Although different types of diabetic neuropathy can affect people who have diabetes, research suggests that up to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy.1 Neuropathies are a series of conditions that cause damage to the nervous system. More than 30 percent of people with diabetes have autonomic neuropathy.2 Autonomic neuropathy affects involuntary functions of […]
As we get older, the odds of us taking more medications go up. Whether it be prescription, over-the-counter, or even vitamins, medications taken incorrectly and haphazardly are a great health risk. Below are some guidelines to follow when dealing with medications. These are just some of the guidelines to follow when taking medications. If you […]
It’s no secret that cardiovascular problems during the middle and latter years can cause cognitive decline as people age. However, a new study shows that high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and elevated blood sugar in early adulthood are also linked to cognitive deficits later in life.1 The study started with over 3000 people between […]
Falls are a marker of frailty, immobility, and acute and chronic health impairment in older persons. Falls in turn diminish function by causing injury, activity limitations, fear of falling, and loss of mobility. Most injuries in the elderly are the result of falls; fractures of the hip, forearm, humerus, and pelvis usually result from the […]
The term “silent heart attack” refers to when a person has a heart attack but didn’t know. Surprisingly, a study published recently in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that 45% of heart attacks happen without people being fully aware.1 The problem is that silent heart attacks cause just as much damage […]
Loneliness increases with age, and it is connected with a surprising number of health effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even mortality. When it comes to loneliness, we all feel it in different ways. Some people feel lonely when they are by […]
Home health care (HHC) is a service that can be received in the privacy of your own home. HHC can support earlier discharge from inpatient settings or prevent hospitalization in the first place, thereby improving health and saving money for you and for Medicare. Examples of home health services you may receive: But what is […]
Some patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s can live in the community with some help from family or home care providers. Below are tips to help people live with safety and confidence. These steps are great building blocks to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease, but being flexible and capable of adapting to individuals will help deal […]
Every year one out of four older adults, those 65 and older, suffers a fall. 1 These falls can be serious and costly. Many falls do not cause injuries, but one out of five causes a serious injury such as a broken bone or head injury. 2,3 There are many conditions that contribute to falls. […]
Each November the home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our healthcare system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, we call […]
