In the UK, around 900,000 people are affected by heart failure. When you have heart failure, your heart doesn't function properly, preventing it from effectively pumping blood around the body. Heart failure isn't immediately lethal, but it can cause prolonged health complications. Therefore, it is important to recognise heart failure symptoms in our elderly loved ones so the condition can be treated. Causes of Heart Failure Often, heart failure cannot be ascribed to any one cause. Rather, it is often caused by multiple problems at the same time. These problems may be as a …
Easy Exercises for Older People at Home
Many elderly people can struggle to get out of the house. Mobility issues and health conditions can make it difficult to remain healthy. However, it is advised that elderly people get at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. So, how can we maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure we are getting enough exercise? Here are some simple yet effective exercises for older people to do at home. Warming Up Firstly, remember that stretching before and after exercise is an important part of any routine. Warming up prepares your heart, lungs, and muscles for a workout. Just five minutes spent …
How to Talk About Age-Related Hearing Loss
As your loved ones get older, it is likely that their hearing will get worse. Whilst age-related hearing loss is a natural part of growing older, it can be quite distressing. Sometimes our loved ones may be reluctant to talk about it, as they do not want to face the fact that they are getting older. However, the sooner age-related hearing loss is discussed, the easier it is to address. Hearing Problems The signs of age-related hearing loss can be subtle at first. Certain sounds we don’t usually notice can become inaudible, and voices can become slightly muffled. Over time, …
Symptoms of Dehydration in Elderly People
Elderly and older people are at a higher risk of dehydration than younger people simply because of how the body composition changes with age. Older people have less water in the body than younger people. Another reason elderly people are more at risk of dehydration is that some conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease and dementia can affect a person's ability to remember to have a drink or to recognise when they need to. Some medications can affect hydration within the body too. Here are symptoms of dehydration in elderly people. Symptoms of Dehydration Some common signs …
Can Alternative Medicine Help Your Elderly Parent?
By definition, alternative medicine has been around as long as mainstream medicine. The use of herbal remedies dates back to the beginning of recorded history. Granted, alternative medicine doesn't have the best reputation because, by its own definition, there is limited evidence to prove that it works. However, many people express that alternative medicine has had a significant impact on the improvement of their symptoms or illnesses. Many go to alternative medicines looking for a more 'natural' solution. Some will also use holistic therapies alongside conventional medicine. This …
How to Stay Healthy: Vitamins
Most of us know that the best way to get the vitamins, minerals and nutrients we need is from food. However, many older adults have a hard time eating a full and balanced diet. A few reasons for this could be: Lack of appetite. Difficulty chewing. Fixed budgets. Supplementing with vitamins may be an option. But, it's important to know exactly what to take and when. Is it worth taking vitamins? Vitamins can do just what they say on the tin - fill the gaps in your loved one's diet. But they aren't always the answer. Taking a high dosage or taking them for a long …
