Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog
Each week, Dr. Kristen Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.
Dr. Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC, FAAN
Guest Blog: 5 Pain Management Tips for Elders Dealing with Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common ailment for older adults. Unfortunately, the swelling and stiffness that lead to this condition can stop patients from performing daily routines. Here are five pain management tips for elders with knee pain.
An inactive lifestyle can contribute to pain and inflammation in the knee. On the other hand, regular exercise can help keep the muscles that support the knee joint strong and flexible. Try doing low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or biking. Always increase the intensity of your workout gradually. Stop if your knees hurt.
Ice Packs and Heat Therapy
Applying ice packs to the affected area can reduce swelling and inflammation. Use an ice pack for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours for the first 2-3 days. Then reduce the frequency and duration of use over time. Apply heat to the knee using a heating pad. You can also apply a warm, moist towel to the knee several times daily to reduce pain and stiffness.
Medication
Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and pain. However, these medications should be given under a physician’s prescription. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Weight gain can increase the pressure on the knee joint and lead to pain and discomfort. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can help relieve this pressure and keep the knee joint healthy. See your doctor to help you develop a weight-loss plan tailored to your needs and goals.
Massage Therapy
Massaging the knee joints can also help improve the flexibility and mobility of the knee and promote healing. This is especially useful for individuals recovering from injury or surgery. A physical therapist will apply gentle pressure to specific body areas to promote relaxation and encourage blood flow. Studies have proven that massage therapy can help reduce pain and improve joint function in people with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
Knee Joint Pain Remedies
If you are experiencing knee pain, many remedies are available to help ease and improve your mobility. Below are some tips to help improve your overall health and reduce knee pain.
Rest
Rest sore joints as much as possible. Avoid activities that cause pain when your knee is painful or swollen. This can help reduce inflammation and relieve some of the pain. Rest for at least a few days to allow your knee joint to heal. In the meantime, try to keep the knee in as straight of a line as possible.
Acupuncture
This is a clinically tested procedure involving inserting fine, sterile needles into the skin at specific points that correspond to different body systems. Regular acupuncture sessions can reduce pain and improve the range of motion.
Compression Bandage
Compression bandages are also known as elastic knee bands. Wearing a compression bandage can help reduce swelling in your knee and improve mobility. The bandage also provides support to help keep the joints stable and prevent further injury.
Stretches
Stretching can also help to improve flexibility and reduce pain. One stretch that is particularly effective for knee pain relief is the quadriceps stretch. It involves straightening one leg and bending the other at the knee so that the shin is parallel to the ground. Keep your back straight as you hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds, and repeat with the other leg.
Aromatherapy
Massaging oils such as eucalyptus into the knee joint can also relieve pain and stiffness. Essential oils containing cinnamon, sesame, orange and ginger can help reduce pain caused by osteoarthritis. They may also improve flexibility and functionality in the knees.
When to Seek Medical Advice?
If the pain persists for more than one week or worsens over time, you should make an appointment with your doctor so they can help diagnose and treat your pain. You may also want to visit your doctor if you experience redness, swelling, muscle weakness, or when you can’t put weight on your knee. Your doctor will examine your knee for mobility, flexibility and general functionality. MRI/CT or X-rays scan can help identify injuries or deformities. Occasionally, your doctor may need a small amount of joint fluid for testing.
Knee pain can cause discomfort and prevent you from doing daily routines. Thankfully, the above tips can help you overcome pain and discomfort in your knees.
Guest Blog: Telehealth for Seniors: 7 Things You Need to Know
Telehealth is changing the way we visit the doctor, and how seniors experience long-term care. COVID-19 has made telehealth a necessity for seniors, both for regular doctor visits, and for those in long-term care. Patients are more likely to suffer from diabetes as they age, and studies have also shown that patients with underlying diabetes complications are at an especially high risk for contracting COVID-19.
By communicating with medical professionals over a video-conferencing tool – like Skype or Zoom – seniors and long-term care staff can avoid unnecessary trips that might expose patients to COVID-19. And although it’s still early days, many studies indicate that telehealth is good for both doctors and patients, even for complex issues like wound care.
Why have I heard so much about telehealth and telemedicine lately?
The 2020 CARES Act expanded Medicare coverage of telemedicine, in part to address the concerns of patients who It’s one of the measures taken to prevent unnecessary exposure to COVID-19.
Telehealth and telemedicine — What’s the difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably. Telehealth is the umbrella term, and telemedicine refers specifically to treatment provided remotely.
Can telehealth deliver the same level of wound care as an in-person doctor visits?
Multiple studies indicate that patients receive the same level of care using telemedicine. This is especially true of patients who add telehealth applications to their pre-existing doctor-patient relationships.
Do I need special equipment?
Everything you need is right there on your smartphone or desktop. In general, you need access to a secure internet connection and audio-visual communication. And in some cases, audio or text alone will suffice.
Who pays for my telehealth appointment?
Medicare covers telemedicine in the event of an established patient-doctor relationship. The CARES Act also has an amendment that allows Medicare to waive this requirement. Many private insurance plans cover telemedicine as well. And in good news all-around, advanced wound care can significantly lower the overall cost of care.
Is telehealth new?
Telehealth isn’t new, just recently expanded. You’ve probably used it without realizing it, via an online portal that your doctor office. It’s also been in use for years in rural areas, where many residents live too far from doctors to receive adequate health care from in-person doctor visits alone.
What are the advantages of telehealth?
Aside from wound care, telehealth can provide easier access to a wide spectrum of health services. Seniors in long-term care shouldn’t have to sacrifice their mental health needs in order to avoid exposure to COVID-19, and telehealth is helping more seniors access mental health professionals. Remote monitoring is advantageous to patients who need regular health monitoring, including those recovering from a stroke. Telehealth can also provide handy reminders to take medication.
Guest Blog: Hearing Loss and Dementia
Age related hearing loss is the most common form of hearing loss especially in the over 65s. While deteriorating hearing due to an aging system is an (unfortunate) natural process, factors such as family history of hearing loss, smoking, and certain medication, prolonged exposure to loud noise will have an impact on its rate of deterioration and resultant severity.
The human inner ear contains hair cells that help pick up information contained within sound waves. This information is then transmitted by way of the hearing nerve to the brain for further processing. As the body matures (or due to exposure to loud noise), hair cells can become damaged and/or die. The process can start as early as in a person’s 40s, but presents far more commonly in the over 65s and the over 70s. The body is unable to regenerate new hair cells, so there will eventually come a point when the person senses that their hearing isn’t what it used to be. (Although it is often friends and family members that notice the deterioration in hearing ability and alert the individual.)
There are common problems that the hard of hearing report; but how significant their impact on the person’s daily life will vary considerably across individuals.
Common symptoms include:
• Difficulty hearing people around you
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
• Frustration at not being able to hear
• Certain sounds seeming overly loud
• Problems hearing in noisy areas
• Problems telling apart certain sounds such as “s” or “th”
• More difficulty understanding people with higher-pitched voices
• Ringing in the ears
Loss of hearing and its likely cause can be established after attending a hearing test. The hearing exam or hearing test will cover a review of your medical history and a physical ear exam. If the hearing loss is age-related in nature, it is often managed through the use of hearing aids. There is no cure to undo the natural aging process that results in hair cell decline, so treatment should be viewed as a means to improve quality of life by managing the condition rather than curing it.
Those that willingly or unwillingly leave hearing loss unmanaged may face further longer term health complications, including depression, and perhaps surprisingly, cognitive and mental health decline.
There is a worrying link between hearing loss and dementia currently being explored. Recent research suggests that there is a connection between hearing loss and dementia. The hard of hearing are at a high risk of experiencing social isolation due to reduced communication with their immediate surroundings; and perhaps as a result of this, they are reportedly more likely to develop dementia.
An individual with hearing loss must concentrate harder to hear and often has to use lip reading and facial expressions to fill in the gaps as to what was said. After a while, this level of concentration can lead to fatigue and symptoms that mimic physical exhaustion. Some individuals may choose to simply avoid conversation, as it is too exhausting, thereby opening the door to social isolation.
If you have concerns about your hearing or the hearing of someone you care for, do arrange a simple and quick hearing test.
Information written by Joan McKechnie BSc Hons Audiology & Speech Pathology. Joan works for UK based Hearing Direct. In addition to her role as one of the company’s audiologists, Joan helps maintain an information blog on hearing loss.
Guest Blog: Cognitive Issues in Seniors: Everything You Need To Know
In essence, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which an individual experiences a slight decline in mental abilities. While minor, the decline can be easily noticed by the person concerned or the people they interact with. The changes, however, are not severe enough to interfere with their routine activities and daily life.
Decline Due to Normal Aging vs. Mild Cognitive Impairment: What the Difference?
Gradual cognitive decline is sometimes evident with healthy aging. For instance, the mental processing slows down, the ability to learn new information is reduced, and the likelihood of getting distracted increases.
However, decline brought about by normal aging will not affect overall functioning or the ability to perform routine activities. Normal aging will also not affect intelligence, recognition, or long-term memory.
In normal aging, older people may forget names (and words) and misplace things occasionally. However, with mild cognitive impairment, the person forgets information and conversations one would usually remember, such as planned events and other appointments.
Does MCI Always Lead to Dementia?
Dementia is the general term used to describe the severe decline in mental function that interferes with daily living. There are instances, where a treatable disease or illness causes MCI.
However, researchers also discovered that for most patients with MCI, it is considered the point along the pathway to dementia. MCI can be secondary to various illnesses, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
Is MCI Common?
According to the American Academy of Neurology, MCI is present in about 8 percent of people aged 65 to 69, in 15 percent of people aged 75 to 79, in 25 percent of those aged 80 to 84, and in about 37 percent of people aged 85 years or older.
Conclusion
If you suspect you have MCI, it is recommended that you see your doctor right away. While there is no specific test that can confirm a diagnosis, your doctor can tell if you have MCI based on the symptoms that manifest and the information you will provide.
About the Author
Melissa Andrews is the Content Marketing Strategist for Paradise Living Centers, an assisted living center for seniors with locations in Paradise Valley and Phoenix, Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and going on hiking trips with her siblings and cousins.
Be informed about Stroke
May is National Stroke Awareness month, so this is a good time to reflect on stroke prevention and treatment. Consider these facts about stroke from the American Stroke Association (2013): Be informed about stroke.
• Nearly 800,000 Americans annually suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
• A stroke occurs about once every 40 seconds. About every 4 minutes, someone dies of a stroke.
• Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 137,000 people a year.
• Risk of stroke death is higher for African American males and females than for whites. Females have a higher rate of death from stroke than males.
• In 2010, Americans paid about $73.7 billion for stroke-related medical costs and disability.
Stroke is simply defined as an interruption of the blood supply to the brain. It is most often caused by a clot that either originated in the brain or traveled from another part of the body. Warning signs of stroke include (National Stroke Association, 2013):
• Sudden weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, speaking or understanding
• Sudden changes in vision
• Sudden dizziness, incoordination, or trouble walking
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone you love experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Do not delay. New medical treatments may be able to reverse the effects of stroke, but time is critical. Note the time that the symptoms started so that you can inform the medical professionals who are providing treatment.
The effects of stroke depend on the area of the brain that is damaged. Some common results of stroke are weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty walking or dressing oneself, aphasia, trouble eating or swallowing, bowel and bladder changes, cognitive changes such as memory problems, and emotional issues such as depression and mood swings. Stroke affects the entire family, so be sure to seek out resources and support in your community if a stroke has touched your family.
For stroke survivors, treatment in an acute rehabilitation facility with an interdisciplinary team approach is highly recommended and results in more positive outcomes. The rehabilitation team works together with the survivor and family to accomplish personal goals and achieve the highest level of function possible. Although some of the effects of stroke may be long-lasting or permanent, there is hope of continued progress and good quality of life after stroke.