elderly

Guest Blog: Technological Solutions That Assist the Elderly

According to the Census Bureau, as of 2011, seniors make up 13.3 percent of the U.S. population. By 2060, seniors are expected to account for at least 20 percent of the population. For many centuries now, the needs of seniors have been taken care of accordingly.

They have doctors who look after them and a caregiver, nurse, or family member who helps ensure they can move around comfortably. However, seniors today are aging at the best time. Thanks to continued advancements in technology, staying healthier and more independent has never been easier.

Fortunately, technology help for seniors nowadays has never been better. For starters, the elderly now have access to a vast range of inspired and practical gadgets that are designed to meet their ever-evolving medical and emotional needs.

Fascinating Technological Solutions for the Elderly

Below are some of the fantastic technological innovations that have helped seniors live fulfilling, happier, and more active lives:

Intuition Robotics

Founded in 2016, this company aims to help older adults avoid feelings of social isolation and loneliness—issues that have been known to contribute to poor health. Their debut product is a robot called ElliQ, hailed as a “sidekick for happier aging.”

ElliQ is designed to initiate conversations that can help seniors engage in healthy behaviors (i.e., nudges to take medications), stay in touch with their friends and loved ones, and stay connected with the outside world.

ElliQ can also check the weather and can determine if it’s conducive for a walk. Loved ones and friends can also interact with ElliQ and can send photos through the app. The pre-order cost for the product is at $1,500 and the monthly fee is set at $30.

Neuro Rehab VR

Neuro Rehab VR was founded in 2017. Their primary goal is to provide a virtual reality experience for elderly patients that are undergoing physical therapy following a brain or spinal cord injury, stroke, and other degenerative diseases.

What makes the VR experience even more phenomenal is how targeted the technology is. By using machine learning, they tailor exercises based on the patient’s specific ability and therapy needs.

The bespoke virtual therapy exercises also record kinematic and physiological responses and quantify the patient’s progress with scores and metrics. Patients are also transported to a virtual world that covers a vast range of situations.

VitalTech

a cloud-based platform that specializes in patient wellness and health through connected care. Their latest offering, VitalBand, was launched in June of 2018. VitalBand is an emergency fall-detection and call-out watch.

VitalBand is also used to track vital signs like oxygen saturation, respiratory and heart rate, physical activity, and sleep quality. It also provides users with medication reminders.

If a fall is detected, an alert goes to a certified call center to dispatch emergency services. If the senior prefers that a loved one is notified first, the fall alert can be sent to up to five preconfigured family members through email or text.

Conclusion

With so many breakthrough technological innovations now designed to help the elderly, they can now look forward to a future where they can enjoy healthier, happier, and longer lives.

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.

By |2024-12-02T13:07:46-05:00December 21st, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on Guest Blog: Technological Solutions That Assist the Elderly

Guest Blog: How to Make a Difference in the Lives of Seniors in Your Community

From the loneliness and isolation that many seniors face to the physical impairments or disabilities that may limit their ability to perform some daily tasks on their own, many aging adults could benefit from the assistance of other members in their community. If you’re interested in helping seniors living in your neighborhood, the following resources will familiarize you with the different challenges that many aging adults face, as well as some of the things you can do to help out.

The Challenges of Growing Older

There is a saying that growing older is not for sissies, and in a sense that is very true. It stems, of course, from the fact that the strength and vibrance of our bodies and minds can wane over the years. Being aware of the challenges older people face can help you recognize opportunities and define your responses to them.

  • Explore this comprehensive guide to issues facing seniors
  • Seniors who are growing older without partners or family close by face unique struggles
  • Growing older means coming to grips with one’s mortality; be sensitive to the spiritual needs seniors experience
  • Among their challenges, basic needs like performing household tasks and meal preparation can be difficult for seniors
  • Falling is a major health concern for seniors, even in their own homes

What You Can Do to Help

Sometimes finding opportunities isn’t the hardest part of assisting seniors; sometimes it’s finding practical solutions. Seniors face problems big and small that you can solve, though. Thankfully, most of those solutions are surprisingly straightforward, and really just require a little bit of thinking outside the box. Explore these simple strategies for some of the concerns you might realize are part of an older adult’s life.

  • Isolation is a common health issue for seniors but there are practical solutions
  • Being homebound is an issue for many seniors
  • Teaching technology to seniors is a great way to connect them with others and help them feel engaged, even if they are homebound
  • An Echo Dot is an affordable device for seniors that allows them to perform a variety of practical tasks
  • Most seniors can get comfortable with smart speakers like Alexa pretty quickly with a few pointers, and they reap many benefits
  • Taking quick, easy and healthy meals to seniors helps to ensure they receive proper nutrition
  • Another idea is to set up a senior with grocery delivery for fresh meals
  • Senior Care Central offers individualized care solutions for seniors

If your family is interested in giving back to seniors in your community, this guide will help you to get started. By sharing your time, helping a senior neighbor with housework, and cooking meals for aging adults in your community, you’ll be making a difference in the lives of local seniors.

By |2024-12-02T13:06:43-05:00December 13th, 2024|News Posts|Comments Off on Guest Blog: How to Make a Difference in the Lives of Seniors in Your Community

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  1. 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.

 

By |2024-10-30T12:56:26-05:00November 17th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on Guest Blog: Elderly Temper Tantrums: What’s Behind the Outburst?

The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors

Social engagement offers senior individuals the chance to live longer. It provides several essential health benefits, such as a potential decreased risk of dementia and a wide range of physical issues, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and cardiovascular activity.

Aside from the many readily apparent factors that significantly impact general health, like lifestyle choices, past injuries, and lack of access to healthcare, isolation is one such factor. As people age, their mobility declines, and their peers and older relatives pass away, the risk of loneliness increases. It is obvious how this will undoubtedly affect the elder’s emotions, but it may be less obvious how this will affect the elder’s physical health. The senior’s general health can be enhanced, and the cost of care may be decreased by addressing isolation and assisting the older adult in discovering additional avenues for social connection. Companion Care for Seniors delivers seniors with the essential social link. Without interaction with others, elders may begin to feel lonely and unhappy, which may lead to the emergence of mental health problems and a deterioration of their physical health. Senior in-home companions ensure that your loved ones engage in healthy activities and social contacts.

Numerous health advantages, including a lower incidence of depression and a longer life expectancy, have been linked to entire social life. Even higher benefits might result from social interaction with a variety of people. Older persons were more likely to engage in more physical activity, have more good moods, and experience fewer negative emotions if they connected with people outside their typical social circle of family and close friends.

It’s essential to Interact with Others.

The importance of social connection for your health and well-being is more significant than you would realise. It can aid in enhancing your immune system and extending life expectancy and fostering social relationships with those nearby.

For older persons, socialization is essential since it has many positive effects on their mental and physical health. Most people socialise with their immediate family or close acquaintances. Sadly, many older adults are lonely or have lost their friends and family, and this isolation can harm them.

You can benefit from social connection when kind people, including those surrounding you.

The feeling of belonging

People want to feel as though their lives matter and have a purpose. For older people, belonging is essential. Health issues could arise if this sensation is missing. Seniors who sense their lives are meaningless are likelier to suffer from impaired mental and physical fitness. Lower cognitive performance can result from a lack of meaning; however, socialising can lessen these dangers. Older persons have a sense of belonging when they are part of a social community. These relationships foster a sense of network and lower the chance of cognitive decline.

Maintain active

While staying physically active is essential as you age, older folks may lack the motivation to do so. The desire to exercise might be boosted by social interaction.

Seniors are more likely to exercise when socializing with people outside their immediate family. In addition to its many health advantages, exercise can help you age well by enhancing your capacity for learning, reasoning, and judgement. In addition to improving sleep, training can assist older persons in lowering their risk of anxiety and sadness.

less anxiety

Seniors who don’t engage in regular social engagement are more prone to stress and poor mental health. There are some behaviors that stress might upset you, with:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • vascular problems
  • issues with the digestive system.

A robust support network can aid in preventing and reducing stress. Socialization reduces anxiety, boosting your confidence in your capacity to handle stress. Older folks who are socialised and in healthy relationships have a purpose and significance in their lives.

Improved Sense of satisfaction

Spending time with friends and family improves happiness and quality of life and opens one up to new ideas and viewpoints. Spending time developing connections makes older persons happier and reduces their risk of developing sadness and anxiety.

Friendships and relationships are crucial; studies show that socially active seniors have higher life satisfaction.

Lower Chance of Mental Decline

Alzheimer’s disease, which causes significant cognitive deterioration in millions of Americans, is prevalent. Socialization can reduce your chances of mental decline despite no cure.

Your cognitive performance can be positively affected by solid friendships. When older people interact with one another and keep their companies, their episodic memory, or capacity to recall specific memories in-depth, is preserved. In a study, socially engaged elders and significantly younger participants showed comparable episodic memories.

Enhanced Cognitive Performance

Did you know that social interaction can help your brain develop? Making new friends can increase memory recall and shield the brain from disorders that cause brain deterioration.

Older people benefit from social interaction. These interactions inspire seniors to keep learning and active minds to stave off mental decline.

Wrapping up:

This article will explain how crucial social attraction is for elders because, Without interaction with others, elders may begin to feel lonely and unhappy. The senior’s general health can be enhanced, and the cost of care may be decreased by addressing isolation.

 

By |2024-10-30T12:56:12-05:00November 15th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors

5 Common Causes Of Eye Pain And Their Solutions For Older Adults

Eye pain is an inevitable part of the aging process. Your eyes will grow old along with you and there’s no stopping that.

The good news is that some of the common causes of eye pain can be corrected with do-it-yourself remedies, or with a visit to your eye doctor. Whether you want to relieve eye strain or say goodbye to blurry vision, we’ve put together the common causes of eye pain among older people, from the unalarming to the urgent, as well as how you can correct them today.

#1 Dry Eyes

As you get older, your glands won’t be able to produce enough tears to lubricate your eyeballs. As a result, you’ll feel symptoms of dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, an uncomfortable condition that causes your eyes to feel as if they’re on fire. Dry eyes can also lead to watery eyes (the dryness will “trigger” the overproduction of tears), which in turn can be the cause of blurry vision.

Consider treatment options such as eye drops to provide temporary relief from eye pain. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a humidifier at home. However, if you’re still suffering from dry eyes, it would be a good idea to go to your doctor to determine if you need eye surgery.

#2 Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the number one cause of blindness among adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 4.2 million American adults have DR. This condition is typically found in people with diabetes, and it can occur when the retina is damaged and grows where it shouldn’t be. Some of the symptoms of DR include eye pain, partial loss of vision, and the appearance of “floaters”.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for DR, but adults with diabetes can prevent permanent vision loss via laser treatment. However, the best way to prevent DR is to prevent diabetes. To do that, look into biohacking wellness, a do-it-yourself strategy that aims to boost your general well-being through lifestyle changes. You can also lower the risk of diabetes by working out regularly.

#3 Eyelid Problems

It’s possible for the cause of eye pain to not be the eye itself, but the skin that surrounds it. Certain skin conditions such as ocular rosacea can cause dry eyes and eye pain. The cause of this chronic skin condition is unknown, but it is believed that an overactive immune system may be the culprit. When you have ocular rosacea, the glands that line your eyelids will get blocked, and this will stop them from making tears they need to keep your eyes well-lubricated. As a result, your eyes will dry up and you will suffer from redness, swollen eyelids, and eye infections.

There is no cure for this condition, but you can practice proper eye care such as regularly washing your eyes with warm water. If you’re prone to flare-ups, stay away from spicy food that can trigger the symptoms of ocular rosacea.

#4 Glaucoma

Glaucoma is generally painless — that’s why it’s known as the “sneak thief of sight”. However, there is a type of glaucoma that can cause the worst pain you’ve ever experienced: acute angle-closure glaucoma or AACG. This can occur when there is too much pressure on the eyes.

This glaucoma is considered a medical emergency. In the event that you suddenly experience sharp eye pain accompanied by blurred vision, you have to see your doctor immediately. If left untreated, AACG can be the cause of blindness — in fact, over 3.3 million Americans over the age of 40 have suffered from vision loss due to this condition.

That’s why it is critical to get your eyes checked regularly. In this way, your doctor can detect the early signs of AACG and lower the risk of a glaucoma attack. In some cases, your doctor may recommend laser treatment to reduce the pressure inside your eyes.

#5 Eye Strain

Eye strain is a common cause of eye pain among adults. When your eyes are “overworked”, they will likely feel tired, and in some cases, they can even sting. Although dryness is one of the culprits of eye strain, there’s a good chance that your eyes are hurting due to the excessive use of devices such as your computer, smartphone, and more.

Remember that as you age, your body will lose the ability to generate enough tears to lubricate your eyes. So don’t be surprised if you can no longer stare at the screen for too long!

Fortunately, there is a simple solution to eye strain — all you’ve got to do is blink a lot. Follow the 20-20-20 rule where you have to look away from the screen every 20 minutes, and for 20 seconds, focus on something 20 feet away.

As an alternative, you can use over-the-counter eye drops for temporary eye strain relief, but be sure they’re preservative-free. Certain preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) and sodium perborate (SP) can irritate your eyes even more.

Final Thoughts

As you can see (pun intended), you can often find relief from the common causes of eye pain on your own. However, although certain conditions can go away on their own, others are actually signs of something more serious. What you thought were harmless floaters may be symptoms of a condition that can cause permanent blindness.

 To keep seeing clearly for years, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor today. In this way, they can pinpoint any signs of serious eye conditions or prescribe you over-the-counter medication to treat your eye pain at home.

By |2024-07-29T11:24:16-05:00August 9th, 2024|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on 5 Common Causes Of Eye Pain And Their Solutions For Older Adults
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