Tag Archives: Seniors

Senior Care Professionals

Tips for Seniors Living Well

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Seniors Living Well

Seniors today are living longer; however, are they living well into old age? The National Wellness Institute tells us that “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.” Indeed, the choices we make along the way determine the degree of wellness we’ll enjoy as we age. But how can cultivate a healthy, satisfying life?

The National Council for Aging Care offers some tips. First of all, develop healthy eating habits with whole foods and plenty of water. Next, keep your body and brain active. Find a physical activity you enjoy and challenge your mind in creative ways. Learn something new. Another key is to stay connected with others to avoid the pitfalls of social isolation. Reach out for help when life throws you a challenge. Also, pay attention to your appearance and keep up to date on popular culture and discover what’s buzzing with younger people. Finally, take precautions such as regular health check-ups and fall prevention measures in your home

I once was a passenger aboard a Great Lakes cruise ship. In case you’re wondering, yes, the Great Lakes are big enough to cruise on– and then some. What stood out were my fellow passengers– many of whom are in their 80′s. One woman celebrated her 94th birthday, while a couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  At nearly 60, I was almost the youngest person on board.  Now don’t get me wrong; these seniors did not run marathons. Many had physical challenges.  But they didn’t stop them from going on daily excursions and having a great time. One woman with severe scoliosis went on most tours including going down in a copper mine, complete with hard-hat! Another 92-year-old woman told me that she had recently been diagnosed with brain cancer; however, her doctor and family supported her decision to go on this trip. In spite of her illness, her attitude was sunny and positive. It seemed like she was content to stay on the ship taking in the scenery, smiling all the while.

Both of these women are examples of living well in spite of the challenges that may occur along the way. It was inspiring to be with people who didn’t stop living a fulfilling life in their senior years.

Ann Catlin, OTR, LMT: For twenty years, Ann led in the field of skilled touch in eldercare and hospice. She has nearly forty years’ clinical experience as an occupational and massage therapist. She created Age-u-cate’s Compassionate Touch program and serves as a Master Trainer and training consultant.

Faith Community, Hospital Professionals, Senior Care Professionals, The Family Caregiver

News Flash! Our Seniors are Drowning in Drugs

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I recently attended a conference and listened to a geriatrician share that the average number of medications her patients are on when they come to her practice is a shocking 18 – 24.  That’s per DAY! No doubt we have a serious epidemic in this country – our seniors are drowning in drugs.

According to the National Institutes of Health, although the term polypharmacy has evolved over time and is often used to mean many different things in different situations, its basic definition is quite simple;  more drugs are prescribed or taken than are clinically appropriate. The specific number of drugs taken is not itself indicative of polypharmacy as all of the drugs may be clinically necessary and appropriate for the patient; however, as the number of prescribed drugs increases, so do the chances of Polypharmacy.   The most worrisome consequence of polypharmacy is the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), in addition to increased drug costs and patient quality of life are also significant issues.  The elderly population, which often suffers from multiple chronic diseases requiring multiple medications, continues to increase. These patients are much more likely to experience Polypharmacy and its negative consequences, especially ADRs.

ADRs are one of the most troubling issues surrounding medication use in the elderly, as this patient population is more likely to have poor outcomes than others.  ADRs affects approximately 10-20% of hospitalized patients and around 7% of the general population; this number increases when the population of interest is limited to the elderly.

The consequences of drowning in drugs are greatly exacerbated by the dramatic rise in older adults living with dementia.  Not only are they taking too many drugs, but often they are not taking the drugs as prescribed.  Statistics also point to a very low percentage of drugs to treat AD and other forms of dementia as being effective – less than 10% have positive outcomes.

Healthcare professionals across the spectrum are faced daily with the challenges of helping these older adults and their families sort through their medication maze.  It’s simply not easy when drugs are being prescribed on top of one another.

If you or a loved one are facing these challenges, find a healthcare professional who is compassionate and willing to sort through the maze of medications.  It will involve bringing in all prescribed medications, supplements and being willing to patiently partner with a caring healthcare professional.

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a passionate advocate for older adults and those who serve them.  

http://www.AGEucate.com

 

Family Caregiver, Hospital Professionals, Senior Care Professionals

Noise Pollution and Older Adults – A Real Health Hazard

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When was the last time you walked into a restaurant hoping for a relaxing dinner only to feel like you were in the middle of a rock concert, and a bad one at that?  You’re not alone.  Noise pollution is a real health hazard, especially for older adults.  Yes, I’m in the AARP club myself, but don’t consider myself “old” (and not sure when that starts)  but I’ve noticed how noise has affected me as I’ve aged.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) defines noise pollution as “unwanted or disturbing sound,” explaining that “sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping or conversation or disrupts or diminishes one’s quality of life.  The annoyance can have major consequences, primarily to one’s overall health.”

Studies show that noise can have a direct and immediate effect on a person’s health.  Older adults are especially at risk simply because as human’s we often react with a “fight or flight” response.  With prolonged or obtrusive noise, physiological changes actually are taking place in the nervous, hormonal and vascular systems, resulting in potentially long-lasting consequences.

What can exposure to the constant and excessive level of noises cause to our health?  Stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, sleep disruption, depression and lost productivity, to name just a few.  Noise pollution is serious business.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identified the following categories of  adverse health effect of noise pollution on humans:

  1.  Hearing Impairment due to noise-induced hearing loss is the most common and often-discussed health effect.  This may be accompanied by abnormal loudness perception, distortion or tinnitus, which is inflammation of the ear.  Tinnitus may be temporary or may become permanent after prolonged exposure.
  2. Interference with spoken communication;  Noise pollution interferes with the ability to comprehend speech and may lead to a number of personal disabilities, handicaps and behavioral changes.  These might include problems with concentration, fatigue, uncertainty, lack of self-confidence, irritation, misunderstandings, decreased working capacity, disturbed interpersonal relationships and stress reactions.
  3. Sleep disturbances:  Uninterrupted sleep is known to be a prerequisite for good physiologic and mental functioning in healthy individuals.  Environmental noise is one of the major causes of disturbed sleep.  When sleep disruption becomes chronic, the results are mood changes, fatigue, depression, a decrease in quality of performance and other long-term effects on well-being.
  4. Cardiovascular disturbances: The nervous system can be temporarily, and even permanently affected by noise, acting as a biologic stressor, triggering a negative response to the cardiovascular system and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  5. Disturbances in mental health;  Noice can accelerate and even intensify the development of mental disorders;  however, it is not a direct cause of mental illness.  The elderly and those with underlying depression may be particularly vulnerable to these effects because they may lack adequate coping mechanisms.
  6. Impaired task performance: Noise pollution impairs task performance at school and at work, increases errors, and decreases motivation.  Reading attention, problem solving and memory are most strongly affected by noise.  Two types of memory deficits have been identified under experimental conditions; recall of subject content and recall of incidental details.

Older Adults are often at risk for increased vulnerability to noise pollution due to slower mental processing and sensory changes that take place in the aging process.  Persons living with dementia are at an even great risk as they often struggle with processing what is going on in their environment, decreasing stimuli can decrease certain behaviors.  Turning off the TV or radio in the evenings and reducing chatter or at any time you want them to wind down may help decrease agitation.

For care communities, shift change if often met with noise and chatter of oncoming and off going employees.  Even shuffling of papers during this busy time can add to agitated behavior, especially with persons living with dementia.

Not all noise is detrimental.  In fact, calming background music and can have a positive effect on mood, relaxation, reduced anxiety, and agitation.  This is especially true for meal times or helping to induce sleep before naps or bedtime.

Understanding sensory change in older adults, especially those living with dementia is critically important for care partners working in elder care communities, home care providers, families and for businesses who serve older adults.

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and creator of the Dementia Live® simulation and awareness training being implemented by providers across the US and internationally.  

http://www.AGEucate.com

 

Faith Community, Family Caregiver, Senior Care Professionals

Holiday Traditions…Accepting Change and Transition

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or christmas cooking and kitchen utensils on wooden table, top view

I love traditions, especially holiday traditions.  Being from a large Italian/Norwegian family food played a big part in these traditions.  We didn’t just make a few dozen Christmas cookies.  We made hundreds and hundreds of cookies.  The Friday after Thanksgiving was when the season’s serious cookie baking kicked off.

My mom and I would gather the old family recipe cards, many which were already decades old by that time.  We’d gather our shopping list, pull the tins (that were only used for Christmas cookies), clear the kitchen table and enthusiastically start the month long activity of creating sugary, buttery, nutty, chocolaty, almondy, gingery, cinamonny wonders.

My dad was only allowed the burned or “seconds” cookies, which he looked forward to at least one or two from each batch.  Other than that, the cookies were layered in tins and frozen, and not to be touched until Christmas eve.

As our family evolved, kids married and moved away,  Christmas gatherings were no longer always in the high double digits.  But for some reason, even when I too was married and starting my family, there was always the sense that it wasn’t Christmas without truckloads of cookies being lovingly created.  As the years past, I had to get a grip on the fact that 600 cookies was not necessary for a family of four, even with many plates for friends, shut-ins and church  events.

Traditions are certainly important.  They remind us who we are and they give us an identity and purpose in this big crazy world.  Accepting that traditions can evolve is also very important, or it can lead to feelings of disappointment and sadness.

How can we keep traditions alive while adjusting to changes in life, circumstances, and the people with whom we share these life memories?

Here are some suggestions that I came to grips with as my own parents aged and as physical and cognitive decline made us look at holidays at what was important.

  • Accept that change is a part of life, and be open to trying something new and different.  Wow, this was tough for me, but when I did – guess what?  It made me feel free.  Instead of a small shipload of cookies, I was happy to bake just my very very favorites.  In doing so, I freed myself up to enjoy other things during the Christmas season that I enjoyed.
  • Decide what is important and make that a priority, but know you may have to scale back.  Attending Christmas church services and festivals was and always will be at the core of my joy during the season.  As my mom’s Parkinson’s disease progressed, it became difficult to get out, so we chose just a few simple services and concerts that were more manageable and enjoyable for both of us.
  • Big is not always best.  In fact, I can say with conviction that in the years I’ve shared this with caregivers, it is almost a universal fact that if we focus on quality, quieter visits, it becomes much more enjoyable that large boisterous crowds.  We think that is a gift, but in actuality, most older adults begin to feel very overwhelmed and anxious is this environment.  So instead of ALL the family, set aside small bits of time to enjoy your loved one with conversation, touch and just the joy of presence… that is preserving the moment.
  • Accept last minute plan adjustments.  Illness, disability, cognitive decline or any other number of circumstances may mean that a holiday plan may need to be canceled or changed.  This is called life, and if we accept it with grace, it will be less stressful on caregivers, families and your loved ones.  Sometimes these unexpected changes are actually blessings in disguise for accepting what may be a new normal.

It has been 10 years since my mother’s passing, and while I hold these traditions near and dear, I have also been able adopt new traditions with my family that make life all that much richer.  My hope is that you may do the same.

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate® Training Institute and a passionate advocate for older adults and those who care for them.  

www.AGEucate.com