Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be challenging to find ways to buy food while staying safe and healthy. Today, many food and meal delivery services can provide contactless delivery, ranging in variety and price. Read on to learn more about several different types of services and the advantages of each!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 33% of the global population, including seniors, suffer from musculoskeletal conditions. One in two older adults in the US lives with painful disorders related to muscles. The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems in the country is the same as chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
The loss of physical independence and mobility is a devastating experience for older adults. Some of the common disorders include fractures, osteoporosis, infections, osteoarthritis microcrystal disorders, and tumors.
Although older adults undergo conservative treatments, such as pain medications, antidepressants, and analgesics to treat these problems, research highlights that stretching exercises offer adverse-free and long-term benefits to older adults. In today's article, we will talk about the importance and benefits of stretching for the elderly.
As people age and health declines, safety is a substantial concern for family members and loved ones. Increasing the use of technology can be a great solution to ensure the safety and independence of older adults. Today, there are many safety and security products available. Check out our list below to learn about ten options that may improve the lives of your family!
Aging in place at home remains the most popular option for senior living. According to AARP, over 75% of age 50+ respondents to a 2018 survey said they would prefer to stay in their own homes. However, as we age, the risks of living at home increase, with the most common being the risk of falling. CDC data shows that 36 million older adults fall annually, resulting in 3 million emergency department visits and over 32,000 deaths.
To reduce falls and other accidents, a home needs to be modified to accommodate older adults' needs. These modifications range from low-cost and straightforward to expensive and complicated. However, any change that makes a home safer may enable the older resident to remain independent longer.
With the arrival of COVID-19 and the efforts to socially distance, it has never been more important to stay in shape at home. Throughout much of the pandemic, gyms have been closed, and people are more reliant than ever on exercising at home and outdoors. This is particularly true for older adults. Strength training helps to maintain healthy bone structures, improve mobility, and prevent falls. In this article, we share seven of the best strength exercises that can be done at home with little to no exercise equipment.
Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the human body? As such, it is just as important that you keep your skin healthy and hydrated. As we age, that barrier begins to break down, especially during winter, when it seems like no matter what you do, your skin starts to get dry and cracked. Although it may feel like a losing battle, there are many things that older adults can do to keep their skin healthy this winter season. Read the following tips to learn more!:
Ted had always looked up to his father as a tower of strength and inspiration. Often laboring seven days a week for decades to build a successful small business, he still found time to coach sports teams for Ted and his three other children.
Ted's dad and mom were able to retire comfortably at an age when they could still enjoy an active lifestyle. They caught up on all the travel and other leisure activities they put off during their working years. After enjoying this wonderful life for 17 years, Ted's mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was gone in a matter of months.
His dad held up well despite feeling devastated. After a couple of years, he almost seemed to be his old self. However, Ted noticed some changes. A fastidious dresser all his life, his dad began to neglect his appearance. It wasn't surprising to find him in the middle of the day wearing the clothes he slept in the night before. Also, as a business owner, he had expertly managed his finances over the years. Now Ted was finding past due bills.
Ted came to the realization his dad was having memory and cognition issues. After a series of doctor visits, it was clear his dad needed a memory care living arrangement.
Ted's story is one example of a scenario faced by many families of older adults. However, it may be difficult for adult children to admit a parent is suffering from memory and cognition problems. One reason is some older adults with memory deficits can be otherwise healthy. This seems to make it easier for families to deny there are problems.
Another reason is denial due to a feeling of shame about dementia and memory loss. Due to common misunderstandings about these afflictions, they have acquired a vicious stigma that leads to needless suffering due to delays in seeking treatment and support.
Families who educate themselves about memory and cognition issues are better prepared to seek assistance sooner. Here are ten signs that a loved one may benefit from memory care:
In America, stroke is a leading cause of death. The brain and heart rely on each other to sustain the basic functionalities of the human body. The brain controls a large portion of the body's range of capabilities and nerve signaling. Your brain has multiple purposes, but a single stroke can put those critical functions at risk. Communication, memory, emotional activity, and physical capabilities can all be affected when the brain is not operating at its utmost potential.
A stroke and a heart attack may seem similar but are very different. Both ailments occur due to a shortage of oxygenated blood and blood flow. However, strokes primarily affect the brain, while heart attacks mainly target the heart. When the body's blood flow to the heart is blocked, sometimes due to a blood clot, it can cause a heart attack. A stroke, on the other hand, can cause possible brain tissue to decay and long-term disability or death.
Cellular phones and access to the internet has drastically changed the lives of people across the world. For the first time in history, humans can communicate with each other and access answers to questions instantly, from pretty much anywhere. The benefits are vast and incredible. At the same time, while older adults are using the internet and smartphones more frequently, there are risks.
Internet and phone scams have become a growing issue as technology has evolved and become more advanced. Scammers use internet software to take advantage of people by using fraud schemes that trick people into giving them money. In 2018, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 351,936 complaints of internet and phone crimes, accounting for more than 2.7 billion dollars in losses. Of all scam victims, seniors are targeted more than any other age group because they tend to have more time and willingness to listen. They are also often more sympathetic and trusting than younger generations.
Scammers use various tactics, such as acting friendly, helpful, or sympathetic, to get people to fall for their schemes. In some cases, scammers inflict fear on their victims to scare them into paying them. Scammers are aware that many older adults have a lot of money in their savings accounts after retirement. They are also considered low-risk targets because these scams often go unnoticed and unreported due to the lack of technical knowledge.
The best way to avoid internet and phone scams is to be aware of common scams, including the top ten scams targeting seniors, found by the National Council on Aging (NCOA). It is then easier to identify and avoid falling for these scams:
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: