According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, The Sexes use home care differently. Men will use more medical  home health care and women, more of the day to day homemaking assistance.

Men & Women Use Home Care Differently

Stands to reason as Men and Women tend to have different approaches to health care, medical visits and the idea of using help when needed rather than toughing it out.

The report found that over 80% of seniors 65 and older, had a primary (family) caregiver.

The men used their wife as their primary caregiver 3 times as often as women, who were twice as likely to have an adult son or daughter, or other family member provide care – not husband.

Hmmm, this is also found that with Long Term Care Insurance, the wife has a policy and the husband does not– figuring his wife will care for him. That is a plan, but works only if the wife is alive and able to be a caregiver at an advanced age.

One of the reasons women use home care more often than men is because they are likely to be older  (85 +), and widowed – living alone.

Following an acute health situation is when men are more likely to use an aide in the home. They are also more likely to use a physical therapist and have wound care – RN – nursing care at home.

Interestingly, although the study looked at the patterns of in-home care or assistance utilized by men and women, a look at the needs versus the putting off of care wasn’t examined.

Look at your own family experience. Is there a need for either parent to have an aide to assist with personal care or routine household tasks? Do they have Long Term Care Insurance to help cover the costs? Is one parent the primary caregiver to the other due to dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?

Often the way into a senior’s home is through the medical need, a visiting Registered Nurse, Physical or Occupational Therapists are the most common. These “Skills” are covered at 100% through Medicare – along with bath visits. Once Medicare services end, then it can be easier to coax a parent to continue with some in-home assistance as needed. They are already used to the coming and goings of a new person in their life.

It is insightful to know how your mother or father will begin use of home health care. It help start the discussion by a concerned family member- spouse or adult offspring. Start with the practical and start small and then build in more hours or days as needs grow. Non-medical home care can be hourly or live-in, long term or short term. It is helpful to work with a home care company with expertise in assessing the in-home care needs of your family and help you to build a sensible and flexible care plan to meet an immediate or long range situation. Boca Home Care Services in South Florida, is one such company.

Learn More About Home Care:

Miami Jewish Home Care, LLC

From the team that brings exceptional  Home Care to Broward and Palm Beach counties, the Bensmihens are now serving Dade County.

Joseph and Lisa have over forty years of combined Elder Care and Home Care experience in South Florida. As owners and operators of Boca Home Care Services & Boca Home Care,

Both are pleased to announce the opening of:

Miami Jewish Home Care located at 975 41^st Street on

beautiful Miami  Beach. They are committed to bringing exceptional Home Care to Dade County’s aging seniors.

As a Geriatric Care Manager and court appointed Guardian, “JB” approaches Home Care as a Social Worker providing the full gamut of Elder Care services to our clients and their families. Our primary focus is keeping seniors safe and independent in their homes while recuperating from surgery (Hip) or managing a progressive disease (Alzheimer’s Dementia).

Miami Jewish Home Care offers hourly or live-in care, short or long term. Screened, certified and experienced caregivers assist with personal (ADL) care, routine household chores, medication prompts, transportation, companion and respite care. As JB says “The magic comes from making the right Shidduch/match between caregiver and client.

Call today to speak with a Care Manager and create a personal care plan:  877-706-0785.

All LTC insurance accepted.

We at Boca Home Care Services understand what a big step it is to have a caregiver come into the home. They are only “strangers” at first. Once rapport is established a warm interaction and helpful routine can follow. Find some tips to help make your Home Care experience a successful one.

Either due to an accident, fall, hospitalization or a chronic, progressive disease, you need an aide to assist you. The idea of a “stranger” coming into your home, into your kitchen and helping with your personal care is hard to imagine. But, you have made the decision to start and now you have a caregiver coming over.

We have found that the best way to set up this new relationship to be a successful and even pleasant one is to have a routine. Use the caregiver’s time with you wisely. It is important to have things each visit for the aide to do. Otherwise, you’ll both be wondering how to pass the time. The aide will go on the phone and you may start having feelings of resentment, and want to call the whole thing off.

Truth is, if you need help, then you need help! We try to increase the chances of success by giving you some tips on how to properly make use of having a caregiver. Firstly, know what the duties of a hired caregiver are – and what they are NOT. A good aide will assist you, as needed with showering, dressing, walking and other “Activities of Daily Living”. They will also keep the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom neat – BUT they are not domestics. It is unrealistic to expect them to do household cleaning beyond ther rooms mentioned. They will also do the shopping, laundry, cooking, and driving. Other tasks include, medication prompts, serve as a companion and can help you with walking and exercises – all while keeping you safe from any falls.

Other tips for Home Care success are:

* Make a list of your important contacts – Family, Physician and a nearby Friend.

* Another list of you prescribed medications – name, dosage, time to take it and whether before or after eating.

* Let the caregive know what your routine is. Do you prefer to shower, then breakfast or the other way around?

* If you don’t know how to get to a doctor’s office or other locale, have someone get clear directions for the caregiver.

* If you are the primary caregiver, after the second day, disappear and go take care or yourself – you are Off Dutty for a few hours.

* Let the aide know what you like to do – favorite TV programs, a senior center, cards, puzzles, computer…

* Go with the aide the first time to the market, or have someone who knows your preferences go so that he or she can learn what products and brands you prefer.

* Let the caregiver know what types of foods you like, how you want them prepared and at what time do you wish to eat.

* Tell the aide of your allergies to  foods or medication. Your pet peeves and what you enjoy.

Remember, when you hire a caregiver from a licensed company, they will be screened, trained and experienced, just not with you in your home. It takes a couple of visits to “click” and once you do – it is magic. If you don’t, let the company know immediately so that a change can be made. Everyone is dofferent so sometimes it takes more than one try.

Anyone who has had Shingles can tell you what a painful nightmare it is. Fortunately there is an inoculation against it. Below our some facts about this condition.                                                            Boca Home Care Services recommends you consult with your doctor. Prevention makes much more sense than having to treat it.

The herpes zoster virus is the culprit causing virus for both chicken pox and shingles. It infects about  a million people each year. It is predicted that over half of all people in the U.S. will contract shingles by the age of eighty. Shingles is more common in seniors, age sixty plus because aging adversely affects our immune system, but if you had the chicken pox as a child, you can contract shingles at any age..  Yes,  Shingles is very common – and so are the myths about it.

People can contract shingles when the chicken pox virus is reactivated from being dormant, affecting a side of the body. The virus  nests in the nerves of the spine and can emerge  due to a change in immune system,  age, illness or some serious stress. It will break our into the body with a as a painful rash on the skin. It may follow a period  of extreme fatigue and usually goes through three stages; extreme pain, or a prickly sensation along the nerve corridor, a very itchy rash  and then blisters – like chicken pox.

Good news, if you did have the chicken pox you cannot catch shingles from someone who has it. Otherwise, it is contagious from direct contact with the rash in someone who hasn’t already had chicken pox. Shingles are not considered to be contagious prior to the rash appearing or once it has crusted over.  If you are around someone who has an active rash from shingles, you may wish to wear gloves or avoid touching them around the rash.

It is possible, though unlikely to contract shingles more than once. The occurrence of more than one infection is under five percent.

Beyond the intense pain of shingles, an outbreak in an elderly person can cause other complications. Like any type of debilitating pain, sleep is affected and depression can follow. An outbreak on the face, in the eye or ear can cause seeing and hearing impairment. If shingles are not treated swiftly then blindness can occur. Additionally, a case of shingles can be further complicated by bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, some facial paralysis or encephalitis.

Shingles are serious, especially in a frail aging person who may also have other health issues. Shingles can be mostly prevented.

Since 2006,  there has been a shingles vaccine. It has proved to reduce the risk of a shingles outbreak by half. If you are 60 or older, speak to your doctor and schedule an appointment to get the vaccine.  If you are younger and had the chicken pox, also consult with your physician and consider getting inoculated against the shingles. If you are a PRIMARY CAREGIVER, your health is paramount as you are caring for an ill spouse or family member. Speak to your doctor and get vaccinated.

Speak with a Medicare Registered Nurse for questions about Medicare home health care if you have the Shingles.

Top Health Issues Faced By Seniors

With advanced medicine and a peaceful world more and more people are living longer. There are senior specific problems that plague the 60+ age range and some health issues that effect all ages but seniors more so. ‘Common Health issues’ conjure up lists of different things for each of us, here is a list based on their impact to limit life or quality of life for people over 65.

These top 5 issues are conditions that seniors suffer with more then people of other ages

1. Heart disease: Over time the muscle of the heart due to lifestyle or genetics can become filled with plaque or otherwise wear out. Heart diseases are the #1 killer for people over 60 and even if it does not kill you, ailments of the heart can seriously impact your quality of life if not cared for correctly.
2. Arthritis: This painful ailment will not kill you but if you have it you may argue that it should be #1 on the list. The degeneration of the joints is a symptom of age. Fortunately there are medications and also natural remedies that can keep you comfortable.
3. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease: This set of ailments rob a person of their memory and/or ability to be independent in the world. Unfortunately prevention and cures are still not proven this condition is far too common with people over 65
4. Stroke: This is the #3 killer for people over 65 (Cancer is #2 but people of all ages suffer from cancer). Cerebrovascular Diseases, when they do not cause death, cause physical and/or mental impairment such that a senior can not fully enjoy the years to come.
5. Sensory issues: The loss of vision, hearing and even the sense of smell may see minor compared to the first 4 but it is also far more common and requires you to learn to adapt to the loss.

Beyond these 5 there are lists of things that impact a person over 65 more then a person under 65 but they are problems at any age. Seniors need to be twice as careful about keeping healthy because it is twice as hard to get healthy again.

Here are a few more to think about;

Physical Activity and Nutrition – you can’t retire from taking ownership of your body

Tobacco and Substance Abuse – You can’t age out of an addictive habit and the older you are the more impact they may have. Be careful even with prescribed medications that can be addictive.

HIV/AIDS and STD’s – This is a growing concern with seniors who have a virus from younger years and are now less resistant. With the little blue pill adult activity on a senior level is on an all time high, remember health class and be protected. Just because pregnancy is off the table does not mean you are safe.

Depression – A life long struggle for many but many over 65 feel it more keenly

Injury and Violence – Bones are not as strong so a slip and fall is a real concern. Injury is also caused by violence against seniors from a variety of sources. Be careful with your self and have a plan to get help if you are hurt.

The quality of the environment, access to health care, and an endless list cause concerns for seniors. You can give yourself an ulcer worrying about everything, bottom line is to keep aware, alert, and active so you can help you stay happy longer.

The growth of technology in our lifetime would be unbelievable except we saw it happen. Computers went from something only a scientist would use to something everyone has access to. Everything we use has an element of technology now, even toothbrushes. Many times seniors get comfortable with what they know and never look into the new things in the store and tech trends pass by unnoticed (and sometimes un missed!). Here are a few new things that if you don’t already have they are very worth a look.

Tablets For Seniors

Tablets – these are the ‘new’ thing in the past few years and it is not just the iPad. Many different companies make tablets but they all have a few things in common; they are all slim and easy to transport and if you are using a computer to mostly browse the internet and check mail a tablet can replace your computer for a fraction of the price. One very nice feature on a tablet is that most offer the pinch (two fingers sliding together like a pinch) or reverse pinch (fingers sliding open) to zoom in and out on any text. This makes reading the fine print on any website easy. Tablets can combine many fun things into one spot; reading, crosswords, newspapers, e-mail. You can even use it as a tool for tracking medications – there truly is an App for just about anything you can think of.

Webcam for Seniors

Webcam – With the average family spread over to states we need to use all the tools we can to stay in touch. Webcam’s used to be clunky accessories for your PC but now they are integrated into many laptops, tablets, and smart phones. Once you have contacts it is usually just the touch of a button to video call someone. Imagine being able to read your grandchild a book every night or ‘eat’ dinner together. The technology is easy and inexpensive to use with wireless internet. The only thing you should worry about with video chat is that they can see if you are having a bad hair day but on the flip side, they can also tell you how nice you look.

E-reader – All tablets (and smart phones) have the ability to be an e-reader BUT there are e-readers that are only for reading and do not do the other functions of a tablet and are under $100. The E-reader earns a place on the list for a few reasons;

• They are easier to read text on then a tablet.
• They are lighter then your average hard cover so if you have stiff hands they are easier to use.
• “Turning” pages is just a tap on the right side of the screen, easier then a book for those with hand pain.
• The ultimately adjustable large print books. On an E-reader there is a simple setting (usually on the bottom of the screen) to increase the text size and most will remember your preference .

There are dozens more nifty toys/tools so hopefully if you have been holding out on technology you can see the value in these products. They make life easier, they bring you things or people you enjoy, and they are getting easier, less expensive, and more intuitive daily.

Managing a Tight Budget

There is no retirement age for budgets. As we move into the retirement years we hope that what we have put aside, invested, and earned enough social security to see us through. Many seniors find themselves on a tighter budget then they would hope for but like anyone on a budget there are millions of ways to stretch a dollar. Caregivers have a special role in the lives of their senior and they can make living on a tight budget easier.

The first thing a Caregiver can assist a Senior with is creating a sound budget. Some people had the fortune to not need a strict budget going through life, for them this is a harder lesson to learn. Others have lived their whole lives with a budget of one size or another and upon retirement they adjust to the new paramaters. All good budgets have the same basic components; a dollar amount coming in, a list of reoccurring bills, and then the difference between those numbers is hopefully positive. Having someone outside the situation assist in making a budget may be all the help a Senior needs in the finance department, check online for great tools for budget creation and work with your Senior to create a budget they can be comfortable with.

Some Seniors with early dementia who can still live full productive lives may need someone to keep track of the details of day to day finance. Here a Caregiver is a trusted partner who can assist the senior with money handling and bill paying. The best and most simple way to help is to keep track of due dates and make sure things are paid on time and in full. This will save the senior from fees and penalties, both worthless budget busters, that rack up all to fast when someone forgets to pay. Depending on the situation, a Caregiver may help physically write the checks or pay online or just supervise to insure everything is done in a timely manner. When budgets are tight the best thing is to not loose money!

A budget stretcher for anyone is found in the kitchen. Many Caregivers already help prepare meals, but, to make a budget last longer cooking large batches of food and freezing in portions can save both time and money. Using coupons, shopping sales, and buying bulk nonperishables will all help make a tight budget go further. A Caregiver can help with all these tasks from helping lift large bulk items to helping find the sales or do the shopping.

One more way to help your Senior live well on a budget is to assit them with gift shopping. Everyone wants to keep up holiday and birthday traditions and with the help of an internet savvy Caretaker a tight budget can go far. Use all of the normal internet tricks; go through a portal site so the purchase ‘earns’ money, google for coupons, and of course comparison shop. Physical stores often have senior discount days, and, many organizations like AAA or AARP broker discounts – Caregivers who track down these deals can help enormously. Finally, by shopping year round you can also help spread out the expense.

A budget is just a frame work and with some help and planing even the most tight budgets can be stretched. A Caregiver who assists with these budget stretchers is worth their weight in gold.   

Seniors Need Caring

It is hard to know you need help at any age. Kids at two will declare “I do it myself!” and they mean it no matter how they may struggle.  As we grow up we know we can’t do everything; we may use Jiffy Lube for the car and we might hire a pro to install the carpet but we easily rationalize that these are tasks we don’t have time or tools for.  As time goes on we might need help with more things like a big project but it is another thing to consider help ‘caring’ for yourself.

Everyone has their own personal definition of caring for themselves. For some it is taking care of the broad physical needs like cooking, cleaning, driving – basically being completely independent. Another part of caring for yourself is mental; motivation, stress relief, ‘getting over’ sadness or depression. Yet another view of caring is the very personal care such as bathing, feeding, and dressing. Your definition depends on many things including gender, social upbringing and personality but at some point you might wonder if you need help.

There isn’t a handy check list or standard symptoms for this one but here are a few things to think about.

1. Do you lack motivation to do things you once enjoyed?
2. Are normal tasks taking longer and longer?
3. Do you ever forget what you are doing or what comes next?
4. Have you accidentally hurt yourself and are not sure how?
5. Do you sometimes not see, or, miss a stop sign or other traffic signal?

You can still be 90% independent while getting help with that last 10%. You will be happier and healthier with help; someone doing the lifting, or cooking, or driving or just coming to visit and chat to keep the brain in gear.

At some point others around you, who love you, might start to insist that you need help because they are seeing things slipping. They mean the best but you might feel compelled to fight it just because it is not your decision. Just like loosing weight or quitting smoking, you need to make the choice to be truly comfortable with it. However, if you want to own the decision and the situation then you need to look inward and at your need, see the truth, and then act on it. There is no shame or failure in taking charge of your life and looking for help, in fact, it is far more graceful than the ostrich philosophy.

Once you acknowledge what you need help with, you’ll quickly learn that most people around you love to be asked. Helping others often makes them feel useful and important. Most of your friends or family can help to do the everyday things; cooking, shopping and regular normal tasks and motivating and supporting your self-confidence regarding the changes you are making. There are plenty of levels of professional care givers that can help with the more skilled or personal tasks that you might feel comfortable with.

Realizing you may need help caring for yourself is a hard thing to do, but, taking charge of how you fix the problem is completely in your control.

What is your vision of the right place to retire? Is it bright and sunny? Is it somewhere where your dollar buys you more? Many of us have visions of retirement influenced by books or movies but if you actually think about the needs of your senior years there is more than number of sunny days to consider.

The Milken Institute published a report “Best Cities for Successful Aging” where they measured, compared and ranked 359 U.S. cities for their ability to promote and enabling successful aging. To find safe, affordable and comfortable cities they used cost of living, employment and joblessness, income range, crime, alcoholism and weather. For healthy living they examined number of health professionals, hospital beds, long-term hospitals and facilities with geriatric, Alzheimer’s, dialysis, hospice and rehabilitation services. For financial stats they looked at each area’s tax burden, business growth, poverty, and over 65 employment rates. Cost of homeownership and rental housing, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health care providers went into the equation. Last but not least transportation availability and cost are considered. This major undertaking created a top list and we will talk about the top three.

Provo, Utah Senior Friendly City

The number one city is Provo, Utah! Provo has the most healthy, active lifestyle with low smoking and drinking rates. Walking is encouraged and 5% walk to work. Very few fast food options so healthy choices are more prevalent. They have an abundance of care facilities, health workers, and incredibly high volunteer rates. Culturally Provo is strong with arts and universities open to the public. Crime is low, poverty rate very low and lowest for seniors in the country. Access to transportation is good and fares are reasonable. Provo does have a few negatives; unemployment among those over 65 is high and it is a relatively expensive place to live.

Number two city is Madison, Wisconsin. This capital city earns the number two spot due to a hight number of physicians, surgeons, and nurses with the continuing care and hospitals to match. Medically speaking Madison is #1. Madison excels in culture and recreation with many community centers, libraries and museums. Senior sector employment is growing and poverty rates are low. For negatives, Madison ranks badly for transportation due to access issues and high fares. It is a college town with binge drinking making roads less safe. Finally, housing is expensive for the midwest.

Good Life In Omaha For Seniors

Third in line is Omaha, Nebraska earning its spot due to great scores on living arrangements, employment opportunities for 65+, and great healthcare. The university hospital is a hotbed of innovation and state of the art treatments. There are very low jobless rates and the cost of living is very low. Negatives include the weather and low wellness scores due to high rates of drinking, smoking and a generally unfit lifestyle.

These days most seniors want to age in place, meaning they do not want to leave their community family and network. If you don’t happen to live in one of the top cities don’t worry, many city planners are looking at this report and finding ways to improve. With the huge generation moving into retirement every city is looking for ways to create successful aging. Hopefully every city will be a senior friendly city soon.

Access a full list of Senior Friendly Cities 

Seniors – Say no to scams and frauds

Seniors are a easy target for someone with less than perfect ethics. There are unfortunately too many people in the world who would rather steal and deceive then work for a living. Seniors make great targets for many reasons and it is up to you to be aware of what is out there.

Seniors are a target because they often have money. You might not feel rich but if you own your home, have income from investments, pensions, or have a nest egg; that is money they would like to steal from you. Fraud on seniors can occur through a  phone call, mail to your home, or a visit by a stranger claiming you have won a fraudulent sweepstakes prizes but you need to pay taxes/shipping/handling.  This is often a scam to take your credit card number that you are required to give them for the small fee. The other possible scam is that you get something, but, are required to buy a subscription or find other hidden fees. It is hard to name all the ways people try to steal money from seniors - 

• Be careful of anyone contacting you for goods or services. Always ask for more information , a number to call back and time to check the information. Never give them the information immediately.
  

Seniors are a target because they have medical needs. Medical and Medicare scams abound and are hard to see for what they are because often they are coupled with legitimate services. Over charging or charging for services not performed is quite common and hard to spot because people don’t read the fine print and detail on a bill. Another medical based scam is when a company goes to a senior gathering place offering tests that are either unnecessary or overpriced and broker on fear.

• Do not let yourself be pressured to get a test and always ask about billing up front.

Seniors are a target because they are less likely to report a crime. Sometimes a senior does not know a crime is committed until months later and can not say what exactly happened. Other times a crook preys upon someone with poor memory or dementia. When a senior is taken in by a scam they may have too much pride to report the incident or they may worry that their family might feel they are incapable of living alone anymore.

• The lesson is to know your weaknesses, for example, if you forget faces take photos of all people you do business with.  If you find yourself a victim report it immediately if not for your own sake but to save others in the future.

Seniors can often be trusting or lonely as well as all the other reasons already discussed and that makes them to fine a target. To try to keep ahead of the crooks keep up to date on the various scams on fbi.gov and remember these tips;

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t
• Always ask for things in writing
• Do not let people pressure you into a quick action
• Forget pride, ask others to review documents to make sure you are not signing away your life.

Keep aware of your business and never be afraid to say ‘no thanks’, a real business will be fine with that.

Elder with Sleep Disorder – Tired but Trying to Relax

As we age, there are many health hurdles that we face. Sleep disorders are one of the most common. In 2005, a Gallop study showed that 24% of Americans age 50 and older experience problems with sleep. A National Sleep Foundation study showed that 67% of people aged 55 to 84 years reported frequent issues with sleep.

What are the causes of sleep disorders as we age? As we age, the brain decreases its melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that, among other functions, helps to regulate sleep patterns. The older we get the closer to an “early to rise, early to bed” natural pattern of sleep we have.  Having an insufficient level of melatonin may alter sleep patterns such that our natural pattern is affected.

An imbalance in melatonin levels can also interfere with our sleep cycles in such a way that we may not be able to get as much deep sleep as our bodies need.  REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the deepest kind of sleep. It is during REM sleep that our body’s cells are repaired and our immune system is refreshed to help ward off disease. We also have better memory and cognitive awareness during the day when we achieve an optimal amount of REM sleep.

Many doctors see sleep as an indicator of one’s health. Those who do not sleep as well as others tend to be less healthy than those who get adequate sleep. For older people, the risks associated with not getting adequate rest go up. They are not only more susceptible to disease, but also more susceptible to falling at night, experiencing a heightened sensitivity to pain, and a tendency to use more prescription sleep aids. There are other issues that compound aging’s effect on sleep patterns such as:

• Being overweight – this puts extra strain on the heart and lungs, making it more difficult to get oxygen to the body’s tissues.  This often leads to interrupted sleep patterns.
• Problems with mobility – these can lead to difficulty in getting comfortable at night, reducing sleep quality.
• Sinus problems or general poor health – these often impair a person’s ability to maintain unbroken REM sleep cycles. 

Most of these problems are more likely to happen as a person gets older, which may compound sleep problems that a person has from lower melatonin levels.

What can be done about this dilemma? Rest when your body tells you to. Ask your doctor about taking a melatonin supplement for low melatonin or medications if you are experiencing any kind of pain.  Get plenty of exercise, as this can assist with getting REM sleep.  Above all, eat a healthy diet. The healthier you are, the better quality sleep you will get.

Elderly problem with bladder problem

Elderly people often have bladder issues. When your bladder starts to give out, it can have psychological as well as physical effects on a person.  There are multiple reasons that bladder issues occur:

• A weakened pelvic floor
• Diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes
• Surgery
• Having a stroke
• Prescription side effects
• Alcohol abuse
• Too much caffeine
• Loss of the nerve signal for bladder fullness

A weakened pelvic floor happens most often to women as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. The consistent carrying of extra weight during pregnancy and the force used to birth a child can cause weakened pelvic floor muscles.  Prostate surgery can have the same effect for men.

Thankfully there are some simple things that can be done to help manage if not cure urinary incontinence.  For example, doing kegel exercises will strengthen and develop the pelvic floor muscles, which can reduce incontinence.  In addition, simple lifestyle changes, such as altering prescriptions and reducing the consumption of alcohol and caffeine, can reduce or cure urinary incontinence.  Elderly people can also manage their urinary incontinence by wearing clothing with snaps or Velcro, making it easier to remove clothing when the urge to urinate is felt. 

More difficult bladder issues occur for people who have lost the nerve signal for bladder fullness; however, this is not impossible to cure. Retraining your bladder can be done to overcome this particular difficulty. Going to the toilet at regular intervals and keeping a urinary diary is one place to start. Gradually increase times between visits to the toilet and eventually, you will begin to recognize the urge to urinate again.

In situations where the above remedies are not successful, Depends or other similar undergarments may become necessary.  Depends underwear or pads are a wonderful way to avoid many of the psychological or embarrassing effects that urinary incontinence can have on a person, as they can comfortably be worn underneath clothing and conceal accidents that may occur.  Many elderly people do not want to wear incontinence underwear or pads, thinking them as more of “diapers” than anything else, but changes have been made to make them thinner and less noticeable.  Having to wear a thin pad is a minor inconvenience when compared to the risk of embarrassment from involuntarily wetting yourself in public. 

Urinary incontinence can be hard on your self-esteem, but it should be seen as an extremely manageable physical ailment.  Following the above advice can help manage or cure urinary incontinence, such that many of the emotionally difficult aspects of the ailment can be avoided. 

Elderly people are always at more of a risk for health problems than younger people. As we age, our tissues wear out and cannot function like they used to. When respiratory tissues wear out, they are not able to exchange gas like they used to, causing a lack of oxygen and many other health problems. There are many lung diseases common to senior citizens, with some being preventable. Many of the symptoms of respiratory diseases overlap and can make diagnosis difficult.

Asthma a Common Lung Disease in the Elderly

Sleep disordered breathing and asthma are two of the least dangerous lung conditions that elderly people can have. Sleep disordered breathing is a type of obstructive sleep apnea, but has been found to commonly go hand-in-hand with more serious conditions such as heart failure, COPD, diabetes or cerebrovascular disease. For sleep apnea alone, the treatment is a cPAP machine that delivers a steady supply of oxygen while the patient is sleeping.

Asthma often goes undiagnosed in older people and therefore untreated because of the significant overlap with the symptoms of more severe conditions. It can become serious if left untreated, however. Bronchial asthma is common and is essentially inflamed bronchioles that are over-reactive to stimuli. Eventually, bronchial asthma’s mucosal generation and inflamed tissues can lead to blocking the airways. This can be reversed through medication if caught early enough and proper medication is taken. Otherwise, bronchial asthma can become irreversible.

The more serious common lung diseases are COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), PE (pulmonary embolism), CAP (community-acquired pneumonia) and lung cancer.

Preventing respiratory diseases, regardless of the severity of the disease, involves:

• Maintaining a healthy diet – This is essential to building your immune system and preventing the development of numerous disease, including lung diseases.
• Adequate rest – getting plenty of sleep helps the body’s immune system fight diseases in the body.   
• Adequate exercise – will keep your respiratory muscles strong and strengthen your heart.
• Education – educating yourself will give you an edge on the latest prevention techniques and help you feel less anxious about your respiratory health.
• Do not smoke and if you already do, STOP!
• Avoid exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke and noxious chemicals or fumes – Cigarettes are most commonly linked to COPD, as most cases of COPD are caused from cigarette smoke.  However, coal miners and many other factory workers are exposed daily to noxious chemicals and/or fumes that harm their respiratory organs.

Taking care of ourselves and preventing common lung diseases will help not only senior citizens, but also an entire population, as increased incidents of lung disease causes higher health insurance rates for everyone.  Following the above preventative tips can therefore help not only you, but all citizens. 

Senior Citizens in South Florida

Southern Florida is an amazing place to live for the elderly. The original reason retirees began making their way south was the weather. The beautiful ocean breezes and warm southern Florida sun keep our bones warm while the winter is raging up north.

With so many retirees making their home in south Florida, it was only natural that many businesses would spring up in the area to service the elderly population. From recreational activities to healthcare services to living communities, the older population is catered to in southern Florida. In order to get an idea of just how ideal this area is for the elderly population, here is a list of just some of Florida’s senior resources:

• Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative
• Adult Protective Services
• Disaster Preparedness
• Health and Wellness
• RELIEF (Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families)
• Senior Companion Program
• Home Health Care Services
• OAA (Older Americans Act)
• SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program)
• Communities for a Lifetime
• Silver Alert and ListServ
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
• Elder Helpline
• Nutrition Programs
• Elder Abuse Prevention Program
• HCE (Home Care for the Elderly)
• National Family Caregiver Support Program
• Senior Legal Services and Senior Legal Helpline
• Intergenerational Connections

All of the above services are great resources for senior citizens to take advantage of for help with legal, medical, and housing needs. It’s great to know that these sorts of services exist for when you may need them. However, these services are just part of the perks of retiring to Southern Florida.

Retiring from your job does not mean that you sit around and do nothing all day. On the contrary, many senior citizens know that if you rest you rust. They like to keep busy with a variety of activities. Part of the reason there are so many philanthropic and volunteer services in southern Florida is that the residents love to volunteer their time and resources to helping others. It gives them a more meaningful sense of purpose.

Everyone loves to have fun and southern Florida is full of fun outdoor recreational activities. These activities are not only entertaining; they also help keep a person fit. Golfing, tennis, swimming, walking and bicycle trails in national parks are just some of the recreational activities available in southern Florida.

While exercising, one of the important details to take into consideration is air quality. As we age, our respiratory systems become less efficient. The quality of the air that we breathe becomes all the more important. Four of Florida’s cities hold spots on the American Lung Association’s Cleanest City list for very low levels of year round particle pollution.

When you need help in your home for grocery shopping, transportation to doctors’ visits, cooking or cleaning, there are many home health care companies available, like Boca Home Health Care in Boca Raton. Boca Home Health Care offers around the clock assistance for those senior citizens who need help. Organizations like these are another reason to love southern Florida.

All in all, southern Florida is a great place for senior citizens. Its community, health care, government, residential and recreational amenities make it an ideal place to retire.

Seniors Traveling – Holiday Season

Thanksgiving and the December holiday season are fast approaching. Traveling during the holidays can be stressful and dangerous for everyone for many reasons. Bad weather, reckless drivers trying to get to their family gatherings as quickly as possible, drunk drivers, delayed flights, and the list goes on. Senior citizens may have a more difficult time than other drivers due to the effects of age on their driving skills and energy levels. Extra care must be taken by all throughout the holiday season.

Here are some tips for senior citizen travelers during this extra stressful time:

• Plan ahead. If you are driving, it makes sense to plan your route and the times you will be traveling ahead of time. Pick the most efficient route for you. This does not mean the quickest route. You want to pick the route that will get you to your destination quickly, but safely. Sometimes that means taking the long way around. For instance, when traveling near large cities, you will often have the choice of a route around the city or through it. Unless your destination is inside the city, you may want to go around. Taking the long way around will allow you to avoid unnecessary traffic jams and accidents. Plan your route so that you are traveling through the highest traffic areas in the late morning, afternoon, or late evening to avoid the morning and evening rushes.

Plan ahead when flying to save money. Purchase your tickets ahead of time for lower prices and travel on lighter traveling days. You can sign up for many online services that will let you know ahead of time about travel deals during the holidays. The day before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday are the busiest travel days, so avoid traveling by air on those days. Flying on Black Friday will almost guarantee that you will avoid the crowds because most people will be shopping.

• Take advantage of mobile apps. iPhone users can take advantage of useful applications on their phones. Smart phones can track airport information while traveling. Keep track of gate changes, flight delays, take-off times, and eating and bathroom locations (for those “gotta go now!” times). Some airlines have apps for check-in, tracking flight status, and even seat confirmation. Whether driving or flying, smart phones have great GPS applications that will get you where you’re going without having to look at a map.
• Be sure to fill up. Driving in bad weather is taxing enough without worrying about running out of gas. Be sure to fill your tank when it hits the halfway point so that you don’t risk running out.
• Always have a backup. If you don’t have a smart phone or prefer not to use one, take your map and use highlighters. Highlighting your route will make it easy to see where you are going. Add and highlight exit numbers and rest stops as well. The easier it is to see, the less stressful your tip will be.

Senior citizens may find it difficult to travel during the holiday season, but by following these tips they may find it a little bit easier.

1.  Develop an Understanding of the Disease –
   • Ask the doctor to converse with you in simple terms. avoiding medical terminology that you may not know the meaning of.
   • Ask him/her to present the information in small, easier to digest portions.
   • Ask the doctor for take home literature.
   • Do your own research on the internet or at the library, try www.alz.org, www.gmhfonline.org, or www.AAGPonline.org.
   • Talk to others – Join an Alzheimer’s Care Group or talk to people that you know who have had experience caring for someone with Alzheimer’s
2. Be Aware of and Take Care of Caregiver Stress
   • Know when you need help – and ask for it!
   • Do things for yourself to stay mentally and physically healthy
   • Talk about it – Don’t hold the stress in, tell someone who will listen and sympathize
3. Have Patience
   • With your loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s
   • As well as yourself
4. Take Classes
   • There are resources out there for you to find out what works best when taking care of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at different stages. You may have been doing just fine until your loved one progressed to a new stage of the disease and you felt like you’d lost all sense of control. Educate yourself on how to handle new and later developments.
5. Consider Pharmaceutical Help
   • Your loved one may benefit from new medications that can help delay the symptoms of this disease. Behavioral medications are also available to help your loved one manage their specific symptoms of the disease.
6. Utilize Physical and Occupational Therapy
   • If you rest, you rust, right? This is also true for Alzheimer’s patients.  There are many places to receive therapy. Companies like Boca Home Care Services will send staff to your loved ones’ place of residence to assist them in their therapy. Therapy can be as simple as allowing your loved one to exercise their maximum level of independence while performing ADL’s (activities of daily living) like bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, applying lotion and combing hair. It can be easier at times to do all this for the patient in order to get done more quickly, but that is not in the their best interest for the most part.
7. Try to Manage Sleep Habits
   • Alzheimer’s can affect a person’s sleep habits. Caregiver’s can do their best to help their loved one to avoid daytime napping and use sleep aids at night like keeping the room dark, playing soft music, or maintaining a calming before bed routine.
8. Use Visual communication – Although verbal communication and complex thinking skills may fade quickly, using picture cues to prompt activity or direction can help your loved one function more easily.
9. Art Therapy – Creative outlets are important for helping your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s to express their emotions. They may find coloring, clay molding, or listening to music a useful way to stimulate them mentally and decrease levels of frustration.
10. Keep the Environment Supportive 
    • Validate your loved ones’ expressions of feeling
    • Keep the stress elsewhere

Following these ten caregiving solutions can help make caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s a little easier.

Managing Alzheimers & Its Stages

Alzheimer’s is a disease that progresses in stages. As the person that you are taking care of advances from the early to middle and then to the late stages of this disease, it is key to understand in advance what is going to change and how to handle those changes.

The Beginning Stages of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s can affect your loved one at any age. In the beginning stages, you will just need to be a support to your loved one. They will still be able to function mostly on their own, driving and cooking. You may have noticed that your loved one has begun to forget things, like where they put their keys or that they had a doctor’s appointment. They may even experience difficulty doing little tasks that they used to love or have no problem doing such as putting together a puzzle, knitting, or playing games. This stage can last for many years.

The Middle Stages of Alzheimer’s

The middle stages can also last for years. At this point, your loved one will need your involvement in their life at a deeper level. You may not have noticed any emotional changes in the earlier stages but, during the middle stages of this disease, it is typical for your loved one to experience much frustration while attempting to do small tasks like buttoning their own buttons. They may become angry seemingly out of nowhere. Some days will be very challenging and others may feel like you are getting a break. Your loved one may revert back to the person that they used to be for the day.

Taking on more of the day to day tasks for your loved one that they do on their own will likely become necessary at this point. They will probably need you to take over the balancing of their checkbook, paying their bills and planning their grocery menu. The important thing is to do your best to remain patient and allow your loved one to do as much as they can on their own with your presence in case they need help.

The End Stages and How to Support Yourself and Your Loved One Through Them

The end stages should not last as long as the early and middle stages. Possibly up to a few years and possibly as little as a few weeks. In the end stages, your loved one will have regressed to needing assistance with eating and walking. They will likely need full-time care requiring live-in help or the service of a long-term care facility. They may lose function of their bowels and bladder. Alzheimer’s affects not only the emotional functions of the body, but in the end the physical functions are affected as well. Your loved one needs lots of love at this stage and to be kept as clean and comfortable as possible. Be sure to enlist the help of others as this is a very demanding stage of the disease.

If you find yourself suffering from any number of chronic ailments, it is strongly recommended for you to keep a health journal. This journal will benefit seniors the most, especially if they make frequent visits to the doctor, but any aging individual should keep track of their medical records in a concise way for later reference. While the prospect may be daunting at first, you will be surprised by how easy it can be to keep this journal regularly updated and relevant. You may choose any format for the notes themselves, and you will enjoy numerous benefits to owning the journal.

A health journal is any general record that you keep of your health. The more complete and up to date your health journal is, the better it will be for your doctors. One of the biggest advantages of owning a health journal is the fact that you can keep it yourself. It can be used to help you track every aspect of your health, and it does not need to be limited to illnesses and injuries.

A complete journal should try to keep track of anything related to your health. There are many different things that you can include, depending on how thorough of a record you want to keep, so long as it is all information relevant to your overall health. However, no matter how in depth the journal will be, it is vital for you to document any illnesses or injuries, any hospitalizations, and any surgeries that you have undergone. It is also recommended for you to describe any allergies that you may have, and medicines, vitamins, or supplements that you take and how often, with clear dates written for your physicians. You may also choose to document any diseases or illnesses in your family. One of the most important aspects of owning this journal is to date everything. You may also choose to include footnotes on how you felt on those days.

Keeping this journal can be one of the easiest ways for you to track your health. By recording your history as it happens, and keeping track of all relevant medical information, you will be helping your doctors with the references they need. Always be sure to take this journal to your doctor’s appointments, as it can help them make the right decisions in regards to your health. Your doctor will even be able to help you keep your journal up to date.

Having this journal allows you to be a responsible patient, as you will keep track of your health history and put yourself in a stronger position of control around your healthcare. Your journal can also help you personally understand what can make you sick, and help you determine how to take better care of your body. Getting started with this journal can be easy. All that you have to do is begin keeping track of the dates and relevant information, adjusting the level of detail as you become more and more comfortable with your journal.

People suffering from various medical conditions may require a period of time for recuperation. This period can take longer than expected in some cases. The patient may find it difficult to perform day to day activities during such time. Non-medical home care is highly beneficial during these instances. It will help your loved one stay healthy and safe while recuperating. Non-medical home care services can provide numerous kind of help such as assistance with showering & toileting, preparing meals, light housekeeping and reminding to take medications.

People of all ages can benefit from the assistance received from home care aides. Seniors are the people that can benefit the most from such services. This is especially true for seniors, who live alone or those who are alone during certain periods of time during the day. Other than the assistance provided during day to day activities, companionship can be a critical advantage to your lonely parent.

Loneliness is a crucial issue for most seniors. They like to keep company with others while being cared for. A home care aide is the best person to fulfill this requirement of your parent. Seniors need one-to-one contact and vibrant conversation to maintain their alertness. If these requirements are met, a senior will thrive even while recuperating from a hospital stay. A professional and reputable home care service will provide caregivers, who are able to meet a broad array of requirements.

A personal care assistant makes it possible for your loved one to stay in the comfort of his/her own home while recovering from a serious hospital stay. This will avoid the need to search for rehabilitation or senior care facilities for your loved one. The ability to recuperate in familiar surroundings can have a profound impact on your loved one’s recovery. A loved one suffering from dementia will definitely feel less confused in his/her own home than in a senior care facility. A professional home caregiver is the best option for such a person.

Family members can get exhausted by providing round the clock caring for a loved one. These people may find it refreshing to obtain the services of a reputable home care service. Respite care is available for people in this situation. Respite care can also be used when the primary caregiver has to travel on business. A reputable company will employ the best aides after thoroughly screening them. This will ensure that the best caregivers are available to provide home care services to your loved one. You will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one will receive the best possible care while you are away.

Recovering from a hospital stay or serious surgery often meant the need to transfer people to a care facility in the past. That is no longer necessary today, thanks to the senior home care services. They provide some of the best benefits to your senior loved ones. Call Boca Home Care Services today at 561-989-0611 or 877-706-0785, or explore Web Site to learn more

Seniors who are unable to fully care for themselves or who are suffering from chronic illnesses often benefit greatly from the services of a private duty, home care aide.

Many times, adult children of elderly individuals serve as primary caregivers to their parents. In-home care assistance takes over many of the tasks for which family members may have little or no time to properly oversee, thus creating a better and safer environment for the senior who requires help.

Training and Qualifications

A home care aide assists clients in many ways, and the broad range of the services offered generally cover everything from personal care to help with bill paying and transportation to and from appointments or social events.

Registry-employed home care aides must be educated, screened and certified. In addition, a comprehensive exam is usually given so that the home aide’s general knowledge can be tested before he or she is assigned to clients.

Levels of Care

There are different levels of private duty health care, but most home care registries provide the following services:

• Personal care, such as help with bathing, shaving and washing hair
• Homemaker services, including housecleaning, laundry and light yard work
• Meal preparation, delivering meals
• Shopping, picking up prescriptions and other errands
• Transporting the client to medical appointments or social events

A person may need help on a temporary basis, such as when one is recovering from an injury, illness or surgery. In most cases, an employee of the chosen home care service will visit the home and speak to the client in order to evaluate the level of care necessary. This helps both the client and his or her family to choose the appropriate person for the job.

Benefits of Private Duty Home Care

The most comfortable place for the majority of elderly individuals is at home in an environment that is familiar. Therefore, one of the many advantages of private duty caregiver services is that the senior can age at home, rather than having to relocate to an assisted living facility or similar institution.

Peace of Mind

In-home care also gives families the peace of mind that comes from knowing that an aging family member is receiving personalized, compassionate and professional care in the privacy of his or her own home.

Quicker Recovery and Reduced Risk of Hospital Admissions

Studies have also shown that those who receive non-medical care in their own dwelling have less instances of hospital re-admission when recuperating from injury, surgery or illness. In addition, research also indicates that almost all individuals heal more quickly when they can leave the medical facility and recover at home with the help of a qualified aide.

Better Health

Elderly individuals with chronic or acute illnesses must receive proper nutrition, rest and take all medications on time. Home health care workers assist senior citizens with these activities and in many cases, such assistance helps them to maintain their current level of wellness for longer periods of time.

Monetary Savings

When compared with the cost of a personal care home or assisted-living facility, private duty home care is very affordable. Additionally, because services are rendered one-on-one, the quality of care is often better than that received in one of the aforementioned institutions.

Ultimately, the goal of private duty care is to offer whatever services the client and his or her family requires to ensure the person can remain at home and independent as he or she ages. Those who feel they may benefit from such services should schedule an appointment with a reputable company who can help them find the home health aide that will best fit their needs.

In Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and all cities from Palm Beach to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area call us, Boca Home Care Services. We’ve been offering the most trusted home care services for seniors since 1998. Call us for information, or an in-home interview. 561-989-0611 or toll free at 877-706-0785.