Health Chats
Keeping Seniors Safe and Independent
Tuesday Apr 20, 2010, 05:00PM - 06:00PM (EST)
If you are elderly or disabled, have health concerns, or live alone, how do you maintain your independence and live in your own home safely? If you have a loved one who falls into this category, how do you make sure that they are safe and receive help in an emergency if you're not there 24/7?
In this hour-long health chat, learn how to make your home safer and get medical care when you need it if you live alone. Take steps now to ensure that you are prepared in case of a medical emergency. Get tips on how to set up an environment that addresses your health needs.
For children of elderly parents, learn how to recognize the signs that indicate that your parents may need help. Determine if living alone at home is the correct choice for your parents and what to consider when discussing alternatives. Get tips on how to deal with parents who aren't ready to leave their home.
Vedder09:
My mom was on a vent and had to have a feeding tube. She complains that it really hurts. Should it be hurting her still? The feeding tube was put in around the 15th of March.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Feeding tubes can sore, especially if they get tugged or pulled
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
As long as the site looks clean, there is no redness or drainage it should be OK.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
We sometimes use paper tape to secure the tube to the patients stomach to prevent it from getting pulled. This may help.
sm342:
I have heard that placing an elderly parent into a "skilled nursing facility", or nursing home can increase their risks for getting things such as pneumonia, staph infection or other illnesses... these being passed from others in the same facility. How dangerous are those risks? Is home health care better option?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
In any facility, hospital, nursing home, etc, there is an increased chance for infections.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
When possible, home care is a great solution to this because it limits the amount of exposure patients get.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
However, most facilities really work hard at their infection control to prevent the transmission of these illnesses.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
When looking at these facilities, ask about their infection control policies and their incidents of these infections.
auntie23:
Due to a recent illness, my mother now has some medical equipment in her home. What sort of products should be used to keep this equipment and surface areas clean? She likes to use those wipes that often contain bleach or other chemicals, but I worry that those are harmful to use in an area where food and medicine will be prepared/administered.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Most home medical equipment has cleaning instructions that comes with it.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
You should follow those cleaning instructions and really try to prepare food/medication in a seperate area.
sueleivers:
I would hate to suffer from Dementia as i get older. In a bid to keep my brain active i do as many word games and crosswords as i can,including DsLite More Brain training etc. Am i on the right track ? Do these things really help? I have grandchildren from 3 to 19 and always want to be in tune with them, i go Facebook, myspace and deal on ebay. Is there anything more i could be doing to keep alert and interesting to others? Kind regards Sue.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Staying active, both physically and mentally, can help keep your mind sharp-
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
you know the expression "use it or lose it"
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
You are definitely on the right track and good for you for keeping up with your grandkids on facebook and such
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
I would say keep doing what you are doing- you sound like a motivated individual.
caffeine_daisy:
hi, i fell and through xrays i found out that i have torn shoulder ligaments in left shoulder,pain, headaches, also if i use my arm on left side it gets tired fast and there was spurs found on the upper part of my spine near neck. my insurance will not pay for physical therapy recommended by doctor. so what do i do to get better?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
keeping active and using that shoulder should help it get better.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Did your doctor write you a prescription for PT?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Usually, with a prescription, the insurance company has a hard time refusing. I would contact the insurance company direclty and file a greivance
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
This might help you get your case reviewed- sometimes persistance is the key.
little_ninja:
My 61-year-old mother cares for my grandmother at her home full-time. My grandmother has had a couple strokes and a fall that resulted in a hip injury. She needs help walking to the bathroom, prepping meals, and turning on the computer to play her favorite games. My mother hasn't had a vacation for years because she takes care of my grandmother. Are there options to get a caregiver for a 2 week period so that my mother can go on vacation? I should also mention that my grandmother doesn't speak any English. Will Medicare/Medicaid help offset any of the costs? Thank you!
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Your mom definitely needs a break
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Being a caregiver can be very difficult and demanding.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Medicare/Medicaid do have options for home health aides- your grandma would have to qualify.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Usually this is done through referral from her physician- so you could try contacting her physician and see if you can get help that way
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Also, many areas have a local area agency on aging and they can be helpful in getting this type of assistance.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Another option would be for other family members to take turns staying with your grandmother throughout those two weeks if possible.
scared_daughter:
My father is a 55 year old man, who was a smoker for almost 30+ years, he stopped smoking about 10 years ago. For the past several months he has had a "mass" and pain under his right nipple. He was treated with two weeks of antibiotics with no change. He tells me not to worry he will be fine but he is the strong silent type and wont tell me anything about his symptoms. I found out from his wife about it and he got mad that she told me. I've read about male breast cancer and the only symptom that doesn't seem to fit is pain. He has no insurance. Help???
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Your dad really should have this checked out. Is it possible he could go back to the doctor who gave hime the prescription for his antibiotics?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
This could just be a cyst or a fatty deposit, or it could be more serious.
