This week on Aging with Grace LA, We’ll discuss, Simple health tips for Caregivers. Symptoms of Hypertension. Viewer questions. And the inside scoop on Antioxidants!

Episode Transcription

Intro:
This week on Aging with Grace LA, We’ll discuss, Simple health tips for Caregivers. Symptoms of Hypertension. Viewer questions. And the inside scoop on Antioxidants! I’m Rochelle and this is Aging with Grace LA, your leading source of information for thriving during the third act of life.

CAREGIVER CONNECTION:

Because the people being cared for and their families trust us to keep them safe and healthy it is important for caregivers to be diligent when it comes to preventing the passing of infection to patients. Something as simple as remembering to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with warm water and soap. Scrubbing your hands and wrist vigorously for at least one minute. Wearing gloves when handling infectious or potentially infectious items like blood, wounds or any type of bodily fluid is always a good idea in infection prevention. Wash and/or dispose of infectious materials properly including needles or any other sharp objects. And although it may seem obvious, clean any and all spills thoroughly.

Quick Trivia

Do you know which country’s population has the longest life expectancy?
A. Okinawa Japan
B. Andorra, Pyrenees (Pier-a-knees)
C. St. Croix, US Virgin Island

The Answer is the residents of Andorra, a tiny nation in the Pyrenees located between Spain and France have an average life expectancy of 83.5.

Health Matters: Symptoms of Hypertension

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a chronic medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Forcing the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the blood vessels. One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. Generally there are no symptoms of high blood pressure so nearly one third of people who have it are unaware. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if high blood pressure runs in your family.

Here are a few signs you may want to keep an eye out for:
• Severe headaches
• Fatigue or confusion
• Vision Issues
• Chest Pain
• Difficulty Breathing
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in your chest, neck or ears

If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. You could be having a hypertensive crisis. Untreated hypertension can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and eye problems.

Viewers Asked:

Michelle B. of Santa Monica asks, My parents are getting up in years and although they are still pretty active, I feel like I should begin the process of researching senior care options but I don’t know what to do or where to start.

Well Michelle, there are lots of options when it comes to senior care and we strongly recommend researching to determine what works best for you and your family. Most people thrive when they can stay in their home as long as possible. In-home care support from a good agency is a great option to alleviate stress.

Depending on your parents level of mobility there are:
• Independent Living Facilities
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Secured Assisted Living Facilities (for Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care)
• Skilled Nursing Facilities or Nursing Homes
• Continues Care Retirement Communities
• In-Home Care
• Home Health Care
• Adult Day Care
• Hospice Care

Health and Wellness:

Healthy living and eating will become increasingly important as we get older and studies have shown antioxidants can play a positive role in this quest. Antioxidants are known to combat and to some degree reverse the damage to skin and tissue over time. They encourage the collagen production, which keeps the skin smooth and supple. As well as play a role in disease control like preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which helps keep the coronary arteries free of life threatening plaque. Antioxidants are also attributed with helping prevent cancer and helping your body get the most nutrients from your food when it breaks it down.

Here are a few food suggestions to integrate into your diet to maximize antioxidants:

1. Carrots: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant. Steam carrots if raw ones are too crunchy.
2. Spinach: Raw and cooked spinach are both good sources of lutein.
3. Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are soft and have lots of beta-carotene and Vitamin A. Be careful of extra sugary yams, however.
4. Tomatoes: Eat tomatoes to get the antioxidant lycopene.
5. Blueberries: Blueberries are considered good brain food and are rich in antioxidants

Note: For the sake of time I would suggest posting the 7 tips on screen instead of having the host read them.

Senior Spotlight:

World class athlete Don Pellman holds four U.S. track records including the 100-meter dash as well as four world records. Although Pellman did high jump in college he didn’t really get involved with organized sports until he was 58 years old. In an effort to stay active after retirement he took up track and field and began quickly moving up the ranks. And at 96 years young there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for Don Pellman.

:12 Senior Activity Center: And here is what’s happening in your neighborhood.
Glassell Park Senior Citizen Center
3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065
323.257.1863

Senior Computer Classes –
These classes offer participants an opportunity to become familiar with computer terminology by exploring functions of the Windows Operating System.
Mondays/Tuesdays 9:30am – 11:00am
Wednesdays/Thursdays 9:30am – 11:00am
01/09/2012 – 03/15/2012
For a complete Calendar of events check us out on-line.

Outro:

Well it looks like our time has come to a close… Thanks for joining me for this week’s episode of Aging with Grace LA. This edition of Aging with Grace LA was brought to you by Live Well Home Care LA’s leading provider of in home care services in the Los Angeles area. For more episodes please check us out online at www.livewellhomecareinc.com.