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
Seniors: How to Cope and Manage Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is a disability that affects over 36 million American adults; 30 percent of those afflicted are 65-74 years old and 47 percent are 75 or older.
The Hearing Loss Association of America cites three types of hearing loss:
1. Conductive hearing loss is due to ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear problems. Most causes of conductive hearing loss can be treated with surgery or hearing aids, particularly bone conductive hearing aids.
2. Censorial hearing loss (nerve-related hearing loss) is due to inner ear problems. Depending upon the cause, treatments include medications or, in some cases, surgery.
3. Mixed hearing loss is when there is damage in the outer or middle ear as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve. The conductive hearing loss is usually treated first, then the censorial.
Hearing loss can have a profound impact on our work and social interactions. People with this disability may experience depression and as a result, anger at others or withdrawal from occasions where their hearing loss will be noticeable. Unfortunately, there is no cure to hearing loss, although, there are effective ways to manage it and be proactive. Learn about your disability and seek assistance to help cope.
- Hearing aids –Purchase your hearing aids from an auditory or medical professional who specializes in hearing, not someone who specializes in selling hearing aids. Hearing Denial suggests booking with ones that are able to offer evaluations and custom hearing aid fittings all within one supplier.
- Cochlear implants – You will need an evaluation by an audiologist and an implant-affiliated physician to determine if you are eligible for cochlear implants.
- Hearing Assistive Technology is available at most performing arts venues, including most movie theaters. Amplified and captioned phone systems, smoke detectors and doorbells are also available.
Responding to Others
Communication is still a two-way. There are ways you can help maintain your end of communication with others. Some suggestions include:
- Do your best to focus and concentrate.
- Admit it when you don’t understand.
- Watch for visual clues and ask for written clues if necessary.
- Maintain your sense of humor and positive attitude.
Guest Blog: What are the main differences between Wheelchairs and Medical Scooters?
One wonders what life would be like if they lost the ability to move and walk around freely, especially if they have come of age already. But the real thing they do not ask themselves are the different options to choose from if such a situation like that comes upon them.
There is an option such as a wheelchair. It is basically a chair that is fitted for a person who has lost the ability to walk normally due to an injury, illness, or disability. Another option is the medical scooter which is designed to look like more of a scooter with the handles in the front of the user and is used by people who still have some ability to use their legs.
There are many differences between a wheelchair and a medical scooter. Here are some of those:
1. Type of Operation
One main difference would be how the two are operated by the handler. With a wheelchair, it can be done by another person behind the wheelchair holding onto the handles and pushing it forward. Another way to use it is by the person in the wheelchair putting their hands on the wheels and pushing them forward which moves them.
The medical scooter, on the other hand, is operated by the person using it putting their hands on the handlebars in front of them and using electricity to power to scooter to move where they want it to go.
2. Design
Another difference is the design of each of them. Wheelchairs usually have two big wheels in back and two small wheels in front to balance the user while the medical scooters can have four wheels with two in front and two in the back. It could also be three wheels with two in the back and one in the front center.
3. Cost
Another huge difference that can affect the users or family is the cost for each of the options. For a typical average wheelchair, the cost can be between $1,000 to $2,000 while the medical scooters the cost can be between $800 to $3,000 or even more depending on the size and model of the scooter.
Which one should you choose?
When it comes to deciding between a wheelchair or a medical scooter, it all depends on the needs of the user. Like the length of time the user will be sitting or the speed they desire or even the design. In the end, the final say should be based on the comfort-ability these mobile aids give to the disabled people or the elderly.
Dental Implants for Seniors – A to Z explained
When you get older, it’s common to wonder if dental implants are the best option for you. You might consider the success percentage of your implant procedure given your age. It’s possible to wonder if dental implants are equally effective for elderly individuals as they are for younger ones.
Fortunately, dental implants are just as durable and effective as ever as people age. Dental implants frequently improve the physical and psychological well-being of elderly persons, as well as their sense of self. There is no maximum age for dental implants.
Implants can also be used for Dentures and Bridges.
Implant Retained Dentures Ill-fitting and loose dentures can be a major issue. You don’t have to make sacrifices by modifying your diet, eating soft foods, or avoiding certain social events – an Implant Retained Denture is a cost-effective method for replacing a full set of teeth. Implant Retained Dentures are more reliable and functional than standard dentures, allowing you to consume the things you enjoy without worrying about your teeth falling out.
Implant Supported Bridge An implant-supported bridge is identical to a traditional dental bridge, except that it is supported by implants rather than natural teeth. When an implant-supported bridge is used, an implant is typically inserted in the jawbone for each lost tooth. The crowns are then joined together to make one piece.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants resemble false tooth roots that are screw-shaped. Dental implants will be inserted into your jawbone by a skilled dentist and will fuse with your natural bone over time. This serves as a foundation for crowns, which are prosthetic teeth.
To hold your crown, a connection, sometimes referred to as an abutment, is put on top of the dental implant. The crown is designed specifically for you to fit in your mouth and match your teeth.
The strongest, safest, and most reliable dental operations are dental implants.
What to Expect When Getting Dental Implants
Several steps are often involved in dental implant procedures:
Consultation – A qualified professional like an implant dentist in Docklands will inspect your mouth, take 3-D X-rays, and discuss implant choices with you before determining the best course of action for your dental implant procedure.
Placing Dental Implants – Your dentist will place the dental implant in your jaw at your subsequent appointment, exactly where your missing teeth should be. Most patients have less pain and discomfort than anticipated and typically go back to work the next day.
But remember that every person has a different experience. In order to make you more comfortable during surgery, IV sedation or local anaesthetic may be utilised.
Similar to other dental surgeries, post-implant surgery discomfort exists. It could cause pain, bruising, swelling, or mild bleeding. Most people typically use over-the-counter drugs to treat any pain.
Osseointegration – Osseointegration is the process that occurs when your dental implant and jawbone begin to grow together. A solid and durable foundation is created throughout this process for your new teeth.
Your dentist might recommend a soft food diet for a few weeks to ensure that your implants recover properly. You’ll return to your regular life in a few months.
Placing an Abutment – Your dentist will attach a small connector to the dental implant (an abutment) after the implant has established a relationship with your jawbone. In some circumstances, the connector can be implanted at the same time as the implant.
Add Fresh Teeth – Your dentist will custom-make your new artificial tooth once your gums have recovered from the initial procedure by taking impressions of your mouth using your natural teeth.
A single crown, a bridge supported by implants, or dentures with several replacement teeth can all be created by the dentist. Though they won’t decay, your artificial tooth or teeth will still require the same regular maintenance, checkups, and cleanings as with genuine teeth.
Check-ups – The number of artificial teeth placed and the type of implant you receive will determine how frequently you will need to have your dental implants evaluated. Typically, the entire procedure takes three to nine months.
Regular follow-up visits with your dentist are expected to ensure that everything is recovering properly.
Taking Care of Dental Implants Following the Procedure
Following dental implant surgery, you should anticipate:
- Your gums and face swelling
- Minor bleeding
- your skin and gums becoming bruised
- the implant location hurts
Usually, the dental surgeon will employ self-dissolving stitches. Your doctor removes your stitches if they do not dissolve on their own. Your doctor might advise you to take antibiotics or painkillers.
Guidelines for Maintaining Your Dental Implants
Seniors who receive dental implants typically have success. The bone may not always fuse to the dental implant. The dental implant is taken out in these situations, and you can try again in around three months.
Your implants will last longer if you:
- maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing
- Regularly seeing your dentist and receiving specialized cleanings
- Avoiding bad habits like smoking, chewing ice or hard candy, and
Remember that there is a slight chance of bleeding issues, infections, and allergic responses with all oral operations. For example, if an implant is positioned too close to a nerve, it may result in tingling or numbness in the face, lips, tongue, or gums. The dental implant site may experience discomfort, edoema, fever, and chills if your body rejects it.
After receiving your implant, you should visit the dentist again right away if you notice any symptoms or think there might be a problem.
Luke is the owner and clinical director at Royal Wharf Dental. His vision for the clinic was to create an environment and an experience unlike any other, with an attention to detail and delivery of service surpassing all expectations.
Thanksgiving is Good for Your Health
This time of year, many people pause to give thanks for the good things in their life, but did you know that giving thanks is good for your health?
Having an optimistic outlook on life and using positive coping skills to manage stress has been linked in numerous studies to a longer and happier life. One of the common themes among people over age 85 who report very good to excellent health (in spite of dealing with chronic illnesses) is just that – thinking positive. Norman Vincent Peale, in his famous book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” said:
The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.
But what if you are not naturally a positive thinker, but more of a “the glass is half empty” kind of person? The good news is that you can begin to change your thinking to improve your health. If you are not sure where to start, consider some of these suggestions as a place to begin:
Count your blessings. There is an old hymn that was sung when I was girl. When I felt down and discouraged, I would sing this song. It went like this:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed. When you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessings every doubt will fly. Then you will be singing as the days go by. Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings. See what God has done.
Sometimes it helps to list what you are grateful for on paper. If you need a place to start, an excellent resource is the book “One Thousand Gifts: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces” by Ann VosKamp. Through a series of 60 short devotionals, the author walks you through a journey to greater appreciation and thankfulness for all that you have.
Learn to be content with what you have. At the holidays, especially, it is easy to get caught up in thinking about what we wish we had and those things we don’t have. Try looking at it the other way- even in relationship to your health. For example, several years ago I had a catastrophic skiing accident, breaking my leg and tearing all of my knee ligaments. A subsequent blood clot complication meant that I couldn’t have surgery to repair the knee right away. After being in a wheelchair, on crutches, and in awful pain for months, with the help of countless hours of painful therapy and surgery a year later, I was finally able to walk almost normally again. Every day since then, when I am tempted to complain that I will never ski again, cannot kneel or squat, or do not have complete range of motion in that knee, I remind myself of those months when I couldn’t walk at all without help and how it felt to be completely dependent on others for everything. Each step I take, each walk in the sunshine, each little jaunt to the car, and the ability to ride a bicycle is a blessing. Every movement without pain is a bonus I never thought I would have again. Take time to recall when your situation was worse, and express joy that things are better than they were then.
Help others. One of the best ways to stop feeling sorry for yourself and cultivate an attitude of gratitude is to serve others, especially those who are less fortunate than you. Volunteer to help serve food at the community Thanksgiving dinner or participate in Operation Christmas Child by making a shoebox for a boy or girl in a developing country who would otherwise have no gifts. Take food to your local food pantry. Mow the lawn or shovel snow for your widowed neighbor. Invite the single and lonely person to share Thanksgiving dinner with your family. Buy gifts through the Angel Tree Ministry for children of those in prison. Adopt a needy family. Even if you are homebound, you can encourage others by simple but meaningful tasks such as sending birthday or holiday cards to the people in your church or community group. A simple encouraging phone call can change a person’s day. By giving to others, you focus on positive parts of life and meaningful activities that in turn promote your positive mental health.
So, this Thanksgiving, push the pause button for a little while and take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for. You may just find that Thanksgiving is good for your health.
Guest Blog: Four Ways to Make Travel Easier for Seniors
Traveling is stressful for everyone, but traveling as a senior citizen comes with its own unique challenges. In order to make your next trip as easy and enjoyable as possible, be sure to keep these four easy tips in mind.
1. Prepare for Security Checkpoints
If you have to go through a TSA checkpoint before your trip, make sure you plan for it ahead of time.
TSA agents typically try to make things as easy and efficient as possible for seniors, especially those who are in wheelchairs or have other mobility limitations.
To help them do their job properly, make sure you let the agent know about any medical conditions — like pacemakers or implants — that might set off alarms. You should also try to get a physician’s statement verifying your implant to avoid delays.
2. Invest in Quality Pillows
Hotel pillows are often not as comfortable as the ones you have at home. Either bring one with your or invest in a quality pillow before you go to make sure you sleep comfortably at night.
You’ll also want to invest in a neck and back pillow for car and plane rides. This way, you won’t have to deal with any pain on your way to your destination.
3. Pack Light
Try to fit everything you need in a roll-aboard suitcase and a medium-sized carry on bag. Don’t bring more than you can carry — otherwise, you’ll be setting yourself up for a lot of discomfort.
If possible, bring both your bags on the plane and stash one in the overhead rack. This will make things easier when you land since you won’t have to hang around the baggage claim area.
4. Manage Your Medication
Make sure your medications are safe and accessible throughout your trip. Store them in a zip-lock bag and keep that bag in your carry-on. Keep copies of your prescriptions and physician statements in the bag as well.
When you get to your destination, you may want to ask for reminders from the hotel or cruise staff to help you take your medication at the same time each day. You can also set an alarm on your watch or cell phone so you stay on top of everything.
Traveling as a senior doesn’t have to be stressful. Keep these tips in mind to stay safe and comfortable throughout your trip.
Guest Blog: Elderly Temper Tantrums: What’s Behind the Outburst?
It can be somewhat scary when your parent has a tantrum for the first time as an adult. Although we often associate tantrums with young children or teenagers, emotional outbursts can happen at any stage of life. Acting out is losing control when confronted with intense emotions like anger, grief, fear, or any combination of the three.
Watching an elderly parent lose their cool is problematic because it seems wrong on many levels. Many family caregivers are horrified and unsure of how to react when their parent exhibits a level of irrationality that they have never seen before. The best way to handle an outburst without losing your cool also depends on understanding the causes of it. For treatments, you can also find a therapist from counselling Chigwell.
Why Elderly Family Members Act Out
There are numerous reasons why seniors have tantrums. It frequently happens due to the personality changes brought on by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Certain pharmaceutical drugs may interact or have adverse side effects that lead to irritation and mood changes. A person’s health-related worry or depression may lead to emotional outbursts. The senior in question is misbehaving, but the most complicated explanation to swallow is that they are simply being stubborn and trying to get their way.
It isn’t much you can do if you are dealing with the emotional ups and downs of an elderly loved one with dementia. Outbursts characterise many types of dementia and stages in the condition’s course. Even though it would be tempting to try to reason with a person with cognitive impairment, the truth is that doing so will only worsen the situation. You can talk to the doctor about your loved one’s options for treating anxiety and recent dementia symptoms like violent emotional outbursts. Otherwise, the best you can do to prevent dementia-related outburflares maintain a peaceful, familiar, structured, engaging, and optimistic environment around them. Any abrupt changes in a senior’s conduct should be taken seriously. It can indicate an adverse drug reaction or an underlying health problem, including a urinary tract infection (UTI), untreated discomfort, or restless sleep. Seniors may experience peculiar behavioural signs from diseases like UTIs that are uncommon in younger people. It’s crucial to get a loved one checked out by a doctor immediately if they start acting irrationally angry or disturbed.
Five Ways for Handling Elderly Temper Tantrums
- Make an appointment with your loved one’s doctor to ensure that any new or escalating physical or mental health issues are not to blame for their bad behaviour.
- Do not interact with your elderly relative when they are acting off. Give it no energy at all. Let them know that you won’t be listening to their outburst. Say this as gently as you can, then turn around and go. Before you interact with them again, step out of the room and give them plenty of time to calm down.
- Once they have calmed down, softly grasp their hand and say, “I do love you,” if your loved one tells you to don’t. Since I love you so much, I must take breaks to give you the most excellent care possible. Keep it at that and avoid engaging in further conversation. You don’t need to provide an explained break from caring for a loved one or set limits on their unreasonable expectations. “No is a whole phrase” is a standard piece of advice given on the Caregiver Forum to members who have trouble establishing and upholding boundaries with challenging elders.
- Remind yourself that you deserve and need a break, then go ahead and take one. Doing something modest for yourself daily will set the bar, even if it isn’t an all-day affair. Schedule a respite period the same way you would any other appointment.
Your loved one will eventually start to respect your boundaries and self-care. They will understand that you are serious if you are constantly unyielding about your “me time” and limitations, and they will probably stop trying to manipulate your emotions. After some time, if they still don’t, you might have to stand your ground and impose even more stringent restrictions on what you will do for them and when. Being around constant negativity and criticism is harmful.
- Finally, be aware that you will feel guilty the first few times you carry out these measures. (This is precisely proper if you haven’t had much enjoy setting up barriers or advocating for yourself.) even though you have not carried out whatever is incorrect or malicious, you’ll sense as though you have got. Always prioritising the needs of others before your own is not a pleasant or healthy way to live. The secret to practical, long-term caregiving is learning to put self-care first and letting go of unjustified guilt.
Wrapping up:
It can be somewhat scary when your parent has a tantrum for the first time as an adult. Although we often associate tantrums with young children or teenagers, emotional outbursts can happen at any stage of life. Acting out is just losing control when confronted with intense emotions like anger, grief, fear or any combination of the three. I hope this article will help you with the information we discussed.