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Signs That Your Aging Loved One Needs Assisted Living

Millions of aging adults need help to complete activities of daily living such as showering, eating and taking their medication. One of the hardest decisions a family may need to make is deciding whether or not their aging loved one needs to be placed into assisted living. Below are some significant signs that your loved one may need a higher level of care.

Wandering: One of the later signs of dementia is wandering. Even within a home wandering can be dangerous as daily tasks like going to the bathroom can lead to falls and injuries.
Aggression: When an aging loved one begins to show physical and verbal aggression it may be another sign that their condition is deteriorating. Furthermore, this behavior could lead to family members becoming resentful.
Their house no longer safe: If you no longer feel that your loved one is safe in their home if they are not being supervised then it is time for them to receive a higher level of care in an assisted living facility.
Caregiver burnout: Taking care of an aging loved one can take an enormous toll on anyone. If you are feeling burnt out it does not help you or your loved one if you continue to try to take care o them if they need a higher level of care.

If you notice any of these signs, you should begin to consider long-term nursing care for your loved one. In addition, having your loved one try out respite care can help you decide whether you loved ones needs long term care or at the very least give you and your family a much-needed break. At Sprain Brook Manor we can work with you, and your family to give you advice and options when it comes to taking care of your loved ones and their unique care needs. This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information.Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

Taking Precautions While Traveling

As we age, we become more prone to illness and injury. Travel can put the elderly at increased risk for disease and injury due to several hazards including increased stress. Furthermore, air travel can be particularly dangerous for the elderly because of high altitude, and an increased possibility of injury and illness. Below are airplane traveling hazards that aging adults need to be aware of and address from Get Away Tips:

Jet Lag: traveling across time zones can lead to jet lag. Jet lag has the potential to disrupt sleeping patterns, put aging adults at risk of exhaustion and affect an individual’s sensitive medication schedule.
Injury: Traveling on an airplane includes several potential risks for injury, especially for aging adults because they are more prone to injury. Risks for injury include being shoved or pushed while entering or exiting a plane, falling in the airport or being hit by luggage from overhead carry-on storage. Any injury that an elderly individual receives during air travel can be increasingly dangerous as life-saving medical treatment can be unavailable during longer flights.
Illness: Aging adults have weaker immune systems and therefore at an increased risk of getting sick during or after air travel. A more fragile immune system is particularly problematic when flying on an airplane as the close quarters makes it more likely for germs to spread between individuals. Also, staying too long in one position can lead to blood clots or worsen arthritis.

Aging adults can avoid or minimize potential flying related injuries by packing lightly and only packing small carry-ons with essential items. In addition, getting an aisle seat will make the bathroom easier to reach and taking short walks on the flight will increase blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots. Even the most cautious aging adults can face serious medical events and need skilled nursing care from a top rated rehab center. Receiving short-term care or long-term nursing home care in comfort and from a well-trained staff can help you or your loved ones recover faster and stay healthier longer. This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information. Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.
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Diabetes in the Elderly

Diabetes is a serious health issue that affects 11.8 million seniors. Diabetes is when an individual does not make enough insulin, a hormone that helps our body turn glucose (sugar) into energy. When the body does not produce enough insulin an overabundance of glucose is left in the blood stream. Too much glucose in the blood stream can lead individuals to have several negative health consequences including feeling, tired, hungry, need to urinate often, and damage to their eyesight. In addition, when glucose levels get to high in the blood stream it can hurt kidneys, nerves, cause heart disease, stroke and even lead to amputation and death. Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult onset diabetes) often runs in families. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include being overweight and under active. In addition, those over the age of 40 from African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders groups are also at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For those diagnosed with diabetes it is important to properly manage it. It crucial to speak to your doctor to find out what steps you need to take in order to manage your diabetes. There are generally 4 essential aspects to managing diabetes.

Eating Correctly: Understanding how your diet affects your glucose levels is essential in managing diabetes. Creating a diabetic specific diet plan can help keep your glucose levels down.
Exercise: Regular exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes.
Medications: Medications can help individuals with diabetes manage their blood glucose levels and can help improve the positive effects of eating right and exercise.
Monitoring: Monitoring your glucose level and blood pressure can help ensure your condition does not get worse before it gets better,

Diabetes is only one of the many health concerns that seniors face as they age. It is important that as we age we properly manage our health. When our loved ones have serious health issues we need to ensure they get the best skilled nursing care. Sprain Brook Manor Rehab offers short term and long term care that serves the greater Tri-State area. We consider all aspects of our resident’s health including diet to ensure they have the best possible care.
This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

How To Protect Seniors Against Scams

According to the National Council on Aging financial scams that target the elderly are extremelyprevalent. These crimes are devastating to seniors and leave them little opportunity to recover theirlosses. In addition, financial scams often go unreported because elderly victims may feel tooembarrassed to come forward. One of the best ways to keep your elderly loved one from falling for afinancial scam is educating them. Below are the most common financial scams that target the elderly,for a full list see ncoa.org. Medicare/ Insurance Scams- Perpetrators may pretend to be a Medicare representative and getan elderly person to give them their personal information or provide a bogus service and thencharge Medicare for it. Ensure that you or your loved one checks Medicare statements in orderto catch these types of scams.  Counterfeit Prescription Drug Scams- When seniors try to save money on medication by buyingmedication online they can fall prey to stores that sell counterfeit drugs. This type of scam canbe hazardous to a individuals wallet and their health so stress the importance of only buyingmedication from reputable sources.  Funeral and Cemetery Scams-Some scam artists go to funerals and demand money from familymembers for fake debts they claim the deceased owes them. In addition, shady funeral homesmay add expensive options to bills even when they are not necessary. If someone claims thedeceased owes them money tell the individual to contact the lawyer handling the estate and make sure to research any expensive additions funeral homes may try to add to your bill.
 Telemarketing Scams- These scammers prey on the elderly and are extremely hard to trace.Three common phone scams are the pigeon drop, where the scammer tells the mark they found money and will split it with the aging adult if they give them a good faith payment, the fake accident ploy, where someone calls an aging adult and tells them to send them money on the premise that a family member is in the hospital and needs it and the charity scam, where money is “collected” for fake charities.
Scams that target the elderly can do a lot of financial and psychological damage to the victims. Just like when it comes to taking care of your aging loved one, it is important to be educated about potential hazards that can threaten their health. At Sprain Brook Manor we understand the importance of knowing that a family can trust the health and care of their loved one to our skilled nursing care staff. We have the best rehab center in the Westchester area and offer several therapies including Cardiac, Speech, Pulmonary and Physical therapy so that your loved one can regain their health and quality of life.
This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day.Contact Us today to receive more information.Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

Watch Out for Caregiver Burnout

Taking care of an elderly loved one is a full time job that can quickly exhaust you. Even if you have only been a caregiver for short time it is likely you are already experiencing some of the signs of caregiver burnout. It is important that you ensure that you give yourself the needed breaks and watch out for caregiver burnout before the feeling intensifies, causes functional impairment and leads to changes in mood. Caregiver.com lists seven common signs of caregiver burnout, see the full list on their website.

You don’t feel like seeing or talking to anyone. If all of a sudden you feel like you no longer want to be social with friends or family this is a sign you may be burning out.
You no longer find interest in things that you used to enjoy. Anhedonia is a loss of experiencing pleasure in activities you used to find enjoyable. It is an early sign of depression and may mean you need a break from caregiving.
You have had a recent significant change in appetite. A large increase or decrease in appetite can be a telltale sign that you are experiencing extreme levels of stress.
You have had a recent significant change in your sleep patterns. Stress can wreak havoc on your sleep habits. If you’re oversleeping or under sleeping it can be your body telling you that you need a break from the stress of caregiving.

If you are experiencing any one of these signs of caregiver burnout you may need a break from caregiving. Respite Care is one option for those who are experiencing caregiver burnout. Respite Care is when someone temporarily has their loved one cared for by a nursing home in order to give some short term relief to care givers. Sprain Brook Manor offers Respite Care in Westchester for those in the tristate area who need a break from caregiving. Our facility offers the best in skilled nursing care and short term care for the aging community in the tristate area and beyond. This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information. Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

Things that are Cheaper in Retirement

As individuals age one of the topics that many individuals worry about is their finances. In particular many aging adults are concerned about whether they will have enough money to retire. One aspect to consider when thinking about how much money one will need to retire is that several expenses actually decrease when one retires. While the money you will save from cutting out several expenses in retirement may vary from person to person almost everyone can expect to save on at least some expenses once they begin retirement. Below is a list from the AARP of things that become cheaper in retirement.

Lower Taxes: Taxpayers that are 65 or older can receive a higher standard deduction if they don’t itemize. In addition, once you are retirement age you may see more of your paycheck as you no longer have to pay into social security and Medicare.
Lower Commuting Costs: According to one study the average fulltime workers spends an estimated $240 per month traveling to and from work. Once you reached retirement you will save on commuting as well as other work related costs like dry cleaning or office gifts.
Lower Insurance Costs: Once you reached retirement you may decide to get rid of disability insurance and you can be eligible for lower car insurance premium if you’re driving fewer miles.
Save on home repairs and chores: When you are no longer working a day job you will have more time to do your home tasks such as gardening and maintenance like painting, instead of paying someone else to do these tasks.
Saving on Travel: Once you retire you will likely want to travel more. Since you have more time and flexibility you can travel in the off season and save big on travel.

When thinking of retirement it is also important that you research healthcare options in your area that you can rely on in case you or a loved one needs to recover from a medical event. Sprain Brook Manor offers renowned rehabilitation and skilled nursing care in the tristate area. We have several therapies such as speech, physical and pulmonary therapy to help you or your loved one get back to enjoying retirement after a medical event.This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact Us today to receive more information.Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

The Importance Of Downsizing and Decluttering For The Elderly

Part of the natural course of aging may involve downsizing as aging adults move to a smaller home or anursing home. Downsizing can be very difficult as items that many would deem as clutter may holdsentimental value to their owners. In addition, many aging individuals may not want to downsize andleave the home they have lived in for decades so refusing to get rid of items can act as a way for them totry delay leaving their home. Clutter among the elderly is a real issue as one survey study revealed that30% of people over the age of 70 had not given away any items in the last year even though thesepossessions were no longer useful to them in their daily lives. If you would like to help your loved one declutter their space it is important to follow some guidelines.  Have a plan: Walking through the property and seeing how much stuff you are likely going tothrow away, give away or keep will give you a good idea of how long the project will take andwhat resources you will need to complete the project.  Be sensitive: Do not come off as callous as you throw your loved one’s items away. Makingcomments like “why did you keep this” or “you have so much junk” can be invalidating andmake the person you’re trying to help upset.  Do not try to do it all in one day: Your loved one took a lifetime filling up their home with itemso do not expect it to take a few hours to declutter it. Breaking the project up into smaller taskswill make decluttering the home feel less overwhelming.  Get some helpers: Try to recruit family and friends to help you declutter the property. Doing theproject all by yourself could take days or even weeks. The more hands you have to help thefaster it will go.  Have fun and learn something: If you take the time you may find some treasures in your lovedones home. At the very least you may learn something about your family or loved one that youdid not know before as a result of an item you find. In addition, decluttering and cleaning yourloved one’s home can create a great opportunity to bond with your loved one and anyone elsehelping you with the project. When holding on to items becomes a serious issue for someone then their actions might be labeled ashoarding. Hoarding is when someone has difficulty getting rid of items regardless of the items values.This behavior often has negative emotional, physical, financial and even legal effects on those sufferingand their family. If you believe that someone you care about has a serious issue with hoarding than youshould contact a mental health professional to help them manage and treat their illness.This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover frommedical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day.Contact Us today to receive more information.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, norshould it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

Senior Dating

In April Bill Wilson and Lillian Kar Wilson passed away within minutes of each other. What was so special about this couple was that they were high school sweetheart and had been married for 73 years (source). Many aging adults find themselves in a much different situation than the Wilson’s. In 2009, seventeen percent of singles, 16.2 million individuals, were 65 years or older (source). With this many senior singles it is no wonder why dating among seniors has become a much talked about topic.Then are several important benefits that aging adults can receive from dating. Having someone beyond friend or family where one can have intimacy and companionship is important for all human beings. Aging adults who live alone and have less social contact can become withdrawn and may be more susceptible to health issues. According to eHarmony, there are several strengths that mature singles can offer to a partner including knowing themselves, being better able to assess potential partners, clearer sense of what is important, and realistic expectations. However, seniors may also face some obstacles in dating such as grieving past relationships, grown children that object and health conditions. No matter what the obstacle to dating is, it may be important for your emotional and physical wellbeing to begin to date or at least be more social if you’re a single aging adult. This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact us today to receive more information.Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

The Dangers of Falling

On Wednesday July 15th former President George H.W Bush was hospitalized after falling and breaking a neck bone. He was extremely lucky as he is expected to make a full recovery and will only need to wear a neck brace and receive physical therapy (source). However many adults over 65 have serious injuries from falling. In fact, according to the CDC 33% of adults over 65 fall each year and among older adults the majority of fatal and non-fatal injuries are a result of falling. In 2013 alone there were 2.5 million adults over 65 that went to the ER as a result of falling and 734,000 that had to be hospitalized.There are several risk factors that increase aging adults likelihood that they will fall. Below is a list of risk factors from NIH Senior Health that can help one understand the risk of falling at an older age. For a full list please check out the NIH Senior Health website.

Muscle Weakness, especially in leg muscles is a leading cause of falls.
Aging adults with poor balance are more likely to fall. Difficulty with balance can be related to neurological issues, lack of exercise and other conditions.
Postural hypotension, which can results from dehydration of other medical conditions is a condition where blood pressure drips to fast when you go from lying down or sitting to standing
Vision issues, such as poor depth perception and cataracts can lead you to misjudge and fail to see objects that you might trip over

With over 33% of aging adults falling every year it is likely that you or a loved one may fall and need rehabilitation. Sprain Brook Manor’s rehabilitation center in Westchester offers state of the art skilled nursing care and short term care in a warm and caring environment. Sprain Brook Manor’s short to rehab in Westchester offers several healing therapy’s including physical therapy, speech therapy, cardiac therapy and pulmonary therapy. If you or a loved one has had a recent medical event and you are looking for quality rehabilitation in the New York Tristate area then please contact Sprain Brook Manor Rehab right away.This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact us today to receive more information.Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

Apps for Seniors

There are over a million apps that do everything from helping remember your grocery list , to giving on the go news updates and tracking your pet. The current phone app explosion also provides many tools that can help elderly or aging adults in their everyday lives. We have looked through several lists of different apps for the elderly and compared reviews to find our top choices. RxmindMe Prescription / Medicine Reminder and Pill Tracker created by Walgreen CO this app reminds individuals to take their medications. Users are able to enter all of their medication dosage information, set reminders and keep track of whether they took their medications. The apps other features include being able to email your prescription history which is great if you need to give that information to a new doctor and also has the ability to search the FDA drug database for your medication. In addition, if you get your medication from Walgreens you can refill the prescription through the app and it is free so you don’t have to spend any money on it in case you don’t like it.EyeReader by NetSoft is a reading magnifier that uses the phone screens LED light to focus light on text in dark places and gives the user the ability to read text more easily by enabling the user to magnify the text. Lumosity Mobile by By Lumos Labs, Inc. is a great app for those aging adults who love puzzles and games and wont to help keep their mind’s sharp. According to the app’s description the activities in lumosity were design by neuroscientists to help with memory , attention and neuroplasticity. While activities in the app may be based on proven research the cost might be a little high for some. Unlike other apps mentioned, to access Lumosity you most pay around $12 a month or $60 for a year.Phone applications offer a lot of help in making older adult’s lives easier. The best way to find an app for your or your older loved one is to search a difficulty or problem you or your aging loved one is having and see what results come up. This post is provided by Sprain Brook Manor Rehab which Provides unique opportunity to recover from medical procedures that result in true satisfying results. Getting you stronger and better every day. Contact us today to receive more information. Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as health advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual medical counsel or consulting your physician.

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