Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Merits of a Healthy Lifestyle on Aging

Some significant healthy lifestyle information comes today out of the Physicians Health Study at Harvard Medical School. Men who quit smoking, maintain healthy weight and blood pressure, and get regular exercise in their early elderly years may live longer and in better health than their counterparts who do not follow healthy lifestyles. The study looked both at healthy lifestyle associated with living to the age of 90 and at late-life function in men.

Factors associated with an increased risk for death before 90 years of age were:
  • smoking
  • diabetes
  • obesity

In contrast, regular exercise was associated with a nearly 30% decrease in the risk of death.

The good news is that it is never too late to start a regular exercise program. Researchers have studied the effects of exercise on even the most debilitated elderly. The exercise program consisted of resistance training three times a week and endurance training twice a week for four to eight weeks. Resistance training resulted in significant increases in strength, particularly in those who were the most debilitated. All elderly patients can participate in resistance training, leading to increased strength and functional status.

Structured rehabilitation provided by licensed therapists has proven results, even among the ill elderly. Positive changes in lifestyle including quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet, and regular exercise will decrease the risk factors for disease, the risk for debilitating illness and premature death.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Plan Ahead

If you or a loved one becomes sick, there are 10 things you need to know ahead of time:

1. Names of their doctors. If you don't know anything else, this is probably the most important piece of information. The chances are good that your parents' doctors can provide much of the rest of the information needed as well as more details about your parents' specific health histories.
2. Birth dates. Often medical records and insurance information are cataloged according to birth date. This can improve communication in an emergency or a crisis.
3. List of allergies. This is especially important if one of your parents is allergic to medication — penicillin, for example.
4. Advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that outlines a person's decisions about his or her health care, such as whether or not resuscitation efforts should be made and the use of life-support machines.
5. Major medical problems. This includes such diseases as diabetes or heart disease.
6. List of medications. It's especially important that a doctor know if your parent uses blood thinners.
7. Religious beliefs. This is particularly important in case blood transfusions are needed.
8. Insurance information. Know the name of your parents' health insurance provider and their policy numbers.
9. Prior surgery. List past medical procedures, such as cardiac bypass surgery.
10. Lifestyle information. Do your parents drink alcohol or use tobacco?

If your parent will need home health care, what agency should be called? If you or a loved one can't get around and do for yourself but can still stay at home, what kind of services do you want to help you with daily living?

Most families don't know this information until the unexpected happens. Plan for the unexpected now and share your plans with family members, NOW. Unplanned decisions are uninformed decisions, and in the heat of a crisis, they are rarely in anyone's best interest. Take proactive steps now:
• Create a "Rainy Day Folder" that places all of your parent's directives in one place and share a copy with family members.
• Fill out a Advance Directive or Living Will so everyone will know what your parent wants regarding any end-of-life decisions
• Make a list of all your parent's physicians and identify the hospital of choice in the event of an emergency
• Encourage your parent to choose a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney so a trusted loved one can make health care decisions in the event that he or she cannot make decisions independently
• Choose a home health agency that will provide home health visits once in hospital or inpatient skilled care is no longer necessary. An agency that can provide private duty care if needed in addition to visits by therapists and nurses will help eliminate the need to deal with multiple agencies.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Home Health Aides

Home Health Aide services provided from a reputable company can be a great help in assisting your loved one maintain their independence at home. There are several standards that you can expect from all reputable service providers. Use these guidelines to evaluate the quality of services provided:
1. Your home health aide should be on time.
2. Your home health aide should provide the proper level of care that you and the agency's nursing supervisor defined in the plan of care.
3. The home health aide works in collaboration with the nurse to notice and report any changes, both physical and emotional, that might indicate the beginning of medical problems.
4. The home health aide should demonstrate respect for your family's values.
5. The home health aide should never use the phone for personal reasons, never borrow or buy anything from you or lend or sell anything to you.
6. The home health aide should be observant and report any safety hazards within the home.
7. The home health aide should be neat, clean, and act in a professional manner.
8. The home health aide should be sensitive to your loved one's needs and concerns.
9. The home health aide should keep her or his work and private life separate.
10. The home health aide should never smoke in your loved one's home.