Insomnia in Seniors: The Cause, the Cost, and a Cure

According to the National Institute of Health, the majority of seniors struggle with insomnia.  Insomnia can take several forms.  A senior might get into bed and toss and turn for more than 45 minutes before finally dozing off.  Or, they go to sleep quickly only to wake up a few hours later and not be able to get back to sleep.  Finally, they simply wake up several times a night.  They might get back to sleep, but sleep interrupted doesn’t give them the full benefit of a night’s rest.

Hydrotherapy: Sooth Arthritis Suffering

In my last blog post ‘Hydrotherapy: What’s behind this Natural Therapy?’ I explained the basics of hydrotherapy and its health benefits for your body.  Today I am focusing on how it can help people suffering with arthritis.  While there are two different types of arthritis, each with unique causes, a soak in warm, bubbly water helps to treat both of them in different ways.

Hydrotherapy: What’s behind this Natural Therapy?

    Over the past decade more and more Americans have turned to alternative medicine to cure what ails them.  Alternative medicine seeks both to prevent poor health and unlock the body’s power to heal itself.  Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular because of the: 

• expense of traditional medicine;

• aversion to the laundry list of drug side effects; and

• increased amount of information available on the Internet regarding alternative treatments.   

Four Safer Bathroom Floors for Seniors

When a senior slips on the bathroom floor, consequences can be tragic. As we age, our bodies become more frail and a fall can set in motion an unwelcome chain of events:  broken bones, a trip to the emergency room, a move to an assisted living center, or even death. 

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal, trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.

Since a fall often is triggered when a senior’s feet take on a life of their own on a slippery floor, I’ve compiled a list of bathroom flooring options that provide more grip.  And because of the wet environment, all recommendations are, of course, water resistant.

Bathroom Remodeling for Aging Eyes

I often blog about remodeling to make the bathroom safer for a senior who is not as mobile as they once were, but today I’m turning to another challenge that affects all seniors—aging eyes. 

What happens to aging eyes?

First, the pupil gets smaller. What does a smaller pupil mean to elderly people?

If you put a 20-year old and an 80-year-old in the same sun-splashed room in the middle of the day, the youngster’s eye will receive six times the amount of light.  It’s almost as if the senior is wearing sunglasses indoors.

It gets worse.  Now imagine the 20 year-old and 80-year-old person are up in the middle of the night navigating their way to the bathroom with little or no light. The young adult’s eyes are now receiving sixteen times as much light as the senior’s eyes.  No wonder seniors lose their confidence about driving at night, and getting around the home can be equally tricky.

Bathroom Remodeling for Every Budget for Seniors

If you have a senior you care for who’s still using a bathroom designed for the person who never ages, it’s time to remodel for safety so they can live a long, happy life at home.  Whether your budget is tight, moderate or generous, you can make some worthwhile improvements.

Bathroom Modifications on a Tight Budget

If your budget is constrained, you want to convert the existing toilet, bath and shower so they’re easier and safer to use, while adding safety accessories where necessary.

Four Practical and Fun Holiday Gifts for Seniors

The season of gift giving has arrived.  And if you have seniors in your life, you’re likely in a bit of a quandary.  After all, over the years they’ve accumulated all the goodies they need--and more!  They’re now in downsizing mode and, hopefully, de-cluttering their home.  So why would you want to buy them more stuff?

It’s time to think practically and to give gifts that will help to keep your Mom, Dad, favorite Aunt, or that special person you care for, safe and make life a little easier.  Here are four suggestions.