Senior Health in Lincoln, NE

Making sure your elderly loved ones remain in good health throughout their aging process is definitely not a one-person job. It is common knowledge that as one gets older, health problems and health risks increase, making alertness to possible issues and awareness of the resources in place to help with those both critical to maintaining the best quality of life possible. Luckily for seniors in the Lincoln community and their family members, there are numerous businesses that tailor their offerings to any number of health-related items that come up in an elderly individual’s life and are there to help whenever and however needed.

While illness and disease are both unfortunately epidemics found commonly in the older generation, a major issue that causes more of a drastic change in life than one would think is falling. When an elderly individual falls, a hospital visit generally ensues to see if something is broken. The next step would be a rehabilitation center in an attempt to get back to normal depending on the gravity of the injuries sustained; however, it really depends on a host of issues in regards to whether or not “normal” happens again for them. The team at Legacy Retirement Communities focuses on fall prevention and recommends that seniors get involved in a fitness and wellness program along with exercising on a regular basis in order to maintain strength and mobility.

In addition to paying attention to fall prevention, T.J. Niehaus of The Legacy (www.LegacyRetirement.com) also explains that they place a lot of focus on providing opportunities for socialization, as it too has specific health benefits for seniors.

“It is so important for seniors to get out and get involved through activities, volunteer work, or just taking the opportunity to engage with those in the community, friends, and loved ones. The more you move around and are active, the healthier you will be, even if it is just getting together to play cards or Wii bowling.”

Living arrangements play a key role in overall health and wellness, particularly as we’ve already mentioned with avoiding falls and isolation. When it comes to senior living options that are available, it’s important to keep in mind for future planning purposes that the baby boomers are coming. While crowding could possibly be an issue, which will likely be addressed with more facilities being built to accommodate the growing population of seniors, we just never know what the future holds. Being proactive and knowledgeable will allow your loved ones to live each stage of their life in the most comfortable way and closest to the way that they would choose for themselves. Yet, it is really important that seniors go out and go on visits to assisted care facilities if that is decided as the best option for them and their continued wellbeing.

Niehaus urges, “Take tours and ask a lot of questions. It is important that you and your loved one see the potential communities for yourselves, checking out the amenities offered by each along with the opportunities they provide in the critical areas of lifestyle enrichment, transportation, events and activities, wellness programs, types of nursing and care services, housekeeping and maintenance options, and dining options–food is a major concern with seniors, largely because of taste preferences and diet restrictions. One of my top recommendations is to talk to the residents and staff that you see in the halls and ask them what they like about where they live and work and why. Open communication allows you to truly gauge whether or not it would be a good fit.”

Hearing loss is another health issue to pay attention to as your loved ones get older, even though it can happen at any age. This is especially due to the fact that it takes approximately seven years for someone to admit that they have hearing loss. Audiologist Dr. Leslie Frank of Nebraska Hearing Center (www.NebraskaHearingCenter.com) explains, “During that time, it is very likely for that person to slowly withdraw from social activities because it is easier to stay home than to deal with distorted conversations. At Nebraska Hearing Center, we encourage all adults to have their hearing tested annually. Once a baseline is set, you can then monitor any changes. We take away all excuses because hearing evaluations at Nebraska Hearing Center are free!”

What’s more, recent studies from John Hopkins show that hearing loss may play a role in dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Certain areas of the brain are used to process sound and speech. According to the study, when those areas of the brain are not being used, it may lead to dementia.

In order for the elderly to keep a comfortable lifestyle, some adjustments can be made to prevent hearing loss. Wearing earplugs while vacuuming, mowing the yard, or attending concerts can really benefit a person no matter how old or young. The staff at Nebraska Hearing Center encourages seniors in particular to treat their hearing as they would treat any other annual check-up, which is one of the main reasons for the free hearing evaluations. Of the many reasons why this might be avoided, there’s a common misconception that hearing devices are still bulky and unattractive, but those have long since become a thing of the past. Because technology is ever-changing the world of hearing, there are so many new devices that feature wireless technology and are barely visible. This technology also allows for phone calls, music, and television to stream directly into one’s hearing aid along with its central function of greatly improving sound clarity. Nebraska Hearing Center’s clients have reported noticing quite a difference when in meetings, noisy places, or while at church. A new tinnitus device is also available for clients who have had ringing in their ears for years, effectively eliminating the noise altogether.

Back to paying attention to your loved one’s potential loss of hearing, signs to watch for include: *Your loved one seems to be able to hear what you’re saying but can’t understand the conversation. *The person overuses the word “what”. *The television is too loud for the average person but not loud enough for the senior. *They have trouble understanding a conversation in a noisy environment, such as a restaurant. *The person mentions a ringing in their ears. Statistics show that one third of all Nebraskans have hearing challenges and over half are over the age of 85. It is important to get your loved one into a doctor if they are having trouble hearing the telephone or television. Hearing loss can be caused by a number of things such as by the aging process, ear wax build-up, or exposure to loud noises over long periods of time.

Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDHH) is another excellent resource in our community to reach out to for anything hearing-related. “There are a number of devices that can help you, but it depends on the situation,” explains John Wyvill of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (www.ncdhh.ne.gov). “Some common solutions that we have seen include hearing aids and a number of assistive technology devices that we can recommend. In addition to working with an audiologist, as the fitting of a hearing aid may take a couple of months, make sure to choose a hearing aid that has the feature that you need–every individual has different needs. There are also a number of assistive technology devices that NCDHH can recommend to support you around the home or workplace. Our team can help find one that works best, at no cost to you. There are alerts for doorbells, smoke detectors, and alarm clocks that can give you a signal that you can see or a vibration that you can feel. A flashing light at home, for example, can signal someone at the door or someone on the phone.”

Another common issue for seniors that can seriously affect their health is not properly or correctly taking medications. This can exacerbate an existing issue and also create new ones. There are several options available to seniors and their families to ensure medications are taken when and how they are prescribed. Automated medication dispensers or having medications set up by a pharmacy in weekly pill boxes are two great options. However, for those who are experiencing memory loss or mobility issues, perhaps what is needed is having someone there to make sure the medications are taken. Care Consultants for the Aging can help by setting up one hour visits throughout the day. This ensures proper medicating, while also providing companionship and socialization. In fact, they can connect those in the community with any number of senior services to help fill in the gaps so that everything is going according to plan.

Elaborating on key lifestyle adjustments seniors can make to have a positive impact on their health and wellness, Dana Rothfuss of Care Consultants for the Aging (CareConsultants.com) advises, “As we age, isolation becomes more common. Trying to encourage the elders in your life to engage in social activities will help build their support system and aid in avoiding isolation. Caregivers can be utilized to take seniors to events if needed and the local senior center offers many activities and often meals to those who attend. If your loved one can get their legal and financial affairs in order, it will go far in making any health and long term care decision easier. Having an awareness of what the government offers also will help in utilizing the benefits that are available to your loved one.”

Care Consultants for the Aging produces the ElderCare Resource Handbook, which offers a complete list of senior services in Lincoln and Omaha areas. It is organized into five main categories and can help when you need to research senior care options for your loved ones. The handbook is published every two years and can be viewed online for free at www.CareConsultants.com, or is available for purchase at the Lincoln and Omaha offices.

As previously mentioned, finding a way to stay active on a regular basis is a common struggle for seniors and yet a critical component of staying healthy and well. Developing a regular fitness routine that combines cardiovascular conditioning with strength training is vital in reducing a person’s risk for developing secondary health conditions. Cardiovascular training helps in reducing a person’s risk for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. Strength training helps maintain good joint and bone health by increasing bone density, which helps protect people from fractures. When assisted living or a higher level of care becomes necessary later in life it is also recommended to have a professional assist in developing a fitness program that is safe and appropriate to produce the best results with the least risk of injury. Proactive Solution, Inc. offers onsite physical therapists with extensive knowledge in assisting with programs of this type, along with a nutritionist, personality counselor, and personal trainer to keep clients on track for their long term wellbeing. The key is having high level health professionals consult with the person’s caregivers or the onsite team at the assisted living facility whenever possible.

Katie Tiedeman of Proactive Solutions Inc. also explains that along with the attention to physical fitness, other components of one’s wellbeing should also be taken into consideration. “The focus should always be on the total individual; mind, body, and soul. Our team keys in on the most important factor for seniors, which is ‘purpose.’ We then design a program that helps them fulfill their purpose in life and is supported by our professional team.”

Seniors often fall subject to a lifestyle with decreased physical activity, and that can be due to a variety of circumstances. Sometimes this is related to underlying health matters and sometimes it is simply a result of a slower-paced life. Either way, the decrease in physical activity can often lead to several undesirable health issues such as increased arthritic pain, heart and vascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Decreased physical activity also weakens a person’s immune system, making them more susceptible to illnesses like pneumonia. In today’s world retirement is coming later in life for many and as such, the senior population in the workforce is larger than ever. So that being said, it’s important to note that although people are considered “senior citizens” once they hit a certain age, they are not all to be written off as low functioning adults. This population brings with them a vast amount of knowledge and experience and Proactive Solutions values their contribution and strives to keep their senior clientele healthy in any workforce activity, partnering with companies to customize wellness plans that reduce risk for seniors developing new medical conditions. They also help their clients learn how to manage any underlying health conditions to ensure the greatest productivity and job satisfaction possible.

Christy Merritt of The Waterford Communities (TheWaterford.net) further explains that staying active does not necessarily have to be going through a hard workout day-to-day. “For most seniors, staying active both mentally and physically is beneficial. Where most people get confused is in regards to the best ways for seniors to stay active. They do not have to run a marathon or do anything ridiculously challenging; they are benefitting by simply doing thought-provoking activities. This can include things like writing a letter, going for a walk, and even reading a classic book. By doing activities that are appealing to both the mind and body they are still benefitting health-wise.”

Larry Gadeken of Guardian Angels For Our Elders (www.guardian-angels.us) adds, “By encouraging the seniors we work with to get involved in whatever sparks their interest, we find that they are more apt to retain an active and enjoyable lifestyle and they smile a lot more. This brings them both internal and social joy. At the same time, with the companionship we provide we are also working towards preventing potential risks that can be recognized early, finding ways to address them ahead of time before it is too late. We urge our clients to keep moving and keep the saying ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ close to heart. We see a lot of seniors fighting to keep their independence, but isolating themselves at the same time, and they don’t often realize that it could have negative effects on their health and wellbeing until the damage is done. It’s truly never too late to get out and get involved in something that adds meaning to your life!”

Mobility issues can affect quality of life in many ways, particular when it becomes difficult to get around the house safely. Home modification is an excellent way to remove any barriers or hazards that exist so that the senior can continue to age in place. “A person’s needs may change in any number of ways that would necessitate modification to their living environment,” says Joe Frey of Triumph Home Health Supplies (TriumphHomeHealth.com). “If stairs become too difficult to climb, a vertical platform may be necessary to move from one floor to another. Even small door thresholds can pose issues, whether it’s a trip-and-fall incident or impassable for those in walkers and wheelchairs, and there are several ways to go about eliminating that problem in order to allow for safe access to all areas of the home.

With the importance of regular activity to preserving good health, while scooters and power mobility devices have become rather ubiquitous in recent years, they don’t encourage strengthening of muscles needed to keep bone density up and the body functioning. The old adage of ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’ holds true with our body, so moderation is key if at all possible.”

He further advises, “Even for someone at any age who is considering building a new home, I always encourage looking beyond today for your needs in the future. If you will need to use a wheelchair 10-15 years down the road, does the design of your home accommodate this? As one example, Zero Threshold shower bases are great and give a very modern look while providing easy access for those with mobility issues. European shower room designs will allow for better room function when caregivers need to be involved in aids to daily living (ADL’s), such as bathing. Stop in to Triumph and talk with our friendly staff about what works, what’s new, or how different approaches may solve current issues.”

As the goal for many seniors, no matter what in most instances, is to maintain their independence for as long as possible, Amy Fish of Lancaster Rehabilitation Center (Lancasterrc.com) also advises, “It is important for seniors to ask for assistance early on in order to stay independent for as long as possible. Simple things like in-home services for chores or medical check-ups, Meals on Wheels, or assistance with transportation are all beneficial services that help seniors retain their independence. Another valuable tip is to stay socially engaged. Volunteer, participate in community groups, and even invite friends to come over for a visit. It is important to retain a healthy mind, body, and spirit.”

As the advice for seniors and their loved ones to take all aspects of personal wellbeing into account are echoed by all of the professionals, it’s safe to say that it’s a big takeaway in regards to maintaining good health throughout the aging process. Beth Friesen of Oasis Senior Advisors (www.Lincoln.OasisSeniorAdvisors.com) puts the keys to keeping positive health for seniors in three simple steps. “I believe the three most positive elements that seniors can incorporate into their lifestyles include: social stimulation such as friendships, outings, and support networks, physical activity such as exercise classes, gardening, walking or even dancing with an emphasis on incorporating at least a couple of days of strength training a week, and a healthy diet which contains an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish, along with reducing simple carbohydrates, saturated fats, and processed food all with plenty of water.”

While it’s a scary prospect to consider at any age, you never know when a health condition will strike, so an emergency plan is always advisable too. When it comes to remaining independent and aging in place, along with keeping everything in balance and taking measures to continue leading a healthy lifestyle, even simple technology can make all the difference should the senior be faced with an emergency situation and need help. For example, AlarmLink USA provides security and emergency systems that are wonderful for seniors who are able to continue living in their own homes. The AlarmLink Medical Alert is especially popular among seniors, and truly is a life saver. RJ Lipert of AlarmLink USA (www.AlarmlinkUSA.com) explains, “We have an array of products and services that can be tailored to fit the needs and lifestyles of seniors. Our most popular of those is the Personal Emergency Reporting System, which is a supervised wireless emergency reporting product. The transmitter is convertible, meaning that we can install it in a wristband or a pendant in addition to options for table-top or wall-mount consoles. This system offers 24/7 emergency monitoring by our staff, 2-way voice capabilities, smoke detection, and it’s also waterproof. At AlarmLink USA, we take great pride in knowing that we play a role in keeping seniors safe and secure in their home, wherever that may be. We would be happy to provide more information on the various options for seniors and a free estimate on any of these products.”

While there are so many things one can do to positively influence health and wellbeing at any age, the unfortunate truth is that our health is sure to decline at some point no matter how well we take care of ourselves. Therefore, thinking about end-of-life choices today can improve a senior individual’s quality of life in the future while also easing the burden on family. Although these are tough topics to bring up, discussing your wishes with loved ones and following through by ensuring all necessary items in place is a must.

Jodi Freeman of Roper and Sons Funeral Services (www.RoperAndSons.com) advises, “Planning early and maintaining your estate plan and will, financial affairs, healthcare wishes, and end of life plans are essential. As we age and our lives change, so do our priorities. Plans made in prior years may change for a number of reasons; therefore, keeping them up-to-date is key. It is also essential to plan for these things when our mental capacity is strong because once we begin to care for one who is declining, proper planning can become a challenge. Besides being challenging, questions about mental or physical capacity can draw criticism and concerns about the validity of your plans, potentially leading to arguments and disregard of the plans, and even legal implications.”

In addition to servicing a funeral for a loved one of yours, Roper and Sons offers several events each month that provide all sorts of health and wellness information and support resources to the community. Their “Topic Breakfast” has been held each month for well over ten years, bringing in a variety of speakers to share information on physical, emotional, and financial health, along with a wide variety of other interesting and timely topics. They also host an annual health fair and offer grief support programs that are open to the entire community. All of their events are free and open to the public, with the exception of Art with Anna, which is a part of their grief program.

Along the same lines, Deb Maguire of HoriSun Hospice (www.HoriSunHospice.com) also advises, “The most common issue that we see at HoriSun Hospice is that someone’s loved one is being admitted to hospice care and their family is unaware of their wishes at the end of life. We plan everything in our lives from our wedding day, the birth of our children, our vacations, and even what we will have to eat at lunch, but often we see no one wants to plan for their end of life. We need to plan how the end of our will be and what is important to us as we travel this last journey.”

As many seniors would agree, feeling your best today is most likely different than what it once was in your younger years. Part of living a life of wellness means embracing those differences and choosing options that will help make YOU happiest, both now and in the future. Some keys to living a long, healthy life include: making healthful lifestyle choices (not smoking), eating right, practicing good hygiene, reducing stress in your life, having a positive outlook, staying as active as possible (mentally and physically), taking safety precautions, seeing your healthcare provider regularly, and following his or her recommendations for screening and preventative measures.

The healthcare continuum as we age is set up to address just about any issue that could possibly arise along the way, so there’s no problem that will come up to which an answer can’t be found. This by far is one of the most important things to keep in mind as you navigate through life’s twists and turns. With so many different offerings to choose from in the Lincoln area, one shouldn’t have to settle for anything less than what best meets his or her needs either. After all, good health is directly linked to quality of life, and that is the ultimate goal with all of the days we are afforded.