The American Diabetes Association reports that 23.6 million people, or 8 percent of the population, have diabetes.The association states that type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

If you feel like you are at higher risk to become a diabetic patient, here are 5 basic tips, that can improve your current stage and lower the possibility.

Tip 1:Get more physical activity

Tip 2:Get plenty of fiber

Tip 3:Go for whole grains

Tip 4:Lose extra weight

Tip 5:Skip fad diets and make healthier choices

To learn more about these 5 simple steps read the following article from mayoclinic.com

The Alzheimer’s Care Blog had a wonderful reference to the CNN documentary “Filling in the Blank.”

Below is the excerpt:

On Saturday, January 29, CNN will air a documentary focusing on families dealing with familial Alzheimer’s disease.  Familial Alzheimer’s disease is a rare form of the disease, accounting for roughly 5% of all Alzheimer’s cases. It involves a clear genetic link that is passed down from generation to generation in families. Individuals who inherit the identified gene, develop the disease, often at very young ages.

The documentary follow the stories of a number of these families and their loved ones, worldwide, chronicling their struggles with the disease as well as the hope they bring to research for better treatment tomorrow.

Individuals who carry the genetic mutation but do not display clinical symptoms of the disease are of particular interest to scientists, who believe that new information from these families will lead to new discoveries about Alzheimer’s disease, for everyone.

The positive message in this program is that the only “way out” of Alzheimer’s disease and its many losses, is through research. Many of the families highlighted in this film focus on raising awareness and their hope for finding a cure for this disease.

Hearing loss can make daily communications difficult, and about one-third of the 34 million seniors in the United States are hard of hearing. This “invisible” challenge can negatively affect the seniors’ self-perception and emotional well-being. Home health care aides can assist by speaking clearly to their clients and rephrasing what they are saying if it is not understood. The aides can make sure to be facing the seniors and to maintain eye contact with them while they are speaking. They realize that simply speaking louder does not make it easier for the seniors to understand what they are saying. Home healthcare services educate their healthcare aides about how to best communicate with and assist those senior clients who have hearing challenges.

www.hearinglossweb.com gives these tips for communication.

1. Get the person’s attention before you speak.

2. Do not put obstacles in front of your face. This includes coffee cups, hands, pencils, etc.

3. Do not have things in your mouth. This includes gum, candy, cigarettes, etc.

4. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Speak slowly, but naturally. Do not shout!

5. Use facial expressions, gestures, mimes, and whatever else helps make your message visible.

6. If you are not understood, try to say the same thing using different words. If that doesn’t work, writing a few key words may help the person with hearing loss understand. If that doesn’t work, write the whole sentence.

MIDDLEBORO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – A 29-year-old woman is accused of stealing from an elderly couple she was paid to take care of. Deborah Belcher, a.k.a. Deborah Blair, of East Bridgewater, has been charged with nine counts of larceny over $250. She worked as a home health aide at the couple’s home.

Continue reading the full article from Fox News.com by clicking here.

Many mishaps occur in the bathroom. For seniors, there is an increased chance of falling and sustaining injury. Standard shower and toilet accommodations may prove difficult for the elderly. Anti-slip mats should be placed in the tub or shower. Grab bars help support weight and can be installed around the tub/shower and toilet areas. If a bath chair is used, a hand held shower spray would be an excellent addition. A raised toilet seat helps accommodate those seniors who have challenges getting up and down, bending, or sitting. Under the guidance of a home health care aid, minimal modifications can prevent serious accidents in addition to making the senior feel more confident and comfortable.

PS. Bathroom scatter rugs that are likely to slip and cause a fall should be removed.

With the majority of seniors having to worry about a number of pressing health issues, their nutritional needs are often overlooked or neglected.  However, we now know that diet is closely linked to disease states and is an important tool for the prevention and treatment of various medical conditions. It is important that seniors consume a healthy, well-balanced diet to maintain optimal health. An ideal diet consists of an abundance of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, lean meats & protein sources, and healthy mono- and poly-unsaturated fats. Additionally it should be low in saturated fat, trans fat, refined carbohydrates, and sugar. Aim to incorporate all these components into a senior’s diet on a daily basis for optimal health.

Today, Doctor Jennifer Ashton was featured on CBS News Healthwatch in a wonderful and informative segment about “Foods that help you live longer.” According to Dr. Ashton, the antioxidant alpha carotene is linked to a reduced risk of death due to its ability to act as a pro-vitamin in the body. The latest studies done by the Centers of Disease Control followed over 1500 people ages 20 years and older for an average of 14 years. The results show that increased levels of blood alpha carotene were associated with a 40% decreased risk of death from all causes, particularly heart disease and various types of cancer. The best way to include more alpha carotene in your diet is by eating whole foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, spinach, green beans, turnip greens, winter squash, cilantro, fresh thyme, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe, apples, avocadoes. However, it can sometimes be quite a challenge to include the recommended 7-13 daily servings of fruits and vegetables Luckily there are products such as Juice Plus that provide convenient, easy-to-consume whole food based nutrition in a capsule form to help supplement our diets and bridge the gap between what we should eat and what we actually eat. Make the responsible choice for your heath and aim to eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables every day.

Watch the CBS video featuring Doctor Ashton at: “Foods That Help You Live Longer”

To learn more about Juice Plus+ visit: whole food based nutrition in a capsule form

A senior’s dietary and nutritional needs can be met in a healthy, delicious way. Snacks with high marks in nutrition offer an alternative to seniors whose appetite or eating habits have changed due to a variety of issues. It’s important to go with no- or low-salt and reduced or no-sugar snack choices. Oils like sunflower, soybean, and olive are healthy and do not contain trans fats. Antioxidants packed into berries, broccoli, tomatoes, and carrots offer a healthy way to help prevent strokes and reduce blood pressure. The natural sugars present in fruits and vegetables are a great choice when determining daily snacks. If requested, a home health aide can prepare light, healthy snacks for his or her senior client.

P.S.  Cherry tomatoes, high in antioxidants, are a great little snack for seniors. They are easy to eat and do not require cutting. ALSO, this link will take you to a very informative blog on Omega-3 fatty acids.

StilMee Caregiver Connections Newsletter

The healthcare industry is growing by leaps and bounds. This is largely due to the rapid growth of the elderly population. In fact, today, ten of the twenty fastest growing occupations are healthcare related. Home healthcare services are primarily provided to seniors. Substantial savings, coupled with the clients’ preference to “age in place,” have driven the home healthcare segment into one of the fastest growing healthcare services. Close to 59 percent of the home healthcare jobs are in the services categories such as home health aides and personal home care aides. As this country’s population continues to age, home healthcare providers will continue to grow their businesses to meet the increasing demand.

P.S.  People with a wide variety of educational backgrounds are necessary in order for the health care industry to function

Many mishaps occur in the bathroom. For seniors, there is an increased chance of falling and sustaining injury. Standard shower and toilet accommodations may prove difficult for the elderly. Anti-slip mats should be placed in the tub or shower. Grab bars help support weight and can be installed around the tub/shower and toilet areas. If a bath chair is used, a handheld shower spray would be an excellent addition. A raised toilet seat helps accommodate those seniors who have challenges getting up and down, bending, or sitting. Under the guidance of a home health care aid, minimal modifications can prevent serious accidents in addition to making the senior feel more confident and comfortable.

P.S. Bathroom scatter rugs that are likely to slip and cause a fall should be removed.