Yesterday, we here at Freedom Home Care took a closer look at why older individuals are prone to lose weight. And we learned that a certain amount of weight loss can be considered normal. As it turns out, the actual decrease in pounds isn’t always attributed to a loss in body fat. Some of it can be due to a decrease in bone density, as well. Therefore, observing weight loss in your elderly loved one might not be something to lose sleep over. However, it’s also not something to ignore. In some cases, weight loss can cross the line from
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Understanding weight loss in older individuals
Weight loss in the older population is a common issue. As functions in the body begin to slow down – alongside activity levels – appetite also decreases. This, of course, is a simplistic explanation of why some of the aging individuals in our lives may look skinnier and skinnier as years pass. To truly understand weight loss later in life, however Livestrong.com, a website dedicated to healthy living, laid out the changes that take place in the body from a medical standpoint. As most know, the human body is composed primarily of bone tissue, lean muscle and organ tissue, fat tissue,
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Helpful advice from the CDC on stroke prevention
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, strokes are a leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 130,000 Americans die each year because of strokes, which accounts for 1 of every 18 deaths. The CDC goes on to explain that “every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. One in four are recurrent strokes.” Despite the numbers, however, there are many ways to prevent strokes from happening. Here are a few recommendations from the CDC to lower your risk for stroke: Eat a healthy diet. Choosing healthful meal
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Thinking outside of the (shoe) box for Alzheimer’s patients
Whenever the folks here at Freedom Home Care go scouting for information that we feel will be helpful to our patients and their families, there’s always that moment when we stumble upon an article that could be considered news of the weird. And today was no exception. Especially so when we learned that shoe developers have designed a pair of sneakers that have been outfitted with a built-in tracking device to locate Alzheimer's patients. “It's very common for people who have dementia to wander off on their own,” say the editors at CBS News Online. “When that happens, frantic family
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Tips to care for your dentures
Oral care is something that all individuals must pay important attention to, regardless of age. As we get older, however, the way in which we take care of our teeth and gums will inevitably change. So is especially the case for many seniors with dentures. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, “It is important to clean your mouth and denture daily so your mouth will stay healthy. Soaking dentures in water or a denture cleaner is not enough. They must be brushed with a soft toothbrush or with a toothbrush made especially for dentures.” But there’s, of course,
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History in the making
Yesterday, millions of people around the world watched as Felix Baumgartner jumped out of a capsule suspended more than 24 miles above the earth’s surface. And he did so with the help and soothing words of 84-year-old Col. Joseph Kittinger. Kittinger, who directed Baumgartner from mission control, was the only person to have direct contact with Baumgartner during his more than 2-hour ascent as well as during his approximate 10-minute return. And it was only appropriate for Kittinger to be that voice to guide him throughout the expe End Your Depression – Hot New Product! rience; Kittinger previously held the
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Making a house a home for U.S. veterans
No matter what side of the fence a candidate’s opinions lie when it comes to military action, supporting this nation’s veterans should be a priority. Those who have protected our country deserve our utmost respect and gratitude, and in the following video, AARP tells th Model Railroad Print Out Buildings e story of two young war veterans who continue to serve by building houses for fellow vets. The story is an uplifting one and one that we here at Freedom Home Care would love to see more of. We hope you enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpsXpFhiXkM&feature=plcp Model Railroad Print Out Buildings zp8497586rq
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Tapping into the senior tech trend
In the past, tech-savvy wasn’t necessarily a descriptor attached to those in the 65-plus age group. That term was reserved for the younger generations who were delving into the latest and greatest online tools. That is, until now. As we here at Freedom Home Care have mentioned in previous blogs, older Americans are taking the Internet for a test drive, and what they’re finding is that it’s an incredibly valuable way to stay in touch with family members and friends – and the entire world around them. For seniors who haven’t already hopped on the World Wide Web express, there
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7 ways for seniors to treat dry mouth
As we here at Freedom Home Care have discussed in previous blog posts, there are many changes that individuals will face as they grow older. Although some of those changes are quite expected, many of the signs of aging will come as a surprise. Dry mouth is one of these unforeseen items. spy apps for android “If [seniors] have a chronic disease managed by medications, one of the side effects is dry mouth,” explained Dr. Marsha A. Pyle, director of the Training Center for Geriatric Oral Health and associate dean of Education at the Case School of Dental Medicine in
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FHC takes a moment for Mental Illness Awareness Week
This week, between Oct. 7 and Oct. 13, marks a time for all of us to increase our understanding and sensitivity for those suffering from mental illness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Illness Awareness Week was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress. It was set in place to recognize the efforts that the NAMI places on mental health advocacy. Mental Illness Awareness Week
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