Kitchen Comforts
From Aged Care New Zealand Issue 2 2021
 
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably

Preparing meals in a kitchen is not without peril, especially for older adults.  What the majority of us take for granted can become dangerous for the elderly with heated surfaces, knives, heavy cookware and upscale electrical appliances that require some skill to operate.
 
No matter how much one wants to protect an ageing person, independent living means that the senior will be cooking in the kitchen and using appliances.  The kitchen is typically the hub of the home, and many seniors genuinely enjoy cooking.  Taking that freedom away is often emotionally devastating.
 
Taking intentional action to minimise the risk of accident or illness is not just common sense – for everyone's sake – and revisiting safety tips for the kitchen is never a waste of time.
 
 First off, the kitchen should have ample lighting, especially next to the stove, to keep seniors from tripping, spilling hot foods, or even adding the wrong ingredients to their recipes.

​Spillage
 
Water is often a problem in the kitchen - possible issues include spilled water from the sink, leaking refrigerators and pipe leaks.  Spilled water can make the kitchen floors slippery, so nonslip mats should be placed below the sink and in front of the oven – the areas where spills are most likely to occur.  Clutter can also cause seniors to trip or accidently drop items, resulting in injury.
 
Older adults should also make a habit of closing all drawers and cabinets after opening them to get items such as ingredients and utensils for creating their meals.  If doors and drawers are left open, seniors can easily run into them and get painful bruises.
 
Being careful with cookware
 
When cooking, seniors need to remember to turn each pot handle so that they are not hanging over the edge of the stove and able to be bumped or tipped over. It is safest to use pans or pots with handles on both sides for cooking provided they are cautious about handles being heated by another burner.  Ageing adults should also make sure oven mitts and potholders are easily accessible to prevent burns.
 
Many new stove models also come equipped with a stove top light that lets a person know that the stove’s surface is too hot to safely touch.

Keep items within easy reach
 
Ageing adults need to get out of the habit of climbing or standing on a chair in the kitchen to reach items, which could cause them to lose their balance and injure themselves. To prevent this, seniors should keep the kitchen items they use most often within easy reach.  Also, they should store heavy items on a counter or at waist level, because bending over to get a heavy item on a lower shelf or grabbing something weighty from a higher one could cause a strained back.
  
Thwart foodborne illness
 
Ageing adults should take preventative measures to make sure the food they’re cooking is safe and won’t cause them to get sick. If a senior has poor vision or is just forgetful, they may ingest expired food.  Eating food past its expiration date can be a hazard.
 
When preparing meals, they should use different cutting boards for meat and other types of food.  To make it less confusing, they can use a red cutting board for slicing meat and a green one for chopping vegetables.  After a meal, seniors should also put any leftovers in sealed containers and refrigerate immediately.
  
Bug infestations
 
Seniors who have a lot of clutter or food lying around may experience ants, rodents, roaches or other insects that can contaminate food.  They can cause seniors to get sick if not taken care of properly.
 
Prevent fires
 
Kitchen fires are a common occurrence in homes occupied by elderly residents. Seniors are often forgetful and may leave the stove on.  Fire can also accidently erupt if a dishcloth or paper towel inadvertently touches a hot burner.
 
It’s a good idea to have an oven or stove shutoff switch installed, which turns off the appliance if it’s left unattended.  Installing a shutoff can avert an accidental fire.  A warning will also be sent to a friend or family member if the oven is left unattended for too long.  Seniors should also consider installing a lifesaving monitored smoke detector in the kitchen that sounds an alarm and calls the local fire department.
 
Microwaves do not pose the significant fire danger of a stove top.  It is a relatively safe way for an ageing individual to quickly and efficiently cook an entire meal.  However, above the stove microwaves can pose some threats.  If a senior has to reach to get food out of the microwave, there is a higher risk of hot or heavy items falling on the senior.
 
Kitchen aids
 
Kitchen items that help a senior continue to live independently in a safe environment are an ideal addition to any person’s home during their golden years.
 
Arthritis and ageing often make opening a jar difficult, if not impossible.  A jar opener is a handy kitchen gadget that helps open jars without straining or hurting hands.  A simple tool like this can help seniors feel more confident in the kitchen.

​Kitchen aids
 
Kitchen items that help a senior continue to live independently in a safe environment are an ideal addition to any person’s home during their golden years.
 
Arthritis and ageing often make opening a jar difficult, if not impossible.  A jar opener is a handy kitchen gadget that helps open jars without straining or hurting hands.  A simple tool like this can help seniors feel more confident in the kitchen.
 
A senior can also sustain a severe cut from the metal lid of a can.  However, there are can openers that open a can efficiently without leaving a sharp edge.  This prevents seniors from accidently cutting themselves.  Automatic openers can also help seniors with arthritis.
 
For seniors who still want to prepare meals but have health conditions that make cooking alone unsafe, a professional caregiver can be a great resource.  Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably.
 
Many seniors love to use their kitchens and having the help of a professional caregiver can ensure they’re able to do so safely.  When considering in-home care, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy.  Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
 
 
 
Ref:  Aged Care New Zealand Issue 2 2021

​The statistics are familiar: each year, one in three people aged 65 or older will fall, and falls are the second leading cause of death among older adults.  The National Institutes of Health, state, and local agencies have published volumes of information about the perils of elders’ falls, but no comprehensive, feasible program to prevent falls has emerged.  There is little excitement or consistency in the programs, and many produce lackluster results.
 
Of course, we understand the risks.  But often, despite the statistics and our best efforts at motivation, many older adults make little or no effort to exercise or adopt physical activity.  So, where do we go from here?
 
The answer lies in education.  In addition to identifying elders at risk of falling, it’s important to emphasise the proactive solutions that can be effective.  There are scientifically researched tools available that can help significantly reduce the incidence of falls.
 
Among the major causes of falls are: environmental, such as home trip hazards or electrical wires, footstools, elevated thresholds, and uneven outdoor terrain, including sidewalks and curbs; vestibular problems’ neuropathy and other diseases; diet; physiological problems affecting ankles, feet, knees, and hips; muscle deterioration; and obesity.
 
Most agree that exercise, particularly weight resistance, presents the best option for older adults.  However, many older adults who would benefit from such training are strangers to lifting weights or running on treadmills.  For individuals in the 80s, this form of training was not widespread years ago and health clubs offering such exercises simply weren’t in existence.  But there are alternatives.

hole body vibration
As early as the 1970s, the East Germans and Russians were experimenting with technology that came to be known as whole body vibration (WBV).  Basically, it involved a metal platform to adjust involuntarily in order to achieve balance, WBV also caused the muscles to fire at different frequencies, thereby taxing muscle strength.
 
At first, the technology was used to train athletes, improving coordination, muscle growth, and calorie burn.  During that era, the Soviets found that this new technology could be used during orbital space flight for their cosmonauts to combat the ravages of weightlessness, which caused muscle and bone density platforms and held on with straps.  Concurrently, American astronauts had to abort long-term space flights because of the deleterious effects of extended weightlessness and often had to be carried on stretchers after disembarking from the capsules.
 
Evolving technology
Throughout the 1990s, WBV technology took flight in Europe; many universities and medical establishments began to quantify its results.  Numerous studies were commissioned and most of the early studies emanated from Europe.
 
Around 2000, the technology was introduced to the United States via trade shows specific to the fitness industry and directed to, for example, health clubs.  There was a barrier to market entry through that means of distribution, as fitness devotees refused to believe that a few minutes on a WBV platform could deliver benefits similar to those achieved in an hour on traditional fitness equipment.
 
However, the concept ultimately took hold in universities and physical therapy clinics, and hundreds of additional studies were conducted to understand the benefits of WBV and how it could benefit various segments of the population.  The conclusions on its benefits included the following:

• With respect to health, WBV reduced pain caused by arthritis, neuropathies, and other maladies; halted the effects of osteoporosis and built bone density: boosted circulation and the cardiovascular system; increased metabolism; improved balance and coordination; and accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration.
• In the area of fitness, it built stronger muscles; increased flexibility and range of motion; and decreased recovery time from exercising.
• With regard to wellness, WBV improved the feeling of well-being and increased serotonin production; improved the quality of life; reduced lower back pain; and decreased stress levels.

​These results were achieved through WBV’s causation of the following responses:

• muscular contractions;
• involuntary neuromuscular stretch reflex;
• tendon, ligament, and cartilage stimulation;
• hormonal response promotion; and
• small twitch muscle fibre exercise as body sought to balance.

 
About 10 years ago, competitors attempted to enter the market.  Fast-forward to 2015 when researchers identified a new demographic that could benefit from WBV.  It appeared ideally suited for the older adult population for the following reasons:

• They don’t want to spend the time or are incapable of doing formal exercise;
• They respond to the benefits and feel of WBV almost immediately, and are then motivated to continue the exercise routine;
• WBV is relatively easy and safe with stable vibe platforms, particularly with falls as a concern;
• Benefits can be achieved in as little as three times per week and 10 to 15 minutes per session, even by simply standing on the platform; and
• Recent research demonstrates that WBV can help alleviate the pain and suffering caused by fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, neuropathy, back pain, chronic fatigue, and many chronic diseases and conditions.

 
Measuring program success
How is this success measured in terms of fall prevention?  There are several means of testing individuals’ likelihood of falling, and a variety of balance-testing assessments.
 
The fear of falling plays a role in fall risk as well.  By utilizing specific measurement tools, a practitioner can advise older adults regarding the following:

• In what direction is he or she most likely to fall?
• Is he or she in a high risk of falling category?
• What are the limits of sway in each direction before a fall is likely?
• How is weight distributed from right to left leg?
• How does vision, particularly in low light conditions affect his or her balance?
• How does he or she fare on uneven or perturbed surfaces?

 
A new device features insole sensors that relay to the practitioner real-time information regarding walking patterns, balance, and sway with dynamic rather than static measurements.  A Bluetooth relay switch attached to the shoestrings sends the information to an iPad for recording the results.
 
Early diagnosis provides older adults and their physicians or practitioners detailed information about individuals’ fall and likelihood so recommendations on training, medication, diet, physical therapy, and other corrective measures can be made.  This new science has augmented, if not surpassed, the merits of casual observation such as sit-to-stand, get-up and go, and other subjective observational tests.
 
Other helpful devices
Once older adults experience a fall or a near miss, they frequently stop moving in favour of sitting, for fear that their next move might lead to a catastrophic break of limb, hip, or skull.  This results in weight gain, muscle loss, and balance deterioration, the expected physiological results of inactivity.

Ankle-foot orthotics (AFO), which can enhance stability when standing and walking and sometimes correct physiological problems, can be prescribed.  Confidence associated with AFO use can directly influence an older adult’s psyche regarding walking ability, helping to avoid falls.
 
Falls are so deleterious, and physically and financially costly, that additional proactive solutions must be devised and, more importantly, implemented.
 
Author: Brian Lewallan, Aged Care Issue 02, 2021

At least one in five Kiwi men will break a bone because of osteoporosis and when men get a hip fracture, they’re more likely to require care in a long-term facility.  Even worse, 37% of men who get a hip fracture will die within a year after the accident.  It shouldn’t be this way.
 
One of the biggest issues is that people simply don’t know that men are also at risk of this disease.  In fact, men are less likely to be assessed or receive treatment for osteoporosis after they’ve broken a bone. It’s incredibly important that men know they’re at risk of this disease.
 
The good news is, it’s never too late to start taking action for your bones Here are three ways men (and women) can help minimise the risk of osteoporosis.

Maintain a healthy body weight  
If you have lower body weight, you’re more likely to have less bone issues.
 
Also, if you’re older, having low body weight will mean you have less fat padding around the hips, taking away a nice cushion to minimize the impact of all fall. So, make sure you eat a balanced nutritional diet, and maintain a healthy body weight.

Quit smoking  
Smoking slows down the cells in your body that build bone health. If you’re a smoker, try to decrease how much you smoke, or quit entirely so that your bones can stay healthy.

Don’t drink as much alcohol  
This is also a tough habit to break.  But alcohol affects the cells that build and break down bone.  Too much alcohol can also make you unsteady on your feet, making you more likely to trip, fall and break a bone.  Try to decrease your alcohol intake.  Seriously your bones will love it.

Exercise  
Most importantly if you or the men in your life have broken a bone following a simple trip or fall since you turned 50, you are twice as likely to break another bone in the future.
 
And, if you would like to learn more about how to improve your bone health, please visit the website www.knowyourbones.org.nz

​If you need help to gain weight or want an exercise programme that is right for you, just contact Therapy Professionals Ltd
phone: 03 377 5280 or email: [email protected].  Our friendly therapists can help.
 
From:  Keeping on August 2023

One doesn’t need a green thumb or a huge plot of land to reap the benefits of growing fresh herbs.  Not only are herbs versatile and capable of lending great flavour to foods, and as natural remedies that benefit personal health and beauty, but the specific act of growing a herbal garden itself helps in many ways, especially for seniors.
 
Planting a herb garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of a wide variety of plants.  Fresh herbs are often easy to cultivate and can grow in a small garden in the back yard, in pots on an outdoor patio or sunroom, or even in a window box inside a kitchen.

​Gardening is a wonderful hobby that enables seniors the opportunity to show his or her  creativity.  It is a great activity that can be shared with others like grandchildren, with friends in a club as a social activity or even alone.  Not only is gardening relaxing but it also improves hand-eye coordination, motor skills and self-esteem.
 
Herbs have many values but a few of the most common uses include aromatherapy, medicinal, as seasonings and flavourings in foods and beverages, and in salads.  Many herbs are chockfull of cancer-fighting antioxidants, valuable nutrients, fat-free flavour, and more.  Before beginning any herbal treatment, caregivers should check with their senior’s doctor to make certain that it does not interfere with medications that he or she may already be taking.

The word Aromatherapy is derived from ‘aroma’ meaning fragrance or smell, and ‘therapy’ meaning treatment.  This ancient herbal art can enhance health in many ways.  It is a stress reliever and mood enhancer and can be successful in treating minor disorders.  Some examples are to stimulate the immune system and strengthen your body’s ability to resist disease and infections, to alleviate digestive problems like constipation and abdominal spasms, to enhance the respiratory system to treat coughs, sinusitis and tonsilitis, to ease muscular pain by promoting relaxation and toning, improving circulation and lowering blood pressure, combating stress-related disorders like insomnia and tension headaches, and even in treating anxiety, depression, and grief.  Think of growing and using relaxing herbs such as chamomile, lavender or mint, rosemary, oregano, thyme, chive and sage for this purpose.  The herbs can be dried and used in potpourri, simmered in a pot on the stove to release their fragrance, hung upside down and used as natural air freshener wrapped in a gauze bag and used in a bath or even dried and steeped to make herbal tea.
 
In the medicinal world, herbs have been used for centuries to help with a variety of ailments.  (Again, it’s important to check with a senior’s doctor before using any herbs for medicinal purposes.). ‘Old fashioned remedies’ are for the most part herb based and have been used for generations to help with conditions from upset stomachs to anxiety and even strengthening the immune system.

​The first apothecaries (pharmacies) were stocked with botanical ingredients.  Garlic is considered to be good for the heart and cholesterol conditions and has been shown in studies to possess anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, effective boosting the immune system and fighting all types of infections.  Lemon balm, lavender, and marjoram can calm nerves and reduce anxiety.  And peppermint is soothing and settling to a ‘sour stomach’.  ‘The wise old herbs,’ as sage and rosemary are known, have been shown in studies to enhance brain function and may help to ward away Alzheimer’s disease.
 
The herbs may also be used in cooking.  Seasonings are of course the most common use of herbs in any herb garden.  Herbs add a lot of flavour to recipes besides providing various health benefits.  No herb garden would be complete without basil, oregano, sage, thyme, chives or mint to season up dinner each and every night.  Consider planting some lemon basil, lemon thyme, Thai thyme or another variation of any number of great herbs that offer different flavours.  One can add delicious, healthy herbs to marinades, sauces and soups.  Herbal vinegars are not only decorative but mineral-rich as well.
 
Salads can be made with many herbs and are a special treat during the spring and summer months.  Consider a borage with some mesclun lettuces topped with some chives, dill, oregano and basil.  It doesn’t have to stop there; many herbs lend themselves to being eaten in their raw form and add great flavour to any salad.
 
When looking for a healthy remedy to help a senior stay engaged, active and healthy, a small herb garden can be just what the doctor ordered in more ways than one.
 
Ref: Aged Care New Zealand, Issue 02, 2022