Pasadena Home Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Nutrition is an important part of general health. Many seniors do not get the necessary nutrients from the foods they eat. This results in them having to take daily supplements. By eating the right foods, seniors will be able to absorb necessary nutrients. This can help maintain health and avoid medical issues in the future. The list below contains some nutritional facts for seniors.

1. Poor nutrition is a health risk for all seniors. There are many things that can increase the chances of poor nutrition. They include illness, taking multiple medications, poor dental health, poor eating habits and loneliness or the lack of socialization.

2. Since the need for calories is reduced with age, seniors need to choose foods that are rich in nutrients. Try to opt for foods that are high in fiber and low in fat. Reduce the intake of foods with high calories or high amounts of sugar.

3. Seniors may need more calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. If you cannot increase your intake by adjusting what foods are eating, you may want to take a daily supplement to ensure you are getting enough of these important nutrients.

4. Seniors with heart disease or high blood pressure need to watch how much sodium is consumed daily. Processed foods contain high amounts of sodium. It is best for seniors to eat freshly prepared meals including vegetables and meats that are not processed. Seniors who do not have a health condition should not consume more than 3000mg of sodium each day. This number will be lower for those with heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Source: gicare.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angelesarea. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

There have been many recent studies regarding the association of the walking speed of elderly patients and their overall health. These studies have indicated that decreased walking speeds may be a sign of possible health issues. Various clinics are using walking speed as a way to assess elderly patients. This assessment is not used when the patient has another condition that can affect their physical movements, such as Parkinson’s disease. The following list contains facts about walking speed and how it could be a sign of adverse effects in the future.

1. A slow walking speed in an elderly patient is associated with the increased risk of death due to cardiovascular issues.

2. Any decreased motor performance can be viewed as a risk factor.

3. Elderly patients should try to stay as active as possible. Introducing a walking exercise into a daily regime could reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

4. Walking speed can be used to predict future health issues. This may not be possible if the patient has broken a hip in the past 2 years, has a debilitating disease or dementia

Source: www.bmj.com

Image Source: www.sxc.hu

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angelesarea. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

The American Podiatric Medical Association recently published the 25 best walking cities in the United States. All of these cities are safer for walkers and offer amenities that cater to those who would rather walk for enjoyment, for fitness, or simply as a way to get around. Does your city appear on this list? If so, what do you like about your city and everything it has to offer to walkers? If not, do you think the city where you live should have made this list? Please share your thoughts!

1. San Francisco – tops the list and was also voted best for families, with many walker-friendly attractions to visit along with 2 other cities. San Francisco is also one of the best cities for those who want to commute without a vehicle of their own, because there are many public transit options. There’s a great reason, that San Francisco tops the list, since it also receives notoriety as one of the best nature spots with its trails and parks for walking!

2. Boston - also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities, and was voted one of the best for commuters

3. New York – this city has some of the best public transit options in the country, making it one of the best for those who do not have a vehicle of their own.

4. Philadelphia

5. Chicago

6. Washington

7. Seattle - also voted best for families, with many walker-friendly attractions to visit along with 2 other cities

8. Honolulu

9. Portland

10. Pittsburgh

11. Oakland

12. Minneapolis – also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities; it also made the list as one of the most family friendly cities with attractions that are perfect for walking

13. San Diego

14. Los Angeles – along with Santa Ana, this California city received recognition for its wealth of nature trails and parks

15. Milwaukee

16. Baltimore

17. Rochester - also has low crime and pedestrian fatality rates, making it one of the 3 safest cities

18. Santa Ana – with many parks and trails for walking, Santa Ana is a great city for walkers!

19. San Jose

20. Denver

21. Columbus

22. New Orleans

23. Austin

24. Sacramento

25. Tuscan

If your city makes the list, tell us why you think it deserves its place as one of America’s best walking cities; and if yours doesn’t, should it have been included?

Via: Prevention.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angelesarea. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Every time you step outside for the love of nature and the nice weather we’re having during this Pasadena summer, know that you’re doing more for yourself than just enjoying the warmth and sunshine. By getting outside and getting active the benefits are extensive to both your body and your mind. So don’t feel guilty for taking some time everyday to connect with nature and reflect, stepping away from the stresses that can come with aging in Pasadena, because nature provides its own unique brand of medicine that you can’t get anywhere else.

Here’s how seniors can benefit their health, body and mind, by getting in touch with nature:

• Attention and memory spans improve by 20% after a 50 to 55 minute walk in a natural setting
• Sights in nature cause reflection and mental stimulation
• In nature, your mind can focus on stimulus rather than tuning out other surroundings in the environment when it’s overwhelming in a busy city environment
• Being in an environmental surrounding provides the brain with “active rest”
• Getting out into nature generally involves some form of physical activity and weight bearing activities like walking can help with osteoporosis and muscle strength
• Body weight, body fat and cholesterol is lowered when Pasadena seniors get active by hiking or walking outdoors reducing the risk of stroke, and heart conditions
• The boomer generation has a strong sentimental to the outdoors based on Woodstock and other events, so it can take them back to fond memories of their youth

Sources:

1. AARP

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

For many seniors who live independently into older adulthood; making healthy eating choices can be challenging. Often, for elderly people who live at home, meal preparation is a daunting task; so they turn to convenient packaged meals, or unhealthy snacks which may be high in saturated fat and processed foods. While many of these meal options may be quick and easy, they do not satisfy the requirements of any nutritional food guides when consumed without the addition of lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Family caregivers and other loved ones know that often seniors can be set in their ways, and are unwilling to alter their routines even for the betterment of their health. While intervening directly to improve their eating habits may not be an effective way to help a senior with healthy eating practices, families can encourage healthy eating for the elderly by making some simple changes.

1) Portion control – seniors with a love for unhealthy snacks that are sweet and salty can still indulge, but with smaller portion sizes and incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables to make up the difference in calories and portion.
2) Availability of healthy items – make sure that seniors always have a selection of their favorite fruits and vegetables, and keep them on the counter so they are convenient reminders of healthy eating.
3) Avoid temptations – if seniors tend to binge on their favorite sugary snacks; don’t keep them in the house so they can avoid temptations (especially important for diabetics)

Source:  Healthy Eating Guide for the Elderly Author:  Mary L. Meck Higg

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Most family caregivers don’t do what they do because they think it will be easy or fun; they provide care because of their love for a senior and concern over their health. Caregivers will have an easier time coping with the challenges, if they have an understanding of what to expect.

Physical Challenges

• Caregivers may be responsible for most or all of the light and heavy housework, which can become trying especially when combined with their own responsibilities at home

• Caregivers often need to help seniors with limited mobility, which can involve lifting and moving them. If  a caregiver is not physically strong they may injure themselves or the senior

Mental Challenges

The challenges referred to here, are those that a senior’s mental issues may present to a caregiver.
• Caregivers may have to learn new skills to manage medications

• Caregivers often need to take responsibility over a senior’s financing

• Caregivers also need to make adjustments to a home for safety, and plan activities appropriate for the senior

Financial Challenges

• Caregivers may have to take on some form of financial obligation to assist the senior, since often senior’s with health limitations have used a lot of their funds paying for medical costs

• Sometimes caregivers, like their senior, may use a great deal of their savings and financial resources to fund healthcare or other costs related to senior care

Emotional Challenges

• Caregivers may find it difficult to deal with the physical and mental changes that come with a health decline of their beloved family member

• Family caregivers can feel conflicting emotions ranging from affection, frustration, anger, sadness and guilt

• It can also be a big emotional challenge to try and convince a family member to take caregiving help; or deal with the emotions that come with having someone rely on you fully

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.