Changes – Both Good and Bad There’s much to enjoy about the transition from summer to autumn. The intense heat begins to subside, the leaves change color, and we ready ourselves for the holiday season. But like all other seasonal transitions, there’s a tradeoff, and with the positive changes come certain challenges to our health … Read More
In the Blink of An Eye We often underestimate the volatility of Mother Nature, forgetting that our possessions, our homes, and even those we love can be taken away from us in the blink of an eye because of a tornado, hurricane, wildfire, flood, or any number of other natural disasters. Of course, we’ve gotten … Read More
What Makes Vaccines Important? Research shows that a number of older adults aren’t getting the vaccines they need to help reduce their risk of serious illnesses. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2017 report showed that 43% of older adults (age 65 and older) aren’t up to date on their tetanus shots. … Read More
For seniors, skin cancer prevention and sun protection is critical. According to the Canadian Skin Foundation, over 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Canada each year.
It is estimated that 5-10% of the elderly population is faced with food allergies – but that the prevalence is underestimated and undertreated in seniors. Reactions from a food allergy can be very serious, and contact with even trace amounts of offensive foods can be life-threatening.
A total of about 4 million (1 in 8) Canadians are affected by a food-borne illness. Of these, there are about: 11,600 hospitalizations and 238 deaths. Canada’s seniors need to be aware of the risks of foodborne illnesses, understand these infection warning signs, and take these steps for preventing senior infection from foodborne illness.
Falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 and older, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually. Every 13 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
Kitchens are one of the most dangerous areas of a home for seniors. There may be physical issues such as diminished balance, vision, and reflexes ─ or a senior may be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Many accidents and falls occur in the kitchen due to: cooking fires, water, grease and spills on the floor, reaching for hard-to-reach objects, appliance injuries, even inappropriate objects placed in a microwave.
Bathrooms can be quite hazardous, especially for Canada’s seniors. Up to 80% of falls in the home occur in the bathroom. Bathrooms typically have slippery surfaces, and nothing dependable to grasp in order to prevent falls. Fall-related injuries can range from minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises to more severe injuries, including broken bones such as hip fractures, head contusions, and even spinal cord injury.
