Senior Living

BURLINGAME — One of the greatest risks to the health and wellness of elderly individuals is social isolation. The loneliness that stems from isolation can lead to both mental and physical consequences, including:

• Decline in cognitive performance and higher risk of dementia

• Increase in re-hospitalization

• Higher risk of developing depression

• Heightening of blood pressure

• Engaging in unhealthy habits such as poor diet and exercise

To combat these detrimental effects, it’s crucial for seniors to get plenty of social interaction. If you’re planning to relocate your elderly loved one to an assisted living facility, make sure you choose one that prioritizes social interaction and engages its residents in regular activities. Read more

BURLINGAME — Everyone knows exercise is important, but this doesn’t cease to be true in one’s elder years. In fact, beginning a daily exercise routine can help your loved one relieve pain and regain strength. Furthermore, functional fitness exercises can train their muscles to work together, preparing them for daily tasks by simulating common movements in daily life.

Here are a few of the benefits daily exercise provides:

Physical

• Makes everyday activities easier and improves quality of life

• Improves balance, agility and muscle strength

• Reduces the risk of injury or falls

• Can alleviate the effects of osteoporosis

Psychological

• Improves memory retrieval and visual-motor performance

• Alleviates feelings of frustration, Read more

Burlingame – California’s Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act went into effect on January 1, 2016. Designed to combat elder abuse in home care settings, the act implements new requirements for agencies that provide nonmedical residential care services. Here are a few of the requirements:

•  Any home care aide working for an agency must be entered into a state registry, a process that includes fingerprinting and a full background check. Registered home care aides must update their information every two years.

•  Home care agencies must be licensed with the state, certifying their compliance with basic standards. Agencies that fail to comply may be fined $900 per day and face civil action. Read more

BURLINGAME — When creating a safe at-home living environment for an elderly loved one, it’s important to take additional measures to prevent falls. Since falls commonly happen at night, one of the best ways to do this is to maximize nighttime visibility. Make sure there’s a lamp or light switch within easy reach of the person’s bed, and keep hallways well-lit with a night light or other source of illumination.

Even with adequate lighting, falls can still occur if tripping hazards are present, which is why it’s crucial to keep the floor clear of unnecessary clutter, as well as items like decorative rugs. If the person uses a walker, keep it near the bed for easy access for nighttime bathroom visits. Read more

BURLINGAME — Host, Sarah Rutan: For an elderly person planning to age in place, an important consideration is creating a safe home environment. Today we’re in Burlingame Jamie Peraza appearing on the behalf of Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Vivian Huddleston to learn about one crucial aspect of at home safety.

Diamond Certified Guest Contributor, Jamie Peraza: Many times our clients ask us what they can do to prevent falls at home. And what we like to recommend is to have a lamp or a light switch near their bed for when they wake up, to always keep the hallways well-lit and illuminated. We tell our clients to get rid of any rugs or to remove any inconvenient objects from the floor that may cause them to fall. Read more

SAN RAFAEL — Host, Sarah Rutan: Improving the safety of your bathroom and bedroom is important when caring for the elderly. Today, we’re in Tiburon with Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Debra Allen of Marin Convalescent & Rehabilitation Hospital to hear more.

Diamond Certified Expert Contributor, Debbie Allen: One of the most common problems with the elderly is trip and falls, and also mobility issues. We have removed rugs from the bathroom because that’s one of the most common places for them to trip. And then also, we have installed grab bars. You can have a local contractor install them for you. And this is one way for them to easily get on and off the toilet. Read more

TIBURON — Nowadays, many elderly adults are opting to stay at home rather than move to assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. If this is the case with your loved one, your most important consideration should be creating a safe living environment within the home.

Statistically, more people are injured in their bathrooms than in any other room, so that’s a good place to start. First, remove all rugs and mats—they can cause an elderly person to trip. Install grab bars in the shower and alongside the bathtub and toilet to make these fixtures safely accessible. Finally, if you have a low toilet seat, purchase an adjustable seat riser to accommodate accessibility needs. Read more