Cantissimo Senior Living Blog

The World Health Organization estimated in 2018 that there were approximately 466 million people across the world suffering from hearing loss. That is about 6.1% of the world's total population. It is estimated that one in every three adults over the age of 65 are affected by disabling hearing loss. On top of that, the number of people affected by hearing loss is projected to reach 630 million by 2030. 

Understanding Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss is known as presbycusis. With time, adults face more significant challenges interpreting the sounds around them. This can lead to severe difficulties in communication. Generally, this process occurs gradually over time. Age-related hearing loss results from changes in the inner ear, which could be contributed to by several factors:

For anyone living at an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, a care plan (for skilled nursing) or service plan (for assisted living) is required to promote resident health and wellbeing.

This comprehensive plan details all aspects of how a resident's care will be delivered. It guides the staff in rendering care tailored to the resident.

Step 1 – The Assessment

The creation of a care/service plan starts before a resident's official admittance to the facility. Though in some cases, it takes place on move-in day. The new resident, their family, and the facility staff participate in a meeting known as a Care Conference to assess the required level of care. Among the areas covered in the assessment are:

As we age, falling becomes a significantly greater threat to health. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 adults 65+ fall each year. An act that, years ago, might have been met with a laugh, now must be taken more seriously. Interestingly, the causes of falls are often not dramatic and uncommon events. Frequently, falls result from small and everyday occurrences that we ignore and even consider insignificant in and out of the house, such as wet floors, scattered items, or a ruffled floor rug. However, merely watching your step closely is not always enough to prevent a fall. Health-related matters also contribute to falling, such as impaired vision or new medications.

A simple fall can cause severe complications for older adults. Common problems include bone fractures, hip fractures, dislocations, head injuries, and even depression resulting from injury or fear of falling again. As stated by the CDC, falling once doubles the chances a second fall will occur.

Thus, if you are concerned about the possibility of experiencing a fall, you are not alone! It is essential to learn how to prevent falls. That's why we've compiled the following tips to help keep you safe and minimize your chances of an unfortunate fall. First, let's take a look at the major causes of falls:

As the fall comes to an end, the harsh and sometimes unforgiving months of winter set in. The first snowfalls of the year are exciting and enchanting. However, it is essential to remember that the winter season brings inherent risks to safety and wellness. Prepare accordingly to ensure you have a pleasant and safe winter!

     1. Keep Warm

The first step for older adults to stay safe throughout the winter is to keep warm. This is the best remedy against cold-related health risks that are common during this period. Even at home, it is possible to expose yourself to too cold of temperatures. Follow the tips below to stay safe:

"My son, be steadfast in honoring your father; do not grieve him as long as he lives. Even if his mind fails, be considerate of him; do not revile him because you are in your prime." (Sirach 12-13).

Dementia stands out as a signature affliction of old age throughout human history. Defined as symptoms linked to loss of memory and thinking skills, dementia takes several forms, with 60-80% caused by Alzheimer's disease. Yet, it is not considered to be a part of normal aging.

Some moderate cognition changes are expected with age, but these do not lead to loss of independence. However, more serious cognitive decline can produce symptoms like rapid forgetting, navigation impairment, inability to solve everyday problems, or difficulty holding ordinary conversations.

Nevertheless, age is strongly correlated with dementia. One estimate shows only a 1.7% prevalence of dementia among those 65-69 years old. But with a doubling of new cases every five years, dementia incidence grows to over 50% by age 90.

If the old adage, "well-begun is half-done", is taken to be true for all situations we find ourselves in, then the way we start each day should be of paramount importance. A meal that satisfies and provides the energy necessary for the day is something the body naturally craves, especially as we age and our bodies change. Growing older also means we should pay particular attention to the available options and take only what is best for us. Now is the prime time to care for our bodies and treat them with the proper attention, starting with what we eat. 

The breakfasts listed here promote good health and improve cognitive performance. Perking yourself up with a healthy breakfast ensures you kickstart the day in the best possible way, helping your internal systems stay healthy. This way, your body stays fit, and your mood is elevated.

The Best Foods for a Balanced and Nutritious Breakfast

Gathered around the patio table on a beautiful early autumn evening, talk with friends turned to caring for aging parents. Jan, whose mother lives independently several states away, related an all too familiar story.

"In our daily phone call, I asked Mom how she was doing. She told me she'd fallen the night before. She wasn't hurt but spent the entire night on the living room floor because she could not get up by herself. It wasn't until her friend came by for the usual morning coffee visit that she was able to get up."

"Thank goodness she wasn't hurt," I said. "But I thought she had a medical alert bracelet." Jan gave me an exasperated look. "She does! But she forgets she has it even though we talk about using it in that exact type of situation. When I reminded her that she should have used it, she said that she probably wouldn't have used it even if she had remembered. I asked her why, and she said then the EMTs would have to come, and that would be too much fuss."

Countless other adult children have had similar calls about issues with elderly parents. Excepting a catastrophic event, it's tempting to avoid the question of whether an older loved one should still be living on their own. Many older adults resist losing their independence, so their children are reluctant to suggest an assisted living option to avoid conflict or feelings of guilt.

Our physiology has equipped us with the ability to fight, flight, or freeze in the face of imminent danger. This natural autonomic response served us well in prehistoric times. After the danger was over, we settled back into a rest and digest, nervous system response. But today it’s a different story. Today’s stress creates dis-ease and sickness in mind, body, and spirit. Today, our stress-filled lifestyles, work schedules, poor postural habits, and weakened resiliency mean that the threats to our nervous system health are exponential. This leaves us chronically overstimulated and out of balance, causing tension and pain. Ask yourself these questions:

Generally speaking, your nervous system can be in overdrive just from the demands of your busy life and many responsibilities. Then, when an illness or injury occurs, your nervous system is stressed even further. These circumstances are less than ideal for optimal healing. 

A nervous system in overdrive causes anxiety, insomnia, poor digestion, muscles tense up, shallow breath depriving cells of much-needed oxygen. Blood pressure and heart rate increase as the body prepares itself for fight or flight. Stress hormones, adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline are released into the blood system. Also, the brain-gut relationship stress triggers pain and bloating in the digestive tract, causing a foggy mind and lower mood. Stress weakens the immune system and increases blood sugar.

Imagine trying to recover from an illness or injury under these conditions? At a time like that, what the body really needs is time to rest and digest.

You've been thinking a lot about it for a long time. Maybe years. Is it time for the big leap of faith? Is it time to move out of your house into a senior living arrangement?

This can be one of the most challenging decisions of your life. There are so many options. It's difficult to know where to start. Here are nine questions that may provide some perspective in the face of this difficult choice.