Columbia Aged Care

The dietary needs of elderly people are different from those who are younger. For most elderly people, the need for vitamins and minerals is much higher and older the person becomes, the more their needs change.

A healthy diet and good nutrition early in life can affect how well the body ages and functions in later years. The Vitamin Update has provided some helpful tips for elderly people when it comes to deciding what vitamin supplements and herbal remedies are beneficial.

There are many herbs that can be helpful to elderly people.

Some tonics include:

• Ginseng: helps to improve vitality and resistance to disease.
• Ginkgo: Helps improve mental function
• Ginger: Helps to improve the body’s circulation.
• Hawthorn: A heart tonic.

Some herbal remedies include:

• Chaste Tree: Helps with menopause.
• Motherwort: Beneficial in treating heart problems.
• Dong Quai: Helps in the treatment of arthritis, migraines, anaemia and abdominal pain.
• Black Cohosh: Helps treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and is a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Your loved one may see big improvements to their health and wellbeing if they supplement their diet with vitamins and herbal remedies.

Read the full article here.

Anybody can develop skin cancer but people aged 55 years and over are most at risk.

MamasHealth.com has provided an article on skin cancer and seniors including what to look for when checking your skin and what treatment doctors can provide.

What to look for:
All skin cancers could be cured if they were found and brought to a doctor’s attention before they had a chance to spread. It is vital that you check your skin regularly even if you don’t go out into the sun very much.

The most common symptom of a skin cancer is a change on the skin – especially a growth or sore that has not healed after two weeks. Not all skin cancers look the same.

Here are some examples of what a skin cancer may look like:

• A small, smooth, shiny, pale or waxy lump.
• A firm red lump.
• A lump that bleeds or has developed a crust.
• A freckle or mole that has begun to darken in colour or change in shape.
• A flat red spot that is rough, dry or scaly.

Skin cancer treatments:
When a doctor treats a skin cancer their goal is to remove it or destroy the cancer completely. All treatments can be different depending on type, size, location and the person’s general health and medical history.

Treatments include:

• Surgery where the cancer is removed from the body
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• A combination of treatments

Encourage your loved one, and help them if required, to regularly check for skin cancers.

Read the full article here.

Today, thanks to the internet, people find it much easier to stay in touch with one another regardless of how far apart they live. Social media is a great way for your loved one to stay in touch with you and it’s also a great way for them to get the support and information that they are looking for.

According to RegardingYourParents.com, many of the elderly today are computer savvy and if they aren’t they are willing to learn. Here are a couple of social media platforms that your loved one might be interested in joining:

Facebook: Keeps your loved one up to date with what is happening in their family and friends’ lives.

Skype: A fun and easy way for your loved one to have a face to face conversation with someone via their computer.

Twitter: Your loved one can use this to read up on small daily updates, talk about small things they are doing and give out and read up on small pieces of information.

Blogging: A great way for your loved one to talk about what is going on in their lives, use as a journal, list their opinions or simply vent – especially if they live alone and do not have anyone to talk to at home.

Read the full article here.

This year’s winter seems to be one of the coldest we have had in a while. The cold weather can have health implications for us all but in particular vulnerable groups such as elderly people are most at risk.

Charnwood.gov has provided some helpful and simple tips to help you make sure your loved one stays warm this winter:

• Make sure your loved one keeps warm at all times – even if it appears to be mild outside.
• Make sure your loved one’s hands and feet are kept warm as cold temperatures can cause problems with circulation.
• Make sure your loved one keeps their windows and doors closed during cold weather as most people are more likely to be struck by the common cold if they have a cold nose.
• Encourage your loved one to use heating appliances.
• Be sure your loved one wears adequate warm clothing – several layers is better than one thick layer.
• Be sure to encourage your loved one to visit their doctor or medical centre and get vaccinated for the flu, as it can affect elderly people much more severely.

If your loved one lives alone, or you have an elderly friend or neighbour, be sure to check up on them and encourage them to stay warm this winter.

Read the full article here.

Pets can become great companions for elderly people and come with many benefits.

A pet such as a dog or a cat can provide love, laughter and companionship. They can offer a sense of encouragement and well being, especially if they have just lost a loved one.

Before buying or adopting a pet, elderly people should understand that having a pet means lots of dedication – both physically and financially. This is not a bad thing as this new responsibility for a life can add new meaning to an elderly person’s way of living.

Caring for and providing for a pet can help an elderly person:

• Stay active through feeding, grooming and exercising their pet
• Get out of the house and into fresh air and sunshine
• Meet new people to socialise with while taking the pet out for a walk

Studies have also indicated a link between dog ownership and an increased survival rate in people with heart issues as a pet can reduce stress levels and create a happy and relaxed environment.

Lastly, in cases where elderly people live alone, have little contact with family or friends or their family lives far away, having a companion there can help with the emotional yearning that many people feel when they are lonely or feel isolated.

Read the full article here.

Contrary to popular belief asthma is not just a childhood disease. It has been known to develop for the first time later in life. It is believed that 30% of seniors have undiagnosed asthma as many elderly people tend to ignore the signs of breathing problems.

The Asthma Foundation has provided some tips about how to know if you have asthma and what to do if you are diagnosed.

How to know if you have asthma

Breathlessness, feeling like your chest is very tight, a dry continual cough and wheezing are the main symptoms of asthma. If you are experiencing any of these on a regular basis visit your doctor to be tested and diagnosed properly.

In Australia, 10% of adults are living with asthma. Some were diagnosed as children and others develop it later in life. Unfortunately, the older a person is, the higher the risk of asthma becoming fatal. It’s best to practice good asthma control.

Tips for seniors with asthma

• Make sure you are using your inhaler correctly – ask your doctor to show you how.
• Ask about your other medications as some, such as heart medication, may interfere with the way asthma medications or your lungs work.
• Be sure to get regular exercise.
• Visit your doctor regularly to maintain good asthma management.
• Have an Asthma Action Plan.
• Get you and your family to learn asthma first aid so if you need help they will be able to assist you. You will feel more comfortable knowing what to do as well.  

For more tips, click here.

Encouraging your loved one to talk to their doctor about their health is extremely important. Many people, especially seniors, may find it difficult to communicate with their doctor. But by asking questions, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn't ask and letting the doctor know when a treatment isn't working, your loved one is taking an active role in their own health. 

HealthierYou.com shares some good communication topics you should encourage your loved one to talk about.

Sharing Symptoms:
It is important to be very clear and concise when explaining and describing symptoms. Although medical tests can determine what is wrong, it is your loved one’s symptoms that point the doctor in the right direction. Be sure to stress to your loved one that being concerned about symptoms is not a sign of weakness and it is definitely not complaining.

Learning more about medical tests:
If it has been decided that your loved one will need a medical test be sure they ask questions. Before the test encourage them to ask the doctor to explain why it is important, what it will cost, what the procedure is, how long the test will take and how long it will be before results are received.

When the results are ready, get your loved one to ask the doctor to explain what they are and what they mean. Also encourage them to ask for a copy and if the results are from a specialist, your loved one should ask them to send the results to their primary doctor.

Making the most of medications:
Sometimes medications can affect older people differently to younger people. Encourage your loved one to notify their doctor if their medication is not working for them and communicate exactly what the side effects are. Make sure your loved one doesn’t stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor first.

Read the full article here.

When your loved one is moved into a nursing home it is important that they don’t feel abandoned and that their close relationships continue.

However, many people can become uncomfortable or distressed when visiting a nursing home. Aged Carer has given some helpful tips to create a more enjoyable and comfortable environment for when you visit your loved one.

• If your loved one is immobile or cannot communicate, holding their hand, stroking their forehead or quietly talking to them will let them know you care.
• Share a meal with your loved one in the dining room or order take away.
• Bring a family pet to visit, go for a walk around the garden and show off the pet to other residents.
• Bring a grandchild to visit. If they have a favourite book have them read it out loud to your loved one or if they play a musical instrument bring it along and put on a mini concert.

A short visit can break up your loved one’s daily routine and for many residents in an aged care facility a family visit is the highlight of their week. Making your loved one feel important and a part of the family is the best way to ensure your loved one is happy and content.

To read the full article, click here.

Creating a safe and comfortable home is a simple way to help reduce stress on you and your loved one. Not only will this improve their quality of life, it will also reduce the chances of your loved one becoming injured, anxious or confused. 

Caregiver.com has provided some simple tips to ensure that your loved one feels secure, comfortable and content.

Buy a small lightweight jug
Store the jug in a convenient place and keep it filled at all times. Reminding your loved one to keep hydrated can ward off a number of problems associated with dehydration such as headaches and sleepiness and is great for health and wellbeing.

Avoid lots of mirrors
Your loved one’s memory may start to become affected, and if this happens you may need to prevent your loved one from seeing their reflection. Mirrors can be confusing as your loved one might not recognise their own reflection.

Use large dials or number pads
If your loved one enjoys watching television, ensure the remote has large buttons to make it much easier to use. Installing digital clocks might make it easier for your loved one to read the time if analogue clocks are confusing or frustrating for your loved one.

Clothing
If you buy your loved one’s clothing, keep it simple and basic, this will make it easier for them to pick out their outfits. Organise their wardrobe into sections i.e. skirts, pants, shirts and dresses. This will make it easier for your loved one to find a certain garment they might be looking for.

Read the full article here.

Driving ability can be a sensitive topic for your loved one. Telling your loved one that it is time to stop driving can be one of the most difficult moments in a carer’s life. Just because a person is growing older does not mean they must stop driving, but it is important to assess your loved ones capabilities. 

Aging-Parents-and-Elder-Care.com has given some insight on how aging can affect the driving abilities of elderly people.

Driving requires elderly people – or any person for that matter – to have good coordination skills. Changes to the body, both physically and mentally, during the aging process can reduce coordination skills. Potential changes include:

• A slower reaction time
• Deterioration of vision and hearing
• Weakening of muscle strength and flexibility
• Drowsiness brought on by some medications
• Less ability to focus or concentrate
• Reduced tolerance for alcohol

Separately, these changes are not a cause for concern. However, you should monitor and evaluate your loved one’s driving skills so that you know when the time arrives to stop driving.

Watch for warning signs such as driving too fast or too slow, responding slowly to potential hazards like pedestrians, misinterpreting signs or traffic lights, or multiple near accidents. The problem can sometimes be fixed by not driving at night or only driving in familiar locations, but you may need to make a call about whether your loved one is still a safe driver.

Read the full article here.