It is well documented that exercise is beneficial to a person’s health. This is also true when we reach our later years in life. As a matter of fact, the exercise benefits for the elderly are astounding. Most senior citizens will see benefits from some form of exercise, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Water Exercise and Arthritis

One exercise in particular that can be beneficial is water aerobics or water walking. The beauty of working out in the water is that the water absorbs the pressure that would otherwise be disseminated to the joints. The exercise increases strength in the thighs, calves and arms and is highly recommended for people who suffer from arthritis.

Strengthen Your Heart!

For people with muscle problems, bone and join issues, performing water exercises regularly can lead to decreased pain as the muscles strengthen and are better able to support the body. In addition to strengthening joint and bone support, water aerobics also strengthens the most important muscle in our body – our heart!

A Natural Mood Lifter

Water exercise and exercise in general also has amazing psychological benefits as well. Exercise releases endorphins, which are the body’s “feel good” chemicals. These types of exercise classes are also a great way to get your loved one into a social situation.

It is never too late to introduce exercise into an elderly person’s regimen and when done sooner than later, all of these benefits can help your loved one maintain their independence longer. By being physically fit they will feel better physically and mentally. It’s really a win-win.

For more information on how water exercise can help those with arthritis please visit the Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org. You can find a wealth of information on the different types of water exercise, as well as AF sponsored classes in your area.

Arthritis is a painful disease that is an inflammation of the joints and has become one of the most common diseases in those over the age of 15. It has been proven that with early diagnosis the pain patients suffer from this disease can be better managed. Below are 5 things you should know about arthritis that can help you understand and perhaps manage the disease a little better.

• There are many types of arthritis. Most people think that there are only two forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While these may be the most commonly diagnosed, there are actually over 100 forms of the debilitating disease.
• Arthritis can be treated, but it cannot be cured. Unfortunately, modern science has not come up with a way to cure arthritis just yet. There are, however, many ways to treat arthritis both holistically and medically. Consult with your physician about your options for mobility and pain management choices.
• Arthritis is not just found in the elderly. Arthritis affects people of all ages and all walks of life; it is not a discriminatory disease. Juvenile arthritis is a form of arthritis found in children under the age of 18. Over  294,000 children are affected by this painful disease and there is no known cause.
• Early diagnosis is the key to managing arthritis. There is significant evidence that finds that early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis leads to a better response to medications. Delaying assessment for the disease can lead to joint damage later on.
• Living a healthy lifestyle can help you manage arthritis. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco products and alcohol and getting regular exercise are just a few of the lifestyle changes you can make to improve the management of arthritis. Getting enough vitamin C and keeping off the extra pounds that might produce stress on your joints are also beneficial.

As people get older it can sometimes become difficult for them to perform many of the daily tasks they used to do. Older adults have a higher risk for injury in the home than any other age group. Often, these adults are placed into living facilities designed to provide assistance when they need it. An alternative to choosing an assisted living facility is to use a home care service. There are several reasons why an in-home caregiver is better than an assisted living facility.

The Top Five Reasons why Home Care is Better than Assisted Living

Reason #1: The cost involved in hiring a caregiver vs relocating to a new dwelling.The units designed to provide care to their residents on a twenty-four hour basis are not rented for the same price as other apartments. These units charge anywhere from three thousand to seven thousand dollars a month depending on where they are located and what amenities are included. Home care can be scheduled around the needs of the individual, which greatly reduces the amount of money spent each month.

Reason #2: It is better to keep someone at home because they retain their sense of independence. People who feel they still have control over their surroundings are less likely to become depressed. Seniors who give up their homes often suffer from depression.

Reason #3: When people are in their own homes they can choose to invite friends over or socialize with family members without having restrictions. Assisted units have regulations their residents must adhere to when they move in, which can include the times they are allowed to entertain guests.

Reason #4: People who receive in-home care get personalized service. The type of care hired for in-home is often a nurse or nurse’s aid. This individual is hired to be there on a scheduled basis, which makes it easier for the senior they are providing care for to get to know them. Seniors are more responsive to people they know and feel comfortable with. The person providing the care also gets to know the adult on a one-to-one basis and can pick up on clues which can indicate something might be wrong.

Reason #5: Community involvement. Most older adults have set routines and know the people at their grocery store, bank and church. When they can remain in their own home, they are more likely to remain active in their community. An alert and active senior citizen is less likely to become ill than one who is not.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease and it accounts for fifty to eighty percent of the reported cases each year. Dementia is a progressive illness that slowly becomes more profound and more noticeable as the years go by. There are three distinctive stages that an Alzheimer’s patient can experience beginning with mild, then moderate, and finally degenerating to severe. The symptoms of each stage are easily identifiable and although the disease is not curable, there are medications and treatments that have been proven to slow the process and lesson the severity of the symptoms.

The first signs that you or a loved one will experience are those that one would expect to see in an aging person. The early signs may include but are not limited to being unaware of their environment when in a familiar place, having difficulty when handling money or conducting business like paying bills. Some patients have a harder time performing everyday activities or may take longer to do things they used to do in a short time. Confusion is a symptom as well; sometimes a patient may misplace everyday items such as putting the iron in the freezer, or display lack of good judgment by dressing for warmth during the peak of summer. In the mild beginning stage, a loved one may show signs of personality change or sudden mood changes.

As the patient progresses to the moderate stage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s becomes increasingly more pronounced. The symptoms and signs to observe range from more acute memory loss and a greater amount of general confusion during situations that should be everyday and routine for them. It is at this stage that a patient suffering from dementia may exhibit difficulties recognizing family members or close friends. The individual may become complacent in regards to their personal hygiene and appearance as multi-stepped tasks become more difficult.  In this stage, the sufferer may repeat stories and favorite sayings or expressions more than usual. At this point combination therapy should be considered because studies have shown that a combination of two major medications have slowed or lessened the effects of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s.

If or when an Alzheimer’s patient reaches the severe stage, full-time care will be necessary. This can be the most difficult and heart-breaking point for friends and family to undergo because the patient will no longer have any sustainability as far as recognizing loved ones or themselves. There will be an inability to communicate either verbally or in writing, the patient will be sadly reduced to groaning, grunting, and moaning. The severe stage is also typically accompanied by a loss of bladder and bowel control, accidents become more frequent.

With the right combination of medication and therapy, Alzheimer’s disease can be treated but not cured. Combination therapy has been proven to slow the rate of decline in patients loosing thinking power, behavioral nuances, and functionality. It is important to maintain a constant vigilance over loved ones in order to catch the disease at a manageable stage while being careful not to misdiagnose the symptoms as general signs of aging.