Health « The Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Blog

Sleeping Pill Alert

March 23, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Health, Medication, Safety

In some cases doctors will prescribe medications for the treatment of insomnia. Sleeping pills will not treat the underlying cause of one’s sleeping problems, but may help one get some much-needed rest. Prescription sleeping pills are available to help you fall asleep, stay asleep longer, or help with both. Today’s sleeping pills do not carry the same level of risk of dependence of the past, but risks still remain. Recent studies found that individuals taking prescription sleeping pills on a regular basis were nearly five times more likely than non-users to die over a period of two and a half years, and be more likely diagnosed with cancer. The study, though, did not prove that sleeping pills caused death, but that there may be a link between the two. Many individuals using sleeping pills are usually sicker than those not using them.

Insomnia also causes additional health problems. Those individuals taking sleeping pills may be at a higher risk because of health conditions that may have brought on the sleeping problems. Many chronic conditions, such as cancer, are linked with insomnia and mortality. Sleep disorders can be a symptom of an underlying mental or physical condition. Many who get prescriptions for sleeping pills have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions which contribute to sleeplessness. Sleeping pills can be helpful in many situations, but are not without side effects including drowsiness, impaired judgement, depression and heart problems. The elderly should particularly use caution with sleeping medications.

The nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotics including Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata are believed to be safer and less likely to be abused. They are recommended for short-term or occasional use, but some individuals take them for years. Side effects of the nonbenzodiazepine’s include dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In addition, severe allergic reactions, breathing problems and depression may result. They can contribute to confusion, affect judgement and behavior, and have resulted in falls that may be fatal for older adults.

If you suffer from insomnia then, what should you do? An individual needs to weigh the risks versus the benefits as with many other medications. If there are ways to help you sleep, other than taking pills, that’s a better solution. Practice good sleep habits such as a set bedtime and start a pre-sleep ritual, like reading. Try not to nap during the day and do not watch television or use the computer before trying to sleep. Avoid exercise, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods several hours before bedtime. In addition, block out light and noise from the bedroom to get a good night sleep.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The Benefits of Vitamin D

March 16, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Diet, Education, Health, Life, Personal, Tips, Vitamins

Vitamin D is a fat soluble essential vitamin. It has been used to treat weak bones or osteoporosis and for preventing falls and fractures in people at risk for osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Research has shown that increasing blood levels of vitamin D may additionally protect an individual from chronic or life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis and tooth and gum disease. It is also used for boosting the immune system, preventing autoimmune diseases and cancer. In addition, deficiencies of vitamin D may be responsible for neuropsychological disorders including depression and memory loss.

Sun exposure is an easy way for individuals to get vitamin D. The necessary exposure time varies with age, skin type, season and time of day. Ten to fifteen minutes of sunshine three times a week is enough to produce the body’s requirement of vitamin D. The sun needs to shine on the skin of your face, arms, back and legs.

Vitamin D deficiency is common. Individuals stay indoors more, cover up when outside or use sunscreen to reduce skin cancer risk. The elderly are particularly at risk for vitamin D deficiency. They are less likely to spend time in the sun, have fewer receptors in their skin that convert sunlight to vitamin D and may not get enough vitamin D in their diet.

It is difficult to get enough vitamin D from food sources alone. Very few foods naturally have vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a few foods including fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks and mushrooms. Vitamin D has been added to most dairy products, some juices, cereals and soy beverages. Some individuals may have to take a vitamin D supplement in order to boost their level. The Recommended Dietary allowance for vitamin D for those age 9 to 70 is 600 IU daily. Adults over age 70 should take 800 IU daily.

The best measure of an individual’s vitamin D status is a blood level. Levels below 30 ng/mL are too low for bone or overall health and require a supplement. Vitamin D is important to the body in a number of ways. As with all medications and supplements, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider about starting a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D may interact or interfere with one’s prescription or over-the-counter medications and how your body absorbs or uses them.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Hepatitis A In The Elderly

March 15, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

Today I went to see one of my long term clients who happens to be 80 years old. She has been living in a skilled nursing facility for over a year now and has been doing very well. She loves everything about the facility, except for the food. She really misses her own home cooked foods that she loves and is part of her ethnic background, which she is so familiar with. She is a beautiful Japanese woman who really misses her Sushi and Sashimi.

As her Geriatric Care Manager, I explained to her that the facility does not offer Sushi to their residents and that I also needed to speak with the Dietician on staff about the safety perspective of bringing food in from the outside, and also needed to consider her medical history and what foods she may be restricted from.

The Dietician educated me that eating raw fish or oysters can contribute to food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when you consume toxins, bacteria or viruses from water or food that contains harmful substances. Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, weakness and nausea and vomiting.

Sushi lovers are at high risk for Hepatitis A virus infection. Hepatitis A, or HAV, is an acute viral infection of the liver. Symptoms of liver infection are similar to food poisoning; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, jaundice and pain in the right upper abdomen. HAV is caused by the transmission and ingestion of microscopic contaminated feces that can be found on or within fruit, raw vegetables, drinking water or exposure to an infected person who showed lack of hand washing.

You need to be extremely careful of what restaurants you choose to dine in and the safety that is necessary during your own home preparation of food. Stay with what you know best. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most healthy people recover from HAV infection without complications and could even develop immunity again re-infection. But, HAV exposure in older adults my cause severe and serious symptoms, with risk of both morbidity and mortality and this could increase with age. There are vaccinations available to you for both Hepatitis A and B for its prevention. People that do a lot of traveling to many countries are encouraged to get the Hepatitis A vaccination. Please ask your own physician about the Hepatitis A vaccination and see if they feel it is right for you.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The “Good Bacteria” Found in Yogurt

March 8, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

I remember, as a little girl, the TV commercial for Dannon Yogurt. The commercial starts off with a choir of Russian men singing and dancing. Then the camera closes in on one particular man. Then the voice-over talks about how great Dannon Yogurt is and that the older man agrees with this because he has been eating the yogurt for 105 years.

The history of yogurt and other fermented milk products have primarily been accidental discoveries, as a result of milk being stored by primitive methods in warm climates. Historians attribute yogurt being developed by the people of Central Asia around 6000B.C.. Herdsmen began the practice of milking their animal, and the natural enzymes in the carrying containers curdled the milk, essentially making yogurt. The milk then kept longer and it was thought that people preferred the taste, so they continued the practice of making yogurt, which then just evolved over centuries into our commercial yogurt making. We have the Turkish immigrants to thank for bringing yogurt over to North America in the 1700s.

Yogurt is so popular today, it seems as if a new frozen yogurt shop opens every month. Yogurt is so important, it’s been found, because of the positive benefits from Probiotics, which are the “good bacteria” that we receive from eating foods like our so loved yogurt and kefirs or can also be found in pill-formed dietary supplements. “By definition, a probiotic is any substance containing live-active organisms that, when ingested, have a beneficial effect on the host by altering the body’s intestinal micro flora,” says physician Robynne Chutkan, Associated Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The theory is that certain strains of these live organisms are good bacteria and can then override the effects of all the bad bacteria in the stomach.

As a geriatric care manager, I have seen many physicians prescribe or recommend probiotics when they place their patient on an antibiotic. Antibiotics wipe the intestines of the bad and the good micro flora, which can be harmful to the person by decreasing their immune system, leading them at risk for other infections. The following information will provide you with more knowledge about the great benefits from yogurt and probiotics.

Fights against inflammation.
Reduces the risk of digestive disorders, colon cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori- bacteria that causes infections on the upper and lower digestive tract.
Enhances the function of the immune system.
Reduces the risks of high blood pressures.
Reduces cholesterol levels.
Promotes healthy bone development.
Decreases and heals the chances of having arthritis.
Prevents vaginal infections.
Prevents diarrhea.
Heals symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Helps alleviate constipation.

Not only does yogurt contain live-active cultures of probiotics, it also contains calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. I encourage my family and my clients to eat yogurt with active cultures on a daily basis. It would be so wonderful if we all could live a long and healthy 105 years, just like the man I saw on that Dannon commercial.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation

Aging Eyes

March 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Eldercare, Health, Help, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

Your circadian rhythm is a biological clock that regulates many of the systems of your body, such as the sleep-wake cycle, the temperature regulation system and the endocrine system. Circadian rhythms are responsible for rallying the body in the morning and slowing it down at night so the body will rest and rejuvenate. The malfunction of an individual’s circadian rhythm causes circadian rhythm disorders leading to insomnia, heart disease and cancer.

Most of the time your biological clock or circadian rhythm is in sync with the 24 hour day-night. In some individuals, the circadian rhythm is out of sync due to several reasons, which include travel, shift work or neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Symptoms found in individuals with circadian rhythm disorders include difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, decrease in cognitive skills, headaches, gastrointestinal distress and poor psychomotor coordination.

Recently researchers have been studying the effect of the aging of the eyes as one of the reasons for some of the health problems that come with age. As we age there is a gradual yellowing of the lens of the eye and a narrowing of the pupil, which results in less sunlight getting through the lens and reaching key cells in the retina, which regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. Studies indicate that by age 45 the photoreceptors, cells in the retina that absorb sunlight and transmit messages to the part of the brain which governs our internal clock, receive only 50 percent of the light needed to stimulate the circadian system. By age 55, it is only 37 percent, and only 17 percent by the age of 75. Due to these changes it is felt that as an individual ages they should make an increased effort to expose themselves to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting when they cannot get outside. Often older adults spend more time indoors and put themselves at increased risk.

The eye’s role in maintaining good health is becoming increasingly evident. In order to decrease some of the conditions that occur with age, such as depression, slower reaction time, memory loss and insomnia, it is important that the eyes get the proper light exposure they require to maintain one’s circadian rhythm.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Aphasia

February 24, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Personal, Therapy, Tips

Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to the area of the brain which is responsible for language. It can occur suddenly due to stroke or head injury or develop slowly as a result of a brain tumor, an infection, or dementia. Aphasia also will impair the expression and understanding of language as well as reading and writing. The middle-aged or elderly account for the most cases of aphasia. Men and women are equally affected. Once the underlining cause has been treated, the primary treatment for aphasia is speech therapy. Speech therapy focuses on relearning and practicing language skills and using alternative or supplementary communication methods.

A person with aphasia may speak in short or incomplete sentences, speak in sentences that do not make sense, not comprehend other people’s conversations or write sentences that do not make sense. Aphasia is often a sign of a serious problem, such as a stroke. An individual should seek emergency medical treatment if they have difficulty speaking, trouble with comprehending speech, difficulty with word recall or problems with reading or writing.

The best way for family and friends to communicate with an individual experiencing aphasia is to:

Simplify language by using short, uncomplicated sentences.
Maintain a natural conversational manner appropriate for an adult.
Minimize distractions, such as a loud radio or television.
Include the individual in conversation.
Avoid correcting the individual’s speech.
Allow the individual plenty of time to talk.

Organizations such as The National Aphasia Association, The American Stroke Association, and certain medical centers offer support groups for those with aphasia. These groups provide those with aphasia and others affected by the disorder a sense of community and a place to learn coping strategies. Your doctor, speech pathologist or other health care providers can help you locate and get involved in one of these local support groups.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

National Nutrition Month

February 16, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Diet, Health, Personal

This March will mark the 32nd annual campaign for National Nutrition Month®.

National Nutrition Month® was first started by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in 1973 as only a weeklong event. In 1980, it expanded to include the entire month of March. Each year the theme is different for National Nutrition Month®.

When I worked in the dietary department of a local hospital, I remember National Nutrition Month(R) very well. I use to love promoting this wonderful month-long event. The ADA provided us with so many useful and educational materials to hand out to the hospital staff and patients. The themes are always based on up to date information on food and exercise. This month is dedicated to Americans becoming well educated and more aware of healthy food choices, dietary guidelines and prevention of many disease that are attributed towards poor eating habits.

This year’s theme for March 2012 is “Get Your Plate in Shape.” Hospitals, schools and large corporations all get involved and try to promote National Nutrition Month® to the general public. The more people who can be reached, the better educated we all can be about what is placed into our bodies and promote better and longer lives be reached.

Most fast food restaurants over the last few years have openly posted the caloric intake of their foods to their consumers. This has helped the public make better informed choices to lowering their fat and cholesterol in their diets. Recently, I have read that they will also be offering smaller portion sizes at many of our nation’s fast food restaurants. No more “Biggie Sizes” for you!

I also want to mention that they also notice the Registered Dietitian on their own day during National Nutrition Month®. March 14th is Registered Dietitian Day. The purpose of this day is to bring the awareness and importance of the Registered Dietitian. They are advocates and experts on the proper way to eat and gain adequate nutrition in ones diet.

So, please make this March, 2012 a happy and healthy month.

Statins for Women

February 10, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Gender, Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Safety, Support

Friday, February 3, 2012 was National Wear Red Day to raise awareness for Women’s Heart Health. Although heart disease is often thought of as a problem for men, more women die of heart disease each year. The rise of heart disease in women increases with age. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in women over 40 years old. This is a result of changes in the walls of blood vessels, making it more likely for plaque and blood clots to form; changes in the level of fats in the blood, where the LDL or bad cholesterol increases and the HDL or good cholesterol decreases; and increases in fibrinogen levels, a substance in the blood that helps blood clot.

Women and their health care providers need to take the risk of heart disease in women seriously and take measures to reduce that risk. In the past the benefit of statins for women to reduce cardiovascular events has been questioned. Recent studies have proved otherwise. Statin therapy has been shown to cut cardiovascular events in both men and women, and statins should be prescribed in appropriate individuals regardless of gender. Individuals at risk taking statin drugs are less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, be hospitalized for chest pain, or require a cardiac procedure to restore blood flow to the heart. Women can reduce their risk for heart disease by quitting smoking; losing weight; exercising; following a diet low in saturated fats, high in fiber, whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables and fish; and treating and controlling medical conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Cholesterol lowering statin medications also continue to be studied for their potential preventive or therapeutic effect on Alzheimer’s disease. Lowering cholesterol levels may reduce production of beta-amyloid or improve blood vessel functioning in the brain. Statins also have an anti-inflammatory effect, which may target the brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies have suggested people who take a statin to lower LDL levels have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are a women with at least one risk factor for heart disease such as age, hypertension, high cholesterol levels or especially a family history, it is important to talk to your doctor about your heart disease risk and start statin therapy to help reduce your risk!

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The Hidden Disability

February 3, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Education, Eldercare, Health, Life, Tips

Hearing loss is a sudden or gradual decrease in how well you can hear. If you have hearing loss you may not be aware of it. It has been called the hidden disability. An individual with hearing loss will ask others to speak up, repeat what they say, or speak more slowly. Family and friends may notice you have trouble understanding them. It can gradually worsen over time and is easily ignored. As one’s hearing worsens, though, an individual may become increasingly frustrated and socially isolated.

Social isolation has been linked to depression and an increased risk of heart disease. Studies have also shown another major risk associated with hearing problems is dementia. New research suggests that the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwork the brain of individuals with hearing loss, leaving them more susceptible to dementia. Hearing loss could also lead to dementia by making individuals more socially isolated, a known risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders. Individuals who have a hard time hearing can’t follow conversations or respond to questions. They become frustrated and embarrassed, and begin to avoid socializing.

Common causes of hearing loss include noise, age related changes in the inner ear, injury to the ear, an ear infection or an object in the ear. Some common symptoms of hearing loss include muffled hearing, trouble understanding what people say, especially when there is background noise and listening to a television or radio at a higher volume. Noise induced or age related hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids. An audiologist will do tests to find out what kind of hearing loss you have, how severe it is and which part of the ear is affected. To prevent hearing loss, turn down the volume on anything you listen to through headphones, wear hearing protection when working around loud noises, avoid loud noise, avoid putting foreign objects in your ear and treat ear infections as soon as possible.

Individuals do not give hearing loss the same kind of attention they give hypertension or heart disease. Most accept hearing loss as an inevitable part of aging. It is time to take a more serious look at hearing loss. Urge individuals to get their hearing checked and if needed fitted with hearing aids to hear clearly again.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

New Healthy Information Found Within Apples

February 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Life, Research, Safety, Tips

My husband is in the food industry and gets many interesting articles sent to him via email. He also knows that, as a Geriatric Care Manager and a Registered Nurse, I am always looking for interesting topics to blog about; he’s well-informed that I usually blog about good, healthy and helpful food facts for elder adults. So, for this week he sent me a worthy article on the positive compound found within apples.

I once wrote a blog about white fruit, like apples, and the wonderful benefits that they attribute to helping with retaining memory. Now I have just learned and would like to share information that apples could reduce the risk of E.coli 0157:H7 infection and intestinal inflammation. In a study conducted by Dr. Jintae Lee of Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea and just recently published in The Journal of Infection and Immunology (Dec.2011), he and many researchers were able to show that the anti-oxidant compound from apples had anti-inflammatory properties and a reduced biofilm formation on the top of many cells in the colon that make the dangerous strain of E coli 0157:H7 unreceptive to antibiotics.

The compound is called Phloretin; it suppresses the effects of the bacteria Escherechia Coli(E.coli) 0157:H7 that comes from contaminated food. E coli 0157:H7 can cause hemorrhage in the intestines or the bacteria is so harmful it could even lead to kidney failure if medical treatment is not seeked early enough. There is no treatment for this food-borne bacteria which is resistant to antibiotic therapy. Elderly people and infants are especially susceptible for becoming critically ill from E coli. Jintae Lee also said the study results confirmed that Phloretin in apples has anti-imflammatory properties that the researchers found in the lab and in live colitis models. They stated that Phloretin was even stronger than a drug that is would be used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. I also researched that tomatoes are also linked to having this flavonoid Phloretin, but does not do the same job as the apple.

I now make sure I eat an apple a day to help keep the E.coli away!

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

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