When loved ones begin to age, the risks for in-home injuries begin to rise. However, preparing for the unexpected before it actually happens may help decrease that number and save the day. Home fall related injuries are at an all-time high, affecting about 2.5 million older folks per year. About 1 in every 3 people aged 65 and older will fall, and only about half of those individuals will actually tell a doctor about it. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a health related emergency, as well as ways to make your home as safe as
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Top Misconceptions About Arthritis
There are many misconceptions about arthritis, what it is, and who is affected by it. It’s a little known fact that there are about 130 different types of arthritis and most of the time when people think the disease, osteoarthritis comes to mind. Because there is still so much to learn about certain types of arthritis, rumors and misconceptions often abound. Below, Freedom Home Care offers a few facts that we believe will help dispel some of the myths associated with the disease. Only Older People Get Arthritis One of the most common types of arthritis is oarthritis. While
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Ways to Stay Active in the Winter
It may seem like a challenge to find fun, indoor activities during the winter months. But doing a little research, Freedom Home Care found a number of ways seniors can stay busy and active inside when the temperatures begin to fall outside. Get Creative Some of the best creativity happens when the there’s nothing standing in the way between you and your craft. It doesn’t take a whole lot of time or money to indulge in the arts. Pick up a few artsy materials from the local craft store, invite a few friends over, and start a small arts
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Tips to Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the joints. The result is joint inflammation, pain, and swelling primarily in the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also affect organs like the skin, eyes, lungs and blood vessels. Left untreated, RA can cause damage and loss of cartilage. Joints become lose and painful, resulting in deformity. Surprisingly, each person with the disease is affected differently. Oftentimes, Rheumatoid arthritis patients experience episodes of pain and inflammation, seemingly out of nowhere, leaving them wondering how to better manage RA flares. Because doctors have no way of preventing flare ups,
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AMITA Health Offers Free Mammogram Screening for Low Income Women
Amita Health Alexian Brothers Health Center is partnering with the Chicagoland Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen to bring free mammogram screenings and breast health education to low-income women in the community. Amita Health Alexian Brothers Cancer Institute was recently awarded a $75,000 grant by Chicago’s Koman affiliate, and as part of its new breast cancer screening program, women who are uninsured and underinsured can receive screening, diagnostic mammograms, and ultrasounds at no cost. With the goal of ending breast cancer in the community, AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Cancer Institute hopes the program will not only help give women the
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New research shows controlling brain inflammation could slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists at Southampton University have discovered a link between inhibiting brain inflammation and slowing the onset of Alzheimer’s in lab mice. The discovery could pave the way for developments of new treatments and preventative measures against the disease. The researchers have already been able to prevent some of the memory and behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s by blocking a particular receptor in the brains of the mice. “These findings are as close to evidence as we can get to show that this particular pathway is active in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” lead researcher Diego Gomez-Nicola explained. “The next step
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Seasonal Affective Disorder and Vitamin D deficiencies among top winter dangers for elderly
The first things that come to mind when you think about winter dangers for elders are probably falls and hypothermia. But the reality is that your elderly loved ones are far more at risk for invisible, lesser known hazards. Seasonal affective disorder and vitamin D deficiencies affect thousands of senior citizens every year and can often be quite insidious to their health. The good news is, if recognized and treated in a timely fashion, they can be dealt with quite easily. Seasonal Affective Disorder, often known by the very appropriate acronym SAD, is a form of depression that cycles with
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Tips To Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
New Year’s resolutions. We all make them. But how good are we really at keeping them? Those of us here at Freedom Home Care know how difficult it can be to stick to them. So, we offer a few simple tips from the experts that could make a difference in the planning and successful of your resolutions. Ask Yourself Why You’re Making the Resolution in the First Place Once you ask why you actually want to make the resolution, then you can assess if whether your reasons for doing it are the right ones. When we find ourselves doing something because we think
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Older Americans Face Hunger
Recently, the topic of hunger has come even more into focus here in America, and this time the focus is on the elderly. Even with the numerous programs in place here in the United States, there are millions of people who go without proper nourishment every day. Those who are aging are not excluded from these statistics. It’s estimated that close to 10 million people ages 50 and over and are currently described as “food insecure.” This number has nearly doubled since 2001. Here at Freedom Home Care we know firsthand how important diet and nutrition are, and just how
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Chronic Stress Can Lead to Early Alzheimer’s
Researchers say that frequent stress over time can lead to early Alzheimer’s. In a study reported in the journal Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders, psychiatrist Richard Lipton and colleagues administered a stress assessment test to just over 500 individuals ages 70 and older. The test rated their level of perceived stress. None of the participants had signs of mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the start of the study, called the Einstein Aging Study. They were followed for an average of 3.5 years with a battery of psychological tests and physical exams. During the study, 71 participants were diagnosed with
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