Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Avoid the 'Senior Sickness Snowball Effect' in Pasadena CA

Avoid the 'Senior Sickness Snowball Effect' with a strong immune system
 
(ARA) - An emerging health trend where a relatively simple illness leads to a number of physical and lifestyle changes is impacting seniors around the country, say immune system researchers from Embria Health Sciences, co-founders of the Nourish America Senior Health Project. They've dubbed this trend the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect, which impacts the overall quality of a person's daily life and follows this recurring cycle:

* Loss of appetite
* Inadequate nutrition
* Decreased energy
* Reduction in social activities
* Decreased independence
* Limited social interaction
* Increased potential for depression, stress
* Weakened immune system
* Continued illness
* Loss of appetite

"Today's older Americans are active and often have major responsibilities that require them to be in good health," explains Stuart Reeves, Ph.D., director of research and development for Embria Health Sciences. "Unfortunately, as a person ages, their immune system becomes weaker and there is greater need for support, not just during cold weather seasons, but also throughout the year."

Embria Health Sciences established this Senior Health Project, alongside non-profit organizations Nourish America and the National Foundation of Women Legislators, to address the increased need for senior health support. This series of free community education events provides seniors with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain and manage their own health through a combination of non-profit health organization outreach activities and no-cost distribution of EpiCor, an all-natural immune health supplement, clinically shown to reduce cold and flu symptom incidence and duration.

In addition to his participation in the Nourish America Senior Health Project, Dr. Reeves offers these easy lifestyle tips that will keep seniors' immune systems going strong:

Get your grain: According to a 2008 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that a mere 18 percent of Americans 60 and older meet the dietary recommendations for daily grain intake. "Well-nourished people have fewer illnesses," says Dr. Reeves. Seniors can easily add more whole grains into their diets through a wide variety of easy-to-prepare everyday foods, including brown rice, oatmeal and popcorn.

Adopt a pet: "Seniors living alone sometimes experience a sense of isolation, which is one of the main components of the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect," explains Dr. Reeves. Studies show that when seniors establish an owner-pet relationship, their feelings of loneliness dissolve and the pet-related activities such as walking, feeding, grooming and playing improve their overall well-being.

Fill in the gaps: "Since seniors are at a higher risk of falling ill, getting the right amount of daily vitamins and nutrients is essential to their well-being, which is why taking a multi-vitamin supplement is often recommended," Dr. Reeves explains. "Some seniors would also benefit from taking a supplement specifically designed for their immune system." Dr. Reeves points out that, "EpiCor, an all-natural immune health ingredient found in a wide variety of dietary supplement products, works year-round to balance the body's immune system for optimal health." Visit www.EpicorImmune.com for more information.

Hit the mall: The mall is great place to kill three birds with one stone. You can run a shopping errand, participate in social dialogue, and get some exercise by walking a couple of laps around the perimeter. "Staying active, both physically and socially, is a key element to a healthy lifestyle," says Dr. Reeves.

"By maintaining good immune health now, seniors may avoid experiencing the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect firsthand," says Dr. Reeves. "The immune system is an important part of the body's immune defense against germs and pathogens - keep it in check and the rest will follow."

To learn more about immune health, visit www.BalancedImmuneHealth.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent


For information about the services provided by ComforCare Home Care Services in the Pasadena CA area, please visit www.esangabriel.comforcare.com.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

In Pasadena CA, Are You and Your Doctor on the Same Page?

Are you and your doctor on the same page? Maybe not, new survey shows

Helping Americans recognize healthy habits and making them a top priority in daily life

(ARA) - Are you and your health care provider on the same page when it comes to discussing your health? Does he or she think you're doing as well at maintaining your health as you think you are? Probably not, according to a new survey conducted by
StrategyOne on behalf of GE, the Cleveland Clinic and Ochsner Health System.

While about a third of patients surveyed gave themselves grades of "A" on managing their personal health, eating well, exercising regularly, managing stress and getting preventative screenings, the majority of health care providers gave Americans a grade of "C" or lower on all points, according to the survey of more than 2,000 Americans age 18 and older, and more than 1,200 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dieticians.

What's more, 70 percent of those surveyed admitted to avoiding their doctors at some point, even though 95 percent recognize the importance of regular doctor visits. And while 70 percent of providers say their patients only come to see them when they're sick, only 38 percent of Americans say this is true.

"Healthy living is not easy and can be overwhelming at times," says Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan, who has teamed up with fellow Olympic champion Scott Hamilton, GE, Ochsner Health and the Cleveland Clinic to educate Americans on how to take simple daily steps to improve their health, and their communication with their doctors. "We learned there are times when Americans would rather lean their house than take care of their health, and with my hectic schedule, I can totally relate. You have to work to improve your health - it's not something that gets better overnight."

"It's crucial for people to take ownership of their health if they want to maintain it," says Dr. Joseph Bisordi, chief medical officer of Ochsner in New Orleans. "This is not just a question of motivation; we're seeing a significant doctor-patient communication gap. Health care professionals are eager to help people achieve better health."

So how can Americans improve their health and their communications with their physician? GE's "healthymagination: Year of Better Health for More People" initiative aims to help. On the Web site www.healthymagination.com, Americans can get advice on:

* What questions to ask your doctor about your overall health and specific medical conditions that might concern you. Developed with WebMD, the Better Health Conversation asks you a series of questions about your health status and generates suggested discussion points to cover with your doctor.

* A free mobile application for iPhones or Androids that suggests easy-to-do activities to improve your health in surprising, imaginative ways.

* An interactive tool that allows you to share health news, features and blogs with others on a variety of sites.

* Interactive data, graphically presented allows you to apply the data and learn about health issues like the major health issues facing Americans and conditions frequently experienced by people with health profiles similar to yours.

"Unfortunately the survey showed most Americans are avoiding the one person who could help them live healthier," says Bisordi. "It's time for Americans to have a more collaborative relationship with their health care providers, and we believe that improving your knowledge of good health is the best way to start."

Courtesy of ARAcontent


If you need care and assistance for a loved one in the Pasadena CA area, visit  www.esangabriel.comforcare.com.


 


 

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

30 Reasons Your Loved One May Need a Caregiver In Pasadena CA

I found this article, and decided to pass it on to you.  It provides extremely helpful information that may help you with your decision to choose home care for an aging loved one in your family.  If you have questions or need help in the Pasadena CA area, please visit our website at www.esangabriel.comforcare.com.

30 Reasons Your Loved One May Need a Caregiver
By Rebecca Colmer

There are approximately 37 million people over the age of 65 and 5.3 million people over the age of 85. Each year millions of older people start requiring some sort of assistance to carry out their routine daily activities. Family members (family caregivers) provide most of the help.

It is not always easy to know when to intervene. It may seem like your loved one is in a gray area somewhere between competency and incompetence.

Your loved one can have a behavior that is not life threatening but still very serious. Making an assessment is the very step.

Here are some clues that your loved one may need some extra help:

Read more...

Friday, July 9, 2010

Dementia Caregiving In Pasadena CA

Dementia Caregiving: When Nobody Appreciates You, What Can You Do?

By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editor

What's worse –- the many challenging dimensions of dementia caregiving, like losing your privacy, worrying, assisting with daily living, filling the long hours, coping with new expenses, the anticipatory grief of watching someone you love change, and family-work stress (to name, oh, a few) –- or the thanklessness of it all?

Feeling taken for granted as a caregiver is incredibly common. Surveys indicate that more than half of all caregivers do. And yes, these understandable feelings are a stressor. What also adds stress: Feeling sheepish when you want to complain about this.

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Are you feeling the stress of caregiving? Please contact us at www.esangabriel.comforcare.com
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Thursday, July 1, 2010

Senior Years Really Are Golden In Pasadena CA

Senior Years Really Are Golden: Happiness increases after age 50, Gallup poll finds

Aging may seem like a pain, but a new study suggests that getting old is no reason to despair.

The study, based on a Gallup poll from 2008, finds that most people feel increasingly happy starting around age 50.

In general, life satisfaction is high at age 18 but sinks until about 50. Then, it starts to climb again, increasing so steadily that most people feel better about their lives at 85 than they did at 18.

"It's a very encouraging fact that we can expect to be happier in our early 80s than we were in our 20s," Andrew J. Oswald, who teaches psychology at Warwick Business School in England, told The New York Times.  "And it's not being driven by things that happen in life.  It's something very deep and quite human that seems to be driving this."

Read more...

If you need care and assistance for a loved one in the Pasadena CA area, visit www.esangabriel.comforcare.com.