Why the Flu is More Dangerous to Seniors

Many seniors have immune systems which are weaker than they were at a younger age. Where a person in their 30s, 40s and 50s may be able to successfully conquer the flu virus with their normal immunity, seniors are far more likely to contract the virus.

If the person is in a senior care facility such as a nursing home or assisted living facility, they become even more vulnerable due to constant close contact with other seniors who are also at high risk for contracting the flu.

Effects of the Flu on Seniors

A diminished immune system not only makes seniors more vulnerable to getting the flu in the first place, it also makes them more likely to develop complications and secondary infections. Primary viral pneumonia or a secondary bacterial pneumonia are especially worrying as most hospitalizations and deaths related to the flu are related to contraction of these secondary respiratory infections.

Additionally, seniors who live at home may develop the flu without anyone outside the home knowing.  This is why it is crucial for a home support worker to pay attention to any possible symptoms.

How Seniors Can Avoid the Flu

A few simple precautions can help seniors to avoid getting the flu in the first place.

1)  First and foremost is to get a flu vaccination each and every year. Flu stains mutate and differ from year to year so last year’s flu vaccine will not protect from this year’s strain of the flu. In addition, even though the vaccine is not 100% effective, it is still considered to be 70-90% effective, which means the majority of people who receive the vaccine will be protected.

2)  Avoid contact with those who are visibly sick and, if possible, with those who may have been exposed to the flu virus.

3)  Wash or sanitize hands frequently, especially after contact with doorknobs, counters and stair rails in public places.

What To Do If You Get the Flu

If you unfortunately end up with the flu, don’t panic. Currently the best cure for the flu is rest and plenty of fluids for the duration of the illness. Typically, the flu will last 5-7 days for healthy adults, but can last up to 10 days in seniors.

Medications

Most of the flu symptoms can be treated with over the counter medication, but make sure they are compatible with any medication the senior might be on for other health issues. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe either Tamiflu or Relenza, both of which help to shorten the duration of the illness and must be administered within 48 hours of flu symptoms presenting themselves.

Best Time for Seniors to Get a Flu Shot

The flu season generally lasts from October through February, although in some years it can stretch out to as late as April. It is best to get a flu shot as close to the beginning of flu season as possible, but not too soon or the protection could wear off before the end of the flu season when you could end up getting sick anyway. If you had a flu shot last year, you still need one this year. Even if you feel healthy now, you need the protection the flu shot will give you throughout flu season.

For More Information

To learn more about the flu, including where you can get your flu shot, visit FightFlu.ca, a comprehensive online resource.

Why Do Seniors Experience Heart Attacks?

Heart attacks are a part of heart disease that is more likely to affect seniors.

This is due to a few age related factors:

• The heart starts to lose pumping power
• Accumulation of plaque within arteries
• Activity becomes more difficult which weakens the heart

By the time a person reaches the age of 80, the heart’s resting capacity has been cut in half.

It is also important to know who is most at risk of a heart attack and when:

• The risk for men increases around age 45
• The risk for women increases around age 55
• The average first heart attack for men occurs around age 66
• The average first heart attack for women occurs around age 70

How Does a Heart Attack Occur?

It is also important to know how a heart attack happens, in addition to recognizing the signs.

The attack starts when the cardiac arteries are not getting enough oxygen. When the supply of oxygen becomes unsteady even for a moment, the heart tissue can become damaged or die. The heartbeat can become irregular or one can experience complete cardiac arrest, which is not the same as a heart attack but is sometimes caused by the attack. When the arteries become constricted with plaque or cholesterol buildup, a fibrous cap can cover the plaque so that it does not rupture and block the artery. If the pressure becomes too great, the plaque ruptures and causes the cells to die.

Physical Signs a Senior May Exhibit Before or During a Heart Attack

The most common image one may have when picturing a heart attack victim is a person clutching his or her chest while falling to the floor. However, a heart attack usually does not progress this way. A person experiencing a heart attack may first feel some discomfort in the chest that feels like fullness, heaviness, pain or pressure. This sensation can last for a while then go away, but it can also return.

There can also be pain in the upper part of the body including the:

• arms
• back
• jaw
• neck
• stomach

Victims who feel shortness of breath may or may not feel any of this pain, but they could experience other signs like dizziness, nausea or sudden cold sweats.

Someone providing senior care should also know that men and women can experience symptoms differently. For instance, women are more likely to feel the discomfort or pain in the chest as well as the lesser known symptoms including shortness of breath, back and jaw pain and nausea.

“Heart Month” Educates On Handling a Senior’s Heart Attack

With February as Heart Month in Canada, it is a good time to work on awareness skills when it comes to recognizing a heart attack and giving the proper help.

The caregiver should not wait more than five minutes to call 911 if a senior experiences chest discomfort, especially if it is accompanied by any of the other symptoms. Trained professionals can revive someone whose heart has stopped and give proper treatment upon arrival at the hospital.

For More Information

WebMD is a website that offers lots of useful information about the heart, as well as a wide variety of medical issues, that can help caregivers. Visit this page of WebMD to learn more about heart disease.

Caregivers have a responsibility to not only ensure that a senior gets clean, but also to remain as respectful as possible.

Why Seniors Need Help Bathing

Seniors may require help performing routine chores for many reasons, but in particular, bathing is one of the necessary routines that can be potentially dangerous.

Some of the reasons why seniors may need help bathing include:

• Mobility problems
• Arthritis or a stroke
• Alzheimer’s disease, which may cause seniors to forget bathing.

Older people often get cold very easily. A personal care worker who is responsible for helping older people take a bath should make sure the temperature in the bathroom is warm before drawing the bath.

If the senior is capable of some of the bathing process, let him or her wash sensitive areas. If the person cannot assist, then consider bathing the area while holding a towel to block vision. This method can be used to wash delicate areas without causing too much awkwardness.

Sensitive Skin, Sensitive Emotions

Try to use the kind of soap that the senior prefers. As each area of the body above water is gently washed, immediately rinse and dry the cleaned section of skin to keep the senior from getting chilly. Some people only need help getting in and out of the tub. Provide only the necessary assistance in order to preserve as much dignity as possible for the senior.

Check the skin for sores or infections, because the senior may neglect proper care for small injuries. If it is a bad day for the patient, do not force him or her to bathe. If the problem persists, discuss matters with the health care provider.

Bathing Tools for Seniors

There are several items that should be handy which allow bathing to go smoothly.

The following is a list of grooming aids:

• Disposable gloves prevent the spread of germs to or from the person getting bathed.
• Bath towels and washcloth are essential.
• Supply the brands of soap, lotion, powder and other bathing supplies the senior prefers.
• Remember to keep deodorant, toothpaste, a comb or hairbrush, a toothbrush, shaving supplies, and other toiletries on hand.
• Keep a full set of clothes handy if the senior is to be dressed. If not, then have underclothes and a robe or blanket ready.

Bathroom Changes May be Needed for Seniors to Bathe Safely

Sometimes all that is needed for elderly people to bathe is safe access to the tub. There are many safety products available that make bathrooms easy to use for people with mobility problems. For instance, safety bars can be installed for the shower, tub, or toilet.

Bathrooms may also need to be redesigned to allow walker or wheelchair access. Slip-resistant floor mats provide protection against falls, and anti-slip tub decals can assist those people who can stand without help. Safety bath and shower seats make the task of bathing a senior much easier. Bath lifts, rails and steps can also make bathtubs easier to access.

For More Information

To view some examples of safety aids for bathing, you can visit this website that carries bathing accessories for seniors.

Causes of Vision Loss in Seniors

Many seniors experience vision loss due to many age-related conditions.

These conditions include:

• Cataracts
• Diabetic eye disease
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration

Both benign and serious eye diseases can diminish a senior’s visual abilities. Seniors begin to lose visual acuity because of the natural aging process in which the eyeball changes shape, the lenses darken and eye muscles become weak. Most seniors become nearsighted, though there are a few that become farsighted as well.

Activities for Visually Impaired Seniors

Even if a senior has a limited visual capacity, it is still important to keep him or her stimulated and in good spirits. Arts and crafts are a great way to help seniors cope with vision loss. Painting and specifically finger painting is a therapeutic activity that allows seniors to work with their hands. Knitting can also be a soothing activity that stimulates the visual senses.

There are many ways to help seniors who still have some vision with their everyday tasks.

Companion care workers can make sure that senior’s homes have these elements:

• Proper lighting
• Colour coding
• Safely placed furniture
• Possible safety hazards prevented

While many of these precautions may seem to be common sense, it is quite possible to take these steps for granted and someone with limited visual abilities can be hurt.

Using Proper Lighting and Preventing Accidents

When a caregiver provides proper lighting, it is important that this light is not just bright. It needs to be placed in areas that will eliminate glare and other irritations caused from light that is placed too close to mirrors and windows. Glare and irritating reflections can be reduced with blinds, curtains and solar reflective glass.

Also, homes with shiny floors can be hazardous to a visually impaired person. It is important to clean floors and other potentially shiny surfaces with non-glare and non-skid products. Throw rugs that are not attached to the floor can also be dangerous to a person with limited visual capacities. Cracks in floors need to be fixed so that there is less chance of tripping.

Colour Coding and Safe Furniture

If the senior uses glass doors, like sliders leading to a deck or patio, a brightly coloured sign needs to be placed at his or her eye level to avoid injury from accidentally walking into the glass. Decorations and accessories need to have a different colour than the walls and furniture so that the senior can easily make a distinction between the objects.

Colour cues placed at the edges of landings, ramps and steps are also important in preventing accidents. Plants and other devices can also be used to signal walkways.

For More Information on Visually Impaired Senior Care

There are many organizations that help both seniors and their caregivers to improve the quality of life for those dealing with vision loss.

Visit any of the websites listed below:

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging

Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

VisionAWARE

Below, you’ll find a true or false quiz which provides education about various aspects of medical safety, and can help prepare a senior for taking medications on his or her own.

10 Questions about Senior Medication Safety

1] Since medicines are beneficial, I can take an increased dose.

False. Taking the exact dosage of each medicine prescribed by the doctor is very important. If you have a problem remembering the dosage of your various medications, it is advisable to make a chart, and stick it on your medicine cabinet, or table.

2] It is quite all right if a dosage is forgotten.

False. If you forget to take your medications, it can have serious consequences. To remember your dosage, set an alert on a device like a timer, and use a container with various compartments divided according to the dosage. If the particular compartment is not empty, it will alert you to the fact that you have not taken your medication.

3] While purchasing medications, I should compare the labels with the prescription.

True. The pharmacy can make an error, and hence it is always good to compare the medication you receive with what has been prescribed by your doctor. If there is any discrepancy, bring it to the notice of the pharmacist. If the pharmacist has given an alternate medication, check it out with your doctor.

4] Medications can be stopped, once I start feeling better.

False. You need to contact your health provider before stopping any medication. In particular, antibiotics have a prescribed duration of treatment, and can cause harm if the treatment is stopped in between. Certain medications prescribed over a long-term help in maintaining a healthy condition, and hence should not be discontinued without consultation.

5] I can store all medications in one place.

False. Store only your current medications in one place. Discard all old receptacles, and store medications of old prescriptions separately. If you are living with other seniors, make sure each one uses different cabinets for storing their medications.

6] All herbal preparations are safe, because they are natural.

False. Herbal remedies may have ingredients that can interfere with the efficacy of your prescribed medication, or even cause a harmful reaction.

7] OTC (Over the Counter) medications are safe, if purchased from a reputed pharmacist.

False. If you plan to take any OTC medications, always check with your doctor first. Never take any medications without consulting your doctor, as there are many possibilities that can lead to a dangerous situation.

8]  Review medications during each visit with your doctor.

True. It is always helpful to get your medication checked by your doctor, even when the prescription is not changed.

9] Consult your doctor before making changes in your diet.

True. Certain foods can react dangerously with your present medication, or cause severe allergic reactions; hence, it is advisable to check with your doctor before you add new foods to your diet.

10] I should take extra precautions while taking medications at night.

True. Make sure you put on adequate lights so you recognize the medicines, and read the labels. If the medications are to be taken just before bedtime, lay out the dosage on the table much before, when you are not feeling sleepy or disoriented.

Smoking:  A Popular Vice For Seniors

Although it is widely known that smoking is unhealthy, the activity is still a part of many senior’s lives. For some, it is a nostalgic reminder of when they were younger, while for others it is a way to cope with being unable to control more of their own lives. For many, it is simply an addiction that they cannot kick. Whatever the reason, smoking is a habit that is bad for the health of both the senior and their caregivers.

How Smoking Affects a Senior’s Health

It is a widely recognized fact that smoking is detrimental to health. This is because the lungs are not designed to cope with smoke instead of air, as well as the many toxins that are in cigarette smoke.

Seniors, in particular, are prone to negative health issues that arise from the inhalation of smoke. This is due to their advanced age and the fact that age reduces the body’s ability to heal and resist disease.

Some of the possible effects of smoking are:

• difficulty breathing
• lung cancer
• chronic lung problems
• dangerously low blood pressure
• mental decline and dementia

Quitting Smoking Isn’t Easy

Quitting a habit is difficult for anyone, and seniors who have smoked for decades will find quitting especially challenging. When one is accustomed to smoking a cigarette after dinner, for instance, it can be a daunting prospect to face dinner knowing there will be no cigarette afterwards. The sudden absence of nicotine can also cause elevated heart rate and blood pressure, as well as nervous issues.

Since some of the medication-based aids for quitting smoking are inappropriate for seniors, there are other ways for them to get some help. One of the best ways to quit is to replace smoking with a healthier habit. Chewing gum has been a favourite for decades, as it satisfies the craving to have something in the mouth as well as helps to take the mind off the nicotine. Enjoying a piece of sugar-free candy or another favourite treat also works well.

How Can Caregivers Help a Senior Quit Smoking

Caregivers can be instrumental in this process because not only can they keep an eye out for slips, they can also help to remind the senior why they are quitting in the first place. They are trained to be tough in the face of uncooperative patients, while still maintaining a caring and compassionate demeanor. They make the perfect addiction counselors.

Celebrating the Non-Smokers

The week of January 15-21 is Canada’s National Non-Smoking Week. It has been running for over thirty years, and is one of the most important and longest running health education projects in the country.

It is designed to:

• educate people about the danger of smoking
• prevent people from starting the habit and becoming addicted
• help those who want to quit smoking
• promote the rights of non-smokers
• remove the rank of ‘normal’ from tobacco use, the industry, marketing practices, and products
• help create a smoke-free country

For More Information

Learning about the effects of cigar smoke can be a major deterrent. You can read about the effects on seniors at this BMC Geriatrics report.

For more help to quit smoking, you can visit this comprehensive resource:  QuitSmoking.com

Informed consent involves two requirements:

1. The patient being fully informed about the treatment they are to receive
2. The patient giving his or her permission for said treatment

The Importance of Informed Consent For Seniors

When it comes to senior care health matters, your wishes, as the patient, often dictate the type of treatment you receive. Obviously, you cannot make wise decisions concerning treatment unless you have a clear understanding of your medical condition and the possible treatments at hand. It is your doctor’s responsibility to provide you with this information in detail before enacting any kind of procedure towards your care.

Some factors to consider concerning treatments include:

• the type of treatment and what it entails
• how long it will last
• possible negative side effects
• alternatives to the procedure

After your doctor has explained all this to you, you should be in a better position to make a knowledgeable decision either for or against said treatment.

Health Care Isn’t Always a Smooth Process

Elderly healthcare provides its share of challenges and ethical issues, especially along the line of informed consent. Sometimes a healthcare provider will withhold information from their patients or mislead them into receiving the treatments they consider best for their care.

Other times, patients do not have the mental capacity to make treatment decisions on their own. For example, patients suffering from dementia are in no state to give consent on medical care due to their unclear mental state. It is then necessary to receive permission for treatment from a family member or legal guardian. In the event of life or death situations, doctors may proceed with treatment without consent.

Consider Advance Care Planning

As a senior citizen, you should be fully aware of the implications of informed consent in relation to your health. This knowledge can help you avoid ethical issues concerning your health care in the future.

Programs such as Advance Care Planning allow you to make decisions in the present that will affect your healthcare for the future. These decisions take into account your personal choices, religious beliefs, ethical beliefs, etc. By planning ahead, you have more control over personal healthcare matters which may affect you later in life when you are no longer capable of making these decisions on your own.

If the future of your health care is important to you, it is essential that you plan in advance for unexpected situations that may arise. You can share your ethical values and preferences on home care or senior care issues with your doctor and family members who may one day be responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf. These healthcare preferences should also be recorded in a legal document or medical power of attorney, leaving no room for misunderstandings about your wishes for medical treatment when the time comes.

Informed Consent Helps to Address Future Ethical Issues

It is not unusual for ethical conflicts to arise in the course of medical treatment for elderly patients. Sometimes patients see their personal situations differently than doctors or even family members. These differences may result in your choosing an alternative course of action than what your family or doctor may prescribe.

You may, for example, opt for home care treatment when your physician is suggesting hospitalization. By discussing these possibilities with your family and doctor, you can come up with viable solutions for your treatment.

As long as you have the capability to make healthcare decisions, according to the process of informed consent, the final decision on personal healthcare matters rests with you. Before rejecting any treatment your doctor suggests, however, it would be wise to get a second opinion from another physician you trust or a specialist for clarity on the matter.

Learn to Recognize the Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative form of dementia. It causes serious memory, thinking and behavioral impairment to those afflicted.

Early symptoms include:

• Hard time performing multiple tasks and solving problems
• Losing track of familiar routes
• Difficulty in recalling names of familiar objects
• Moodiness
• Lack of interest in previous hobbies
• Losing items frequently
• Change in personality

As the condition progresses, symptoms worsen, making it hard for seniors to cope alone. This is also when sleep problems often arise.

Late symptoms of the brain disorder include:

• Irregular sleep patterns
• Trouble performing routine activities such as dressing, cooking and taking showers
• Amnesia
• Personality disorders
• Withdrawal and depression
• Anger, hallucinations and agitation
• Language and speech impediments
• Loss of literacy

It is often challenging to care for a person with these symptoms. The condition usually overwhelms families, who often opt to send their loved ones to nursing homes. When the senior separates from their family, symptoms may worsen. Nevertheless, irregular sleep habits are manageable by senior care providers.

Ways of Promoting Healthy Sleep for Seniors Living with the Effects of Alzheimer’s

Light therapy:

Exposing seniors to sunlight during the day can boost their sleep at night. Specialized light boxes are available for those who are unable to venture outside their home.

Avoid stimulants:

Doctors forbid intake of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Stimulants interrupt normal sleeping patterns while alcohol and nicotine may trigger anxiety symptoms. The home care specialist may serve the senior with a non-alcoholic beverage in a familiar glass, if he or she insists on drinking.

Plan medications:

During the day, give the patient mind stimulating medications and at night, depressants. Sleeping pills are inadvisable as they may induce confusion and trigger collapse and fainting.

Promote mobility and physical activities:

Walk around the local park with the senior during the day and toss a Frisbee or something similar. Daytime activities create fatigue, making it easier for the senior to sleep soundly at night. However, movements should gradually reduce as evening approaches. Overstimulation may increase the senior’s energy levels, making it hard to rest.

Restrict daytime sleep:

Wake the patient early enough, if you deem that staying in bed throughout the morning will affect sleep patterns. Limit daytime naps to a few hours on the couch or recliner. Do not allow the patient to nap in the evening.

Create a sleeping routine:

Establish bedtime rituals for the senior. Repeating the same activities daily before bedtime creates a habit. For instance, bathing, dressing, brushing teeth, listening to some music and a back or foot rub daily before bedtime can prepare them for sleep.

Seek medication:

Consult the patient’s doctor for help if sleeping problems worsen. Irregular sleeping patterns may be a sign of underlying conditions such as pain, sleep apnea or depression.

Admittedly, seniors with Alzheimer’s, families and senior care providers experience challenges in managing the disease. One of its worst symptoms is interruption of normal sleeping cycles. This can affect family members and caregivers, who need their sleep at night to feel rejuvenated in the morning. The guidelines above will come in handy for family members and home care providers in charge of Alzheimer’s patients.

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

January is Alzheimer’s awareness month in Canada. Alzheimer’s Societies across the country, in association with the Minister of Health and the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, will host “Walk for Memories” events around the country to raise awareness on the condition.

For More Information

Canada’s Alzheimer Society has an informative website called Let’s Face It, which benefits seniors, families, and health care professionals.

Family has been at the heart of most of Irene Martin’s major life choices. Her decision to go into business in 1994, for instance, was largely informed by her family’s challenges in caring for elderly parents, whose health issues threatened their ability to remain in the home they loved. This experience prompted Martin to create Retire-At-Home Services, a home care provider that offers a wide gamut of services, from simple companionship to end-of-life care.

Retire-At-Home (RAH) now boasts 25 franchise operations, located in five provinces, and hundreds of employees, including RNs and licensed practical nurses, housekeepers and personal support workers. The company’s beginnings were quite humble. “I ran RAH out of our home in Ottawa for the first five years, and that helped alleviate some of the financial burden of the startup. It was a sound decision from the family perspective, too, because I was able to stay home when my children were teenagers.” There wasn’t much downtime, but she quickly mastered multitasking: “I got very good at making supper while I was talking on the phone to clients and employees.”

“The first few years were tough because I had to learn how to run a business and continue to provide care to clients. [Martin had a single employee at first and then began hiring caregivers as needed.] But looking back, I think the organizational and problem-solving skills that I learned in my 25 years as an RN in oncology, acute care and long-term care have served me well.” The support and participation of her family have been key factors in growing the business. For more than a decade, her son Jonathan handled operational responsibilities and management of the Ottawa office, and he’s now VP of franchise development. Martin’s husband and two other children are also involved, allowing her to focus on managing the Ottawa office.

“In a way, I feel like a surrogate daughter,” says Martin of her relationship with clients. It is telling that she still asks herself “What would I want for my mom and dad?” when there’s a difficult situation to resolve. It’s a question that has helped shape RAH’s approach to care. Each client receives one-on-one care that is nurse managed and that follows a customized care plan, with physical, emotional, psychological and social needs factored in. “Increasingly, we’re acting as a health-system advocate or navigator for clients who don’t have family and friends to rely upon.”

With baby boomers retiring in increasing numbers, business prospects look excellent. “We’ve helped thousands of seniors ease their way into retirement,” says Martin. “I’m very happy to have taken that fork in the road so many years ago.”

The worries are warranted, but a new Stanford University study shows there’s a silver lining to the graying of the population. As we grow older, we tend to become more emotionally stable. And that translates into longer, more productive lives that offer more benefits than difficulties, according to Laura Carstensen, the study’s lead author.

“As people age, they’re more emotionally balanced and better able to solve highly emotional problems,” said Carstensen, a psychology professor and director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. “We may be seeing a larger group of people who can get along with a greater number of people. They care more and are more compassionate about problems, and that may lead to a more stable world.”

Over the course of twelve years, Carstensen and her researchers tracked about 180 study participants between the ages of 18 and 94. For one week every five years, the participants carried pagers and were required to immediately respond to a series of questions whenever the devices buzzed. The spontaneous quizzes were intended to chart how happy, satisfied and comfortable they were at any given time.

Carstensen’s study, which was published in the journal Psychology and Aging, was an effort to answer questions asked frequently by social researchers: Are seniors today who say they’re happy simply part of a socioeconomic era that predisposed them to good cheer? Or do most people-whether born and reared in boom times or busts-have it within themselves to reach their golden years with a smile? The answer has important significance for future ageing societies. “Our findings suggest that it doesn’t matter when you were born,” Carstensen said. “In general, people get happier as they get older.”

People consentrate on the meaningful aspects of life when time is limited. While teenagers and young adults experience more frustration, anxiety and disappointment over things like test scores, career goals and finding a soul mate, older people typically have made their peace with life’s accomplishments and failures. Simply put, they have less ambiguity to stress about. “This all suggests that as our society is ageing, we will have a greater resource,” Carstensen said. “If people become more even-keeled as they age, older societies could be wiser and kinder societies.”

So what, then, do we make of the “grumpy old man” stereotype?

“Most of the grumpy old men out there are grumpy young men who grew old,” Carstensen said. “Ageing isn’t going to turn someone grumpy into someone who’s happy-go-lucky. But most people will gradually feel better as they grow older.”

Source: Stanford Center on Longevity.

Originally posted on our newsletter here.