With age, the health and safety of our seniors becomes a top priority – especially if they prefer to spend their retirement years in the comfort of their own homes. According to a report published by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the National Conference of State Legislatures, nearly 90 percent of people over 65 would choose to live out the rest of their lives – not in a facility – but at home. Of all of the benefits that come with aging in place – being in familiar surroundings, continued independence, reduced exposure to illnesses, and increased socialization with
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Enduring Allergy Season as a Senior
Fall allergies have costly, negative effects on millions of Americans each year. In fact, statistics show that over 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, resulting in about $7 billion dollars in lost productivity each year. Many seniors are particularly susceptible to allergies, because with age, the mucus membranes in the nose dry out, causing chronic nasal congestion. Fall allergen put others with chronic diseases are at risk, as well. And with unseasonably warm winters in some regions, longer, hotter summers and extended periods of drought, allergy season could last longer than usual this year. Those of us at Freedom
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Prescription Medications Can Effect Your Ability to Drive
At some point in their lives, nearly every American will have taken some form of prescription medication. The statistics increase with age, as seniors between 65-79 are given more than 27 prescriptions each year. And according to The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, many take five or more different types of medications a day. For millions of Americans, taking prescriptions in order to treat temporary or chronic health conditions, is a fact of life. But when consuming these medications before driving, the results can be potentially dangerous. And depending on the type and dose, once in your system, they
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Ways to Help Prevent Alzheimer's
The effects of Alzheimer’s can be devastating – in both the lives of those suffering from the disease, and the people around them. Out of more than 100 different forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s is one of the most common. It accounts anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of Americans with dementia. Alzheimer’s affects memory, cognition and mental ability and is largely determined by age, family history and genetics. Certain medical conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, have also been shown to increase the risk of cognitive impairment. More and more, medical research is showing signs of
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Planning Ahead for Your Senior's Transitional Care
Sometimes it may not be possible to plan for follow-up care when your senior leaves the hospital. Accidents and sudden trips to the ER often leave patients and their families confused and overwhelmed – and the last thing you want worry about is not having the right services in place once your loved one has been sent home. Whether you’ve decided which in-home care services your senior will need in advance or have just recently begun to explore your options, transitional care is an important part of a successful recovery. Your senior may have had to deal with a traumatic
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Senior Nutrition Tips
There are changes that happen to our bodies as we age that make it almost impossible to maintain the same kind of eating habits that we took on in earlier years. Therefore senior nutrition is important. Things like a slowing metabolism, loss of appetite and chronic health issues often trigger dietary changes. These changes, in some way, are all related to each other. Many seniors experience a loss in appetite as they get older, which translates into fewer calories being burned. Fewer calories are being burned because many older people are likely to be less active. They’re likely to be
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Tips for a Smooth Hospital to Home Transition
Making the change from hospital to home for many seniors is often one of the most difficult aspects of the transition of care. In fact, one in five Medicare patients end up returning to the hospital within 30 days due to unforeseen challenges they face when returning home. Unfortunately, many loved ones aren’t aware that when their senior leaves the hospital, it’s not just continuing health and mobility issues that are at play – there is often the dilemma of getting dialed in to the proper resources. According to rightathome.com the overall structure within the healthcare system lacks the transitional
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Things to Consider Before Moving Your Elderly Loved One In
There are more people in the U.S. who have taken in an elderly loved one than you might actually imagine. In fact, caring.com says one out of four caregivers live with either an elderly or disabled relative. And if you are in the position where you’ve decided to move an older parent or other family member into your home, there’s a few things that Freedom Home Care lists here that you may want to consider before taking the first step. Financial Advantage or Drawback? You may have to sit down with your family members and think through the costs associated
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Activities for Homebound Seniors
Just because your senior parent or relative is not able to get around as much as they used to, doesn’t mean they have to forgo doing some of things they love to do. As we age, physical and mental activity becomes paramount to a long, healthy life. Today, homebound seniors are not limited to playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles all day. There are numerous ideas and activities that your loved can take advantage of and Freedom Home Care has come up with some unique ideas to keep your senior in balance – mind, body and spirit. Health & Wellness
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Maintaining Physical and Mental Health
As our bodies begin to age, it’s even more important to maintain healthy habits to remain your fittest both mentally and physically, especially if you are not receiving professional in-home care services. While it may seem daunting to start these habits now, gradual changes could prove to be very beneficial in the long run. Here are some simple activities Freedom Home Care came up with to incorporate into your everyday routine to help improve your mental and physical health. Add Some Fiber To Your Diet Fiber helps lower cholesterol and fight heart disease. High fiber foods like oats, barley, beans
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