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elder care

How to Stay Safe in Hot Weather: 5 Tips for Seniors

By Health

In Florida, summers tend to get very hot and it is important to understand the health risks associated with excessive heat. Older adults are more susceptible to hyperthermia as well as other heat-related illnesses, especially if they have preexisting medical conditions. On that note, here are five tips for staying safe as it heats up this summer:

Stay Hydrated. 

  • While this tip seems like a no-brainer, it is easier to become dehydrated than you may think. To stay hydrated during the summer, especially if you have a busy schedule, carry around a refillable water bottle and continually drink from it throughout the day. To be on the safe side, set a goal of drinking 8 glasses of water each day. Not only does water have a myriad of health benefits, it also helps keep you from becoming overheated or otherwise ill due to the weather.

Check the Weather Before Going Outside . 

  • Remember to check the weather before you venture out for the day. If it is extremely hot, stay home and turn your air conditioning on or, if you don’t have air conditioning, go to a venue that does. Additionally, avoid participating in activities that involve being outside for extended periods of time. If you have to go to an outdoor event, take it easy, as physical exertion can cause dehydration and heat stroke.

Be Aware of Your Medications Possible Side Effects. 

  • Some medications can cause weakness, faintness, dizziness or reduced sweating. All of these factors can amplify the negative effects that heat has on an individual’s body, and may increase your risk of becoming afflicted with a dangerous heat-related condition.

Don’t overdress. 

  • Though your regular daily outfit may consist of a sweater and long pants, during summer it is important that you dress according to the weather. When possible, wear shorts or t-shirts and avoid bulky or thick clothing items. This will help keep your body temperature down and reduce the likelihood that heat will negatively affect you.

Participate in Activities That Keep You Cool.

  • During summertime, fun activities that can help you beat the heat include swimming, seeing a movie, visiting friends or family members at their homes, going out to eat at an indoor restaurant and shopping. Not only are these activities entertaining and give you something to do, but they can also keep you from becoming subjected to any heat related illnesses or ailments.
June 1, 2018
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Symptoms of a Heart Attack

By Health

Approximately 610,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. Additionally, about 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to a section of the heart becomes blocked and the heart is unable to receive oxygen. Most heart attacks occur due to Coronary Heart Disease, a condition in which plaque builds up inside an individual’s coronary arteries.

Here’s a list of common symptoms of a heart attack:

  • Pain or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Unusual feelings of fatigue
  • Arm, back, shoulder, neck, jaw or upper stomach pain
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Vomiting

If you believe that someone may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately and get them to the nearest hospital.

May 29, 2018
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How to Tell Loved Ones that You are Terminally Ill

By Health

If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, finding a way to tell your loved ones is very difficult and emotionally taxing. If you find yourself faced with this challenge, you may not know where to start. While the process of conveying a terminal illness to relatives is different for everyone, here are some tips to facilitate the conversation:

Be Direct.

  • When approaching a difficult topic, it is best to cut right to the chase. Getting the information out there will lift the burden off of you and allow your loved ones to get a clear view of what your illness entails and of what the future may hold.

 

Don’t be afraid to show emotion.

  • Though your natural inclination may be to appear strong for those that you love, don’t feel the need to hide your emotions. Dying is scary, and it is okay to express your fears to those who care about you. They will understand that you are dealing with complex emotions and will do everything in their power to make this process as easy on you as possible.

 

Be prepared to answer questions.

  • Though you are familiar with the terms of your illness and may already be prepared for your end-of-life process, your loved ones are not. Be prepared for them to ask difficult questions such as “How long do you have left?” or “Are you sure there aren’t any other treatment options available?” Though you may not be able to alleviate all of your loved ones concerns, allow them to ask questions and create an open dialogue with you, as it will help the acceptance process.

 

Write down what you want to say before you start the conversation.

  • As this conversation is difficult to have, it may be helpful to write down the key points that you wish to address in your discussion. That way, you won’t forget to say anything that you feel is important and you will have notes to reference if you need them. This is especially helpful if you feel that you or your loved ones will become highly emotional throughout the course of the talk.

 

Give your loved ones a chance to process the news.

  • Though you may have made peace with your illness, the revelation that you are dying will be shocking news for your loved ones. They may have trouble accepting what you are telling them right away; this is natural. Give them time to process this information, as they may not know how to react at first.
May 25, 2018
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What is osteoporosis?

By Health

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density and bone quality are reduced. Osteoporosis causes bones to become more porous and brittle, which increases the risk of fracture. An estimated 54 million Americans over the age of 50 are affected by low bone mass or osteoporosis, and that number is expected to rise another 14 million by 2020.

The body is constantly absorbing and replacing bone tissue, but with osteoporosis the development of new bone cannot keep up with the removal of old bone. Generally, patients with osteoporosis do not experience any symptoms until the first bone fracture occurs. Though osteoporosis cannot be cured, it can be treated.

To prevent osteoporosis, adults should:

  • Maintain a healthy, nutritious diet
  • Consume adequate amounts of calcium
  • Maintain an appropriate supply of Vitamin D
  • Avoid drinking heavily
  • Avoid smoking
  • Participate regularly in exercise
  • Avoid malnutrition
May 22, 2018
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The Different Types of Macular Degeneration: Dry Macular Degeneration

By Health

As explained in the last installment of our blog regarding this topic, macular degeneration is an eye condition affecting the macula that causes central vision loss. Additionally, age-related macular degeneration is the most common form of macular degeneration and it comes in two forms: wet and dry.

85-90% of people afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) suffer from the dry form. Dry macular degeneration results in the deterioration of layers in the retina due to the gradual breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula. These cells are responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain, and when they break down it results in a blurring of an individual’s central vision. Symptoms of this form of macular degeneration usually develop gradually and without pain. These may include, but are not limited to:

  • Multiple small, round, yellow-white spots in the back of the eye (can be detected through use of an ophthalmoscope)
  • Visual distortion
  • Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Difficulty adapting to low light levels
  • Blurriness of printed word
  • Visual distortions
  • Decreased intensity of colors
May 18, 2018
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The Different Types of Macular Degeneration: Wet Macular Degeneration

By Health

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that is caused by deterioration of the retina (the interior layer of the eye). Macular degeneration affects the macula, which is the part of the retina that gives us clear, detailed vision. With macular degeneration, an individual loses their central vision and cannot see fine details, but their peripheral vision remains unimpaired (imagine looking at someone and having a blurry, black dot where their face should be but still being able to see the outline of their figure).Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common type of macular degeneration and is also the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 55. There are two types of AMD: the wet form and the dry form.

Wet macular degeneration is the most advanced form of AMD and, though it only afflicts 10-15% of individuals with macular degeneration, it causes 90% of the severe vision loss caused by this condition. Wet macular degeneration is generally caused by abnormal blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood into the macula. The symptoms of wet macular degeneration usually appear suddenly and advance quickly. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

  • Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
  • Visual distortion
  • Hazy vision
  • A blurry or blind-spot in your field of vision
  • Decreased ability to view colors
  • Impaired ability to see detail
  • Rapid onset and development of symptoms
May 15, 2018
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Older Americans Month

By Firm News

In 1963, John F. Kennedy declared May to be Senior Citizens Month and in 1980, President Jimmy Carter decided to change Senior Citizens Month to Older Americans Month. This month, we celebrate the lives of our older Americans and reflect upon their many contributions to our nation. Everyone here at Bach & Jacobs would like to thank our clients, friends, loved ones and all our country’s senior citizens for their extraordinary contributions to our Nation. Make sure to celebrate the Older Americans in your life this month and remember that none of us would be here without them. Happy Older Americans Month!

 

May 8, 2018
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Long-Term Care Benefits for Veterans

By Long-Term Care, Veterans Affairs

There are more than 12.4 million veterans over 65 who have served our country in a multitude of ways. Elderly Veterans may be eligible for a variety of benefits that are available, including: disability, pension, compensation, health care, education, home loans, insurance, employment, burial and vocational rehabilitation.

There are two programs geared specifically towards elderly veterans that provide them with additional money if they are eligible for receiving a pension benefit. The first, Aid and Attendance, will be given to veterans who are either bedridden, residing in a nursing home, have significantly impaired vision or require help performing daily functions. The second program, Housebound, gives veterans an augmented pension if they are confined to their immediate premises due to a disability that is permanently inflicted upon them.

Healthcare benefits are often provided to elderly veterans as well. Elderly veterans with a myriad of healthcare needs can receive geriatric care either in their residence, at VA medical centers, in long-term care programs or in the community.

To learn more about these benefits and to determine your eligibility or that of a loved one, visit the Veterans Affairs website and peruse the “benefits” section. To apply, you can go online and complete the process through eBenefits, work with a representative or go to a VA regional office and have an employee assist you. Babette Bach, esq. is a Board Certified Elder Lawyer and can advise you about public benefits available to seniors, including veterans benefits.

 

May 4, 2018
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Warning Signs of Dementia

By Health

Dementia is defined as a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury. Dementia is traditionally marked by symptoms such as memory disorder, personality changes and impaired reasoning. Dementia is a very complex and progressive condition, with negative effects that can manifest themselves as a variety of different symptoms.

To help you be able to identify the possible emergence of dementia in an individual, here’s a list of warnings signs and symptoms:

  • Memory loss
  • Communication impairment
  • Impaired visual perception
  • Repetition in conversation or in daily activities
  • Confusion
  • Mood swings
  • Inability to perform tasks that they are usually able to complete in an adept manner
  • Apathy
  • Frequent falls

If a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms or you think that they make be suffering from an affliction such as dementia, schedule an appointment with their doctor immediately and get their condition diagnosed and treated.

April 24, 2018
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Who are Senior Living Advisors?

By Long-Term Care

It can be difficult to make decisions regarding where your senior loved one should reside once they start needing extra assistance with daily activities. Senior Living Advisors are individuals who can help you and your loved one transition seamlessly into senior care and help with difficult decisions such as whether your loved one should live in an independent living facility, assisted living facility, nursing facility or receive healthcare services at home. Many senior living advisor services are free and are designed to help families decide the scope of care their senior loved one needs, as well as how and where this care should be provided. The Senior Living Advisor appointed to your loved one will be able to assess what they need in their home or at a medical facility. These advisors will research possible senior care facilities in your area and assess the different aspects of each so that they can give the most comprehensive advice possible. They can even accompany your loved one on tours of facilities that are possible candidates and will talk through any problems or concerns that they may have.

April 17, 2018
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