Staying Healthy

Sound Body, Sound Mind

Everyone needs a checkup regularly. But some seniors (and juniors!) reason that since they just saw the doctor last month about that sinus problem, they don't need to go again. A visit to the doctor for a specific problem doesn't take the place of a complete checkup.

Make sure your father is getting a balanced diet. Accompany him to the market to guide shopping choices, teach him to read labels, and discuss the importance of all the food groups, vitamins, fiber, and calcium.

ID jewelry with pertinent medical alert and contact information should be worn by all seniors. There is a huge variety of bracelets, pendants, and even watchbands available, many of them quite attractive, in stainless steel, sterling silver, and gold. Two companies that sell them are American Medical Identifications (1-800-363-5985 or americanmedical-id.com) and Medic Care Inc. (1-561-748-0840 or mediccareinc.com).

Know your mother's baseline-what's "normal" for her. Some seniors have a lower normal body temperature than 98.6 degrees Farenheit, and others have had chronic problems throughout their lives. Be familiar with Mom's "default setting," and be aware of changes. Know that baselines change as a person ages. If, for instance, she goes through surgery, chances are she will come out of it with a new baseline.

Know your loved one's complete medical history and keep a record of it to be taken to doctor's appointments and checked often. Just as important is to know your own medical history, in case genetic issues arise or transplants or transfusions become necessary.

Water, water, water (for senior and caregiver). Unless it is contraindicated by a doctor, you should each be drinking eight glasses of water a day. Did you know that dehydration is a common cause of many disorders in the elderly, including urinary tract infections and circulation problems?

Make sure liquids are available all day long. How about an attractive thermos for the bedside or a water cooler in the living room and on the patio? Get one on casters so it can be moved from room to room.

Blood pressure is an issue among most elderly. Get a reliable sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure monitor) and teach your loved one-and yourself-to take blood pressure readings. Some pharmacies take blood pressure readings and teach you to do it yourself for free.

At any given time, the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center has almost 1,000 programs under way that study and test the newest medical procedures, including cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's treatments. If your mother qualifies, she may get free health care at their 540 bed hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Call their toll-free hotline: 1-800-411-1222.

Local community service organizations such as the Kiwanis or Lions Club often offer free eye exams and eyeglasses to seniors who can't easily afford them. Your Area Agency on Aging will tell you what's available in your area.

Free dental care is available from local dental schools, and often, a low income is not even a requirement. Contact the dental college in your area.

Keep a diary of your senior's health progress.

If you're loved one is running a temperature or experiencing any other condition that may require a doctor's care, keep hourly notes and temperature readings for later reference.

Wash your hands often when caring for your parents. Wash theirs as well.

Keep plenty of moisturizer around for your hands and Dad's. Dry, chapped hands are especially common in winter. When you visit department stores, ask the people at the cosmetics counters for free samples, and keep these around the house to be used often.

Even natural supplements can sometimes be contraindicated with certain medications or cause side effects on their own. Ask your senior if she is taking anything like herbs or other supplements. Check them out with her doctor, no matter how harmless you believe they are.

Foot massagers are great for promoting blood circulation.

A digital thermometer is easier to use than a mercury thermometer. Take temperatures using the armpit if your senior has breathing problems or is easily confused.

If Mom has breathing problems and uses an inhaler, keep several around your house and hers, in the car, and so forth.

Many trips to the bathroom may indicate a urinary tract infection, common among seniors who don't always get the fluids they need. Consult a doctor immediately.

Consult a podiatrist immediately for corns, calluses, bunions, blisters, sores and infections, or ingrown, hard, brittle, split, or discolored toenails. If your senior has problem feet, a weekly trip to a salon for a pedicure-for each of you-makes a great outing. Most salons have special discount days plus breaks for seniors. Don't forget to ask about these.

Keep a checklist-a "report card"-and update it periodically to keep track of how your parent is doing with meal preparation, house-work, mobility (in and out of the house), laundry, shopping, money issues, medications, bathing, dressing, and eating. These are key activities of daily living (ADLs), and difficulty with them indicates there may be trouble.

If your senior must live in a multilevel home but has problems with stairs, consider a chairlift. They range in price from $2,000 to $20,000. Those prices may sound steep, but they can be cheaper than moving and will help keep your parent independent for a longer time. For someone who sits a lot, an ergonomic chair that offers greater lumbar support and adjustable features (chair height, armrest height, seat depth) that address particular problems and conditions can be a lifesaver. Ergonomic chairs come in all kinds of models and varying prices. You'll find a good selection and great prices at evofurniture.com; some models are available in every color imaginable, making them an attractive addition to any room.

If an ergonomic chair is not an option, make sure your father's chair has an adjustable height feature, the seat depth is approximately two-thirds the length of his thighs and buttocks, the back is at least fourteen inches high, and the armrests are no more than nine inches high.

Bad posture can complicate back problems and limit mobility. Is Mom walking as upright as she used to? Is Dad favoring one leg over the other for some reason? Sometimes the answer can be as simple as a new pair of shoes.

Osteoporosis is a serious problem for older women, leading to shrinkage and serious (sometimes deadly) fractures. Schedule your senior for a bone density test, and encourage weight-bearing exercise (walking, light weights, gardening). Make sure Mom gets plenty of calcium (the new "chocolate chew" supplements are delicious), and ask her doctor about estrogen replacement therapy.

Make sure Mom is giving herself regular breast exams and that she has a mammogram annually.

If there are precautionary measures that must be remembered, make a checklist and post it in a place where it can't possibly be missed. But change the list and its location from time to time so that it doesn't get taken for granted after a while. If you use a dry erase board or a chalkboard, ask your parent to check off the points as they are followed.

The older you get, the more you are affected by the same amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, a glass of wine now and then has been known to be beneficial for the heart. Check with your loved one's doctor for a good rule of thumb. In the meantime, locate some "zero-proof" recipes and dress them up-tiny umbrellas and all-for a special or even not-so-special occasion.

Don't minimize changes in your parents' health, even if they seem minor. These changes may be accompanied by fear, which can exacerbate even a minor problem. Address your parents' fears; be positive about your ability to find a solution.

Anemia is very common among the elderly, usually resulting from either a loss of blood or a poor diet. Check with the doctor as to whether iron supplements (along with vitamin C, for better absorption) might be in order.

Help prevent infections by keeping antibacterial wet wipes handy at all times. Keep boxes of them around the house; individually wrapped ones can go in your purse or wallet and in the car.

Avoid foot fungus by keeping feet clean and dry. That means changing socks daily and shoes often. It's also a good idea to let feet "air out" once a day.

Nylon or synthetic socks are more likely to make feet sweat. Cotton is better.

If socks are too tight at the tops, they can interfere with circulation. Cut notches into them to make sure they don't bind.

Teach your loved one to respect pain. If something hurts, there's a reason for it.

Bedsores-or pressure sores-result when there is constant pressure on an area where bones are close to the skin's surface. Be on the lookout for problems in these most vulnerable areas: the head, the shoulders, the elbows, the base of the spine, the hips, the heels, and the ankles. Consult a physician if you see red, cracking, or dried skin. In the meantime, encourage Dad to move about when he can, and don't leave him sitting or lying on a damp surface. Make sure linens are not irritating, and wash them often.

Always wear (disposable) rubber gloves when you suspect you might have any kind of skin disorder, such as a rash, an infection, or a lesion of any type.