The employee of the month for May is Jackie Likens. Jackie’s been very helpful to us at Golden Heart. We really appreciate the way she steps in when we need her. We want to make sure we recognize her hard work and dedication, by naming her employee of the month. Congratulations Jackie, keep up the hard work!
Month: April 2020
Reducing the Risk of a Second Heart Attack
25 percent of people who have a heart attack will have a second one. However, approximately 80 percent of heart attacks can be prevented. That means that if your aging relative has had a heart attack, there are ways for them to lower the risk of having a second one. Below are some steps that can lead to better heart health and prevent a second heart attack.
Manage Conditions
If your older family member has conditions that are risk factors for heart problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, it’s important that they follow the doctor’s advice for managing the conditions. They need to take medications as instructed and make the appropriate lifestyle changes.
Home care can help older adults to follow the instructions given by their doctors for managing conditions, including reminding them to take medications at the appropriate times.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is a serious risk factor for heart attack. Using tobacco can cause blood clots and harm blood vessels. If your aging relative smokes, they should speak to the doctor about how to quit. The doctor can suggest smoking cessation techniques and even prescribe medications to help them quit.
Home care can offer encouragement and support when seniors are trying to quit smoking.
Follow the Doctor’s Instructions
After a heart attack, most people are prescribed medications to prevent additional heart problems. Seniors should not skip doses or take more than prescribed. It’s also important for them to go to cardiac rehab and follow up medical appointments.
Home care providers can help by driving the older adult to the pharmacy to pick up medications and to rehab and other medical appointments.
Exercise Regularly
Talk to the doctor about what kind of exercise is appropriate and safe for your older family member. Once they have been cleared to exercise, they should work up to exercising about 30 minutes per day on 5 or more days of the week.
Home care providers can monitor the senior while they exercise, helping them to feel safer. Home care providers can also go for walks with the older adult or drive them to an exercise class.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is important to improving and maintaining heart health. A heart healthy diet is one that decreases salt, sugar, and bad fats. It focuses on plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains as well as healthy sources of protein.
Home care providers can cook balanced meals that follow the guidelines for heart health.
Sources
https://www.heart.org/en/around-the-aha/how-to-help-reduce-your-risk-of-another-heart-attack
https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/reduce-risk-second-heart-attack
https://www.verywellhealth.com/heart-attack-prevention-1746024
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN URBANDALE, IA, FOR A SENIOR LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!
How Elder Care Can Help Seniors Cope with the Stress of COVID-19
Many older adults are experiencing extra stress because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Television stations and newspapers are full of bad news about the spread of the disease and its effects. Because older adults are at higher risk for the virus, they may have feelings of fear and spend an undue amount of time worrying about what could happen. Finding ways to cope with the stress are an important part of keeping your older family member healthy and strong through these tough times.
Why Might Seniors Feel Stressed?
How your older family member deals with the stress of the pandemic is dependent on factors including their background and their community. Seniors may be more susceptible to stress from the situation because they are at higher risk due to age. In addition, if your aging relative has a chronic condition or suffers from mental health issues, the stress may be even worse.
Signs of stress due to the pandemic may include:
- Expressing fear about their health or about the health of people they care about.
- Sleep changes, like not being able to sleep or sleeping too much.
- Changes in eating patterns, including eating too much or eating less.
- Health problems getting worse.
- Using substances like alcohol, drugs, or tobacco to cope.
What Can Seniors Do to Cope with Stress?
There are many ways older adults can reduce the stress they are feeling because of the virus. Some suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are:
- Take Breaks: Spending too much time watching the news, reading the newspaper, or following other coverage of the outbreak can increase stress. Seniors should turn off the television and avoid information about the virus for a while each day.
- Take Care of Health: Following a healthy lifestyle can improve overall health and relieve stress. Older adults should eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. They should also use stress reduction techniques, like meditation and deep breathing.
- Unwind: Seniors should make an effort to continue engaging in activities they enjoy, such as hobbies.
- Connect: Though older adults may not be able to see others face to face, they should still try to remain connected by making phone calls, using social media, and writing cards or letters.
How Can Elder Care Help with Stress?
Elder care providers can assist older adults to reduce the stress they may be feeling due to the pandemic in many ways. In fact, just by knowing that an elder care provider is going to visit regularly and help with whatever they need, older adults may feel less stressed. While visiting, elder care providers can distract seniors from their worries by spending time talking about other things or listening when the senior needs to talk about their fears. Elder care providers can also assist older adults to maintain good health habits by preparing healthy meals for them and helping them to get outside for a bit of exercise while still maintaining social distancing.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN ALTOONA, IA, FOR A SENIOR LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!