If a senior you know is experiencing blurred or double vision, or if he or she needs more light than usual to read, it may be time for a cataract exam. Cataracts are the most common eye disease in older adults, and the leading cause of blindness, with more than 2.5 million people in Canada struggling with it.
Reducing Risk of Hospital Return after Total Knee Replacement
In Canada alone, approximately 60,000 senior knee replacements are performed annually. Unfortunately, because complications can arise during recovery, there is substantial risk that older adults who have undergone total knee replacement will end up back in the hospital. The good news is that there are actions these individuals can take to reduce this risk.
Food As Medicine for Seniors: Good Nutrition Promotes Senior Health
A healthy diet delivers essential nutrients for optimal health and plays an essential role in improving the quality of life and independence of senior citizens. According to the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, good nutrition may help seniors slow the onset of many diseases, manage the symptoms of chronic illness, lessen the impact of disease on lifestyle and boost longevity.
Hunger and the Senior: 5 Million Seniors at Risk of Malnutrition
Hunger and malnutrition is a greater problem for Canada’s seniors than many may realize—and it is due to a wide variety of causes, not just financial constraints. According to a report by FoodBanks Canada seniors accounted for 5.5% of food bank clients in a typical month.
Getting the Most Out of Medicine: Solutions for Organizing Senior Medications
Medication works only when it is taken. And it is most effective when taken according to a doctor’s prescription or, in the case of nonprescription medications, label directions. Complying with prescriptions becomes increasingly difficult for seniors as the number of medications they must take increases. The problem is magnified for seniors who have conditions that diminish their cognitive abilities.
Senior Foot Care: Caring for Feet as You Age
Senior foot care: foot injury, neglect, and disease are major factors contributing to mobility, or lack thereof, in elders, and senior adults tend to experience more problems with their feet than younger adults simply because they have used them for longer.
Stress and Seniors: Knowing the Signs and Solutions
For many seniors today, the “golden years” can be incredibly stressful times. What causes seniors so much stress? Change is a major trigger, and seniors experience plenty of change.
Common Senior Caregiving Misconceptions
Caregiving is an emotional subject which is likely the reason so many myths surround it. This article focuses on dispelling some of these caregiving myths. It’s a must-read for anyone currently involved in caregiving including those who are considering hiring or perhaps even becoming a caregiver.
Prescription Medications Are Not the Only Cause of Drug Interactions in Seniors
Seniors are at a greater risk of drug interactions than the general population as they typically take more medications. A 2008 study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information stated that almost two-thirds of Canadian seniors are taking five or more types of prescription drugs. The study further found that at least one in 25 older Canadians take drugs in potentially harmful combinations.
Seniors: What’s Good for the Heart Is Good for the Brain
A well-balanced, heart-healthy diet—rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains—reduces plaque build-up in the arteries to deliver a free-flowing stream of oxygen to all parts of the body, including the brain.