connect with the grandkids virtually.