Just because herbal remedies are made of natural, plant-derived ingredients does not mean they are safe. When taken in combination with certain prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, they can pose health risks, sometimes life-threatening.
Healthy Aging: 5 Tips to Prevent Hearing Loss for Seniors
Many seniors and their loved ones have come to expect that some hearing loss is inevitable. While it’s true that gradual hearing loss is not uncommon, especially after age 65, there are actions we can take while we’re younger to ward off its severity.
Wellness through Creative Expression
Art therapy has been shown to have a direct impact on individuals’ wellness and can help the elderly adapt to changes and loss brought on by age and/or illness. By engaging in creative activities such as painting, drawing, clay work and sculpting, jewelry making, scrap booking, and so forth, seniors have a channel for expression.
Uncovering Pain in Seniors with Dementia
Many studies indicate that although dementia patients experience severe or chronic pain, they regularly receive fewer analgesics than healthy senior adults. This can primarily be attributed to the fact that while a healthy senior can verbalize pain and discomfort, dementia patients, especially those in the late stages, cannot.
Living with Arthritis
With more than 100 forms of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, approximately one in three (33.8%) senior males and one in two (50.6%) senior females reported suffering from arthritis. Arthritis can prevent seniors from accomplishing the simplest tasks such a walking, preparing meals, picking up objects or even sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Pneumonia: Making the Most of At-Home Recovery
You have a senior with pneumonia who is about to be sent home to recover, and you are worried and because this person is over 65, her risk of readmission is greatly increased. A greater concern for you, though, is that the mortality rate for seniors with pneumonia is significantly greater than that in the younger population.
Alcohol Consumption in Seniors: A Delicate Balance
Numerous studies on the effects of alcohol consumption in seniors indicate that moderate drinking by seniors can have a positive impact on general health. However, there is also a concern that heavy drinking can have adverse effects, and that alcohol abuse is often missed in the senior population.
The Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): What Seniors Should Know
An eye condition known as age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, can impact the severity of the vision loss that is due to aging. This is why it is important to know the basic facts about AMD. The good news is, these facts include preventive steps seniors can take to reduce the risk of developing AMD.
Some Medications Affect Seniors’ Appetite and Nutrition
As senior take more medications they run an increased risk of harmful drug interactions. They also are at greater risk of nutritional deficiencies that result when medications interact with certain foods or suppress appetite.
Shedding Light On Seasonal Depression: What Seniors Can Do To Relieve The Symptoms
4 to 6 percent of Canadians experience a form of depression called winter-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder *(SAD). Another 10 to 20 percent have milder cases. Many mistakenly write off SAD as the winter blues or cabin fever, but as a recognized type of clinical depression, SAD requires professional diagnosis and attention, the Canadian Mental Health Association advises.