Senior Care in Oswego IL

Just as the severe cold temperatures are dangerous for the elderly in the winter, the high temperatures of summer can be equally or more dangerous. Seniors are more prone to the effects of heat and at greater risk for dehydration.

According to the CDC, elderly people are more at risk for the following reasons:

• Seniors’ bodies do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

It is important during this time of year that someone you trust is checking on senior loved ones who live alone. If you can’t be there, consider hiring a home care agency to visit a couple of times a week to assist with errands, light housekeeping, laundry, and general senior care. It’s always good to have a set of eyes and ears that can report anything unusual to the family.

Here are some tips on “beating the heat” with regard to senior care.

• Try to plan activities that require going outside during cooler hours.

• Move exercise indoors. Consider exercising at a gym, walking on a treadmill, or “mall walking” instead of outdoor walks or activities. Swimming and water aerobics are good options as well.

• Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, caffeine-free as these ingredients have a diuretic effect). Talk with your doctor if you take medications that affect fluid intake, such as Lasix or a “water pill”.

• Stay indoors in cooled spaces as much as possible. Check on senior’s air conditioning system, do a maintenance review. If electricity goes out or your loved one does not have air conditioning, consider alternative arrangements when heat is at dangerous levels.

• Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity. Keeping hydrated on a regular basis is the most important preventative measure, and individuals should be encourage to drink fluids even when not thirsty as thirst may not be triggered until already dehydrated. Heat and dehydration may make seniors more prone to dizziness and falls and can cause/increase confusion.

Heat exhaustion is the more mild form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion in seniors vary but may include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle Cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin: may be cool and moist
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke in seniors vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache

For more information about senior care options in Oswego contact senior care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Oswego.

May is Older Americans Month, a fantastic occasion to demonstrate our thankfulness for the older adults in our local communities.

Since 1963, areas across the nation have come together to celebrate Older Americans Month—a very proud practice that exhibits our nation’s dedication to recognizing the contributions and achievements of older Americans.

The topic for Older Americans Month 2012, “Never Too Old to Play…”
inspires older Americans to continue to be involved, active and involved in their own lives and in their communities.

Here are some creative ideas for Older American’s Month

Brain Activities

Older adults may experience multiple changes in the structure and activity of the brain that can affect how we move and think. But developing studies show that specific actions can teach and spark the brain, bettering its efficiency and potentially even decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While we do not know which specific daily activities may be of benefit, the ones mentioned below are fun ways to engage your brain.

Consider offering some of these events for Older Americans Month:

– Trivia competition. You’re never too old to play trivia! It’s a great way to bring together older adults and their younger friends and neighbors for a couple of hours of fun and discovery. As a featured activity for Older Americans Month 2012, AoA has developed a team trivia game for your Day of Play. Players will exercise their minds in a 90-minute competition, where intergenerational groups of four to six people gather to answer trivia questions about culture, major events, and sports.

-Crossword puzzles. Crossword puzzles are excellent mental exercises. In the spirit of Older Americans Month, AoA has developed a series of crossword puzzles that you can print and distribute to Day of Play participants.

-Traditional games. Games like Scrabble, bridge, and pokeno are timeless classics and have the potential to be fun intergenerational games. Hold a game night and invite participants to form teams to play these traditional games. Provide a venue, a few decks of cards, a handful of board games, and let the good times roll!

-Continuing education/speaker series. Talk to the older adults you work with and find out what topics interest them. A speaker series as part of your Day of Play might include local professors, authors or others expert in their fields giving presentations on the topics of greatest interest.
To learn more about brain health, please visit:

National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging Memory/Cognitive Health

Alzheimer’s Association: Brain Health

Take care of the seniors in your life and celebrate National Older American’s Month.

You would be amazed by how much and diverse the options can be. Your aging parents who require senior care are no different than we are. They have various interests that can generally be modified to their new level of abilities.

Raised-bed gardening.

Planters are raised to a height so that someone in a wheelchair can easily reach them. This can provide easy outdoor activities all spring, summer, and fall, even for the elderly who require senior care.

Local Trips

Most malls, fairgrounds, farmers’ markets and other places now have wheelchairs or scooters you can rent for the day if necessary.

Local State Park with a Fishing Area

Fish from a handicap ramp or pier. Eat hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on a grill.

Call ahead and talk to the park employees. They can tell you where the wheelchair accessible area of the park is. Reserve it in advance.

Easy Projects

You can find all kinds of easy crafts for seniors for the aging parent who is creative. There are websites everywhere that give directions for crafts that older seniors can do.

Those who have a tough time holding things with their hands might do best with crafts that use large pieces or where painting is the main activity.

What about the Wii?

You may have heard your own children or grandchildren talking about the new game called Wii. This is a device that mimics a sport, such as bowling, tennis, etc., without actually using the sport’s equipment. They’re fun and good for keeping fit in any age.

Have a Singer in the Family?

Many towns have senior clubs, senior centers and gatherings…some of them include senior groups who get together just to sing!

Summary

Even though your aging parents may need senior care, trying to keep them active physically and mentally is really important for quality of life. Anyone in the home who is providing senior care on a regular basis can easily incorporate a few of these activities into their weekly schedule.

What kinds of activities can you think of that are appropriate for aging adults who are requiring senior care?

Senior care in Oswego IL counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Oswego.