Cantissimo Senior Living Blog

Old age tends to slow us down. We believe that our mental and physical abilities are not as strong as they were in the years of our youth. While we may not feel as energetic as before, we should acknowledge the advantages of our golden years. We finally have the time to concentrate on our health, the wisdom to make better choices, and the freedom to welcome change. Do not let your senior years go to waste. Unhealthy eating habits, an inactive lifestyle, and weight gain will only expose you to a greater risk of developing chronic illnesses at this stage. Instead, make the most of this special time!

It is essential to stay fit and look your best during these golden years, so they become the best years of your life. You never know where life may take you or what will come your way. Prioritizing your health is the key to be prepared for everything. Staying fit at this point in life will inspire your younger family members to embrace healthy living as well. The fitter you are, the less prone you become to conventional health problems and personal injuries associated with old age.

Abide by these five golden rules to prove that age does not get in the way of becoming the best version of yourself!

5 Golden Rules to Stay Fit in Your Golden Years

As we age, our physical problems seem to exaggerate and often give us a more challenging time. Stomach aches turn into constipation and acid reflux, and before you know it, indigestion is interfering with the whole day. Of course, the good news is that you can take steps to improve your digestive health.

If you are dealing with gut problems or digestive issues, it is time you take your health into your hands by incorporating these tips. Once you do, your digestion will improve, leaving you with fewer health problems.

The Top 10 Steps to Improve Your Digestion

It's wonderful growing older. There is so much you've seen and experienced, and there is more to come. Even so, it is important to remember that the health of your heart is vital. With a healthier heart, you can rest assured that there are many more years to look forward to. Begin with small changes in your lifestyle for better health now and in the future. And this is very important, especially when it comes to cholesterol levels in older adults.

Cholesterol accumulation in the body of older adults can lead to devastating health conditions. For instance, it increases susceptibility to heart diseases like stroke or heart attack. With the following 14 tips to improve cholesterol for older adults, you can get your health on the right track!

Note: This post has been updated May 17, 2021.

Even though the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, the U.S. vaccination process is cause for decreased transmission rates nationwide. Nearly one-third of the U.S. population, above the age of sixteen, are fully vaccinated, with an average of two million tests administered daily. In the last two weeks, daily reported cases of infection are down 29.7%. There are currently three FDA unapproved vaccines under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), including the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

How mRNA Vaccines Work

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are both classified as mRNA vaccines. Unlike other vaccines, this type does not inject the virus into an individual. Instead, mRNA vaccines create a protein that triggers an immune response to produce antibodies. Obtaining antibodies for COVID-19 protects individuals from getting infected when they come in contact with the virus.

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, over 4 million adults suffer from chronic migraines. Migraines are defined as severe throbbing pain, typically on one side or area of the brain, with additional symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound. However, this description seems to only scratch the surface of something that can be so debilitating.

Migraines aren't just painful; they're also dangerous, as they cause visual impairment, muscle weakness, and fainting. Dealing with migraines can be an uphill battle, especially for older adults, but that doesn't mean that they're impossible to overcome. Conquering your migraines will become simple if you follow the steps listed below.

How to Prevent Migraines

Once a year, plant pollen floats through the air, and seasonal allergies make their attack on humanity. With watery eyes, scratchy throats, and runny noses, allergies can be miserable! Some people grow out of their seasonal allergies when they reach adulthood, but others experience worsening symptoms as they age. Before we get into solutions, let's dive into the cause. 

What causes seasonal allergies?

The common symptoms of seasonal allergies include dry eyes, sore throat, runny nose, and headache, among others. When allergens and irritants enter our nasal passages, our bodies' immune systems try to eliminate the potential threat by releasing histamines. These histamines cause common seasonal allergy symptoms like sore throat, blocked nose, watery eyes, and excessive mucus.

How to Deal with Seasonal Allergies

While allergy pills may alleviate allergy symptoms, they're not the answer to everything. Antihistamines often cause severe drowsiness and other various side effects, which make them dangerous to take regularly. Luckily, there are other ways that older adults can deal with seasonal allergies without taking medication.

In May of 2020, a 20-year-old man was caught on video brutally beating a 75-year-old man at the Westwood Rehabilitation Nursing Center in Detroit, Michigan. The suspect, who was also a patient at the time, was shown repeatedly punching and cussing at the victim. Although no staff members were involved in this incident, it raises concern that the staff was unaware of the incident until they saw the video.

In June of 2017, Janet Yu discovered that her 90-year-old mother was a victim of financial abuse by her financial planner at Royal Mutual Funds Inc., an RBC subsidiary and a mutual funds dealer. The unauthorized transfer of funds resulted in over $120,000. These unauthorized transfers supposedly went unnoticed because they were processed using Yu’s client card number and the assigned online banking password.

What is Elder Abuse?

The above are only two examples of elder abuse, a growing problem in today’s society that can cost seniors their security, dignity, and even their lives in extreme cases. Elder abuse can include financial abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. It is important to understand that abuse can occur anywhere, including in the home or a senior living facility. Often, abusers are someone that a person trusts, such as family members, friends, or caregivers. Sixty percent of elder abusers are family members, while 24.3% of elder abusers are senior living facility caregivers.

How Prevalent is Elder Abuse?

Pain is the body’s way of communicating to us that something is unbalanced. Yet, the places we often experience pain are not necessarily at the location of the movement limitation. 

Let’s consider the body and muscles as an elaborate system. When one area of the body is stuck short and tight, it is plausible that this area of tightness can tug, pull, or restrict movement, which inhibits proper functioning in other parts of the body.

Somatics explains that muscles become habituated tight and short in response to repetitive strain, injury, and stress. Muscles essentially fail to function properly - which means they stop fully contracting and stop fully releasing. This is known as Sensory Motor Amnesia - loss of the brain’s voluntary control over the muscles.

As we age, the reproduction and repair of cells slow. As a result, we often experience slower growth of both hair and nails. To maintain healthy hair, there are a few things to do that will encourage the repair of the cells and develop new and healthy cells to replace the damaged ones. Follow these suggestions to maintain healthy hair at any age!

Keep Your Hair Strong and Healthy!

Research has shown that older adults who spend a reasonable amount of time outside daily tend to be healthier, both physically and mentally. Nothing rejuvenates the body like spending time outside in fresh air.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of outdoor activities for older adults.

4 Reasons to Spend Some Time Outside