Let’s be honest, the usual trip to the dentist is no walk in the park. But regular dental visits are a necessary part of good oral health. Surprisingly, it’s not the unpleasant sounds of the dental drill or the memories of the last porcelain filling that’s keeping our seniors of out of the dentist’s chair. According to researchers, a survey revealed that of the 56 million Americans aged 65 and older who received Medicare in 2016, less than half visited the dentist the previous year. The reason many seniors don’t get dental care is because of cost. Unfortunately, coverage for
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Archives for Healthy Living
What Seniors Should Know About the Flu
According to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu often doesn’t get taken as seriously as it should. In fact, the number of people between the ages of 50 and 64 and 65 and older who were vaccinated during the 2015-2016 flu season decreased by 3 percent. Seniors, infants and women who are pregnant are at greater risk for developing the virus than other groups. The CDC reports that 71 to 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in those 65 and older – that same group also makes up about
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Consider Meal Delivery to Make Food Prep Easier
Getting around can be difficult for seniors especially when mobility is an issue. And when going from point A to B is a challenge that makes it tough for older loved ones to maintain a healthy diet because they have no way to access they food that they need. Many people are not aware that hunger and under-nutrition are slowly becoming an epidemic in the U.S. It was reported by the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger that in 2014, 15.8 percent of the population or 10.2 million older Americans were threatened by hunger, while And 3.7 million seniors are
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February is National Senior Independence Month
Age can bring on a myriad of emotions, fears and concerns. And even if you’re are able to fully function on your own or are receiving in-home care or outpatient services, every senior deserves to live their life as independently as possible. In efforts to help promote a more self-sufficient lifestyle among older Americans, February has been designated National Senior Independence Month. During the “golden” years, the journey towards greater independence can include everything from healthy eating habits, physical fitness and proper medical care to accident prevention and creating new experiences. Everything you do has an impact on you lifestyle
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Does Your Loved One Need a Caregiver?
There comes a time in all of our lives when we’ll need assistance from the ones we care about. Health and mobility are usually the first things to decline as we age. But how do you know exactly when a parent or older family member needs help? Keeping in mind that your senior has probably lived a full, independent life will work to everyone’s benefit when thinking about how to approach care giving for a loved one. But that also makes it difficult for them to admit they can no longer take care of themselves. The fear of losing
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Is Laughter the Best Medicine?
Who knew that a good laugh was a lot like a moderate workout? Well, according to psychologist and laugh therapist, Steve Wilson, MA, CSP we change our physiological state when we laugh. Our muscles stretch, the pulse and blood pressure go up, breathing increases sending more oxygen to the tissues. Wilson says when you combine laughter and movement it boosts the heart rate. And researchers say that 10-15 minutes of laughter can burn almost 50 calories. Other ways that laughter can be beneficial to the health of your older loved one is that it helps boost the immune system. A
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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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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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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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