Loneliness and Seniors

Every year on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is honored. “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fostering an accessible and equitable world” is the theme for this year. The goal of the day is to increase awareness of the plight of people with disabilities in all phases of political, social, economic, and cultural life while supporting their rights and well-being at all levels of society and development.
Your senior parent or loved one may not get around with nearly the same healthiness anymore. They might be mostly bedridden and dementia seniors. Activities for senior citizens with post cancer care, palliative care, and post stroke care tend to feel boring to be idle. Seniors in these instances should also engage in activities that will improve their emotions. These types of challenges can be overcome with the aid of skilled nursing care in an assisted living community for the elderly.

Here are some fun activities we recommend for seniors with mobility issues

Puzzles and Games

Jigsaw Puzzles
You can sit down and put together a sizable jigsaw puzzle with your elderly parent or loved one. Purchase a large-piece puzzle so that putting it together won’t take you five minutes.

Board Games
A board game is a wonderful way to get the family together and spend some quality time playing together.
Games that are enjoyable to play include Dominoes, Backgammon, Monopoly and Scrabble. It doesn’t take much physical effort to play these games.

Sudoku
Sudoku tests one’s aptitude for logic and mathematics, therefore it might keep an elderly mind active. For elders with eyesight problems, we suggest using visual friendly sudoku sheets

Reading and Learning

Reading
The best thing about reading is that it takes you to places and situations that are very different from your own.
Seniors who are disappointed by their limited mobility may find solace in reading, which enables them to travel the world and make numerous new friends without ever leaving their bed.
Nowadays, there are a variety of ways to read a book, including reading a traditional paperback, using a mobile device, or even listening to an audiobook.  The senior living community helps them make the choice that best suits their needs.

Learn A Language
Can your elderly parent or loved one speak more than one language? We assert that there is always room for one more. A senior’s memory, as well as their capacity for problem-solving and creative thought, can all be improved by learning a new language. Additionally, they will be able to use a useful new skill.

Food and Party

Picnic Lunch
Take your elderly parent or loved one on a picnic to transform a typical meal into something extraordinary. Pick a location, such as a good park, where you can eat, create a tasty, nutritious menu, load it all up in a basket, and bring the checkered tablecloths. Your seniors will feel revitalized by the sensation of the wind, the sounds of the birds, and the texture of the grass, as well as by all the excellent meals!

Have A Tea Party
By setting up a dining area, preparing finger sandwiches and mini desserts, and serving a variety of tea, you may give your seniors the poshness and luxury of a tea party. With the advancement of technology online cooking classes are a way to explore this idea.

Enjoy movies, TV shows, and writing letters

It’s not a good idea to watch TV all day every day, but a movie or a few TV episodes can be a fun way to spend an evening or a week. Writing letters to their loved ones can help them communicate their actual emotions in ways that ultimately make them feel better.

Satisfying activeness

Spend time outdoors

Going outside to spend some time in nature is calming and a relaxing way to improve your attitude. Getting some fresh air or taking a walk in the landscape is a relaxing daily exercise, doesn’t matter even if your elderly relative can only access the veranda or sit next to a large window due to their limited movement can make them feel calm.

Participate in charitable works

Even if your elderly relative is housebound or not particularly mobile, they can still contribute to society. This is a fantastic approach to maintain interest and experience a sense of success. To find out whether there are any initiatives that your elderly relative could help with, get in touch with the neighborhood hospitals, charities, or religious groups.

Classic Movies

The impact of a good movie is hard to match, and what’s even better is that you don’t need nice weather to enjoy one! If you pick the perfect vintage film, you’ll give seniors a chance to reflect on their youth in addition to holding their attention for a couple of hours. Like a good song, a brilliant movie may transport viewers back in time and open up previously locked memories. After all, many of the best movies in cinema history were watched by seniors today.

Senior Living facilities regularly involve seniors in these kinds of activities since they are aware of their requirements and wants. The Athulya Assisted Living Facility is one such facility with the senior-friendly facilities and leading care for elders that provides skilled nursing care, and entertaining activities like Yoga and Meditation, Art Therapy, Active Games for Senior Citizens, Music Therapy and many more. Seniors can participate actively in community life by joining teams and participating in activities. In order to age happily, healthily, and safely, this promotes greater physical, mental, and emotional health.

Tips for Creating An Easy Care Senior Garden

Growing older shouldn’t mean giving up a lifetime passion for gardening. Leisure activity offers physical activity, mental stimulation, a sense of accomplishment, and a number of other attributes that are good for the body and mind. Plantings and garden centers are paying attention to the unique requirements of senior gardeners.

There are several gardening products for elders and ways to help a gardener who is ageing that is available. Activities involving gardening for seniors may call for some adaption and expertise in elderly-accessible gardens.

Making a Senior Garden for Easy Maintenance:

Two of the most noticeable effects of ageing are low endurance and restricted mobility. If it is difficult to move around or the workload is too heavy, enjoyment of the garden may decline. But there are several easy things that can be done to keep the garden a pleasant place to be all the time.

• Pick plants that are welcoming of complex seasons and are simple to grow.
• Build elevated beds with space to reach the centre from all sides.
• Create a senior garden that is low maintenance by placing stools or resting areas nearby.
• Senior person gardens should be small, enclosed, and secure with fencing.
• Make sure that wheelchairs, canes, and walkers can easily access the walkways.

Gardening ideas for seniors:

1.Construct elevated garden beds

Raised garden beds have many benefits for senior citizens. Because they involve less bending, raised beds are significantly simpler to weed and maintain. Raised beds have a variety of additional benefits, such as letting you choose the type of soil and keeping pests away.

2. Tools for senior gardeners

We often hear that having the appropriate tools for the work is important. So as we age, it makes sense to think about investing in lightweight instruments like long-handled forks and spades. To keep your garden tools as helpful as possible, it’s necessary to take care of them.

3.Choose your plants wisely

Cultivate low-maintenance plants. Onions and shallots require very little upkeep as vegetables. Broad beans, carrots, spinach, and chard are other simple vegetables to cultivate. If you wish to bypass the seed-sowing stage, buy plug plants. Herbs that last all year long and need little upkeep are thyme, chives, rosemary, and sage. Perennial plants that come back year after year include globe artichoke, chamomile, and gooseberries.

Seniors with dementia or other sensory impairments benefit greatly from sensory gardens acting as a cognitive therapy. Sweet pea and rose scents might jog memories. Tree bark and grasses can all stimulate touch. Taste sensations include verbena, strawberries, and edible flowers. By adding grasses or popping seed heads like Love-In-A-Mist, the garden will come to life with auditory stimulation. Birdsong, butterflies, and bees will all be encouraged, creating a perfect English country garden.

4.Walkways and lawns

The lawn doesn’t need to be mowed every week! To reduce the amount of hand trimming, you might want to think about reducing the size of the grass and edging it with wood or metal. To minimize maintenance, you might also want to think about adding more hard landscaping and pathways. However, ensure that all surfaces and paths are safe, level, and include turning areas and handrails as needed. Moreover, it encourages physical therapy among seniors.

5.Bring the entire family

Why not include your family’s young members in the outdoor enjoyment of gardening, which is a enjoyable hobby for individuals of all ages? In addition to fostering ties between older people and younger people, this promotes healthy living.

It has been shown that gardening therapy can help keep bodies flexible, reduce stress, and even provide a positive mood boost comparable to some antidepressant medications! If you’re prepared to get started, contact your neighbourhood senior centre or garden centre, as many provide useful resources for creating low-maintenance gardens for senior citizens.

6.Think about vertical gardening

It is considerably simpler to take care of plants that are grown on poles and trellises. Beans, squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers all grow well in vertical gardens. Additionally, it lessens the amount of walking required for gardening for senior citizens who might have mobility issues.

Conclusion

As one of the most reputable assisted living facilities in India, Athulya constantly comes up with novel ideas to keep our dear members mobile and mentally bright. Avail of Athulya’s senior-friendly infrastructure and engaging environment to enjoy peaceful and healthy aging.

Mental health in seniors: How to improve cognition and emotional well-being as we get older?

Old age is a phase where the past moments and experiences are to be cherished. But today’s busy style environment makes people indulge in their schedules. It darkens the ray of care that seniors need at their later age, resulting in silence and mental health issues. That’s why the golden year seems to be daunting for a few elders. Fortunately, being young in mind is a matter of fact that one can achieve at any age by making certain lifestyle changes that are listed below.

Social interaction

Elders and their social life and companions may become emotionally absent as they age. As you become older, it is really important to have someone to talk to and exchange ideas with because these are the things that, if ignored, may cause loneliness and despair.

One approach to stay in touch is to learn how to use various video-based calling programs to interact with both new and old acquaintances on social media.

Exercise regularly

Walking in the outdoors or engaging in simple workouts and physiotherapy for seniors can help you feel better.

Create a journal

Writing down your ideas or concerns can assist you in letting go of a problem and helps in discovering a fresh approach.

Try some relaxation methods

Your body can unwind with the techniques like mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the moment without passing judgment, or breathing exercises. Art and music therapy for seniors can aid in lowering blood pressure and stress.

Be optimistic

Release negative emotions or issues that are out of your control, cultivate appreciation, or take a moment to appreciate the little things, such as the solace of a cup of tea or the beauty of dawn.

Reduce Stress

Life will unquestionably be stressful at times. Even short-term discomfort can disturb our concentration to act. Chronic stress, however, can alter the brain over time, impair memory, and raise the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neuro degenerative conditions. There are various things you can do to assist stress and develop the capacity to recover from stressful events, including the following:

Get involved

Refreshing your mind requires some engaging activities to stay healthy. It sharpens your cognitive declination and improves reaction times by stimulating planning abilities and short-term memory. Athulya Assisted Living thinks out of the box to keep its residents engaged in the brain games to help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia disease. Every activity at Athulya has a connection to improving the mental health and creativity of seniors. The availability of care and support at Athulya is the primary limelight in managing the senior’s psychological health.

Physical Exercise

Physical exercise can occasionally assist the mind stay active, gaining confidence, and giving you the strength to handle any mental shock in addition to being good for your body. A modest spine friendly exercise and workout can help seniors manage stress, worry, and sadness, which can be just as harmful to their health as physical illnesses and injuries. This is in addition to the physical advantages. It’s critical to exercise to preserve good senior mental health.

Consume healthy foods

It has been proven that foods high in antioxidants, vitamin B, and omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function. Particularly, high in these beneficial chemicals are the following foods:

• • Green leafy vegetables
  • Dark chocolate
  • Walnuts
  • Whole grains

Coffee and tea

By incorporating a range of healthy foods into your daily diets, such as green vegetables, fats, eggs, tuna, blueberries, and walnuts, you may assist to boost your brain health, memory, and alertness. Additionally, these meals may help lower the chance of developing age-related neurological illnesses including dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Get sound sleep

The feeling of waking up after a restful night’s sleep is one of the best ways for active mind. We feel happier and have more energy after getting a good night’s sleep, which helps us manage our hectic lives. Additionally, it aids in mental acuity. Your body can remove toxins that accumulate while you are awake during sleep, which aids in clearing the mind. Sleep helps us to recover mentally and physically while also helping to store memories. Sleep deprivation can make it more difficult to concentrate, reason, and solve problems.

Conclusion

Getting older brings its share of challenges, and at times you may find it difficult to stay mentally healthy and strong. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on them when you’re with them to see signs that your senior loved one needs help. Encourage some healthy lifestyle adjustments to have a happy senior life.

Osteoarthritis is brought on by the cartilage in the body’s joints deteriorating, which results in varying degrees of distress, discomfort, and swelling. By the time they turn 70, the majority of older adults will be impacted. However, there are preventative measures and coping mechanisms that can help seniors with the disease maintain their activity level and live well.

The most prevalent type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is most frequently observed in elderly people. Seniors who have it are also more likely to become disabled and restrict their activities and may be in need of rehab care. It is one of the main conditions that cause this.

Men are marginally more susceptible to osteoarthritis, which impacts a roughly comparable number of men and women up to the age of 55. Women are more susceptible beyond that age, and it has various effects on them. The condition seems to mostly impact several joints in the hands, knees, ankles, and feet in females. Men are more prone to experience pain in their hips, wrists, and spine.

Osteoarthritis symptoms:

Osteoarthritis symptoms encompass some or all of the following:

• Joint discomfort or pain near the area
• Having trouble moving a joint or being stiff
• Swelling in a joint occasionally

Early on in the course of the disease, many persons exhibit no symptoms. Frequently, the disease can take a very long time to develop, and it can also be stable for very long stretches of time.

Osteoarthritis Risk Factors

Numerous factors can affect how likely you are to get osteoarthritis.

Longevity:

While osteoarthritis is not brought on by old age, a significant portion of seniors is afflicted. You can’t stop getting older, but by leading a healthy lifestyle that includes breathing exercises, you can slow down the rate at which your body ages.

Over weight:

Genetic research has suggested a connection between osteoarthritis and fat. The weight-bearing joints, notably the knees, are put under undue stress by excess weight. According to a recent study, obesity played a role in nearly 80% of procedures to replace knees. Losing 10–15 pounds can help with knee pain.

Injury and side effects from other illnesses

Prior joint damage, joint inflammation, or disorders that affect the joints, such as diabetes, can all contribute to osteoarthritis development.

When joints are frequently subjected to high-impact stress over an extended period of time, joints may potentially sustain damage. Your risk of having osteoarthritis may be increased by certain forms of activity, sports, or livelihood.

What is osteoarthritis physiotherapy management?

Physical therapy can assist to lessen knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness, and edema while also enhancing knee joint function. You may find it simpler to walk, bend, kneel, squat, and sit as a result. Passive and active physical therapy techniques are the two major sorts that can help you manage your knee Osteoarthritis. The physical therapist performs the bulk of the effort in passive treatments. However, active treatments require additional labor from the patient, such as exercises without knee pain.

Modalities – Cold and heat therapy are used to ease pain and promote relaxation. Blood circulation can be helped by pulsed electrical stimulation.

Spine-friendly exercise – To maintain flexibility and endurance, frequent stretching and strengthening activities are required. To stop the knee from suffering additional damage, more unloading exercises will be recommended.

Balance exercises – Balance exercises are used to improve postural stability, particularly in older persons who have balance issues.

Joint protection – In order to lessen joint stresses, lessen shock effects on the joint, and increase joint movement and alignment, flexibility, strength, and joint sense are optimized.

Tips:

• To lessen the strain on your hips and knees and hence your pain, use a walking stick to assist you in walking. It may also help those who struggle with the balance to avoid falling.
• Avoid indulging in any intense daily activities that place additional stress on the knee joint, such as climbing stairs and hill hiking.

Conclusion

Mobility makes life possible in every way. Physiotherapists at an Athulya Assisted Living facility work with your seniors to regain mobility as they age, taking into account the evolving movement-related limitations that occur with advancing age.

With Athulya’s all-inclusive services of physiotherapy for seniors, your loved one will recover and regain movement more quickly. Our entire staff of physiotherapists has received considerable education and training, notably in caring for older patients.

Depression is a global crisis

Depression is a treatable health ailment that sometimes needs care and medicine.  The sensation of being not connected is the prominent reason for loneliness and this correlates with social isolation. Aging increases the possibility of mental and social health issues where they are usually in a low mood, leading to poor quality of life.

It is never composed of a single feature but a composite of several factors and this circumstance will develop chronic illness particularly in the elderly phase. Depression drives seniors at risk of major health consequences of heart disease, stroke, and in some cases, it can be fatal.

People with inclined depressive symptoms are more likely to suspect the risk factors of heart disease. The heart and blood pressure rates raise when you are depressed and this can affect the heart functions in developing the conditions of stroke and heart attack.
The connection between depression and heart health is linked with the strands of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. In other words, heart patients with depression are escalated to increased death rates especially in elders.

How do obesity and heart disease are interconnected with depression?

Obesity and depression are common issues with significant health effects and both are linked to a high risk of coronary heart disease. The risk of obesity and depression affects common lifestyle patterns and it is recognized as similar to the risk of heart health factors. After cardiac surgery, the individual may undergo temporary feelings of tiredness and anxiety. When depression is affecting your daily living, it is crucial for you to seek help to avoid things getting worse.

Suggestions for dealing with depression

• Follow stress-reduction and relaxation practices.
• Stick to the exercise plan you’ve been suggested by the doctor.
• Consult with your doctor about a cardiovascular recovery process.
• Restarting your hobbies is a good idea to enjoy yourself.
• Get a restful night of sleep.
• Follow your doctor’s nutritional guidelines and eat healthy nutritious food.
• Inquire with your doctor about counselling that may be able to assist you in coping.
• Avoid over eating of unhealthy foods.

How Assisted Living be a good choice for elders suffering from depression?

Assisted living gives help to elders who require assistance with daily activities and will encourage residents to maintain their independence and dignity. Moreover, Assisted Living Facilities provide health care management with a vast range of options to suit a different culture and way of life. Athulya Assisted Living is senior care in Chennai which provides healthy life and stay to seniors to enjoy their independent life. To eliminate loneliness in elders, senior living communities engage them in joyful activities in a senior-friendly environment with premium facilities to keep them fun and attached to others.

Ways in which assisted living can help elders feel less lonely

• Trying out new hobbies

Your elderly years are the ideal opportunity to try new fun activities. This can also help you meet individuals who share your interests and build long-lasting friendships.

• Keeping exercise enjoyable

Exercising is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle, but finding the drive to exercise on your own can be challenging. Residents at assisted living communities can participate in group exercise activities on a regular basis, which benefits both their mental and physical health.

At last,

Early detection will enhance the elder’s quality of life and if it is left untreated, can aggravate the cardiac disease and raise the chance of a heart attack. Manage your heart health condition with effective treatments to deal with depression and avail Assisted Living Facilities for independent aging.

FAQs:

1. How does depression affect an elder’s life?

Seniors experience depression with the changes in their brain and body. By this time, blood vessels become more flexible, and the blood flow gets restricted to the brain and other organs. It develops vascular depression like heart disease or stroke.

2. How Assisted Living help elders treat their depression?

Assisted Living Communities to conduct the most effective treatments for treating seniors with depression. They conduct senior friendly activities to keep active and healthy.

3. What are the ways to treat seniors with depression?

• Treat sleeping problems
• Eat healthy foods
• Consider Assisted Living
• Encourage social activities

4. Is sleep deprivation linked to depression?

No. Sleep deprivation does not create sadness on its own, although it does play a role.  Inability to sleep on a regular basis is another sign that someone is depressed.

Our polluted planet increases the risk of health factors during this disease outbreak, WHO will raise public attention on crucial actions to keep humans and the planet healthy by organizing a campaign on society’s well-being, on World Health Day 2022.

Extreme weather and climatic conditions are affecting people’s health by displacing the food chain with the result of land degradation and droughts. This disequilibrium drives the wave of medical problems, especially in elders resulting in a health crisis of obesity and cancer diseases.

The union of health crisis and aging does not entail approaching emergency rooms frequently and in fact, several studies indicated that the emergency room iterations can be prevented potentially by several age-related helping spectrums.

One of the hues is Assisted Living Communities that help elders with regular daily activities by providing the right services to eliminate the discomfort in their habitual living and this terminates the probability of repeated trips to emergency rooms.

How does Assisted Living assist seniors in avoiding trips to the emergency room?

Senior-friendly environment for fall prevention

Stress and balance concerns of aging develop the chances of falling with physical injury. Furthermore, after the first time you fall, your odds of falling will elevate to the maximum point.

Assisted Living Communities provide gentle health and fitness programs for elders to balance their strength and this likely decreases the risk of falls. Moreover, it can be designed with a senior-friendly environment that acts as an excellent support system for seniors to move around. Athulya Assisted Living formulated the environment with the orientation of “Design for Aging” under the provisions of,

1. Grab bars in lavatories
2. Non-Slippery floors
3. Handrails in a staircase

Better Nutrition

Aging requires good nutrition to stay healthy and balanced. The right proportion of diet with essential nutrients eliminates various health illnesses and this frame of nourishment will ensure the seniors stay active and wholesome. In addition, it elevates the opportunities for social conversation with like-minded elders under friendly circumstances.

Early health detection 

The majority of seniors visit emergency rooms due to respiratory ailments and this condition needs immediate medical attention to treat. Assisted Living facilitates skilled nursing professionals for early diagnosis and care. Also, the nurse call bell system is placed near the senior’s bed this will send an alarming message which encompasses the note of the senior’s medical issues to the experienced nursing staff for quick treatment.

Round-the-clock Care

Assisted Living Facilities enable seniors with their privacy to live independently under peaceful circumstances. This mental health relaxation potentially lightens emergency room trips to hospitals and diminishes the medical issues under consistent nursing assistance round the clock. Athulya Assisted Living provides skilled nursing care to monitor and regulate seniors’ health conditions for physical and mental wellness to ensure good health.

Skilled nursing care support

Senior Living Community engages residents by conducting senior activities to stimulate their mental health and care is provided along with the convenience of privacy and values with a nursing team that ensures 24/7 monitoring to avoid medical emergencies.

Medical management

Professionally experienced caregivers will provide the right medication with the proper dosage to the elders. This assistance will help the residents to keep track of medications with updated information and this regular consumption of prescribed medicines will lower the risk of emergency room visits.

Assisted Living Facility is the right choice for elderly people to enjoy their later period of life with peace and independence. Furthermore, the elders can rest safely in a confidential environment by preventing repeated trips to the emergency rooms.

FAQs:

1. How does technology help elder people in the health aspect?

Nowadays, technology develops the elder’s physical and mental health in their social lives. In case of difficult situations, emergency remainder apps for elders will screen and provide the medical results for instant citation.

2. What are the benefits of technology for elders?

There are a lot of benefits that modern technology provides and they are,

• Socialization
• Entertainment
• Engagement

3. What causes the most emergency room visits?

Falls are the major source of hospital emergency room visits, accounting for more than 8 million visits each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that emergency room visits due to falls rise with a patient’s age.

One of the major concerns which is becoming prevalent among adults especially in the older population is obesity. As obesity in seniors results in a heavier body mass index, it can reduce their life expectancy as compared to their counterparts with normal weight. That is because obesity impacts the functioning of various body organs and the extent to which the elders can independently perform the daily activities on their own. On the contrary, a normal body weight helps in maintaining the physical abilities of older adults and helps them to lead a healthy life.

Obesity is caused by several factors like physical inactivity, genetics, overeating, an improper and unbalanced diet, frequent eating, medication side-effects, psychological reasons and some diseases like hypothyroidism. An active lifestyle coupled with a balanced low-calorie nourishing diet can help seniors prevent obesity. Athulya Assisted Living, a prominent choice amongst assisted living facilities in Chennai, ensures reliable senior care by focusing on these aspects.  It has customized tasty and healthy menu plans, physical activities and fitness programs to ensure that elders do not become obese. Thus, residents here can remain hale and hearty and enjoy blissful ageing.

Consequences of Obesity

Obesity in old age can result in potentially serious health complications especially if it is neglected. Some of the harmful consequences experienced by seniors are-

• Cardiovascular diseases and stroke attacks-Obesity raises blood pressure and abnormal lipid levels especially cholesterol which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.
• Diabetes-The way insulin produced in the body is utilized to sustain the sugar levels in the blood are affected by obesity. This is because the high-fat content hampers the effective usage of insulin increasing its resistance and raises the sugar levels causing diabetes.
• Cancer-The probability of getting some types of cancers especially those in the uterus, breast, colon, liver, pancreas, cervix, gall bladder, kidney, pancreas and prostate glands.
• Digestive issues– The proper digestion of food is hampered by obesity. That leads to heartburn, liver ailments and gallbladder disease.
• Sleep disorders-Most seniors with obesity experience serious sleep disorders like sleep apnea in which the breathing frequently stops and starts multiple times during the sleeping duration.
• Osteoarthritis-Increased weight due to obesity puts high stress on the weight-bearing joints and raises the inflammation in the body. These risk factors can cause stiff joints and osteoarthritis
• Chronic COVID-19 symptoms-Seniors affected by the COVID-19 virus are more susceptible to suffer from chronic symptoms of this infection if they are obese. They are more likely to require treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and may also need the support of mechanical assistance for breathing like ventilators.

Prevention of Obesity

• Exercise regularly-Physical activities that are moderately intense are immensely beneficial in aiding the prevention of weight increase. Elders can do about five hours of exercise per week for this. Walking and swimming are good examples of such activities. Apart from exercise, seniors should also be physically active by doing the routine tasks by themselves to the extent possible. Consuming natural anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, berries and broccoli reduces pains and aches and encourages elders to be on the move.
• Maintain a healthy eating regime-A balanced healthy diet plays a crucial role in preventing obesity. The best foods for seniors include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods as these nutrient-dense despite low calorific value. Additionally, a protein diet for seniors is also recommended as proteins are the building blocks of bones, muscles, cartilage and skin and are required for the repair of body cells. Some foods enriched with proteins are pulses, lean meats, dairy products and eggs. Likewise, the role of millets and its benefits cannot be ignored as millets like ragi,   jowar and bajra are a rich source of essential vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.
• Get enough sleep-A proper sleep cycle helps in regulating the bodyweight by producing the hormones needed and giving sufficient rest to the organs. It also avoids unhealthy habits like untimely eating and overeating.
• Avoid unhealthy foods traps-It is vital to identify the triggers that cause uncontrolled and abnormal eating and avoid these traps as they cause dangerous weight gain. Elders must also monitor their weight regularly and practise mindful eating as food allergy in seniors can cause serious health complications due to the consumption of unsafe ingredients.

There will be moments in life where one has to make the right decisions no matter how much difficulty is involved in the decision-making process.

One such decision would be the shift of the elders to the senior assisted living facilities. Because, when the safety of a loved one is in jeopardy, it is better addressed sooner than being sorry later.

The thought of opting for an assisted living atmosphere can be an outright difficult decision to make for the children. What is even more difficult is to have the conversation with your parents about assisted living.

Timing is Everything:

Good things happen to people who make the right decisions at the right times. The timing for choosing a senior living facility for your senior should be perfect.

You make the decision too soon, your elder might feel that he or she doesn’t need any kind of help to comply with their day to day activities. You make the decision too late, seniors safety and security would be at stake.

Here are a few tips that help you make the decision at the right time, and to have a successful conversation with your seniors.

Discuss Early:

There are two reasons as to why you should discuss assisted living with your parents at the early stages of their senior hood.

One reason being it will help them make their mind up and accept the reality of the assistance they need as they advance in age.

The other reason being, most falls in elderly are as a result of seniors who needed assistance in daily living but could not get one. Falls in seniors are more prevalent if the senior is living alone or as an elderly couple.

Clear Objectives on the Table: 

Every child wants to take good care of their parents and assisted living facilities are in fact the part of this ‘good care’ objective all along. They are senior friendly and provide an opportunity for them to explore the depths of seniorhood.

Make sure your parents are able to see your concern is about their safety. And, also provide all the necessary information about the assisted living facilities. Keep them aware of the benefits of these facilities and the kind of positive shift that they could bring in the lives of elderly.

Inclusive Approach:

Make your seniors feel that they are not alone. Moving to assisted living facilities is a sensitive discussion in India. It can sometimes hurt your elders and handling the conversation can go sideways if you are not prepared.

Ensure you follow an all-inclusive approach when you are having this conversation. Make sure you both are on the same team and your elders are following what you are trying to convey. Be mindful of your tone, the atmosphere and even the mood of your loved one.

The Misconceptions on Assisted Living Facilities –

1. Assisted Living Facilities are Like Oldage Homes: With the kind of atmosphere they have, assisted living facilities outshine the old age homes day in day out in every small way.
2. The Life Would Be Controlled: Assisted living facilities are also known as independent senior living homes. The level of care at these facilities is determined by the senior himself.  
3. The Life at Assisted Living Facilities Can Be Boring: It is as exciting as it can get and the life can be as unpredictable as it can get. Seniors can make new friends, learn new hobbies, and most importantly plan their day as per their will.

Analyze each aspect and ensure your objective is clear before having the conversation of assisted living facilities with your loved ones.

If they want to witness the beauty of assisted living with their own eyes, visit Athulya Assisted Living facilities at your convenience!

Most centres for assisted living in Chennai provide senior care services for elders who are fairly in good health and only need assistance for daily living activities. But Athulya Assisted Living is an exception to this. Apart from providing specially-crafted premium senior citizen homes in Chennai that promote senior independent living with high-class infrastructure, it also offers skilled nursing care for seniors. By providing this much needed medical service with trained nurses, Athulya Skilled Nursing Care Facility ensures that senior patients get the required clinical assistance in a specialized setup with utmost care and compassion.

As a first of its kind flexible nursing facility in India, it revolutionises the nursing home landscape by providing round-the-clock skilled nursing care in Chennai. The nursing may be availed in an in-patient center both temporarily and a long term basis.  All inclusive and personalized attention and support are given here to elderly patients by a dedicated team of nurses. Seniors will get both medical and personal assistance from them.

This abode thus incorporates the best features of both hospital care and home nursing care. It further facilitates a safe and speedy recovery by providing a healing atmosphere in a serene environment. The proximity of medical devices and modern equipment in these facilities puts it at a competitive edge over the usual nursing services provided by other home care service providers. 

Athulya Skilled Nursing Service Portfolio

With its exponential medical track record, this facility offers a broad spectrum of services to elders who need expert nursing attention and assistance including-

• Medical care for acute and chronic ailments
• Skilled nursing care for bedridden
• Post-surgical assistance
• Urinary catheterization
• Intravenous infusions and injections
• Oxygen administration
• Wound dressing
• Care for lifetime conditions like diabetes and hypertension
• Elderly care with full or partial assistance
• Respite care for  recovery from illness, surgery and injury

Features and Amenities of Patient Rooms and Spaces

• Fully equipped, ergonomic and spacious rooms with Wi-Fi connectivity, television, acoustic sound and climatic control options
• Comfortable clinical beds with user-friendly and automatic adjustments
• Non-slippery floors, well-lit rooms and corridors  with handrails and grab-bars for fall prevention
• Urbane bathroom and toilet features
• Attender couch with quick accessibility and nurse-calling system
• Medical assistance at hands reach
• Specialist consultant visits, physical and wellness programs for all residents
• Spacious dining halls with community kitchen and outgoing walkways for comfort and relaxation
• Tasty menu platters with nutritious food prepared from fresh ingredients in accordance with prevailing health conditions and individual taste buds
• Round-the-clock internet and video conferencing facilities to connect with the family
• 24/7  security system with CCTV
• House-keeping and laundry services

Benefits of Athulya Skilled Nursing Services

The benefits to elders and their families by choosing this reliable service are enumerated as follows-

• The competent staff has renowned medical expertise and experience in bringing medical and allied healthcare services to India with global standards.
• The qualified and specially trained skilled nurses are adept in scrupulously managing all kinds of health problems of senior citizens while simultaneously meeting their wellness goals to avoid hospitalization.
• The integrated and comprehensive care provided seamlessly leads to the road of an expedited and successful recovery of patients without the compulsion of frequent hospital visits.
• The struggles of getting quality nursing care are evaded and services are rendered in a homely ambience with a personal touch for better healthcare outcomes and patient experiences.
• The world-class infrastructure within this premise draws cues from renowned nursing facilities across the world with the objective of delivering the highest satisfaction to both patients and their families.
• Personalized support and undivided attention are given to every individual resident with a highly customized care plan to ensure that prevailing health conditions, preferences and concerns are addressed fully.
• Personalized support and undivided attention are given to every individual resident with a highly customized care plan to ensure that prevailing health conditions, preferences and concerns are addressed fully.
• Flexible patient management services are available for both short term and long durations at cost-effective rates thereby providing care accessibility to the elderly population within affordable budgets.
• The state-of-art facilities are in line with the patient’s comfort and dignity and ensure their safety through hygienic and well-maintained senior-friendly spaces.
• All endeavours are made to encourage an independent and hassle-free lifestyle with minimal assistance to retain the self-confidence and esteem of seniors.
• Every touch point that patient comes across on a daily basis is intricately designed to offer a holistic and enjoyable recovery experience.

Most women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are above 50. And, breast cancer sits next to skin cancer that affects millions of lives of women each year. In fact, age is considered as one of the risk factors of breast cancer in women.

As a ray of hope, early detection of breast cancer can positively impact the treatment process. This makes being aware of the early symptoms and signs of breast cancer imperative in fighting it better.

Hold tight as we give a clear picture on breast cancer in old women, types of breast cancers, and how to detect them at the earliest possible. Before that let’s have a look at what exactly causes breast cancer in women in general.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer in elderly women?

Elderly women, too, experience the same warning signs as the younger women in the event of breast cancer. Take a look here

• Unusual presence: Development of new lumps, that start small and grow big as the days pass by, is one of the early signs
• Irritation: Dimpling of breast skin and irritation are the other symptoms and the person might feel thickening of the breast
• Discharge of blood: Pain in the nipple area or the whole breast and discharge of blood. You could also observe redness of skin in the area where the lump is located.

Causes of Breast cancer

Breast cancers are always caused by a combination of reasons. And, sometimes there can be multiple combinations of reasons.

• Being female – 99% of breast cancers occur in women. It might sound odd but men also get diagnosed with breast cancer but it is a very rare case scenario.
• Age – Women between 45 and 75 are more likely to develop breast cancer than the rest of the age groups.
• Inheritance – Breast cancer runs in a family. If a close family member has had breast cancer, it is important for you to check for the warning signs at least twice in a month.
• Genetics –  Mutation of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 can lead to breast cancer. The mutation of BRCA2 genome is the major reason behind breast cancer in men.

In addition, having dense breasts (the presence of too many dense tissues), and having been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past can increase the risk.

Breast lumps is the first warning sign and if you are above 40 and feel a lump, you should seek medical help. Being aware of the early symptoms and causes is extremely important to increase the impact of the treatment.

Types of Breast Cancer

Several types of breast cancers have been bucketed into invasive and non-invasive breast cancers. Invasive cancer will spread to other parts of the breast and non-invasive doesn’t. Now, let’s have a look into the common breast cancer types based on their location

• Invasive Ductal Cancer – Also known as IDC, this type of cancer is considered as the most common type. The roots of cancer could be found in the milk ducts and spreads across the other parts.
• Invasive Lobular cancer – This type of cancerous cells develop the lump in the breast lobules and spread to other parts.
• Non-Invasive Ductal Cancer – Unlike the IDC, this cancer does not spread but confined only to the breast ducts.
• Non-Invasive Lobular Cancer – The cancerous cells continue to develop in the lobules but spares the other parts.

Breast Cancer Treatment

Early detection and the stage evaluation plays a decisive role in finding a cure for breast cancer. Based on the stage, spread, location, and the likelihood of recurrence, the breast cancer specialist will determine the course of the treatment.

Usually the treatment options include various types of surgeries and therapies. Sometimes, the specialist might combine both.

Surgery is the most common treatment option available. The surgery is performed to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue in the breast to removing the whole breast.

The therapy options including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy are performed to destroy the cancerous cells, followed by medications. The oncology specialist takes the call for better results after consulting with the patients and her family members.

Stay Informed to Fight Better

Many assisted living facilities and Senior Living Homes take better measures to increase their elders’ awareness on this topic. Talking about breast cancer shouldn’t be a taboo. Keep your loved ones informed about breast cancer.