Pets can be very important to seniors’ mental and physical health.  Caring for a dog or cat can lower blood pressure, decrease the chance of depression, and generally increase a sense of well-being. However, some seniors have trouble providing the best care for their pets because of health or financial issues.  Luckily, Freedom Home Care is able to provide assistance to seniors by helping take care of their pets. Care assistance.  Caring for pets can be more than a senior can physically handle.  Dogs in particular need regular exercise, and a senior may not be able to walk the dog as much
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Temperatures have been frigid and a polar vortex just made it through the area – and it’s only the beginning of winter!  As we age, our bodies are no longer able to regulate internal temperatures as well, making seniors the most susceptible to hypothermia of any age group. With the help of the Daily Tribune, we have put together some great ways to stay warm this winter: 1. Check your thermostat.  Even though the cost to heat your house may increase, safety should be your main concern.  Set your thermostat to at least 65 degrees. 2. Winterize your house.  Consider enlisting some help
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Making healthy resolutions is an important part of the New Year.  We strive to eat healthier, exercise more, and lose those few pounds we gained over the holidays.  But maybe we should try a different approach for 2014.  Instead, try making resolutions to help not just your physical health, but your mental health as well. Resolutions for a Healthy Mind: 1. Get more sleep.  It is recommended that most adults get at least seven hours of sleep a night.  Getting less can lead to increased appetite, anxiety, and memory loss.  Try turning in early and catching some extra zzz’s to stay
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Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve leading to vision impairment and can be especially prevalent in seniors.  As people age, the fluid in their eye begins to move more slowly creating increased pressure that can damage the delicate nerves.  Luckily, there are some easy ways to help prevent glaucoma. Get regular eye exams.  Seniors should get an eye exam at least every year if not every six months.  The optometrist will dilate the senior’s eyes to specifically check for glaucoma. Exercise.  High blood pressure can be related to high pressure within the eye.  Exercise is
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It’s January which means the holidays have come and gone.  It is also a great time to understand hypothyroidism and whether or not medication is right for you. Maybe you enjoyed the culinary delights of Christmas or drank a few extra glasses of champagne at New Years, and now you have gained a few extra pounds.  But the holiday foods may not be to blame.  The extra weight may indicate something much more serious.  It could be a symptom of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism commonly affects senior women, and the symptoms can be so subtle that sufferers ignore them or attribute them
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Many of us write down a few New Year Resolutions that we’d like to accomplish, only to find we’ve completely abandoned those ideas mere weeks later. Let’s make this year different. This year will be the year that you will make a couple of small changes to your lifestyle to become a healthier senior. Just pick a couple of items off of this list and watch your health improve throughout the year. 1. Get organized. Are you someone who doesn’t keep track of medical information? Make a change. Get a binder and add all medical, doctor, and medication paperwork to it throughout the year. 2. Get moving. Be
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