Health Conditions in Older Adults – Part Two

Private Home Health Care is interested in the health of older Americans.  When you live longer you become wiser and you should be able to enjoy your years.

We believe this is very possible, especially if you take care of yourself.

It’s also important to be aware of potential health issues so that you can address them with your doctor early.

Diabetes, Arthritis and Obesity were mentioned in the last blog.  In addition the following medical issues are prevalent among seniors.

High blood pressure and cholesterol  – cholesterol affects a lot of us at many different ages.  For those over the age of 60, 60% deal with high blood pressure.

Chronic Kidney Disease – if you have high blood pressure or diabetes they can contribute to issues with your kidneys.

Asthma and COPD – if you have asthma you have an increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Between 20-25% of people over age 70 have COPD.

We hope that if you are older it is helpful to hear about the different potential health conditions.  

Eat well, exercise and be social!

Health Conditions and Older Adults – Part One

The expression, “Life begins at . . .” is usually said as you start to age and you are trying to keep yourself upbeat.

Interestingly enough you might need to start saying it around age 30!  That seems very young right? 

Well it turns out that age 30 is around when all of your biological functions are peaking and after that age your body starts to decline.

As shocking as that might be, the good news is that the changes in your body happen very slowly over time.

You don’t all of a sudden come down with a medical condition.

The older you get the more your muscle tone and bone strength lessen.  Along with this, medical issues can arise.

There are also ways to help yourself and manage the changes that inevitably come.  A balanced and healthy diet and exercise will do wonders.

In the next couple of blogs we will talk about some of the medical issues to be aware of.  It’s important to be aware so that you can try to avoid or address symptoms.

Diabetes – your body cannot manage your blood sugar levels well.  There are 30% of people over age 65 that develop Type 2 diabetes.

Arthritis – joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling.  There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.  The CDC estimates that half the population deals with some form of arthritis.

Obesity – approximately 40% of Americans are obese.  It’s a bit higher for those over age 60.

Private Home Health Care is sharing this information to educate.  We will continue with a few more medical conditions on Friday. 

National No Housework Day

Private Home Health Care often writes about some of the days in the National Days calendar.

Today we just couldn’t resist because whether a man or a woman, who wouldn’t like to have a day off from doing housework!

Busy lifestyles with both parents and multiple activities for the kids, it can mean that a lot of messes get made.

It’s hard to pick up after yourself when you are running from work, then soccer, followed by lacrosse and tennis.

What’s a person to do?  Yes, you can hire someone to clean your house.  That’s very popular these days.

For those of us that still dust furniture, vacuum floors and clean bathrooms why can’t you take the day off tomorrow and do whatever else you’d like.

Washing your clothes and doing laundry can wait a day.

What might you do?

How about reading a book you’ve been meaning to get to?

Perhaps you’d like to binge watch a show that’s caught your interest.

You could call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while and have a long catch up session.

The choice is yours.  The only thing you cannot do tomorrow is housework, not even the slightest bit.

You can’t pick up the laundry, use a vacuum, or find anything dirty in your bathroom.

Can you do it?  Give it a try.  You might enjoy yourself for the day!

Happy Holy Days

It is the Passover or Pesach for our Jewish friends and Holy Week for our Christian friends.

Passover began April 1 and ends April 9.  

Commemorating the Jews emancipation from Slavery in Egypt.  Seders are held and family members and friends gather for prayers and meals.

Holy Week for Christians began March 29 and ends April 4.

Christians hold services and masses for Holy Thursday and Good Friday with a joyous Easter on April 4 with a risen Savior, Jesus.

The religions are different but have things in common including all roads leading to God.  

Private Home Health Care wants to wish a kosher and Happy Passover and a blessed and Happy Easter to all who celebrate.

In addition, next weekend is Easter for our Greek Orthodox friends so a Happy Easter to them as well.

Dogs

April is Dog Appreciation Month.  (Oh yes,  it’s also April Fool’s Day so watch your backs and be prepared!)

Dogs.  They come big, medium, small and very small.

They can be a pure breed or a mix of breeds for a mutt.  

Watching the Westminster Dog show can be lots of fun but visiting an animal shelter can be fun too.

There are so many different dogs, many without pedigree, that are in need of homes and this month is for those dogs.

It’s estimated that 70,000 dogs and cats are homeless. 

Approximately 5 million of them go through animal shelters.

People move and cannot keep their dog, some develop allergies or they might not be able to afford the food and vet visits. 

Some shelters have so many dogs that they are forced to euthanize them. 

Many are also rescued and shipped to “no kill” shelters in other states.

This month, think about the rescue shelters in your area and the people that run them.

You can often find puppies if you want to train or older dogs, already trained and who just need a new home.  

Find a dog that works for your lifestyle and make sure you can afford the food and vet bills.  It’s a big responsibility but with many rewards.

Private Home Health Care loves dogs and this month we encourage visiting shelters to find the right one for you if you are looking for a furry friend.

Doctor’s Day

Today is a National Day for you to appreciate and thank your physician.

The holiday began in March of 1933 in Winder, Georgia by a physician’s wife.  She started a group sending greeting cards along with a red carnation to doctors in her area.

The date coincides with the first ever use of ether anesthesia, an important medical advancement at the time.

How do you feel about your doctor?  Are you able to relate to him or her? Does your doctor understand your needs?

Primary Care physicians are your main contacts but most of us have also needed specialists.  As you age you might feel like you add on a new specialist with each new year.

A doctor spends years in medical school and if they specialize in an area it is even longer.  We have high expectations for these men and women.

The first woman doctor was Elizabeth Blackwell in 1849.  Many changes since the days of Dr. Blackwell.

Today male doctors make up 61% and females 38%. 

Private Home Health Care has interactions with many doctors.  We rely on their expertise and appreciate what they do for their patients. 

If you have time it might be nice to send a nice note or a red carnation to your doctor.  You might pleasantly surprise them.

RSV in Older Adults

RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is an illness in your lungs and respiratory tract.  Symptoms can mimic that of a mild cold.

You think of RSV as a young child illness but it can also affect older adults.  

As an older adult, how you handle the virus depends on your health and any underlying conditions.

You have to be very careful if you have any heart or lung disease or if you have a weak immune system.

You may get a runny nose, cough and maybe even a fever.  These could be mild symptoms that might last a week or two and then resolve.

When it becomes a problem is when it lingers and you don’t start feeling better.  You could be headed for a bout of bronchitis or pneumonia.

Reach out to your medical professional if symptoms worsen.  You may need interventions like intravenous fluids, nebulizer treatments or oxygen.

If you get to a place where you need to be hospitalized the good news is that it should resolve itself in a few days.

Private Home Health Care understands how important it is to listen to our bodies.  Watch if you feel like you are catching a cold.  

You may need to get additional help if you have any underlying conditions.  Be smart and reach out to a medical professional if you have any concerns.

Weight Management for Older Adults

Once you hit age 65 it seems like many things can change in your body, and maybe your mind.

Many things can add weight to you as an older adult. 

You have gained weight when you weren’t looking.  On top of that you may have muscle loss.

You could have added medical conditions.  Perhaps you are having trouble with your mobility so getting around is harder at times.

Has your social life changed?  That could affect your weight too.

You might have sarcopenic obesity.  That’s the official term for being overweight with muscle loss.

An important piece to figuring out this puzzle of weight gain is touching base with your medical provider.  You don’t want to add any chronic disease or disabilities to your list.

Your doctor will help you with ways to lose weight based on your age, body type and any existing issues.

In general, as you probably have guessed, a good way to change is following some healthy nutritional steps and physical activity.

Here are some suggestions:

• Look at what you eat and make more nutritious choices and then eat smaller portions.

• Watch and if possible, eliminate drinks with high, added sugars.

• Keep a list of all the foods you eat and share it with your doctor or nutritionist.

• Get physical.  Find physical activities that you like and make sure to include strength and balance activities.  You might actually enjoy time spent exercising!

It’s not easy to stay on top of so many things in your life as you age.  Weight can become a problem very easily for older adults.

Private Home Health Care knows that it can be hard to shed pounds off your body.  Work with your doctor to get started.  Good luck!

March Madness

Today’s blog is about March madness but it’s not what you think?

You may think it will be about college basketball and all of the craziness that’s been going on.

The teams winning are mixing up everything and it’s still early!

What we are thinking about today is the long month of March.  There are 31 days in March which automatically makes it a long month.

Add days of winter to that and it gets a bit longer.  Yes, we have the Spring equinox and that gives us hope.

This year we have had a lot of snow and we mean a lot.  We started out just cold when winter began but February ushered in snow like we have not seen in a long time.

We call it madness because it’s just about this time when we all yearn for sunny weather, flowers and warm air.  

We hear birds singing and spring plants showing little sprouts.  It feels so hopeful but it could be just a tease.

It is March and that means we still can expect cold weather and we might even get, shhhhh, snow.  That is just madness when we are ready for the warm days of Spring and Summer.

When March clouds take over and the sun doesn’t shine it can get you grumpy, especially after a few sunny and sort of warmer days.

It can really drive you mad but we want you to stay strong and know that no matter what happens March will end and the warmer weather will come.  We know it!

Private Home Health Care is counting the days until the end of March.  April can still be chilly but the sun should shine more and then May is just around the corner.

Memory Day

Tomorrow, Saturday, is Memory Day.

Will you remember this tomorrow?  It might depend on what you do to keep up your memory.  

As we age, our memory definitely changes.  It’s not as easy to remember tasks, appointments and maybe even bills.

The good news is that if you are having memory issues you can start to do things to help improve it.

Some things you have probably heard about before.  Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet with veggies, fruits and grains.

You can make a list or keep a day planner to help with appointments and things you want to get done.

Exercise by walking or using light weights to build up your muscles.  Be active.

Your brain likes to be used so keep using it by doing crossword puzzles, get lost in a great book or get a new hobby.  You are never too old to learn something new!

Stay connected socially.  Depression is very real as you age but if you have friends and social interactions you’ll stay happier.

Private Home Health Care keeps calendars and lists to help stay organized.  Find something that works for you if you feel your memory is changing.