During the holidays, you probably enjoyed the opportunity to stay home from work and simply sit around the house for a few days. However, those of us who are used to going to work every day are often surprised at how quickly we become restless at home. If you’ve ever suffered an injury that required a long period of recovery, you are even more aware of just how frustrating “cabin fever” can be!

An elderly loved one usually has the background of an entire life spent going here and there. Imagine how difficult it must be to transition to a stay-at-home mentality, especially when health issues make driving dangerous. Assisted transportation services can make all the difference in the world to a senior that isn’t able to just hop in the car and go to the store whenever they want to.

If you’re the adult child of elderly parents in Encinitas, or anywhere else in California, it’s no easier for you either. If you are a member of the sandwich generation, you are painfully aware of the difficulties of balancing care of parents with care of children and a full-time job. It’s very easy to suddenly realize that it’s been far too long since the last time your aging parent had a refreshing outing. While assisted transportation certainly doesn’t substitute for quality time spent together, it can fill an important role by getting a senior out of the house for a while under the capable supervision of a trained caregiver.

We’re not talking about a expensive limo services here. Assisted transportation is more affordable than you might think, and it has the important benefit of including an experienced senior care provider who is ready to help in the case of an emergency during the outing. It’s certainly much safer than relying on a ride from a neighbor or family friend who might not have adequate training to address a health crisis or a dementia-related incident. And while you try your best to make time for outings with your elderly parents in Encinitas, during unusually busy times or family vacations, a transportation service can really help break up the monotony of staying at home.

Think of all the times you run to the store for a gallon of milk; run to the gas station to fill up; or rush to the library to return an overdue book. Those trips might feel like inconveniences now, but to someone like your elderly parent who doesn’t have the ability to make them on their own, they are a very special time. An assisted transportation service can make those special times take place little more frequently.

The day that an elderly patient ends his or her visit to a hospital in North San Diego County is always a happy one. Even if a long rehabilitation and recovery period lies ahead, anticipating the eventual return to a familiar and comfortable home environment does much to make the process an easier one.

Unfortunately, hospital researchers report, many of the seniors that go home after their stay end up back at the hospital in just a short amount of time. In North San Diego County, elderly patients who go home without fully understanding their medication routine, scheduled checkups, or activity restrictions run the risk of further health problems and another visit to the hospital.

At a number of hospitals around the nation, doctors and nurses are working to counteract this dangerous and expensive challenge by scheduling visits at a special clinic immediately following a patient’s discharge from the hospital. In North San Diego County and other areas of California, according to this plan a discharged patient would visit with a hospital official at a post-discharge clinic in order to review and clarify the prescriptions, instructions, and appointments assigned by the patient’s doctors. By returning home with a better grasp of his or her responsibilities, the hope is that an elderly individual would be more likely to make a full recovery and communicate information clearly to caregivers.

So far, the professionals supervising these experiments report a high measure of success. Because the program has a very short history, it is difficult to quantify its effect on reducing return hospital visits, but the general impression so far is that patients, especially seniors who may not even know what questions to ask in the confusing situation of packing up and leaving the hospital, are going home with a more thorough preparation after attending the post-discharge clinic visit.

Of course, the help of a family member or home care provider is vital for a senior recovering from a visit to the hospital. A recent study shows that over eight percent of adults who are discharged from a hospital return for another visit within thirty days. This readmission is especially strenuous on an elderly person, and if a little extra time spent explaining prescriptions and rehabilitation needs can reduce that percentage, it is worth the effort. With a partnership between hospital staff and home caregivers, a senior’s return home from the hospital in North San Diego County can be successful and permanent.

For more information, see Hospitals use post-discharge clinics to cut readmissions.

Chances are, your aging parents in San Marcos have some prized recipes that make holiday meals special. But as seniors begin facing the difficulties of arthritis, rheumatism, and other weakening conditions, preparing those beloved dishes becomes very challenging. In order to help your elderly loved ones continue their holiday cooking traditions in a safe, rewarding way, we have compiled a short list of simple but helpful cooking tools. The items featured in this article can all be found at www.seniorssuperstores.com.

Utensils and Accessories

 Using sharp knives is one of the most concerning kitchen hazards for aging parents in San Marcos. With these cool tools, cutting and slicing is made much safer:

• Finger protector: This guard easily slides over the fingertips of the non-cutting hand to protect them from any knife slips while cutting vegetables. Price: $5.95
• Rocking T knife: Provides more stability and leverage than a traditional knife, and is easier to grip. Price: $28.95
• OXO Good Grip knives: This complete line of knives and other cooking utensils is made safer by a large, soft, ergonomically designed hand grip. Price: about $7.95
• Foam handle tubes. These textured grips slip onto your existing utensil handles to instantly make them much easier to hold and use. Price: $13.95

Stability Products

 It is important for aging parents in San Marcos to avoid dropping and spilling things in the kitchen; hot food and broken glass are very common causes of injury. These tools help things stay securely in place during cooking:

• Grip mat: Simply place this mat on any countertop and it provides a non-slip surface for a container while stirring, cutting, or mixing. Price: $9.95
• Pot/Pan Holder: This frame fits over a pot or pan on the stove, holding it in one place and allowing the cook to use just one hand to stir. Price: $18.95
• Hot Hand: There are many jar openers available, but this one adds the feature of heat protection to its solid grip. Removing a hot plate from the microwave, picking up slippery dishes from the sink, and opening stuck jar lids are all made much easier with this versatile tool. Price: $17.95

Other Cooking Tools

 For wheelchair-bound aging parents in San Marcos, there are reach extenders specifically designed to turn stove knobs. If you are uncomfortable with a senior carrying a sharp knife around the kitchen, a cutting board with an attached knife eliminates the chance of danger. All these and more kitchen tools for seniors can be found at www.seniorssuperstore.com.

With the advancements in recent technologies, it seems that seniors are left behind in the ever-changing world of electronics and gadgets. While these new changes and incredible advancements can be difficult to keep up with, they can also improve the living conditions and quality of senior care in San Diego and surrounding areas. By taking advantage of different technologies that are becoming available, the elderly can have a better quality of life, while taking care of their bodies and living healthy lifestyles.

Different gadgets such as smart phones or iPads make browsing the internet or reading email easier than ever. With the right technologies, senior citizens can view emails and pictures from their kids and grandkids, keeping them up to date and improving their mood. Just a few pictures a day can make an incredible improvement in a senior’s day, and with an iPad or smart phone, seniors need not worry about difficult maintenance or confusing hardware and software. All that they need is located in one small device or tablet. With these tools, seniors can also improve their brain power by using applications that sharpen the brain and provide a quick way to guard against debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s. Most scientists agree that the best way to delay the onset of these diseases is to regularly sharpen your brain through logical exercises and trivia games.

Video games are also a great way for senior care in San Diego to be vastly improved. Many games on Nintendo’s Wii can be played with just one button, and the motion technology makes exercising fun. Moving joints and working on hand-eye coordination while having fun is a great way to improve mobility and delay any problems that can come from decreased mobility. Although this is typically an activity that is associated with the younger generations, senior care in San Diego can benefit from minor usage of motion related video games that can get seniors up and moving while also providing some hearty entertainment.

Seniors need not fear the oncoming wave of technological advancements, but rather they should embrace it. By using the applications available on portable internet devices and using the technology to their advantage, senior care in San Diego, as well as living conditions for seniors can be greatly improved. Seniors can improve their mood, keep in touch with their family, sharpen their brain, and exercise regularly while having fun doing all of it.

As we age, it becomes increasingly difficult to get the proper exercise needed to maintain overall health. For seniors that are unable to move freely, there are several activities that promote joint health, but do not create a burden or impossible amount of movement for your loved one receiving companion care.  In San Marcos and elsewhere in San Diego County are able to suggest, and transport clients to, community based organizations that offer fitness-related activities for elderly clients.

For seniors that still have moderate degree of movement, water aerobics classes can be a great way to spice things up. Many senior-friendly facilities such as family YMCAs offer some type of water classes, and while providing much needed exercise for the elderly, water aerobics also provides the opportunity for seniors to interact and socialize with people their own age. This can provide a sense of security and reduce feelings of loneliness, especially for those living on their own or those with deceased partners. This activity provides minimal resistance because it takes place in the water, but it allows muscles and joints to get a workout while enjoying a fun time with friends.

If your loved one is a little less mobile, activities like walking a pet or shopping can be a great sources of much-needed exercise. As providers of companion care in San Marcos, we provide caregivers who can suggest, and participate in community based and private activities that allow seniors to feel a sense of belonging and companionship that can keep their spirits uplifted. Walking a small pet or walking around the mall will provide exercise, while still giving the elderly a fun activity that does not feel like exercise, but so will taking part in Tai Chi at the nearest Senior Center.

For any senior, motion sensors built into video games can be an inviting way to exercise. Experts explain that using motor skills while playing a game can be a great way to improve brain waves and maintain the overall function of motor skills, while still getting a minor workout that can prevent the atrophy of joints and bones. Many video game companies have started to make video games that are easy to learn and easy to play, accompanying the needs of the elderly. While this type of exercise is probably not enough in and of itself, when accompanied by a daily walk, it can help keep senior citizens active and healthy. Overall, by taking advantage of these easy and fun ways to exercise, your loved one can improve joint movement, prevent muscle atrophy, and have an activity on their calendar that they can look forward to.

Medicare changes could benefit seniors:

With the regularly occurring changes in the medical field, attentive care for seniors in Oceanside is more important than ever. By making sure that you are kept up to date with the changes in medical policies, you can save hundreds each year by taking advantage of new programs and discounts that are offered. Medicare has recently changed its drug plan policies to benefit seniors. As of the beginning of November, Medicare has started their open enrollment period for the year that allows seniors to change their medication and health plan policies. The window to make these changes will only last through December 7^th, but by changing the policies to accommodate the medications that are being taken; you may be able to save up to $500 in the next year if you switch Medicare plans.

What to consider when choosing a senior health care plan:

When making the change from one policy to another, there are several things that can make attentive care for seniors in Oceanside more affordable. First, if medications have changed over the past year, a new plan may be better suited for the new medications. By getting a plan that covers only what is necessary; seniors can reduce their care costs and can save on their medications.

Second, you should compare rates and coverage details between plans to make sure that what you need is covered, but nothing additional is being paid for. Attentive care for seniors in Oceanside can be expensive, and by eliminating costs for benefits that are not needed, these attentive care costs can be lessened greatly.

Finally, in order to further reduce costs, you should make sure that your medical information is up to date and that you have had a recent physical examination. If you are in a healthy condition for your age, you can often get more affordable health care, especially if you do not take significant amounts of medication each day.

What this means for you:

Within the next month and a half, you can discuss with a professional what changes should be made to your Medicare plan. By calling your Medicare representative and asking about the open enrollment and how you can benefit from it, you may be able to save hundreds. This can help reduce attentive care costs for seniors in Oceanside and leave cash in your pocket for other important expenses.

The onset of Alzheimer’s disease in an elderly individual brings with it a set of challenges that drastically changes the daily life of the entire family. A grandfather or grandmother who previously needed little more assistance than a periodic lawn mowing now requires increasingly constant attention for the sake of safety. Family members often feel a level of despair as they try to figure out how they can possibly balance this new responsibility with their existing careers and their other family needs. In-home companion caregiver companies can ease the burden by providing skilled and loving staff members to check on elders suffering from Alzheimer’s throughout the day, making sure they have their needs met.

 A Sudden Change

 Even if there are family members available to provide round-the-clock assistance, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is often a surprise to everyone and necessitates an immediate change in lifestyle. Between the time Alzheimer’s is identified and the time someone is able to begin living with the senior, A Servant’s Heart Care Solutions can fill the gap by keeping  the individual safe and comforted.

Semi-Independent Living

 Eventually, most elderly individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease require the kind of constant care only available by way of a live-in caregiver or an assisted living facility. In the earlier stages, however, most people treasure the time that they are able to spend living independently, continuing the same traditions and routines with which they are familiar. With frequent checkups and willingness to assist in any way necessary, the trained eyes and hands offered by qualified non-medical home care aide organizations make it possible for these people to make a longer and more comfortable transition to life with Alzheimer’s disease by remaining in their own home.

Relief For Hard-Working Families

 Love and responsibility toward parents  diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease often creates a feeling of guilt for family members who are already stretched thin by life. Rearranging schedules, altering long-term plans, and even moving to be closer to parents are all activities that take a great amount of time. Whatever a family decides is the best long term course of action for helping their loved ones through this time, A Sevant’s Heart Care Solutions is a valuable partner that can devote the immediate caregiving attention necessary. A trustworthy care provider becomes not just an efficient and effective service, but also a real friend that works together with loving family members to give an elderly individual the love and support to face this new chapter of life.

As people age, their minds naturally become less sharp. Seniors should take time every day to care for their mental health, because it will help them lead a more enjoyable life. Most likely, the elderly are already doing some things that improve their mental health without even knowing it. Here are some everyday things that elderly people in Fallbrook can make sure to incorporate into their lives to improve their mental health.

Physical Activity

Keeping physically active is a great way to stay mentally active as well. All physical activity requires at least some mental exercise as well, and some activities require a lot of brain power. People who care for the elderly in Fallbrook should encourage any activity that gets the mind and body moving. Whether your parent enjoys a morning game of golf or a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, these activities will benefit both the brain and the body.

Social Activity

Those who help to care for the elderly in Fallbrook should help them find social activities that they would enjoy. Getting a group together to socialize over a cup of tea or a game of cards is one of the best things that people can do to improve their mental health. The elderly should focus on spending time with friends and family and building solid relationships.

Hobbies

After retiring, elderly people in Fallbrook can easily find themselves with too much time on their hands. But instead of sitting around and watching TV all day, they should find a hobby or two that they will enjoy. Taking a painting class, joining a sports club, reading, flower arranging, doing crossword puzzles, and playing chess are all good hobbies that will help improve the mind. Anything that uses creativity will be beneficial for mental health.

Goals

Elderly people might find themselves depressed because they do not have any more goals in life. They may have already done everything that they wanted to do or they may now be unable to do the things that they love. Either way, sitting around without any goals is not beneficial. The elderly should set realistic, attainable goals for themselves so they have something to aim for. Moving towards a goal will give direction to their lives and bring contentment and satisfaction.

Don’t wait until there is a mental illness to start caring about mental health. The best mental health care for the elderly in Fallbrook is to prevent the problem by regular mental exercise. Using these tips, you can help your parents take steps to improve their mental health each and every day.

If you have been caring for an elderly parent in Vista for any length of time, you might wonder how much longer you can balance everything that is on your plate right now. Maybe you need some help. Choosing in-home care in Vista could be the best choice you’ve ever made for your family. Here are some of the benefits of using in-home care.

Preserved Independence

If you can no longer care for your elderly parents, you don’t have to put them in a nursing home. You can keep your elderly parent independent by using in-home care. In-home care in Vista allows the elderly to enjoy life and to continue their regular social activities.

Continued Family Care

When you choose in-home care, you will still be able to spend time with the elderly patient regularly. You can keep family bonds strong by working together with in-home helpers.

Less Patient Stress

In-home care leaves the patient in a familiar environment instead of moving the patient to a totally new location. Remaining at home reduces stress and anxiety for the elderly parent.

One on One Care

Another advantage to in-home care is the one on one time that patients receive. In-home helpers are able to give personalized care to meet the exact needs of the elderly patient.

Faster Healing Process

Home care actually speeds up the healing process. It has been shown that patients often recover more quickly when they are in the comfort of their own homes.

Cost Effective Option

Choosing in-home care is a much more cost effective option than a nursing home. Nursing homes are very expensive, and many people cannot afford to put their elderly parents in nursing homes in Vista. Using home care instead can save families a lot of money, while still giving the elderly patient the care that is needed.

Caring Helpers

In-home helpers are compassionate and caring people who enjoy working with elderly people. They are well-trained and experienced in giving care and helping the elderly with everyday tasks.

Extended Life

Studies have shown that elderly patients who are cared for at home live longer and have a better quality of life than those in nursing homes.

The whole goal of in-home care in Vista is to provide the elderly with the care that is needed while allowing them to live as freely and comfortably as possible. Choosing home care for your elderly parent in Vista will preserve their independence, reduce their stress, and speed their healing while giving them one on one care from a compassionate helper. The benefits are almost endless.

Lisa Nainggolan

July 14, 2011 (Gainesville, Florida) — Older patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) chronically for pain are at significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events, a new post hoc analysis from the International Verapamil-Trandolapril Study (INVEST) demonstrates [1]. The research is published in the July 2011 issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

“We found a significant increase in adverse cardiovascular outcomes, primary driven by an increase in cardiovascular mortality,” lead author Dr Anthony A Bavry (University of Florida, Gainesville) told heartwire . “This is not the first study to show there is potential harm with these agents, but I think it further solidifies that concern.”

He says the observational study, conducted within the hypertension trial INVEST, is particularly relevant to everyday practice because the patients included were typical of those seen in internal-medicine, geriatric, and cardiology clinics–they were older, with hypertension and clinically stable CAD.

Bavry and colleagues were not able to differentiate between NSAIDs in the study–most people were taking ibuprofen, naproxen, or celecoxib–and he says until further work is done, he considers the risks of NSAIDs “a class effect,” and their use should be avoided wherever possible.

I try to get them to switch to an alternative agent, such as acetaminophen.

However, “Patients should not terminate these medicines on their own,” he says. “They should have a discussion with their physician. When I see patients like these taking NSAIDs I will have an informed discussion with them and tell them there is evidence that these agents may be associated with harm. I try to get them to switch to an alternative agent, such as acetaminophen, or if that’s not possible I at least try to get them to reduce the dose of NSAID or the frequency of dosing. But ultimately, it’s up to them if this potential risk is worth taking depending upon the indication for their use.”

Chronic NSAID Use More Than Doubles CV Mortality

Within the large cohort of more than 22 000 patients in INVEST, Bavry and colleagues identified patients who reported taking NSAIDs at every follow-up visit and termed them chronic users (n=882). Most often, patients were taking these agents for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lower back pain, Bavry said.

They compared the chronic NSAID users with those who only intermittently (n=7286) or never (n=14 408) used NSAIDs over an average of 2.7 years and adjusted the findings for potential confounders.

The primary outcome–a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke–occurred at a rate of 4.4 events per 100 patient-years in the chronic-NSAID group vs 3.7 events per 100 patient-years in the nonchronic group (adjusted hazard ratio 1.47; p=0.0003).

As noted by Bavry, the end point was primarily driven by a more than doubling in the risk of death from CV causes in the chronic-NSAID group compared with never or infrequent users (adjusted HR 2.26; p<0.0001).

The association did not appear to be due to elevated blood pressure, the researchers say, because chronic NSAID users actually had slightly lower on-treatment BP over the follow-up period.

They note that a recent American Geriatrics Society panel on the treatment of chronic pain in the elderly recommends acetaminophen as a first-line agent and suggests that nonselective NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors be used only with extreme caution. “Our findings support this recommendation,” they state.

Bavry added: “We do need more studies to further characterize the risks of these agents, which are widely used and widely available, and perhaps the risks are underappreciated. We are working on the next level of studies to try to identify which are the most harmful agents.”

Bavry has no disclosures. Disclosures for the coauthors are listed in the paper.

References

Bavry AA, Khaliq A, Gong Y, et al. Harmful effects of NSAIDs among patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. Am J Med 2011; 124:614-620. Abstract