While slipping on ice outdoors is a definite health hazard, fall prevention for the elderly starts right inside your own home. Correcting these common hazards will go a long way toward preventing falls.
By Wyatt Myers
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Whether it’s slippery floors, rickety stairs, or electrical cords on the floor, some of the most common causes of falls are actually in your own home, where you might have a false sense of security. That’s why fall prevention starts with creating a living space that’s safe.
Luckily, this doesn’t have to involve major home changes or a complete house remodel. You can make your home a safer place designed for fall prevention in the elderly with just a few basic changes.
Senior care experts offer the following advice for preventing falls at home:
Clean up clutter. The easiest method for preventing falls is to keep your home clean and tidy. Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines, especially from hallways and staircases.
Repair or remove tripping hazards. Sometimes, home fixtures can contribute to falls, which in turn lead to back pain and other injuries. Examine every room and hallway, looking for items such as loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, remove, or replace those items for more effective fall prevention.
Install grab bars and hand rails. These safety devices are the keys to going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Gary Kaplan, DO, founder and medical director of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Va., suggests installing grab bars by toilets and bathtubs and handrails in stairways and hallways for fall prevention in the elderly. Have a handyman or family member help with this, if needed.
Continue reading http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/future-planning/prevent-falls-at-home.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyAging_20110131
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Aspirin May Cut Cancer Deaths, But Caution Urged
Lung, prostate and colon cancers were among those studied
by: Maria Cheng | from: Associated Press Online | December 7, 2010
LONDON, Dec. 7, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- A new report from British scientists suggests that long-term, low-dose aspirin use may modestly reduce the risk of dying of certain cancers, though experts warn the study isn't strong enough to recommend healthy people start taking a pill that can cause bleeding and other problems.
In a new observational analysis published online Tuesday in the medical journal Lancet, Peter Rothwell of the University of Oxford and colleagues looked at eight studies that included more than 25,000 patients and cut the risk of death from certain cancers by 20 percent. Continue reading: http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/news-12-2010/aspirin_may_cut_cancer_deaths_but_caution_urged.html?intcmp=dso-hp-ns
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C.
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by: Maria Cheng | from: Associated Press Online | December 7, 2010
LONDON, Dec. 7, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- A new report from British scientists suggests that long-term, low-dose aspirin use may modestly reduce the risk of dying of certain cancers, though experts warn the study isn't strong enough to recommend healthy people start taking a pill that can cause bleeding and other problems.
In a new observational analysis published online Tuesday in the medical journal Lancet, Peter Rothwell of the University of Oxford and colleagues looked at eight studies that included more than 25,000 patients and cut the risk of death from certain cancers by 20 percent. Continue reading: http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/news-12-2010/aspirin_may_cut_cancer_deaths_but_caution_urged.html?intcmp=dso-hp-ns
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C.
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Monday, November 8, 2010
The Miracle of Aging
As children, we couldn't wait to get older. We embraced every second, even rounding up to 7 1/2 years old instead of just 7. As we made our way past the 20s, however, there was a shift—we clung on to the lower numbers, pining away for that last 30 as we headed into our 40s, 50s or 60s. But growing older doesn't have to be a bad thing—and it's up to us to change our perception!
"I want you to begin to believe that 50 and beyond will literally be the most miraculous—and I do mean miracles occurring in your life," Oprah says.
In her book The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife, author and lecturer Marianne Williamson tells women how to shift the way they think about aging. "It's changing if we allow it to change," Marianne says. Continue reading http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Miracle-of-Aging
The Oprah Winfrey Show | March 14, 2008
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"I want you to begin to believe that 50 and beyond will literally be the most miraculous—and I do mean miracles occurring in your life," Oprah says.
In her book The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife, author and lecturer Marianne Williamson tells women how to shift the way they think about aging. "It's changing if we allow it to change," Marianne says. Continue reading http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Miracle-of-Aging
The Oprah Winfrey Show | March 14, 2008
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Monday, October 18, 2010
A Senior Moment: When do you become 'old' ?
By LESLIE HOWARD
Posted: 10/16/2010 01:17:37 AM PDT
A lively exchange in the "Tell It to the E-R" column caught my attention. An E-R article had referred to a 67-year-old as "elderly," and several Tell It callers took exception.
Quipped one, "I am an active 83-year-old woman and I was amused by your reference to a 68-year-old as an elderly man. Heck, I've got underwear older than that." Another responder complained that the preferred term was "senior," not "elderly." A third announced that "Elderly is (and always will be) someone 20 years older than me."
The federal government may use 65 as the qualifying age for Medicare or Social Security, but in day-to-day life, "senior" does not have a clear-cut definition. An invitation to join AARP, the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons, shocks many 50-year-olds. Others are pleased to take advantage of senior discounts and specially priced menus for ages 55 and older at restaurants such as Denny's, Jack's and Kalico Kitchen. At 60, some see a movie at the Pageant Theatre for a special price or take classes through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or Elder College at Chico State University. Continue readinghttp://www.chicoer.com/ci_16355320?source=rss
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Posted: 10/16/2010 01:17:37 AM PDT
A lively exchange in the "Tell It to the E-R" column caught my attention. An E-R article had referred to a 67-year-old as "elderly," and several Tell It callers took exception.
Quipped one, "I am an active 83-year-old woman and I was amused by your reference to a 68-year-old as an elderly man. Heck, I've got underwear older than that." Another responder complained that the preferred term was "senior," not "elderly." A third announced that "Elderly is (and always will be) someone 20 years older than me."
The federal government may use 65 as the qualifying age for Medicare or Social Security, but in day-to-day life, "senior" does not have a clear-cut definition. An invitation to join AARP, the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons, shocks many 50-year-olds. Others are pleased to take advantage of senior discounts and specially priced menus for ages 55 and older at restaurants such as Denny's, Jack's and Kalico Kitchen. At 60, some see a movie at the Pageant Theatre for a special price or take classes through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or Elder College at Chico State University. Continue readinghttp://www.chicoer.com/ci_16355320?source=rss
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Monday, October 4, 2010
Telemedicine for Elderly Depression
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on October 4, 2010
Telemedicine for Elderly DepressionDepression is common among elderly homebound individuals. Unfortunately, treatment for the condition is usually inadequate, if any.
Beyond the decline in mental health, depression can exacerbate medical conditions and may influence mortality.
To address this issue, researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and other organizations have developed a telemedicine-based depression care protocol in home health care. Continue readinghttp://psychcentral.com/news/2010/10/04/telemedicine-for-elderly-depression/19119.html
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Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on October 4, 2010
Telemedicine for Elderly DepressionDepression is common among elderly homebound individuals. Unfortunately, treatment for the condition is usually inadequate, if any.
Beyond the decline in mental health, depression can exacerbate medical conditions and may influence mortality.
To address this issue, researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and other organizations have developed a telemedicine-based depression care protocol in home health care. Continue readinghttp://psychcentral.com/news/2010/10/04/telemedicine-for-elderly-depression/19119.html
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
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Monday, September 20, 2010
Why Older People Are Forgetful
Brain Tissue Changes May Play a Role in Forgetfulness, Researchers Say
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Sept. 15, 2010 -- Abnormal brain tissue changes called brain lesions may be more at fault than previously thought in forgetfulness in older people, new research shows.
Scientists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago say the same brain lesions that are associated with dementia in old age may be responsible for mild memory loss.
The researchers studied 350 Catholic nuns, priests, and brothers who were given memory tests annually for up to 13 years, and after death, had their brains examined for lesions.
The study found that memory decline tended to be gradual before speeding up in the last four or five years of life.
Researchers say they found that strokes as well as protein accumulations called tangles and Lewy bodies seemed to be related to memory loss in older people. Continue readinghttp://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=119773#
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
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By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Sept. 15, 2010 -- Abnormal brain tissue changes called brain lesions may be more at fault than previously thought in forgetfulness in older people, new research shows.
Scientists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago say the same brain lesions that are associated with dementia in old age may be responsible for mild memory loss.
The researchers studied 350 Catholic nuns, priests, and brothers who were given memory tests annually for up to 13 years, and after death, had their brains examined for lesions.
The study found that memory decline tended to be gradual before speeding up in the last four or five years of life.
Researchers say they found that strokes as well as protein accumulations called tangles and Lewy bodies seemed to be related to memory loss in older people. Continue readinghttp://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=119773#
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Friday, September 10, 2010
Helping the Elderly Avoid Falls
Why do we always think it is a medical problem when the elderly fall. This is a great article that gives insight on the health of the elderly when there is a fall. There is a lot of good information we can all use in the article.
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
http://icareforyouhomecare.com
Study on Risk Factors for Indoor and Outdoor Falls May Help Tailor Fall-Prevention Strategies
By Katrina Woznicki
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Sept. 8, 2010 -- The risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls among the elderly differ, and not all falls indicate poor health, a study shows.
Researchers found that risk factors for indoor falls include being a woman and having an inactive lifestyle. Risk factors for outdoor falls include being a man and being more physically active.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Falls among the elderly are common, with as many as 40% of people age 65 and older falling each year. Falls can lead to serious injuries, such as a fractured hip or concussion. Continue reading http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20100908/helping-the-elderly-avoid-falls?ecd=wnl_day_090910
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
http://icareforyouhomecare.com
Study on Risk Factors for Indoor and Outdoor Falls May Help Tailor Fall-Prevention Strategies
By Katrina Woznicki
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
Sept. 8, 2010 -- The risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls among the elderly differ, and not all falls indicate poor health, a study shows.
Researchers found that risk factors for indoor falls include being a woman and having an inactive lifestyle. Risk factors for outdoor falls include being a man and being more physically active.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Falls among the elderly are common, with as many as 40% of people age 65 and older falling each year. Falls can lead to serious injuries, such as a fractured hip or concussion. Continue reading http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20100908/helping-the-elderly-avoid-falls?ecd=wnl_day_090910
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Sunday, September 5, 2010
When Should Family Members Be Concerned About Elderly Drivers
Published September 03, 2010 by:
Dawn Hawkins
As people grow older, things change with their body and their mind. There may come a time that you should be concerned about an elderly person in your family driving. This isn't so with every
senior citizen and so should be taken case by case rather than a mass removal of driving privileges for older Americans. There are some dangers associated with senior citizens driving in many cases though. Deciding whether to take steps to get a senior in your family off the road, you should consider some things very carefully.
When families should be concerned about elderly drivers: Continue readinghttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5747488/when_should_family_members_be_concerned.html?cat=12
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Dawn Hawkins
As people grow older, things change with their body and their mind. There may come a time that you should be concerned about an elderly person in your family driving. This isn't so with every
senior citizen and so should be taken case by case rather than a mass removal of driving privileges for older Americans. There are some dangers associated with senior citizens driving in many cases though. Deciding whether to take steps to get a senior in your family off the road, you should consider some things very carefully.
When families should be concerned about elderly drivers: Continue readinghttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5747488/when_should_family_members_be_concerned.html?cat=12
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte/Greensboro, N.C.
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Is Your Doctor Ordering Needless Tests?
One new study suggests most doctors practice defensive medicine to protect against lawsuits
by: Tauren Dyson | from: AARP Bulletin | August 24, 2010
A new study looked at just that question and found that most physicians believe their peers do indeed order needless medical tests and procedures.
Why all the tests? Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York found that 91 percent of 1,231 physicians surveyed said doctors order excessive tests for patients to protect themselves against malpractice suits, says Tara Bishop, M.D., coauthor of the study. The findings of the study were published in the June 28 issueof the Archives of Internal Medicine. And Bishop says they suggest one reason it is so hard to rein in the costs of health care.
“It’s really hard to quantify how much this problem costs the American health care system,” Bishop says. “One of the estimates is that it’s $60 billion a year, some argue that it is actually more than that.”
She noted that the potential threat of a malpractice lawsuit was a constant concern for the doctors she surveyed. According to the study, more than two malpractice claims are paid for every 100 physicians.
The study bolsters earlier research by the American Medical Association that found a sharp increase in the cost of potentially unnecessary cancer testing among Medicare patients between 1999 and 2006.http://www.aarp.org/health/doctors-hospitals/info-08-2010/health_discovery_is_your_doctor_ordering_needless_tests.html
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by: Tauren Dyson | from: AARP Bulletin | August 24, 2010
A new study looked at just that question and found that most physicians believe their peers do indeed order needless medical tests and procedures.
Why all the tests? Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York found that 91 percent of 1,231 physicians surveyed said doctors order excessive tests for patients to protect themselves against malpractice suits, says Tara Bishop, M.D., coauthor of the study. The findings of the study were published in the June 28 issueof the Archives of Internal Medicine. And Bishop says they suggest one reason it is so hard to rein in the costs of health care.
“It’s really hard to quantify how much this problem costs the American health care system,” Bishop says. “One of the estimates is that it’s $60 billion a year, some argue that it is actually more than that.”
She noted that the potential threat of a malpractice lawsuit was a constant concern for the doctors she surveyed. According to the study, more than two malpractice claims are paid for every 100 physicians.
The study bolsters earlier research by the American Medical Association that found a sharp increase in the cost of potentially unnecessary cancer testing among Medicare patients between 1999 and 2006.http://www.aarp.org/health/doctors-hospitals/info-08-2010/health_discovery_is_your_doctor_ordering_needless_tests.html
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Losing your vision doesn't mean you have to put away the trowel
By Healthy Aging Admin Published 04/1/2009 Mental Wellness Unrated
Reward Your Senses by Gardening...even if you are visually impaired
Gardening for people who are blind or have low vision can be challenging, but it can also be satisfying. VisionAWARE.org is a free, not-for-profit online resource that can help them keep their gardens growing.
For the millions of Americans who have problems seeing, the idea of planting and tending to a garden may seem unrewarding. But losing your vision doesn't mean you have to put away the trowel. Maureen Duffy, M.S. CVRT and Editorial Director of VisionAWARE.org, explains that "gardens don't only have to be planted for their visual beauty ... they can be just as pleasing to the other senses, especially the sense of smell."
Duffy suggests choosing plants for more than just their appearance. Roses, lilacs, lavender, and gardenias are all excellent options for their aromatic qualities. Plants like mint and geraniums can be selected for their tactual assets.
VisionAWARE.org offers all sorts of gardening tips for people with vision loss including:
-- Planting in raised beds to help create solid boundaries
-- Using tools with brightly colored handles for easy spotting
-- Calling attention to garden stakes by securing old tennis balls to the tops
-- Marking newly planted areas with large print signs, decorative garden art or landscaping rocks
It is the goal of VisionAWARE.org that every web user, regardless of visual, auditory, or other physical impairment, has access to all information on the site. At VisionAWARE, you can learn how to adapt your computer to make it more accessible, including screen magnification, specialized browsers, and screen reading software.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Reward Your Senses by Gardening...even if you are visually impaired
Gardening for people who are blind or have low vision can be challenging, but it can also be satisfying. VisionAWARE.org is a free, not-for-profit online resource that can help them keep their gardens growing.
For the millions of Americans who have problems seeing, the idea of planting and tending to a garden may seem unrewarding. But losing your vision doesn't mean you have to put away the trowel. Maureen Duffy, M.S. CVRT and Editorial Director of VisionAWARE.org, explains that "gardens don't only have to be planted for their visual beauty ... they can be just as pleasing to the other senses, especially the sense of smell."
Duffy suggests choosing plants for more than just their appearance. Roses, lilacs, lavender, and gardenias are all excellent options for their aromatic qualities. Plants like mint and geraniums can be selected for their tactual assets.
VisionAWARE.org offers all sorts of gardening tips for people with vision loss including:
-- Planting in raised beds to help create solid boundaries
-- Using tools with brightly colored handles for easy spotting
-- Calling attention to garden stakes by securing old tennis balls to the tops
-- Marking newly planted areas with large print signs, decorative garden art or landscaping rocks
It is the goal of VisionAWARE.org that every web user, regardless of visual, auditory, or other physical impairment, has access to all information on the site. At VisionAWARE, you can learn how to adapt your computer to make it more accessible, including screen magnification, specialized browsers, and screen reading software.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Antiaging protein also boosts learning and memory
Research in mice suggests additional role for sirtuins By Tina Hesman Saey Web edition : Monday, July 12th, 2010 Text Size
Aging and wisdom are supposed to go together, but it turns out that a molecule that prevents one may actually play a role in the other.
Researchers have discovered a new role for the famous antiaging protein SIRT1. It not only fends off aging, but also aids in learning and memory, a new study published online July 11 in Nature shows.
Sirtuins, a family of proteins that includes SIRT1, help to regulate gene activity and have been implicated in governing metabolism and many of the biological processes that lead to aging. In the new study, Li-Huei Tsai, a neuroscientist and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at MIT, finds that SIRT1 also plays a critical role in protecting learning and memory, at least in mice.
Tsai and her colleagues had an inkling that SIRT1 might play some role in the brain from earlier experiments showing that resveratrol, an activator of sirtuins, could help neurons survive a mouse version of Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol also improved the animals’ ability to learn and remember. Since resveratrol can act on all seven of the sirtuins found in mammals and also affects other biological processes (SN Online: 6/28/10), the researchers didn’t know what role, if any, SIRT1 played in the process.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Aging and wisdom are supposed to go together, but it turns out that a molecule that prevents one may actually play a role in the other.
Researchers have discovered a new role for the famous antiaging protein SIRT1. It not only fends off aging, but also aids in learning and memory, a new study published online July 11 in Nature shows.
Sirtuins, a family of proteins that includes SIRT1, help to regulate gene activity and have been implicated in governing metabolism and many of the biological processes that lead to aging. In the new study, Li-Huei Tsai, a neuroscientist and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at MIT, finds that SIRT1 also plays a critical role in protecting learning and memory, at least in mice.
Tsai and her colleagues had an inkling that SIRT1 might play some role in the brain from earlier experiments showing that resveratrol, an activator of sirtuins, could help neurons survive a mouse version of Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol also improved the animals’ ability to learn and remember. Since resveratrol can act on all seven of the sirtuins found in mammals and also affects other biological processes (SN Online: 6/28/10), the researchers didn’t know what role, if any, SIRT1 played in the process.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Anti-Cancer Diet: Foods to Fight Cancer
Protect yourself from cancer by adding these anti-cancer foods to your diet.
By Eric Metcalf
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
An anti-cancer diet is an important strategy you can use to reduce your risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends, for example, that you eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and eat the right amount of food to stay at a healthy weight. In addition, researchers are finding that certain foods may be particularly useful in protecting you from cancer. Make room in your diet for the following foods and drinks to fight cancer.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
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By Eric Metcalf
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
An anti-cancer diet is an important strategy you can use to reduce your risk of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends, for example, that you eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and eat the right amount of food to stay at a healthy weight. In addition, researchers are finding that certain foods may be particularly useful in protecting you from cancer. Make room in your diet for the following foods and drinks to fight cancer.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Monday, July 12, 2010
Active Lifestyles for People With Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence shouldn't keep you from activities you love. Learning bladder control and other techniques for preventing urine leakage can help calm your worries.
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Living with urinary incontinence, whether caused by an overactive bladder or compromised bladder control, can cause people to shy away from their favorite pastimes out of fear that they’ll have an accident. However, there are ways to handle your fears, lower your risk of involuntary urine leakage, and stay socially active.
Dealing With Emotional Effects of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can leave patients feeling a range of emotions, including embarrassment, distress, and helplessness. They may feel isolated and unable to participate in social activities.
One of the most effective ways to deal with emotions related to a condition is to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. However, many people with urinary incontinence ignore warning signs or postpone visiting their doctor. On average, people wait seven years before seeking help.
Continue reading http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/urinary-incontinence/active-lifestyles-with-urinary-incontinence.aspx
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Living with urinary incontinence, whether caused by an overactive bladder or compromised bladder control, can cause people to shy away from their favorite pastimes out of fear that they’ll have an accident. However, there are ways to handle your fears, lower your risk of involuntary urine leakage, and stay socially active.
Dealing With Emotional Effects of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can leave patients feeling a range of emotions, including embarrassment, distress, and helplessness. They may feel isolated and unable to participate in social activities.
One of the most effective ways to deal with emotions related to a condition is to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. However, many people with urinary incontinence ignore warning signs or postpone visiting their doctor. On average, people wait seven years before seeking help.
Continue reading http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/urinary-incontinence/active-lifestyles-with-urinary-incontinence.aspx
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Osteoporosis Awareness
Help Slow Bone Loss as You Age
Making a few easy lifestyle changes can help protect against bone loss as you get older. Find out about osteopenia, the first stage of bone loss, and how to keep your bones strong to lower your chances of developing more-serious osteoporosis. Avoiding carbonated drinks and engaging in weight-bearing exercises such as weight training and walking are two simple lifestyle changes that can help prevent osteoporosis. Learn how to slow bone loss. Continue reading at everyday health
Everyday Health
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at icareforyouhomecare if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Making a few easy lifestyle changes can help protect against bone loss as you get older. Find out about osteopenia, the first stage of bone loss, and how to keep your bones strong to lower your chances of developing more-serious osteoporosis. Avoiding carbonated drinks and engaging in weight-bearing exercises such as weight training and walking are two simple lifestyle changes that can help prevent osteoporosis. Learn how to slow bone loss. Continue reading at everyday health
Everyday Health
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at icareforyouhomecare if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Stress of Caregiving Hurts Boomers’ Health, Jobs
‘Triple-decker-sandwich generation’ seeing higher rate of depression than earlier generation
By Cindy Chan
Epoch Times Staff
Related articles: World > North America
OTTAWA—Between caring for elderly parents, raising children, and looking after their own busy lives, baby boomers have a higher rate of depression than the previous generation, says an expert.
Dr. Richard Earle, managing director at the Canadian Institute of Stress, describes the world’s boomers as a “triple-decker-sandwich generation,” a term generally referring to those born during the approximately two-decades of strong employment and economic growth in the post-World War II era.
“What we’re noticing at the Canadian Institute of Stress and throughout the research literature is a significant rise in mood disorders, including depression, in that baby boomer age group, which is 46 to 64,” said Dr. Earle.
In Canada, about 10 percent of baby boomers are still raising children while looking after—or just beginning to look after—elderly parents, he said.
“Then it’s not just a sandwich generation—it’s a triple-decker sandwich because they’re looking after husband or wife and job and the rest of it.”
Research shows that as many as 4 in 10 boomers are experiencing an unusually high level of stress, which can lead to depression, Dr. Earle said.
About 32 percent say they’ve had to cancel travel plans, 34 percent have dropped personal hobbies and interests, and well over 70 percent say the balancing act is interfering with their ability to fulfill responsibilities at work.
There are emotional impacts as well—a feeling of not being able to find pleasure from things they used to enjoy, Dr. Earle explained, “and within that, not being able to concentrate, to focus on what they’re doing, making decisions, and certainly sleep disturbance.”
In Canada, boomers are defined as those born between 1947 and 1966. They number more than 8 million and make up about a quarter of the population.
Statistics on American boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are almost identical, except that the United States has about 80 million baby boomers and they are reporting slightly higher impact on their jobs than Canadians due to stress from home, Dr. Earle said.
He noted that baby boomer issues and the increase in the rate of depression are much the same worldwide, including in such diverse places as Japan, the Middle East, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Everywhere, “the core of the problem is very similar”—juggling the demands of caring for parents and children are causing stress.
In particular, Japan has an extremely low birthrate and a significantly older average age than almost any other country, Dr. Earle said. “You have fewer younger people to take care of more older people.” Japan has also been dealing with the boomer depression issue longer than other countries.
As the first wave of boomers turns 65, their needs have been prompting services and research interest in every area from health and lifestyle to leisure and travel, from art and technology to financial services, and economic planning.
A recent study by the U.S.-based Hartford Financial Services Group, a major provider of employee-assistance programs, found that more than 80 percent of boomers report feeling moderate to high levels of stress from providing care or support to children, spouses, and/or parents.
Moreover, 46.6 percent said they felt worried about how caregiving is impacting their job, with 68 percent saying they missed work or left work early due to caregiving duties in the last six months.
University of Waterloo and Royal Bank of Canada launched a retirement research center last month, noted as the first collaborative approach of its kind between academic researchers and the financial services industry aimed at providing solutions and advice to boomers for retirement planning and living.
At last week’s 2010 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences held at Montreal’s Concordia University, University of Montreal professor Jacques Légaré presented a paper showing that aging boomers will have to either pay for their own care or find support from sources outside their immediate family circle.
Professor Légaré said that about 70 percent of elderly care currently comes from spouses or children. However, today’s boomers have fewer children to care for them. In addition, the rise in divorce, common-law unions, and blended families means that many boomers may not have a partner to rely on within a stable relationship as they age.
Meanwhile, average life expectancies are rising, putting further demands on society and boomers to create new support systems for tomorrow’s seniors.
The Canadian Institute of Stress is a charitable organization founded 30 years ago by Hungarian-Canadian Dr. Hans Selye, known as “the father of the stress field,” who published the world’s first scientific paper to identify and define stress in 1936.
The institute tracks trends in research literature and provides education to the public, health care professionals, and workplaces in Canada, and other countries on earlier detection of stress problems and methods for controlling stress.
“There are so many things that catch our attention, quite challenging, disturbing things happening in this world,” said Dr. Earle. “[But] the world will work out well to the extent that we look after ourselves and our families in a more informed way.”
He recommends that baby boomers “get refocused back on one’s own family situation and basically on ourselves—not in a selfish way, but in a self-maintaining way.” Continue reading at
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
By Cindy Chan
Epoch Times Staff
Related articles: World > North America
OTTAWA—Between caring for elderly parents, raising children, and looking after their own busy lives, baby boomers have a higher rate of depression than the previous generation, says an expert.
Dr. Richard Earle, managing director at the Canadian Institute of Stress, describes the world’s boomers as a “triple-decker-sandwich generation,” a term generally referring to those born during the approximately two-decades of strong employment and economic growth in the post-World War II era.
“What we’re noticing at the Canadian Institute of Stress and throughout the research literature is a significant rise in mood disorders, including depression, in that baby boomer age group, which is 46 to 64,” said Dr. Earle.
In Canada, about 10 percent of baby boomers are still raising children while looking after—or just beginning to look after—elderly parents, he said.
“Then it’s not just a sandwich generation—it’s a triple-decker sandwich because they’re looking after husband or wife and job and the rest of it.”
Research shows that as many as 4 in 10 boomers are experiencing an unusually high level of stress, which can lead to depression, Dr. Earle said.
About 32 percent say they’ve had to cancel travel plans, 34 percent have dropped personal hobbies and interests, and well over 70 percent say the balancing act is interfering with their ability to fulfill responsibilities at work.
There are emotional impacts as well—a feeling of not being able to find pleasure from things they used to enjoy, Dr. Earle explained, “and within that, not being able to concentrate, to focus on what they’re doing, making decisions, and certainly sleep disturbance.”
In Canada, boomers are defined as those born between 1947 and 1966. They number more than 8 million and make up about a quarter of the population.
Statistics on American boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are almost identical, except that the United States has about 80 million baby boomers and they are reporting slightly higher impact on their jobs than Canadians due to stress from home, Dr. Earle said.
He noted that baby boomer issues and the increase in the rate of depression are much the same worldwide, including in such diverse places as Japan, the Middle East, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Everywhere, “the core of the problem is very similar”—juggling the demands of caring for parents and children are causing stress.
In particular, Japan has an extremely low birthrate and a significantly older average age than almost any other country, Dr. Earle said. “You have fewer younger people to take care of more older people.” Japan has also been dealing with the boomer depression issue longer than other countries.
As the first wave of boomers turns 65, their needs have been prompting services and research interest in every area from health and lifestyle to leisure and travel, from art and technology to financial services, and economic planning.
A recent study by the U.S.-based Hartford Financial Services Group, a major provider of employee-assistance programs, found that more than 80 percent of boomers report feeling moderate to high levels of stress from providing care or support to children, spouses, and/or parents.
Moreover, 46.6 percent said they felt worried about how caregiving is impacting their job, with 68 percent saying they missed work or left work early due to caregiving duties in the last six months.
University of Waterloo and Royal Bank of Canada launched a retirement research center last month, noted as the first collaborative approach of its kind between academic researchers and the financial services industry aimed at providing solutions and advice to boomers for retirement planning and living.
At last week’s 2010 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences held at Montreal’s Concordia University, University of Montreal professor Jacques Légaré presented a paper showing that aging boomers will have to either pay for their own care or find support from sources outside their immediate family circle.
Professor Légaré said that about 70 percent of elderly care currently comes from spouses or children. However, today’s boomers have fewer children to care for them. In addition, the rise in divorce, common-law unions, and blended families means that many boomers may not have a partner to rely on within a stable relationship as they age.
Meanwhile, average life expectancies are rising, putting further demands on society and boomers to create new support systems for tomorrow’s seniors.
The Canadian Institute of Stress is a charitable organization founded 30 years ago by Hungarian-Canadian Dr. Hans Selye, known as “the father of the stress field,” who published the world’s first scientific paper to identify and define stress in 1936.
The institute tracks trends in research literature and provides education to the public, health care professionals, and workplaces in Canada, and other countries on earlier detection of stress problems and methods for controlling stress.
“There are so many things that catch our attention, quite challenging, disturbing things happening in this world,” said Dr. Earle. “[But] the world will work out well to the extent that we look after ourselves and our families in a more informed way.”
He recommends that baby boomers “get refocused back on one’s own family situation and basically on ourselves—not in a selfish way, but in a self-maintaining way.” Continue reading at
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Caffeine May Slow Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, Restore Cognitive Function, According to New Evidence
ScienceDaily (May 18, 2010) — Although caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide, its potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated. Substantial evidence from epidemiological studies and fundamental research in animal models suggests that caffeine may be protective against the cognitive decline seen in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
of Alzheimer's Disease, "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases," sheds new light on this topic and presents key findings.
Guest editors Alexandre de Mendonça, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal, and Rodrigo A. Cunha, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra and Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal, have assembled a group of international experts to explore the effects of caffeine on the brain. The resulting collection of original studies conveys multiple perspectives on topics ranging from molecular targets of caffeine, neurophysiological modifications and adaptations, to the potential mechanisms underlying the behavioral and neuroprotective actions of caffeine in distinct brain pathologies.
"Epidemiological studies first revealed an inverse association between the chronic consumption of caffeine and the incidence of Parkinson's disease," according to Mendonça and Cunha. "This was paralleled by animal studies of Parkinson's disease showing that caffeine prevented motor deficits as well as neurodegeneration "Later a few epidemiological studies showed that the consumption of moderate amounts of caffeine was inversely associated with the cognitive decline associated with aging as well as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Again, this was paralleled by animal studies showing that chronic caffeine administration prevented memory deterioration and neurodegeneration in animal models of aging and of Alzheimer's disease."
Key findings presented in "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases":
Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain
"Epidemiological studies first revealed an inverse association between the chronic consumption of caffeine and the incidence of Parkinson's disease," according to Mendonça and Cunha. "This was paralleled by animal studies of Parkinson's disease showing that caffeine prevented motor deficits as well as neurodegeneration "Later a few epidemiological studies showed that the consumption of moderate amounts of caffeine was inversely associated with the cognitive decline associated with aging as well as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Again, this was paralleled by animal studies showing that chronic caffeine administration prevented memory deterioration and neurodegeneration in animal models of aging and of Alzheimer's disease."
Key findings presented in "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases":
Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration
Caffeine's neuroprotective profile and its ability to reduce amyloid-beta production
Caffeine as a candidate disease-modifying agent for Alzheimer's disease
Positive impact of caffeine on cognition and memory performance
Identification of adenosine A2A receptors as the main target for neuroprotection afforded by caffeine consumption
Confirmation of data through valuable meta-analyses presented
Epidemiological studies corroborated by meta-analysis suggesting that caffeine may be protective against Parkinson's disease
Several methodological issues must be solved before advancing to decisive clinical trials
Mendonça and Cunha also observe that "the daily follow-up of patients with AD has taught us that improvement of daily living may be a more significant indicator of amelioration than slight improvements in objective measures of memory performance. One of the most prevalent complications of AD is depression of mood, and the recent observations that caffeine might be a mood normalizer are of particular interest."
The supplement was funded by the Associação Industrial e Comercial do Café, while leaving full scientific independence to all contributors. The entire issue has been made available on a no-fee basis at http://iospress.metapress.com/content/t13614762731/.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
of Alzheimer's Disease, "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases," sheds new light on this topic and presents key findings.
Guest editors Alexandre de Mendonça, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Portugal, and Rodrigo A. Cunha, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra and Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal, have assembled a group of international experts to explore the effects of caffeine on the brain. The resulting collection of original studies conveys multiple perspectives on topics ranging from molecular targets of caffeine, neurophysiological modifications and adaptations, to the potential mechanisms underlying the behavioral and neuroprotective actions of caffeine in distinct brain pathologies.
"Epidemiological studies first revealed an inverse association between the chronic consumption of caffeine and the incidence of Parkinson's disease," according to Mendonça and Cunha. "This was paralleled by animal studies of Parkinson's disease showing that caffeine prevented motor deficits as well as neurodegeneration "Later a few epidemiological studies showed that the consumption of moderate amounts of caffeine was inversely associated with the cognitive decline associated with aging as well as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Again, this was paralleled by animal studies showing that chronic caffeine administration prevented memory deterioration and neurodegeneration in animal models of aging and of Alzheimer's disease."
Key findings presented in "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases":
Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain
"Epidemiological studies first revealed an inverse association between the chronic consumption of caffeine and the incidence of Parkinson's disease," according to Mendonça and Cunha. "This was paralleled by animal studies of Parkinson's disease showing that caffeine prevented motor deficits as well as neurodegeneration "Later a few epidemiological studies showed that the consumption of moderate amounts of caffeine was inversely associated with the cognitive decline associated with aging as well as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Again, this was paralleled by animal studies showing that chronic caffeine administration prevented memory deterioration and neurodegeneration in animal models of aging and of Alzheimer's disease."
Key findings presented in "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases":
Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration
Caffeine's neuroprotective profile and its ability to reduce amyloid-beta production
Caffeine as a candidate disease-modifying agent for Alzheimer's disease
Positive impact of caffeine on cognition and memory performance
Identification of adenosine A2A receptors as the main target for neuroprotection afforded by caffeine consumption
Confirmation of data through valuable meta-analyses presented
Epidemiological studies corroborated by meta-analysis suggesting that caffeine may be protective against Parkinson's disease
Several methodological issues must be solved before advancing to decisive clinical trials
Mendonça and Cunha also observe that "the daily follow-up of patients with AD has taught us that improvement of daily living may be a more significant indicator of amelioration than slight improvements in objective measures of memory performance. One of the most prevalent complications of AD is depression of mood, and the recent observations that caffeine might be a mood normalizer are of particular interest."
The supplement was funded by the Associação Industrial e Comercial do Café, while leaving full scientific independence to all contributors. The entire issue has been made available on a no-fee basis at http://iospress.metapress.com/content/t13614762731/.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Is ageing a disease?
BY KATE KELLAND, HEALTH AND SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT, REUTERS MAY 19, 2010
It's clear that the simple fact of growing older - chronological ageing - is relentless and unstoppable. But experts studying the science of ageing say it's time for a fresh look at the biological process.
LONDON -- Is ageing a disease?
It's clear that the simple fact of growing older - chronological ageing - is relentless and unstoppable. But experts studying the science of ageing say it's time for a fresh look at the biological process - one which recognises it as a condition that can be manipulated, treated and delayed.
Taking this new approach would turn the search for drugs to fight age-related diseases on its head, they say, and could speed the path to market of drugs that treat multiple illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's at the same time.
"If ageing is seen as a disease, it changes how we respond to it. For example, it becomes the duty of doctors to treat it," say something as general as ageing.
"Because ageing is not viewed as a disease, the whole process of
bringing drugs to market can't be applied to drugs that treat ageing. This creates a disincentive to pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to treat it," said Gems.
The ability of humans to live longer and longer lives is being demonstrated in abundance across the world.
Average life expectancies extended by as much as 30 years in developed countries during the 20th century and experts expect the same or more to happen again in this century.
A study published last year by Danish researchers estimated that more than half of all babies born in wealthy nations since the year 2000 will live to see their 100th birthdays.
"THERE'S ONE THING WE'RE ALL MISSING"
But with greater age comes a heavier burden of age-related disease.
Cases of dementia and Alzheimer's, incurable brain-wasting conditions, are expected to almost double every 20 years to around 66 million in 2030 and over 115 million in 2050.
Diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and the cost of coping with them in ageing populations, are also set to rise dramatically in coming decades in rich and poor countries alike.
Nir Barzilai of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York, says one way of trying to face down this enormous burden of disease is to look at the biggest risk factor common to all of them - ageing.
"There's one thing everybody is missing," he said. "Ageing is common for all of these diseases - and yet we're not investigating the common mechanism for all of them. We are just looking at the specific diseases."
To try to reverse that, Barzilai and many other scientists around the world are studying the genes of the very old and starting to find the genetic mechanisms, or pathways, that help them beat off the dementias, cancers, heart diseases and other age-related illnesses that bring down others who die younger.
By finding the genes thought to help determine longevity, scientists think they may be able to mimic their action to not only extend life span, but, crucially, extend health span.
It is ... looking increasingly likely that pharmacological manipulation of these ... pathways could form the basis of new preventative medicines for diseases ageing, and ageing itself," said Andrew Dillin of the Salk Institute in California and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Gems says institutional and ideological barriers are standing in the way - and a major one is the longstanding traditional view that ageing is not a disease, but a natural, benign process that should not be interfered with.
CHANGING ATTITUDES?
All three experts say, however, that the ground is shifting in their direction.
There is now a "groundswell" of specialists in ageing, says Dillin, who are lobbying the world's biggest drug regulator, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to consider redefining ageing as a disease in its own right.
Major scientific research bodies like the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council in Britain are also under pressure to put more emphasis - and funding - into studying how ageing increases disease risk.
For biogerontologis‰s, as scientists who study the biology of ageing are known, the struggle is to convince people that their goal in unpicking the science behind ageing is no longer life, but healthier life.
"The whole reason that we study the ageing process is not actually to make people live a lot longer, it's to get people to have a more healthy lifespan," said Dillin.
He sees it as a matter of re-educating the public and health authorities to see biological ageing in a new light.
"When we are in the public arena we tell people we're working on the ageing process, the first thing they think is that we want to make a a 100-year-old person live to be 250 - and that's actually the furthest from the truth," he said.
"What I want is for a 60-year-old person who is predisposed to have Alzheimer's to be able to delay that, live to be 80, and get to know their grandchildren."
© Copyright (c) Reuters
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
It's clear that the simple fact of growing older - chronological ageing - is relentless and unstoppable. But experts studying the science of ageing say it's time for a fresh look at the biological process.
LONDON -- Is ageing a disease?
It's clear that the simple fact of growing older - chronological ageing - is relentless and unstoppable. But experts studying the science of ageing say it's time for a fresh look at the biological process - one which recognises it as a condition that can be manipulated, treated and delayed.
Taking this new approach would turn the search for drugs to fight age-related diseases on its head, they say, and could speed the path to market of drugs that treat multiple illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's at the same time.
"If ageing is seen as a disease, it changes how we respond to it. For example, it becomes the duty of doctors to treat it," say something as general as ageing.
"Because ageing is not viewed as a disease, the whole process of
bringing drugs to market can't be applied to drugs that treat ageing. This creates a disincentive to pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to treat it," said Gems.
The ability of humans to live longer and longer lives is being demonstrated in abundance across the world.
Average life expectancies extended by as much as 30 years in developed countries during the 20th century and experts expect the same or more to happen again in this century.
A study published last year by Danish researchers estimated that more than half of all babies born in wealthy nations since the year 2000 will live to see their 100th birthdays.
"THERE'S ONE THING WE'RE ALL MISSING"
But with greater age comes a heavier burden of age-related disease.
Cases of dementia and Alzheimer's, incurable brain-wasting conditions, are expected to almost double every 20 years to around 66 million in 2030 and over 115 million in 2050.
Diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and the cost of coping with them in ageing populations, are also set to rise dramatically in coming decades in rich and poor countries alike.
Nir Barzilai of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York, says one way of trying to face down this enormous burden of disease is to look at the biggest risk factor common to all of them - ageing.
"There's one thing everybody is missing," he said. "Ageing is common for all of these diseases - and yet we're not investigating the common mechanism for all of them. We are just looking at the specific diseases."
To try to reverse that, Barzilai and many other scientists around the world are studying the genes of the very old and starting to find the genetic mechanisms, or pathways, that help them beat off the dementias, cancers, heart diseases and other age-related illnesses that bring down others who die younger.
By finding the genes thought to help determine longevity, scientists think they may be able to mimic their action to not only extend life span, but, crucially, extend health span.
It is ... looking increasingly likely that pharmacological manipulation of these ... pathways could form the basis of new preventative medicines for diseases ageing, and ageing itself," said Andrew Dillin of the Salk Institute in California and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Gems says institutional and ideological barriers are standing in the way - and a major one is the longstanding traditional view that ageing is not a disease, but a natural, benign process that should not be interfered with.
CHANGING ATTITUDES?
All three experts say, however, that the ground is shifting in their direction.
There is now a "groundswell" of specialists in ageing, says Dillin, who are lobbying the world's biggest drug regulator, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to consider redefining ageing as a disease in its own right.
Major scientific research bodies like the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council in Britain are also under pressure to put more emphasis - and funding - into studying how ageing increases disease risk.
For biogerontologis‰s, as scientists who study the biology of ageing are known, the struggle is to convince people that their goal in unpicking the science behind ageing is no longer life, but healthier life.
"The whole reason that we study the ageing process is not actually to make people live a lot longer, it's to get people to have a more healthy lifespan," said Dillin.
He sees it as a matter of re-educating the public and health authorities to see biological ageing in a new light.
"When we are in the public arena we tell people we're working on the ageing process, the first thing they think is that we want to make a a 100-year-old person live to be 250 - and that's actually the furthest from the truth," he said.
"What I want is for a 60-year-old person who is predisposed to have Alzheimer's to be able to delay that, live to be 80, and get to know their grandchildren."
© Copyright (c) Reuters
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Monday, May 10, 2010
Moms in the middle: 'Sandwich Generation' mothers manage life on overload
BY DEBBIE SWARTZ •DSWARTZ@GANNETT.COM • MAY 8, 2010, 8:35 PM
While they've always been known for making boo-boos better with a kiss, tucking tired children into their beds at night and staying up until the wee hours to bake cupcakes for a party at school, many mothers are finding themselves with another labor of love; caring for their ill or elderly mothers.
For moms like Roxanne St. Ives of Port Crane, taking care of her two children, Thomas, 14, and Penny 12, along with her mother Lucille, is a conscious choice to keep her family together.
"I know she's not being watched by a stranger," St. Ives said. "Plus, she gets to watch the children grow."
Kathee Shaff of Lansing, Joan Mandell of Elmira and dozens of other women across Central New York and the Southern Tier have made similar decisions.
Known as the Sandwich Generation, more and more individuals -- nearly 20 million according to published statistics -- are finding themselves taking care of their children as well as their parents.
The requirements for the job of taking care of ones' children and their ailing mother can be daunting: Superb time management and listening skills, basic first aid training -- and in some cases nursing training -- the ability to feed hungry bellies, administer medication, help with homework, chauffer to appointments, and somehow try find time for their own needs. Continue reading athttp://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100508/NEWS01/5080388/1112/NEWS01/Moms-in-the-middle-Sandwich-Generation-mothers-manage-life-on-overload
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
While they've always been known for making boo-boos better with a kiss, tucking tired children into their beds at night and staying up until the wee hours to bake cupcakes for a party at school, many mothers are finding themselves with another labor of love; caring for their ill or elderly mothers.
For moms like Roxanne St. Ives of Port Crane, taking care of her two children, Thomas, 14, and Penny 12, along with her mother Lucille, is a conscious choice to keep her family together.
"I know she's not being watched by a stranger," St. Ives said. "Plus, she gets to watch the children grow."
Kathee Shaff of Lansing, Joan Mandell of Elmira and dozens of other women across Central New York and the Southern Tier have made similar decisions.
Known as the Sandwich Generation, more and more individuals -- nearly 20 million according to published statistics -- are finding themselves taking care of their children as well as their parents.
The requirements for the job of taking care of ones' children and their ailing mother can be daunting: Superb time management and listening skills, basic first aid training -- and in some cases nursing training -- the ability to feed hungry bellies, administer medication, help with homework, chauffer to appointments, and somehow try find time for their own needs. Continue reading athttp://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100508/NEWS01/5080388/1112/NEWS01/Moms-in-the-middle-Sandwich-Generation-mothers-manage-life-on-overload
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A Graying Population, a Graying Work Force
Mary-Lou O’Neill, 73, has been helping Grace Jackson, 101, for four years. “It’s developed into a friendship,” Ms. Jackson said.
By JOHN LELAND
Published: April 24, 2010
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One recent morning Antonia Antonaccio, a home care aide, got a call to help an elderly couple whose regular aide could not make it. The regular aide, who is 68 years old, had thrown out her back.
Related
Antonia Antonaccio, 73, provides home care for Carmine Spino, 89, and his wife, Mary, 88.
Ms. Antonaccio said she empathized. Sometimes her legs hurt from going up and down stairs. “But it’s nothing I pay attention to,” she said. “I don’t have the time.”
Ms. Antonaccio is 73.
In an aging population, the elderly are increasingly being taken care of by the elderly. Professional caregivers — almost all of them women — are one of the fastest-growing segments of the American work force, and also one of the grayest.
A recent study by PHI National, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of caregivers, found that in 2008, 28 percent of home care aides were over age 55, compared with 18 percent of women in the overall work force.
The organization projects that from 2008 to 2018, the number of direct care workers, which includes those in nursing homes, will grow to 4.3 million from 3.2 million. The percentage of older caregivers is projected to grow to 30 percent from 22 percent.
The average caregiver in Rhode Island from Home Instead Senior Care, the private agency that employs Ms. Antonaccio, is about 60, said Valerie Topp, chief operating officer for the state franchise. Younger aides often do not work out, Ms. Topp said, adding that clients frequently ask that the agency not send over someone too young.
“The older ones came to us after being family caregivers, so they understood the stresses that families were under,” Ms. Topp said. “They came with respect for age. They didn’t see age as a disability.”
Carmine Spino, 89, and his wife, Mary, 88, who are hoping to live out their lives without moving to a nursing home, are two of Ms. Antonaccio’s clients. She often shares stories about growing up in Italy during World War II; Mr. Spino served in the war — a common ground. They know the same music, share the same cultural reference points.
And as Mrs. Spino, who was always quiet, has become more withdrawn with the onset of dementia, Mr. Spino relies on their caregivers for conversation.
“We talk about our experiences,” he said of Ms. Antonaccio. “I don’t look at her as a stranger.”
Caregivers often nurse their own aches and pains, or manage their medications, as they tend to those of their clients, said Dorie Seavey, director of policy research for PHI National. Clients who have to be lifted may not be suited to some older workers, she said.
Linnette Hutchinson, 71, of Tucson, said she often had the same complaints as her clients. “Your eyes are going, and the aches and pains,” she said. “Your back, your legs, your teeth. The aging process sets in.” Ms. Hutchinson has had spinal surgery but still works four hours a day.
For Mara Torres-Rullan, 74, also of Tucson, the big challenge is pain. She started work as a caregiver in 1987 after a divorce; in recent years she has cut her hours because of arthritis.
“My last lady, I had to put pantyhose on her,” Ms. Torres-Rullan said. “I thought my back was going to break in half.”
She continues to work because she needs the money, but she refuses any clients who want vacuuming done because the work is too painful.
In Plymouth, Mass., Judy Brueggeman, 68, felt increasingly fatigued last year and had a stress test on her heart. “After three to five seconds on the treadmill, the doctor shut it off and told me to lie down and be quiet,” she said. She had triple bypass surgery in September.
But even so, she is now back on the job, putting in 12-hour weeks. “This is perfect for me,” she said. “I love my clients, and I love my work.” In some ways, Ms. Brueggeman said, the work has gotten easier because she is better at it than when she started, in 1991. “I learned a lot from my clients, especially not to talk too much,” she said. “They want to do the talking.”
But the industry does not have career paths for workers as they get older, putting a strain on them to continue with the most physically demanding aspects of the job, Ms. Seavey said. “If you look at older women as an asset, to train younger workers, they can be valuable,” she said. Ms. Antonaccio worked in the jewelry industry for 40 years before retiring, then went to work as a caregiver after her husband’s death, drawn by the flexible hours. She did not need health benefits because she was eligible for Medicare. She did need a sense of purpose.
“At 65, I felt my life was ending,” she said. “I took care of my mother, then my mother-in-law, then my husband, then I went into this. And I don’t have any intention to stop.”
Home Instead pays her roughly half the $19.25 an hour it charges clients in Rhode Island.
Her age, she said, makes her more sympathetic to the needs of her clients.
“They need someone to understand them,” she said. “When I first came, Carmine was in the hospital” — Mr. Spino was having respiratory problems — “and Mary was scared. She didn’t understand what was going on. She woke up and her husband wasn’t there. She wanted to call him every five minutes. I had to say he needs his sleep.”
Grace Jackson, who is 101, said she never wanted a helper at home and resented Mary-Lou O’Neill, 73, when she arrived four years ago at Ms. Jackson’s daughters’ insistence. But as their relationship has grown, “It’s developed into a friendship,” Ms. Jackson said, adding that friends who had younger aides were often offended by their manners or language.
Ms. O’Neill worked as a nurse until she was 66, then found herself restless in retirement. Now, she is one of the large number of Americans in their 70s who are still active and robust, without physical pain or limitations. She works only for Ms. Jackson.
“She’s a role model to me,” Ms. O’Neill said. “When she has physical problems, she doesn’t complain.”
Ms. Jackson said she appreciated having a companion with a wealth of life experiences. Last spring, after hip surgery, she complained in the rehabilitation center that she wanted to die.
“‘O.K.,” Ms. O’Neill told her, “if you want to die, get better and die at home.”
Ms. Jackson got better. From a younger aide, Ms. Jackson said, she would not have accepted such a challenge.
“Not that I don’t get along well with younger people,” she said. “But I’m not always pleased, I don’t like the way they talk. Maybe that’s what keeps you alive — not accepting everything.”
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
By JOHN LELAND
Published: April 24, 2010
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One recent morning Antonia Antonaccio, a home care aide, got a call to help an elderly couple whose regular aide could not make it. The regular aide, who is 68 years old, had thrown out her back.
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Antonia Antonaccio, 73, provides home care for Carmine Spino, 89, and his wife, Mary, 88.
Ms. Antonaccio said she empathized. Sometimes her legs hurt from going up and down stairs. “But it’s nothing I pay attention to,” she said. “I don’t have the time.”
Ms. Antonaccio is 73.
In an aging population, the elderly are increasingly being taken care of by the elderly. Professional caregivers — almost all of them women — are one of the fastest-growing segments of the American work force, and also one of the grayest.
A recent study by PHI National, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of caregivers, found that in 2008, 28 percent of home care aides were over age 55, compared with 18 percent of women in the overall work force.
The organization projects that from 2008 to 2018, the number of direct care workers, which includes those in nursing homes, will grow to 4.3 million from 3.2 million. The percentage of older caregivers is projected to grow to 30 percent from 22 percent.
The average caregiver in Rhode Island from Home Instead Senior Care, the private agency that employs Ms. Antonaccio, is about 60, said Valerie Topp, chief operating officer for the state franchise. Younger aides often do not work out, Ms. Topp said, adding that clients frequently ask that the agency not send over someone too young.
“The older ones came to us after being family caregivers, so they understood the stresses that families were under,” Ms. Topp said. “They came with respect for age. They didn’t see age as a disability.”
Carmine Spino, 89, and his wife, Mary, 88, who are hoping to live out their lives without moving to a nursing home, are two of Ms. Antonaccio’s clients. She often shares stories about growing up in Italy during World War II; Mr. Spino served in the war — a common ground. They know the same music, share the same cultural reference points.
And as Mrs. Spino, who was always quiet, has become more withdrawn with the onset of dementia, Mr. Spino relies on their caregivers for conversation.
“We talk about our experiences,” he said of Ms. Antonaccio. “I don’t look at her as a stranger.”
Caregivers often nurse their own aches and pains, or manage their medications, as they tend to those of their clients, said Dorie Seavey, director of policy research for PHI National. Clients who have to be lifted may not be suited to some older workers, she said.
Linnette Hutchinson, 71, of Tucson, said she often had the same complaints as her clients. “Your eyes are going, and the aches and pains,” she said. “Your back, your legs, your teeth. The aging process sets in.” Ms. Hutchinson has had spinal surgery but still works four hours a day.
For Mara Torres-Rullan, 74, also of Tucson, the big challenge is pain. She started work as a caregiver in 1987 after a divorce; in recent years she has cut her hours because of arthritis.
“My last lady, I had to put pantyhose on her,” Ms. Torres-Rullan said. “I thought my back was going to break in half.”
She continues to work because she needs the money, but she refuses any clients who want vacuuming done because the work is too painful.
In Plymouth, Mass., Judy Brueggeman, 68, felt increasingly fatigued last year and had a stress test on her heart. “After three to five seconds on the treadmill, the doctor shut it off and told me to lie down and be quiet,” she said. She had triple bypass surgery in September.
But even so, she is now back on the job, putting in 12-hour weeks. “This is perfect for me,” she said. “I love my clients, and I love my work.” In some ways, Ms. Brueggeman said, the work has gotten easier because she is better at it than when she started, in 1991. “I learned a lot from my clients, especially not to talk too much,” she said. “They want to do the talking.”
But the industry does not have career paths for workers as they get older, putting a strain on them to continue with the most physically demanding aspects of the job, Ms. Seavey said. “If you look at older women as an asset, to train younger workers, they can be valuable,” she said. Ms. Antonaccio worked in the jewelry industry for 40 years before retiring, then went to work as a caregiver after her husband’s death, drawn by the flexible hours. She did not need health benefits because she was eligible for Medicare. She did need a sense of purpose.
“At 65, I felt my life was ending,” she said. “I took care of my mother, then my mother-in-law, then my husband, then I went into this. And I don’t have any intention to stop.”
Home Instead pays her roughly half the $19.25 an hour it charges clients in Rhode Island.
Her age, she said, makes her more sympathetic to the needs of her clients.
“They need someone to understand them,” she said. “When I first came, Carmine was in the hospital” — Mr. Spino was having respiratory problems — “and Mary was scared. She didn’t understand what was going on. She woke up and her husband wasn’t there. She wanted to call him every five minutes. I had to say he needs his sleep.”
Grace Jackson, who is 101, said she never wanted a helper at home and resented Mary-Lou O’Neill, 73, when she arrived four years ago at Ms. Jackson’s daughters’ insistence. But as their relationship has grown, “It’s developed into a friendship,” Ms. Jackson said, adding that friends who had younger aides were often offended by their manners or language.
Ms. O’Neill worked as a nurse until she was 66, then found herself restless in retirement. Now, she is one of the large number of Americans in their 70s who are still active and robust, without physical pain or limitations. She works only for Ms. Jackson.
“She’s a role model to me,” Ms. O’Neill said. “When she has physical problems, she doesn’t complain.”
Ms. Jackson said she appreciated having a companion with a wealth of life experiences. Last spring, after hip surgery, she complained in the rehabilitation center that she wanted to die.
“‘O.K.,” Ms. O’Neill told her, “if you want to die, get better and die at home.”
Ms. Jackson got better. From a younger aide, Ms. Jackson said, she would not have accepted such a challenge.
“Not that I don’t get along well with younger people,” she said. “But I’m not always pleased, I don’t like the way they talk. Maybe that’s what keeps you alive — not accepting everything.”
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Cataracts, Presbyopia, and More: Aging and Eyesight
Aging doesn't just affect your joints and skin. Your vision is also at risk. Here's what you need to know about cataracts, presbyopia, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
It’s an inevitable fact of life: Your eyes change as you get older. For one thing, your risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration increases with age. And, as those in their forties can tell you, reading and seeing things up close becomes a problem because of a condition called presbyopia.
Here’s an overview of how your eyes change with age and what you can do to help your eyes stay healthy.
Aging: How Vision Is Affected
Presbyopia is the most common effect of age on vision. “As we age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible,” says James Salz, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists. When the eye lens becomes more rigid, people have trouble focusing on close objects.
The following are some other ways in which aging can affect vision:
Lighting. As our eyes age, we need more light to see well, especially when we read or do other close-range tasks.
Glare. Age-related changes to the lens cause light entering the eye to be scattered instead of focused mostly on the retina — the light-sensing layer of cells at the back of the eye — producing glare and adding to vision problems.
Colors. The lenses in your eyes can become discolored — for example, by cataracts — making it more difficult to distinguish colors.
Tear production. The tear glands in the eyes make fewer tears with age, leading to dry, irritated eyes, particularly among postmenopausal women.
Vision Problems in Older Eyes
Age also increases your risk for eye diseases. In people age 40 and over, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataracts are the most common eye problems.
Age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration, which affects the part of the retina crucial for sharp and clear vision, is the leading cause of blindness in Caucasian people over age 65.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that affect pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure affects the optic nerve, which carries images to the brain. People over age 60 are at increased risk for glaucoma.
Cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye, commonly caused by aging. In age-related cataracts, the center of the lens gradually becomes hard and cloudy; it eventually becomes difficult for a person to see things at a distance and even to distinguish colors.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
Some age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, may cause few or no symptoms until the disease is at an advanced stage. For this reason, it’s important to see a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Double vision in one eye, a possible symptom of cataracts
Reduced ability to see at night, a possible symptom of cataracts
Colors appearing faded or tinted with yellow, a possible symptom of cataracts
Sensitivity to light or glare, a possible symptom of cataracts
Distorted vision that makes straight lines look blurred or results in a blind spot appearing in the center of your vision, a possible symptom of macular degeneration
Blurry vision, a symptom of a number of potential eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and, in diabetics, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy
Any fluctuations in vision, a possible sign of a systemic disorder such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Appearance of floaters or flashes; occasional floaters are normal, but if you see a noticeable increase in floaters, especially if accompanied by flashes of light, you could be at risk for retinal detachment, which requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness
Eye pain, a possible symptom of glaucoma
Caring for Aging Eyes
Annual eye exams for anyone age 65 and older are essential for preventing and getting early treatment for eye diseases.
Also, the following tips can help you protect aging eyes:
Take supplements with lutein, which can help reduce the risk of chronic eye disorders
Always wear sunglasses outdoors to help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration
Eat a nutritious diet that includes dark, leafy green vegetables and orange foods such as carrots, which contain lutein
While presbyopia and increased risk for macular degeneration and other eye conditions are an inevitable part of aging, you can take steps — no matter what your age — to ensure that your eyes stay healthy.
Last Updated: 01/20/2010
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2010 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
By Katherine Lee
Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
It’s an inevitable fact of life: Your eyes change as you get older. For one thing, your risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration increases with age. And, as those in their forties can tell you, reading and seeing things up close becomes a problem because of a condition called presbyopia.
Here’s an overview of how your eyes change with age and what you can do to help your eyes stay healthy.
Aging: How Vision Is Affected
Presbyopia is the most common effect of age on vision. “As we age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible,” says James Salz, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists. When the eye lens becomes more rigid, people have trouble focusing on close objects.
The following are some other ways in which aging can affect vision:
Lighting. As our eyes age, we need more light to see well, especially when we read or do other close-range tasks.
Glare. Age-related changes to the lens cause light entering the eye to be scattered instead of focused mostly on the retina — the light-sensing layer of cells at the back of the eye — producing glare and adding to vision problems.
Colors. The lenses in your eyes can become discolored — for example, by cataracts — making it more difficult to distinguish colors.
Tear production. The tear glands in the eyes make fewer tears with age, leading to dry, irritated eyes, particularly among postmenopausal women.
Vision Problems in Older Eyes
Age also increases your risk for eye diseases. In people age 40 and over, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataracts are the most common eye problems.
Age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration, which affects the part of the retina crucial for sharp and clear vision, is the leading cause of blindness in Caucasian people over age 65.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that affect pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure affects the optic nerve, which carries images to the brain. People over age 60 are at increased risk for glaucoma.
Cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye, commonly caused by aging. In age-related cataracts, the center of the lens gradually becomes hard and cloudy; it eventually becomes difficult for a person to see things at a distance and even to distinguish colors.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
Some age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, may cause few or no symptoms until the disease is at an advanced stage. For this reason, it’s important to see a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Double vision in one eye, a possible symptom of cataracts
Reduced ability to see at night, a possible symptom of cataracts
Colors appearing faded or tinted with yellow, a possible symptom of cataracts
Sensitivity to light or glare, a possible symptom of cataracts
Distorted vision that makes straight lines look blurred or results in a blind spot appearing in the center of your vision, a possible symptom of macular degeneration
Blurry vision, a symptom of a number of potential eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and, in diabetics, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy
Any fluctuations in vision, a possible sign of a systemic disorder such as diabetes or high blood pressure
Appearance of floaters or flashes; occasional floaters are normal, but if you see a noticeable increase in floaters, especially if accompanied by flashes of light, you could be at risk for retinal detachment, which requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness
Eye pain, a possible symptom of glaucoma
Caring for Aging Eyes
Annual eye exams for anyone age 65 and older are essential for preventing and getting early treatment for eye diseases.
Also, the following tips can help you protect aging eyes:
Take supplements with lutein, which can help reduce the risk of chronic eye disorders
Always wear sunglasses outdoors to help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration
Eat a nutritious diet that includes dark, leafy green vegetables and orange foods such as carrots, which contain lutein
While presbyopia and increased risk for macular degeneration and other eye conditions are an inevitable part of aging, you can take steps — no matter what your age — to ensure that your eyes stay healthy.
Last Updated: 01/20/2010
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2010 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.
Verlia Caldwell, Pres.
Visit us at http://www.icareforyouhomecare.com if you need home care in Charlotte, N.C..
I Care For You Home Care, L.L.C.
1(800) 383-0520
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