Why It Is Important For Seniors To Remain In Their Communities

Survey after survey consistently show that >90% of Canadians wish to remain in their own home and not move into congregate living residences. It can be extremely beneficial for seniors to stay in their communities where they have established social connections and support systems in place. 

Staying in the same community provides a sense of familiarity and comfort as they can continue to go to their hairdresser of 20+ years, shop in familiar shops where they know where to find their favourite foods, and continue to attend services with friends at their local church, synagogue or temple. Having a network of friends and family nearby can help seniors feel less isolated or lonely, which has repeatedly been shown to improve their mental and emotional well-being.

Seniors are also safer ageing at home because they are able to maintain their independence and autonomy in a familiar environment. They are also able to receive care and support from family and caregivers they know and trust. Uprooting a senior from their home can be devastating for them, especially if they're going against their will. It can be an overwhelming loss for many from which they may never recover.

Ageing at home allows seniors to have greater control over their daily routines and activities. Autonomy, or the ability to make one's own decisions and have control over one's own life, is even more important for older adults because it helps them maintain a sense of self-worth, independence and dignity at an age where they may be experiencing a lot of loss--loss of friends, loss of some vision or hearing, and a diminished sense of self worth.

Allowing seniors to make their own choices helps them feel valued and respected. Autonomy also helps older adults to continue to learn and grow as they age. Providing seniors with opportunities to make their own decisions can help them maintain their cognitive and psychological well-being, which is important for maintaining improved mental health.

Being in familiar surroundings also reduces confusion, anxiety and depression. Living in unfamiliar surroundings can be stressful, but far more stressful for seniors. It also helps seniors avoid the increased risk of infection that occurs more frequently in congregate living settings such as Independent and Assisted Living residences, or Long Term Care facilities. We all saw the horrors when COVID-19 rapidly spread through senior care residences. Aside from the many deaths, the reduced care--in some cases neglect and malnutrition--and months of social isolation was cruel for both the senior residents and their loved-ones who were prevented from visiting in-person for months. 

In many senior living facilities families were banned from entering the building for well-over a year (with the exception of one family member being allowed to visit a terminally-ill senior during their final days, but even then the visit times were often restricted and only the one chosen family member was allowed to visit). It seems like cruel and unusual punishment to make a dying senior chose between seeing their spouse, perhaps a surviving sibling, and their three grown children. 

Some seniors may require support beyond what friends and family can provide, or they may not want to feel like 'a burden'. Older adults can receive home-based care services to support them to live safely and comfortably in their own homes, and to age in place, if they wish to do so.

Next blog we will be discussing the many benefits for the community when seniors are welcomed and supported to remain in their neighbourhoods.

Home Care Must Be Part of the Solution to Our Healthcare Crisis

The 'Health Care Crisis' has been all over the headlines in British Columbia as we suffer with overcrowded hospitals and staffing shortages which has led to delays in British Columbian's accessing the healthcare they need. Home Care needs to be part of the solution and we need our provincial government recognise and support this obvious and affordable solution. 

It takes time and significant capital expenditures to add capacity to our exiting acute care hospitals, whereas Home Care can be delivered quickly, and perhaps most importantly, can keep people--particularly seniors--out of hospital in the first place by keeping them healthy at home.

Home Care can Relieve the Healthcare Crisis in a Number of Ways:

Reducing Hospital Readmissions: Home Care can provide follow-up care for patients who have been discharged from the hospital, reducing the likelihood of readmission. 

Empty hospital beds = room for admissions.
Faster admissions = Paramedics getting back out on the roads.

More Paramedics on the roads = faster response times and improved health outcomes (seniors waiting 6+ hours for an ambulance when they've fallen and broken a hip is simply unacceptable).

Lowering Healthcare Costs: Home Care is far less expensive than hospital and can be more affordable than nursing home care, which can help to lower overall healthcare costs.

Improving Patient Outcomes: Home Care can provide continuity of care which leads to improved patient outcomes.

Reducing the Burden on Hospitals and Nursing Homes: By providing care at home, Home Care can reduce the number of patients who need to be admitted to hospitals or Assisted Living or Long Term Care facilities, which can help to alleviate the financial burden on our Ministry of Health.

Improving Patient Satisfaction: Home Care allows patients to receive care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, which can improve patient satisfaction.

Supporting Ageing in Place: Home Care can help seniors to age in place improves their overall well-being and can reduce the need for institutional care.

Providing Care during Pandemics: Home Care can provide care during pandemics and other crises, which can reduce the spread of infection and can help to protect vulnerable populations like seniors.

5 Autumn Safety Tips for Seniors

As the days shorten and the evenings cool, it is wise for all of us, especially our seniors, to prepare for a safe autumn. Here are five tips to help us all stay safe. 

 

1] Enjoy a Healthy Diet 

Not only do the leaves display gorgeous fall colours, so does the wonderful produce available in the autumn. These delicious fruits and vegetables of the harvest grow all summer are now ripe and ready to enjoy.

Fall produce is not only delicious, they’re also packed with nutrients our bodies need to keep our immune systems strong before temperatures turn chilly. When fruits and veggies are eaten in their proper season, they are more nutrient dense because they have matured on the plant, rather than being picked early. And they are more likely to be locally grown (which is good for your health and our local economy).

Brussels Sprouts help fight cancer, lower cholesterol, promote weight loss, and keep your bones strong and healthy.

Sweet Potatoes have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties and are packed with vitamins A, C, B6, B5, potassium, and manganese. Sweet Potatoes have also been shown to improve blood sugar regulation and to have important antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

Winter Squashes are high in antioxidants, including vitamin C, boosts your immune system, helps prevent and fight cancer, keeps bones healthy, and aids in weight loss.

Eggplants are rich in antioxidants and help protect cells against free radicals. They’ve also  been found to assist in preventing heart disease and diabetes, maintaining blood sugar control, and providing you with plenty of fiber.

Cranberries are considered one of the world’s healthiest fruits with more antioxidants than blueberries. They can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, prevent cancer, boost the immune system, help with anti-aging, cleanse the liver, and lower blood pressure.

 

2] Pre-Winter Fire Safety Check

Decrease the possibility of hazards in your home. Start by scheduling your pre-winter heating system maintenance. If you have a fireplace, have the chimney inspected and cleaned. You may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater, but some space heaters are fire hazards and others can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If space heaters are a necessity, make sure that they are never left unattended, and that there are at least three feet between the device and anything flammable, such as a wall, sheets and blankets or curtains, and that they are never left unattended. Also, never use an extension cord on a space heater.

Seniors should be extra cautious with heating devices like electric heating pads or blankets. Some medications can make your skin more sensitive to burns and your sensory perception may be decreased so you may not feel when your skin is starting the burn. THIS REALLY HAPPENS more frequently then you may imagine. We also have known clients whose electric blankets caught fire during the night when the wires got bent. 

Now is the time of the year for checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries in these devices and test them to make sure they’re in good working order. Plan on doing detector testing every month of the fall and winter. Also check that your flashlights are easily reachable in the rooms your spend the most time in (bedroom, kitchen and TV room) and have fresh batteries. It’s also wise to have a couple of newer candles on hand heading into the winter and power-outage season.

 

3] Dress Appropriately for the Cooler Weather

The temperatures can drop quickly and unexpectedly in the autumn and we must be prepared. Seniors can lose body heat faster then younger adults and you may not even be aware that you're getting cold. A chill can develop into a dangerous problem before an older person realises what is happening.

Some diseases commonly seen in seniors may make it harder for your body to stay warm.

• Thyroid disease can make it hard to maintain a normal body temperature.
• Diabetes can prevent blood from flowing normally to your extremities so your fingers and toes can get cold and injured more easily (and diabetics with injuries to their toes can be extremely challenging to heal, sometimes even leading to amputation from something as seemingly harmless as a blister).
• Parkinson's disease and arthritis can make it hard to put on extra layers of clothes.
• Individuals who smoke, take beta-blockers, have poor circulation or Diabetes, are more likely to get Frostbite.
• Memory Loss can cause a person to go outside without clothing that is appropriate for the conditions. Sadly, people with moderate to advanced cognitive decline like Alzheimer’s can get lost and die from exposure to the cold.

It's time to put away our lighter summer fashions and bring out our fabulous sweaters again. Put your warmer jackets by the door and bring your gloves, hats and scarfs out again for quick and easy access; we lose a lot of body heat when our head and neck are left uncovered. Wind will quickly lower our body temperature. If you must go out in the colder weather, wear warm clothes and don't stay out for extended periods.

Most importantly for seniors with mobility issues, and anyone wanting to avoid a slip and fall, have proper shoes with good traction for outdoor walking in the fall and winter.

 

4] Keep Walkways Clear and Well Lit 

Fall is appropriately named as this is exactly what leaves do this time of year – they fall on our paths and walkways and become slippery with the dew and will be icy as the temperatures drop at night. See a leaf on the ground – think danger!

Keep all the walkways on your property clear of fallen leaves and other debris, and make sure they are well lit. The days get shorter quickly and you may head out in the sunshine after lunch only to find you return as the sun is setting at 4:00 in the afternoon.

 

5] Be Proactive to Prevent Disease and Injury

Autmun and Winter can increase the risk for disease and injury for older adults.

Heart Attack: During the colder months, older adults, particularly those with a history of cardiovascular disease, are at a higher risk for heart attack. Cold air causes blood vessels to constrict and increases blood pressure. 

Slips and Falls: Many seniors have muscle weakness, impaired hearing, decreased vision, slowed reflexes, poor balance, or other types of disability and may use an aid such as a walker. These factors increase the risk of falls, a leading cause of injury and death in the elderly. Snow and ice increase the risk so we recommend seniors, and other adults with mobility issues, avoid walking alone when there is snow or ice on the roads and walkways.

Car Accidents: Snow and ice can make driving a hazardous activity for seniors. Most older people have slower reflexes and decreased hearing and eyesight which makes it challenging to remain vigilant while driving. Statistics show that older adults, 65 and over, are involved in more car accidents per kilometer than other age groups.

If you need to go out in winter conditions, try a service like Rides by Shylo to ensure you arrive safely and have a Companion to escort you and carry your shopping or take notes during your medical appointment, if you wish. 

Cold and Flu Season: Peak flu activity occurs between November and March. Due to weakener immune defenses, adults over 60 have a greater risk of developing serious health complications should they catch a cold or flu. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that seniors account for up to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations and 90% of flu-related deaths. Vaccination is simple and effective in most people.

We encourage all seniors to discuss disease and injury prevention plans with their primary care physician. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

Excerpts from:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/
https://www.mibluesperspectives.com/
https://foodrevolution.org