Tips on Preventing Falls

As you get older, physical changes and health conditions — and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions — make falls more likely. In fact, falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults.

There are many steps you can take to prevent a fall and the possibility of an injury. Here are some tips that could help save you or an elderly loved one:

* Exercise regularly- it makes you stronger and keeps your joints, tendons, and ligaments flexible. Weight-bearing exercise such as walking may slow bone loss from osteoporosis.

* Get up slowly from lying and sitting to avoid feeling light-headed.

* Avoid temperature extremes in your home; they can make you dizzy.

* Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes.

* Always hold the handrails on stairways.

* Clear floors where you walk.

* Mount grab bars near toilets, tubs and showers.

* Place non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet, especially bathtubs and shower stalls.

* Put night lights and light switches close to your bed.

* Keep your telephone near your bed at night, so you don’t have to get up to answer it in the dark.

 

Study: Higher Heart Attack Rates Seen in the Days after Losing a Loved One

Losing a loved one may break your heart in more ways than one.

A person who is mourning the death of someone close is at greater risk of suffering a heart attack  in the days immediately following the loss and for up to a month afterward, a new study shows.

The research, which appears in the journal Circulation, looked at almost 2,000 people who had been hospitalized for a heart attack between 1989 and 1994. After reviewing charts and interviewing these men and women, whose average age was 61; 270 people were found to have experienced a death of an important person during the six months leading up to their heart attack.

Nineteen people in the study said they lost a loved one the day before having a heart attack. Fifteen of these 19 had no history of heart attacks.

The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. Even if you aren’t comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it’s important to express them when you’re grieving. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry.

Finding support after a loss

• Turn to friends and family members 
• Draw comfort from your faith
• Join a support group
• Talk to a therapist or grief counselor 

Being There for Your Loved One

“True friendship isn’t about being there when it’s convenient; it’s about being there when it’s not.”-Author unknown

When a friend or a loved one is going through a difficult time, we often run out and purchase cards and flowers or say things like, “If there is anything I can do, let me know”.   Although these are very nice gestures, they usually are not interpreted as a sincere attempt to ‘being there” for a friend. Sometimes the most helpful and appreciated gestures involve a helping hand with everyday tasks that are usually taken for granted.

Here’s a list of several life-style management chores that you can help with or when time doesn’t allow, hire a Home Care service to provide support with these chores.  These are essential daily tasks and ones that will be very, very appreciated:

• Take care of the laundry (wash, fold, and put away)
• Light housekeeping
• Running Errands (such as going to the grocery store)
• Preparing meals
• Minor household repairs (replace batteries, light bulbs, filters)
• Provide transportation to appointments and errands
• Offer to stay and keep them company during treatments or procedures.

Comfort Keepers & Ragsdale Heating and Air team up to honor families this Veterans Day

On Nov 9^th Comfort Keepers and Ragsdale Heating and Air joined forces to do their part in honoring the 24.9 million military Veterans in the United States. Together, they chose to completely service the HVAC systems of two Veterans who were unable to tend to their air filters.  Jim McMichen, General Manager of Ragsdale Heating and Air, said, “Ragsdale actively looks for ways to serve our community and especially those who have served our Country.  We at Ragsdale are grateful for the service these Veterans gave their country and community.  We stand by them in recognition and honor of all other Veterans on this Veterans Day.”

“Comfort Keepers recognizes that many of our clients are not able to keep up with the tedious maintenance a home requires, and this can directly affect our clients’ and employees’ health and well-being”, added Tonya McNabb of Comfort Keepers West Georgia. Comfort Keepers is passionate about lending a helping hand to their clients. Next week, they plan to contact all of their current and former clients and offer to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors making it a safer environment for them.

Both companies are truly in the business of helping people and make it a priority to give people what they need, whether it’s a compassionate caregiver or a heating and air system that provides a comfortable environment.

“The rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say…(written by Tonya McNabb of Comfort Keepers)

Ragsdale’s tech arrived at our first clients’ home with breakfast for the husband and wife and our caregiver.  He chatted with them for a while, thanked the veteran for his service to our country and then went to work.  What he found when he started servicing the hvac unit was several gas leaks.  He explained everything to the homeowners and our caregiver.  The clients reported having headaches for weeks and the carbon monoxide detector going off.  Since the battery in the CM detector was very weak, the one alarm killed the battery.  Legally, he could not leave the unit hooked up – obviously a HUGE safety hazard.  When I think of what could have happened, it makes my head spin…  The clients have gas appliances, etc.  The wife had not used the gas stove recently, due to not feeling well, and had prepared TV dinners in the microwave for many meals.  Ragsdale’s generous offer to service a veterans’ system clearly had more impact than a goodwill gesture.  The clients, caregiver, Jim and I feel that their actions saved lives.

But the story doesn’t end there…  Jim McMichen at Ragsdale worked on finding an alternative source for heat.  He priced a replacement unit AT COST.  He also searched for a loaner unit that could be installed until a permanent hvac could be installed.

What started out as an idea to replace an air filter turned into a life changing event.  We could not be more proud and honored to have teamed up with such a wonderful organization that truly cares.

 

Reduce the Risk of Falling

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year. The CDC reported that among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.

More than three-quarters of the falls reported occurred inside or near the home. So how can we help prevent our loved ones from falling?

The CDC recommends the following…

• Exercise! It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance. Pilates is a good option!
• Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines—both prescription and over-the counter—to identify medicines that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.
• Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and update their eyeglasses to maximize their vision.
•  Make their homes safer by reducing tripping hazards, adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet, adding stair railings and improving the lighting in their homes.

 

 

 

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society, there are now about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. As with many diagnoses, breast cancer brings with it many questions, and requires tough decisions. All of the new information will undoubtedly be overwhelming and a strong support system is definitely needed!

Strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, sorrow or anger are common. It can be difficult to think clearly while experiencing such strong emotions, but dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis requires that you be at your most focused, because with breast cancer, education is empowerment.

Seniors diagnosed

It is important for families to take an active role in supporting their senior loved one who may be dealing with a tough diagnosis like breast cancer. If families are unable to be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; consider Comfort Keepers.  Our Comfort Keepers provide just that…comfort.  They are able to help out with companionship, personal care, medication reminders, transportation, and even light housekeeping.

For more information, give us a call at 770-419-1355.

 

Pain Fighting Foods

Have you heard the news??? There’s a new and holistic approach to pain management! Numerous studies have found certain foods can help decrease pain in the human body; greatly reducing the amount of pain medication needed by patients.

Here are some foods that may be worth including into your diet:

Nuts and Seeds–Hazelnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are all good sources of tryptophan. In tests tryptophan has been shown to reduce pain sensitivity approximately one hour after it is consumed.

Oranges– The University of Manchester, UK found that those with beta-cryptoxanthin in their diet (found in oranges) were less likely to develop painful inflammatory joint conditions. The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, said that as little as a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice was enough to make a difference.

Coffee/ Caffeine– University of Georgia researchers showed that moderate doses of caffeine (equivalent to two cups of joe) reduced post-workout pain by almost 50 percent.

Fish–Eating fish 2-3 times per week can help tame the pain or inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and some autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s disease.

Red Grapes–This popular fruit contains resveratrol, a powerful compound that blocks the enzymes that contribute to tissue degeneration. The evidence: In lab experiments at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, resveratrol protected against the kind of cartilage damage that causes back pain.