As we age, our muscles weaken and deteriorate. The clinical term for this gradual loss is sarcopenia. Its effects also include a loss of stamina and difficulty completing physical activities. A study in 2018 was picked up by newspapers and interpreted as having found evidence for measures against age-related muscle weakening. However, this was not the case. It found that, by the age of 75, people have up to 50% fewer nerves controlling the muscles. With these weakening connections, the muscles begin to shrink. The muscle fibres, in turn, struggle to contract and this causes muscle …
Most Common In-Home Injuries for the Elderly
It is important to many of us as we age that we remain independent and stay in our own homes. But staying at home comes with its own set of risks. It is important to be aware of these to keep yourself in the safest possible environment. We become more prone to many injuries as we age. There are also pre-existing health conditions that can affect things such as balance or vision. Some of the most common pre-existing conditions include: Cataracts Glaucoma Arthritis Osteoporosis Parkinson’s disease Cardiovascular disease It is important to consider how these …
Technological Innovations for Those Living with Dementia
What is Dementia? Dementia is a degenerative syndrome that causes brain function to decline over time. Dementia can be confused with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, while dementia is the term used to categories a group of symptoms. The symptoms include problems with: Memory loss Thinking speed Mental sharpness and quickness Understanding Language Judgement Mood Movement Carrying out daily activities People who suffer from dementia are often confused or cannot remember and retain certain information. As a result, this can …
Mental Health Awareness: Elderly Suicide
There has been a real push in recent years to destigmatise mental health issues. This has been really helpful for the younger generation. However, we sometimes forget about the impact poor mental health can have on the elderly. There are many aspects of growing older that can make people feel isolated. In honour of World Mental Health Day, we wanted to share the signs to look out for to prevent elderly suicide. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50. Although the rate of male suicide declines slowly between the ages of 44 to 64 years old, after this it begins to rise again. …
Coronavirus In Care Homes – Risks and Restrictions
Recently, care homes have been hitting the headlines. The government's controversial handling of the coronavirus crisis has impacted care homes significantly. Many people accuse the government of failing to protect care home residents and staff from COVID-19. In some homes, the virus spread very quickly, leaving residents, staff, and visitors vulnerable. Even in homes where infections are low, many residents are still unable to have visitors. So, what has the government done to address coronavirus in care homes? Lack of Support Throughout the crisis, staff at many care homes have …
Assisted Living Facilities: Everything You Need To Know
It's never easy to realise that your loved one is no longer capable of living on their own. Even when we know it's time for a change, we might still feel anxious or guilty about it. When it comes to finding the right assisted living facility, it can be tough to know where to begin. Unfortunately, we don't always have a lot of time to think about our options. This is often because our elderly parent(s) might be at risk of injury or illness in their current situation. Therefore, it's better to be prepared in advance. So, is assisted living right for your elderly parent(s)? And what do …
