Anyone is prone to the effects of harsh winter weather, especially the elderly. Hypothermia, frostbite, cold/flu and broken bones are only a few of the health issues associated with exposure to cold. Before your senior loved one ventures out this season, be sure they are properly prepared for the cold weather. Here are a few things Freedom Home Care found that will keep your senior safe and warm as the temperature falls. Help Prevent Hypothermia During cold weather, the body’s temperature could drop below 35 degrees or less leading to hypothermia. Hypothermia can cause both multi-system injury and increased mortality.
Read More
Posts by Freedom Home Care
Halloween Activities for Seniors and Grandkids
It’s the time of year when ghosts, ghouls, and goblins come out for a hauntingly good time. It’s also a time when kids, parents and grandparents alike celebrate the season by dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving jack-o-lanterns. What makes it even more special for older loved ones is the time they get to spend with family and friends. Help your senior get into the holiday spirit this year by planning some fun, safe activities for them to enjoy. Here are a few ideas that Freedom Home Care came up with that you and your older loved one can do together. Decorate the
Read More
Top Qualities To Look For in a Caregiver
For many loved ones, there comes a time when they may need a little help doing the things in life they once did on their own. And one of the most difficult decisions you’ll ever need to make for your family member is trying to find the right person to help meet those needs. You know your loved one. His personality, disposition, wants, likes and needs. Because your caregiver would be spending many precious moments with your senior, understandably you’ll want someone who is compatible. While there are a number of different qualities you might expect in someone offering care,
Read More
Most Common Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 255,000 estimated new deaths each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. After skin cancer, it is the most common type in women, with 100 times more cases that develop annually than in men. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month many organizations are trying to educate others about the early warning signs of the disease. Prevention begins with knowing how healthy breasts look and feel. When doing a self-examination, they should be void of any clear lumps or masses. While it is common for some women
Read More
Taking Your Medication Correctly is Important
With Talk About Your Medicines Month (TAYMM) in full swing, there is no better time than now to have a conversation about medications. This year for TAYMM, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) is highlighting the importance of knowing how different foods and drinks may affect different medicines with the “Think Before You Drink” theme. While this is true with individuals of all ages, it is especially important in older adults, as aging increases sensitivity to alcohol and medications’ effects. According to NCPIE, there are at least 150 medications that will not work effectively when alcohol interacts
Read More
Best Activities for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
As Alzheimer’s disease disrupts memory, impairs their behavior and reasoning, those in senior care near Chicago may stop doing some of the things they once loved. But this diagnosis does not strip one of their needs and desire to have a full, meaningful life. It just means changes may need to be made and new activities taken up that allow self-expression, lessen anxiety, stir memories, promote connection with others and improve quality of life, such as: Read & Relax Books can comfort, entertain, inform and provide an outlet for engagement. Researchers have even found that reading improves the quality of
Read More
Mediterranean Diet For Memory
What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. According to the chief of the division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard University, JoAnn Manson, “the two are strongly connected.” Manson is referring to findings that say a Mediterranean diet can help prevent age-related cognitive decline. A recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal reports that eating meals which include whole grains, fish, vegetables, olive oil, and nuts is an essential part of maintaining brain health. A clinical trial was conducted in Spain comparing the brain health of seniors in their 60s and 70s.
Read More
New Symptom Might Be Early Detection of Dementia
Researchers may have found a new way to detect dementia even before it affects the memory. A study was recently conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota over a 3.5 year period which involved more than 1,400 mentally healthy adults – each about 79 years of age. Each participant was given a test that involved smelling six food-related and six non-food related scents. The results showed that those with the decreasing ability to identify smells over time were more likely to experience Alzheimer’s and other memory problems. During that time, 250 participants experienced mild cognitive impairment, while 64 people out
Read More
Why Protein in Seniors is Important
Whether your mom or dad is receiving senior services in Chicago from Freedom Home Care or you’re providing their care individually, their diet is of utmost importance—especially the amount of protein they are getting. This is because proteins are building blocks that contribute to the successful functioning of the entire body. They are used not only to build and repair tissues, including muscles, tendons, skin, and organs but also to make hormones and enzymes. In addition to helping individuals stay at a healthy weight and absorb key nutrients, proteins also contribute to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, enhanced concentration, higher
Read More
How to Help Parents Who are Frustrated with Technology
There are all kinds of ways technology can help and improve our lives and our parents—from smartphones and tablets with apps that help us keep in touch with family and book a ride, to personal emergency response systems and GPS devices. Even here at Freedom Home Care, one of the leading home care organizations offering senior services throughout Chicago, we use Advanced Home Care Technology to assist caregivers and ensure that the most proactive approach is being taken to care for clients in a timely manner. But while these different forms of technology provide great benefits, they can also cause
Read More
