I’m a caregiver in San Francisco and one of the major reasons that families turn to me, is because they recognize that maybe their loved ones driving skills just aren’t what they used to be, and they worry that something serious could happen when they get behind the wheel of a car. This is something that I see regularly with the senior care recipients that I work with, and I am more than happy to step in and transport them on their errands or to appointments as needed. Many senses decline as we get older, and seniors and their families need to recognize what a serious impact this can have when these older adults get behind the wheel.

Caregivers and families, recognize when your senior’s senses are changing and when it might be time to step in before getting behind the wheel of a car puts your loved ones at risk.

• Sensing behind the wheel changes, with regards to vision and hearing. 85% to 90% of safe driving relies upon the eyes and the eyes change in a number of ways, including diminished light entering the eyes, declining focus, increases sensitivity to glare, difficulty perceiving color, diminished depth perception and narrowed peripheral vision. Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults, and it can affect a driver’s ability to take in their surroundings
• Deciding – once the senses take in information, the brain needs to process what to do with it. In older adults, it takes longer to process information, which can decrease the reaction time needed to respond to situations on the road
• Reacting – this can be affected by a few things. While seniors might know that they need to respond, their level of physical fitness or mobility or their medications might inhibit them from physically responding when behind the wheel of a car

Sources:

1. AAASeniors

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Even into older adulthood, many San Francisco women still feel like they need to lose weight. Regardless of how it can affect their health, seniors diet, starve themselves, and choose exercise activities that might not be the best for their personal level of physical fitness. Despite these attempts, many San Francisco women are reluctant to try strength training, because they believe this will make them gain weight rather than lose it. This is true in a way, since resistance training can build muscle mass; but what it does is actually creates lean muscles and eliminates fat. Seniors should understand, it’s not about what’s on the scale when they’re trying to lose, weight, it’s about burning calories and gaining lean muscle to reduce fat which can have potentially serious health repercussions.

In addition to helping senior women lose weight, it can also provide them the following benefits to improve their overall health:

• Increases bone density
• Improves muscular strength and endurance
• Improves sensitivity to insulin, preventing diabetes
• Helps with cholesterol control by increasing HDL [good] cholesterol and decreasing LDL [bad] cholesterol
• Can improve emotional well-being
• Decreases intra-abdominal adipose tissue in healthy older women
• Helps to control potential fat gain and associated complications

Sources:

1. Suite101

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Q – I thought that the point of physical fitness was to improve health, and overall well-being both body and mind. But since my dad began his mission to become more physically active, he seems to do nothing but complain and worry about the activities that he’s doing. Is it possible that exercise is actually stressing my dad out rather than improving his disposition?

A – Unfortunately, when the wrong approach to physical fitness is taken, it is possible for seniors to increase their stress levels, rather than improve them. In order to determine if this could be your dad, have him take the following questionnaire, and if he answers “yes” to any of the above questions, it’s time to make some changes to his physical fitness routine, because for sure, he’s being stressed out!

• You typically dread your scheduled workout times, and do activities just to go through the motions and get the physical benefits; but you don’t actually enjoy the physical activities that you choose
• You typically stick with activities that are highly competitive and allow you to prove yourself again over other San Francisco seniors or even people in younger demographics
• Your workout routine does not include a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises like resistance training
• Your periods of physical fitness are irregular
• You haven’t spoken to a doctor or fitness expert to ensure the activities that you’re choosing are safe for your health, and appropriate for your level of physical fitness. You also aren’t sure if you’re performing activities in proper form for safety

Sources:

1. Suite 101
2. Mayo Clinic

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Multiple Sclerosis can be a crippling disease that affects many seniors in San Francisco and across the United States. The last thing that seniors want to think about when they’re struggling with the symptoms of MS, like extreme fatigue, loss of balance, problems with coordination and muscle symptoms is exercise; but it really can improve the quality of life for seniors with MS.

San Francisco seniors with Multiple Sclerosis can engage in any physical activities that they’re comfortable with and capable of doing, because according to studies, any exercise seems to have its benefits in reducing fatigue, improving mobility through strength and lifting their spirits, which is perhaps the greatest benefit for those who often feel like they’ve lost the will to live when suffering with MS.

While it’s important for all seniors to consult a doctor before beginning an exercise program, this is even more important for seniors with Multiple Sclerosis, who should not only discuss appropriate exercises with a medical professional; but also a physiotherapist or other specialist who has experience in providing exercise guidance for patients with MS.

Sources:

1. Science Daily
2. MS Society

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Approximately 4 million families in the United States today have adopted a multi-generational living structure to facilitate the care of an older adult and to generally benefit the family as a whole. For many families, the decision to move in an elderly parent or older relative can be an easy one; however, if the proper approach is not used it can result in family tension and even estrangement, because it’s a question of family being too close to comfort. Relationships can change for the better or for the worse when members of the same family are living together under the same roof for the first time in many decades.

When adding a senior to the household, families should consider the following tips to make sure that their relationships are preserved, and that all members of the family benefit from the multigenerational living arrangements.

• All members of the family should be allowed to voice their thoughts – even after a decision has been made to move in mom or dad, every member of the family, including children should be allowed to speak their minds and make suggestions on how to make the living arrangements work for everyone
• Define roles and set expectations – all family members living under the same roof should have their roles defined in advance and should know what to expect of the changes that will be occurring
• Ask for help – when adult caregivers live with their elderly care recipients, they can feel like they’re overwhelmed with responsibility that they can never get away from; ask other siblings or family members to step in to provide respite care or help around the house
• Focus on family – establish family rituals that bridge the generational gap between all of the family members. Plan a movie night, or a family dinner so that everyone can bond over a shared enjoyable experience

Via: Home Instead Senior Care https://www.homeinstead.com/Lists/doclistlib/Attachments/257/Too_Close_For_Comfort_Booklet.pdf

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

I’m a senior care specialist in San Francisco, and while I receive questions from families about all kinds of senior care issues, there’s one type of inquiry in particular that is especially devastating, not only to the family, but to me who as a professional, needs to be detached and professional, even though I see how deeply families are suffering. The hardest thing that stands out in my mind that families consult me about, is when their parent or elderly relative who has lost the ability to communicate through speech. They tell me that they feel like they’ve lost someone they love; because they appear in body but not in mind, and want to know what they can do to communicate.

Of course, there’s no way to make someone who’s lost the ability to speak regain that skill, but families can use simple techniques in order to connect and interact so that their seniors aren’t left isolated and alone because they can’t talk back. Families can engage their seniors by talking to them, even if they can’t respond; and also by using touch to communicate affection. Just by bridging the gap between someone who can communicate and a senior who can’t; seniors can still feel included, part of something, and loved.

Sources:

1. Aging Care

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Sarcopenia is a common issue that many older adults face, since skeletal muscle mass is lost at approximately 1% every year beginning at age 60, and increasing by double each decade after that. While it is a common part of aging for many San Francisco seniors, there are some additional causes, and once seniors get a grasp of what those are, they can decrease the likelihood that this symptom of aging will affect their lifestyle negatively.

What causes Sarcopenia?

• Physical inactivity
• Reduction of hormone production (testosterone and the human growth hormone)
• Decrease of protein synthesis ability
• Female estrogen levels

In order to ensure that seniors do not find drastic physical changes to their bodies as a result or sarcopenia, the easiest answer is to begin an exercise program that involves resistance training, cardiovascular activity and stretching. Of course, a doctor should always be consulted before beginning any new program, but with these tips and an understanding of the causes, sarcopenia is something that doesn’t need to be accepted, it can be coped with!

Sources:

1. Suite101
2. Ezine Articles

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

For seniors who are physically active, one of the most important factors that can contribute to a safe and comfortable experience is what they wear. It’s not about fashion; it’s about function, and while seniors may feel like it’s okay to scrimp and save when purchasing their exercise gear, improper clothing can result in injury or detrimental effects to their health. It may not sound like an important part of physical fitness, but don’t underestimate what the right clothing can do!

Shoes are probably the most important that seniors will need, regardless of whether they’re walking, cycling, or completing another cardio activity. The right shoes will provide proper support to the feet and ankles, reducing the likelihood of injuries and should also improve stability. Seniors can choose shoes based on the activity they choose to do; those planning to walk regularly should purchase a good fitting walking shoe; or those planning on other cardiovascular activities can get a running shoe or cross-training shoe appropriate for fitness. Fit is an important part of a shoe’s stability, so when making a purchase, seniors should shop at a San Francisco store that specializes in fitness apparel and ask for assistance from a clerk to ensure that they have a shoe that fits them properly.

Other fitness apparel isn’t quite as important for shoes, but those that plan on exercising outside should make sure that they have light, loose fitting clothing and hats to help protect them from the elements!

Sources:

1. Mature Fitness
2. Family Doctor

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Q – My mother leads a rather sedentary lifestyle, yet she’s also on the hunt for easy answers for ways that she can improve her health. Her medicine cabinet is full of vitamins that are said to boost her immune system, and she’s constantly seeing various doctors to see if she can improve her overall well-being. I’ve been trying to tell her that in order to prolong her life and fight disease, she needs to start with a simple exercise program. In San Francisco where we live, there are beautiful outdoor areas to go for walks, and I would love to get her outside for some fresh air and exercise. She is reluctant to start exercising because she says that she’s never really exercised during her life, and has always been in relatively good health. Can exercise really have positive benefits for seniors? Please tell me yes, so we can resolve this debate once and for all!

A – Your mom may not have exercised during the rest of her life – but she should have – and while she can’t go back in time to start including physical activity in her weekly routine, it’s never too late to start exercising. Getting out for a walk is a great way to start getting her moving; she’ll have the benefits of the physical activity as well as the fresh air. Exercise can mentally stimulate her, even preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia, and it can boost her immune system to prevent the onset of other diseases and illnesses.

Sources:

1. Mature Fitness
2. MedicineNet

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

San Francisco home caregivers are constantly looking for ways to keep their elderly caregivers both active and entertained. A fun new activity to introduce to them is ballroom dancing, which has proven benefits to seniors’ auditory, visual, mental and social abilities. Since it’s unlikely that very many home caregivers have specific experience in ballroom dancing, they can find a community, recreation or senior center in San Francisco that offers free or inexpensive dancing lessons for senior citizens to help them get started. Seniors can attend these lessons with their caregivers to learn how to do popular dances like the fox trot, cha-cha, salsa and tango; then they can go home and practice their recently acquired skills, or even put on performances for their family and friends.

Of course, as with any physical activity, seniors need to be conscientious when ballroom dancing. It’s recommended that for the optimal benefits, seniors have a 5 minute warm up, followed by 10 minutes of dancing, and they should be aware of any signs and symptoms of physical strain or exertion; seizing activities if they become short of breath or feel any pain in their muscles or joints.

Seniors and caregivers; get your dancing shoes on and have fun!

Sources:

1. Suite 101
2. Global Action on Aging

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.