Summer Safety for Seniors | Summer can get quite hot, and it’s especially important to make sure seniors are staying healthy and safe during warm days. Here are some ways to make sure your senior is safe this summer.
Watch for Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be dangerous to seniors. Although heat exhaustion is not life-threatening, it can turn into heat stroke – which can be life-threatening – if not treated. Symptoms of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness or weakness, cold or clammy skin, headache, and nausea. You may also notice a fast and weak pulse. If your loved one is showing these symptoms, get them into a cool place immediately and have them drink water or an electrolyte drink. If they have high blood pressure or heart problems, call 911.
Heat stroke has similar symptoms, except they will have a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more, and they will not be sweating. People with heat stroke often faint as well. In this case, get them to a cooler area, but do not have them drink water, as they may be in and out of consciousness which can increase risk of choking. Place cool compresses on their skin to help bring down their temperature, and call 911 immediately.
Stay Hydrated
Prevent your senior from getting heat stroke by making sure they stay hydrated. Some seniors lose their sense of thirst and don’t drink enough water, so it’s important to make sure that they’re regularly drinking water throughout the day. Seniors should drink around 7 or 8 cups of water per day. Supplementing with sports drinks is great in the heat as well.
Related Article: Senior Hydration – Calgary (comfortkeepers.ca)
Sunscreen
Aging skin needs special care, especially when in the sun. Make sure your loved one applies sunscreen anytime they’re spending time outside. Look for SPF 30 and make sure to reapply every two hours. Not only are sunburns painful, but sun damage can cause skin cancer.
#DYK – Many Older Adults Don’t Protect Their Skin from the Sun – Less than half of older adults protect their skin from the sun when outside for an hour or more on a warm, sunny day. This may raise their risk of getting skin cancer. (Source: CDC.gov)
Avoid Direct Sun Exposure
UV rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm, so if possible, limit your senior’s sun exposure during that time. Evenings and mornings are great times for your loved one to get their vitamin D while lowering their risk of heat exhaustion or sunburn. If they do choose to be out in the sun during the hottest part of the day, encourage them to spend some of the time in the shade. And either way, a pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are great ways to protect the eyes and face from too much UV.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help | Summer Safety for Seniors
At Comfort Keepers®, can help keep your loved one safe during the summer by accompanying them on outdoor excursions or helping them apply sunscreen. If in-home caregiving seems like a good option for your loved one, contact us at our Calgary location today. We look forward to bringing more cheer into your loved one’s life. For more information about Comfort Keepers’ services, reach out to the Calgary, Alberta office today.
What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts
What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts | Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and are quite common in seniors. In fact, more than half of seniors 80 or older have had or will have cataracts. As someone who is caring for a senior – or even someone who is a senior – you might be wondering what you need to know about cataracts how senior care can help. Here are some answers to the most common questions people have.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract happens when the lens part of the eye becomes cloudy. This can happen simply due to aging – as the proteins in the lens start to deteriorate – or due to trauma of the eye. In a healthy eye, the lens is clear, allowing us to see well. However, when a cataract forms, the cloudy lens makes it more difficult to see clearly. Cataracts tend to develop slowly over time, and someone with cataracts might start to notice their vision getting worse and worse.
How To Recognize Cataracts in Seniors
Cloudy, dim, or blurry vision are the most common signs of a cataract. Things may appear to be tinted yellowish or brownish, and you could also experience halos around lights. You might be more sensitive to light and have trouble seeing in the dark. If left untreated, a cataract can sometimes even be seen visually, causing the pupil to become a cloudy white color.
Related Article: Vision Loss – Calgary (comfortkeepers.ca)
What Happens If You Have Cataracts?
Luckily, cataract surgery is available to fix cataracts. In cataract surgery, the doctor will remove your original lens and replace it with a new one, called an intraocular lens. This is an outpatient procedure and most people recover quite quickly, with any pain resolving in less than a week. With cataract surgery, the original cataract will not be able to return, since an entirely new lens has been placed.
#DYK – Eat your carrots. A daily dose of the vitamins and minerals found in melons, citrus fruit, carrots, spinach, and kale may help slow the progress
of age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma,
and cataracts. (Source: Seniors and Aging: Vision Care)
Can You Prevent Cataracts in Seniors?
While cataracts are very common in seniors, there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. Diabetes, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, and high blood pressure all increase your risk, so making sure to eat well and take care of your body can help to prevent cataracts. Previous eye injury, surgery, or long term use of corticosteroid medications can increase risk as well. If other members of your family have had cataracts, your risk is higher, since it can be hereditary.
Additionally, remember to wear sunglasses when you’re in the sun, as excessive exposure to sunlight can increase the risk as well.
Comfort Keepers® Can Help | What Seniors in Calgary Should Know About Cataracts
If your loved one is losing their vision and needs assistance around the house, Comfort Keepers senior care services can help. We provide in-home caregiving services to help keep your loved one safe. If your loved one has recently had surgery – like cataract surgery – we can help with tasks around the house during their recovery so that they can focus on healing.
If you’re interested in learning more about senior care and working with Comfort Keepers Home Care, reach out to the Calgary, Alberta office today.
Bonus Article: Aging and Driving: Staying Safe and Keeping Independence
How to Notice Vision Changes in Seniors
How to Notice Vision Changes in Seniors
How to notice vision changes in seniors as changes in vision can happen quickly for seniors and should be treated as soon as possible. If your senior is having vision changes, here’s what you need to know and how home care solutions can help.
The best way to notice vision changes in your senior is to make sure they get an eye exam every year. Your senior’s eye doctor can make sure your loved one has an up-to-date glasses prescription, and can even detect certain eye conditions, like glaucoma.
Observe your senior and see if they’re having more trouble reading than usual. Do they have to get really close to signs or magazines in order to read them? If they drive, are they able to read signs from enough of a distance?
You can also educate your loved one on signs of vision changes. As we age, lots of things about the body change, and some of them go unnoticed or are ignored. By checking in with your loved one and utilizing at home care solutions, you can catch signs of vision changes early.
Common Vision Changes and Conditions
Over half of American seniors have cataracts, which is when the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. This causes blurred vision and can be treated with surgery to replace the lens.
Glaucoma is another common vision condition, which happens when the nerve connecting the eye and the brain gets damaged. It often doesn’t have many symptoms aside from a slow loss of vision – which is why it’s important for your senior to see their doctor if they’re noticing any loss of vision. Eye drops, laser treatment, and surgery can help to treat glaucoma, but if left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
Macular Degeneration affects ones’ central vision. This condition causes the fine detail and sharp edges of our vision to deteriorate, which can make it difficult to do daily tasks. It can also affect how we see color. Getting regular eye check-ups can allow your loved one’s doctor to catch this condition quickly so that they can start treatment. While it can’t be completely reversed, the degeneration can be slowed.
That being said, there are many normal changes in vision as we get older and home care solutions are available to provide comfort and aide. For example, many seniors need reading glasses or even full-time glasses. Dark colors may be a bit more difficult to tell apart from each other, and they might need more light in order to see well.
Comfort Keepers Can Help
Discover the many benefits of home care solutions and let Comfort Keepers transport your loved one to their next eye doctor appointment, or help them set up their home so that they can see better. We offer a variety of in-home caregiving services to make your senior live a better life. If you’re interested in working with us, reach out to Comfort Keepers of Calgary to find out more.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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Keeping Bones, Muscles and Joints Healthy and Strong
Comfort Keepers provides home health care services in Calgary, AB that help keep bones, muscles, and joints healthy and strong
Keeping Bones, Muscles and Joints Healthy and Strong | After decades of movement, your bones, muscles, and joints get weaker. Bones lose density, while muscle becomes less flexible and begins to weaken. Our joints become worn out and may start to hurt. These parts of our body are incredibly important and help us do everyday basic functions, like walking. It’s important to keep these parts of the body in as good of shape as possible.
Strong bones, muscles, and joints can prevent injury. For seniors, breaking a bone can be serious, since it’s much harder to heal at an older age. By being proactive and utilizing home health care services, seniors can follow these tips to keep themselves healthy.
Get Plenty of Calcium
We’ve all probably heard how calcium is good for strong bones and home health care services can help your loved one receive a sufficient amount through proper nutrition. If you don’t have enough calcium in your diet, your body will start to take calcium from your bones where it’s stored and use that up instead. This will cause your bones to become brittle and weak. Calcium also helps muscles and cells work well. Dairy products, like milk, are a great source of calcium. Leafy greens and seafood are great too.
Soak Up Some Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important because it helps the body absorb calcium. For seniors with osteoporosis, it’s especially important to supplement vitamin D along with calcium. Our home health care services and providers will help ensure that your love one is getting the proper amount of vitamin D. Aside from spending some time in the sun, fatty fish like tuna, mushrooms, or egg yolks are a great source of vitamin D. Some dairy products, like milk, are fortified with vitamin D as well.
Eat Some Fish for Omega 3s
If anything, it’s crucial for seniors to get their Omega 3s. Not only does it benefit bone health, but it helps with building muscle and can reduce joint inflammation. For seniors with arthritis, incorporating Omega 3s into their diet can greatly help with joint pain. Fish, nuts, and plant oils are good ways to get Omega 3s.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight can put extra pressure on joints and bones. And for seniors who already have aging joints and bones, being overweight can make it even worse. Staying at a healthy weight can lessen that pressure on your joints and bones, which can even lessen pain.
Try Strength Training
Strength training improves bone density and muscle mass, which makes it perfect for seniors. And don’t be intimidated – there are many strength training exercises that can be done at home with no equipment. For example, lying hip bridges, wall push-ups, and squats with a chair are good ways to start building strength. Of course, have your senior talk to their doctor before starting exercise, especially if they have never exercised or haven’t exercised in several years.
Stretch Daily
Keep joints mobile by doing stretches each day. Yoga is a good way for seniors to maintain and improve flexibility. Even just 5-10 minutes each day can make a difference.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
If your loved one is looking for support when it comes to staying healthy and mobile, Comfort Keepers home health care services can help. Contact us at our Calgary, AB location today to find out more..
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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Living With Arthritis
Living With Arthritis and Elderly Care in Calgary, AB
Comfort Keepers offers elderly care services that help seniors navigate life with arthritis in Calgary, AB
Living With Arthritis | There are two types of arthritis – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common and is likely the type of arthritis someone might get as they age. With this type of arthritis, the cartilage that usually acts as a padding or cushion to the bone gets worn down to the point that bone rubs against bone, which causes pain and swelling.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue, which leads to weakened cartilage.
Signs of Arthritis
The main symptoms of arthritis are pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. This may affect only certain areas of the body, like the fingers or knees, or may affect multiple areas. There may also be redness in the area, and you might notice a decreased range of motion.
What to do if you think you or your loved one has arthritis?
If you or your loved one may have arthritis, a visit to the doctor can help to confirm the diagnosis and get you started with elderly care and placed on a management plan. In order to diagnose arthritis, your doctor may take a sample of joint fluid. They may also take an X-ray, which can show if there’s any cartilage loss or bone damage.
How to Manage Arthritis
While there isn’t a cure for arthritis, there are many elderly care options to manage it. In fact, many people live with arthritis and are able to do most of the things they used to do. Starting treatment at the first sign of arthritis can help to prevent it from getting worse later on.
Anti-inflammatory and painkiller medication are often suggested to patients with arthritis, and for mild to moderate arthritis, over-the-counter medications work well. Physical therapy is also helpful for many seniors who have arthritis.
Regular movement and exercise can help manage arthritis inflammation and pain. Standing or sitting in one position for too long can aggravate arthritis for some people, so adjusting your position regularly can help manage flare-ups.
Eating well and maintaining a healthy weight can also help reduce arthritis symptoms. Make sure to get nutrients that help promote healthy joints – for example, Omega 3s are great for joint and bone health. And maintaining a healthy weight reduces the amount of pressure that is put on joints.
For the Elderly Living with Arthritis, Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
If your loved one was recently diagnosed with arthritis, you may be looking for support. At Comfort Keepers Home Care in Calgary, AB, we provide elderly care services b working with seniors to ensure that they stick to their management program. Whether they need help taking medicine or a reminder to do their daily exercise, we can help. Contact us at our Calgary location today to find out more information about elderly care and to schedule an appointment.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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Senior Well Being During Isolation
Senior Well Being During Isolation | During these stressful times, it’s important that we check up on our senior loved ones to make sure they’re getting what they need. Most states are urging those 65 and older to stay at home so that they can reduce the risk of catching the virus. At Comfort Keepers Home Care, we understand how crucial it is to make sure seniors are getting their basic and emotional needs met. Here are some ways that we can encourage seniors to feel the best they can during these times.
Ideas for Senior’s Well Being During Isolation:
Basic Needs: Caregivers and low-risk family members or friends can offer to pick up groceries, prescriptions, and other supplies to ensure that your loved one stays safe. They can also assist in online ordering, as many stores offer grocery delivery now. Our caregivers will also put away groceries, meal prep, and do light cleaning.
Social Connection: Staying connected to your senior loved one is extra important during these times. You can plan weekly phone calls or video chats with them to connect, even when you can’t see each other in person. Encourage other family members and friends to do the same.
Hobbies and Entertainment: Talk to your senior about the things they enjoy and help them find at-home activities that make them happy. Whether it’s listening to music, watching a movie or playing a game, you can find something they enjoy. They can even enjoy some of these activities virtually with others. For example, they could play a card game with friends online.
Exercise: There’s no better way to keep healthy than to exercise regularly. Walks, light stretching or yoga, or even dancing are great ways for seniors to maintain and improve their range of motion and cardiovascular health. Resistance training with bands or light weights is a good way to improve strength and build muscle. There are many free workout videos online, some that are even targeted towards seniors.
Diet: It’s easy to start snacking on unhealthy foods when you’re home all the time. Help your senior meal prep and come up with some healthy ideas for snacks. You can’t go wrong with fruit and veggies!
Cleaning: Not only is cleaning important for eliminating germs, but it can also feel good to have a clean home to live in each day. Start out small with just one area of a room, and go section-by-section to make it feel more doable. Have your senior put on their favorite music, audiobook, or podcast to make it more fun.
Holidays: Even though you and your loved one may be in isolation, celebrating holidays like Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo can lift spirits. Decorate the house with springtime flowers and decorations and have a video chat with others to celebrate the holiday.
Daily Rituals: Most importantly, encourage your senior to keep up on daily rituals and find alternatives for the things they can’t do right now. Help them find joy in the little things each day.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help with Senior Well Being During Isolation
If your loved one needs some extra help at home, contact us at Comfort Keepers Home Care of Calgary to schedule a consultation.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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COVID-19: Precautions You Can Take
COVID-19: Precautions You Can Take | It is more important than ever to keep your senior safe during these uncertain times. An in-home caregiver can help to keep your loved one safe by supporting them at home, running errands for them, and even providing virtual care.
COVID-19: Precautions You Can Take
Reducing the Risk: Our caregivers know what steps to take to reduce the risk of infectious disease. Between cleaning and using proper personal protective equipment, our caregivers will keep your senior safe and healthy.
Home Remains the Safest Place: Staying away from crowds and groups of people is the best way to lower risk of exposure. Our care at Comfort Keepers Home Care of Calgary, AB allows your loved one to stay in their home while getting the care that they need.
Picking Up Necessities: One way to prevent infection is to avoid packed grocery stores. Our caregivers will run errands for your loved one, which includes picking up groceries or medications, going to the post office, or providing transportation to appointments. We can also help with ordering supplies and necessities online.
Cleaning: Our caregivers follow strict cleaning and hygiene guidelines to keep your loved one healthy. We offer light housekeeping services, including laundry, disinfecting countertops, and vacuuming. Our caregivers practice good hygiene by regularly washing hands and can teach your loved one about the most up-to-date hygiene practices, too.
Staying Social: During a time when family and friends can’t see each other in-person, we turn to alternatives to stay social. Our caregivers enjoy getting to know your loved one and can play games with them or encourage them to take part in their hobbies. We can also help your loved one set up a video chat or phone call with friends and family.
Family Support: Not only do we support seniors, but we support their families too. Whether you want an update on your loved one’s health or have some concerns, we are here to listen and help you out.
Virtual Care: If your loved one is unable to have a caregiver visit in person, we can provide virtual care through video chat and phone calls. This is a great way for us to check in with your loved one, and for them to get some social interaction.
Interactive Caregiving: At Comfort Keepers, we believe in Interactive Caregiving. This means that we work with our senior clients, not for them. We encourage your loved one to be active in their care and continue to keep a daily schedule, even on days that we can’t be physically with them.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
If you have a senior loved one in the Calgary, AB area that needs a little extra help around the house but doesn’t want to give up their independence an in home caregiver can help. Home care providers can offer many services ranging from cooking and cleaning to helping with personal care. Talk to one of our senior care specialists today to find out more in home care services. Contact Comfort Keepers Home Care in Calgary for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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Advice and Wellness Tips Regarding COVID-19 for Seniors in Calgary, AB
At Comfort Keepers of Calgary, AB we are committed to the safety and health of our clients
Advice and Wellness Tips Regarding COVID-19 | Safety has always been the top priority at Comfort Keepers of Calgary, AB, but now more than ever health and wellness is a top priority due to the COVID-19 crisis. We believe that home remains the safest place, which is why we offer a variety of services that allow seniors to live comfortably and safely at home while receiving the assistance they need.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus can be spread through person-to-person through touch, sneezes, and coughs, through surfaces, as well as through the air. This is why our Comfort Keepers caregivers are here to help your loved one with tasks such as keeping a clean home, keeping up with the laundry, and preparing healthy foods with proper sanitation practices.
Advice and Wellness Tips – How Comfort Keepers Calgary Can Help
At Comfort Keepers of Calgary, AB we take pride in helping to maintain the general health and wellness of those in our care. In these uncertain times, we have also come up with these best practices for staying on top of the COVID-19 crisis:
- Know the symptoms: Keep in mind that fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain and confusion are the symptoms of COVID-19.
- Personal care: Maintaining optimal personal hygiene is crucial during the outbreak. Our caregivers offer personal care services that include assistance with bathing, washing hands, brushing teeth, washing clothes and bedding, and more.
- Practice social distancing: During the crisis, your loved one should stay at home. Our caregivers will take care of everything else, like running errands and shopping for groceries.
- Maintain a clean home: We will make sure that every part of your loved one’s home is disinfected thoroughly regularly.
Comfort Keepers® Calgary Can Help
At Comfort Keepers®, we create individual care plans for every client. In addition to keeping your loved one safe during this stressful time, we can provide a number of additional services including medication management, incontinence care, respite care and more. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.
Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.
Comfort Keepers Calgary is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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