We wait for Monday, or the first of the month, or Jan 1 to start that new diet, start an exercise plan, eat better…you fill in the blank. Here is an 86 year old lady that is still a competing gymnast!

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What are YOU waiting for?

Simple to learn, important to manage. These three measurements for diabetes management should be kept as close to the recommended goals as possible to help avoid complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and vision problems.

A is for the A1C test, an estimate of blood sugar levels over the past three months. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) generally recommends that people with diabetes aim for an A1C level of less than 7 percent. A1C test results help doctors make recommendations such as diet changes to help manage the diabetes. Download this Nutrition for Seniors workbook (PDF 411 KB) for practical tips and food lists to help your senior loved one eat right.

B is for blood pressure, which ideally should measure 130/80 mmHg or less, the ADA advises. According to a study published in the February 2013 issue of Diabetes Care that measured how well these ABCs were met, only half of the people with diabetes involved in the study were being treated for their blood pressure. That means half were not being treated. Be sure to talk to your loved one’s doctor about blood pressure treatments and learn how you can take a proactive approach to helping your loved one control blood pressure.

C is for cholesterol, specifically LDL (bad) cholesterol. The ADA advises LDL levels should be below 100 mg/dL. According to the study published in Diabetes Care, only half of people with diabetes are on statins to lower cholesterol-a percentage that should be much larger according to some doctors. Talk to your doctor about your loved one’s cholesterol levels and the best treatments for his or her unique situation. The FDA recently issued new safety cautions for statin use, so be sure to discuss that with a doctor as well.

The Home Instead Senior Care® network has partnered with the American Diabetes Association to help diabetic seniors and their family caregivers successfully manage the disease so they can live life to its fullest. Contact a Home Instead Senior Care office near you or visit the diabetes care section on our website to learn more about what our CAREGiversSM can do to encourage and help facilitate healthy choices for your loved one with diabetes.

Get Tips to Manage Diabetes and Watch the Diabetes in Older Adults video series.

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This is Clarice, her husband, Bill (with the red tie), and she’s holding a great-grandson. Clarice and her husband, Bill, have volunteered at Valley Medical Center for over 20 years. Bill passed away about a year ago now but Clarice decided that she needed to continue to volunteer because it not only brightens up other people’s day, it also fills her with joy and blessings.

We believe her efforts should be honored and we would love for you to vote for her to receive this award from Home Instead Senior Care. If you agree, from April 15 – 30, please go to:

http://www.salutetoseniorservice.com/volunteer-contest/entries/clarice-r/

and vote for Clarice. You can vote once a day, each day during the voting period. If you try to over-vote, they will disqualify her so please don’t vote more than once a day. But get the word out to all of your family and friends so we can make sure she wins this wonderful award this year.

Did you know that the term ‘Arthritis’ is an umbrella term for over 100 diseases?

Did you know that Osteoarthritis is the most common form and is the one that causes the deformed joints, particularly in the hands and feet?

Watch this video to learn more.

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Mary Maxwell is back! She tackles those pesky house rugs and mats.

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Mary is hysterical, as usual, as she makes great fun of this subject but falling is anything but a joke for seniors. Keep active, practice balance exercises, get your calcium, use good lighting, outfit house with grab bars, monitor your medications, get plenty of rest AND remove those pesky rugs!

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick on March 17. Interestingly, however, the first parade held to honor St. Patrick’s Day took place not in Ireland but in the United States. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Fun Facts:
In Chicago, on St. Patrick’s Day, the rivers are dyed green. Mayor Daley is also of Irish descent.

In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.

Many people wear green on this holiday to avoid being pinched.

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Nine of the people who signed our Declaration Of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage — including our first President, George Washington.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Okay, you’ve been in the hospital and now you’re home. Data shows that hospital readmission rates are higher for discharged patients living with one of the six chronic conditions listed below.

Focusing on the specific needs around whatever disease process you’re dealing with and accurately following the doctor’s discharge instructions is critical to a successful recovery. Monitoring your care after you’ve returned home by documenting progress and watching for warning signs will help limit the risk of readmission.

Here are some tools and websites for more information.
Diabetes – http://www.diabetes.org (responsible for most of the readmissions)
Arthritis – http://www.arthritis.org
Did you know?
• In the total U.S. population 22% of adults have arthritis.1 But arthritis is much more common for people who have some other conditions, for example—
o Fifty-seven percent of people with heart disease also have arthritis (about 11 million people).
o Fifty-two percent of people with diabetes also have arthritis (about 7.3 million people).
Co-morbidities (more than one chronic disease) – http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/comorbidities.htm
Pneumonia – http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/pneumonia
Congestive heart failure and heart attacks – http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061

Another helpful pamphlet you can just print off: Your Discharge Planning Checklist
http://medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11376.pdf

Are there certain foods that can help speed recovery and help you feel better sooner? According to WebMD and other research, the answer is “yes.”

Eating the right foods can help you prevent complications such as dehydration, and constipation. Among the first suggestions are to include lots of fiber and lean protein in your diet. Fiber will help keep you regular and may prevent long-term issues such as intestinal problems and diabetes. High fiber foods include whole grain breads, fresh fruits, vegetables (fresh or frozen), oatmeal and certain cereals.

Some fresh fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, apples, broccoli and sweet potatoes, contain numerous vitamins, antioxidants, calcium, iron and other nutrients that are essential for healthy living, bone building and cell recovery. Be sure to include as many of these as possible in your diet.

WebMD’s guide, “Healthy Eating When You’re Sick” says, lean proteins such as chicken, pork, and fish, are important for helping you build and repair cells, prevent the loss of muscle mass, maintain fluid balance and improve your body’s ability to heal. Some good non-animal sources of protein are beans, soy products like tofu, and nuts. It is recommended that you not eat red meat while recovering because it can cause constipation and is high in saturated fats.

Dairy products are also rich in protein, but during recovery, stick with low-fat dairy products such as skim milk, cottage cheese and yogurt. Yogurt in particular is rich in calcium, and may contain good bacteria, which may help with digestion. Eggs are another good healthy food option because they have only about 75 calories per serving, and contain 13 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D.

Some seniors recovering from illness or surgery may have a hard time eating and thus may not get enough calories. Failing to eat can slow recovery. If chewing is a problem, try to get a smoothie made with yogurt, milk and some fresh fruits. If getting enough calories is a problem, exchange cream or whole milk for skim milk; try an avocado over a green salad; or boost the amount of proteins in your diet.

You can also find many additional resources in the Maintaining Proper Nutrition for Seniors section of CaregiverStress.com.

If you find that you or your loved one needs more meal and dietary assistance than you can provide, non-medical in-home senior care providers, like your local Home Instead Senior Care office, offer meal preparation services including grocery shopping, meal planning, and assistance during mealtimes.

Okay, you were discharged with a plan of care, you’ve gotten home and got your medications in order but it’s also imperative that you help make sure you get to each and every follow up appointment. These medical follow-ups are critical for any necessary prescription updates, blood tests, incision and wound care, and follow-up X-rays and CT scans that help ensure your recovery stays on the right track.

Keep a large desk or wall calendar handy and write in follow-up visits using a bright colored ink such as red or green. It’s also good to keep the appointment calendar by the phone so as new appointments are scheduled they can be easily added in.

Before going to the doctor’s office or other follow-up appointment, make sure you have a current list of all prescriptions, over the counter medications and supplements that you are taking. You should also make sure to have a list of any symptoms you are experiencing that concern you. Go prepared with your list of questions. We always forget at least one question if we don’t write them down.

Getting to the follow-up visits can also be a challenge. If you can’t drive, are in a wheelchair or have medical equipment that must be carried along (e.g., oxygen or IV) you may need to ask other family members, friends, local service agencies, private transport companies or home care providers to help out.

Making sure you stay on track with follow-up medical appointments can help make sure you recover in a timely fashion and return more quickly to a good quality of life.

When you or your senior loved one returns home from the hospital, you are likely to come home with several new medications. Making sure that these new medications are taken correctly and don’t create any adverse effects with existing medications is vital to ensuring recovery.

Medication mismanagement is one of the leading problems that can send you back to the hospital. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adverse drug events cause over 700,000 emergency department visits each year and nearly 120,000 of those patients are hospitalized for further treatment.

There are many ways to help you keep track of your medications:

1. Examine all current medicines to make sure they have not expired or are due for refill.

2. Prepare a list of all the medications, including the new ones. Write down the name of the medication, the dosage, the prescribing doctor, the directions, and the pharmacy. If it’s not already being done, make sure to get all of your senior loved one’s prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, so they can watch out for potential drug interactions and advise you to speak with your doctor before an adverse reaction takes place.

3. Make sure to get refills if it’s time. The discharge plan of care should have the old and the new medications that the doctor wants you to take. If you believe the hospital doctor has removed you from an important medication, call your primary physician immediately.

4. Now, make sure you take your medication as directed. Pay special attention to dosing directions including whether the medication should be taken with food or on an empty stomach, should be taken in the morning or at night and how to reduce side effects such as nausea, dry mouth or constipation.

5. The last important medication management task is to watch for and take note of any reactions or side effects you are encountering, changes in bowel movements, balance, mental status, pain, nausea, fever, trouble breathing, etc.

If you do notice any of these symptoms, it is vital that you contact your healthcare provider immediately to help prevent further, more serious complications from developing.