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.

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 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.

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.