What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.
1.) How should this outbreak be handled?
2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?
Please comment below with your opinions!
Image Source:
-New York Times
With the growth of the senior care industry in Denver and with many seniors requiring some form of in-home care or assisted living services, it comes as no surprise that almost everyday there seem to be new developments that surround the eldercare business. The best developments in Denver senior services are those that improve the lives of seniors and ease the stress of caregivers caring for their elderly family members.
1. In-home monitoring systems – Big Brother style monitoring systems allow family members and eldercare professionals to monitor the safety of a senior living independently through motion detectors, cameras, and vital monitoring.
2. Safety gadgets – electronic alert devices and personal alarms allow seniors to call for help when they’re in danger. Many come equipped with GPS for locating.
3. Transportation services – many communities offer free transportation for seniors over a certain age, so they can get around independently.
4. Exercise information and resources – it’s no longer believed that exercise is bad for seniors joints or their hearts when completed safely. Many gyms offer programs that cater to the older demographic.
5. Luxury goods – personal care products, like canes and walkers no longer have a sterile medical feel. Seniors can purchase items that fit their style and personality.
6. Elderlaw – with the number of baby boomers approaching their senior years, Elderlaw is addressing more needs of the elderly with legislation.
7. Gadgets – technologies cater to senior living, can improve their lifestyle and increase independence.
8. Resources for family caregivers – support groups, information sources and other resources are available to help family caregivers learn about senior care and connect with one another.
9. Peer care – caregiving agencies may have older adults on staff to provide care to their peers that might better relate to senior issues, offer companionship and increase a care recipients comfort level.
10. In-home Care – non-medical senior care is widely available through agencies like Home Instead Senior Care, to allow seniors to maintain their independence at home with the assistance they require.
Sources:
1. Eldercare ABC Blog http://eldercareabcblog.com/10-hot-trends-in-senior-care-services/
2. Franchise Prospector http://franchiseprospector.com/franchising-trends/senior-care.php
Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.
Many seniors loved to garden in their younger years and regret not being able to enjoy tending their Denver gardens as they age. The trick is to find a way to still have them participate but to use caution and still be safe. Many seniors can enjoy planning the plants that they would like someone else to install or by going to the nursery to pick out plantings. By using ergonomic gardening tools that seniors can use while sitting or standing, and choosing plants that will grow tall seniors of all ages and levels of mobility can receive the same enjoyment from gardening. Another alternative is to plant an indoor herb garden which requires minimal care.
Other Denver springtime activities that the aging population may enjoy in the company of a family caregiver or close friend might include going for a walk or drive to look at spring plants or flowers; going to a local park to feed the ducks and enjoy the warmer weather; or going shopping for home items needed for spring. Seniors engaging in any of these springtime activities need to remember not to overdo physical activity; taking regular breaks, ensuring they remain well-hydrated and pay attention to physical signs of fatigue.
As spring approaches in Denver, CO the young and old alike look forward to the warm weather and sense of a fresh new beginning that spring brings.
Sources:
1. Disabled World
2. Seniors Resource Guide Rebecca Kolls
Image: ecofriend.org
Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.
Common bathroom safety techniques, which include the installation of a variety of senior safety devices, can improve Denver senior living but have the tendency to be quite pricey. However, there are some simple bathroom safety techniques that can help ensure that Denver seniors remain safe at home that will not break the bank, which is a bigger requirement at a time of economic uncertainty.
• Declutter – ensure that there is nothing on the bathroom floor that can cause a senior to trip, slip or fall. This includes towels, bath mats and bathroom garbage cans.
• Make it bright – install strong wattage bulbs in the light fixtures, ensure there’s a nightlight with a battery backup and use a brightly colored rubber bath mat in the tub so they can differentiate the mat from the ceramic bathtub.
• Store things in reach –Toiletry items, medications, and even toilet paper should be easy to reach to prevent slips and falls from bending or stretching.
• Choose safe materials – glass and other breakable items should not be kept in the bathroom, especially if seniors are unsteady; if something gets knocked or dropped it could result in cuts and injuries.
• Control water temperatures – make sure the hot water temperature is set to a maximum of 120 degrees, so a senior can never scald or burn themselves in the bathroom
• Remove door locks – should an accident or fall occur, despite the implementation of cost-effective safety methods, a family member or a Denver caregiver should be able to easily access a senior in the bathroom.
Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.
Sources:
1. EZine Articles
2. Associated Content
Image: picket news
Finding the right Denver Geriatric doctor can play a major role in providing for a senior’s health, while location and ease of accessibility may seem like a major factor in determining which physician to see; many other things come into play which seniors might not think about.
1. Does your insurance or health plan cover your physician choice? Often doctors need to be plan-approved or affiliated with a specific group in order to be covered by health and insurance plans.
2. What kind of doctor do you need? Consider whether a general practitioner to manage your overall health is what you require, or if you need a specialist to address a specific aging health issues.
3. Can your doctor practice at your local Denver hospital? In case of senior medical emergency, you may need your doctor to treat you at the hospital of your choice. Ensure the doctor you choose has the authority to do so.
4. Have you checked out his/her reputation – if possible, choose a doctor who comes highly recommended by friends, family or other people in your network who have seen the doctor. You want someone who will listen to your concerns, is respectful and answers questions.
5. Check their qualifications – all general practitioners must be board certified, having completed a medical residency. Some Denver Specialists must have additional training.
Use Administrators in Medicine to learn of any disciplinary actions taken against the doctor of your choice, as well as the Federation of State Medical Boards and the NCQA Recognized Physician Directory to grasp the history of your chosen medical professionals.
Sources:
1. Seniors for Living
2. MedicineNet
Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.
“Spring forward” “fall back” are statements to remind us to change our clocks at the appropriate time of year, but Daylight Savings Time can make a far greater impact on the lives of Denver seniors in a way that has nothing to do with time. Fire safety experts are encouraging Denver elders to use time changes as the perfect opportunity to ensure that smoke detectors in the home are working properly. So, anytime you go to change your clocks, remember to check and change the batteries in your smoke detectors and test the fire alarms in your residence to ensure that you don’t become a statistic as one of the 3,800 fire related deaths that take place in the United States each year.
To test your smoke alarms at the twice yearly intervals, check the battery power by pressing the “Test” button on the smoke detector, and to ensure that the device remains fully-functional, remove any dust and debris from the battery compartment and mechanics of the electronic. Smoke alarms should also be replaced once every 8-10 years to ensure they are capable of alerting residents of the home about the threat of fire.
More information about fire alarm and smoke detector safety is available at the US Fire Administration website (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/alarms/)
Sources:
1. USFA
2. News-press.com
Call Home Instead Senior Care when seeking elder care in Denver. Call us at 303-745-4700.
