Your choice in diet and nutritional supplements may prevent you from the leading single cause of injury-related deaths as you grow older. According to a study by the Agriculture Research Service, supplemental intake of Vitamin D can lead to a decrease in the amount of falls by senior citizens. Falling leads to 40% of all nursing home admissions. One-third of people over 65 and half of those over 80 are injured every year by falling. A clinical study conducted over a 44 year period by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging found that elderly people fell 22% less often when they took Vitamin D supplements. The average age of the participants in the study was 70 and all were in stable health.

Vitamin D is good for both healthy bones and stronger muscle tissue. When the activated form of Vitamin D binds to receptors in muscle tissue, growth is promoted. This growth strengthens muscles which can, in turn, promote stability and reduce falls. Natural sources of Vitamin D can be found in fatty fish, fish oils and liver. Other foods are often fortified with Vitamin D such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Make sure to read your food labels to confirm that the dairy products that you are buying have been vitamin-fortified if you are relying on these foods for your daily requirements.

The numbers are improving but still bleak. The number of unemployed in the United States has increased to levels that we have not seen in several generations. So in these trying times, is there such thing as a booming market? A recent study indicates that the answer is "yes" and this market is Caregiving.

According to a poll taken by a central Florida home care agency, 86% of the seniors surveyed indicated that they want to continue to live at home. It is important for these elderly adults to maintain their independence. Treatments and advances in diseases such as heart disease and various cancers are allowing seniors to live longer lives and they want to live their days to the fullest. The time will come though when they are unable to keep this independence and will need some form of care to help with daily tasks and chores. The same home care agency says that their business has increased four times over in just the past five years. By the year 2016, as the nation undergoes a dramatic population shift with the aging of the baby boomers, the number of people who go to an interview for a caregiver position will be double the number who actually get a job.

This increase in the number of caregivers will be vital for seniors to be able to stay at home and maintain the independence that they seek. Before rushing out to submit your resume though, make sure that you are prepared for the responsibilities that come with the job. There are various caregiver surveys that can be found on-line that you can take to see if you are qualified for this growing field. Fenway Medical also has several lists in our Advice section of the rigors that come with being a caregiver.

Fenway Medical is proud to announce that we have teamed up with MedZone to provide you the opportunity to purchase two of their products, ChafeZone and PainZone, directly from our web store. ChafeZone helps with protection against blistering and chafing due to sports bracing, neoprene supports and incontinence products. PainZone is an over the counter roll on that is utilized to provide temporary relief from minor aches and pains. Both items are available in a 2oz. size or by a case of 12. Go to the "Skin Care" header in our product section, http://fenwaymedical.com/products.html, to learn more.

Maybe it's a "macho" thing but the facts are that men do not go to the doctor as much as women do. In fact, women are 33% more likely to visit a doctor than their male counterparts. It could be a hidden fear of hearing bad news or it could be that we just feel that we are stronger than whatever ails us and this makes us stubborn. The results of this are that men die at significantly higher rates thatn women from the top 10 causes of death. These causes are:

• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Accidents
• Pneumonia & influenza
• Diabetes
• Suicide
• Kidney Disease
• Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis

It is also found that men die younger than women by an average of over five years. These numbers can be turned around. The start of regular health screenings as you get above the age of 40 can go a long way to preventing these diseases and helping men catch up in this area where women are by far our superiors.

I've been known to be an antagonist. It's not something that I intend to do but I often play "devil's advocate" and think of things in the negative to prepare myself should the best not come out of a situation. My levels of antagonism have decreased significantly as I grow older and after reading a report in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, I may have made my decision just in time.

According to the report, antagonistic people, especially those who are competitive and agressive, may be increasing their risk of heart attack or stroke. These people show a greater thickening of neck artery walls than agreeable people. Ultrasound was used to measure the neck walls and artery thickness. Other factors for cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, fasting glucose and diabetes) were also measured. The study was done on participants ranging in age from 14 to 94 years with the average age being 42. 58 percent of the participants were female.

Along with the cardiovascular disease factors assessed, the participants were also asked to fill in a personality questionnaire. This survey included six facets of agreeableness; trust, straightforwardness, altruism, compliance, modesty and tender mindedness. Women who were more agreeable were shown to have thinner artery walls than men with the same agreeable standing. In contrast, the artery walls of antagonistic women were shown to have almost the same thickness as those of antagonistic men. Also, young people with antagonistic traits already had thickening of arterial walls, even during their teenage years.

So, think positive. Take a deep breath before you react and see if you can at least agree on some level with those who you are speaking with. No arguing that it will help your health in the long run.

Some recent statistics about diabetes was recently released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). I knew that numbers were high and that the risk of diabetes is growing every day with lack of proper education and resources but I did not expect the split based on income levels and geographic location. Here are some of the facts from the article.

• In 2008, nearly one in five hospital stays were diabetes-related
• Hospitalizations in 2008 totalled more than 7.7 million stays and $83 billion in hospital costs. This is 23% of total hospital costs across the U.S.
• Cost of hospitalization in 2008 for a patient with diabetes averaged $10,937. Costs for pateints without diabetes averaged $8,746.
• Patients with diabetes stayed in the hospital an average of one day longer than other patients (5.3 days versus 4.4 days)
• Rates of hospital stays increased as the income level of the patient's zip code decreased. There were 3,232 diabetes related stays out of every 100,000 persons in the lowest income zip codes compared to 1,762 stays out of every 100,000 from the highest income areas.
• The South had the highest rate of hospital stays for patients with diabetes at 2,829 per 100,000 persons in the region.
• The Midwest had 2,742 stays due to diabetes per 100,000 patients
• The NorthEast had 2,565 stays due to diabetes per 100,000 patients
• The lowest rate geographically comes from the West. Only 1,866 stays due to diabetes per 100,000 patients in the region.

Today is my parents' 41st wedding anniversary. I congratulate them as they have upheld their commitment to one another for more than four decades and they still seem to be having fun together. I'll often get a call from my mom letting me know that they are in another state or some other city as they decided it would be nice to go and explore something new over a long weekend. They have driven the entire run of Route 66, the old National Road and are plannng a trip to drive the 1A down the east coast. They are enjoying their lives and each other's company 41 years later. In my opinion, they are undergoing "Healthy Aging". They are not letting the hardships of life consume them and they have come up with their own "key" on how to stay happy. The key to healthy aging is sound knowledge of what to change as your grow older and coming up with your own "how to" plan to implement these changes. Here are some suggestions:

• Use your Mind - Mental wellness is important for healthy aging. Try something new every week to stimulate your mind such as puzzles or a new hobby.
• Keep a Positive Attitude - Optimism rules the day. Though life has it's ups and downs, keeping a positive attitude for yourself and your loved ones can make you feel better.
• Set a Goal - Having a sense of purpose, either personal or career oriented, keeps you focused and provides self confidence.
• Exercise - A regular fitness routine can help fight heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancers
• Eat Healthy - Bring bright colors into your meals. Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables are cancer-reducing foods. Blue fruits boost your brain functions while green vegetables can aid with your eyesight.

Mom & Dad, to many more years of healthy aging together. I love you.

As we age, our body's metabolism may become slower and less efficient. We tend to become less active and perform less vigorous forms of exercise. Results of this metabolism change may result in weight gain and an decrease in ability to asborb nutrients. Senior citizens need to concentrate on more nutrient-dense foods and less on empty calorie foods such as fats and sugars.

Today we highlight research done by Tufts University regarding the Food Pyramid. You may remember learning about the Food Pyramid when in school. It was based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and let us know the minimum servings of each food group that we should include in our daily diets. The researchers at Tufts studied the metabolic changes that happen in our bodies as we age and developed the Food Guide Pyramid for adults over 50 years old. At the top of the pyramid are fats, oils and sweets. As we age, we need to decrease our intake of these foods and include them in our diets sparingly. The next level includes two to three servings per day of milk, yogurt and cheese. Groups such as dried beans & nuts and meat, fish & eggs also require two to three servings for a healthy diet. Further down the pyramid are the fruits and vegetable groups. Tufts suggests three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruits. At the bottom of the pyramid are the breads, cereals, pasta and rice. Six to eleven servings of this group should be the base of your diet. Not included in the pyramid itself but equally important is water intake. Eight glasses per day are recommended.

The Food Pyramid has always been the basis of a healthy diet through our school years and as we raised our children. This new model is what is best for a baby boomer's changing body and we should follow this as diligently as when we were told to do so during our school days.

A report released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that 47 percent of California residents 65 and older are not able to pay for basic needs such as the costs to eat, housing, travel and medical bills. This number translates to 864,000 seniors throughout the state's 58 counties. More than half of these seniors live at home alone. Decisions are having to be made between food and medications or mortgage payments and the gas bill. The frightening part is that this research was done during a 2007 census, in an economic period that did not factor in today's recession.

Things are not getting better either. There are pending future cuts to home health care subsidiaries which help keep seniors out of expensive nursing homes. Legislation recently passed in the state budget cuts aid to thousands of seniors. In Silicon Valley, more than 48 percent of the seniors fell below the survival standard. The hardest hit counties are San Francisco and Imperial, where 61 and 67 percent of seniors struggle, respectively. The report also finds that the seniors struggling the most are single women, those over the age of 75 and elders living alone.

A bill has been introduced in California called The Elder Economic Dignity Act which calls for new measurements to track seniors in poverty. The measures used now are 50 years old and can not accurately track these senior's economic struggles. Some hope enlies in the recently passed stimulus plan in the form of a $250 one time payment to those collecting social security but this won't nearly be enough. Our parents are going to have to rely on us, their adult children, even more and it will be our job to provide them with the quality care that they deserve.

-Excerpts and statistics from The Mercury News

In terms of caregiving, we are often thrust into a situation that is going to change things for our families logistically, financially and emotionally. We have to keep in mind to react to our new situation logically. The key to this is to research all available elder care options before making a hasty decision that will affect both our lives and the lives of our loved ones. There are several different types of elder care facilities that are available and some factors to look at when making your decision include:

• What does each facility have to offer?
• How much do the facilities cost?
• How will these costs increase based on level of care needed by your parent or loved one?
• How does each facility measure up in terms of quality of care?
• What option is going to work best for one or both of your parents?

But why should the burden be left on you to make these decisions? Sitting down with your parents or loved ones to discuss and pre-plan what methods will be used if/when the time for caregiving comes will alleviate stress for both them and for you. This should be a process and not a single discussion that requires a definitive outcome. Let your parents be involved as much as possible for it is their every day lives that are being discussed. Here are some topics to think about during these talks.

• Your parent(s) health and finances
• Needs / wants for socialization
• Risk and value of moving versus "aging in place"
• Size and style of facilities to suit your parents needs (smaller care homes, residential communities for the elderly, assisted living and continued care retirement communities)

Planning and preparedness will help all involved with this emotional time. Having a plan of action in place will allow you to worry about things of more importance such as the health of your loved one and what you can do to continue to make them comfortable during these trying times.

Recently, I started a new workout routine. It's not your typical go to the gym, get on a treadmill and run mindlessly for 30 minute regimen either. Every week is something new and during portions of the work out, you have to think and always be alert. This new form of exercise has me feeling great. I am seeing physical and mental changes. I look forward to the next time that I get to exercise. I am becoming confident in my abilities and, most importantly, I am feeling good about myself. It's amazing what a good dose of positive self-esteem can do to a person.

If you want to boost your self esteem, you do not need to take on a new exercise routine or change your food choices. You can be healthier and more confident mentally and physically by doing the following on a daily basis.

1. Do something that you enjoy. Make a list of things you enjoy and do something from this list every day. Don't forget to add to the list if you discover a new, fun activity.
2. Get something done that you have been putting off. Remove the "monkey" from your back.
3. Wear clothes that make you feel better about yourself.
4. Reward yourself because you deserve it.
5. Hang around people who make you feel good about yourself. Avoid people who make you feel bad about yourself.
6. Reflect on past acheivements, special times or people in your life. Display items that remind you of these special things.
7. Make meal time a special time. Turn off the TV. Enjoy uninterrupted family time. If you are alone, enjoy a quiet meal.
8. Learn something new.
9. Show a random act of kindness. Smile, talk to someone you normally would not spend time having a conversation with, volunteer.
10. Make it a point to treat yourself well every day.

Follow these steps to raise and maintain a strong, positive self-image. I know you can do it!

Every time I find myself in a lull between periods of exercise, I come across information like this that makes me kick it back in to high gear. Who knew that exercise was important for so much more than staying in top, physical condition?

In the January 2010 edition of Archives of Neurology, a study finds that exercise in your mid-life may guard against mild cognitive (mental) impairment. The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging studied 1,324 people via survey between the years 2006 and 2008. The survey was in the form of an exercise questionnaire. It was determined that 198 participants had mild cognitive impairments while 1,126 subjects did not. Based on the responses of the survey, those individuals who participated in some form of moderate exercise during their mid-life were less likely to have characteristics of mental decline. There was a 39% reduced risk of mental decline in those who were regular mid-life exercisers and a 32% reduced risk for those who started exercising moderately in later life. There were no differences found if the person exercised moderately versus a more vigorous exercise.

Remember to get your 30-60 minutes in daily or it may come down to you not remembering much at all.

When researching topics to include in our Care Blog, I often come across studies that I feel would be of interest to our readers. This next study I'm putting in because personally I find it interesting. I would have never associated the two but did you know that there is a potential link between early male pattern baldness and prostate cancer?

A study shows that men who experience hair loss before the age of 30 may have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The study, reported in Cancer Epidemiology, was performed by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. The study looked at hair loss patterns between 999 men, ages 35 to 74, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer between the years 2002-2005 in comparison to a group of 942 men without cancer. It was discovered that those who had experienced the male pattern baldness before the age of 30 had a 29% less risk for prostate cancer. A 45% risk reduction was found in men who were balding at both the top of their head and their forehead while in their 30s.

Researchers feel that there is a hormone link between the two but further studies have to be conducted to determine the exact reason for the correlation.

Some more advice from our friends with Walk with a Doc:

Exercise not only goes a long way in preventing colon cancer, but men with colorectal cancer are more likely to survive if they exercise regularly.
 
A study out of Washington University in St. Louis has analyzed several decades of data.  They found that women who exercise the most (5-6 hours/week) were 23% less likely to develop the disease vs. those who exercised the least (only 1/2 hour a week).  The benefits can come from any type of exercise; walking, swimming, jogging, biking, etc. 
 
The findings are even more dramatic in colon cancer survivors.  Dana-Farber researchers studied 668 men with colorectal cancer and found that the men who had moderate physical activity were 53% more likely to be alive and free of the disease than others who were less physically active. Moderate activity is once again described as the equivalent of 1 hour walking for 6 days/week.

Plain and simple - Exercise appears to be the single strongest prevention tool for colon cancer.

This year, we have heard a lot about the importance of keeping our children active and the fight our nation has against childhood obesity. As a parent, it is our responsibility to make sure that our children are not parked in front of a video game eight hours a day and that they are embracing family time, be it a physical activity or not. Here are some positive tips and suggestions that you can implement with your family to help your children grow their own strong sense of self-esteem.

1. Make time for meals - Though they may complain about the meatloaf, the time together as a family at the dinner table is very important. A recently published study shows that children who eat with their families regularly have less chance of developing childhood obesity. Another study shows that teenagers who eat with their families less than three times per week are twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana, one and half times more likely to use alcohol, twice as likely to try drugs in the future and one and a half times likelier to get grades of C or less in school.  
2. Turn off the TV - Television takes away from quality family time. One study indicates that having a TV on in the background reduces parent-child interactions by 20 percent. This can also apply to computers, video games and social interacting on cell phones.
3. Schedule Game Night - And not video game night (although the Wii Fit and other interactive games can provide family fun and exercise at the same time). Schedule this once a week and play games that will stimulate your childrens' minds and develop team work and sportsmanship.
4. Limit Extracurricular Activities - Do not sign your child up to do yet another extracurricular activity if they really don't want to. Make sure that they are genuinely interested in doing something before bringing this time commitment between you and family time with your kid.
5. Tell Bedtime Stories - This has been a favorite in our household for many years. Not only does it help your child wind down at night but it also makes them use their imaginations. As a parent, make up stories that are based on life lessons that your child may have experienced in the past couple of days. This will allow you to stretch your imagination as well.

This is the final entry of our three part series on skin cancer. The first entry focused on facts about skin cancer and the biggest risks involved with getting the disease. Yesterday, we focused on how you can perform self-examinations and detect changes that are indicative of early stages of skin cancer. Today, we will discuss ways that you can best protect yourself against both non-melanomas and melanomas.

• Reduce your exposure to sunlight, especially midday sun
• Avoid tanning & sunburns
• Use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 30
• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside
• Reapply sunscreen frequently
• If you can, wear a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and pants
• If you need to, wear sunscreen in the winter
• Use caution around items that reflect the sun such as water, snow or sand
• Use the internet or local weather stations to check the UV index in your area and plan accordingly

In yesterday's Care Blog, we discussed some facts about skin cancer and the biggest risk factors for getting the various types that exist. Today, we will discuss some detection methods. Like other cancer, early detection of skin cancer is central to successful treatment of the disease. Perfomance of monthly, skin self-examinations are recommended. Here is what to look for and how an exam needs to be completed properly.

• Change in size, color, shape or texture of any moles, freckles, bumps or birthmarks
• General changes in your skin
• Inspect your skin after a bath or shower in good lighting
• Make sure that you have someone else check your back or use a hand mirror to see areas not always visible
• Don't wait to experience pain at the site of a discoloration. Pain is rarely a symptom of cancer.
• Include a skin cancer screening in your regular doctor's visits

In tomorrow's final entry of this three part series on skin cancer, we will discuss what you can do to protect yourself from this disease.

Quick. If I asked you what the largest organ in your body is, what would you say? The brain? The liver? Something in your digestive system? Well, as you Biology majors know, the answer is the human skin. Your skin, if taken off of the body, would weigh six to nine pounds and have a surface area of about two square yards. That's a lot of area to protect when it comes to exposure to sunshine and UV light.

Today starts a three day series of Care Blog entries that discusses skin cancer. We will focus on the biggest risk factors, detection techniques and how you can protect yourself against this most common form of cancer in the United States. First, some facts about skin cancer that you may not know. There are two, common forms of skin cancer; the basal cell carcinoma and the squamous cell carcinoma. These are together known as non-melanoma cancers. The leading cause of death from skin disease comes from the less common, more dangerous melanoma cancer. This begins deeper in the skin. This three day series will concentrate on the squamous cell carcinoma, the cancer affecting the first layer of skin.

Here are the biggest risk factors for getting this type of skin cancer.

• Skin and Hair Color - Those most at risk have fair skin, light colored eyes and naturally red or blonde hair.
• Prolonged, unprotected exposure to sunlight or UV radiation
• Family history of skin cancer - This is especially true with melanoma
• Age - Non-melanoma skin cancers are more common after the age of 40.
• Moles - Having multiple moles, large or irregular

Tomorrow, we will focus on ways that you can detect these cancers early on.

Here is another article from our friend, Dr. David, from the Walk With A Doc program. It asks the question of the heart risks involved with calcium supplements and should we continue to take these.

This is a discussion that needs to occur between you and your physician - we are all wonderfully unique and the same answer does not fit for all of us.  So let me 'arm' you with some questions,facts, and opinions for the discussion you might wish to have with your doctor (this author's opinion in italics).

* Am I getting enough calcium in my diet and is that a better means than supplementation? You are likely getting more than you think and yes, low fat dairy, almonds, fortified OJ, green leafy vegetables, fried alligator (fried alligator?! ahhh, how sweet, you are paying attention) is better than a pill because it is absorbed slower (theory is the rapid calcium influx may be increasing risk of heart attack).

* How well is it proven that calcium or calcium + vitamin D prevent bone fractures? (surprisingly, not well proven)

* If I have osteoporosis should I take medications or supplements (unfortunately, medications).

* If calcium supplements increase heart attacks by 20 or 30%, why don't they increase stroke or death? (no clue, let me know if your doctor has a good answer for this one)

* I have a good way to build bone and prevent fractures without supplements - exercise! Serious, it really works

In yesterday's Care Blog, we discussed how your body uses inflammation to fight unnatural conditions, such as environmental toxins and stress. Chronic inflammation can be dangerous to your health and can cause diseases such as fibromyalgia, respiratory illnesses and cardiovascual conditions. Should you suffer from chronic pain and illness from too much inflammation, there are changes that you can make to reduce these effects. Healthy lifestyle changes not only help but it can also improve your overall changes. Here are some steps you can take against chronic inflammation.

1. If you smoke, stop smoking.
2. Utilize stress management techniques to manage your emotional, physical and mental health.
3. Start a sensible diet and exercise plan. Being overweight can increase inflammation.
4. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day, three to five days per week.
5. Eliminate unhealthy food choices that can contribute to inflammation such as trans fats, refined carbohydrates and processed foods.
6. Practice good oral hygeine. Brush after every meal and floss once a day.

Our body's natural defense against a series of intruders is inflammation. Inflammation is our body's immune system response to unnatural toxins in the food and water that we consume as well as the air that we breathe. It is also a defense our body uses against emotional, mental and physical stress. Should we be exposed to these unnatural conditions for long periods, our bodies will develop chronic inflammation and, in turn, chronic pain. Studies show that chronic inflammation can cause poor health and may lead to serious diseases. Some serious conditions that may being with simple inflammation include the following:

• Fibromyalgia
• Diabetes
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Alzheimer's
• Arthritis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Neurological problems
• Respiratory illnesses

In tomorrow's Care Blog, we will discuss ways that you care reduce inflammation in your body.

In yesterday's Care Blog entry, we discussed the importance of water, nature's best beverage. We spoke of how water affected your metabolism and how much water you should drink each day to get reach your "goal" amount. We also spoke about how dehydration is especially prevalent in the senior population and one of the leaders in causes for their hospital visits. It's not just the seniors who need to be careful though. Approximately 75% of the American population is chronically dehydrated. This same statistic applies to half of the world population. Dehydration is extremely serious and a life threatening problem that may require medical assistance. Here are some symptoms of dehydration that you should look for if you feel that you don't drink enough water during your day.

• Dry Mouth
• Limited production or lack of tears
• Weakness
• Constant Thirst
• Decreased or dark colored urine
• Sunken eyes
• Parched Lips
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Nausea or feeling faint
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Fever
• Low Blood Pressure or Weak Pulse

We all know that water makes up two thirds of the weight in our bodies. Did you know though about the effect of water on your energy levels?  Your body's basic metabolism, or the way that you convert food to energy, depends on water. Most foods that you eat contain enough water for you to live but they do not contain enough water to metabolize them in to energy. Fruits and vegetables such as oranges, bananas, carrots, grapfruit, cabbage and watermelons are examples of foods high in water content.

It is especially important for senior citizens to stay hydrated. As you get older, you become more susceptible to shifts in water balance resulting in over-hydration or, more frequently, dehydration. You also have a reduced sense of thirst as you age. This, in combination with the water balance shift, is why dehydration is one of the most common causes for hospitalization for adults over the age of 65. To calculate how much water you should drink, use this formula to calculate your body's need.

Your body weight / 2 = Ounces of water you need per day

For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you need to drink about 75 ounces of water per day (just over 9 cups) to get your healthy ration. In tomorrow's blog, we will discuss the symptoms that your body exhibits if you don't drink nature's beverage.

We have written in our Care Blog before about the link between obesity and cancer. A new report from the American Institute of Cancer Research gives us major evidence that body fat is now seen as a major cause of cancer. The researcher studied seven cancers that have links to obesity and calculated the actual cause counts likely caused by carrying too much weight. Here are the results that the Institute published.

Caused by Obesity

1. 49% of endometrial cancer
2. 35% of esophageal cancer
3. 28% of pancreatic cancer
4. 24% of kidney cancer
5. 21% of gall bladder cancer
6. 17% of breast cancer
7. 9% of colorectal cancer

Findings also suggest that excess body fat can lower your immune functions and increase oxidative stress in the body.

We have highlighted in past Care Blog entries the idea of patient alarms and the need to have this type of equipment in the home if caring for an elderly parent or loved one. It is an extra step in assuring the safety of a loved one who has the risk of wandering due to dementia or Alzheimers. Fenway Medical is proud to announce that we now have teamed up with Medics SOS to provide to you with a quality option when purchasing your senior alarm system.

The Medics SOS In House Two Way Voice Console is easy to install (a simple plug in system) and even easier for your elderly loved one to use. You will receive you own personal account with Medics SOS and have team members assigned to your loved one, giving you the reassurance that the person that they are speaking with knows their history and health conditions. A simple push of the button on the console or on the wrist/neck pendant will connect you or your loved one with emergency help. The pendant is also waterproof, so it can be worn in the bath or shower where seniors are most prone to slips and falls.

Find out more about this great device at our Products section, http://www.fenwaymedical.com/products.html.

A recent evening, I found myself sitting in the waiting room at a Children's Hospital with my danger-prone child. While in the chairs, I noticed that there were five different boys (probably ranging in age from 9 to 14) in baseball uniforms. Most had their arm wrapped with some kind of ice / cold pack. One was given a pair of crutches to wait with until the doctor could see his ankle. It was clear to me that with summer sports in full swing, this outpatient center was probably seeing a lot of business. I wondered how many times an evening the doctor's applied the RICE method? The RICE method is generally used for less severe injuries over a period of 48 hours from when the incident occurs. It consists of the following (giving the acronym R-I-C-E).

• Rest - Best to take it easy, especially when dealing with a leg injury.
• Ice - Frequently apply ice 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes during the first 24 hours after the injury. Try to keep the swelling reduced.
• Compression - Wrapping the injury with elastic bandages is also helpful to reduce the swelling.
• Elevation - Keep the injured area above your heart level. This will also help to reduce or prevent excess swelling.

RICE is best used for "lesser" injuries. What defines a more serious injury that may need more than the RICE treatment? Look for these signs and then plan your trip to the emergency room accordingly. 

• If there is severe pain, swelling or numbness
• If the injured area can not bear any weight
• If it is an old injury where the symptoms do not go away or swelling reoccurs
• If your joint looks abnormal or doesn't move correctly