Everyone should be able to live at home for as long as they want to, even if it means getting a little help. From compassionate, licensed Caregivers to Registered Nurses, compassionate care is available because there’s no place like home. When you are searching for a Home Care Service, look for *A 24/7 Care Team that you can reach day or night, *An emphasis on reliability and professionalism, and *Carefully selected caregivers for a great fit with your loved one, who meet your needs, interests and personality. With the ability to age comfortably at home, your loved one is empowered to keep living life to its fullest. Happier Aging, at home, is our philosophy.
Live a Good Life
Here is some advice on how to live a good life. *Concentrate on what you can do rather than on what you can’t do. *Ask for the senior’s discount. It is always great to save money. *Stay in touch with friends and family. Never complain that they don’t come to see you or call you often enough when they do get in touch. *Keep learning. It will help your brain stay healthy. *Let go of that grudge. It only hurts you. *Make your life bigger than your aches and pains. *Appreciate the little things in life and laugh as often as possible
How to prevent hearing loss in the workplace
Getting Online
About 71 percent of seniors are online every day. Of those who are online, their main reason is to stay connected with family and friends. Whether it’s joining forums or sharing photos and stories with loved ones, social media and email allows seniors with limited mobility the opportunity to interact with others. If you’re interested in getting online but don’t know where to start, community centres and local senior groups often have programs to teach seniors about the internet and how to participate in online communities. Spending time with others benefits our mental and emotional health. It is important as we age to continue to stay socially connected to friends and loved ones.
Impact of Gambling Advertising
According to a recent study* in the National Library of Medicine, people with gambling problems report more exposure to and impact from gambling advertising. The study revealed that problem gambling was associated with increased perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and awareness of gambling. It also revealed that internet advertising was the strongest predictor of perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and TV advertising was the strongest predictor of advertising impact on knowledge of gambling forms, operators and awareness of gambling. If you need support, we are here. (*Relationships Between Exposure to Different Gambling Advertising Types, Advertising Impact and Problem Gambling)
Treating Heat-Related Health Problems
Summer is here and so is the heat! While many people enjoy the hot weather, it’s important to be proactive and safe when the temperature starts to rise. Some common heat-related issues include: 1) Dehydration – weakness, headache, fainting. Drink more water and electrolytes. 2) Heat stroke – body temperature of 40°C or higher, fast pulse, hot and dry skin. Cool down with shade/AC and water. Seek medical attention. 3) Heat exhaustion – heavy sweating, weakness, nausea. Cool down with shade/AC and drink plenty of fluids. 4) Heat syncope – fainting caused by high temperatures. Lie down with feet up. Drink plenty of water.
Profile: Nurse Next Door
Here at Nurse Next Door, it’s about caring, not just health care™. We help seniors stay in their own homes. The goal is to give families peace of mind and allow seniors to maintain their dignity and remain as independent as possible. Our extraordinary family of Caregivers will take care of your loved one so you can get back to being a daughter or son. Our in-home caregivers build relationships and encourage independence. Matched specially for your loved one, they’re flexible, supportive, and passionate about helping Mom or Dad live more comfortably. Contact us today for a free Caring Consult.
Do I Have Hearing Loss?
Unlike vision loss where people tend to promptly seek assistance by wearing glasses, hearing loss tends to be ignored, become rationalized by age or is blamed on others for not speaking clearly enough.
Hearing loss is common for many people throughout Canada. According to the Stats Canada Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS), 6% of adults over the age of 55 report limitations as a result of hearing loss and this number increases to nearly 36% of adults aged 75 and older. In total, this works out to roughly 966,000 Canadians who are willing to report awareness of hearing loss (and that’s not considering those who are possibly in denial).
Many people are simply unaware of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss, the benefits of early detection and intervention, and what resources are available. In order to reduce the likelihood of a hearing loss going undetected, being ignored, and left untreated, here is what you can watch for:
Is there a problem?: The most common signs of hearing loss are needing repetition, turning the volume up on the television, difficulty hearing on the telephone, difficulty hearing clearly, difficulty hearing in background noise, and failing to hear common household sounds like the doorbell. Schedule a hearing test: Annual hearing testing is recommended for adults over the age of 55, even if they do not suspect a hearing loss. Hearing test results are medical records and, as such, are kept on file for 7 years. These results can be used as a baseline to compare with any future hearing evaluations. The best thing is that hearing testing is complimentary and does not require a referral from your family doctor or ENT specialist. Investigate available resources: While hearing aids are often recommended to treat hearing loss, there are other helpful devices that you may not have considered. For example, amplified telephones boost the volume of incoming calls and can often be adjusted for tone and customized for your hearing loss. TV devices amplified alarm clocks and alerting systems for doorbells and smoke detectors are also available.
If you believe that your parents, grandparents, or friends are suffering from a hearing loss (see hearing loss and parents for more), the best thing you can do for them is to speak up and, if necessary, help them choose a hearing care provider to work with them on their individual needs. For more information on hearing loss and available resources, or to take a free online hearing test, visit www.mainlandhearing.com.
Contributed by Dr. Susan Marynewich, Au.D., RAUD, RHIP
Make Social Interaction a Priority
Maintaining relationships and spending time with others is essential to our emotional and mental well-being. It can help prevent depression which affects 20 percent of the population over 70 years of age. Socializing also keeps the mind active and improvements are greater when the person is involved in fun interests with other people. Plan regular get-togethers with friends, such as a weekly lunch date or coffee with another senior or loved one. Scheduling social interactions give us something to look forward to on a regular basis. For those who are truly adventurous you can enjoy new experiences and meet new people by signing up for travel tours, book clubs, and much more at your local community centre.
Keep Living Your Best Life
A good retirement residence is not just a convenient place to live, it’s an environment in which you can pursue your passions, thrive and continue living with purpose. It may be daunting to think about moving into a retirement home, but have you considered how your life might improve by making this change? Meet a new network of friends, build new relationships, and take part in activities you once enjoyed, or commit to learning something new! Leave the worrying behind when it comes to home maintenance, meal preparation and your own safety – and have us do it for you!
Sports Betting Support
Sports bettors, who tend to be young men, are the most vulnerable to problematic behavior, according to the NCPG’s National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences. The survey reveals that sports bettors are three times more likely to exhibit problem gambling behavior than other types of gamblers.” (Quoted from onlinepoker.com) Given the popularity of sports betting across North America, and Canada’s soon-to-be new law allowing single event sports betting (Canada.ca DoJ), vulnerable sports bettors may find themselves in a position to engage in more impulsive betting behaviour. Contact us for more info on how we can help!