Category: News

Commonly referred to as the silent killer, high blood pressure (HBP) affects nearly half of US adults. As we age, the chances of experiencing HBP increase, and it becomes difficult to decrease the chances of hypertension.

In a recent blog post, AgingCare discusses the issues associated with HBP and the steps we should take to lower our blood pressure as we get older. Some tips include:

• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Losing excess fat and maintaining a healthy weight
• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Quit smoking

It is important to keep track of your blood pressure, especially as you get older. If you are experiencing complications with your heart, brain or kidneys, don’t hesitate to call a doctor and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent high blood pressure from occurring.

Read the full article here.

Caregivers often focus only on others and not enough on themselves. It can be a daunting task, taking care of the ones we love, but ignoring your own personal needs could create a toxic environment that is hard to fix.

Caregiver burnout can lead to real turmoil in your professional and personal life. In order to maintain healthy relationships with family and friends, it is important to properly gauge your stress levels and understand the warning signs of burnout.

In a recent blog post, AgingCare discusses the dangers of caregiver burden, and what can be done to reduce it, including:

• Consider changing your loved ones care plan to reduce responsibility
• Take a self-assessment to reflect on your stress levels and overall mood
• Make sure you do your part to sustain your own well being and preserve the integrity of your care plan.

Caregiver burnout can be painful and emotional. However, taking steps to improve your own health will greatly decrease the stress and anxiety associated with caring for others.

Read the full article here.

While food poisoning may be a blanket term for food-borne illness, there are many different causes and symptoms. Depending on the type of food and how it is prepared, there are various bacteria that can grow and infect consumers. 

Listeria is a bacteria that typically hides in dairy products and produce. This strand of food poisoning usually affects pregnant women, people 65 years and older and those with a compromised immune system. While contamination is sometimes difficult to avoid, there are preventative measures to be taken. The Center for Disease Control and Protection released an article discussing tips for protecting your health, including:

• Make sure any dairy products you consume are made with pasteurized milk
• Cut melon should not be left out at room temperature for more than four hours
• Sprouts need to be cooked thoroughly to avoid getting sick

Coming in contact with Listeria can be frightening and difficult to predict. However, taking proper preventative measures and understanding how to properly care for your food will help keep you safe and healthy.

Read the full article here.

Nutrition has a major impact on how our bodies operate and react to changes. Regardless of how our diets have worked for us in the past, dietary tweaks are inevitable as we continue to age.

Since everybody ages differently, there is no universal dietary plan for all to follow. Instead, it is important to be aware of the changes occurring in your body and what foods can work to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In a recent blog post, AgingCare lists some helpful tips for adults to follow to improve their diet and, ultimately, their health. Some of these tips include:

• Protect your bones by increasing calcium and vitamin D
• If you’re feeling low on energy, increase your vitamin B12 intake
• Swap out salt for other seasonings, like garlic or onion powder
• Probiotics can help improve digestive health

Living a healthy lifestyle and being proactive is important at any stage of life. However, as we continue to age, the changes we experience in our bodies can be largely impacted by the nutrients we are missing out on. Even a small dietary tweak can have a large effect on your overall health.

Read the full article here.

Companies that produce and sell consumer products have a duty to test and ensure product safety under specific guidelines. It is also required that products warn of side effects or safety hazards associated with their product to ensure consumer awareness.

However, when a company does not take the proper measures to test their product for safety, the consumer could be in danger. In a recent article, Find Law introduces tips to follow when experiencing a defective product and how to report it, including:

• Contact the appropriate agency for information about recalls or how to report a problem
• Keep as much of the packaging as possible, including purchase receipts
• Have a record of the incident involving the defective product

Injuries from defective products can be serious and lead to significant consequences down the line. It is important to know what to do when experiencing a defective product and how to immediately handle the situation.

Read the full article here.

Smartphones and tablets have become an important part of our everyday life. As technology continues to advance, new apps are steadily releasing, offering more features than ever before.

The release of new apps involving management, dementia care and ways to check up on elderly loved ones has created easy problem-solving methods for caregivers. Apps can be a great way for a caregiver to connect with a loved one.

In a recent blog post, HealthCentral lists the top apps that caregivers should be using to reduce stress and connect with a loved one, including:

• Coloring apps to stimulate elderly dementia patients
• Apps to track how often your loved one is moving around
• An app that organizes and manages caregiving between multiple caregivers or family members

Utilizing the technology at your fingertips can have a big impact on relieving the everyday stress of caregiving. Trying out new apps and figuring out what works best for you is the first step in creating a more relaxed and connected caregiving experience.

Check out our Elder Care Resource App, designed to assist caregivers and their families.

Download it here.

Falling is the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Of those falls, about one-third of them are from ladders. While these statistics may seem frightening, these falls are preventable.

Before beginning work on a ladder, it is important to make sure proper safety precautions are being followed. If the job requires any tasks that make you feel unsafe, consider other tools to use instead of a ladder, like a scissor lift.

If working on a ladder is the best option for you, there are a number of ways to ensure your safety. Safety and Health Magazine discuss the best tips to follow when using a ladder, including:

• Ensure the base of the ladder is secured on a level surface
• Fully extend the ladder before beginning work
• Always maintain three points of contact on the ladder
• Never stand on the top rung of the ladder

Falls can always be prevented. By working smartly and following proper safety precautions, ladder use does not have to be dangerous or scary.

Read the full article here.

Food poisoning, also known as food-borne illness, occurs when food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses or toxins is consumed. It can cause a large range of symptoms, depending on the case and individual. Some of the most common symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Certain foods are more prone to cause food poisoning than others, especially if they are handled or cooked improperly. In a recent article, Healthline discussed the top 9 foods that are most likely to cause food poisoning, including:

1. Poultry
2. Vegetables and leafy greens
3. Fish and shellfish
4. Rice

Pregnant women, young children, elderly and people with chronic illnesses are at a greater risk of food poisoning. To minimize your risk, be sure to practice good hygiene when preparing food, check use-by dates, and keep your food at a safe temperature.

Read the full article here.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether or not your loved one is experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, especially when every person experiences different symptoms of wide-ranging severity.

A recent blog post by Aging Care discusses some clear early indicators of Alzheimer’s and dementia to look for in your loved one. Some of those include:

1. Forgetfulness and short-term memory loss
2. Losing things
3. Language and speaking problems
4. Personality changes and mood swings

If any of these signs are present and you believe that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it is important that you speak to a doctor immediately. An early diagnosis will allow you to plan for care and treatment strategies and the future.

Read the full article here.

Driving in wet, rainy conditions can be extremely dangerous, especially if you are not prepared. It is important that you are properly equipped for wet road travel both before departure and while you are driving to ensure safety.

In a recent blog post, What Happens Now released 26 tips for safe driving in the rain. Here are a few of them:

1. If at all possible, avoid driving until conditions improve.
2. Make sure your vehicle is in good operating conditions, particularly the tires and windshield wipers.
3. Avoid standing water.
4. After driving through a pool of water, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off your brakes.

It is crucial that you take these precautionary measures when driving in wet and rainy conditions to avoid accidents. Most importantly, use your best judgement. If you can’t see road signs or cars ahead of you, pull over and wait for the heavy rainfall to die down.

 
Read the full article here.

Establishing a trusting relationship with a company and their caregivers is key for a successful in-home care experience for your loved one. It is important that the senior feels comfortable with the person assisting them with personal care tasks, as well as more straightforward tasks, such as light housekeeping or planning meals.

In a recent blog post, Aging Care discusses some measures that the family members, home care companies and professional caregivers can take to ensure a pleasant transition into at-home caregiving for the senior. Some of those include:

1. Screen home care companies thoroughly.
2. Form a caregiver connection.
3. Warm up to more than one caregiver.

It is important that you let the company know if the caregiver is not a good match and why. They should work alongside you and your loved one to find a match that suits the senior’s needs best with desired traits and skills.

Read the full article here.

Workers’ compensation should cover your medical costs and pay for any days of work you miss when you injure yourself or develop an illness because of your job. Even though almost all employers have to buy workers’ comp insurance, it does not cover everyone on the job.

Knowing exactly what qualifies for workers’ compensation and how to go about it can get tricky. In a recent blog post, NY Daily News highlighted some things you should know in order to make sure you get the workers’ compensation you deserve, including:

1. Report every injury or illness
2. Visit the right medical provider
3. Ask your employer to explain its workers’ comp coverage
4. You may not need an attorney to get what you’re owed

To be covered by workers’ compensation, you must be accidentally injured while doing your job, or get ill from doing your job. Just simply getting injured or sick while at your job does not entitle you to workers’ compensation benefits.

Read the full article here.