Columbia Aged Care

If your loved one has experienced a traumatic or painful event they can suffer from the side effects for a long time.

Traumatic events are usually a frightening or distressing experience that can leave the person feeling numb or disconnected.

As a carer, it’s natural to want to help your loved one feel better and to assist them through this difficult time. You can’t take their pain away but you can help them to accept what has happened by providing essential support and advice.

Better Health Channel has provided some tips on how you can support your loved one:

• Tell them you are sorry about what has happened and make it clear that you want to help them get through it.
• Spend time with your loved one and keep them company.
• Your loved one may experience emotional outbursts, which is a common side effect of a traumatic experience. Don’t take their outbursts to heart because they usually don’t mean what they say or do.
• Offer practical support such as cooking dinner or going grocery shopping for them.
• Help them return to their normal routine (when they are ready).
• Talk about what happened and listen to them.
• Try not to get upset.
• Be patient and don’t pressure them to talk about the event if they are not ready.
• Help them to relax and have fun again.
• Help your loved one participate in physical activity, such as walking in the park. Exercise can help take their mind off the experience and help them to get a better night’s sleep.
• Find appropriate ways to help them laugh.

Here are some reactions to avoid when helping your loved one through a traumatic experience:

• Don’t ignore the event and don’t avoid talking about it.
• Don’t judge their feelings or thoughts.
• Don’t be impatient and expect them to get over the event quickly.
• Don’t insist they need professional help straight away – not everyone who has experienced a traumatic event needs professional treatment. Give them time to deal with the trauma themselves but if you feel like things just aren’t getting better after a few days or weeks then consult a professional.

Your loved one may take a long time to recover from a traumatic event, but by supporting them and listening you can help them through the recovery process.

Read the full article here.

Are you worried about losing your memory? Do you feel that your brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be? Then maybe it’s time that you improved your mental fitness.

Your brain is like any other muscle, which means it needs a regular workout to stay fit.

Better Health Channel has provided some great tips on how to give your brain a mental workout and improve your mental fitness.

• Exercise for 30 minutes a day: Physical exercise increases the flow of oxygen to your brain to enhance your mental functioning and improve your memory
• Reading regularly: Reading helps to stimulate your brain and allows you to learn new things. You brain then receives a workout by expanding your knowledge base.
• Increase your vitamin B intake: Vitamin B is important for maintaining a healthy brain. This means you should eat wholegrain cereals and dairy foods.
• Exercise your intelligence: Take part in mentally challenging activities such as learning a new language, completing a cryptic crossword or a jigsaw puzzle.
• Maintain your health: The health of your body can have an effect on the health of your brain. You should visit your doctor for regular check-ups to identify potential health issues early.
• Socialise: Other people can help you exercise your mental fitness with thought-provoking conversations or by playing a board game or watching TV game shows together.

Your brain is a very important muscle that co-ordinates all of your body’s functions. It is essential to exercise your mental fitness regularly to ensure that your body can function effectively and that your memory, speech, perception and comprehension remain sharp.

Read the full article here.

As people age, some may begin to experience significant vision loss.  Vision loss is a global issue that affects thousands of people, particularly the elderly. It can be extremely difficult when a loved one that has been able to see all their life begins to lose their vision.

Better Health Channel has provided some helpful tips for elderly people struggling with deteriorating vision. These recreational activities can be suited to people who are completely blind or are vision impaired.

Books and Magazines
In today’s world, many books and magazines are now available in audio for those struggling with their vision. Vision Australia offers a wide range of audio books as well as large print and Braille books. With a convenient borrowing system, this recreational activity will ensure your loved one will not feel isolated or confined.

Games
Various board games have now been adapted in Braille form to ensure that those experiencing vision loss are able to develop hobbies and feel included. Games that are sold in Braille form include chess, cards and Monopoly. Other types of board games are available in tactile and large print versions.

Gardening
Although elderly people experiencing vision loss may feel lonely and useless, there are many ways they can keep busy in the garden. Elderly people may be able to tell the difference between plants and weeds by touch and a basic layout of garden beds will ensure that your loved one will be able to differentiate between plants.

Where to get help
If you require any help please contact your doctor, vision specialist or a vision loss organisation in your area.

Vision loss can be an isolating, confining and sometimes even a traumatic experience for your loved one – especially if they have had the ability to see their entire life. By including your loved one in activities that are enjoyable you will be able to help your loved one through a tough transition in their life.

Read the full article here.

Most cases of influenza (the flu) seem to occur mainly during winter and spring. The flu is an extremely contagious virus that is spread through sneezing and coughing. Elderly people and people who have underlying medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease or impaired immunity are most at risk of contracting the virus.

Sometimes, in the beginning, it can be difficult to tell whether you have contracted the flu or if you just have a regular cold. The Better Health Channel has provided a list of symptoms and explains how the flu differs from the common cold.

Symptoms of the flu:

• High fever
• Chills
• Sweating
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Aches and pains in muscles and joints
• Dry cough

The flu vs. the common cold:
The symptoms for the flu are usually more severe than the symptoms of a cold and can last for a much longer period of time.

• The flu: Symptoms last up to a week and sometimes more
  The common cold: Symptoms last 2-3 days
• The flu: Causes a high fever
  The common cold: Can sometimes cause a mild fever
• The flu: Muscular pains and shivering attacks will occur
  The common cold: No muscular pain should occur
• The flu: Starts off with a dry sensation in the back of the nose and throat
  The common cold: Usually starts off with runny or blocked nose

Read the full article here.

When planning a trip all travellers should be careful to ensure that they will stay healthy and safe while they are away. Older people need to be more careful as they may have a few extra concerns.

Nobody wants to fall ill or be worried about health and safety while on holidays – holidays are meant to be relaxing. Therefore, to make the planning process easier when it comes to health and safety, here are some tips the Better Health Channel has provided for travelling seniors:

Pre-trip planning:

• Research the areas you will be visiting and note down the medical facilities there.
• Research factors that may affect you such as climate, language and culture.
• Make arrangements for mobility needs in advance.
• Organise travel insurance.

Your Luggage:

• Make sure your carry-on bag contains everything you will need for the entire flight including a medical kit with medications, painkillers and band-aids.
• Take a pill box with separate weekday compartments to ensure your daily medication routine is not forgotten.
• Take a spare pair of glasses.

Safety Suggestions:

• Don’t travel around at night.
• Don’t wear expensive jewellery.
• Wear valuables on a belt worn under clothes and next to the skin.
• If you are going overseas, carry with you the contact details of the Australian Embassy in case you need help.

Read the full article here.