FEBRUARY: AMERICAN HEART MONTH For many, February may meet the month of the heart because of Valentine’s Day where we focus on the emotional side of our hearts. However, it it also American Heart Month which is a good time to reflect on heart health, in the physical sense. To that end, we have gathered…
HEALTHY WEIGHT AWARENESS WEEK January 17-21, 2022 BMI CALCULATOR These days when people think of healthy weight, they think in terms of shedding pounds. Due to our heretofore readily available food supply, overeating has been more of an American issue than the malnutrition that is due to food scarcity. As such we are naturally focused on obesity which leaves you…
More Energy This Year! As caregivers, we get so caught up in other people that we often find it strange and difficult to make time for ourselves. A number of years ago, I resolved to not let that happen. With my empty nest, there was no reason why I could not embark on that exercise…
December 5-11: Handwashing Awareness Week Handwashing Awareness Week might seem trivial. However, at this point, we can all see how critical this issue really is.Some fun facts: 400 BCE The ancient Greek historian Thucydides is the first to suggest that disease can spread from one person to another. 1546 Italian scholar and poet Girolamo Fracastoro suggests that epidemics…
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month Unfortunately, we all seem to be touched by the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. Virtually everyone knows someone who has either suffered from this disease or a caregiver of someone suffering from it. Sadly, we often feel so overwhelmed and powerless when we think about the whole thing. Alzheimer’s disease…
October is Healthy Lung Month October is Healthy Lung Month. As such, I thought it was worthwhile to review how that essential organ can impact the elderly if it is not functioning properly. The most common elderly diseases associated with the lungs are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. Of note, asthma…
August is Summer Sun Safety Month After being cooped up for so many months, most of us are ever eager to get outside and enjoy life again. Our senior loved ones have especially borne the brunt of this. The simple joy of getting out in the warm summer air has never been more appreciated. There is nothing…
July is Healthy Vision Month It’s not uncommon for seniors to experience vision loss. Sadly, these changes can cause both physical and emotional hardships. They may feel a loss of independence, an inability to do the things they love and a disconnect from the world around them. Beyond these discomforts, with the loss of vision,…
Geriatrician — Another Specialist As specialists go, we have all heard of cardiologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, but how many of us really consider or have even heard of geriatric specialists or geriatricians when we think about care for someone 60 and older? As we age, the health challenges we face become more complex and the…
Summers often mean “Road Trip”! However, getting seniors to give up the keys to their car is no small task. Frankly, I am quite sympathetic to the seniors. After a lifetime of independence, it is yet another degradation they must endure as they age and their faculties wane. Only with this one, it can feel…