New Drugs to Prevent Strokes

Medical researchers are usually so cautious about characterizing results that when sober cardiologists use phrases like “very excited” and “a home run” and even “a new era,” you pay attention.

Do You Know How to Perform The Heimlich Maneuver?

How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver in 6 Different Situations

Senior Helpers Says You’re Never Too Old for Skin Cancer Awareness

In light of new FDA sunscreen guidelines, seniors and their families are encouraged to be sun smart

(July 2011) – Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Each year, nearly a million people in this country will learn they have skin cancer…and the risk continues to rise as you get older. Senior Helpers of Arkansas, AR, one of the leading in-home care providers of senior care in the Arkansas area, is raising awareness about new FDA guidelines regarding sunscreens, which apply to people of all ages, not just young children and adults.

“Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes, according to the American Cancer Society,” says Moire Hayes with Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “Most skin cancers appear after the age of 45 and it’s never too late to protect yourself from the sun. We encourage seniors to get some fresh air and exercise to stay active, but their skin is more sensitive than others. Even if they’re going outside for a short 15 minute walk, caregivers are there to help them apply their sunscreen as needed.”

What We’ve Learned From the FDA’s New Sunscreen Guidelines:

Sun protection is an important public health issue for people of all ages. The FDA just released their new guidelines when it comes to proper product labeling and UVA protection:

• . . . There is no such thing as “sweat proof” and “waterproof” sunscreens. These words are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels.

• . . . Sunscreens can claim to be “water resistant,” but the company has to put a label on their product stating the sunscreen only offers 40 or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating.

• . . . You must reapply sunscreen every two hours for continued sun protection.

• . . . Use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection, also known as “broad spectrum” protection.

• . . . Only broad spectrum sunscreens with 15 SPF or higher provide any type of sun protection (15 – 30 SPF is recommended).

“The sun doesn’t discriminate against age,” say Hayes of Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “When seniors are exposed to too much sun, they risk being severely dehydrated. Our caregivers can make sure the seniors are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking water or taking a cold bath to help prevent and/or recover from dehydration. They can also provide ways for seniors to socialize without having to be out in the sun, such as taking their daily walk inside malls or museums or making sure they’re in the shade and properly protecting themselves while spending time outside.”

Give Your Senior the Gift of Sun Protection:

• . . . Special UV radiation-absorbing clothes — the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or higher.

• . . . Wrap-around sunglasses that offer UV protection.

• . . . A hat with at least a three-inch brim all the way around — sun hats provide protection for not only your head, face and ears, but also your neck, shoulders and upper back.

• . . . Look for products that have earned the Skin Cancer Seal of Recommendation.

Sources: American Cancer Society, The Skin Cancer Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers Provides in home senior care services throughout Central Texas servicing Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and all surrounding areas. We provide a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Home care services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a thorough background check. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. Learn more about Senior Helpers at www.HomeHealthCareAustin.com or www.SeniorHelpers.com/RoundRock .

The Fight Against Shingles Falters

By PAULA SPAN

From The New Old Age

When last we discussed why so few older people take advantage of the vaccine against shingles — a nasty viral disease with sometimes debilitating consequences that afflicts one million Americans each year — a number of New Old Age readers asked a logical question.

Because the risk of shingles rises with age, and so do the severity of the symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends the vaccine, Zostavax, only for those over age 60. “I have wondered, why wait for age 60 to get the vaccine?” commented Eric from Sacramento. “I know of multiple people who got shingles in their 50s.”

“I was in my late 50s when I heard about the shingles vaccine a couple of years ago,” added Janem from Port Richmond, Calif. “Although I pleaded with my Kaiser doctor to give me the vaccine, she refused, citing the protocol.”
The good news, kind of, is that the Food and Drug Administration has since approved Zostavax for people aged 50 to 59. But the vaccine remains hard to find, cumbersome to get reimbursed for, and not nearly as widely used as researchers had hoped.

Read my article about it in Tuesday’s Science Times, and please share your thoughts in the comments section.

---

Paula Span is the author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions.”

Low-Carb, High-Fat Diets May Not Pose Risk to Arteries

Short-term studies found no harm to vascular health

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that low-carbohydrate diets, with regular exercise as part of the plan, don't appear to harm the arteries, as some experts have feared.   

"It's pretty clear low-carb is effective for weight loss," said study author Kerry J. Stewart, director of clinical and research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart and Vascular Institute. "The concern has been that because you are eating more fat this is going to put stress on your blood vessels."

So, Stewart and his team evaluated the short-term effects of a low-carb, higher-fat diet after a single meal. The researchers also compared a low-carb diet with a low-fat diet in dieters. In each case, they found no ill effects on blood vessel health.

Stewart is due to present his findings Friday at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Denver.

However, one nutrition expert said longer-term research is needed before concluding that high fat intake doesn't hurt blood vessel health.

For the first study, Stewart's team looked at the effects of eating an extremely high-fat McDonald's breakfast. The breakfast had more than 900 calories and 50 grams of fat. "That's half of what you should eat in a whole day," Stewart said.

The researchers then evaluated a marker of arterial stiffness and another measure of blood vessel health, known as endothelial function. "Even after eating this one meal, we didn't find any vascular changes from before to after," he said.

The arterial stiffness, in fact, improved, he noted, although he is not sure why.

Neither study had industry funding; both were financed by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

For the diet study, Stewart assigned 55 men and women who were overweight or obese to the low-carb diet or a low-fat diet. They also had abdominal obesity and a large waist circumference (35 inches or more for women, 40 or more for men). Both are risk factors for heart disease.

The low-carb plan included up to 55 percent fat at the beginning, and phased down to about 40 percent. It had about 15 percent carbs initially, and then went to 40 percent. The other dieters followed the American Heart Association's low-fat diet, with no more than 30 percent fat a day.

Both groups had supervised exercise three times a week.

At the meeting, Stewart will report on 46 dieters, 23 from each group, who lost 10 pounds. "In the low-carb group, they reached the 10-pound loss at 45 days," he said. The low-fat group needed 70 days to shed 10 pounds.

Their calorie intake was similar, whichever diet they were on.

Stewart performed the same blood vessel measures as in the breakfast study. "There were no differences in any of the vascular measures," he said.

The researchers will continue the study for six months. While Stewart cautioned that these are initial findings, he added, "We are pretty confident this is a real result. At the 10-pound weight-loss mark, we don't see any harm to the vasculature."

Stewart said he put on weight a few years ago, went on a low-carb plan while also exercising and dropped 40 pounds. He has kept if off for four years.

While the study is intriguing, long-term research is crucial, said Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and past president of the American Dietetic Association.

"When it comes to the impact on blood vessel functioning, as a registered dietitian I would like to see more studies in healthy and unhealthy subjects and longer-duration studies before concluding that this high-fat intake does not impact blood vessel health," she said, although the study does show that exercise is important. The breakfast study, with its one-time test, does not provide much information about what impact these diets will have long-term, she added.

To learn more about losing weight, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

50% off Heart Rate Monitors

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Your purchases via this Blog help a worthy cause at no extra cost to you! All monies received go to help Austin Groups for the Elderly

Olive Oil May Cut Stroke Risk

Higher olive oil consumption is associated with 41% lower risk of stroke over 6 years.



Senior Helpers of Central Texas

Senior Helpers encourages seniors and their families to be sun smart after new FDA sunscreen guidelines

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Each year, nearly a million people in this country will learn they have skin cancer…and the risk continues to rise as you get older. Senior Helpers of Central Texas, one of the leading in-home providers of senior care from Austin to Georgetown, is raising awareness about new FDA guidelines regarding sunscreens, which apply to people of all ages, not just young children and adults.

“Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes, according to the American Cancer Society,” says Moire Hayes, CEO of Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “Most skin cancers appear after the age of 45 and it’s never too late to protect yourself from the sun. We encourage seniors to get some fresh air and exercise to stay active, but their skin is more sensitive than others. Even if they’re going outside for a short 15 minute walk, our caregivers are there to help them apply their sunscreen as needed.”

What We’ve Learned From the FDA’s New Sunscreen Guidelines:

Sun protection is an important public health issue for people of all ages. The FDA just released their new guidelines when it comes to proper product labeling and UVA protection.

• There is no such thing as “sweat proof” and “waterproof” sunscreens. These words are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels.

• Sunscreens can claim to be “water resistant” but the company has to put a label on their product stating the sunscreen only offers 40 or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating.

• You must reapply sunscreen every two hours for continued sun protection.

• Use sunscreens with UVA and UVB protection, also known as “broad spectrum” protection.

• Only broad spectrum sunscreens with 15 SPF or higher provide any type of sun protection (15 – 30 SPF is recommended).

“The sun doesn’t discriminate against age,” says Frank Hayes of Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “When seniors are exposed to too much sun, they risk being severely dehydrated. Our caregivers can make sure the seniors are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking water, or taking a cool bath to help prevent and/or recover from dehydration. They can also provide ways for seniors to socialize without having to be out in the sun, such as taking their daily walk inside malls or museums; or making sure they’re in the shade and properly protecting themselves while spending time outside. ”

Give Your Senior the Gift of Sun Protection:

• Special UV radiation-absorbing clothes – the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or higher.

• Wrap-around sunglasses that offer UV protection.

• A hat with at least a three-inch brim all the way around – sun hats provide protection for not only your head, face and ears, but also your neck, shoulders and upper back.

• Look for products that have earned the Skin Cancer Seal of Recommendation.

This story affects all seniors and their families in Central Texas. Help us spread the word about skin cancer and sun safety for senior citizens.

###

Sources: American Cancer Society, the Skin Cancer Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About Senior Helpers of Central Texas 

Senior Helpers Provides in home senior care services throughout Central Texas servicing Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and all surrounding areas. We provide a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Home care services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a thorough background check. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. Learn more about Senior Helpers at www.HomeHealthCareAustin.com or www.SeniorHelpers.com/RoundRock

When to Treat Prostate Cancer?

How to treat, or not treat, early prostate cancer is a question that has long bedeviled older men and their doctors.

If patients opt for surgery or radiation, they may face long years of impotence or incontinence, not to mention the risks inherent in these procedures — all to attack a slow-growing cancer that may never cause any symptoms. But if they opt for regular monitoring, a.k.a. “watchful waiting,” they face a small chance that their particular cancer is one of the more aggressive ones and could kill them.

On the blog called GeriPal, written by a group of geriatricians and palliative care specialists at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Ken Covinsky just posted a clear and useful summary of a prostate cancer study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. After following almost 700 patients for 15 years, the researchers reported that age is a crucial factor: Among men under age 65, surgery extends survival, but men over age 65 (or in worse health generally) see no survival benefit. They die at the same rate whether they’ve undergone the surgery (and suffered its aftermath) or not.

Another case, then, in which older bodies respond differently — to procedures, medications, cocktail hours, lots of things — than younger ones. That’s important to know.

Credit: NY Times

You Can Help the Elderly Get the Health Equipment They Desperately Need!

And you can borrow health equipment (wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc.) that you may need as well! So please take the time to watch the video and donate any equipment you may have for others to use.

You can also support Austin Groups for the Elderly (A.G.E.) by purchasing the products you need via the Amazon links on this Blog. It cost you nothing extra and earns 4-6% of the purchase price for A.G.E. Use the search bar on the right side of the Blog and follow the specials I write about often to help!

Thank you  from all of us at A.G.E. for your assistance.

Frank Hayes
A.G.E. Board of Directors Member





Learn more about the A.G.E.  H.E.L.P. service.

Homedics Sale

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Getting Dad to Talk About It

My widowed father-in-law didn’t tell anyone about his symptoms — not his doctor, and not his grown son, who found out only when a member of the extended family called to say my husband needed to fly across the country immediately to see his dad.

By that point, the kidney cancer that would have been easy to treat if detected early had passed the fail-safe point. My father-in-law was not the kind of guy who liked to depend on people, so he made sure he had to for only a very short time before he died.

Read more, from the NY Times

Influenza-like Illness Now Widespread in Texas

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has issued the following Provider Alerts or Bulletins:

Influenza-like Illness Now Widespread in Texas.


Reports of confirmed influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) have increased in Texas during the past two weeks, and are now considered to be "widespread" by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). See DSHS news updates at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/updates.shtm

The current flu activity report can be accessed at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/influenza/surveillance/2011/.

Information on the control of influenza in various settings may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/.

The CDC continues to recommend that every person over the age of six months get a flu vaccination. Other recommendations to prevent the spread of the infection are frequent hand washing and coughing and sneezing into your shoulder, elbow or into a tissue.

Berry Eaters Less Likely To Get Parkinson's Disease

New research shows men and women who regularly eat berries may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, while men may also further lower their risk by regularly eating apples, oranges and other sources rich in dietary components called flavonoids. The study was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.

Alzheimer’s Test Clears a Hurdle

The Food and Drug Administration recommended unanimous approval for the first test able to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of a living person.

Faster please!

Life Lessons from Jack Lalanne

From Men's Health. Read here.

New Book: Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders

Product Description

Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders is a unique collaboration between a doctor and a food consultant that both addresses the subject of smell and taste loss and provides food preparation tips and a special recipe section that will appeal to other senses and make food attractive again. This is a must-have reference book for all those living with smell and taste disorders.






The book covers the whole disorder including

• How smell and taste work
• Causes of smell and taste problems
• Treatments
• What you can expect when you visit a specialist
• Recipes that will appeal to other senses and make food attractive again
• First-person accounts of coping with this

Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders is the inaugural book in the series Neurology Now Books™ from the American Academy of Neurology. Inspired by Neurology Now®, the AAN’s leading neurologic patient information magazine, Neurology Now Books are written from a multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of a neurologist with other related experts and patients and caregivers. Each volume will provide the reader, with the most up-to-date information, answers to questions and concerns, and first-person accounts of others who are living with a neurologic disorder.

Reviews

“Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders is an enlightening guide for those who suffer from chemosensory disorders The first of its kind, this patient-oriented approach should be hailed as a groundbreaking book. It is highly recommended... “—Alan R. Hirsch, MD, Neurological Director
Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Chicago, IL

“Dr. DeVere and Ms. Calvert offer interesting insights, reasonable and concise information, and solid advice. Navigating Smell and Taste Disorders delivers."—Debbie Hanna, President, Alzheimer's Association, Capital of Texas Chapter

“ A “must read”…I recommend this book to anyone who may have lost smell and taste functions and to all medical students and practitioners.”—Graham Bell, PhD, Editor Chemosense and Conjoint Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

"These recipes are easy to prepare and allow us to satisfy the taste pallets of all generations of our families. We are glad there is a resource like this that we can access."—Harry and Cindy Zimmerman, Austin, Texas

When Your Parents Move in with You

Here's a tough one . . . Your Mom and/or Dad has moved in with you. At some point s/he told you s/he wants to pay you something to help defray the cost and you said no. Or maybe when the subject came up and you were uncomfortable and said "let's discuss it later".

I mean. . . what do you say? Your aging loved one is now living with you so s/he is not a guest. In fact, it's even worse than that . . . they're your parents!! After all they've done for you, can you seriously ask them to pay rent? So now s/he has moved in with you and the issue of money has never been resolved.

First of all, repeat after me: "Yes, s/he is my parent but we're not living together as parent and child - we're living together as adults and this is an adult/adult relationship." Please keep this mantra in mind. You might even want to print it out and tape it onto your mirror. 

The High Cost of Growing Older

The High Cost of Growing Older  

Emily Brandon

No doubt, healthcare will be one of your biggest expenses in retirement. Qualifying for Medicare coverage at age 65 will quell some cost and coverage worries. But although Medicare is far more affordable than private health insurance coverage for seniors, the government health insurance program still leaves retirees with significant out-of-pocket costs.

Consider this: A typical 65-year-old married couple without chronic conditions will need $197,000 to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs throughout retirement, according to new calculations by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. That figure includes insurance premiums, services not covered by Medicare, and home healthcare expenses, but it excludes nursing-home care. Retirees also have a 5 percent chance that healthcare costs that are not covered by insurance will exceed $311,000, according to the study, which was underwritten by Prudential. "Regular ongoing out-of-pocket costs can really cumulate over the years," says Anthony Webb, associate director of research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and coauthor of the study. "There is no substitute to having a lot of money stashed away."

Other researchers have come up with similarly large numbers. Fidelity Investments estimates that a couple, both age 65 in 2009, will need approximately $240,000 to cover medical expenses throughout retirement. And the Employee Benefit Research Institute determined that a 65-year-old couple in 2009 will need $210,000 to have a 50 percent chance of affording their retiree health expenses and $338,000 to have a 90 percent chance of being able to pay all their medical bills.

These eye-popping numbers are generally a tally of small expenses that add up throughout retirement. Here are the latest estimates of the health expenses most Americans will face.

Parental Care Primer for Baby Boomers

31.08.2010 | Author: Michael Mclaren | Posted in Elderly Care

Baby Boomers becoming caregivers for one or both of their parents face a challenging and rewarding responsibility. If you are in this group, you belong to a fast growing segment of the Baby Boomer population. Elder care is difficult, but giving back support and love to your parents can create a special time that brings you closer.

Here is some sage advice gained through experience that will help Baby Boomers in this journey:
Recognize that your roles are switching – you are becoming the parent as they hand over more responsibility and authority over their lives to you. The time will likely come when you have to make decisions for them.
Sit down with your parent(s) and have a frank discussion about how they would like to spend their “golden years.”

Make sure your parent(s) have a Living Will, so that their wishes can be carried out as they approach death (e.g., do not resuscitate or unnecessarily extend life by artificial means). Many hospitals will not let you make decisions for your parent(s) unless you are so appointed in a Living Will.

As a related caregiver, you should have a notarized Power of Attorney that allows you to make decisions if your parent(s) are incapable of doing so. It is also a good idea to become a joint account holder on their bank accounts and investments. If your parents have a living trust, you should be named as successor trustee, so you can step in as financial manager if needed. If necessary, help them set up a system to ensure that bills are paid on time.

If you are concerned about a parent’s ability to continue driving, talk to their doctor or notify the local Department of Motor Vehicles (which may be able to require a driving test). Have a written list of all the medications your parent(s) use, including dosage. Know how to contact their primary care physician. Have copies of their insurance records. This is very important information for emergency room personnel and hospitals.

Discuss funeral and internment wishes with your parent(s). In a tactful way, help your parent(s) sort through their belongings. Whom would they like to receive special items? What can be gotten rid of? Make sure your parent(s) have a written, witnessed Will to avoid the messy, expensive and lengthy probate process. Ideally, the primary caregiver should be the Executor of the Will. Know where all important documents are.

If you feel like you need help, there are state, local and federal senior services organizations that provide a wealth of free or low-cost services. They can provide meals, transportation, training and in-home professional services to assist you as a caregiver or to help your parent(s) continue to live independently in the community. Also, there are online service where Baby Boomers can identify and explore benefits to which they and their parent (s) are entitled. Start with the National Council on Aging which covers local, state and federal programs.

Finally, this is a precious time. Include your parent(s) in activities and let them know everyday that you love them. A caregiver’s journey creates memories that will be treasured for the rest of your life.

http://articles.vp.ly/parental-care-primer-for-baby-boomers/