COVID-19 Resources
Common Questions and Answers About COVID-19 for Older Adults and People with Chronic Health Conditions – From the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, this guide should be a go-to resource for seniors who have questions about COVID, including its prevention, emergency warning signs, and treatment.
Seniors’ COVID-19 vaccine consumer guide – This article gives a great overview about the vaccine options. The bottom line: every adult should get one as soon as possible.
Staying Fit While Staying Home: Exercise for Seniors in Quarantine – It’s important for all of us to try to stay active for the sake of our physical and mental health, even if we’re homebound. The ideas and resources in this article offer great suggestions for seniors of all ages and abilities.
Financial help for older adults – This guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers an overview of assistance options for seniors who have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic. It also provides links for further reading on topics like financial planning and fraud prevention.
Reverse Mortgage Calculator – Many seniors are looking into reverse mortgages to help them free up funds for living expenses or healthcare costs, but it’s important to know what they involve so you can decide if they’re right for you. This tool explains in detail what a reverse mortgage is and helps you calculate what yours could be.
Mental Health and Coping during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic – During a crisis, it’s more important than ever to take care of mental health concerns, especially considering how much our emotional health may be impacted in such strange times. This guide will help seniors and others cope with stress, grief, and more during COVID.
Socializing in Place: Tips for Older People to Stay Connected and Safe – Social isolation is a bigger concern for home-based seniors than ever. These great tips offer ideas on how older adults can stay connected while remaining socially distant from their loved ones.
Fall Prevention
Falls are the most frequent cause of injury-related hospitalization for Canadian seniors and account for 78% of injury-related deaths. This is a growing problem – the number of falls and fall-related injuries for those aged 80 years and over in Canada is expected to double over the next 20 years.
Approximately 30 to 50% of all long-term care residents fall each year, and of these, 40% fall twice or more. Approximately 10% of these falls result in serious injury, including up to 5% which result in bone fractures. The risk of sustaining a hip fractures is 10.5 times higher for women who are in facilities than if they were living in the community, and less than 15% of facility residents who sustain a hip fracture regain pre-injury ambulation status.
This information has been taken from the BC Injury Research Prevention Unit web site.
For further information please go to here.
Exercise is the key to Healthy Aging
Have you heard that exercise is important for older adults, but you don’t know where to begin? You’re not alone. Many seniors feel discouraged by fitness barriers, such as chronic health conditions or concerns about injury or falls. If you’ve never exercised before, you may not know where to begin. Or maybe an ongoing health problem or disability is keeping you from getting active. Perhaps you think you’re too old or frail.
The truth is that you can’t afford not to get moving. Exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. It can help you manage the symptoms of illness and pain, maintain your independence, and even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body—it’s good for your mind, mood, and memory.
No matter your age or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise. Reaping the rewards of exercise doesn’t require strenuous workouts or trips to the gym. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness – even if you’re housebound – there are many easy ways to get your body moving and improve your health.
This information is from the Helpguide web site, which is a non-profit organization.
For further information please go to here.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be frightening both for you and your loved ones. It’s normal to worry about what will happen and how you will adjust, and it’s also normal to grieve as you deal with this enormous adjustment.
Educating yourself about your disease and making important decisions early can help you feel more in control during this difficult time. Starting treatment right away is also important, as early intervention can prolong independence and help you continue to live life fully. You’ll also want to work hand in hand with your family members and make sure that caregivers have the support and assistance they need.
Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is challenging, but you can ease your journey by taking care of yourself emotionally, creating a supportive environment, and continuing to make time for the people you love.
This information is from the Alzheimer’s Society web site.
For further information please go to here.