As outlined by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, an approximated 12 million adults are currently diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and it’s also expected that another 12 million could be living with this type of lung disease without officially being diagnosed. It’s also worth noting that COPD generally hits in middle age, with smoking as the…
Our Blogs
If you’re caring for a loved one who struggles with COPD, you most likely understand that outdoor air pollution can worsen symptoms. However, did you realize that low air quality in the home can also be problematic? Purifying the air in the senior’s home can help everyone breathe better and be more comfortable. Keep the air purifying tips below in…
The facts are startling: a recent study conducted by the Annals of Family Medicine revealed that the average primary care doctor has a “panel” of more than 2,000 patients (that is, those who are under his or her care). Furthermore, the study showed that such a physician would be required to “spend 21.7 hours per day to provide all recommended…
Haven’t we all opened the door to the doctor’s office and had our hearts drop at the sight of the crowded waiting room of patients, wondering how long we would need to wait, and how much quality time we might actually be able to get with the doctor once it was our turn? With a staggering 87% of older adults…
Thanks to advances in technology, today’s hearing aids do an astounding job of helping those with hearing loss to enhance communication with the world around them. However, there are situations when additional assistance is still required. Some hearing aid users, for example, often continue to experience trouble understanding speech in distracting environments, when watching television or attending a play or…
Does it seem as though more and more frequently you’re receiving blank stares or questions such like, “What did you say?” and, “Could you please repeat that?” from a senior loved one experiencing reduced hearing? It may actually be that the senior’s hearing loss isn’t worsening; the issue may actually be a result of your pronunciation and overall communication style.…
Distracting noise, fast talking and mumbling — these circumstances and more make it a challenge for a hearing impaired individual to understand group conversations, and might cause him or her to be left out entirely. People without any hearing loss must recognize this struggle and keep in mind to speak clearly, facing the senior. For the hearing impaired senior, here…
“Excuse me?” “Would you repeat that, dear?” “I’m sorry – what did you say?” If this sounds like a standard reaction in your conversations with a beloved older adult, you’re not alone. The National Institute on Aging has found a solid relationship between aging and loss of hearing, with as many as half of those age 75 and older struggling…
Are your senior loved ones taking medications right now? Are you sure they’re taking them the right way? Studies show that the average individual over age 65 is taking a plethora of prescriptions – as many as 15 – 18 of them each day. And, 55% of those prescription drugs are not being taken correctly for a number of reasons,…
While many people may think they are following the rules when it comes to their prescriptions, medication adherence mistakes happen frequently, and the effects can be disastrous – particularly for older adults, often leading to hospitalization. In other instances, seniors intentionally avoid following the prescribing doctor’s recommendations – such as by cutting prescriptions in half to save money and make…