September 13, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Elder Abuse (Part 1 of 3) – What and Who

Elder abuse is one of those things we don’t like to think about happening to people we know. However, it is a situation that occurs far more often than we would like to admit. It’s important as a caregiver for your senior family member that you understand what it is and what happens as a result. Statistics Involving Elder Abuse According to information conducted by Statistics Canada, violence against seniors increased by 20 percent in between 1998 and 2005. This is just the number of cases that were actually reported...

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August 30, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Laughter Therapy for Seniors

A laugh a day keeps the doctor away. While this may not always be true, the positive effects of laughter are well known. For seniors who often battle with depression, laughter can have a healing touch. Why Seniors Need Laughter Coupled with failing health, seniors often feel isolated from their family and friends. Their children and grandchildren are busy with their own lives and may not visit or call as often as the senior would like. Add to this the fact that many seniors cannot be as active as they...

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August 27, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Cholesterol 101 for Seniors

In the past few decades, cholesterol has gained a lot of attention for the increased risk in heart attacks and other health issues that it can cause. Cholesterol can be a real issue in seniors who are not as active as they once were; as many people are not aware of their cholesterol levels. Cholesterol Education When they were young, many seniors had never heard of cholesterol. It didn’t begin getting the notoriety that it now has until the mid-1980. Now it is recognized as a serious health problem. Cholesterol...

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August 20, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Managing Eczema in the Elderly

As people age, their skin changes and they can develop issues and chronic problems with it. One such problem that affects people of all ages, but especially the elderly is eczema. Eczema is a condition of the skin that results in dry, scaly skin. What is Eczema? Technically, eczema is the loss of lipids on the skin, which causes dryness. Lipids are insoluble fatty compounds that surround cells to retain water. As the lipids are reduced, the skin develops patches and inflammation. It is caused or made worse by several...

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August 13, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Beware of the Bedsore

One of the most common chronic problems for the elderly in assisted living centers is pressure sores, also known as bedsores. While it is not as common for seniors living at home because they are more active you should still pay careful attention to any pressure marks. Pressure sores are often referred to as bedsores because they are most often noticed in people who are bedridden. However, this can give a false conclusion since they can also develop when people sit for too long or prop their feet up on...

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June 25, 2012 by Carefect Admin

The Benefits of Music Therapy for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

Numerous advances in understanding Alzheimer’s has helped to create new therapy techniques and medications that slow the effects of the disease. Some improvements such as new medicines can actually slow the progress while others can improve mental clarity of the patient. One such improvement is music therapy. What is Music Therapy? Music is a powerful medium for almost anyone; the same is true for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Music therapy is simply the process of using music to change a person’s behavior or provide memories to improve clarity. Music can alter...

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May 21, 2012 by Carefect Admin

The Most Common Eye Diseases Among Seniors

While many people expect to reduce their 20/20 vision as they get older and need glasses, they may not expect to develop other eye conditions. There are numerous conditions that affect the eyes, but four are mainly found in older adults. Cataracts Cataracts affect a large number of the older population and are characterized by clouding of the lens. It can happen in one or both eyes and results in blurry vision. There are other types of cataracts that can affect anyone, but the most common cause is aging. The...

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May 10, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Warning signs a senior should not be driving

Drivers over 70 are the second highest group involved in vehicle fatalities, with drivers under 20 being the highest. The effects of aging are different between people, but if it is affecting cognitive functions and physical capabilities, driving can become very dangerous. Even some medications can affect driving ability no matter what age a person is. For most seniors, driving is one privilege they do not easily want to relinquish. However, there are things to watch for when it comes to your senior parent or loved one that is still...

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February 27, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Power of Attorney

It is important that seniors select a responsible individual to appoint Power of Attorney to handle their personal, medical and financial affairs. It is also imperative that this is designated through the proper legal channels, so as to name the person they wish to handle their affairs, documented in a legally binding document, before something bad happens. What is Power of Attorney? Power of Attorney is a legal designation that gives the individual selected the power to make financial, health and personal decisions for the senior when they are no...

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October 1, 2011 by Carefect Admin

Introduction

There is a lot of information online about home care, caregiving, seniors, the elderly, baby boomers and aging that it is almost doesn’t make sense to open another blog. So… why are we still doing it? After close to a year of research and deliberations, we believe that a blog of our own will allow us to address what we feel is missing from other blogs: Comprehensive View –Online blogs usually have a common “theme” in their posted articles. That theme is usually the publisher’s specific type of services or...

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