What to expect when the senses go

One of the realities of aging is a progressive loss of the five senses.  Consider the following:

Vision
To see clearly, a 70-year-old eye needs three times more light than someone half that age. The first sign of a problem is usually trouble seeing at night. If this happens, you may have to stop driving after dark. The eye muscles used for focusing begin to lose some tone. You may have to start using reading glasses. Glaucoma and macular degeneration are the leading causes of blindness in the elderly. Both diseases can be treated to some degree. This is why it’s important to get regular eye exams beginning at age 40.

Hearing
About one third of Americans over age 65 and half of those over 85 have some degree of hearing loss. Most hearing loss happens when tiny hairs in the ear that send signals to the brain are damaged. Loud noises, repeated ear infections and high fevers speed up this process. The first thing to go is usually the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. It may also be hard to follow a conversation when there is too much background noise. Another reason for hearing loss is the buildup of hard ear wax. As we age, we lose some of the sweat glands that keep ear wax soft. Hard ear wax may block some sound waves, making things sound muffled. Tinnitus – or “ringing in the ears” – occurs when damaged hairs in the ear send electrical signals to the brain that are interpreted as noise.

Taste and smell
Very often, we confuse taste with smell. About 80 percent of the problems that we think are related to taste really involve smell. Taste is our strongest sense. We are born with about 10,000 taste buds. After age 50, we start to lose some of them. When we are young, we can recognize five different tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory. As we age, the sweet taste may be a little stronger and the sour taste a little weaker. Your sense of smell helps you recognize flavors. About 30 percent of people aged 70 to 80 have problems with smell. This can be partial or total, or can involve perceiving smells differently. You may smell a foul odor when there is none. Strawberries may suddenly lose their flavor. This can sometimes lead to depression. In many cases, nothing can be done about the loss of smell and taste. Cigarette smoking or poor dental habits can add to the problem. Polyps in the nose can block aromas. Medication, head injury or illness can also be factors.

Touch
As skin ages, it becomes drier, thinner and less elastic. The nerves in your skin become less sensitive. Your sensitivity to temperature can also change. Health problems may also lead to changes in your sense of touch. These include poor circulation and nerve damage from diabetes.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, VP Expert Home Care.  New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional, dependable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

Consider these common myths about medication use:

•    If one dose makes me feel good, a larger dose will make me feel even better.
•    If I run low I can cut the pills in half so they will last longer.
•    If I can buy it over the counter, it must be safe.
•    If a physician gave it to me before, I can use it again any time.
•    If it helped my friend, it will help me.

Following any of these myths can cause serious trouble.  While advances in medicine have produced many effective drugs to treat various chronic conditions, certain drugs when taken together can produce adverse reactions.  This is particularly true among the elderly, who may suffer from a number of different ailments consistent with aging, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, and bladder dysfunction.  Over medication can cause such side effects as dizziness, confusion, fatigue, heartburn, insomnia, falls, depression and general malaise.  The risk of adverse drug reactions rises exponentially with the number of drugs used, and older people are particularly sensitive to potential adverse reactions.

For example, the drug Coumadin, a blood thinner used by patients after cardiac surgery or stroke, or to treat clots, can cause bleeding if taken with aspirin.  Use of an anti-depressant can lead to serious side effects if taken in combination with an over-the-counter cold and cough remedy.  Medicines frequently associated with adverse reactions in the elderly are psychotropic drugs, especially benzodiazepines, as well as anti-hypertensive agents, digoxin (a cardiac drug), corticosteroids, warfarin (taken for blood clotting), diuretics, Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and theophylline (a medication for chronic asthma).

Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy is defined as the use of multiple medications. While seniors comprise 12% of the population, they use 32% of all prescriptions. This can include, on average, up to six prescription drugs and 3 – 4 over-the-counter medicines at a time, as well as vitamin supplements and herbal preparations.  The average patient of skilled home health care takes 11 drugs simultaneously. Over medication among the elderly is not surprising – after all, many elderly people see multiple specialists, who may prescribe medications without full knowledge of what else their patient is taking.

Polypharmacy can lead to adverse drug reactions, decreased adherence to drug regimens, increased hospitalization rates, a high rate of symptoms, unnecessary drug costs and a poor quality of life.  Studies show that one out of seven hospital inpatient days is a result of a medication problem.

Doctors and pharmacists recommend a “brown bag review” – where seniors take all of their medications to their doctor or pharmacist and have them screened for appropriate dosages and potential interactions. ♦

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable care and assistance for NJ seniors, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us when you need help at 800-848-2336.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care

Depression among seniors is a growing concern, with an estimated 40% of the elderly with medical problems also showing signs of depression.

How do you spot in depression in an aging loved one?  The following are all possible symptoms of depression:

• Exhaustion

• Lack of interest in hobbies

• Lack of interest in socializing with family and/or friends

• Weight loss, loss of appetite

• Change in sleeping patterns or not being able to sleep for more than a few hours at a time

• Feeling bad for one’s self

• Drug or alcohol abuse

• Worrying about dying

Here is a list of things that can be done if any of these signs are apparent:

• Look for activities you can do with your elderly loved one that he/she enjoys.

• Help them make plans with friends and encourage them to make plans with their friends.

• Help them prepare healthy meals, which contain fruits and vegetables.

• Help them get treatment for their depression and make sure they follow through with medical appointments and the proper medication.

• Watch for signs of relapse and get professional help as soon as possible.

• Simply spend time with them and show them you care.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable care for depressed seniors, helping them manage their illness since 1984. Please call us when you need help at 800-848-2336.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care

Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia (excess blood sugar) and insulin resistance (which prevents glucose from entering the cells and, instead, builds it up in the blood).  A diabetic may not show any symptoms for many years.  As a result, many overlook the most common initial symptoms – increased thirst and frequent urination. This a result of excess glucose in the bloodstream sucking water from tissues, thus forcing the body to take in more liquid and, as a result, excrete more fluid.

What Can Be Done?

The single most effective treatment, and best prevention, is gradual and permanent weight loss.   This means eating less and exercising more.

One can start by cutting out desserts and avoiding second portions.  Increase the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains that are high in complex carbohydrates, and decrease the amount of red meat and sugars.  Avoid alcoholic beverages.

It is important to consult a physician about medications, since there can be serious side effects and contraindications.   In addition, seniors with diabetes need to:

• Have regular blood tests.

• Have their eyes checked regularly to keep track of diabetic retinopathy.

• Monitor their weight and blood pressure.

• Check the health of their feet for any signs of foot ulcers or infections

• Monitor their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Conduct regular urine tests to look for any kidney problems

• Get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia as a precaution against additional infection

• Stop smoking

• Manage stress

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors has been educating diabetic seniors and helping them manage their illness since 1984. Please call us when you need help at 800-848-2336.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, President of Expert Home Care

A poll conducted by MetLife’s Mature Market Institute and Zogby International attempted to determine what age Americans believe is old.

If you’re under 30, you think age 61 marks the beginning of “old.”

If you’re between age 50 and 64, “old” doesn’t begin until age 71. No one 65 or older thinks 41 to 50 is old.

Men are almost three times more likely than women to say an age under 60 is old, and men are four times more likely than women to say that someone between 31 and 40 is old.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats or Independents to say that younger ages are old.

At Society of Certified Senior Advisors’ seminars, we ask people “how old do you feel?” Almost universally, people will subtract eight or ten years from their actual age. Put another way, “old” is all a matter of perspective!

Q2 – Does hypothermia only occur outdoors?
A2 – While it is a common misconception that hypothermia only occurs in extremely cold temperatures outdoors, or when being exposed to very cold water, it can in fact occur inside when the temperature is too cold.

Q3 – How can seniors prevent hypothermia?
A3 – Seniors may not feel cold, but should always dress appropriately for the temperature. It’s important to always dress in layers, make sure that their house is well-insulated, and that the temperature indoors is kept at no less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q4 – How can I help someone with hypothermia?
A4 – Avoid trying to rub their limbs to warm them up, this can actually cause more damage. Do try to wrap them up in a warm blanket or sweater, and hold them close to share your body heat. Emergency medical attention should also be sought.

Q5 – What are the signs and symptoms of hypothermia?
A5 – There are a number of signs that someone may have hypothermia to look out for:

• They may demonstrate poor muscle and nerve functioning such as stumbling, mumbling, fumbling and grumbling
• Slow reactions
• Excessive or absence of shivering
• Stiffness of the limbs
• Change in appearance or behavior
• Weak pulse
• Low blood pressure
• Slow or slurred speech
• Shallow breathing
• Sleepiness or fatigue

You can get too comfortable following status quo. Don’t be afraid to get back to being active. Take small steps and have a sense of pride because of it.

Test your brain. Learn new things and keep challenging yourself in your knowledge.

Go back to school
Read a book
Discover something you are passionate about and study it
Learn about nutrition and exercise to help in your weight loss journey
Take small steps in controlling your fears
Volunteer to help a worthy cause

Social Challenge:

Expand your social circle. Friendships are important, sharing common interests and expressing support.  Once you are comfortable making new friends, challenge yourself to a leadership role in an organization.

Ways to be more social:
Join a group
Show genuine interest in others
Take initiative. Be the first to say hello or start a conversation
Mend past relationships
Take on a leadership role in a social organization

Read the full article.

We know how difficult it is to lose weight! It’s even harder to keep it off! A good way to help you take the weight off and keep it off is to challenge your physical limits when exercising. Challenge yourself on a daily basis when working out.

Seniors in NJ will find themselves adding more weights to their lifting routine. Increase your cardio routine, making sure to do different cardio activities every six weeks or so.

As you get comfortable with your workouts, continue to increase the challenge. Make routine mini fitness challenges for yourselves.

You may also consider:

Find a new sport
Enroll in a fitness or yoga class
Go hiking or biking
Sign up for a local community sponsored walk or run

If you haven’t exercised for some time, please check with your doctor and discuss your change of physical routine.

Expert Home Care helps keep seniors and elders at home – safely & independently. Call us to find out how at (800) 848-2336.

Is aging a process or disease we should attempt to stop? Researchers at a recent conference cohosted by the American Federation for Aging Research and The Gerontological Society of America advocate delaying the aging process, according to WebMD Medical News.

Researchers say that rather than hunting for ways to transform older people into younger versions of themselves, we should focus our efforts on enhancing health and vigor and reducing frailty and disability at all ages.

“What we should be pursuing is a way to slow down the biological process of aging rather than stop it. Delaying is the operative word, stopping or reversing should not be in our vocabulary,” says S. Jay Olshansky, PhD, professor of public health at the University of Illinois.

“If we succeeded in delaying aging, the bonus would likely be an extension of life,” Olshansky adds, “but more importantly, in my view, dramatic reductions in health care costs and improvements in public health at all ages.”

Major Concerns Over Aging

Each year Americans spend more than $1 billion on anti-aging cosmetics alone, according to WebMD. And the demand for anti-aging treatments, such as human growth hormone injections, vitamin and mineral supplements, and other types of hormone therapy is rapidly growing.

Visit us in a day to learn how to slow down aging in New Jersey.

Visit Healthy Aging often for quality healthy aging information – September is an annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older.
http://www.healthyaging.net/index.htm

Healthy Food – for those who want to age healthfully and enjoy good food.

How many times do you think.. yuk, healthy food? It gives the connotation that healthy food is bland and flavorless.. rather than thinking it is better for us. Healthy food can inspire us and motivate us to cook with exciting, great tasting recipes that please our palate! For healthy eating recipes and more, go to healthyagingfood.com. http://www.healthyagingfood.com/

In addition to eating healthy habits is adding more activity and exercise into one’s daily routine. New Jersey Seniors know it’s good for us but avoid it like the plague. The reasons being we are familiar with being sedentary or afraid that exercise has to be vigorous and painful to be worth the effort given.

But what is beneficial to know is movement is movement -  the more you do, the healthier you’ll be. Even doing moderate activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a big stride in gaining a healthy body.

Just adding a little movement to your life can:

Reduce the risk of stroke, diabetes & heart disease

Have a positive effect on our joint stability

Improve range of movement

Maintain flexibility

Help maintain bone mass

Prevent osteoporosis and fractures

Improve our mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression

Enhance self esteem which makes us happier people

Increase and improve memory in elderly people

Reduce stress

Even the small changes, adding movement to your day, and adjusting to a more modest weight, you will gain many benefits. One study exists that shows just a 10% weight reduction helps obese patients to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and increase longevity.

For help when caring for an aging relative at home go to Expert Home Care and call 800-848-2336.