Excerise For The Elderly

Exercise for elders is important for healthy aging.  We're usually not as active as we were at a younger age and our muscles are not as strong.   Some form of exercise is crucial in order to strengthen muscles, improve mobility and overall health.

People often lose mobility as they age. In some cases this may be unavoidable to some degree. However,much of one's mobility can be retained and restored through proper physical exercise. But many elderly individuals need extra encouragement to do it.  You need to talk to your health care provider about any exercise program before starting a program. 

Below are some tools to facilitate exercise for seniors.

Wrist Weight Porcupine Balls Hand Gym

Exercise Peddler Peddler with Handle Exercise Pulley System

Exercise for Elders  Can be Simple

Exercise provides numerous health benefits and does not have to be complicated.  Walking, riding a bike, peddling, hand exercises for the joints are just a few of the simple things that can provide benefits.  You medical provider can tell you which type of exercise will most benefit you based on your particular situation.

Exercise for elderly persons may require a bit more thought if there are limiting conditions.  The exercise chosen has to fit the individual. The type of exercise, the length of the exercise period, and the intensity needs to be matched up to the current state of health of an individual, the person's physical ability. 

Too often the word exercise is associated with intense workouts that are too difficult to do.  Many people don't want to work out because they feel that exercise has to be difficult.

The truth is, there are countless forms of exercise that can fit any fitness level. You can find the specific activity and the amount that fits your current level of ability and go from there. Talk to your doctor and see what he or she recommends.  Even a small amount of exercise can improve your health. 

Motivating the Elderly

It may be helpful to avoid using the word exercise entirely.  You could instead talk about a certain amount of physical activity on a daily basis. This helps elderly adults to get past visions of difficult and possibly painful exercise routines, and to the gentler activity levels that are their true path to greater health.

Another aspect to emphasize is that it's never too late to start reaping the benefits of physical activity. You can start at any point in your life even if you have not sought out purposeful physical activity before. The benefits of this activity can still be yours.

Exercise for elders can improve health, increase longevity, and contributes to a better quality of life.  It must be done according to the health and abilities of the person, but its benefits can work wonders for absolutely anyone.

10 Things That Make You Feel Old—and What To Do About Them

By Anne-Marie Botek  

Death and taxes are understood to be the only inevitable elements of life. But, there's a third issue that many of us automatically assume is unavoidable as well—getting old.

We chalk our flagging energy levels and stiffening joints up to what Larry Matson, Ed.D, co-author of the book, "Live Young, Think Young, Be Young…at Any Age," calls the, "immutable and mysterious aging process."
 
But the notion of aging as an uncontrollable, unstoppable force may, in fact, be faulty.
According to Matson, once a person reaches their physical peak (somewhere between 30 and 35 years old) less than one percent of physical and mental decline each year can be attributed to the aging process alone.
 
"We think it's normal to be over-weight at 40, have multiple chronic diseases at 60 and be totally dependent at 70," he says. "But age is really a measure of time, not how ‘old' we are."
 
How to avoid feeling your age
 
Matson provides a list of the factors that cause people to physically and mentally feel the effects of advancing years—and simple tips for reducing their impact:

1. Absence of physical activity: Matson points to physical disuse as the number one thing that accelerates age and is associated with the vast majority of chronic diseases. Even if you can't make it to the gym every day, there are still things you can do to stay active. Pay attention to your posture—keep your shoulders back, stand and sit up taller, and don't slouch. Take deeper breaths. Always walk as if you're going to be late for a meeting or an appointment, and look for ways to insert small bouts of physical activity into your day.
2. Meager mental stimulation: Mental neglect comes in a close second to physical disuse in the rankings of factors that make us feel older. "As we get older, we just don't realize how much less we use our mind," Matson says, "We get zoned into a particular job task and get good at it, but we don't use other parts of our brain." After a long day of caregiving, you may be just wishing for a few minutes to sit and veg out in front of your favorite television show. Instead, try adding one mentally-stimulating activity to your nightly routine. Tackle a Sudoku puzzle, knock out a few chapters of that book club book you promised you'd read, commit to learning a new hobby. Anything that forces your brain to work in a way that it normally wouldn't.
3. Disastrous dietary decisions: Fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins—you've heard the balanced nutrition spiel before. Another way to optimize your eating plan is to munch more mindfully and slowly. Recognize the rule of halves: half of the pleasure of eating happens in the first bite and is then reduced by half with each subsequent mouthful.
4. Excessive stress: Chronic stress, an epidemic among caregivers, can cause your cortisol levels to skyrocket, leading to inflammation and metabolic malfunctioning. Identify the things that stress you out, anticipate when they will occur, and take steps to manage your response. Take deep breaths, meditate, participate in a yoga class—whatever helps you feel more calm and centered.
5. Attitude adjustment: "Most people underestimate the effect of the mind, but research in this area is very powerful," Matson says. Caregivers often feel that they should be able to do everything for their loved one. They adopt a "fix it" mentality that can lead to feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. Try to become more in-tune with the tone of your inner voice and swap negative notions with positive affirmations. Matson also suggests searching for ways to help others—such as offering support and advice to fellow caregivers.
6. Alcohol in abundance: Research indicates that small amounts of alcohol may provide certain health benefits, but women especially should aim for imbibing no more than two drinks in a single day. Beyond that, the drawbacks of alcohol begin to outweigh the benefits.
7. Second-hand smoke: Plain and simple—don't put up with secondhand smoke. For non-smokers, long-term exposure to second hand smoke is nearly as bad as puffing on an actual cigarette. Set boundaries. "It is the smoker's responsibility to smoke away from you and others," Matson says.
8. Chemical contaminants: Since you don't have much control over the environment when you're outside, be sure to minimize your exposure to chemicals while in your own home. Invest in a water filter and cut down on how often you use aerosol cleaning and beauty products.
9. Pill-popping: Poly-pharmacy is a big problem for many adults, one that only get worse with age. Medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), while helpful for managing certain conditions, may end up doing more harm than good in the long run. "Know what you're taking and why you're taking it," Matson advises. He says that many medications are prescribed for conditions that can be otherwise managed by making lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor if there's any way you can safely reduce your dosage, or go off a prescription all together.
10. The genetic gamble: You may not be able to alter your genetic code, but you can take steps to reduce the impact of your detrimental genes. Research your family history and make the lifestyle changes necessary to accommodate your unique set of inherited vulnerabilities.

There's no magic bullet that can cure aging, no miracle restorative regimen that everyone can follow and never experience the symptoms of chronic disease.
But making small, simple lifestyle changes can improve your physical and mental wellbeing—no matter how many candles weigh down your birthday cake.

16 Things I Would Want, If I Got Dementia

by Rachel Wonderlin

When you work in dementia care, people tend to ask you a lot of questions. Probably one of the most common questions that I hear is,

“Are you afraid to get dementia when you’re older?”

Honestly, there are many things that scare me much more than dementia does. Don’t get me wrong: dementia is a terrible group of diseases. I've been fortunate, however, to see many of the beautiful moments that people with dementia can experience.

Just in case I do get dementia, I've written a list of rules I’d like to live by.

If I get dementia, I’d like my family to hang this wish list up on the wall where I live.

1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.
2. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am.
3. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends.
4. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.
5. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me.
6. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated.
7. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.
8. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.
9. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great home care facility to come help me out.
10. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.
11. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.
12. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.
13. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original places.
14. If I get dementia, don't exclude me from parties and family gatherings.
15. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs or handshakes.
16. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.

Signs That Tell You It's Time for Homecare

By: Marlo Sollitto
Contributing Editor

To determine if it's time for assisted living, or if your elderly parent can safely remain at home, take a good look at the present housing situation, health status and medical needs. Ask yourself these questions.

Signs that may indicate it's time for assisted living:

• Is your parent telling you that he is eating, but you're seeing food go bad in the refrigerator?
• Is your parent falling? To determine the answer, is your parent covering up bruises he or she doesn't want you to see?
• Is your parent wearing the same clothes when you go to visit? Can they bathe themselves, groom adequately and launder clothes?
• When you look around the house or yard, is it as neat and clean as it used to be?
• Is your aging parent remembering to take medications correctly, with the right dosages and at the right time? Are medications expired?
• Are they able to operate appliances safely? Do they remember to turn appliances off when they are finished cooking?
• Is the home equipped with safety features such as grab bars and emergency response systems?
• Do they have a plan in place to contact help in case of an emergency?
• Are they driving? Should they be driving? Do they have alternate means of transportation?
• Are there stacks of papers and unpaid bills lying around?
• Do they have friends, or are they isolated from others most of the time?
• When you really look at your parent, do you see the bright and vibrant person from years ago, or do you see a more limited person who needs some help one hour a day, or even around the clock?

Making the decision to get home care is one of the hardest and most heart-wrenching decisions of your life. But if it keeps your parent healthy and safe and perhaps even happy, then it is probably for the best for the parent, the caregiver and the family.

10 Scams Targeting Seniors and Tips to Protect Your Loved One

  Posted by Dreu Adams on Oct 9, 2014 4:30:00 PM

Elderly adults who live alone may be targeted by scams attempting to gain access to their finances. Elder financial exploitation becomes even more common if they are experiencing the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. If you are caring for an elderly adult, at some point you may find that your loved one is the victim of financial mistreatment. In fact, financial abuse happens to about one in nine elderly adults. Sadly, only about one in 44 cases is ever brought to authorities. Since nearly 90% of abusers are caregivers or family members, you may find yourself in a tough personal position while doing what is best for your loved one. As a caregiver, it is important to be aware of some of the financial scams that can occur and some ideas to keep your loved one safe.

• Healthcare/Medicare/Health Insurance Fraud- These scams can be perpetrated by healthcare professionals as well as others. It is important not to give a medical provider complete authorization to bill for services without review or understanding. Tell your loved one to keep his or her Medicare number safe and treat it as a social security number. Always have your loved one or yourself review billing statements to be sure they are correct.
• Funeral and Cemetery Scams- If your loved one is interested in making some advanced arrangements, he or she may visit funeral homes or cemeteries and end up making expensive purchases. It is easy for a funeral home to inflate prices or use the emotional vulnerability of the topic to encourage an elderly customer to spend unwisely. It is a good idea to accompany your loved one on trips to funeral homes and to discuss purchases before they are made. Typically, funeral homes are required to have a price list available so the cost of each item is visible. Also, you may want to sit down with your loved one before these trips and make a list or an outline of required items and services to avoid being pressured into extra spending.

• Counterfeit Prescription Drugs- Most commonly, this internet scam occurs when an elderly person goes online to look for “bargains” on drugs. In turn, the drugs received may not be what they were advertised to be and actually may be harmful. Make sure to research any online pharmacy before purchasing drugs through it.

• Telemarketing Scams - These scams will occur mainly via phone and will pressure your loved one to send money or give out financial information like a bank account number or credit card. Remind your loved one not to give out financial information over the phone and not to send money to unfamiliar people or places. As a safeguard, you may want to keep financial information such as credit cards and social security cards in a secure location in case your loved one becomes confused and forgets your advice. It is also a good idea to ask for written information about any charity or business that calls, like the specific location and/or business license number. Review additional tips for avoiding telemarketing fraud from the FBI.

• Fraudulent Anti-Aging Products- This scam will make unfounded promises to seniors about the abilities of anti-aging beauty products. Usually, these beauty products will be quite expensive and the buyer will almost always be encouraged to buy more than one product. Have your loved one take some time before purchasing anything that seems to have too many unrealistic qualities. Ask for the product name and offer to do a bit of research about it before your loved one decides to purchase. Many times, this is how you or your loved one can find out if the product was just a scam.

• Homeowner/Reverse Mortgage Scams- With this scam, your loved one may be told that money is owed or a large portion of his or her mortgage can be paid off. Or, there may be pressure to take out a large reverse mortgage. If you are concerned your loved one may be vulnerable to this type of trickery, encourage him or her to write down important information in any meeting and not to agree to anything until you have gone over information together to be sure it is not a scam. It is also a very good idea to remind your loved one never to give out any important financial information over the phone such as credit card numbers or social security number.
• Internet Fraud- If your loved one has access to a computer and the internet, it is likely that he or she will encounter an internet scam; common internet scams include an email that seems to be from a friend that is requesting money or a supposed business offering to sell something at an inflated rate. Remind your loved one to purchase items through reliable sources. You can also give the advice to give money to friends in person or as a check in the mail to a known address.

• Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams- These scams typically arrive in the mail and encourage recipients to either mail back money to enter or tells the recipient that he or she has already won and just needs to mail in money to cover the tax or other fees in order to redeem. It is important that you educate your loved one that these types of ploys exist before it is too late. If early dementia or Alzheimer's prohibit understanding, you may want to think about taking more control of the mail your loved one receives by forwarding the mail to a P.O. box and sorting through the junk mail before returning the rest.
• Investment Schemes- In investment schemes, elderly victims will usually invest in an unlicensed or fake business - typically a pyramid scheme. People are hooked by promises of large financial returns after a certain period of time. If these promises seem too good to be true, they probably are.

• The Grandparent Scam- In this scenario, the elderly victim is called and told that a grandchild has gone to jail and needs money to be bailed out. Have your loved one ask to speak to the grandchild if such a call is received and request relevant information such as the caller’s name and address. You also may want to remind your loved one that in the event of a grandchild’s arrest, the grandchild would place his or her own phone call.

While it is unfortunate that there are people who take advantage of seniors in our communities, it is important that caregivers are ready and prepared to help loved ones be careful and avoid scams. The scenarios above are some of the more “typical” scams, but there are many creative crooks out there – use common sense to help guide you and your loved one.

What is In-Home Care?

In-Home Care Options and How They Help

By Barbara Kate Repa, Caring.com Senior Editor 

What it does
In-home care is the term that broadly defines the various types of care and services delivered by individuals or agencies to those with mobility limitations or other frailties that make it difficult for them to leave home.
In-home care generally includes help from the following:

• Elder companions, who primarily provide friendly companionship and supervision
• Personal care assistants, who help with some chores and daily grooming
• Live-in care providers, who ensure a constant monitoring presence

How it helps
In whatever capacity the extra care is needed -- from periodic social visits to help with daily medication management to around-the-clock monitoring -- in-home care can help accomplish the goal of allowing a person to stay at home rather than move to a facility. For many people, staying at home among their possessions and in a familiar community is a primal urge and plays a big role in assuring a good quality of life.

What it costs
In-home care ranges in cost from free help from volunteers who provide assistance with visits and chores to live-in care that can run several thousand dollars or more a month for constant monitoring.