Many of the injuries that occur every day happen in the home. Of these, a large portion occurs in the bathroom, where the water and clutter add to the risk of every day. As reported by the CDC, in 2008, approximately 235,000 people in the U.S. ages 15+ sustained nonfatal, unintentional injuries in bathrooms that resulted in treatment from emergency departments.
The arrival of spring leads nature into rebirth. It sets people into motion after a long hibernation and a period of worry. Just as the first bird chirps and flowers bud to delight us, another activity comes into our field of view - spring cleaning. As years pass by, spring cleaning becomes an annual tradition. Many people, especially older adults, start looking for ways to complete this task more productively. To help our respected family and community members achieve these goals, we've compiled the following tips for making spring cleaning a genuinely engaging and productive activity.
The majority of American adults have not taken legal planning steps to organize and store their personal and financial information. In fact, only 68% of people over the age of 65 have a finalized will. Although taking these planning steps can be difficult, it is essential to have this information available to the family at the time of death.
Adequate and consistent lighting is important to keep aging adults safe. The sharpness of vision can deteriorate as we get older. Therefore, it is essential to invest in high-quality and intentional lighting. Taking these lighting safety measures will reduce fall risks and enhance in-home experiences for loved ones in the home.
The trends and fads of the wellness and fitness industry keep changing. However, one thing that will always remain a staple will be the importance of low-impact exercises. Low-impact exercises make it possible to stay active, improve mobility, and build strength without putting unnecessary stress on the joints. Thus, low-impact exercises are among the most highly recommended physical activity options for aging adults.
If you are looking for ways to stay safe and healthy, here are ten of the best low-impact exercises for you:
Inflammation is part of the body's defensive mechanism. When a cut swells up and turns red, that's inflammation healing you at work. However, it can contribute to various health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis (including psoriatic arthritis), cancer, and even depression when it goes into overdrive. It is worth noting that these health issues are also sparked by many factors such as poor diet, smoking, lack of sleep, etc.
When the immune system is activated without an illness or injury to combat, an inflammatory response may happen. The cells of the immune system that usually defend us begin to damage healthy arteries and joints because there is little to repair. When you do not eat a proper diet, do not get enough exercise, or have too much tension, the body reacts by increasing inflammation. Over time, chronic inflammation may have detrimental effects.
Now, let's take it a step further and look at tips to reduce unnecessary inflammation.
Over the years of extended use, nearly 80% of seniors develop foot problems. Common foot problems in seniors include arthritis, ingrown toenails, flat foot, diabetic foot ulcers, gout, bunions, hammertoes, stress fractures, fungal infections, and more. Some of these problems arise from everyday activity and health problems such as arthritis and diabetes. Still, the issue for many is inappropriate footwear.
As foot problems develop with age, people often do not realize that improper shoes can cause or worsen these problems. Aging causes poor foot circulation, loss of fat and cushion in the feet, and foot skin and nails to dry out. This means seniors should not wear the same shoes worn for most of their lives when their feet were healthy.
Arthritis is a common medical condition. Especially for older adults, pain and inflammation in the joints are common and tend to worsen over time. While constant pain in your joints can be disruptive and distracting, there are many ways that you can learn to cope with arthritis pain or even reduce the sensations of pain.
There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While both of them lead to pain and inflammation in joints, the causes behind each type are vastly different.
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), every 1 in 4 people above 65 falls each year. An elderly individual gets treatments in the hospital's emergency room every 11 seconds. Every 19 seconds, there is a death of an older adult due to a fall.
Falls are among the leading causes of fatal injuries and trauma-related emergency admissions in hospitals among the elderly population. Falls result in over 2.8 million injuries treated in hospitals annually, including more than 800,000 in emergency departments and over 27,000 deaths.
There are several ways to prevent falls, such as getting enough sleep, staying physically active, and taking muscle relaxant medications or strengthening supplements. Exercising helps prevent falls because it improves your balance, strengthens your muscles, and increases flexibility. Here are the ten best exercises to improve balance and prevent falls!
Whether from illness or injury, the chances of ending up in the hospital increases with age. A Center for Disease Control report showed that in 2017, 15% of those aged 65 years and older were admitted to the hospital in the past 12 months, compared to less than 6% of those aged 18 to 44 years.
Of course, the goal of hospitalization is for the patient to regain health and be discharged. However, not everyone leaving the hospital is ready to go home. Many patients still need continuing, though temporary, medical care at a less intense level than in the hospital. In many cases, this care is provided at a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
Formerly known as "nursing homes," these facilities commonly accept two types of patients. The patients most often associated with skilled nursing facilities suffer from long-term, acute conditions that require permanent, around-the-clock care. The other population served by skilled nursing facilities consists of patients recovering from illness or injury who need care until they are well enough to return home. In this role, SNFs are classified as post-acute rehabilitation facilities.