Patient Daily Living

"Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems most strange that men should fear; seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come," wrote William Shakespeare. But what if death were not a necessary end? What if old age and death could be delayed or even defeated?

According to a recent review published in the journal Gerontology, the theory that all cells have a limited lifespan, that body cells are programmed to die after a finite number of divisions, may not be absolute. In fact, genetic research has already discovered ways to regulate cell death and double the lifespans of several living organisms.

Presbycusis is the medical term for hearing loss that is due to the aging process and is the most common cause of hearing loss in the elderly. In the vast majority of cases this type of hearing loss is not curable or treatable and the best solution is a hearing aid. According to a recent article published in the ENT—Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, presbycusis occurs in 50 percent of seniors between the ages of 75 and 84 and increases to 95 percent by age 94.

According to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society by Dr. Gail Greendale of the University of California at Los Angeles, yoga can help. The study found that among a group of elderly study participants, those who did yoga for six months saw their upper spine curve lowered by about 5 percent compared to those who did no yoga.
Reducing Dowager’s hump will improve your appearance, but it also has important health benefits as well.

If you’ve ever had a stuffy nose, you understand how important free breathing is. Oxygen helps every part of the body function, but more than that, clear, unobstructed breathing leads to vitality and health, important for senior health. Poor breathing can lead to stress, insomnia and many other ailments.
 

One excellent way to clear your nasal passages is through the ancient Yogic practice of neti. This is a warm saline bath for your nasal passages. It keeps them clean, removing dust and allergens. You can do neti any time, but most people add it to their morning routine. Once you experience how clean your nostrils are (and how clear your breathing is!) it will be like leaving the house without brushing your teeth if you forget to do it.

The older we get, the more difficulties we have with balance. Sometimes it’s because of changes in our eyesight; other times it can be caused by medication side effects, or the result of a loss of strength. Taking steps to help parents improve balance is essential, especially for the elderly. Not only will it help them live longer, but improved balance will also help people to live a healthier and more active life.

There is nothing more important than slip and fall prevention when providing elderly care. Fall risk prevention means making the home or living environment as safe as possible for a parent, grandparent or any elderly person. According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries resulting from falls caused roughly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in the past three years. The risks of women suffering from fall fractures is alarming, with nearly 72% of seniors admitted to hospitals for hip fractures being women.

Find out about five hidden risk factors that can lead to life-threatening falls in seniors.

Health risks of too much sodium are greater than previously thought. Learn how to cut salt and, as importantly, boost potassium. 

Elderly people are often plagued with dizziness or other sensations that make them feel unsafe walking or moving and leave them worried about how to avoid falling. These problems might occur as a result of sedentary behavior—and be resolved with physical activity—or they may require the services of a vestibular rehabilitation therapist to help.

Almost everyone knows that high cholesterol is not good for the heart. But not all cholesterol is bad. There is one type of cholesterol we should strive to increase. Cholesterol is carried throughout the body’s cells by lipoproteins.

About eight million Americans have balance problems and one in three Americans over age 65 will fall every year. Injuries from falls, like a fractured hip, can change a senior's life in ways senior fear most—isolation and loss of independence.