Summer is a beautiful time of year. Everything is green, the sun is shining, and the weather is beautiful…. most of the time. For seniors, however, summer weather can also bring special health concerns. But don’t worry! There is no reason seniors can’t enjoy the fabulous weather summer has to offer! Here are seven tips to ensure a happy and healthy summer season. 1. Don’t get too hot. Everyone should be sure to not get overheated. Being outside for even shorts amount of time when it is very hot can […] Read Full Article »

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the number of verified cases of elder abuse in Florida rose 74% between 2011 and 2014. The statewide total of these verified cases for 2015 was 2,525. Although one study shows that the overwhelming majority of elder abuse cases happen in the home, here are some documented examples of nursing home abuse. (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/aging/os-elder-abuse-lillian-moses-20160527-story.html) Deaths Following Irma and Subsequent Cover-Up As reported by Orlando Weekly, 12 residents died in a Broward County nursing home following Hurricane Irma. The problems at the nursing home began when the […] Read Full Article »

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida elders reported more than 2,500 cases of elder abuse during 2015 alone. Unfortunately, this trend doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon. Statistic Brain estimates that elders experience 2,151,000 cases of abuse per year which includes neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial exploitation, emotional abuse, and more.  These abusers can appear in various types of settings including institutions, homes and hospital settings. For instance, a 70 year old woman whose daughter took care of her in Kentucky was being […] Read Full Article »

Dementia or “senility” is a frustrating and debilitating syndrome that affects an individual’s reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities. Most individuals can’t distinguish between age-related memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s as they share similar symptoms. However, dementia is a group of impairments without a definite diagnosis that causes a wide range of symptoms. It is typically caused by vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s, stroke, vascular disease, brain cell death, etc. According to www.healthline.com, dementia begins with impairments of thought, communication, and memory that leads to a significant reduction […] Read Full Article »

Oftentimes people imagine themselves traveling, having fun, enjoying loved ones, and enjoying their retirement or so-called “Golden-years” in style and tranquillity. After all, they’ve worked hard over the years and see this special time as a time for them to relax, take it easy and enjoy the “fruits of their labor.” What many of these seniors don’t realize is that being a senior is difficult and brings forth worries and concerns that are quite different than they had during their younger years. For instance, many seniors worry about falling and […] Read Full Article »

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is very common among the elderly and sick, especially those in a home care treatment plan. UTI is an infection in the urinary system caused by bacteria and, if left untreated, can lead to other serious problems like kidney failure or sepsis. Most UTI cases are in the bladder or urethra. The bacteria comes from improper cleaning methods after defecating, sexual intercourse, menopause, and use of specific birth control methods. You can also get UTI from a kidney stone, urinary tract abnormalities, a suppressed immune system, […] Read Full Article »

Intravenous therapy, or IV therapy, is a therapeutic treatment that involves the administration of a solution into a vein. Another term for IV therapy is “blood therapy” and dates as far back as the ancient days when leeches were used to suck out poison or illness from a person. Officially, IV therapy began around the 17th century, although at that time the results were questionable and were serious complications that led medical experts to abandon the idea. IV therapy reemerged around the 19th century because of the cholera epidemic but […] Read Full Article »

A lot can be said about self defense, but at the end of the day, there is only one true secret: self defense is about the will to survive. This means that everyone can learn proper self defense techniques suitable for his or her situations – even those who are bedridden or house-bound because of an illness or medical accident. The difference between self defense for the sickly and a healthy person is you have to equip the patient with defense tools as aids since physically, it might be impossible […] Read Full Article »

Did you know that falling is the greatest cause of injury among seniors? And that most falls occur at home? For many seniors with limited mobility, the fear of falling can cause them to limit activity. This may be both bad for health—as it means less movement—as well as unnecessary. If the right precautions are taken, seniors can enjoy freely moving about their homes without fear of fall risk. So, what can you do to make your home safer? Read Full Article »