Many years ago, hardly anyone knew what a chiropractor was.  Now, it seems that everyone is making weekly trips to get adjusted.  But this phenomenon is not just a new trend.  Chiropractic care has many healthy benefits, especially for seniors.  Here is what seniors should know about the importance of chiropractic care: What exactly is a chiropractor? A chiropractor is a doctor specialized in joint movement.  The vertebrae of the spine, for example, can become misaligned due to muscle tension, posture, or a past fall or accident.  When the vertebrae aren’t lined up correctly, that person can experience pain and
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Many assume that they will be able to tell when they are getting too cold.  But that may not be true for everyone.  Seniors are more susceptible to hypothermia than nearly every other age group. Due to decreased activity, seniors usually produce less body heat, which makes it more difficult for them to warm up once they feel cold.  And that’s if the senior notices that he is getting too cold to begin with.  Some medical conditions and medications can suppress the nervous system, resulting in decreased awareness that they are getting dangerously close to hypothermia. So, how should seniors
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Caring for a family member with dementia is truly a labor of love.  Once you get past figuring out how to assist with various aspects of care giving, there is an emotional component that never quite gets easier.  It’s a combination of stress and the sadness of watching your loved one’s memory slip away. Because you can best care for the senior when you are well, taking care of yourself is essential.  Here are a few things that you can do to keep yourself healthy and happy: Exercise.  Exercise keeps the body health and the mind at ease.  Working out
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Arthritis affects nearly half of all seniors, and the numbers are on the rise.  But what exactly is arthritis?  It’s not a general term for joint pain as many people think.  In fact, there are a few different kinds of arthritis, each with its own symptoms and treatments.  Here are a few things that all seniors should know about arthritis. Types of Arthritis: Osteoarthritis. This arthritis has to do with wear and tear.  In our joints, there is cartilage at the end of each bone.  The cartilage, which is as smooth as ice, covers the rough ends of the bone. 
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  The moment you put on your shoes, you know it’s going to be a bad day.  You try to ignore it.  Walk it off, you think.  But it only gets worse.  You then spend most of the day sitting, avoiding even getting up to get a glass of water.  Sure, you’re thirsty, but it beats the alternative.  And that is commonly what happens with severe foot pain. Foot pain in seniors is very common.  That’s because feet change as we age.  They begin to flatten and widen.  The fat that has been protecting the bones on the bottom of
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Diabetes. The ominous condition that compels people to eat right, exercise, and regularly check their blood sugar or risk the complications of blindness, pain, or even coma.  It’s a disease that’s scary and difficult, particularly for seniors, to control in relation to other conditions they may have.  So what are doctors suggesting to seniors who are struggling with it all? Lighten up! This doesn’t mean that seniors with diabetes should start planning a sugar spree, but it does mean that we should look at and treat seniors with diabetes differently than someone of middle age with diabetes.  Weighing the risks and
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During Thyroid Awareness Month, we should focus on the 1% of Americans who suffer from hyperthyroidism, which is one type of thyroid disease.  Hyperthyroidism is especially prevalent in seniors, so know the symptoms to alert your doctor at the first sign. What is hyperthyroidism? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ located on the front of the neck.  It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, which is how quickly each cell in the body does its job.  Hyperthyroidism is when too much of the hormone is released and the cells work too much and too quickly. Why is it important that
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As we get deeper into winter, driving conditions can worsen daily with snow, sleet, and ice.  That makes this a great time to get a refresher on good driving techniques.  Here are a few driving secrets that you may not have known but should use. 1. Use your brakes.  When it appears that a collision is going to happen, think “Stomp, Stay, Steer.”  First, stomp on your brake pedal with all of your might.  Then stay stepping on the pedal.  Ignore the noises or the pulsating of the pedal;  you aren’t hurting the car.  Third, steer around the obstacle.  With anti-lock
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Interview with Brian Gordon, President, CLTC, MAGA, Ltd. What sets Freedom Home Care apart from other care giving services in the North Shore? First and foremost, they have great reputation in the area. On top of that, they can help clients facilitate the paperwork that goes along with long term care insurance, whereas a lot of agencies out there are not up to speed with that process. An agency like Freedom Home Care knows how to submit the claim forms and appropriate documentation, which really helps eliminate those headaches for the children of those receiving care services. That stands out
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The word osteoporosis directly translates to ‘porous bones.’ Osteoporosis happens when a person’s bones lose protein and calcium. Over time, the bones start to deteriorate and become weak. They can break easily, which means any amount of physical activity can be dangerous and extremely painful. Osteoporosis is a fairly common problem in the senior community.  Not only does it take a personal toll in the form of injuries, but it also takes a financial toll with medical bills and lost work time. Scientists continue to research this condition that resulted in over 9 million fractures worldwide last year.  And now
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