Category: Care Need

Black History Month

by lachanceWeb

Did you know that Black American women die from heart disease at a higher rate than white women?
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States? Major risk factors include diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease. According to research, these illnesses are alarmingly common in Black American communities. In fact, Black women are more likely than white women to die of heart disease.

What is heart disease?

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of conditions, such as:

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a condition caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. It frequently results in a heart attack.
Arrythmia is a term for an irregular heartbeat (too fast or too slow)
Cardiomyopathy causes your heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body, which can lead to heart failure.

Why is it more common in Black American women?
According to studies, Black American women have the highest rates of hypertension (high blood pressure), one of the leading causes of heart disease. Researchers have also discovered that a gene makes Black Americans more vulnerable to the effects of salt, raising their chance of having high blood pressure.

According to the CDC’s Healthy People 2030, Black women are twice as likely to develop heart disease, owing to the highest prevalence of diabetes and obesity, as well as the second highest prevalence of high cholesterol and hypertension, according to Dr. Nicole Thomas-Sealey, Vice President of Clinical Education at AdvantageCare Physicians.

What steps can you do to reduce your risk?
“Many people are suspicious of Black women because of their history of oppression and health inequalities in the not-too-distant past – and present.” To improve patient outcomes, all physicians must be aware of these concerns early in the patient-provider relationship and address the need for trust,” says Dr. Thomas-Sealey.

“Once this barrier is lifted, many Black women who may have been reluctant to reducing heart disease risk factors will be able to do so.” Many illness processes require a high level of trust, open communication, and respect.”

National Wear Red Day and Go Red For Women are two campaigns that help bring these challenges to light and seek solutions.

Patient education and empowerment can be tools to help women advocate for themselves during medical appointments, as research shows that Black American women are less likely than others to receive preventive treatment such as blood pressure medications and advice from doctors or nurses about weight control and quitting smoking. Follow these guidelines:

Understand the symptoms and indicators of heart disease.
Examine your family’s history of heart disease and share it with your doctor.
Find a Primary Care Provider you trust; Rivers of Hopes members can search for an in-network doctor here.
Don’t forget to get your annual physical.

5 Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy This Valentine’s Day

by lachanceWeb

Besides February revolving around Valentine’s Day, it also happens to be American Heart Month, so there’s no better time than now to focus on treating your heart right. The best way to prevent things like stroke and heart disease isn’t complicated or hard — it’s simply to eat a balanced diet. Here are five quick and easy ways to start eating better for your heart.

1. Cook with beans and legumes.
Beans and legumes are nutritional powerhouses, whether you select chickpeas, lentils, or black beans. Beans and lentils can help satiate hunger, lessen post-meal blood sugar swings, feed the beneficial bacteria in our digestive tracts, and reduce cholesterol.

2. Add an avocado.
Despite the fact that avocados are high in fat, the bulk of these lipids are unsaturated fats, which are good for your heart. They can even help lower bad cholesterol when consumed as part of a healthy diet, according to a recent study. So go ahead and have that avocado toast, a smoothie with a few slices, or a chocolaty Valentine’s Day dessert with a few slices — and feel good about that second helping.

3. Be mindful of salt.
Too much salt in the diet has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease in studies. When cooking, you can reduce the amount of salt you need by adding other flavors, such as garlic and freshly ground pepper, to your cuisine.

4. Love your berries.
The compounds that contribute to the deep pigmentation of blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blueberries can improve the elasticity of arteries, which in turn may benefit blood flow to the heart. Berries are also known as one of the best sources of antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Tip: Strawberries and raspberries make a regular appearance around Valentine’s Day, due to their red hue, but they aren’t always the sweetest and juiciest at this time of year since they’re out of season. Instead, reach for frozen, which is a great substitute.

5. Eat chocolate!
This is an easy one — especially since it’s Valentine’s Day. A little bit of dark chocolate (one to two ounces) may help lower blood pressure, and therefore contribute to a healthy heart.

5 Benefits of Exercise for Seniors and Aging Adults

by lachanceWeb

You’ve probably heard it before: physical activity and exercise are healthy for you, and you should try to incorporate them into your daily routine. Numerous studies have shown the major health benefits of exercise, which get more important as we age. Seniors who engage in regular physical activity and exercise improve their mental and physical health, which will help them preserve their independence as they get older. We’ve listed five advantages of fitness for elderly and aging adults below.

1. Prevent Disease

Studies have shown that keeping regular physical activity can help decrease the likelihood of heart disease and diabetes. Exercise can boost the immune system, which is significant for seniors as their immune systems are often impaired. Even light activity, such as walking, can help prevent avoidable diseases.

2. Improved Mental Health

Exercising has several mental health benefits. Endorphins (the “feel good” hormones) are released during exercise and work as a stress reliever, leaving you feeling pleased, satisfied and energized. In addition, exercise is known to help enhance sleep, which can help prevent sleepless nights and irregular sleep patterns.

3. Decreased Risks of Falls

Falls can happen more often as you get older, which can reduce maintaining independence. Exercise increases strength and flexibility, which helps with balance and coordination, lowering the chance of falling. It takes older adults longer to recover from falls, so exercises like yoga can help build strength to prevent falls.

4. Social Engagement

Whether you join a walking group, join a group fitness class or visit a gardening club, exercise can become an enjoyable social event. For aging folks, having a scheduled activity can help create a sense of purpose, and something to look forward to. Above all, choose an activity that you enjoy, and it will never feel like a chore again.

5. Improved Cognitive Function

Cognitive function is strengthened by regular physical activity and fine motor skills. Numerous studies show that physically active people have a lower risk of dementia, regardless of when they start a habit.

In Conclusion
Exercise is beneficial to your health; all you have to do is make it a priority and a part of your everyday life. Exercise has been demonstrated to prevent disease, reduce the chance of falls, promote mental health and well-being, strengthen social bonds, and improve cognitive performance in the elderly population. We hope that, regardless of your age, this will inspire you to incorporate fitness into your daily routine.

Get in touch with Rivers of Hope, if you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Home Care Services in Fall River, MA. Call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. We provide Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. Visit riversofhopes.com to learn more about us

Q&A: What are the Bad Effects of Having Dehydration in Aging Adults? How to prevent and treat it?

by lachanceWeb
What can we do to encourage my elderly mother to drink more water? She is prone to urinary tract infections and appears to be dehydrated all of the time, no matter what we do. We also wanted to know if coffee and tea are okay to drink, or if they should be avoided to avoid dehydration.
A: Dehydration is a serious issue for senior citizens. Even when it’s not particularly hot outside, it’s not uncommon.

One of the best methods to lessen the risk of dehydration is to assist an older person in increasing her fluid intake, as you’re attempting to do.

So, how do you go about doing it? The best techniques, according to studies and practical experience, are:

1. Providing a drink to the elderly person on a regular basis, preferably on a timetable
2. Providing refreshments that the person appears to enjoy,
3. When it comes to elderly individuals, don’t expect them to drink a lot at one sitting.
4. Taking care of any urinary incontinence difficulties that are preventing the client from drinking frequently.

The Fundamentals of Dehydration
What is dehydration and how does it happen?
Dehydration occurs when the body’s cells and blood vessels do not have as much fluid as they should.The body normally acquires and loses fluid as a result of what we eat and drink, as well as urination, sweating, and other physical activities. However, if we continue to lose more fluid than we consume, we may become dehydrated.

When a person becomes dehydrated, the body is programmed to send a thirst signal to the brain. The kidneys are also intended to begin concentrating urine, resulting in less water loss.

Why are older people more prone to dehydration?
Unfortunately, as we become older, the body’s processes for preventing dehydration become less effective. Thirst signals in older persons have decreased, and they are also less able to concentrate their pee.

Other factors that put older adults at risk include:

  • Chronic problems with urinary continence, which can make older adults reluctant to drink a lot of fluids
  • Memory problems, which can cause older adults to forget to drink often, or forget to ask others for something to drink
  • Mobility problems, which can make it harder for older adults to get something to drink
  • Living in nursing homes, because access to fluids often depends on the availability and attentiveness of staff
  • Swallowing difficulties

Acute illness or another occurrence can also cause dehydration. Problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and infection can cause people to lose a lot of fluid and become dehydrated. Hot weather, of course, raises the danger of dehydration.

Finally, older persons are more likely to use medications that raise the risk of dehydration, such as diuretics, which are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure or heart failure.

In a study of older persons in residential care in the United Kingdom, blood testing revealed that 46% had impending or current dehydration.

How is dehydration treated?

The treatment of dehydration depends on:

  • Whether the dehydration appears to be mild, moderate, or severe
  • What type of electrolyte imbalances (such as high/low levels of sodium and potassium) appear on laboratory testing
  • If known, the cause of the dehydration

Mild dehydration can usually be treated by having the person take more fluids by mouth. Generally, it’s best to have the person drink something with some electrolytes, such as a commercial rehydration solution, a sports drink, juice, or even bouillon. But in most cases, even drinking water or tea will help.

Mildly dehydrated older adults will often perk up noticeably after they drink some fluids, usually within 5-10 minutes.

Moderate dehydration is often treated with intravenous hydration in urgent care, the emergency room, or even the hospital. Some nursing homes can also treat dehydration with a subcutaneous infusion, which means providing fluid through a small IV needle placed into the skin of the belly or thigh. This is called hypodermoclysis, and this is actually safer and more comfortable for older adults than traditional IV hydration.