Senior Sunrise

It seems like everyone has an older relative that’s broken a hip. Many times seniors who suffer broken hips never return from the hospital because the injuries are so difficult to recover from. Seniors do, however, have some control over how quickly they recover from a hip injury, or whether they succumb to a hip injury in the first place. Daily exercise is one way to practice injury prevention.

The hip extension is one of several senior workout exercises can do at home to strengthen the buttocks and lower-back muscles. Those with senior health issues or past injuries should consult their physicians before beginning the exercise.

Hip Extension

1. Standing 12 to 18 inches from a table or chair with the feet slightly apart.
2. Bend forward at hips at a 45-degree angle; hold onto a table or chair for balance.
3. Slowly lift one leg straight backwards without bending your knee, pointing your toes, or bending your upper body any farther forward.
4. Hold the position for 1 second.
5. Slowly lower leg. Pause.

It’s always difficult to decide the appropriate course of action when elderly individuals lose the capacity to care for themselves. We would all like to invite our parents to come live with use during their golden years, but for many of us this simply isn’t feasible. Senior homes might seem like a cold, impersonal option, but in many cases they provide the best care possible.

Still, you will want to research the facility carefully before you make the decision to employ their services. Elderly abuse is a real problem, so the quality and integrity of the staff is of the utmost importance. Talk to some of the residents and see if you can find any unbiased reviews or comments on the facility.

As people age, there are myriad health concerns that begin to arise and manifest themselves. From arthritis to heartaches and everything in-between, it is impossible for anyone to be versed in the nuances of every risk. Thanks to the internet, however, it has never been easier to find reliable elderly health information and qualified medical professionals in your area.

When looking for health information online, one of the most important aspects to take into consideration is the source. Look for information from reputable organizations such as the American Medical Association or the Mayo Clinic. One of the best ways to vet the sites you visit is by looking at the suffix; .gov or .edu signify a government organization or educational institution, respectively, and tend to be the most reliable sources.

One of the reasons that the health care debate in America has taken so long is that there are so many factors to be considered. It would be easy if all people had the same needs and wants when it comes to health care, but that is simply not the case. The biggest disparity comes when you compare health care for young Americans with senior health care.

As the baby boomers begin to reach senior age, the costs of health care is inevitably rising to account for their increased risk and medical expense. In order to subsidize this increased cost, it is important to have young, healthy people paying for insurance as well. However, many of the uninsured—an estimated 44 percent—are young people, many of whom do not see the need for insurance, so part of the solution is getting these people to purchase a policy. This will help diffuse some of the risk of older generations and lower premiums for everyone.

It’s just a fact of life that seniors need to be even more in tune with their bodies than younger people. This means knowing when to seek medical treatment, when to stop driving at night, and even when it’s time to part with certain physically strenuous activities. But just because you know your limits doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the twilight of your life.

Low-impact exercises like yoga and tennis are ideal for people of any age and physical skill level. Tennis is easy on the joints, and you might even meet a new friend or two by signing up for a doubles league. Yoga is great for more than just stretching and working on balance. It can also be a calm and soothing way to relieve stress. Just be sure to get all the elderly health information you can before attempting anything that requires a lot of exertion.

My great-grandma is currently 99 years old and still has the vigor and tenacity of someone in their 80’s. One of the keys to her longevity is implementing and maintaining a stringent senior health management plan. There are a few simple things she does that keep her going and in good physical shape.

Every morning she makes sure to do a little light exercise, which usually just means walking a few blocks. For her though, this small amount of exercise is enough. She also fills her diet with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, staying away from excess sugary foods.

Good digestion is something we took for granted when we were younger.  Now, that we have a few years behind us we somehow remember all the little things that our parents and elders told us regarding our eating habits.  Seniors and caregivers, here are a few reminders that can make a difference. 

Don’t sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly.  Thus will elad to gastric and infection in our intestine.

Dont’ walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true.  Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.

Don’t bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken thedigestive system in our stomach.

Don’t loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked.

Don’t drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid.  This substance will cause the protein content in the food we consome to be hardened, and therefore difficult to digest.

Don’t eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruit after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air.  Therefore, take fruit 1-2 hours after a meal or 1 hour before a meal.

Many people aren’t thrilled about the prospect of getting older. Inevitably, your health will begin to slowly deteriorate and you will be unable to do some of the activities you could when you were young and spry. Just because you are entering your Golden Years, however, doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun.

 This should be the best time of your life, when you get to enjoy retirement and spend time with your loved ones. Once you hit 65, you will be eligible for senior discounts at many restaurants and entertainment venues. Use this opportunity to go out more and do some things you may not have been able to afford in earlier years.

Just because older adults may be frail or tire easily doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do regular exercise. Studies shoe that people who adhere to a program of physical activity show greater improvement in physical functioning than those who are sedentary. To be safe, seniors should ask their doctors about what kinds of exercise will benefit them and what kinds they should avoid based on their conditions. Anyone who is not active already should begin any exercise program slowly.

Be sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing and well-fitting shoes while exercising. Shoes should have good arch support and a cushioned heel to absorb shock. Start with exercises that you are already comfortable doing, and don’t overdo it. The saying “no pain, no gain” does not apply to exercise for the elderly – starting slowly will lower your chances of becoming injured. Walking is a great activity to start with, and you can increase the intensity as you become used to exercising. Swimming is also a good low-impact activity. Combine this aerobic activity with resistance or strength training with one to five-pound weights a few times a week for maximum benefits.

When Congress passed the Social Security of 1965, seniors across America were suddenly granted a wealth of health care benefits that hadn’t been readily available. The federal program known as Medicare covers people aged 65 or older. Hospital expenses are automatically covered under Part A of Medicare, but additional services such as doctor’s visits require a monthly premium.

One of the newest features of the Medicare system went into effect in 2006, and it’s of particular interest to anyone seeking elderly health care. This feature, known as Part D, provides prescription drug coverage in exchange for a monthly premium. Private health care companies administer the plans, but they must first be approved and regulated by the federal government.