Author Archive
Prescription Drug Interaction: Things YOU Can Do
One in 25 older Americans (about 2.2 million) take drugs in potentially harmful combinations. Don’t be one of them!
Know the Ingredients
The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) recommends knowing the active ingredients in the medicines you take. For instance, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers commonly contain one or more of four different pain relief ingredients—aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. A number of prescription and OTC multi-symptom cold and flu medicines contain these same active ingredients.
You should avoid combining medicines with the same active ingredients, as this could lead to an overdose of the ingredient.
Take Steps to Prevent Interactions
On its website, BeMedWise.com, the NCPIE provides advice on preventing drug interactions, such as:
- Give each of your doctors a complete list of all the prescription and OTC drugs, herbal products and supplements you are taking.
- Read and follow label directions exactly, taking no more than the recommended amount.
- Ask a doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have about a medication before taking it, such as whether the medication interacts with food.
- Choose an OTC medication that will treat only the symptoms you have.
- Be cautious when taking more than one OTC drug concurrently as they may contain the same active ingredients, giving you more than the recommended dose.
- Do not combine nonprescription drugs, herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements with prescription medications without consulting your doctor.
- Do not use medicines after their expiration date.
- Use the same pharmacy for all prescriptions to avoid being given medications that have adverse interactions.
Resources
Drug Interactions Checker at Drugs.com
RxList: The Internet Drug Index
Let Us Hear From You!
Have you experienced complications from prescription or OTC drug interaction? Do you research your medications online? If you are an in-home caregiver, how do you ensure your clients avoid harmful drug interactions?
photo credit: Instant Vantage
Part 1: Things to Know About Prescription Drug Interaction
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
Prescription Drug Interactions: Things to Know
Prescription Medications Are Not the Only Cause of Drug Interactions
As seniors, you are at a greater risk of drug interactions than the general population because you typically take more medications. Taken in certain combinations, drugs can interfere or interact with one another, altering their effectiveness in controlling symptoms and improving health. In some cases the results can be life-threatening.
A University of Chicago Medical Center study published in the Dec. 24-31, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that more than half of American seniors take five or more medications or supplements. The study further found that at least one in 25 older Americans—about 2.2 million—take drugs in potentially harmful combinations.
The problem of medication interactions does not involve only prescription medications. The study found that about half of the interactions involved over-the-counter (OTC), or nonprescription medications. Herbal medications, supplements and vitamins—and even some foods and beverages—also interact with drugs to alter their performance.
Prescription Drugs and Nonprescription Products
The following are just a few examples of how nonprescription products can interact with prescription drugs for unhealthy results:
- Taken separately, aspirin and warfarin help prevent blood clots from forming. Taken together, they may cause excessive bleeding.
- Decongestants, found in many OTC cold remedies, may increase blood pressure of people taking anti-hypertension medications or MAO inhibitors, a type of antidepressant.
- Certain antacids can diminish the effectiveness of many medicines, such as antibiotics and heart medications, by preventing them from being absorbed into the blood stream.
Prescription Drugs and Food
Food can also alter the effectiveness of medication. The National Council on Patient Information and Education cites examples:
- Dairy products, antacids and vitamins containing iron can slow the body’s absorption of antibiotics into the bloodstream and thus diminish their effectiveness.
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice block enzymes that metabolize certain drugs, thus making them less effective. Drugs affected by grapefruit include some blood pressure-lowering medications, some cholesterol drugs, the antihistamine terfenadine, and cyclosporine, a drug taken to prevent organ transplant rejection. Pomelo and Seville oranges can cause similar effects.
If you do not know whether any of your medications interacts with foods, ask your doctor or pharmacist
Let Us Hear From You!
Have you experienced complications from prescription or OTC drug interaction? Do you research your medications online? If you are an in-home caregiver, how do you ensure your clients avoid harmful drug interactions?
photo credit: RambergMediaImages
Part 2: Things You Can Do to Prevent Interaction
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
Prostate Cancer: Awareness & Risk Factors
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and we will be looking at how this disease affects seniors — from detection to treatment to the search for a cure.
With over 200,000 estimated new cases in the U.S. in 2010, chances are you know someone affected by prostate cancer. Below you will find information and resources to help you better understand this disease, both its causes and effects.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It’s about the size of a walnut and is surrounded by other glands, nerves, and organs involved in sexual function. It’s possible to live without a prostate, but its location makes the cancer difficult to treat.
Prostate cancer forms in the tissues of the prostate, and usually develops in men over the age of fifty. Most prostate cancer is typically slow-growing (when compared to other types of cancer) and often symptom-free, so it’s important to be aware of the risk factors and methods for early detection.
Who is at Risk?
All men are at risk, simply because they are men, and one in six men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime. In general, men should start being tested at age 45. If one or more of the following risk factors applies, aside from age, you should start being tested at age 40.
- Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 50 years of age. The chance of developing it increases as men get older.
- Family History: A man whose father, brother, or son has had prostate cancer has a higher-than-average risk.
- Race: African-American men are more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer.
- Diet and Obesity: A diet high in dairy foods and calcium may cause a small increase in the risk of prostate cancer. Obese men (with a body mass index of over 32.5) are 33 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer if diagnosed.
- Chemical Exposure: People exposed to certain chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides may have higher than average rates of prostate cancer. Veterans exposed to herbicides like Agent Orange may be at higher risk as well.
Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer!
For More Information:
ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Presidential Proclamation of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Let Us Hear From You!
Have you or a loved one been affected by prostate cancer? What are some of the challenges in treatment and recovery? Have you been a caregiver for a senior with prostate cancer? If you are a man over 50, have you been tested?
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
When Writing a Will…Consult An Attorney – Part II
When planning your estate it is best to choose the counsel of a lawyer—rather than do-it-yourself software and kits—to help guide you through the complexities of property and tax laws, wills, trusts and probate. You are much more likely to meet all of your objectives with the help of a lawyer.
If you are concerned about saving time and money in your estate planning, the American Bar Association (ABA) (see link above) recommends that you organize all pertinent information and documents before meeting with the lawyer. This includes information on assets, liabilities and title arrangements and copies of important documents such as previous wills or trusts, powers-of-attorney, life insurance policies, employment benefits, and prenuptial agreements or divorce decrees.
The ABA advises that since not all states have programs that require or allow attorneys to designate a specialty area of practice, you should carefully look into the level of experience and qualifications a lawyer has in estate planning and seek recommendations from friends or other professional advisors. Membership in certain estate planning organizations often indicates a lawyer’s dedication to keeping up-to-date in the specialty.
Make sure the lawyer addresses legal fees to your satisfaction in an engagement letter before proceeding.
Common Errors To Avoid When Writing Your Will – Part I
You cannot take it with you, but with careful planning you can make sure the assets you worked hard for will benefit the ones you love after you are gone. Many of us, however, put off creating a last will and testament, for one reason or another. In fact, 58 percent of American adults have not written a will, according to a 2008 survey conducted by FindLaw.com
Of all the problems associated with wills, the failure to write one is probably the greatest. Dying without a will leaves the distribution of your property up to your state’s inheritance laws—which likely differs from your idea of how things should be handled.
Among other common will-related problems to avoid:
- Failing to update your will to reflect changes in your life. It is great you took the important step of writing a will. But if you have neglected to revise it after the birth of a child or marriage to a new spouse, the will may no longer be effective. You should also have a lawyer review your will when estate and tax laws change.
- Not putting a “superlative clause” at the end of your will to indicate that this most recent version of your will supersedes all previous wills you have drafted. Without this clause, earlier versions could be brought forward in a challenge to your last will.
- Forgetting or not taking into account other documents you have that could conflict with or supersede the wishes you express in your will. Examples of such documents include life insurance policies in which you designate a beneficiary or a 401(k) retirement account, which automatically goes to the surviving spouse unless the spouse signs a notarized form to waive rights and name another beneficiary. Jointly-held property or accounts also go directly to the surviving owner.
- Entering joint property ownership, which can make the provisions of your will ineffective. When you grant a child joint ownership of property, for instance, full ownership passes to the survivor and cannot be passed on to others through the will.
- Not telling family members where to find your will and other important documents and assets. Even if you do not want family members to know the details of your will in advance, they need to know where to find it. Record and leave all relevant information in an accessible location.
- Choosing an inappropriate executor, such as someone who does not have the time to give to the often long and drawn-out process of estate administration or someone who has a conflict of interest.
- Writing the will in language that is difficult to understand and easy to misinterpret. Write in plain, simple language—not legalese.
- Being too specific, listing every item you own and who gets it. Options are giving things that have special meaning to loved ones while you are still alive, or grouping valuable items such as jewelry, collectibles or tools to specific loved ones.
- Forgetting to include a “leftovers” clause. Such a clause—more formally referred to as a residuary clause—directs distribution of any part of your estate that is left over after all assets specifically mentioned are distributed. For instance, funds could be left over when a named beneficiary is deceased. If your will does not have a leftovers clause, your state’s laws will direct how remaining assets will be distributed.
This article is not intended to provide legal advice but to discuss the topic of wills generally. For more information, visit the American Bar Association’s page on frequently asked questions about estate planning (link to: http://www.abanet.org/rppt/public/home.html) and/or consult your own attorney.
photo credit: quinn.anya
Regular Eye Exams Can Prevent Senior Falls
Normal changes of aging, such as poor eyesight or poor hearing, can increase the risk
of a senior falling. Even if they appear strong and well, illnesses and physical conditions
can affect their strength and balance and falling can be a threat to their ability to live on
their own. The senior’s medical history may include past falls, medical conditions,
mental health, past surgical procedures, use of medication and alcohol.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls were the leading cause of
death from injury among persons 65 years and over. Among seniors who fall and have
fractures, those seniors with hip fractures have the most serious consequences.
Arecent analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that both falls and
non-vertebral/hip fractures occur frequently in elderly individuals and lead to substantial
morbidity (illness/disease) and mortality (death), as well as additional cost to the
healthcare system. It is estimated that beyond the age of 80 years, one of three women
and one of six men will have sustained a hip fracture. The cause of falling can vary, but
one risk factor is the use of certain types of medications. Combinations of medications
can be a risk factor as well.
The consequences of hip fractures are severe: 50% of older people have permanent
functional disabilities, with 15-25% requiring long-term nursing home care, and 10-20%
die within one year.
There are two groups of risk factors:
1. Extrinsic Risk Factors– factors outside the person – includes physical environment,
assistive devices and footwear. Extrinsic factors are related to the person’s physical
environment, including their home, such as poor lighting, slippery floors, or throw rugs. It
also includes any assistive devices such as use of a cane, walker, or wheelchair and
inappropriate clothing or footwear. Any of these can increase a person’s risk of falling.
2. Intrinsic Risk Factors– factors originating with the individual – includes normal aging
changes, diseases (chronic and acute), and medication use. Intrinsic factors are related
to how well the person can see, how well they can walk or maintain their balance, what
kind of muscle strength they exhibit, and how well they can endure physical activity. For
these reasons, diseases that affect the cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal
systems can increase an older person’s risk of falling. For example, the pain of arthritis
can limit an older person’s mobility. A diagnosis of cancer and treatment for the disease
can weaken an individual. Treatment can also cause anemia, making the older person
more fatigued.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
How Seniors Can Stay Safe In The Summer Heat And Sun
Senior Summer Fun
Sunny days uplift spirits. But seniors need to take special precautions to make sure their enjoyment of summer is not eclipsed by the pain of sunburn or the harmful effects of dehydration and heat illness.
Physical changes that come with aging make older adults more vulnerable to summer’s heat and humidity. The American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging (FHIA) reports that most of the 200 Americans who die each summer of heat-related complications are over 50.
Seniors become less sensitive to heat and the feeling of thirst as they age. And on top of that, certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, and medications commonly taken by seniors—water pills, allergy and sinus medications, and antidepressants—further increase the risk.
FHIA warns that temperatures in the low 90s can be very dangerous to seniors and offers seniors and their caregivers a wide variety of hot weather safety tips (link to: http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/hot_weather_safety_tipsv3.pdf). Recommendations include:
• Turn on the air conditioner or go to an air conditioned place—senior center, mall, movie theater, or library, for example. Fans are not sufficient.
• Stay indoors during excessive heat, and when outside, avoid the sun as much as possible, wear hats and sunglasses, and use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
• Avoid strenuous activity
• Take cool showers, baths, or sponge baths
FHIA also recommends that family members or friends check on seniors at least twice a day during a heat wave
Family and professional caregivers can make a special effort to help seniors get enough to drink, as the need for water and nonalcoholic and decaffeinated beverages rises with the temperature. This includes keeping a good variety of beverages on hand and encouraging frequent drinking of smaller quantities as opposed to less frequent drinking of larger quantities.
Use the urine test to confirm whether you or a loved one is drinking enough. Light yellow urine is usually a sign that liquid consumption is adequate, while darker urine may signal that more liquid is needed.
Beware of Heat Illnesses
Overexposure to the heat can lead to a variety of serious health problems. The Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com) states that:
- Heat exhaustion is a warning that your body cannot cool itself. Symptoms include thirst, dizziness, weakness, poor coordination, nausea and sweating. Body temperature stays normal, but the skin feels cold and clammy and pulse can be normal or raised. If this is the case, rest in a cool place, drink plenty of fluids and take a cool shower or sponge bath. This condition can turn into heatstroke, so if you do not feel better quickly, seek medical care right away.
- Heat stroke is life threatening and requires emergency medical help. After calling 911, get the individual to a cool place. Signs of heat stroke include fainting, body temperature above 104° F, confusion, irritableness, staggering, dry, flushed skin, strong, rapid pulse or slow, weak pulse, not sweating, acting delirious or being in a coma.
Protecting Against Sunburn
Seniors particularly need to avoid sun exposure if they take certain medications that increase sensitivity to the sun, such as water pills, antibiotics, some antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat arthritis pain and inflammation.
The Mayo Clinic offers the following guidance for treating sunburn:
- Take a cool bath or apply cold compresses to the affected skin
- Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, aloe or a moisturizer
- Do not break blisters. Breaking them will slow the healing process and increase risk of infection. Cover blisters with light, non-stick gauze, if needed.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever until redness and soreness subside.
- Continue using moisturizing cream while the skin peels.
However, see a doctor if severe sunburn covers a large area with blisters, is accompanied by high fever or severe pain and does not improve in a few days.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
Elder Abuse: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Help
While one sign does not necessarily indicate abuse, some tell-tale signs may indicate there could be a problem.
Signs and symptoms of elder abuse
At first, you might not recognize or take seriously signs of elder abuse. They may appear to be symptoms of dementia or signs of the elderly person’s frailty — or caregivers may explain them to you that way. In fact, many of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse do overlap with symptoms of mental deterioration, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss them because of the explanation the caregiver gives you.
General signs of abuse
The following are warning signs of some kind of elder abuse:
- Frequent arguments or tension between the caregiver and the elderly person
- Changes in personality or behavior in the elder
If you suspect elderly abuse, but aren’t sure, look for clusters of the following physical and behavioral signs.
Signs and symptoms of specific types of abuse that may require you seek help!
PHYSICAL ABUSE
- Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts, or scars, especially if they appear symmetrically on two sides of the body
- Broken bones, sprains, or dislocations
- Report of drug overdose or apparent failure to take medication regularly (a prescription has more or less remaining than it should)
- Broken eyeglasses or frames
- Signs of being restrained, such as rope marks on wrists
- Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the elder alone
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
In addition to the general signs above, indications of emotional elder abuse include:
- Threatening, belittling, or controlling caregiver behavior that you witness
- Behavior from the elder that mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling to oneself
SEXUAL ABUSE
- Bruises around breasts or genitals
- Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
NEGLECT BY CAREGIVERS OF SELF-NEGLECT
- Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration
- Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores
- Unsanitary living conditions: dirt, bugs, soiled bedding and clothes
- Being left dirty or unbathed
- Unsuitable clothing or covering for the weather
- Unsafe living conditions (no heat or running water; faulty electrical wiring, other fire hazards)
- Desertion of the elder at a public place
FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION
- Significant withdrawals from the elder’s accounts
- Sudden changes in the elder’s financial condition
- Items or cash missing from the senior’s household
- Suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, and policies
- Addition of names to the senior’s signature card
- Unpaid bills or lack of medical care, although the elder has enough money to pay for them
- Financial activity the senior couldn’t have done, such as an ATM withdrawal when the account holder is bedridden
- Unnecessary services, goods, or subscriptions
HEALTHCARE FRAUD AND ABUSE
- Duplicate billings for the same medical service or device
- Evidence of over-medication or under medication
- Evidence of inadequate care when bills are paid in full
- Problems with the care facility:
o Poorly trained, poorly paid, or insufficient staff
o Crowding
o Inadequate responses to questions about care
In many cases, elder abuse, though real, is unintentional. Caregivers pushed beyond their capabilities or psychological resources may not mean to yell at, strike, or ignore the needs of the elders in their care.
It is important to be alert. If your role is not to verify that abuse is occurring, then you must alert others of your suspicions.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
Tips For Healthy Senior Summer Travel
Taking simple steps can help make trips safe and healthy for seniors. Along with contacting a travel agent, seniors should consult their physician before taking a summer trip, recommends the American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging.
Let your doctor know your travel plans and find out if he or she recommends that you take any special precautions while away. Your doctor may want you to come in for a checkup. If you will be crossing time zones in your travels, ask your doctor whether you should take your medications on your regular home time-zone schedule or whether you should adjust to your vacation time-zone, and if so, how. And if you think you will be trying new foods on vacation, ask your doctor if they might interact with your medications.
No one wants to think about having medical problems during a vacation, but if you were to become ill while away you will have an easier time getting the medical care you need if you plan ahead. This planning includes asking your doctor to provide you in writing the following information about your medical care:
• Medical problems you have and how they are being treated
• The drugs you are taking, the doses, and when and how you take them
• The amount of each drug you need to take with you on your trip
• The names and contact information for all of your physicians
The medication information will make it easier for you to get through customs and easier to get replacement drugs if you lose any while vacationing. Make a copy of the information so you can carry one with you and keep the other in a suitcase. So you aren’t separated from them, keep all of your medications in a carry-on bag. Keep all of your pills in their original containers. This practice also will help you get through customs and help you get refills should your stay be unexpectedly extended.
To help make your travels as relaxing, unrushed and problem-free as possible call your travel agent or transportation provider to reserve special services to shuttle you comfortably and safely to and from your plane, train or cruise ship. Many carriers allow seniors and families with children to board first, giving them ample time to settle in before other travelers. When these services are available, take advantage of them to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible.
Following is additional advice to help you enjoy a healthful vacation:
- If you are going to be seated for long periods of time on an airplane or train, wear special compression stockings. Research shows that these stockings can help prevent deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a dangerous condition for which older adults are at higher-than-average risk. In cases of DVT, blood clots form in the veins, usually in legs, and block blood flow. Check with your doctor if compression stockings are recommended for you.
- To protect against infection wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after spending time on a crowded plane, train, or bus, and before eating
- Particularly when traveling abroad, be careful what you eat and drink. The Centers for Disease Control’s travel website, www.cdc.gov/travel/, features country-by-country information on food- and water-borne illnesses and how to avoid them.
- Dehydration is a risk on airplanes, where the inside air is dry. Purchase a large bottle of water in the terminal before boarding your plane and drink as you become thirsty, or ask for water when the flight attendant offers a drink.
- If you will be traveling overseas, you may need to get vaccinations before departing, in some cases up to six weeks in advance. Visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/travel/, and click on your destinations for required and recommended vaccines.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
photo credit: BAR Photography
Seniors: Warm Up And Stretch Your Way to a Longer, Healthier Life
Studies show that physical activity slows the aging process and increases seniors’ life span. The positive health effects of exercise go deep, down to the cellular level.
To reap these benefits for as long as possible—without being exiled to the couch by an exercise-induced injury—active seniors should adopt a routine that gently prepares their body for the increased demand of an activity or exercise. Whether you plan to walk, work in the garden or wash the car, always warm up and stretch beforehand. And do it in that order: warm up, then stretch. Like cold taffy that snaps when pulled, muscles that are not sufficiently warmed up before exercise or physical activity can suffer painful injury.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) explains that a good warm-up prepares a person’s body for more intense activity. A warm-up increases the breathing rate and blood flow and warms the muscles.
Warm Up to Physical Activity
Warming up for an aerobic activity, like walking, bicycling or raking leaves, is as simple as starting out at an easy pace, then gradually increasing speed. The length of your warm-up depends on your fitness level. Aerobic activities increase your breathing and heart rate and a warm up starts the process gradually and safely. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, dancing, yard work, swimming or water aerobics, climbing stairs, playing tennis or biking.
Follow the warm-up with a few minutes of stretching to further improve performance. On its website, the AAOS provides advice on safe exercising including recommended stretches for seniors (link to: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00310). And a cooldown at the end of exercise is just as important. It gives your body time to recover. For instance, at the end of a walk, slow your pace to allow your breathing and heart rate a chance to return to normal.
Then while your muscles are still warm, stretch. Stretching not only reduces the risk of injury, it also helps increase flexibility, range of motion and ability to get around and accomplish the tasks of daily living. Here are a few guidelines for stretching:
- Stretch slowly and gently. Breathe into the stretch to avoid muscle tension and relax and hold each stretch 10 to 30 seconds
- Do not bounce your stretch as this can cause injury
- Stretching should not hurt. If you feel pain, take the stretch easier, breathe deeply and relax into it
Regular physical activity and exercise are recommended for everyone, including seniors, to maintain optimal health and physical functioning.
Recommended Amounts Of Exercise
The National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health offers the following exercise recommendations in its online publication, “NIH Senior Health: Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults” (link to: http://health.nih.gov/viewPublication.aspx?disease_id=244&publication_id=546&pdf=no):
- Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking or water aerobics, on most or all days of the week. It is ok to stretch this exercise out during the day in three 10-minute periods.
- Strength exercises, such as lifting hand weights or using weight machines, should be done two or more days a week for 30 minutes each, to exercise all the major muscle groups. However, do not exercise the same muscle group two days in a row.
Low impact exercises are best for seniors, such as walking, water aerobics, yoga, tai chi and Pilates. Group exercise, available at senior centers, churches, community centers and fitness centers, is an excellent option as it provides seniors an opportunity to socialize with others. Prior to starting any exercise regime, seniors should consultant their physician.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
photo credit: ePi.Longo
