Many seniors are admitted to the hospital for various reasons. It is crucial for a family member to be able to speak and act on their behalf when they are hospitalized. To do so, one must be familiar with some things that will need to be address before and during admission. The following list provides some useful tips.

1. Make sure all legal documents are in place. This includes Advanced Medical Directives and a durable power of attorney for health care. The first informs all family members and physicians of the type of medical treatment and care the senior wishes to receive if they are unable to make their own decisions at that time. An example of this is a DNR or a Living Will. The second is also known as a health care proxy. This individual is appointed by the senior to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. Each of these documents must be signed. The family members and physicians should have copies.

2. Make sure you are able to provide all medical information when asked. Medical history is an important part of treatment plans, so you want to make sure you know all there is to know, including medications, allergies, current physicians and a description of the senior’s mental and physical capacities.

3. Be as active as possible. This requires the family member to be part of the health care team. This can be done by learning how to get in touch with the physician providing care, knowing the nurses who are caring for the senior, having the ability to speak with and social service workers and case managers and being a strong advocate for the medical care of the senior.

Candy hearts cloud the shelves of supermarkets, but what most loved ones do not consider is how candy and other foods affect grandma’s heart. Senior caregivers and family members can easily pass along these foods every senior should avoid so that their hearts stay healthy and happy past Valentine’s Day.

• At The Restaurant—Sometimes when seniors go out to eat, those heart healthy diets fly out the window. Seniors should avoid restaurants with all you can eat buffets, as you are more likely to eat more food, which leads to more calories. Seniors should also resist ordering appetizers, cocktails, and sides with cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. Asking for dressings and sauces on the side is a great way to control the quantity you consume.

• At The Drive In Window—Fast food can be easy and quick for seniors, but it is not always healthy. Avoid the unhealthy sides of fries and go with healthier options like fruit. Also seniors should pass on any value or super size.

• At The Supermarket—Seniors should stay away from fruit juices as they do not provide the fiber of whole fruit. In the dairy case, do not grab butter, ice cream and cream as they tend to have more saturated fats than whole milk. Seniors should also be weary of baked goods and desserts loaded with saturated and hydrogenated fats. The same goes for snacks. Fried chips should be replaced with vegetables or baked alternatives.

Source: americanheart.org

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Heart disease and heart related issues are much more prevalent among women than men; with more heart attacks and even casualties occurring in the female gender, particularly those older adults. The good news is, there are simple things that all women can do to begin reducing their risk factors.

1. Stop smoking – smoking is the number one cause of heart related issues such as high blood pressure, hypertension and heart disease. With women already at risk, smoking nearly guarantees heart issues of some variety in older adulthood

2. Get moving – exercising for 30 minutes every day at a pace that you’re comfortable with can help improve circulation. Seniors should always talk to their doctor before beginning a new exercise program, and also be aware that there are times where blood pressure can increase when beginning new physical activity and this needs to be monitored

3. Keep alcohol intake low – for women especially, 1 alcoholic drink per day should be the limit. This is especially important in older adulthood

4. Keep weight in check – excess weight increases the risk of heart disease, so a diet with high nutritional value and lean protein can help keep everything in moderation

Via: About.com

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Seniors who feel like they’re popping pill after pill often get tired of it, and some choose to take their medical care into their own hands and stop taking medications that have been prescribed by a doctor. Often these seniors do have valid reasons, but these can be addressed by talking to a medical professional to explore the other options. Specific concerns that seniors can have include:

1. They may forget – seniors that take multiple medications, particularly those that struggle with dementia may need assistance in managing their medications to ensure they are taken correctly

2. They may not like the side effects – some drugs do have side effects, even those that are required for seniors to take. Sometimes seniors decide they simply don’t like the side effects and don’t want to bother with taking them anymore

3. Seniors might not understand why they require the medication – particularly for those seniors who take multiple medications, some may feel that certain medications are unnecessary because they don’t understand the reason behind taking them, so they simply stop

4. They feel the medications are too costly – medications can become a financial burden to seniors, and this can influence their decision about whether or not to continue using a specific medication

Via: n4a.org

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Seniors have one more thing to be concerned about. While falling is a fear in the elderly community, recent research has shown that certain medications could increase the chances of a fall. Patients who are taking antidepressants, or any medication that contains a sedative, are more likely to fall. This is a serious issue. Since the findings, more physicians are talking with their patients about the possible adverse events associated with their medications. The following list contains a few facts about senior falls and statistics.

1. Elderly individuals are usually more sensitive to prescription drugs. They cannot metabolize the medication as well as younger patients. This can cause adverse events, including falls.

2. One third of seniors who reside at home experience at least one fall per year.

3. 90% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Of this percentage, 15% of the patients will have to move into a long-term care facility.

4. Any drug that contains a sedative, including antidepressants, anti-psychotics, sleeping pills and some high-blood pressure medications, will increase the risk of a fall.

Source: toronto.ctv.ca

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Many families anxiously await the day that they are told their loved one will be able to leave the hospital following a recovery period for an injury or illness. However, the time of release is when the real work starts for family members, and they should prepare themselves emotionally and physically; arming themselves with knowledge so that they can ensure their loved one receives the best care. Here are some things that families and caregivers can do to prepare
for a senior’s release from the hospital:

1. Don’t expect too much – release from the hospital doesn’t mean that a senior has recovered; there will be lots of hard work at home for many seniors

2. Ask questions – understand the senior’s diagnosis and their future prognosis. Take notes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions

3. Talk to a hospital discharge planner – a discharge planner can help families determine if a senior will require home care or nursing care after they leave the hospital. They can also advise families on additional supplies and equipment needed

4. Make sure you’re prepared at home – before the senior goes home, purchase any necessary safety equipment; hire a care provider, and make sure you have medications on hand

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – get the contact information of hospital staff who provided care to your loved one, and don’t be afraid to contact them with any questions or concerns after your senior has left the hospital

Via: Caring.com

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There’s nothing scarier than when a senior with Alzheimer’s wanders away from home – except when that happens during the winter months and they are out there, braving the elements on their own. Many caregivers have this fear, and it can be a great motivation to make some changes around the home that can help to prevent wandering:

1. Install alarms that tell you when external doors or windows are open – you need to give seniors with Alzheimer’s the freedom to move around their home, but even a home alarm system that chimes when doors or even windows are opened can warn you that your loved one might be wandering away

2. Disguise doors – if you don’t want seniors wandering between rooms or outside, paint rooms so the doors blend with the walls

3. Discourage wandering with signs – post signs on doorways inside the home, reminding seniors with Alzheimer’s what can be found on the other side. If there are rooms that seniors should not go in, or doorways that lead to outside, label them with “do not enter”!

4. Give seniors a safe area to walk around – seniors with Alzheimer’s often find themselves restless. Having a secure backyard or garden area can get them out of the home when they feel the need to wander in a safe manner

Via: About.com

Senior caregivers never know when disaster might strike with their elderly care recipient, which is why it’s crucial that they’re well prepared for any eventuality, including a stay in the hospital. By packing a hospital bag in advance for their loved one, caregivers can reduce the planning and care required following a medical emergency, and simply focus on being there for their loved one. Some essential items that caregivers should have in the hospital bag include:

1. The senior’s necessary medications – include a couple of day’s worth of medications in their original bottles with labels for the reference of the hospital

2. Comfortable hospital clothing – some hospitals will allow seniors to wear their own gowns and robes if it makes them more comfortable, so these are items that can be included

3. Footwear – any footwear provided by hospitals is often unsupportive and provides little warmth. Hospitals will allow seniors to wear their own socks and slippers, so these items should be included along with clean underwear

4. Personal hygiene items – though the hospital will provide personal hygiene essentials, seniors can feel more comfortable with their own items. Hospitals will allow them provided they are not heavily perfumed

5. Clothes to go home in – with all of the preparations for seniors to go home, caregivers can overlook the need for clothes to return home in. Having them in the bag will ensure they’re not forgotten

When the weather changes, more and more people, especially seniors turn up the heater or face new challenges like shoveling snow. Senior citizens need to be mindful of their health when preparing for winter by reviewing some simple safety suggestions.

• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors should be working—If your home or your senior’s home is not equipped with the detectors, install them on every floor. If your home is fully equipped, winter is a good time to change the batteries.

• Buy a fire extinguisher—Every senior’s residence should have a working fire extinguisher, and every senior should know how to use it.

• Space heaters can take your space up in flames—Space heaters are notoriously dangerous. Every senior should keep themselves and any items at least three feet from the heater.

• Think about your feet before leaving home—Seniors should always wear sturdy shoes with a good sole when winter weather looms outside to avoid breaking a hip.

• Grab on to something—A senior’s hands should always be attached to available handrails or have your cane or walker when moving about in winter conditions.

• Do not out do yourself with the snow shovel—Rather than risk a back or heart injury, hire a neighbor to shovel the walk or do it yourself with the help of modern technology shovels like the wovel, a shovel on wheels.

Via: MSNBC

Talking about senior tracking technologies can open a can of worms. There are people who support the developments and others that are dead set against them because of the “big brother effect”. People on both sides of the argument are very passionate about their viewpoint. That being said, new technologies are constantly under development that leave room for discussion. The new Ambulatory Sneakers, which have tracking devices embedded in them (set for release in the spring) walk a fine line. While if used for their primary purpose, of preventing tragedy when 60% of seniors with Alzheimer’s wander away from their Minnesota homes and get lost, they can be lifesavers; those misusing the technology only create more ammunition for the critics of tracking technologies.

The sneakers, which discreetly track senior’s movements, transmit their location by GPS technology back to a computer, allowing someone on the other end to keep an eye on their every move. Although this product is being marketed towards seniors, it will naturally get a bad name when concerned parents start using the innovative fashions to track the whereabouts of their teenagers when they go out on a Saturday night. Sure, no matter which way you look at it, these technologies do make it seem like big brother is always watching, but if used correctly, they can save a lot of heart ache and tragedy for seniors with Alzheimer’s and their families.

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Via: Washington Post