This summer in Oakland, take advantage of the availability of fresh produce from farmer’s markets in the area, and even in your local grocery store. With so many delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables in season, summer is a great time to ensure that you receive a nutritious diet often at their lowest price. Summer is also the ideal time for seniors to prepare for themselves healthy meals, because with so many fresh delicious herbs available and the option of barbequing outside, meal preparation and cooking time during the summer months can be done quickly and easily.

Another reason for seniors to stock up on the fresh produce available during the summer in Oakland is to ensure that they remain hydrated once the weather turns hot. Fresh fruits and vegetables, which are crisp and juicy, not only taste great when you’ve been outside in the warmer temperatures, but they’ll help prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration. Elderly people that have a sweet tooth will also be able to satisfy their cravings throughout the summer with all of the rich, sweet and nutritious berries that are in season and make great morning or afternoon snacks!

Sources:
1.    Senior Advocate
2.    eHow

Q – I am a professional caregiver in Oakland who prepares meals for a senior. I know that a history of osteoporosis runs in her family. Are there any foods that will help to prevent osteoporosis and promote bone strength and health?
A – There are foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals that promote good bone health. Many of these superfoods are readily available at any supermarket, although most people aren’t aware of their benefits to bones so they are overlooked. Next time you go shopping and need meal ideas for your senior care recipient, consider incorporating the following foods into your cooking, because bone health requires more than just calcium!

•    Black pepper - contains 4 anti-osteoporosis compounds)
•    Cabbage - source of boron
•    Cod liver oil - source of vitamins A and D
•    Dandelion - source of boron
•    Garlic - source of sulphur
•    Onions - source of sulphur
•    Parsley - source of boron
•    Pigweed (source of calcium)
•    Arugula - source of vitamin K
•    Broccoli - source of vitamin K
•    Collards - source of vitamin K
•    Kale - source of vitamins K and C
•    Swiss chard - source of vitamins K and C, magnesium, and calcium
•    Spinach - source of vitamins K and C and magnesium

Sources:
1.    Dole Superfoods
2.    Project-Aware

Image:iofbonehealth.org

We all get older, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to watch the effects that aging has upon our body and minds. Nor is it easy for loved ones to accept particularly drastic changes that are occurring with a senior loved one. To help you cope with the aging you or an elderly relative is experiencing, consider the following tips:

Accepting Your Aging:
1.    Determine why you are anxious about aging – if it relates to unaccomplished goals, find a way to reach them. Also remember to set goals that suit your lifestyle, as an older adult today.
2.    Acknowledge your achievements – instead of looking at the things you are unable to do as a senior, acknowledge the accomplishments you have made with your family, in your community and in your life.
3.    Embrace aging resources – read books and get online to understand the aging process and how you can accept it.
4.    Maintain your health – don’t succumb to the challenges of aging; eat well, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
5.    Break the routine – at any age, you can embrace new experiences. Travel to a new place or choose a new hobby to keep up the variety.

Accepting Senior Aging:
1.    Communicate effectively – if a senior struggles with their memory, avoid harping on them if they’ve forgotten something. If you’re really concerned, discuss it with a doctor.
2.    Look at their positive traits – instead of focusing on the perceived decline of aging, focus on the senior’s beauty, wisdom and accomplishments.

Sources:
1.    Ehow
2.    Eldercare ABC Blog

Diabetes affects many Americans both young and old, and while there are no definite causes for either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, there are a number of contributing risk factors which could result in the contraction of diabetes, the most common of which can include heredity, poor diet, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Seniors and eldercare professionals should consult a doctor if any of the following symptoms of diabetes persist, including:

• Frequent need to urinate
• Excessive thirst
• Constant feelings of hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Unusual irritability
• Blurred vision

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes relate to an insulin deficiency; with Type 1 diabetes, insufficient insulin is produced by the body; while Type 2 diabetes occurs when the insulin produced is not as efficient at moving the sugar out of the bloodstream. While the causes of both types of diabetes vary; the treatment methods are similar for seniors. While the order of treatment method used may vary with diabetes type, it typically includes abiding by a diabetic diet, getting regular exercise, losing weight, and monitoring blood sugar levels. When lifestyle changes, such as diabetic diet fail to improve the diabetes, medical professionals may turn to insulin treatment in order to help manage the symptoms of diabetes, and control blood sugar levels; since there is no cure for diabetes.

Sources:
1. Diabetes Information Hub
2. Diabetes Planner.com
3. American Diabetes Association
4. MedicineNet.com

Images: Kentnewsnet.com

Q – How can I help retain a good memory into my senior years?

A - A healthy, active brain in older adulthood can prevent the onset and symptoms that relate to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and the natural process of aging upon memory. Some simple tips, which you can implement into your daily routine, can help to keep your mind sharp and active. These tips will not only help you to remember information, it will ensure that your brain remains active and can help you maintain your cognitive capacities into old age.

1. Use the art of focusing and meditation
2. If you want to memorize information, mentally repeat it
3. Summarize the information you’d like to remember
4. Create acronyms to help you remember details
5. Create associations
6. Use landmarks and objects to help you remember, especially when driving and practicing routes
7. If you have a daily routine, make it into a ritual instead, to help you remember simple daily tasks

A healthy, fit brain into older adulthood, whether you are developing early Alzheimer’s or simply want to prevent the development of future cognitive issues, may start with brain fitness. But like with the body, brain fitness does not only involve exercising the mind directly. Ensure that you incorporate these tips into your daily routine as well, for a sharp mind.

Sources:
1. Prevention
2. Third Age
3. Reader’s Digest

80% of baby boomers would like to remain living independently in their homes as they age; and for the boomer generation, like others in the senior demographic, having to move into a nursing home would be one of their greatest fears come true. Fortunately for the boomers and future generations of older adults, aging in place is becoming a more probable reality for the vast majority of them; not only because of the information and resources available to professional and family caregivers, but also because of the technological developments in home care technology that will provide for their safety and help them maintain the independence they crave in old age.

Today there are devices available in home care technology that allows medical professionals and caregivers to monitor senior health and safety remotely. Medical emergencies can be promptly detected through the constant measurement of vital signs, and caregivers are alerted to changes in behavior that could indicate a problem with their senior, including a fall. Home care technology has also provided senior safety devices that increase independence in the home through automatic medication dispensing, lifts and mobility devices and more. Home care technology will also improve home hospice care and senior care in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, by improving independence in seniors, increasing the level of health monitoring, and minimizing the need for constant supervision by a live medical professional.

As a result of the developments in home care technology, many boomers will be able to live in the comfort and security in their own homes; maintaining the independence they long for with the help of medical devices that assist with senior care.

Sources:
1.   Eldercare ABC Blog
2.    Home Care Technology Association of America

Q – Are more natural forms of treatment available for common senior ailments? If so, are they safe practices for seniors and what are the impacts upon their health?

A – Complementary and Alternative Medicine refers to non-medicinal treatments that either supplement traditional medical care or replace it entirely and can include use of vitamins, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and use of herbal and natural remedies for treatment and prevention of illness. While it is not recommended that seniors forgo receiving assessment and care from a traditional medical doctor through use of Alternative Medicine (which by definition, uses natural methods in lieu of traditional doctor care), Complementary Medicine is becoming better embraced by even the medical profession. Integrated therapy combines both traditional medical practices with more natural or holistic methods to give seniors the optimal benefits. Acupuncture or massage may be used to alleviate the affects of cancer or medical cancer treatment methods, while garlic might be used to help treat heart disease. Any seniors interested in using Complementary and Alternative Medicine should first discuss the impacts it could have upon their health with a medical doctor, and maintain communication during the course of any holistic treatments.

The National Institutes of Health, Senior Health branch is completing research about Complementary and Alternative Medicine and publishing its findings so that seniors can make smart, informed decisions about their medical choices.

Sources:
1.    National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
2.    NIH Senior Health
3.    Senior Journal
4.    Eldercare ABC Blog

Image: Ask Pari Blog

Q – I’ve started to notice strange behavior in my mother, and suspect she might have Alzheimer’s or dementia. What do I do next?

A – If you suspect that an aging parent or relative has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, verify your suspicions against the 10 Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease to verify that what you’re seeing in your mother could in fact indicate Alzheimer’s or dementia, rather than just old age. Some form of memory loss, or slower thinking is not an uncommon part of the aging process, and this is often the first thing that those caring for the elderly look at when they have Alzheimer’s suspicions. If your mom doesn’t recall a name, date or other piece of information immediately when prompted, it doesn’t mean she has Alzheimer’s, as long as she remembers at a later time. If she can’t recall the information, and is never able to remember it, it may be indicative of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

If you suspect Alzheimer’s in an elderly parent, you can also talk to friends and family members to get their perspective. Have they noticed similar signs and symptoms that have concerned them? If so, it’s probably time to get your mother to see their doctor, who might refer them onto someone who specializes in geriatric healthcare. Also try to monitor how the changes in your mother are impacting her ability to live independently, so her safety is not compromised, and make the appropriate changes in the home.

With awareness and knowledge, you can help your mother live with Alzheimer’s.

Sources:
1.    Caring.com
2.    Carol O’Dell Caregiving Blog

Knowing when your loved one is demonstrating signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the first steps to establishing a medical diagnosis and determining appropriate senior care. Read on to determine if the senior in your life could be exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

1. Memory Loss – everyone has brief memory lapses; it’s not unusual to forget the occasional name or date and remember it later, however, seniors with dementia may forget pieces of information that they are never able to recall.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – seniors with dementia may forget simple tasks, like how to turn on the stove.
3. Problems with language – sentences formed by a senior with dementia may be hard to understand, they may forget words or substitute inappropriate ones.
4. Disorientation – seniors with dementia may get lost when close to home because they are disoriented with time and place.
5. Poor judgment – seniors may have trouble making decisions, or dress inappropriately for the weather.
6. Misplacing things in strange places – seniors with dementia may put the milk in the bathroom or their keys in the fridge.
7. Mood changes – often seniors with dementia have rapid mood swings for no discernable reason.
8. Problems with abstract thinking – dealing with numbers may be especially difficult.
9. Personality changes – seniors with dementia may become fearful, suspicious and paranoid or demonstrate behaviors unusual for them.
10. Loss of initiative – seniors with Alzheimer’s may lack motivation on a regular basis; getting out of bed or getting dressed may require prompting.

Check out this resource for more information on Dementia

Sources:
1. Northwestern University
2. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Home Care Oakland and Alameda County provides senior care and elder home care in East Bay Area and Alameda County, including Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton and Union City. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care Oakland at 510-663-3652.