Columbia Aged Care

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.

Home and personal security is an important part of creating a comfortable living situation and having peace of mind at any age. Many elderly people live alone or have limited mobility and can therefore be an easy target for burglaries.

However, most burglaries can be prevented by using a number of simple home and personal security measures.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has some great tips on how to secure your home and reduce your risk of burglary:

• Use security deadlocks and grilles on doors and windows.
• Always lock all outside doors and windows when you go out, even if it’s for 5 minutes.
• Lock up parts of the house you can’t keep an eye on.
• Prune bushes and trees that hide your home’s windows and doors.
• Don’t hide extra keys in flowerpots or under mats.

Here are some basic safety tips for your personal security:

• Always be aware of other people and your immediate surroundings.
• Be aware of situations that could make you vulnerable to crime, such as laneways, back streets, and poorly lit parking lots.
• Don’t carry large sums of money. Pay your bills by cheque, credit card or over the phone.
• When you are banking always vary your routine.
• If you carry a handbag, hold it under your arm or in front of you and never leave it unattended.

You should always stay up to date on any security issues in your neighbourhood and if a crime does occur contact your local police station.

For more information on how to improve your home and personal safety contact your local Neighbourhood Watch or police station.

Read the full article here.

Bed sores can be a common problem in elderly people, which can lead to pain and discomfort for your loved one. Bed sores are the result of prolonged pressure to the skin, which prevents a sufficient amount of blood flow and nutrients to the skin tissue. Ulcerations or sores then develop on the skin, typically over bony prominences.

Bedsores can develop if your loved one is bedridden or sitting for a prolonged period of time without being properly repositioned. Common areas for bed sores to look out for are hipbones, lower back, tail-bone, knees and shoulders. 

www.bedsores.org has provided some useful information on the risk factors for developing bedsores.

Confinement to bed, chair or wheelchair
If your loved one is unable to move themselves then they can develop bedsores in as little as 1-2 hours if the pressure is not relieved.

Loss of bowel or bladder control
Moisture on your loved ones skin from urine or perspiration can irritate the skin.

Poor nutrition or dehydration
If your loved one’s skin is not properly nourished bed sores can develop.

Carers must be aware of these risk factors when caring for their loved ones in order to prevent the unnecessary development of bed sores. Bedsores can be prevented if your loved one is repositioned frequently, bathed appropriately and any incontinence problems assessed and treated.

Remember that everyone is different and may have different risk factors and treatment options.

Read the full article here.

Lifting and transferring your loved ones can often be a difficult task for many caregivers. If the wrong techniques are implemented then caregivers are at risk of injuring themselves or their loved one. That is why it’s so important for caregivers to learn safe lifting techniques.

Aged Carer has provided some tips on how to safely lift and transfer your loved one without injuring them or yourself.

1. Encourage your loved one to participate
If your loved one is able to, ask them to move to the edge of the chair and push up from the seat. This will help exercise their mobility and muscle strength as well as reduce the risk of injury.

2. Use transfer devices and lifting equipment
Always try to avoid lifting your loved one by yourself. Use equipment such as slide sheets, hoists, lifters, slings and powered lift chairs.

3. Use proper body mechanics
Never lift your loved one by bending your back. Always ensure that your knees are bent and your back is kept straight.

4. Don’t lift under the arms!
Avoid lifting your loved one from under their arms as you may become unbalanced or risk injuring yourself. Your loved ones can often experience discomfort or shoulder injuries when pulled up by the arms. You should support your loved one by placing one hand on their shoulder and the other on their lower back.

Caregivers can seek additional advice on the best lifting equipment and techniques from an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.

Read the full article 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.

Gardening is an enjoyable pastime and it can benefit seniors in many ways. It is a therapeutic activity that promotes good health, wellbeing and relaxation. Gardening is also an excellent form of exercise for mobility, flexibility, strength and endurance. This type of activity helps prevent medical conditions such as osteoporosis and reduces stress levels.

 Disabled-World.com has provided some great words of advice for seniors who garden or want to start gardening.

• Warm up: this will help reduce muscle soreness felt later on.
• Keep hydrated: drink plenty of liquids and avoid alcohol.
• Be sun safe: always be sure your loved one is wearing sun protective gear such as a hat, long sleeved shirt and sunscreen and that they garden in the morning or afternoon to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
• Be careful with power tools: even small ones can burden worn or weary hands.
• Use adaptive tools: garden tools can be modified to suit the needs of seniors.
• Memory: If your loved one’s memory is becoming affected, securing gates and fences can help keep them safe while still allowing them to care for their garden.

It is important to know your loved ones limitations and make sure they don’t push themselves.

For more tips, 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.

As people age, some everyday activities can become difficult or even dangerous. Stairs can present a hazard for elderly people, and are often the cause of falls.

Falls can be traumatic and damaging to health, but they are a preventable accident. Aging Parents Authority has provided some great tips to make stairs safer for seniors.

• Stairs should be well lit, with a light switch near the top and bottom of the staircase.
• Remove any thick carpet on stairs. It can make stair climbing more difficult for the elderly.
• Remove tripping hazards on and around the staircase. This includes small toys, throw rugs or nails sticking up that shoes could catch on.
• Install a sturdy hand railing.
• Seniors should not climb stairs while carrying items that they cannot see over or around.
• Get in shape for stair climbing. Walking, leg stretching and balancing exercises can help build both strength and confidence, which will aid in climbing stairs.
• Consider installing a chair lift. They are now easier to install and use than in the past. If the previous tips are not sufficient, the elderly person may require a chair lift.

If you suspect that there is a hidden problem that is preventing the senior from successfully climbing stairs, see a doctor. Such health problems could be inner ear infections, which affect balance, or arthritis causing stiff, painful joints.

A few simple measures can make a big difference to the safety of staircases.

Read the full article HERE.