There have been some recent studies that have opened a new door for seniors battling heart disease. The studies have shown that increasing the dose of statin can drastically reduce the risks of heart disease. Seniors who are taking medication to lower their cholesterol are already ingesting statin. Increasing this amount can protect them from other health issues. This is true for seniors who have coronary heart disease too. The list that is provided below contains some facts and tips about statin and heart health.
1. Increased doses of Lipitor or other cholesterol lowering medications has been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart related health problems.
2. In combination with medication, lowering bad cholesterol can reduce the chances of heart disease.
3. Seniors who have coronary heart disease should try to get their bad cholesterol levels below 100mg per each deciliter of blood.
4. High doses of statin has been shown to lower cholesterol levels to 70.
5. In addition to reducing the chances of developing heart disease, seniors can also reduce the likelihood of stroke and heart attack.
6. Regardless of the current heart condition, lowering bad cholesterol can have many health benefits for seniors, including lower blood pressure, lower mortality rates and the reduction of risks of coronary heart disease.
7. Seniors who are currently taking medication to lower their cholesterol should speak to a doctor regarding the possible benefits of increasing the dosage.
If you are a caregiver, or know anyone with a heart condition, you could benefit from watching the following clip, which features a modified form of CPR called CCR that is easier to learn, easier to do and can save even more lives!
Reaching a goal can be a challenge for anyone. Seniors often have difficulties attaining their new goals. The internet is a great way to find resources that will help with planning and keeping track of progress as seniors strive to achieve their goals for the year ahead. Below, Home Care San Antonio has listed a few websites that are very helpful and commonly used by seniors.
1. ResolutionsReminders.com – This is a free site that can help you stay on track and attain your resolutions. The site was established in 1997 and has been going strong ever since. It contains valuable resources and users can sign up to receive email reminders.
2. DietTV.com – This site is great for anyone who has set diet goals for the New Year. A personalized program can be created, including a customized diet plan. The site has many areas that will help with all diet and exercise needs, such as an exercise finder and support groups.
3. StopSmoking.net – Many seniors still smoke, and many members of the senior population make resolutions each year to quit smoking. This is one of the hardest goals to achieve, especially for seniors who have been smoking for many years. The site also offers tips on how to quit as well as the option of creating a personalized stop smoking plan.
Here at San Antonio Home Care, we know that your goals can be accomplished this year and you’ll improve your life as you age. This year can be different than those past where you’ve struggled to meet them after a few turns of the calendar, if you make sure you don’t enter into the following pitfalls:
1. Don’t procrastinate – get started with them right away. As soon as you set your goals, get going. The longer you procrastinate, the less likely you’ll ever begin on your journey
2. Overcome the hurdles – it’s Murphy’s Law that what can go wrong will go wrong; but just because you encounter hurdles while trying to meet your New Year’s resolutions doesn’t mean that you need to give up. Overcome!
3. Don’t let a plateau discourage you – no matter what your goal is, you’ll see a lot of progress early on and then hit a plateau. This doesn’t mean you’re not meeting success, this a natural occurrence, and you simply need to keep moving forward with your goals
4. Recognize that if you feel discouraged, it’s simply an emotion – at some stage along your journey to reaching a goal, you’ll likely feel discouraged. But that doesn’t have a bearing on your success, especially once you recognize that it’s simply an emotion and you can get through it
New Year’s resolutions are small changes people vow to make in the year ahead. They could be simple or complex, but no matter what, they need to be achieved. Seniors often make resolutions relating to their health, whether it is losing weight, eating differently or exercising. Regardless of what the goal is, the tips below will help seniors achieve their new set of goals for the upcoming year.
1. Keep the list of goals as simple as possible. Make sure that each goal can be attained. Goals should provide a sense of satisfaction when they are achieved.
2. Goals should be realistic. Seniors cannot set the same goals as younger people because those same goals are not always realistic.
3. Have a plan. Each goal should have a specific plan to go along with it. This makes achieving goals much easier. It may be helpful to make a list of things that can be done to meet a goal and cross it off when it is attained.
4. Set a timeline. You should have a deadline for yourself. This will help motivate you to meet your goal.
5. Write a list. When making resolutions, be sure to write them down. People who make lists of their goals are much more successful at achieving them.
6. Keep tabs on your progress. You may want to use a journal to take notes. This will help you see what kind of progress has been made already and what is left to do.
show that New Year’s resolutions very rarely survive past Valentine’s Day, which means they’re abandoned almost as soon as they’re set. Whether your New Year’s resolution this year is to lose a few pounds, increase your social life, or travel to better enjoy older adulthood, you can stick to your goals using these methods.
1. Focus on fun – particularly when it comes to losing weight or starting an exercise program, the resolution can become a burden rather than something you desire to achieve. Find exercise activities you enjoy, and if your resolutions have nothing to do with weight loss or exercise; ensure you go about attaining your goals in a way that’s focused on fun!
2. Think about your future today – if you have goals for the future, there’s no better time than now to start working towards achieving them. You might have excuses, whether it’s related to your age, your health, the logistics of getting around or something else; but those are aspects unlikely to change so take the bull by the horns and work towards the goals you set
3. Talk to others – if you tell others about your goals, you’ll be more likely to stick to them. It almost creates a challenge, since you’ll be encouraged to tell your friends and family that you’re successful rather than failing at your New Year’s resolutions. This also gives you a support network for encouragement
Q—I have noticed my elderly mother acting less like her usual self. She has also lost a significant amount of weight. Could she be depressed? If so, are there other places I can take her to besides her physician?
A—Like anyone, when a senior does not feel well physically, this may affect their emotional health. There are several things you can look for to figure out if your senior is actually depressed, with weight loss being the most common. Also outside of her primary care physician, several centers and organizations exist, geared specifically towards senior health.
• Loss of appetite—A change in appetite usually results in the most common sign a senior is depressed of unintentional weight loss.
• Generally disinterest—Seniors may lose interest in daily activities they once enjoyed or found pleasing.
• Sleepless nights—A depressed senior may have trouble sleeping through the night. This can also explain another sign your senior is depressed, increased fatigue.
• Increased Irritability—Some seniors’ personalities turn increasingly agitated or dispirited when feeling low or depressed.
• Unusual thoughts about death—Abnormal notions about death and dying arise in a down senior.
• Where to get a geriatric assessment—Seniors and senior caregivers can receive help and more information on these depression signs by visiting their primary care physician or other outlets such as hospitals, senior centers, religious affiliations, Medicaid offices, or a local Area Agency on Aging.
Q – I don’t know about you, but I struggle in particular in shopping for elderly relatives. After so many years of gift exchanges, it seems to become harder to know what to buy, especially when there’s nothing they’ll admit that they need. Can you make some suggestions?
A – Think about practical items rather than extravagant ones:
• Items that allow them to pamper themselves – seniors on a budget are not likely to splurge on things they consider non-essentials. Buy them candles, soaps and body lotions that allow them to feel pampered at home. Gift cards to restaurants or spas are added luxuries
• Gift baskets – gift baskets with a combination of items, including some of the above, as well as seasonal foods, books, and craft supplies that they will enjoy and make use of are all great things to include! Gift baskets can be bought pre-fabricated or can be created at home
• The gift of companionship – seniors will most appreciate the company of their loved ones. If this is not possible, senior care services can be gifted for companionship and assistance at home
• Take an elderly loved one out for the day – a trip out for lunch around the holidays to see a movie or a musical event can be a very enjoyable way for them to spend a day and it will be memorable!
The holidays can be hard for seniors when they’re not as they were in the past. Family and friends they used to celebrate might no longer be with them, their health might not be what it was; and these are elements that can make the holiday season less enjoyable to seniors. Help seniors take joy from the holiday season, by using these tips to make positive holiday experiences.
1. Allow memories and past rituals to live on – don’t discourage seniors from reliving those important memories of holidays past, thinking that it will prevent depression. Share memories of family members no longer with you, look at photos, and keep old family traditions alive
2. Make sure visiting seniors are comfortable – to help reduce the stress of seniors coming into your home over the holidays, make sure that your home is senior-friendly, with safety being the primary concern
3. Avoid impulsive holiday activities – to ensure that seniors can be involved with all holiday activities, avoid being impulsive that way seniors can be well-rested for more excitement
4. Focus on the joy – while it’s okay to reminisces, over the holidays make sure that all memories discussed focus on the positive
5. Create new traditions – while you can focus on incorporating old rituals into the holidays, create new ones as well that give the whole family, including seniors, new things to look forward to doing together. Holiday activities can’t just focus on the past
There’s a belief that with age comes an increase in sleep issues that are common for seniors. Those issues include the following, which affect a large percentage of the population and can have an impact on overall health:
• Teeth grinding (bruxism) – an involuntary act which can cause problems with oral health and jaw pain
• Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome – a skewed internal clock that often makes it challenging for people to fall asleep before 2am and wake before 7am
• Sleep apnoea – this comes at varying levels of severity, and results in unusual sleeping patterns which can disturb sleep
• Insomnia – difficulty falling and staying asleep
• Restless Leg Syndrome – leg pain that comes with sleep that can interrupt sleeping patterns
According to a new study, seniors really shouldn’t have increased problems sleeping when compared to younger generations, because the stress of career and young family is removed from the equation. As a result, seniors who still find that they have trouble sleeping at night, or fail to feel well-rested during the day should seek medical help in order to determine if something else might be at play that impacts their sleeping habits.
Holiday shopping can be a major source of stress, and shopping for the older members of the family can be an even greater challenge after years of gift-giving. Don’t just choose gift items for the sake of it, instead, for seniors on a limited income, pick up items that they need but might not want to spend money on themselves. Practical gifts as below will be most appreciated by seniors over the holidays:
1. Purchase items that will aid in dental health – it might not sound like a glamorous holiday gift idea, but a senior’s dental health can really change their quality of life, especially over the holidays when they’d rather enjoy. In a gift basket, include a favorite toothpaste or denture cleaner, mouthwash, floss and a new toothbrush (buy electric, or one in their favorite color – something they might not splurge on!).
2. Stock up on other personal items – splurge a little bit and include personal items that are more than just the basics. If you know that they prefer a certain kind of scented soap or body wash, but typically stick to a cheaper bar soap, pick some up! Bubble bath, body lotion and other items they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves would also be appreciated
3. Include nutritious snacks – crackers, preserves, tea and coffee are all great things to include in a senior’s gift basket. Try to buy the items you know they love, but won’t get for themselves!
There have been some recent studies that have opened a new door for seniors battling heart disease. The studies have shown that increasing the dose of statin can drastically reduce the risks of heart disease. Seniors who are taking medication to lower their cholesterol are already ingesting statin. Increasing this amount can protect them from other health issues. This is true for seniors who have coronary heart disease too. The list that is provided below contains some facts and tips about statin and heart health.
