Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

As the weather heats up it can be nice to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. There are plenty of summer activities to stay active such as walking, swimming, gardening, or golf. However, seniors should be cautious when spending too much time in the heat as it can take a toll on their body. Taking some precautions to stay safe and protect their health can go a long way.

• Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of fluids but try to avoid caffeinated beverages which can increase dehydration. While water is recommended, also incorporate fruit juices or sports drinks to replenish sodium, potassium, and electrolytes which may be lost through sweat. Continue to drink even if you’re not feeling particularly thirsty, especially if spending longer periods of time outdoors.
• Check the air conditioning: Have someone come out and inspect your air conditioning to make sure it is working properly. If you don’t have air conditioning, use fans to circulate cooler air throughout the room. Also consider spending time at a public facility or friend’s house where there is air conditioning to stay cool and comfortable.
• Cover up: Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen when spending time outdoors. Rather than wearing synthetic fibers, put on light-colored cotton clothing that is loose and allows the skin to breathe while still protecting it from the sun. If you are alternating between indoors and outdoors, wear layers to help your body better adjust to temperature changes.
• Check in with someone: If you are planning on being outside, whether in the garden, taking a walk in the park, or enjoying an event, let someone know where you will be so they can check in. Family and friends should make it a point to check in more often when the temperatures rise to ensure loved ones are staying safe.
• Recognize heat stroke symptoms: Heat stroke can be very serious, so be aware of symptoms such as headache, lethargy, confusion, nausea, dry skin, and elevated heart rate. If you do experience any of these symptoms, seek medical treatment and get to a cool place out of the sun. Try to avoid being outside during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you are outside, make sure to find a place to cool down and limit strenuous activity.

It is also a good idea to check with your doctor about any medications you are on and how they may affect your sensitivity to heat or contribute to dehydration. You can still enjoy being outdoors as long as you are proactive in staying safe. An in-home care provider can also provide an extra level of protection by ensuring seniors’ homes are cool, they remember to keep hydrated, have companionship while out and about, and take steps to reduce risk of heat stroke. For more information about how your loved one can benefit from senior care services not just in the summer but all year round, contact Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville at (828) 989-7263 or visit us online.

Osteoporosis: What you Need to Know to Keep your Senior’s Bones Strong

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects many seniors. It occurs when bones become brittle and weak over time. This makes them more susceptible to fractures. If seniors already have trouble with balance and mobility, this can put them at greater risk for injury. With osteoporosis, even seemingly harmless falls or bumps may result in broken bones. May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, so now is a great time to check in with your senior and start making changes to help keep their bones stronger and healthier.

Preventing Osteoporosis

There are both genetic and environmental risk factors that can contribute to osteoporosis. These include age, gender, race, family history, certain health conditions and medications, hormone levels, lack of calcium, and sedentary lifestyle. However, there are many ways that you can help your senior to be more proactive in protecting their bones.

• Increase Calcium: Seniors need more calcium each day than younger adults do. While calcium supplements can help, changes to diet can naturally increase calcium intake. Dark green leafy vegetables, soy, salmon, and low-fat dairy products can all be good sources of calcium. In addition, many cereals are often fortified with calcium.
• Talk to your doctor about how much calcium you should be getting each day since too much can interfere with certain medications and other medical conditions. It can also increase risk of kidney stones. You want to stay within recommended limits, which for seniors is generally no more than 2,000 milligrams per day.
• Increase Vitamin D: It is not enough to just increase calcium intake. In order for the body to absorb the calcium, it also needs vitamin D. Sunlight is natural source, so getting outside for even just a few minutes a day can help replenish your vitamin D. Other sources include fatty fish, mushrooms, tofu, eggs, and dairy products. Also look for foods that are fortified with vitamin D or consider a supplement.
• Increase Exercise: Regular exercise can help keep bones strong. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, stairs, aerobics, yoga, and dancing are all beneficial for strengthening bones and muscles. Strength training can help as well by lifting small weights, using resistance bands, or using machines at the gym.

Other recommendations include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and taking steps to prevent falls. Making modifications around the home such as improving lighting, ensuring rugs and carpets are secure, installing grab bars, and reducing clutter can all help. This can reduce risk of tripping and falling which puts pressure on bones. If they are already weak due to osteoporosis, they may become fractured.

An in-home caregiver can help your senior to complete grocery shopping, prepare meals, and remember to take medications to support stronger bones. They can also help to increase safety, assist with mobility, and help your senior to be more active. Senior services such as those provided by Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville can allow your senior to maintain their independence and wellbeing while staying in their own home. To schedule a consultation or learn more about available services, call (828) 989-7263 or visit us online.

Recognizing Risk Factors and Warning Signs of a Stroke

May is American Stroke Awareness Month and a great time to brush up on stroke knowledge. Understanding risk factors can help you to make healthier decisions and be more alert for warning signs. Getting help immediately when warning signs occur could save your life and help reduce the effects.

There are some risk factors that are out of your control while others you can do something about. Some uncontrollable factors include:

• Age: Although strokes can occur at any age, they are more common in older adults.
• Family history: There may be some genetic and lifestyle components that contribute to stroke risk running in families.
• Gender: Both men and women can experience a stroke, but they tend to be more common in men and more fatal in women.

Risk factors that you can help control include:

• Smoking: Smoking can increase blockage of the carotid artery which reduces blood flow. It also decreases the amount of oxygen that is able to make its way to the brain and thickens the blood increasing risk of clots.
• High blood pressure and cholesterol: There are many ways to keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control through changes in diet and exercise, as well as taking certain medications.
• Heart disease: Heart conditions can cause blockages or blood clots in the arteries and put strain on the heart. Medication can help prevent clots from forming. Those who have already had a stroke or who have congenital heart defects are also at higher risk.

Knowing your risk factors can help you to become more proactive in controlling them as best you can. Strokes can occur quickly and you may not realize that you or a loved one is having one. Recognizing warning signs can allow you to act more quickly to get help and call 9-1-1.

The American Stroke Association encourages people to remember the acronym F.A.S.T.:

Face Drooping: Check to see if one side of their face appears to sag more than the other. A simple test is to have them smile. If one side does not raise up, this could be a sign of trouble.

Arm Weakness: Ask the person to raise both of their arms up straight out from their shoulders. In normal circumstances both should stay up. If one is slowly lowering, it could be a sign of a stroke.

Speech Difficulty: During a stroke, their speech may be garbled or difficult to understand. They may also have trouble speaking at all.

Time to call 9-1-1: If any of these symptoms are evident, it is time to call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital. Even if they are feeling better, they still need to go and get checked out.

Other warning signs include trouble seeing, loss of balance, dizziness, severe headache, confusion, or sudden numbness in the arms, legs, or face. The more quickly you are able to get the person help, the better off they may be. It can make a difference in the impact the stroke has as well as their recovery.

If your loved one has had a stroke which has made daily activities more difficult, assistance from an in-home caregiver can be just the support they need to maintain their independence. Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville can offer assistance with activities around the home, medication management, errands, basic hygiene, and supportive companionship. Call (828) 989-7263 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help following a stroke.