Posts by Freedom Home Care

Tips for Senior Independence on a Budget

Tips for Senior Independence on a Budget

July 23, 2013 | No Comments

As more seniors retire and live on a lower income, a challenge emerges.  The goal is to find a healthy balance between getting adequate care while staying within a budget.  As nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be very expensive, many seniors opt instead to stay at home.  A few small changes can help to maintain senior independence without breaking the bank. 1.  In-home care.  Many adult children are unable to help their parents because of their children or work obligations.  Finding someone to care for the senior by running errands, cleaning, and being a companion can encourage independence
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Summer Health and Safety Tips for Seniors

Summer Health and Safety Tips for Seniors

July 22, 2013 | No Comments

Summer is an excellent time to go outside and enjoy the warmth.  Yet it can also be an especially dangerous time for seniors.  Sometimes it can be especially difficult for a senior to tell if she is getting dehydrated or overheated.  Here are some summer health tips for planning time outside but still staying safe:  1. Consider the time.  In most areas of the country, it is warmest between 10a.m. and 3p.m.  It is also the time when the sun is at its brightest, making it easier to get sunburned.  Try avoiding these times by going outside in the early morning
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Health Benefits of the Sun

Health Benefits of the Sun

July 19, 2013 | No Comments

We often think about avoiding the sun in the summer.  We hide inside until it’s cool at dusk.  Or if we have to go out, we hide under a hat and smears of sunscreen. But the sun can have some fantastic health benefits too, in small doses. According to care2.com, Here are a few benefits to catching rays in moderation: 1. Creates Vitamin D. Through a complex process, the sun helps our body produce Vitamin D.  A pre-cursor vitamin is sent to our skin and when it is hit by sunlight it becomes Vitamin D. This vitamin helps keep many parts of our
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Medicare Blue Button Puts Medical Records in the Hands Of Seniors

Medicare Blue Button Puts Medical Records in the Hands Of Seniors

July 18, 2013 | No Comments

Imagine that you go to the emergency room because of a fall.  When the doctor comes and examines your knee, he notices the scar from a previous surgery. “What was the surgery for?” he asks.  You know it had something to do with a ligament, but can’t remember the rest.  When he asks about your medical history, you don’t remember the official diagnosis of your heart problem.  You also don’t remember the name of the new prescription you are taking.  It’s too late to call the other doctors’ offices, and the emergency room can’t do much without the information. Similar
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Functional Fitness for Seniors

Functional Fitness for Seniors

July 17, 2013 | No Comments

According to seniorjournal.com, many gyms are jumping on a new trend:  functional fitness for seniors.  Functional fitness focuses on endurance, core strength, flexibility, and balance – all essential for seniors to keep up with their activities of daily living.  The fitness centers usually offer these trainer-run programs in the late morning or early afternoon when most others will be working or busy with children.  Many older adults enjoy these classes not only for the physical benefits, but also for the social ones.  Functional fitness classes are becoming more popular all of the time with seniors wishing to keep independent and mobile. The
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Fight Inflammation with Fish Oil

Fight Inflammation with Fish Oil

July 16, 2013 | No Comments

These days, everyone seems to be taking fish oil for something. Doctors, chiropractors, and naturopaths are suggesting it for everything from diabetes to knee pain. But is it science or is it quackery? The latest studies point to science. Research examined exactly what happens when DHA from fish oil enters the body. The DHA was taken in by large white blood cells called macrophages. These macrophages go to the site of infection or injury and “eat” whatever bacteria, virus, or dead cells they find to neutralize the situation. When DHA entered macrophages, they changed from macrophages that create inflammation to
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Senior Fair Teaches Veterans About Benefits

Senior Fair Teaches Veterans About Benefits

July 15, 2013 | No Comments

Romeoville saw an influx of seniors last month when U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski hosted a Senior Fair.  Lipinski organized this event to connect people with organizations and associations that help seniors.  It was a success with many seniors in attendance. And what was learned from this event?  That many seniors don’t know the options available to them. It was found that veterans were unaware of the benefits that they could be receiving for their health.  With the dangerous chemicals used in Vietnam, where many served, former soldiers have been diagnosed with serious health conditions.  Many senior veterans are unaware that
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"Senior Proms" Aren’t Just For Teens

"Senior Proms" Aren’t Just For Teens

July 12, 2013 | No Comments

Rent that tuxedo, buy that corsage, and get ready to boogie the night away.  It’s prom season!  And the festivities are no longer exclusively for teens. Aplaceformom.com reports that proms for seniors are becoming popular across the country. With the help of local volunteers, these Senior Proms provide an evening for seniors to mingle with friends, dance to tunes from their youth, and dress in their finest.  The evening usually begins with a cocktail hour – something you won’t find at your average high school prom.  Then the festivities progress to dancing, multi-course dinners, and sometimes even the announcement of the
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Let Thirst Be Your Guide- Avoid Dehydration

Let Thirst Be Your Guide- Avoid Dehydration

July 11, 2013 | No Comments

As summer is heating up, we become more prone to dehydration.  Although most of us know only the mild dehydration symptoms of headaches and sluggishness, dehydration can become serious quickly, leading to hospitalization or even death.  So how do we avoid dehydration? The easiest way to stay hydrated is to listen to your body.  If you are thirsty, get yourself something to drink. It sounds easy, and it is.  The nerves that signal our thirst are very sensitive, and if our bodies lose even 1% of their water from say sweating on a hot day, they will send a signal
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Internet Helps Caregivers Become Experts

Internet Helps Caregivers Become Experts

July 10, 2013 | No Comments

With the elderly living longer and savings depleted by a bad economy, an ever-increasing number of adults are caring for their senior relatives.  Many seniors are being sent home from the hospital in a medically fragile state, needing care.  With unemployment numbers still up, many family’s savings are running dry and cannot cover the cost of a nursing home.  The result is a family member becoming the caregiver of that senior. As the chronic illness progresses, the family caregiver usually becomes an expert on caring for the senior.  Doctors  rely heavily on the caregiver’s input to make medical decisions.  That
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