Spring “Fever”—Seniors beware!

Spring has already sprung for those of us living in Florida and it is happening all around the US.  Everywhere you look flowers are blooming, trees are budding, grass is greening up and everything is covered in a yellow coat of Pollen!  You can also see a lot of red, teary eyed individuals sniffling and wheezing as the onslaught of allergies attack reminding us all that Spring sometimes comes with a price!

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Allergies are very unbiased and they affect everyone, young and old.   For most of us, we grab our favorite allergy drugs including antihistamines, decongestants, combination drugs, corticosteroids and more to find relief.   Your local pharmacy has an abundance of over-the-counter allergy relief medicines and then there is our faithful doctor who can prescribe the “good stuff” to help us survive the Allergy Season.

Whether you are a Senior or take care of a Senior, you need to be cautious when it comes to choosing an Allergy Relief drug.  Here are a few things to consider:

• Just because a medication is sold over-the-counter (OTC), they are not all safe to take with other prescription medication.  Ask your Pharmacist or better yet, see your physician first! 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Allergy medications often increase blood pressure which can lead to serious complications if taken for a long period of time.

• Allergy medications will most likely affect a Seniors sleep.  Some medications will make you hyper so you can’t sleep and others will make you drowsy so you may sleep more.  In either case, you will not get restful sleep. 

• Allergy symptoms often mask more serious problems.  Bronchitis and Sinus Infections are two common problems that are often mistaken as allergies.  Infected ears and throat are two others that are often mistaken as Allergy symptoms.  Any of these improperly treated can lead to serious issues and undue suffering. 

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If you feel you are suffering from Allergies, be safe and get a check up from your physician.   If you are going to self-medicate, then at least discuss with your local Pharmacist drug interaction of the over-the-counter medication you are considering.  Finally, if the problem persists without any relief, see your doctor!  Proper diagnosis and medication can have you out safely and painlessly enjoying Spring!

If would like a list Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Home Care or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.helpforelderly.org .

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of the non-profit  Help For Elderly.  At HelpForElderly.org, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! We are a non profit organization supported by generous public donations.  If you find  you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior service, please consider www.helpforelderly.org.

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Do you or an elderly parent have the Holiday Blues?

By Bob Gregory

Holiday HDR (Photo credit: Christopher S. Penn)

Yes, the Holidays are once again upon us!  It’s that happy time of year when family and friends gather to share friendship, love, food, drink and gifts.  The Holidays are filled with dinners, parties, shows and good times.  They are also filled with lots of traveling and visiting distant relatives or friends.  We get a chance to catch up on what’s going on in everyone’s lives as well as reminisce about the good ole days.  All we have to do to enjoy the Holidays is to survive the stress!  Yes, the shopping, planning, preparing, traveling and deadline meeting can create a great deal of stress even if all you have to do is sit back and watch someone else do it all for you!  It’s no wonder why some people, especially our elderly, seem to have the “Holiday Blues”.

I often hear how people sometimes feel depressed around the Holidays and they don’t understand why.  This is especially true for the elderly.  To begin, Holidays do not cause Depression!  Depression is a medical condition and should be treated as such.  Its causes are much more profound than a “time” of year known as the Holidays.  If you feel you or an elderly parent may be Depressed, then see your doctor immediately…you need to seek treatment.  I do not want to confuse what I term as the “Holiday Blues” with the medical condition of Depression because they are not the same and while Depression is common in older adults, it is not caused by aging.

Most anyone can experience Holiday Blues but they seem to be more prevalent in our elderly.  I’ve spoken with quite a few elders who tried to describe why they feel “blue” or down during the Holidays and they all refer to many similar causes. 

Some common causes for the Holiday Blues:

1. Feelings of loss—Holidays are generally highlighted by family and friends getting together to enjoy each others’ company and share the joy of the Season.  If you are fortunate to live a long life and you are counted among the group we refer to as our Elderly, then you have certainly lost family members and friends.  Most family or friends who have passed on are missed most during the Holidays—that time when all use to gather.  Remembering the loss of family or friends can certainly make anyone feel blue and not having them around to reminisce about the past or create new memories can certainly make you feel sad.
2. Feelings of loneliness—Not everyone has family and friends to visit during the Holidays, especially those in Senior Facilities.   Most Senior Facilities do a great job decorating and 

   

   Holiday Blues (Photo credit: CJ Schmit)

   providing entertainment and activities but it’s very easy to still feel lonely in the middle of a crowd, especially if you miss being with family and friends.
3. Financial Stress—Holidays are a time for shopping for gifts, new outfits, decorations, party supplies and holiday trimmings.  However, for those struggling financially, it can be very “depressing” not to be able to afford all the goodies that tempt our purse during the Holidays.
4. Physical or mental illnesses—There is nothing that dampers the Holiday Spirit more than being ill!  It can be very saddening to have the desire to participate in Holiday festivities and yet be too ill.

Understanding the causes doesn’t necessarily make Holiday Blues easier to accept or cope with, but it can be a step toward combating the “blues”.  The great thing about speaking with people who understand what makes them blue during the Holidays is they usually have a coping technique or two!  These may sound simple, but they are easier to write about than to practice:

Some techniques to cope with the Holiday Blues;

1. Focus on the positives of your life today and in the past.  Old memories of good times can provide comfort and warmth especially if you share those memories with new friends!  Find the good points of your life—they’re present but you may have to look for them.

   

   Holiday Sing-a-Long 

2. Give of yourself.  This is probably one of the most positive coping skills I’ve come across.  If you take the time to look around you, you will certainly find someone whose life isn’t quite as fulfilled as yours.  Take the time to do something good for someone who does not have as much in their life as you.  Take the time out of your life to share a kind word, happy memory or just listen to the other person’s woes.  You’ll be surprised at how good both of you will feel.
3. Accept other peoples’ kindness graciously.  If you are feeling down, it’s very hard to allow someone else to “cheer” you up.  Make an effort to be receptive to others attempts to help you! 

If you have an elderly parent in a Senior Facility, take the time to make their Holidays a little more cheery!  Keep in mind we all will age and the examples we set for our children with our own parents may determine how you will spend your Holidays in the future!  If you don’t have elderly parents, then try to be a friend to someone who does not have family.  Most Senior Facilities will certainly connect you with a resident in need of Holiday Cheer!

If would like a list Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. 

           

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

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Is it Dementia or is it Depression?

By Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN

Was your parent always the life of the party, telling entertaining stories and cracking jokes?  As a parent were they caring, affectionate and supportive?  Did the stories fall away?  Did you stop hearing from them; they weren't interested much in your life anymore?

What has changed?  Depression goes undercover among our older population, yet more than 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans aged 65 and older are affected by depression, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Senior depression has many causes, but foremost are retirement, a sense of purpose, the death of a loved one, isolating oneself, financial worries and medical problems.  Heart disease, chronic pain and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and kidney disease, are triggers for depression.  Sometimes, prescription 

A depressed man sitting on a bench
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

medicines, in particular some pain killers and sedation medications, also trigger depression.

There are many reasons why depression among our seniors may be difficult to spot:  Because of the stigma associated with seeking this kind of (mental health) treatment, depressed people may try to hide their predicament.  Also, the depressive state may cause individuals to isolate themselves from friends and family and keep them from their regular activities.

Detecting depression in seniors also may be tricky because many signs of depression are attributed to the aging process itself:  A lack of energy, loss of appetite, disrupted or less sleep—these are all things we expect as we age.

But they need not occur, and sometimes the result of depression—not age.  There’s a decreased level of energy as we age.  And the elderly sleep less in general, but depression makes it harder for them to get a good night’s sleep.

Learning about people's experiences of dementia (Photo credit: The Prime Minister's Office)

Some notable signs of senior depression include irritability, physical complaints and cognitive impairment.  Depression sometimes can mask itself as someone having dementia, but you treat the depression and the normal cognitive function gets back to normal.

This is why anyone who suspects a loved one may be depressed needs to help that individual seek treatment.  Fear of dementia interferes with seeking treatment, but an individual’s loss of cognitive skills may be caused by untreated depression.  Not only is the depression treatable, but some forms of cognitive impairment 

respond well to treatment.

Relationship proves to be the key to detecting depression and getting a loved one to seek medical help.  Get an individual feeling safe, and they may trust you to help them.  It’s really hearing what a person saying and meeting their needs.

While some physical ailments can trigger depression, the depressive state can worsen pre-existing medical conditions.  Statistics show that when depression is treated in the elderly, the outcome of their physical illnesses improve.  Pay attention and seek medical attention to help diagnose Depression or Dementia.

If you find you need an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.       

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN, is a co-owner and senior medical officer of several Assisted Living Facilities in Florida and a guest blogger for SeniorFacilityFinder.com

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

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Eating or Dining?

By Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN

In a follow up to my previous post, “What’s on the Menu?” , guest blogger Cynthia K Klinowski offers us the following thoughts:

Good nutrition is eating a well-balanced diet every day.  A basic well-balanced diet is the same for everyone, including the elderly.  Although older people need the same nutrients as younger people, in most cases they do not require as many calories.  The challenge is to choose foods that are nutrient dense, that is, high in nutrients in relation to calories.  For example, skim milk is considered more nutrient dense than whole milk because it has the same nutrient content but contains less fat and fewer calories.

040 The Dining Hall
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Elements of a well balanced diet include water and five vital nutrients:  proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.  A nutritious, well-balanced diet for ALF residents is composed of foods from the basic four food groups:  Fruits and Vegetables, Bread and Cereals, Milk and Milk Products, and Meat and Meat Substitutes.  These food groups supply key nutrients.

Menu planning for an ALF include many components.  In addition to being nutritious and well-balanced, there are time constraints.  No more than 14 hours may elapse between the end of the evening meal and the beginning of the morning meal.  All other meals should be spaced so that not less than 2 hours, nor more than 6 hours elapses between the end of one meal and the beginning of the next.  Planned snacks must also be incorporated into the meal plan.

English: Balanced Diet
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Menus must be planned at least one week (preferably a month) in advance.  All menus, both regular and therapeutic, must be reviewed annually by a registered dietician.  Portion sizes must also be indicated on the menu.  Meals served in an ALF are required to meet the Tenth Edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) established by the Food and Nutrition board, adjusted for age, sex and activity.

While following all of the rules and regs the ALF menu must also provide foods which are familiar and maintain a connection to the resident’s past life experiences, especially those that recall pleasant times.  Many older people prefer familiar items and will not eat new foods.  This provides an additional challenge for the dietary department.

chef (Photo credit: StuRap)

So how does the Dietary Department prepare interesting, tantalizing, delicious meals?  By hiring well trained credentialed chefs all of the pieces are brought together by incorporating the food pyramid concept.  Substituting within the same food group and varying the foods that are served.  Trying new foods as each food group has many items from which to choose.  Use fresh food whenever possible, especially when seasonal foods are available from specific regions.  Prepare foods in different ways using new and revised menus.

One visit to an ALF will illustrate how important mealtimes are to the residents.  They sometime begin lining up 30 minutes or more before serving time in anticipation of the meal.  This being said, the last thing anyone wants is to disappoint the residents with a meal experience that is not a positive one.  The meal time provides socialization and interaction with other residents, dietary staff and the visitors.  The meal table is one of the last bastions of social grace.  Providing a gracious elegant dining area adhering to the rules for proper table etiquette enhance the dining experience.  Remember that the ALF setting is very much a part of the Hospitality Industry and service must show it.

If you find you need an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.       

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN, is a co-owner and senior medical officer of several Assisted Living Facilities in Florida and a guest blogger for SeniorFacilityFinder.com

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

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What’s on the Menu?—What to expect from a Senior Facility

By Bob Gregory

There are lots of items you need to consider when choosing an Assisted Living Facility such as the type of care provided, the amenities, activities, safety, location, size etc., but what about what’s on the menu?  Whether you are choosing for yourself or an elderly parent, you need to keep in mind that the Assisted Living Facility will be “home” and you should enjoy being at “home” and that includes having good food to eat!  Meal plans vary from facility to facility but they can range from no meals for residents who can shop and cook for themselves all the way to three meals and snacks for residents who are not capable of shopping and cooking for themselves or just don’t want to do so.

As background, menus in an Assisted Living Facility must be created and signed off on by a Registered Dietician and conform to the current food guide pyramid.  Residents must be provided three meals daily, snacks and access to food preparation areas between meals.  Meals must be balanced properly and special diets must be able to be met if continued residency is to be maintained in the living environment. All dietary requirements are regulated by the State and not the Federal Government.  A Certified Dietary Manager is required to oversee the Food Service Departments of Assisted Living Facilities.  This certification is taught by the Restaurant Board and the test is administered by the Department of Health.

There are three major considerations when you inquire about menus:

1. General nutrition for the average individual with no special needs.  For residents who do not need a special diet for medical or religious purposes, you will want to make sure the facility serves food you or your elderly parent likes.  Look for variety on the menu and be sure and ask if the facility accepts residents’ input when planning the menu.  Be sure and visit during each meal time so you can observe the presentation of the food and be sure and sample.  Most facilities hire professional chefs and are proud of the food they serve!

   

   1 4408524731_d0b4e27c4f_o (Photo credit: US Army Africa)

2. Medically required diets.  Be sure the facility can handle special dietary needs for medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, celiac disease, and food sensitivities, just to mention a few.  If the facility accepts you or your elderly parent as a resident in need of a special diet, then they are required to prepare the diet.  Don’t be surprised if some facilities do not accept residents who need long term special diets for medical reasons.  This is uncommon but it can occur.
3. Religious observance diets.  If you or your elderly parent adheres to religious dietary requirements, be sure and discuss with the facility to assure they will accommodate the needs.  There are no special requirements to do so, but most will.  You may also want to consider a facility that caters specifically to your religious group.  These facilities are available and may be more suited for dietary needs as well as common interests.

The recent struggle facing the Healthcare Industry, especially Assisted Living Facilities, is to provide a variety of options of visually appealing foods with better quality and presentation than that which has been historically found in Healthcare Facilities.  Further, facilities need to provide this service on a limited budget to keep rents low enough to compete, depending on the market in which they are located.  Tomorrow’s Assisted Living customer has very different expectations than those customers served today.  The expectations of quality, experience and customer service are much higher at affordable rates.  However, customers should expect to pay for additional services and amenities required or requested.

In summary, make sure you include “what’s on the menu?” as one of the questions you ask when interviewing prospective facilities for yourself or an elderly parent.  Also, make sure you sample the food and even ask for a tour of the kitchen to observe preparation.  Finally, ask the current residents what they think of the food and the menu selection.

If you find you need an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.       

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders

of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

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To Your Health……and Wellness

By Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN

The old adage that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is sage advice.  There is no doubt that to stay healthy is the ideal.  However, as human beings we are all unique, and many of us may fall short of doing all that we can to practice good prevention—especially disease prevention.  Regulatory bodies encourage us to practice preventive health care by supporting programs for immunizations, screenings and the reporting of communicable diseases.  But in the long run we are personally responsible for our own bodily health and well-being.

Health (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

Your good health is more than a matter of proper diet and exercise.  Genetic or environmental factors may predispose you to certain diseases or chronic conditions.  Behavior and habits in the face of such factors can directly contribute to managing such undesirable conditions.  Regardless of what you may think, you have a great deal of power over many aspects of your health.  Remarkable improvements to your physical and mental well-being can occur when you take control.  You can take action.  You can change behavior.  There is much you can accomplish by simply doing a little bit.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  The inclusion of well-being seems to 

expand the idea of health to include a sense of appreciation for life.  The concept of well-being, however, is being addressed by many persons and health care professionals around the country as inseparable and therefore essential to health and wellness

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United Nations World Health Organisation
 logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wellness is considered an enhancement of health and well-being.  It has been defined as a process of living healthier and growing in appreciation of yourself, others, and your environment.  Wellness is taking care of oneself, or self-care.  Mothers have been talking about it for centuries.  The prevention of sickness with “spring tonics” and the use of folk medicine and home remedies are part of all families and cultures.

Taking care of yourself includes taking measures to increase community and environmental health.  In today’s complex society, many new scientific findings concerning treatments, nutritional needs, risk factors, and disease prevention are announced of a routine basis.  Sometimes these announcements are “cure-alls” and do not accurately represent the facts.

Taking care of yourself today requires knowledge and commitment.  It is more than remembering Mother’s admonition to “Put on that sweater or you’ll catch pneumonia.”  Wellness is an active approach to health which is based on physical, mental and social principles.  This includes such activities as eating healthful foods, exercising, reducing bodily and environmental risk factors for chronic disease, and taking care of one’s financial resources.  Wellness can also be thought of as the ability to maximize one’s state of being, whatever that state may be.  Remember that wellness is an individual commitment it is never too late to make that commitment to feel better and increase your enjoyment of life.

If you find you need an Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.       

If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas, please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about. 

We look forward to reading yours.

Cynthia K. Klinowski, RN, MSN, is a co-owner and senior medical officer of several Assisted Living Facilities in Florida and a guest blogger for SeniorFacilityFinder.com.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com

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