Columbia Aged Care

Diabetes is a chronic condition where your body is unable to produce or respond to insulin resulting in high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that allows the sugar in your blood to enter the cells of your body to be used for energy.

Without this hormone your body does not receive enough sugar which can result in hypoglycaemic shock, however, too much of this hormone means your body absorbs too much sugar which can produce the same reaction.

There are two types of diabetes; type one diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood while type two diabetes is diagnosed in adults. If you are over the age of 45 then you could be at risk of developing type two diabetes. 

MyDr has provided some helpful tips on the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes.

Diabetes can occur if you are:

• Over 45 years old and have high blood pressure
• Over 45 years old and are overweight
• Over 45 and have one or more family members with diabetes
• Over 55 years old
• Have heart disease
• Have had a heart attack in the past
• Have had high blood sugar levels during pregnancy

Some symptoms of type two diabetes:

• Excessive urination
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Tired and lethargic

These symptoms are difficult to detect in elderly people because they are often misinterpreted as normal signs of aging. This means that many elderly people remain undiagnosed which can lead to serious health problems such as kidney damage, eye damage and increased risk of a stroke or heart attack.

However, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes you can manage your condition effectively by consulting with your doctor. You can also help manage your condition by not smoking, losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Read the full article here.

Osteoporosis is a condition where human bones become fragile and brittle, which leads to a higher risk of breaks. This condition occurs when your bones can no longer replace their normal calcium levels, which results in a calcium deficiency. Bones become thinner and are susceptible to even minor accidents causing them to break.

The bones that commonly develop osteoporosis are the hips, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm. Osteoporosis is a serious disease that affects many elderly people and can lead to chronic pain, disability and loss of independence.

Osteoporosis Australia has provided some tips on how to minimise your risk of developing osteoporosis.

• Ensure you receive enough calcium in your diet: Calcium is important for maintaining strong, healthy bones. Adults over the age of 50 should eat three serves of calcium a day. Foods that are high in calcium include milk, yoghurt and cheese.
  Other foods with lower levels of calcium include nuts, breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables. Your Doctor can also recommend calcium supplements to help increase your daily intake of calcium.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is important to maintain strong bones, increase the adsorption of calcium and to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. You can receive your daily dose of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.
  It is important to receive six to eight minutes of sunlight everyday for five days a week. However remember to wear sunscreen and be aware of the damaging effects of the sun. You can also take vitamin D supplements as recommended by your doctor.
• Exercise: Regular exercise can help to maintain and increase the strength of your bones and muscles. You should discuss with your Doctor or physiotherapist what exercises are suitable for you to do without injuring yourself. If you already suffer from osteoporosis then avoid exercises that include heavy lifting or sudden abrupt movements.

You can implement these three simple tips into your daily routine to help prevent the onset of osteoporosis. It’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your bones.

Read the full article here.

As a carer it is extremely important to manage your loved ones medication to ensure they remain healthy. If medications are taken incorrectly they can cause dangerous side effects such as high blood pressure, incontinence, constipation, skin rashes or falls.

Medications must be administered at the right time with the right dosage, which can be difficult when your loved one has a variety of different medications.

Aged Carer has provided some useful tips for managing your loved ones medication.

• Visit only one pharmacist: It’s important to establish a regular pharmacist because they will know the history of your loved one’s medication. They can also consult with your local doctor if there is an issue.
• Use Webster or blister packs: Your loved one’s pharmacist can pack their medication into blister or Webster packs, which arranges their medications into separate days. This allows your loved one to access their medications safely and prevent over medicating.
• Understand all medications: Read the consumer medication leaflet inside the medication package and keep them in a file for future reference. When you know the ingredients in your loved one’s medication you can help to prevent possible allergic reactions.
• Know the side effects of medications: Ask your loved one’s doctor about the possible side effects they can experience from their medication. This will help you to assess the severity of any side effects that occur.
• Keep an up-to-date medication list: This list should detail all of your loved ones medication, allergies and side effects to possible medications. It can be used in emergencies or by respite carers.

If you notice that your loved one is experiencing side effects from their medication consult with their doctor as soon as possible. However with these helpful tips on managing your loved ones medication you can help to prevent medication errors and keep your loved one healthy.

Read the full articlehere.

Are you worried about having your hearing tested? Would you like to know what all the technical language and scientific tests mean? The HearingCenterOnline.com has provided some easy to understand information so that you will know what will happen when you get your hearing tested.

The Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who is trained to identify and measure hearing impairments and related disorders. The audiologist will test your hearing in a number of different ways to determine where the hearing problem is located. At the end of your hearing test they will explain and interpret the results for you.

Your History
The audiologist will ask you some questions about your medical history to help them determine the best way to assist you with your hearing loss. They may ask you if any physical damage has ever occurred to your ears, if you have had past illnesses or if you have been exposed to damaging levels of noise.

The pure tone tests
The pure tone test helps the audiologist determine the degree at which you can hear different frequencies. For this test you will be required to sit in a quiet room with a set of headphones over your ears or with earplugs inserted into your ears. The audiologist will play a series of “pure tones” that vary in tone and volume. You will then be asked to raise your hand or push a button if you hear the tone.

Speech tests
For the speech test you will be required to sit in a quiet room and listen to a series of words. The words should have two syllables and will become quieter during the test. You will be required to repeat each word. This test allows the audiologist to determine the level at which you can detect and understand speech.

The audiologist may need to perform other tests on your ears to help them determine the extent of your hearing loss. At the end of all the tests your results will be displayed on a chart. The audiologist should then explain your results and what the next steps will be in treating your hearing. Remember don’t be afraid to ask questions or have them explain something you don’t understand.

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.

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.