by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 2, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Health care professionals have always suspected that loneliness in seniors can cause health problems beyond depression. Newer research proves just how right they are. We now know social isolation increases a senior’s risk for a variety of serious health problems ranging from obesity and high blood pressure to diabetes. In fact, it’s even linked to a shorter life.
The good news is there are many ways older adults can stay active and engaged with life. One of them is by volunteering their time and talent to a cause they believe it. Besides being a lot of fun, volunteerism has a positive impact on the mind, body and spirit.
Benefits of Volunteering after You Retire
Most senior volunteers will tell you just how rewarding the experience is for them. About nine million seniors serve as volunteers. Experts say those older adults who volunteer 100 hours a year volunteering receive the greatest rewards. They benefit from better mental and physical health.
Aging experts believe volunteerism has such a powerful impact on seniors because it provides them with a sense of purpose they might be missing after they retire from their jobs and the kids are grown and gone. That in turn leads to a more physically and socially active lifestyle.
How to Find a Meaningful Volunteer Opportunity in Michigan
Seniors in Michigan have a variety of volunteer opportunities from which to choose. It might help to first decide what time of project you are interested in and how much time you have to dedicate to your volunteer work. Also think about the skills, hobbies and interests you have and are willing to share.
These sites can help you explore opportunities near you and see what agencies are looking for in their volunteers:
- Volunteer Michigan is a great organization that helps Michigan residents find opportunities near them that match their interests. The site even has a place where you can share your volunteer story to help encourage other Michigan seniors to join the fun!
- Volunteer Match is a nationwide organization with opportunities from coast to coast. You can choose from a variety of categories including animal and arts organizations.
- United Way of America can also help you find a volunteer project near you. They do so by connecting you with your local United Way office. Each local office maintains a database of volunteer opportunities for their partner agencies.
Finally, don’t be discouraged if health conditions or mobility challenges make it tough for you to drive or even leave your home. Some organizations provide transportation for volunteers. And there are also Virtual Volunteer opportunities for homebound seniors that allow you to participate from the comfort of your own home.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 10, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Retirement years can be active ones. Freedom from daily work responsibilities means more time to relax and enjoy life. But for seniors who aren’t actively engaged with volunteer work, favorite hobbies or other pursuits, it is easy to fall in to a sedentary lifestyle. Recent studies have identified just how dangerous that can be for older adults.
The dangers of smoking have long been identified and documented. In fact, it is linked to 90% of lung cancer cases in this country. Smoking also contributes to other leading causes of death and disability including heart attack and stroke. But researchers now say a sedentary lifestyle might just be the new smoking.
What is just as important to know is that sitting too much can have dangerous consequences despite how much exercise you get each day.
Sedentary Lifestyle Dangers
Dr. James Levine from the Mayo Clinic has been studying the health effects of sitting for 15 years now. In one study, his team compared adults who spent 2 or less hours in front of a television or other screen each day with those who logged more than 4 hours.
They discovered that those who spent more time in front of screens were 50% more likely to die sooner and 125% more likely to experience a cardiac event than those who sat less. These statistics held true no matter what type or how much exercise the adult engaged in.
The Health Concerns of Sitting Too Much
Other health issues associated with sitting too much include:
- Diabetes: Blood sugar is higher among people who spend more time sitting. This increases your risk for developing diabetes. It can also cause an existing case of the disease to worsen
- Cancer: Sedentary seniors experience greater incidences of cancer, especially breast, colon and prostate cancers.
- Depression: Spending more time on the couch puts you at higher risk for depression and other mental health conditions at any age.
- Obesity: Metabolism slows by 20 – 50% when you sit too much. This increases the odds for obesity.
To learn more about the dangers of sitting too much, download Dr. Levine’s free guide “Sit Less. Stand More. Start Down.” It has resources to help you stay active.
If you are considering a move to a Michigan senior living community you will have the chance to participate in life enrichment programs, like those offered at the Heritage Senior Communities, every day. It will help you enjoy a longer, healthier life!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 6, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Summer is the season when seniors and family caregivers spend the most time outdoors. It is also the time of year when pests make their return to the Great Lake state. While the Zika virus is a big concern in some areas of the world, experts say Michigan isn’t one of them. Illnesses like West Nile and Lyme disease are more likely.
Weaker Immune Systems Put Seniors at Risk
Older adults and people with chronic illnesses are higher risk for insect -related illnesses because they often have weaker immune systems. This can be especially true when it comes to contracting the West Nile Virus.
Seasonal mosquito activity varies from year to year but mosquitoes in Michigan have been linked to illnesses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Ticks are another pest to contend with. They are linked to both Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Michigan. In 2013, there were 165 human cases, an increase of nearly 60 percent from the previous year.
What can caregivers do to protect a Michigan senior loved one?
Experts say there are some easy ways you can keep a senior safe this summer.
On Guard against Summer Insects
- Bug Spray: Encourage your senior loved one to invest in a good quality insect repellant and to spray it on from head to toe when they will be outdoors. Search for brands with the either DEET or Picaridin as an ingredient.
- Avoid Potential Harbors: Brush piles, standing water and overgrown grass can all provide safe harbor for mosquitoes and ticks. Avoid walking near these types of areas.
- Vaccinate Pets: If you own horses, be certain they are up-to-date on vaccinations especially the West Nile virus and the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.
- Patio Fan: A sturdy outdoor fan that blows air around on your senior loved one’s patio can help keep ticks and mosquitoes away.
- Doors and Screens: Encourage your loved one to keep their exterior doors closed. Also be sure the screens on their windows and doors don’t have any holes. Both are good ways to prevent insects and bugs from getting in to their home.
- Tick Check: Make certain that everyone in the family —including your furry friends — has a head-to-toe tick check as soon as they come back inside.
Michigan’s Emerging Diseases project is asking for the public’s help in tracking the spread of the West Nile virus. If you spot dead birds in your area, please use their website to report it.
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by trevor@addfuelfire.com | May 22, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
As we grow older, it isn’t uncommon to experience minor vision problems. It might be dry, irritated eyes from staring at a computer too much or red, watery eyes that are the result of an allergy. But sudden changes in vision can be a warning signs of something more serious. From a detached retina to a stroke, there are vision issues older adults and caregivers shouldn’t ignore.
Vision Problems that Need Medical Intervention
Here are a few tips to help the Michigan caregivers who follow our blog identify the warning signs of potential problems:
- “Floaters” in Vision: A vision issue that requires immediate medical assistance often begins with what look like “floaters” in your eye sight. It is often a warning sign of a detached retina. A burst of light or color is another common symptom. It is important to get medical attention without delay to prevent blindness.
- Change in Vision: A sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes should never be ignored. Both can be warning signs of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It requires immediate medical intervention. People sometimes wait to see if the symptoms disappear before calling for help. When someone is having a stroke, time is a critical factor for receiving life-saving treatment. Call 911 without delay!
- Dark Spots in Vision: If a dark spot appears in the center of a senior’s vision, it can be a symptom of macular degeneration. Problems distinguishing one color from another or difficulty reading signs are other early signs. Call your physician if you or the older adults you care for experience any of these symptoms. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in seniors.
- Blind Spots in Vision: When a blind spot appears in a senior’s vision, it can be a warning sign of several different medical conditions. High blood pressure and diabetes are a few of the most common. Call your primary care physician to see if they want you to come to their office or go to the emergency room.
- Halos or Cloudy Vision: Both of these warning signs can be symptoms of cataracts. Many seniors don’t realize how serious the condition can be. Left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness. Ask your primary care physician for a referral to an Ophthalmologist if you don’t already have one you work with.
Medicare Coverage for Vision Problems
Many vision issues are preventable if caught early. Routine vision screenings are the best way to identify potential problems. To learn what eye exams and screenings your Medicare benefit will cover, visit Your Medicare Coverage.
For the latest news on successful aging and caregiving, don’t forget to sign up to follow Heritage Senior Communities blog. A new, educational article will be delivered right to your Inbox each week.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | May 10, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Keeping medications that are no longer needed or those that are expired around the house can create problems for people of all ages. In households where older adults live, it can lead to the wrong medication being taken accidentally or to grandchildren finding one and ingesting it.
Experts estimate that 71,000 kids under the age of 18 are taken to the emergency room because of unintentional overdoses caused by a prescription or over-the-counter-medication.
What can you and your Michigan senior loved one do to safely dispose of medications that are no longer needed?
There are a few resources that can help you figure it out.
Guidelines for Disposing of Old Medications
Here are the guidelines recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ):
- Take Back Programs: Take advantage of prescription take back days in your local community. Pharmacies typically offer them a few times a year. You can check to see if one is coming up near you by visiting the Department of Justice Office of Diversion Control
- Ask the Pharmacist: Check the instructions that come with each prescription medication to see if it indicates how it should be disposed of. If you didn’t save the safety insert, call the pharmacy where it was filled. (The phone number should be on the label.) The pharmacist can provide you with that information.
- FDA Database: The FDA maintains a list of medications that can safely be flushed down the sink or toilet. For these medications, it is considered the best way to keep small children and pets safe. Do not flush medications down the sink or toilet unless the instructions for disposal specifically indicate you should do so.
- Coffee Grounds and Kitty Litter: If the medication you want to dispose of didn’t come with any instructions, experts say to take the medicine out of the container and mixed it with coffee grounds or kitty litter. Don’t smash or crush the pills just mix them with either of the two products. Seal the entire mixture in a leak-proof bag and place it in the trash.
- Avoid Identity Theft: Make sure you remove or scratch out any identifying information on pill containers before disposing of them. This is an important step for reducing the risk of identity theft.
We hope these tips help you create a home environment that is safe for all generations!
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Feb 29, 2016 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
If the Michigan senior you love is feeling lonely and blue after the long winter, a pet may be a happy solution! Pets can be great therapists. They are proven to help with everything from decreasing blood pressure to lowering rates of depression among our elders.
Health care organizations from hospitals to hospice programs incorporate pet therapy in to their daily routines.
But there are many factors to consider when choosing pets for seniors. From community restrictions on pets to budget issues and mobility challenges, there are a few issues to consider.
How to Find the Right Pet for an Older Adult in Michigan
- Budget: The financial impact of owning a pet is one consideration. While Great Danes or another large breed of dog may be your senior loved one’s favorite, they can be more expensive to feed. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the fluffy little dogs many people find so appealing. A challenge with owning one of these dogs, however, is they tend to need frequent grooming. Depending upon what part of Michigan your senior loved one resides in, the costs for grooming can quickly add up. Before you make a decision on a pet, be sure to factor in all of the expenses your loved one will incur with each of the companions you are considering.
- Mobility: Our snowy, icy Michigan winters can make it hard for older adults to get outdoors to walk a pet each day. While dogs are known to help seniors improve their physical fitness, they can also put them at risk for a fall during the winter months. If your senior loved one doesn’t have a fenced yard or easy outdoor access, a dog may not be the best choice. By contrast, a cat doesn’t need (or often want!) to go outside when the weather is frightful.
- Community restrictions: Another factor to keep in mind is where your senior loved one lives. If they reside in a senior living community in Michigan, is it pet-friendly? Or if they call a condominium complex home, are there homeowner’s restrictions regarding pets?
- Easy maintenance: Is your aging family member able to care for a pet that might be higher maintenance? For example, a puppy might be a little too high energy for some seniors. An older dog might be calmer and easier to handle. A small bird or fish might be other options. Both are known to help decrease stress and agitation, especially for adults with Alzheimer’s.
Resources for Finding a Pet for a Senior
Finally, we thought it would be helpful to share a few good resources you can use when it comes time to choosing a furry or feathered friend for your Michigan senior loved one:
- Petfinder is an organization that maintains a nationwide database of pets waiting to be adopted
- The Michigan Humane Society can help connect you with pets big and small that are looking for a home
