4 Tips To Combat Loneliness for Seniors

Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but the problem can be more serious for seniors who may become isolated from others due to the loss of family and friends or medical conditions that keep them homebound. Loneliness can also be related to depression, a serious mental health complaint. With a little initiative on your part, you can learn to combat, and eventually overcome, loneliness.

1. Make New Friends

It can seem difficult to meet new people and make friends. However, many communities have social programs geared especially toward senior citizens. Ask a family member or caregiver about senior foster care Fall River or help with researching age-appropriate programs and activities.

2. Use Home Visitation Services

Being homebound doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be isolated. Your place of worship or local agency on aging may offer home visitation services. These services come in different varieties; some provide health care services while others are merely for companionship. The point is that someone is checking up on you and spending time with you so you don’t have to be alone. Similar services may provide transportation at little or no cost to you so you can retain a measure of independence.

3. Volunteer

If you are able, doing something for your community can be an excellent way to combat loneliness. Not only does it offer you the opportunity to meet new people, but it also helps to renew your sense of purpose. There are volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is a service organization specifically for older people.

4. Keep in Touch

There may be old friends whom you have lost touch with over the years. Now may be the perfect time to reconnect. It might be awkward at first if you haven’t talked for a while, but in many cases, good friends can pick up right where they left off.

It can be difficult to take the first step, but you may find that other people are waiting for you to take the lead. … Read More..

Things to Do if You Can’t Meet Your Doctor While You’re Sick

When you’re sick, the first thing you have to do is to see your doctor. It doesn’t matter how mild or severe the symptoms are. You can only get a conclusive diagnosis and appropriate prescriptions if you consult with a medical expert. However, there are instances when you can’t do it. For instance, you’re in a location where there are no nearby hospitals. You might also fear going to the hospitals these days due to the rising cases of coronavirus. If your symptoms are the same as the virus, you would rather stay home and avoid going to the hospital. The good thing is that recovery is still possible if you do the right steps.

Take a Rest

Regardless of how busy you are, you should pause. You can’t continue what you’re doing since it could aggravate your illness. Sometimes, stress becomes a factor in worsening the problem. If you take a rest, you might not even experience the symptoms anymore.

Drink Plenty of Water

Some illnesses might also have something to do with getting dehydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids is useful in keeping you healthy. Even if dehydration isn’t the cause of your symptoms, you might still experience it in some cases. High temperature and stomach issues might result in dehydration. Hence, it’s best to keep yourself hydrated.

Take Over-the-Counter Medicines

For mild symptoms like headache and runny nose, you need to take over-the-counter medicines. They will help alleviate the problem. Take a pill that could help you deal with the symptoms and notice the effects. Don’t take too many tablets just because you don’t feel you’re getting better. It takes time to see the effects. If not, the drug isn’t addressing the problem. You might need other medicines. The good thing is that you can now buy medicines without leaving home. You can buy antibiotics online and expect immediate delivery. This convenient method will help you recover quickly. 

Monitor Your Vital Signs

Check your vital signs and see if they’re within normal levels. Heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are among them. If you have respiratory issues, you also need a regular oxygen check. If the level goes lower than normal, you have to rush to the hospital. You might need aid in breathing. Any abnormality in your vital signs requires a trip to the ER.

Eat Healthily

It’s understandable if you don’t feel like you want to eat. Some illnesses might make you lose your appetite or sense of taste. Despite that, you have to force yourself to eat. You should stay healthy and receive the nutrients needed to recover. Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals that will aid in recovery. However, you have to be cautious about possible allergic reactions. Some foods might also worsen your symptoms, especially if you have stomach problems.  There’s nothing wrong in staying at home while recovering as long as you take precaution and steps towards recovery. Never hesitate to see your doctor as soon as things get worse. … Read More..

Tips for Living with POTS

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome affects between one and three million people. It’s not a life-threatening syndrome, and the prognosis is generally good. Nevertheless, the symptoms can drastically change the lifestyles of those who suffer from it. Here are some tips to manage life with this syndrome.

General Lifestyle Changes

POTS affects the way the nervous system regulates the heart rate when going from lying to standing. Some doctors may recommend taking a beta-blocker to stop the heartrate from rising, but there are other ways to retrain the body to regulate itself.

  • Sleep with your head slightly elevated to more evenly distribute blood-flow.
  • Do cardio for 30 minutes a day to strengthen the heart and vascular system.
  • Consume more salt to increase the blood volume.
  • Drink 64 ounces of water or electrolyte fluid.
  • Eliminate common allergens from your diet like gluten and dairy.
  • Take enzymes before or after you eat to help with digestion.
  • Eliminate caffeine and alcohol to give your nervous system and cardiovascular system a break.

At Home, Work, and in Public

People with POTS need a full night’s sleep and regular rest in the day. When you’re at home, ask for help with chores from friends or family. At work, communicate your situation to your boss and let him or her know that you will need extra time in the day for breaks. In public, make sure you wear medical ID jewelry; the last thing you need is an expensive trip to the ER that you know is unnecessary. If you do end up at the doctor, having a digital medical id bracelet is a useful time-saver because the doctor can access your information directly from the bracelet.

The severity of POTS can range from an annoyance to stays in the hospital. Always go the emergency if your heart rate doesn’t drop back to normal after several minutes. Otherwise, employ these life changes, have patience, and expect a good prognosis.… Read More..

4 Tips for a Better Smile

Are you self-conscious about your smile? Could your teeth could be whiter, straighter or better aligned with your jaw? If you’re ready to crack a grin without hiding it behind your hand, here are just a few tips for a better smile.

♦1. Brush Your Teeth Correctly

You might be surprised to learn that are good and bad ways to brush your teeth. For example, brushing in a horizontal direction has been clinically proven to be less effective at removing plaque than brushing in a vertical direction. You should also make sure that you’re brushing long enough. One minute isn’t going to cut it; you should be aiming for two minutes or more.

♦2. Watch What You Eat

Sugar is notoriously bad for your teeth, but caffeine isn’t much better. Things like coffee, tea, soda and fruit juice can all eat away at your enamel and stain the surface of your teeth. Do some research into the foods and drinks that are bad for your smile, and take measures to avoid them the next time that you’re at the grocery store.

♦3. Consider Whitening Your Teeth

A professional whitening job can get quite expensive, but it will also last longer than store-bought strips. On the other hand, store-bought products will allow you to slowly whiten your teeth under your own power, so you won’t be shocked by a dentist going too white or not white enough. There are pros and cons to both methods, so give each of them equal consideration.

♦4. Talk to Your Dentist

You don’t have to be afraid of their drill. Your dentist can’t do anything that you don’t approve, and they might have some helpful suggestions for whitening or crowning procedures. Getting veneers Boca Raton FL might be exactly what you need for a picture-perfect smile.

These are just a few ways to get a brighter, white smile. Some of them will require a visit to the dentist’s offices; others can be achieved or attempted right at home. All of them will help your self-confidence as you create a better version of you.… Read More..