Guest Blog: Four Easy Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

For many people, winter is a magical time. They get to play in the snow, celebrate holidays with family and friends, and cuddle up by the fire. But, for some, including seniors, winter can be a difficult and even potentially dangerous time.

Between the risks of slipping and falling and arthritis pain made worse by the cold weather, many seniors find themselves dreading the winter months. If you’re in this group, there’s no need to fear the cold and snow.

Read on to learn about four winter safety tips that every senior should keep in mind as the weather cools down.

1. Avoid Slips and Falls
Your chances of slipping and falling increase dramatically in the winter.

To avoid falls and potentially serious injuries, be sure to only walk on sidewalks and walkways that have been cleared and salted. If you’re not sure, err on the side of caution and take another route.

It’s also important to wear proper winter boots with non-skid soles. Replace the rubber tip on your cane, if you use one, too.

2. Drive Safely
You also need to take extra precautions when you drive during the winter months. Have your car checked during the fall or early winter to make sure everything is operating properly. Be sure to keep your cell phone with you whenever you drive, too.

Avoid driving on icy roads whenever you can, and stick to well-plowed, bigger roads when snow hits. They’re usually cleared more quickly than backroads.

3. Minimize Joint Pain
If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain, you mind find that it gets worse during the winter. Some things you can do to relieve your pain and stay comfortable include:

Dress warmly
Find ways to exercise indoors
Eat a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet
Use balms or creams to relieve knee pain
Soak in a warm bath or hot tub to loosen up your joints

4. Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder
Finally, keep in mind that Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD or winter depression, is also common among seniors, especially seniors who live alone and don’t socialize as much during the winter.

If you find yourself feeling depressed or isolated when the weather cools down, seek out new ways to connect with loved ones. Schedule daily or weekly phone calls, or arrange for family members and friends to come and visit you.

By Jim|2024-10-02T12:21:51-05:00October 14th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Healthy Eating Habits for Common Health Conditions

Having a healthy diet is important to your wellness as a whole, but when you have specific health conditions, it may be time to inspect how changes to your diet can impact your well-being. Check out these areas of health that recommend specific diets.

Heart Health

Your cardiovascular health is incredibly important to your overall health. As heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, having a diet that promotes heart health is crucial. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy protein will aid in your heart health. Choosing whole-grain options and minimizing processed foods, salt, and alcohol in your diet will also be beneficial to your cardiovascular health.

Creating a diet plan with your doctor can help you understand what foods help or harm you in the long run, as well as help you understand the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. You should monitor your heart health frequently as you age to ensure the swift identification of any changes to your cardiovascular wellness.

Eye Health

As you age, the health of your eyes changes. Between glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, it’s incredibly important for you to have your eye health top of mind. Introducing eye-friendly nutrients into your diet can ensure the longevity of your eye health. Lutein, which you’ll find in dark leafy vegetables, along with vitamin c, vitamin e, and omega-3 fatty acids, can all play an important role in the health of your vision.

Aside from your diet, reviewing your corrective lenses on an annual basis is a small task that can yield great results for your overall health. This can include making sure you update your prescription eyeglasses often so you can quickly identify any changes to your vision. Catching these changes early on ensures you take the right steps in adjusting your lifestyle for the sake of your eye health. Prioritizing your vision and making a diet conducive to the optimal health of your eyes can help ward off the onset of many age-related eye problems.

To keep the health of your gut top of mind, creating a gut-conscious diet is imperative. This diet should include probiotics, prebiotics, fiber, and fermented foods. Incorporating foods like this should increase the good bacteria found in your gut which helps ward off illness. If you have any of the above-mentioned autoimmune disorders in your family history, it is important to take care of your gut early on and learn about the ways you can make your health as optimal as possible.

Staying on top of your health will always need to be a top priority. Understanding any conditions you have, or could have in the future based on your family history, helps you create a prevention plan. Diet, exercise, and environmental changes are all things you can alter for the sake of your health. Prioritizing your wellness will always be a necessary step for the longevity of your life.

By Jim|2024-03-29T10:11:51-05:00May 29th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: 4 Healthy Aging Routine Tips

It is never too late to adopt a healthy aging routine into your everyday life. Healthy aging isn’t necessarily about looking or feeling younger, but rather optimizing opportunities for overall good health. Making a simple skincare switch, keeping a balanced diet and getting at least 8 hours of sleep are simple things that can make you feel more energized and give your outer appearance a natural glow. To begin your anti-aging regimen on a positive note, check out these tips for some inspiration!

Skincare
Changing your skin care routine may seem like a daunting task at first. It’s difficult to break from the products you have used for a long time, but once you establish a new routine that works for you, you will see the benefits in a short amount of time. Skin hydration, regeneration, and protection are all essential for seniors. Without these, and the use of an exfoliator weekly, your entire body, will lack smoothness and shine from the accumulation of dry or dead skin.
Remember, skin care isn’t only about facial products. It’s essential to moisturize your arms, hands, legs, and feet too!

Nutrition
Various diseases and illnesses form as a result of inadequate or unbalanced nutrition and poor dieting. Once you reach a certain age, it is critical that you eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent illness and nutritional deficiencies. Substitute processed foods for whole foods to ensure your body is receiving the nutrients necessary for a healthy life. According to the USDA, foods that are high in antioxidants (high Orac) can protect cells from oxidative damage. Kale, spinach, blueberries, and blackberries are all great options! Try implementing a few of these high Orac foods listed below into your diet to slow aging down: Visit here for more information.

Vitamins and Supplements
Many seniors rule out food they aren’t willing to consume depending on their current health status or personal dislikes. Their pallets are fully developed, and for the most part, they aren’t in the mindset to try new foods. However, avoiding certain foods can result in a lack of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that aid in preventing deficiencies and diseases. Take vitamins such as calcium and zinc to help boost brain power, along with Vitamin E, B3 and B5 help support skin elasticity. Furthermore, don’t leave out supplements that can help cellular health such as probiotics and products like Basis by Elysium Health.

Sleep
Sleep may come easier to some more than others. It is important to know that disrupting your circadian rhythm with poor rest can lead to metabolic disorders. Many seniors have insomnia which limits their hours of sleep. Exercise, sticking to a sleep schedule and establishing a bedtime routine can help aid seniors in gaining the rest they need at night or throughout the day.

Remember, it is never too late to make improvements to your current routine, especially if it will benefit you in the long run. Take the time to appreciate your body and embrace the natural process!

By Jim|2023-11-20T17:15:11-05:00December 11th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: What to Look For in a Senior Living Community

Before you look up a senior living community or Google personal care homes near me, you should first get to know about the common options available for where your aging parents can reside.

Below are the most popular and preferred options to pick from –

Independent Living – This type of living is good for the elderly who can largely function independently with occasional medical care required. Medical care is provided in collaboration with hospitals or medical establishments. Typical services include accommodation, laundry, transportation, housekeeping, and other amenities like pool, concierge service, library, fitness center, etc.
Assisted Living – Assisted living centers, in addition to accommodation also provide onsite health care and help with ADLs like dressing, bathing, and medication management so residents can live independently. The setting is very home-like without the residents having to worry about maintenance, cooking, or cleaning. There’s round-the-clock supervision available.
Memory Care – This facility is specifically designed to treat and care for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The staff is medically trained to handle their special medical needs. The rooms and buildings are structured to avoid wandering. Supervision is available all the time with plenty of programs for socialization. There are housing and laundry services along with an emergency medical call system.
Enhanced Living – You can think of this facility as a move up from Independent living with a whole lot of extra services available.

Things To Look For In A Senior Living Community

Senior Living Culture

Now the living culture is not something that you define in words. It’s mostly just a feel or a vibe that you pick up on. At times, you just know it when you visit the facility. Other times it’s a hunch of an intuition.

To truly assess the culture, it’s better if you call up your list of communities and visit them one by one. Observe the residents and see if they seem happy. How is the staff? Are they polite to respond? Is the overall energy of the place happy? Ask for social activities to keep the residents happy.

Lifestyle & Wellness

Lifestyle and wellness largely depend on the social calendar of the place. So, be sure to look at those activities as well as exercise, health, and wellness programs. Make sure to ask about how often the residents are allowed to go out for activities.

What about housekeeping and laundry services? How often are friends and families allowed to visit? Is there a dedicated private or common area for family get-togethers? What about pets? Are they allowed?

Staff and Care

How many staff members are present at the facility? Are the staff members nice to interact with the residents? Do they seem polite? What kind of help can you expect from them? Is the medical staff made to undergo regular training to update their knowledge?

What’s the mode of communication for updating families on the health updates of the residents? Also, how quickly can you expect your questions to be answered? What kind of care is available for residents with special medical issues such as diabetes, memory, or mobility issues?

What’s Food Like?

Food is a huge part of staying healthy during old age. So, this is something you must not overlook. If possible, arrange for a tour of the mess/kitchen. Look into how the food is prepared. Are the conditions there hygienic?

What about the food menu? Does it look interesting? Is it extensive and accommodates special dietary restrictions such as gluten-free and vegan-friendly foods? What are the dining hours like and is there food sampling available?

Extra Amenities

It’s not uncommon for people to get stuck between two close contenders. Sometimes two communities can look exactly the same; making it difficult to pick one. When faced with such a dilemma it’s often the extra amenities that help you make the right choice.

See if the laundry and housekeeping services are free. Some facilities charge extra for those. Look into community events, transportation, or socialization activities. Anything extra is a good thing to consider.

History and Reputation

How long has the community been in business? For how long has the management been with the community? What about the staff? For how many years they have been working there?

One of the best things to discern all this and more is to go online. Check out reviews and see what they have to say. Pay attention to how the community has responded to negative reviews. Only avoid the community if you come across something disturbing like bad handling of residents or complete neglect on part of the staff.

Bottom Line

Selecting the right living community for your senior can seem like a daunting task. But, if you invest a little bit of time and effort, it should be a cakewalk.

By Jim|2023-11-20T17:13:57-05:00December 3rd, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: 5 Things You Should Never Expect From Assisted Living Facilities

Eldercare homes are all about the care and comfort of senior citizens. The best ones, like Whittier, assisted living offers physical and mental treatment to their elder residents, which is always lacking in other places.

Regardless, there are some things you should know before you consider visiting or living in assisted living facilities (ALFs). Here are five things that these facilities should never give you:

1) False promises

Most older people have a certain set of the idea when it comes to assisted living. They expect warm bedding, lavish meals, a luxurious atmosphere, expert doctors on call at any time of the day, 24/7 security services, along with so many other benefits. But in reality, ALFs can provide nothing more than regular nursing homes do.

The fact is that assisted living homes are not here to make false promises. They put down everything in writing, so you know what to expect from the place before moving in. Look for an ALF that has all its promises documented with legal documents.

2) Flowers and chocolates on your birthday

We all like flowers and chocolates on our birthdays, who doesn’t! But residents of ALFs don’t receive these things as often as they might like because it’s simply not practical. It does happen now and then, but nothing more than that.

ALFs provide basic amenities like food, water, electricity, clothes, etc., but they do not spend money on frivolous things like providing flowers and chocolates on your birthday. So if you are looking for a place that cares for the tiny details, ALFs might not be the best choice.

3) Luxurious furnishings throughout

Another misconception about assisted living homes is that they provide residents with luxurious furniture throughout the facility. But nothing could be further from the truth. It’s just not possible to have luxury furniture in all parts of an assisted living home. Some places might have it, but that’s just because their owners are very generous.

You should know that older people find it challenging to move around, so having luxury furniture everywhere in an ALF makes no sense. Leave expensive things like designer chairs, couches, etc., at home or buy them for yourself if you need them. ALFs provide basic amenities, and you must get the things you think are essential.

4) A daily visit from a doctor or nurse

When you check into an assisted living facility, one of the most significant benefits is round-the-clock security with trained staff members who can help whenever they are needed. But this does not mean that there will be a full-time medic on duty.

ALFs employ doctors who come in on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on their availability and the requirement of residents. So make sure to find out how often a doctor will visit before finalizing any place for yourself. If it isn’t made clear, ask questions till you get all of the answers.

5) 24-hour internet connection

The idea of ‘wired town’ cannot be implemented in ALFs because it’s simply not possible to do so. Some places might have a wifi facility, but it won’t work throughout the day; there will be certain timings when it works and times when it doesn’t.

Even if you get a place where the wifi does work, then you should know that there is no guarantee that everyone in your family will be able to use it at all times. So before you decide for yourself, make sure to ask these questions: What time of the day will I be able to use the internet? Will my children also be able to access the net? Will I be able to use it after 8 pm?

Wrapping Up!

The only important thing is that you should check every facility and promise through legal documentation. DO NOT take any verbal promises for granted; there might be a miscommunication that can cost you your money and peace of mind.

If you think about it, there’s no way that a care facility can be perfect all the time because they’re dealing with older adults who cannot always do things by themselves. Like we mentioned above, your loved one will probably never become a completely different person due to the aging process. However, even if they do, there’s still bound to be problems when it comes to them doing what they’re told (i.e., not eating when it’s time for dinner).

I’m not saying that every facility out there provides atrocious care – most of them do try their best to make life comfortable for their residents – but keep in mind that humans are only human. Mistakes will be made, accidents will happen, and sometimes they’ll be forced to cut corners when they can’t afford something – it’s just the way life is, so don’t expect perfection.

By Jim|2023-09-30T17:17:44-05:00October 6th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

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