All posts in Fitness

The Importance of Health Screening for Seniors

Us humans have a tendency to take things for granted, especially our health. As we get older, our health inevitably starts to deteriorate and go through detrimental changes. This can happen abruptly. However, it is never too early to undergo health screenings as part of preventive care. 

How often should you get a health screening

Early health screenings among the aging population, starting at the age of 50, can be an effective preventative measure to maintain health among the aging population. It’s biology 101: the older we get, the more attention and upkeep does our health demand and the need for regular medical testing increases accordingly. 

Take it from  professional providers of homecare in Sherman Oaks and other areas: being proactive about health and about monitoring changes in the body can be crucial to preserving one’s health and vitality and staying strong and fit longer. 

For more details, read on!

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Physical Therapy for Seniors 101

How does physical therapy help the elderly

Physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for seniors, especially when they deal with reduced mobility and pain. Whether they are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, specialized senior rehabilitation program can help restore functionality, reduce pain and improve quality of life safely and effectively. 

Combining physical therapy with home care in Sherman Oaks, The Valley and other parts of LA could be the optimal solution for senior and elderly clients recovering from surgery, dealing with a recent injury or undergoing treatment for a chronic condition. 

So how exactly can seniors and the elderly benefit from physical therapy? Read on to find out more!

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How to Identify & Prevent Malnutrition in Seniors

No one is ever completely ready to switch roles with their parents, but for many of us, such a turn of events becomes simply inevitable at some point. Of course, you don’t have to take on the commitment all by yourself. There is a way to ensure your elderly loved one is safe and healthy even if you cannot be there yourself. 

Why are older adults at risk of malnutrition

An alternative solution that can work just as well, if not even better, is to hire a provider of home care in Sherman Oaks and nearby areas who can take good care of your loved one for you. 

A caregiver can also keep an eye out for your loved one, and may be the first to notice if anything is the matter. Case in point: malnutrition. Malnutrition is a condition which can severely compromise your loved one’s health. So how do you identify and prevent malnutrition in seniors?

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Exercise for Seniors: How Can Seniors Stay Active?

No matter how old you currently are, having an active lifestyle which incorporates exercise matters. It’s simple, really: if we take good care of our bodies, we’ll live longer and have a healthier, more fulfilling life. Physical activity is, or at least it should be, an essential part of who we are. But as we age, our ability to move our body may shift or even decline. Does that mean we should stop trying to keep up with an active lifestyle? Definitely not. 

Should seniors lift heavy weights

In fact, it means just the opposite: we should do our best to stay as active as possible. This is part of the reason why homecare in Sherman Oaks incorporates light physical activity and walking whenever possible. It is also why doctors recommend physical therapy to senior patients.

So what are the best physical activities for seniors and what is the best way for seniors to stay active?

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What Are the Best Activities for the Elderly?

How do you entertain an elderly personWe all want what is best for our loved ones, especially our aging parents, which is one of the reasons for the steady popularity of professional homecare in Santa Monica. However, as our parents become older and older, it gets increasingly more difficult for us to understand their needs and what they are going through. This is doubly true for the elderly who live alone.

To make our elderly loved ones happy, we sometimes need to think outside of the box and perhaps give them a glimpse of exciting new experiences. No one can argue that making sure that the elderly follow doctor’s orders is important, but giving them the opportunity to boost their mental fitness is just as important. 

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How Can I Make My Aging Parents Happier?

How do you make your parents feel specialFamilies looking for competent and compassionate providers of homecare in Santa Monica have different reasons to do so. But they all share a common goal which is to ensure the wellbeing of their loved ones through professional homecare

The purpose of caregiving in general is to make the elderly healthier, happier and give them a better quality of life. That said, let us not forget the tangible effect of happiness and good mood on health: the happier we are, the healthier we are. 

Even if you cannot afford to spend much time with your parents, having a caregiver step in and help out is the next best thing. A caregiver will be there to remind your elderly loved ones to take their medication, help them follow their diet plan or take a bath. But an equally important aspect of caregiving is companionship. Finding your elderly loved one a trusted companion is perhaps the most effective way to help them fight off depression and feeling of loneliness that so many elderly struggle with.    

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How to Inspire Senior Loved Ones to Start Exercising

Senior Taking a Walk - Senior Care Services in Los AngelesIn our previous blogs, we talked about your senior loved ones’ health. And while we are quick to give advice such as modify your diet or exercise more with the best intentions, how many of us actually follow the same advice? When was the last time you exercised? What did you have for lunch?

However, working for a respectable company that offers senior care referral services in Los Angeles, we have seen firsthand how slightly adjusting the diet and introducing an exercise routine can improve the lives of most seniors. Something as simple as a stroll around the park can help the elderly battle various health issues and make them feel better about themselves.

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Living Longer and Healthier

For the last twenty years, people are living longer and are remaining healthier during the last years of their lives. Past research discovered that people usually have poor health during the last few years of their life, however, due to advancements in medicine and nutrition knowledge, people can now remain healthier into their later years.  Working in the senior care Los Angeles arena for more than fifteen years we have learned some valuable insights. Here are some suggestions how to feel great and be healthier long into your latter years:

  1. Diet. Ward off fatigue in the afternoon.  Many adults have problems with fatigue during the afternoon hours.  In order to avoid this, drink water and eat foods such as prunes that are filled with antioxidants.  These types of foods can energize the body and jumpstart your brain.
  2. Exercise Your Brain. Do exercises from the neck up.  Finding ways to exercise the brain is very important for elderly adults.  This does wonders for keeping memory loss conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia at a distance.  Consider doing things like word game puzzles and memory exercises.  For instance, walk around the neighborhood and look for seven blue items during your walk.  Once you get home, try to remember where they were located.
  3. Share meals.  You will eat less if you dine with a partner.  This is an excellent weight loss strategy.  In addition, it keeps you social.  This is simple for the person who lives in an elderly community setting.  It would be wise for elderly adults who live alone to have more meals with their friends and family.
  4. Experience the Unusual. Do something out of the ordinary. You tend to get brain tired when doing the same things over and over again. Change your eating habits and try something new.  For instance, try eating fresh peaches instead of canned ones.  Also, switch up your route when going to the grocery store.
  5. Reduce salt. High blood pressure can decrease your cognitive function and lead to strokes.  This is a condition that gets worse as you age.  As you get older your sense of taste seems to change also. This makes you want to eat more salt as a result.  Cut back on your salt and take up more exercises like dancing.  Doing these things will help increase your cognitive function and help with your blood pressure as well.
  6. Exercises.  Start doing exercises that make you stronger and flexible.  Add a few balance exercises to your lifestyle.  Try doing things such as yoga, water exercises and anything that can increase your center of gravity.

There’s nothing better than being healthy in your senior years.  For more information about healthy senior living contact our Los Angeles caregiving agency at: (323) 650-2211.

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