The Importance of Physical Activity for Seniors

            At any age, the importance of staying active can be easily overlooked – but physical activity is vital for seniors as they deal with the physical changes and challenges of aging. Regular physical activity can combat these challenges, as well as provide long-lasting health benefits for the individual. It is the proactive way to stay on top of your health, and to enhance your quality of life.

            The decrease or loss of strength and stamina in seniors is a natural part of the aging process, but is significantly affected by the lack of physical activity. According to the CDC, statistically inactivity increases with age; by the age of 75, one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity. This is a problem that can be, and must be, addressed in order to cultivate healthy lifestyles for the seniors in our communities.

            It is important to understand the benefits of being physically active, as well as the risks that are involved with inactivity. Benefits do not only come for strenuous activity, but also from daily moderate activity that positively influences health in more ways than one. 

The CDC has provided a list of some of the main benefits of physical activity, they include: 

• Helps maintain the ability to live independently.
• Reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones.
• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.
• Helps people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.
• Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

These benefits can come from a variety of activities such as: walking, fast-walking, water exercises, gardening, appropriate strength training classes, etc. As a community we can help support seniors in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, by providing facilities, classes, encouragement, and more opportunities for them to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.

Here are some more articles we have found for your convenience and like always, just call us if you have any questions, we are here to help. 

Add Life to Your Years

Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide

Exercise and Fitness as You Age

Beat the Heat: Tips to Battle Heat Stress among the Elderly

Beat the Heat:

Tips to Battle Heat Stress among the Elderly

As temperatures rise, the elderly have to battle the effects that heat can have on their bodies and everyday activities. As a caretaker or the family member of an elderly loved one, it is crucial that you become aware of the dangers that accompany heat stress in an individual, the signs and symptoms, and the treatment or first aid options you have as a caregiver. Being proactive in this area will help you “beat the heat” when it matters the most.

Heat stress is the general term used to describe the body’s inability to cool itself down; under the umbrella of heat stress are illnesses caused by heat, which include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The elderly are more susceptible to heat stress for several reasons—the ability to recognize changes in body temperature decreases with age, they have underlying health issues that cause their body to adapt to heat at a slower rate, and prescription medications may make them prone to dehydration or unable to regulate body temperature properly. These added risk factors make the summer season a more dangerous time for seniors and their health.

Being able to recognize common signs and symptoms of heat stress will allow you to approach the hottest time of the year with caution and care for your family. Several of the typical symptoms of heat stress include, but are not limited to:

·       High body temperature

·       Rapid or strong pulse

·       Red, hot, or dry skin

·       Headaches

·       Dizziness or fainting

·       Nausea or vomiting

·       Chest pain

·       Trouble breathing

The severity and fluctuation of symptoms may indicate the level of heat stress that the person is experiencing, whether it be heat cramps, exhaustion, or stroke. The chart below helps to clarify which symptoms align with which heat-induced illness, and gives essential first aid tips for each illness. 

  Taking action and providing appropriate first aid is necessary in situations where signs and symptoms are present, but there are precautions that can be taken in order to avoid heat stress to begin with. Use these tips during high temperatures to help keep not only the elderly safe and healthy, but also yourself and your family.

•  Drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration, especially water and juice. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
• Wear appropriate clothing that allows your body to “breathe”; choose light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and hats when necessary.
•  Stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. Avoid going out for extended periods of time between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Take it easy and try to avoid strenuous activity, especially if it is outdoors.
• Watch the heat index, which will help you stay up-to-date on the current conditions.
• Seek out air-conditioned environments to regulate body temperature.
• Get plenty of rest and take a cool shower or bath to cool down.
•  Know the warning signs of heat-related illness and be quick to act when they are present.

For more information, here is a resource on this topic from the CDC:

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/older-adults-heat.asp

In Home Care, the Basics..

Most phone calls we receive are from people who have never had never needed any type of in home care before and don't know what is out there.

From this initial conversation I have a quick talk of what I call "In-Home Care 101", or the basics. There is a very common misconception out there that Medicaid will pay for in home care. Medicare will pay for some things, but extended care is not one of them.

So here it is, a very simple and short explanation: In Home Care 101

First off, Medicare will pay for SKILLED NURSING only. You need a physician order to qualify for all skilled nursing/Medicare services.

Think of skilled nursing as task oriented; a nurse will come out to the home and perform some sort of task (E.g. bath, med set up, wound dressing, physical therapy). Once they are finished with that task, they leave.

The two main services for medicaid skilled nursing is 1. Home Health and 2. Hospice.

Here is a blog from a home health agency that explains Home Heath in further detail. 

&     Here is a article that explains Hospice in further detail.


For many people skilled nursing is not enough and they need caregivers to come out and help with their loved one for longer period of time. This brings us to In Home care; you can think of it more as time oriented rather than task oriented services.

This is the type of services that Comfort of Home Healthcare provides. We can go in and provide what is called ADL's or activity of daily living. We come in and do some of the same services such as bathing and medications etc, but we can also do some of the other tasks that your loved one can no longer do themselves such as toileting, cooking, cleaning, etc.

These services range anywhere from 3 hours a couple times a week, all the way to 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Unfortunately Medicare does NOT pay for these type of services. However Medicaid will pay for some of these services.

Since Medicaid is income based, most of our phone calls do not qualify. This leaves families to pay out of pocket for in home care services.

If your loved one was a veteran or the widow of a veteran there might be some assistance from the VA, but that is about it. There are some other assistance but too few would qualify to put in this post.

This all can get very confusing. If you need any further assistance or have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

An Overview of Grief Counseling

Grief Counseling

An Overview

Both taking care of a loved one in your own home and losing a loved one, causes your circumstances to change dramatically. These changes may cause intense grief, varying from individual to individual. Every person deals with the storms of life in a unique way, which means that each person may need to be counseled in a way that specifically addresses their needs. Grief can be experienced when dealing with the death of a loved one, but it may also come with other losses such as the loss of independence, dreams, relationships, ideals, and goals. Such losses may cause a person to go into a time of grief, which may result in feelings of depression, confusion, loneliness, sadness, anxiety, anger, and isolation. These feelings, if not dealt with, can cause very negative consequences in a persons life. 

One way of dealing with grief is to go through the process with someone else in what is known as grief counseling. Grieving is a normal part of life as we go through various obstacles, but there are healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with grief. Grief counseling can help an individual deal with their loss in a healthy and effective way.

"The purpose of grief counseling is to help individuals work through the feelings, thoughts, and memories associated with loss." (minddisorders.com) 

Some more specific tasks of grief counseling include:

• Having the individual recognize the stages of the grieving process in their own life.
• Help cope with the pain associated with the loss they are experiencing. 
• Help the individual feel supported after the loss.
• Develop some strategies for seeking other support and self-care. 
• Allow them to express their emotional feelings regarding the loss, in a safe environment. 
• Accept the loss and adjust their lives accordingly. 
• Develop healthy coping techniques. 

If you or your loved one are struggling with grief, there are places to go for help during this time, such places include: professional counselors, psychologists, social workers, pastoral counselors, etc. These people have been prepared and trained to help those who are struggling through the grief process. There is no reason for a person to go through this process alone, or let grief continue to consume every aspect of their life. Help is available and should be sought out when needed. A professional counselor will have the resources and tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and help a person make steps towards wholeness again. 

Comfort of Home Healthcare understands that grief is a natural process, but that doesn't make it any less painful for their clients and their families. Comfort of Home Healthcare will always be available to point you in the right direction if you or your family member is in need of grief counseling. 

Theses resources may be helpful in understanding the grief process:

Grief Counseling

Bereavement and Grief Counseling

Emergency Preparedness with Special Needs

Perhaps it's a little premature, but with the high temperatures recently, we are all thinking of spring. People are out walking, working on their yards, enjoying the great weather. 

If you have a loved one in your life with special needs, whether it be age or disability you need to start thinking about planning for severe weather and potential disasters.

In order for your to be ready if a emergency happens, preparation is the key. For your convenience, the following is an article taken from the CDC that will help guide you. All of which have links to other informative articles and checklists. 

As always, Comfort of Home Healthcare is here to help, don't hesitate to contact us with any needs you might have, it's what we do. It takes all of us to properly care for our loved ones. 

Full Article Here (CDC)Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning, forcing people to leave or be confined in their home. For the millions of Americans who have disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism present a real challenge. One of the things learned from the response to Hurricane Katrina was that people with disabilities were disproportionately affected by the storm and its aftermath.It is important that people with disabilities and their family members make plans to protect themselves in the event of disasters. In addition, first responders need to know how to work with people with disabilities to evacuate them safely and quickly. Emergency planners must ensure that shelters are accessible to people with a variety of disabilities.

Following is information to help you get ready.Information for People with Disabilities

Protecting yourself and your family when emergencies occur requires planning ahead. You are in the best position to plan for your own safety as you are best able to know your abilities and possible needs during and after an emergency or disaster. You can cope with emergencies by preparing and practicing in advance with your family and care attendants.

Article: Emergency Preparedness Training Learn how people with disabilities, their families, and first responders can plan ahead for safety during a disaster.

Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs This booklet from FEMA and the American Red Cross helps people with disabilities prepare for all kinds of emergencies.

Disability Preparedness This website from Disabilitypreparedness.gov provides information on how to prepare, develop a plan, use assistive technologies, and understand your rights.

Click to visit page

Why Choose In Home Healthcare?

Why Choose Home Healthcare?

"When the time comes that a loved one needs help at home, the process of convincing him or her to accept help can be difficult. Most of us value our independence, and having someone come into one's home to assist with such intimate activities as bathing and dressing can be a problem.

But, as our population lives longer, and our aging parents have more impairments with aging, the need for workers who can enable elders to stay in their homes increases. Most elders, if asked, would say that they prefer to stay at home, rather than move to a facility as they age. How do we keep them safe at home, when we must rely on others to provide help with activities of daily living?" (agingcare.com)

When considering the next step in the healthcare process for the elderly or disabled, in-home healthcare is an excellent option. Comfort of Home Healthcare is a company that is dedicated to providing peace of mind for all clients and their families. Comfort of Home holds their home care services to the highest standard in all aspects of business and care. Their name stands for quality and integrity that is preserved above all else. If you are considering a home healthcare agency for your loved one, remember Comfort of Home Healthcare!

The article below gives the top 10 reasons for choosing home health care for your loved one, when it is necessary to make that decision.

Top 10 Reasons for Choosing Home Healthcare

• Home care is delivered at home. When we are not feeling well, most of us ask to be at home. We enjoy the sanctity of our residences and the joy of being with our loved ones. When our loved ones are ill we try to get them home and out of the hospital as soon as possible.
• Home care keeps families together. This is particularly important in times of illness. The ties of responsibility and caring can be severed by hospitalization.
• Home care prevents or postpones institutionalization.
• Home care promotes healing. There is scientific evidence that many patients heal faster at home.
• Home care is safe. Many risks, such as infection, are eliminated or minimized when care is given at home.
• Home care allows for the maximum amount of freedom for the individual. Patients at home remain as engaged with their usual daily activities as their health permits.
• Home care promotes continuity. The patient's own physician continues to oversee his or her care.
• Home care is personalized and tailored to the needs of each individual. Patients receive one-on-one care and attention.
• Home care is less expensive than other forms of care, especially lengthy inpatient hospitalization.
• Home care is the form of care preferred by the American public.
• Home care can prevent re-hospitalization and decrease the need for urgent care.

Comfort of Home Healthcare is Pleased to Announce a Second Location!

Comfort of Home Healthcare is pleased to announce that its second location is officially up and running!!!! We have started our office in a great central location north of the river in Briarcliff.  

Comfort of Home Healthcare 

1201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy, Ste 210

Kansas City MO 64116

Enter the doors on the left of BMO bank and we are on the second floor. 

While we have your attention for a moment we would also like to introduce our new website. 

 Head on over and check it out!!

www.comfortofhomehealthcare.com

As always, please don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions. We are here to help!!!