Geneology International

Author: Linda Rider

The 9 Best Apps and Tech Tips to Help Older Loved Ones Stay Healthy

From memory lapses to poor physical fitness, aging comes with a slew of health challenges. These challenges can impede the ability of elderly loved ones to function on their own in a healthy manner.

Apart from medical care from qualified professionals, there are several technology tips you can apply to ensure that older loved ones continue to live healthy and happy lives. Here are some good apps, devices, and resources to help your elderly loved ones stay healthy and safe.

1. Recommend Brain-Stimulating Apps

Some of the most common challenges of aging include deteriorating memory and other mental faculties. When someone’s memory begins to decline, their mind isn’t as sharp as it needs to be to go through normal day-to-day activities. You can help older loved ones stay sharp and retain much of their focus using memory and focus training apps.

Two great options are Lumosity and CogniFit Test and Brain Games. Both apps are feature-packed and filled with games of different complexities aimed at keeping players active and sharp. The features are particularly great for elders and are tailored to each individual’s profile with an option to track progress. Feel free to pick more apps from this larger list of brain-training apps to develop a sharper mind.

Download: Lumosity for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

Download: CogniFit Test and Brain Games for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

2. Get Elders a Medication Reminder App

Whether your loved one takes medication for an ailment or supplements to keep them in top shape, the forgetfulness that often accompanies old age may affect their ability to take their medications on time.

The solution is a medication reminder app. The aptly named Pill Reminder app and MediSafe are two popular options for iOS devices. Meanwhile, Dosecast, My Therapy Pill Reminder, and Alarm and Pill Reminder are popular options for Android.

3. Embrace Online Health Resources

There is a wealth of useful online resources that can augment the health information that seniors get from their healthcare providers. While the information you get online should not be treated as qualified medical advice, it still represents an incredibly useful resource to stay informed of important health tips.

Trusted websites for sourcing reliable medical information include the following:

If you’d prefer to have direct interaction with medical personnel, here are some of the best health forums for online expert support. These resources can help seniors understand why they feel the way they do, and you’ll also have an informed insight into what’s going on in their lives.

4. Set Up Online Grocery and Meal Delivery

Seniors may not be able to safely traverse several physical stores for groceries on their own. Even when they choose to shop online, it can be a bit tedious for them. Setting up an online grocery delivery service ensures that your loved ones have access to healthy food and can get their groceries when they’re needed.

Although the availability of online grocery delivery services differs from place to place, big players like the following are good options with wide coverage, especially within North American cities:

5. Use Location Sharing and Smart Trackers to Keep Track of Loved Ones and Their Things

If you have elderly relatives that are at risk of getting lost or prone to wandering off, ask them to share the location of their smartphone or a GPS-enabled fitness tracker, such as an Apple Watch. The Find My app on iOS and other similar friend-finding apps can give you peace of mind as you’ll be able to see where your loved one is in real time.

Meanwhile, if they have a tendency to misplace their purse, wallet, or other important items, gift them an Apple AirTag or similar Bluetooth tracker. With just a $30 AirTag, you can leverage Apple’s impressive Find My network to track down a tagged item almost anywhere in the world. AirTags are small enough that they can put one in a bag, wallet, keychain, or any object your elderly relative carries around often.

6. Introduce Elderly Loved Ones to Virtual Reality

VR is an underused technology in the field of elder care. Its immersive nature means you can help your elderly loved ones “virtually” participate in activities in which they might not otherwise be able to safely take part. Think of those fishing, driving, or high-intensity activities they might be yearning for but unable to do in the real world.

Virtual Reality can bridge the gap and help older loved ones feel happy and fulfilled. The best part is that these activities will be nearly as stimulating as the real thing. It’s a great way to help someone take part in exercises, meditation, and other fun-filled activities.

Social media might have a bad reputation, but it’s still an important tool to help people connect with friends and family. Maintaining close relationships can help older loved ones fend off loneliness and depression that are all too common among seniors. Facebook is still a great place to start, and some loved ones might also become interested in creativity-focused sites like Pinterest.

Avoid social media sites that have a disproportionate amount of toxicity, are too argumentative, or might expose seniors to any form of traumatic media. These could be counterproductive and could have a serious effect on their health.

8. Install Fitness Apps to Help Seniors Exercise Safely

Staying physically active is critical to seniors’ overall health. You might not always be there to guide them through suitable exercises, but technology could be of great help. However, not all types of exercises are suitable for seniors. Most seniors are better off doing low-intensity exercises with easy-to-perform routines.

Senior Fitness and Sitting Cardio apps are two good senior-friendly fitness apps for Android. Similarly, the Over Fifty Fitness app is a great option for iOS users. Feel free to check out this list of the best fitness apps for seniors to find what will work best for your loved ones.

9. Encourage the Use of Wearable Fitness Devices

Wearable devices like Apple Watch and Google’s Fitbit aren’t just trendy technology for young people. They can be very pivotal in helping seniors live healthier, happier lives.

With features like a heart rate sensor, fall detection, blood oxygen level detection, temperature sensor, and a slew of workout apps, the Apple Watch Series 8 is an incredibly useful example of a tool for helping seniors stay on top of their health information. An Apple Watch can help elders prioritize their sleep and get timely alerts on their health status, which you can also access or share with care providers when necessary.

Help Seniors Get the Care They Deserve

Old age shouldn’t be littered with limitations, especially when technology has availed us of the tools to make the best out of this phase of life. While your older loved ones might need more support than they used to, helping them effectively utilize health-related technology can help them enjoy a full and healthy life with a bit more independence, along with more peace of mind for you.

December 17, 2022
CBD Skincare Market Projected to Skyrocket

Picture courtesy of New Frontier Details

WASHINGTON — The most recent item phase that could blow up in cannabidiol (CBD)? Skincare.

The world-wide CBD skincare sector was truly worth an approximated $953 million globally in 2021, and it is envisioned to expand almost eight periods by 2029, reaching about $7.6 billion, in accordance to New Frontier Information.

Frontier labored with San Francisco-dependent Purissima Inc. on a report about hashish and attractiveness chances in the CBD skincare market, making use of details from Frontier’s 2022 consumer study.

Hashish people are additional conscious and engaged with the general skincare space than non-individuals, the report discovered. But shoppers and non-individuals choose the exact same products (moisturizer, cleaner and lip balm) and use skincare for the exact same factors (dryness, anti-growing older and high-quality strains and wrinkles).

Also, in accordance to the report, curiosity in CBD skincare is bigger between adult men and young age groups in equally the hashish consumer and non-customer teams surveyed. This suggests that youthful, male cannabis consumers could represent a ripe focus on demographic for aggressive makes, Frontier stated.

A further demographic to goal is health-related individuals. The non-intoxicating character of cannabinoid-centered skincare ingredients may perhaps attraction to professional medical customers who seem for steady symptom relief, Frontier explained.

That doesn’t imply there isn’t potential for non-clinical people, as well.

“While cannabis topicals have been perceived as principally health-related cannabis products, a substantial possibility exists for the progress of cannabinoid-centered skincare goods for the normal inhabitants,” stated New Frontier Data’s Main Information Officer Amanda Reiman. “Both hashish shoppers and non-people report searching for organic elements in their skincare merchandise, and gravitate toward products that can deal with myriad pores and skin concerns, building cannabinoids a all-natural alternative for component R&D.” 

Washington, D.C.-based New Frontier Knowledge is a knowledge, analytics and technological know-how business specializing in the global cannabis sector.

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December 16, 2022
Cold Weather Training Tips To Keep You Moving

With the extended, warm summer time of 2022 immediately turning to a crisp and clean autumn, several of us are re-pondering our instruction program and wanting to know how to stay dependable in the chilly. If you are inquiring yourself if schooling in colder climates is Ok or questioning whether or not remaining of experienced age may possibly maximize your chances of injuries on the ice, M&F has you lined, and warmly wrapped up. Matthew Accetta, MS, ACSM-CEP, CSCS *D, CSPS acquired a Bachelor of Science in exercise science, and a Master of Science with Distinction, in athletics science, through the study of exercise physiology at Hofstra University in Prolonged Island, NY. Accetta now functions at the Hospital for Particular Surgical treatment. His expertise ranges from guiding athletes to peak functionality, as a result of to delivering harmless and successful training for individuals with neurological issues and specific demands.

Accetta is presently certified as a result of the American Faculty of Sports activities Medication as a Medical Exercise Physiologist. On top of that, he is a Licensed Power and Conditioning Specialist with Difference. We asked him for the cold, tough information, as relates to training in falling temperatures.

Is it a very good strategy to give better aim to warmups in the colder seasons?

“Warmup physical exercises, prior to teaching in the chilly climate, supply a good profit as they improve main and muscle temperature, increase neurological and muscle activation, as properly as increase blood move and oxygen uptake,” says Accetta. “Bodyweight workout routines these as squats, strolling lunges, significant knees, and planks are fantastic to involve. These routines assist to raise body temperature, raise range of motion and decrease your injuries chance.”

What is the best apparel to don for cold education?

“Scientific tests display that when working out in the cold you should really wear levels,” says Accetta. “The layer closest to the skin should really be restricted and dampness wicking… but not too tight that it restricts blood flow. The next layer really should deliver insulation to protect overall body heat. And, the outer-most layer ought to let for ventilation and humidity to transfer especially if circumstances are windy or raining. Gloves and further socks really should be worn to maintain the arms and toes heat. A hat or headband is also a terrific to keep the heat from radiating and escaping from head and ears.”

Can some health-related circumstances can be exacerbated by teaching in the chilly?

“Respiratory problems these kinds of as long-term obstructive pulmonary sickness (COPD) and asthma are exacerbated by training in the chilly, as the cold air constricts the blood vessels in the lungs, disrupting air move and earning it challenging to breathe,” suggests Accetta. “The cold weather conditions can also exacerbate autoimmune disorders these types of as MS or Lupus, as the cold locations additional tension on the system and can guide to difficulty shifting the arms and legs, and muscle spasms.”

Are there any popular accidents related with coaching in colder climates?

“The most popular accidents connected with cold weather conditions teaching are muscle mass strains and joint sprains,” shares Accetta. “These generally come about when a proper warmup does not consider put and the joints and muscles do not have a probability to get back some elasticity, remaining tight and restricting your motion.”

What would you advise somebody who ordeals any of these accidents?

“If you experience a sprain or strain while doing exercises in the cold you should promptly terminate your schooling session,” says Accetta. “You really should give the afflicted area plenty of time to rest and get better in advance of instruction all over again. If the impacted region begins to swell you really should apply ice in 20-minute increments of 20-minutes on, 20-minutes off. Elevating the afflicted spot is also useful to make it possible for the inflammation to go down as gravity can help swelling to go away the affected area. If agony carries on to persist, you may possibly want to make an appointment to see a physician.”

Why are we additional prone to injuries as we get older in colder of situations?

“As we age, our tendons and ligaments are likely to lose elasticity and make strains and sprains far more possible to come about by around stretching them, and they never have the skill to return to their initial duration,” suggests Accetta. “Also, as we age, the skill for the body to maintain main temperature diminishes and so the physique has to get the job done harder to manage homeostasis, this then taxes the cardiovascular and respiratory techniques to work harder and supply a lot more oxygen-prosperous blood to functioning muscle mass.”

How can we proceed to prepare and reduce accidents as we get older?

“A lot of moments men and women don’t make it possible for for sufficient recovery time among education sessions,” states Accetta. “This can guide to overuse accidents. They usually drive by way of those nagging injuries. Also, quite a few moments persons don’t get the time to heat up and amazing down correctly.”

So, what are you your “take home” messages for individuals who want to prepare in colder climates?

“If you are just starting a coaching program or have not exercised in a very long time, it is advised that you request out the aid and guidance of a health and fitness and fitness skilled as very well as get clearance from your physician,” says Accetta. “If you are coaching outside on a cold and rainy day, make absolutely sure that you don some thing that can make you noticeable to cars and trucks and other folks passing by, since there may possibly be less mild in the evenings or other problems may make you tougher to see. Incorporate reflectors to your bike or have on a substantial visibility shirt or jacket. It is totally alright to coach in the chilly as extensive as the correct actions are taken… make absolutely sure that you are properly dressed and warm up correctly.” Practical information! So, the superior news is that with a little preparing, and some respect for the elements, there’s no cause to drop your outside fitness routine this fall.

December 16, 2022
Doctor’s Tip: More random health tips

Past week’s column consisted of several brief, random health suggestions, and today’s is much more of the exact.

VITAMIN D, NEW Reports: Vitamin D has been touted in excess of the many years for quite a few points, but modern research have brought quite a few of these claims into query. According to an short article in the December problem of the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, well-done reports in excess of the previous few decades located that vitamin D did not shield in opposition to cancer, heart attacks, strokes, despair, persistent knee suffering, macular degeneration, migraine headaches, or age-relevant cognitive decline. Moreover, despite the fact that vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption, the the latest Essential review showed that it did not avoid fractures. Measurements of vitamin D are a key lab test expense for Medicare. There is no damage in having vitamin D in realistic doses (generally 2,000 mg. a day for adults), so at this place never stop having it. Having said that, it is likely not well worth paying excess money for a D test at a overall health reasonable, or Medicare’s revenue — specially considering the fact that the accuracy of the take a look at is questionable.

NEW Inspire Unit FOR OBSTRUCTIVE Sleep APNEA? There are two styles of snooze apnea: 1. obstructive, which is extra common in adult males and usually related with weight problems and snoring and 2. central rest apnea, involved with dwelling at altitude (3,000 feet or higher), and thus widespread exactly where we dwell. Equally varieties are involved with melancholy, hypertension, and heart sickness such as arrhythmias this sort of as atrial fib. Screening will involve putting on an oximeter on your finger that data pulse charge and oxygen degree during the evening, followed by a official sleep analyze if the overnight oximetry is irregular. The gold regular therapy is CPAP. For the occasional individual who does not tolerate CPAP, a dental appliance is yet another option. You may possibly have seen ads for a new, 3rd alternative for obstructive (but not central) sleep apnea termed Inspire, which is reviewed in the current situation of Berkeley Wellness Letter. This product has to be surgically implanted, which can final result in problems. On top of that, Encourage is not as productive as CPAP. For further info, verify with your primary treatment company or The Lung Center at Valley View Hospital.

Way of living Methods TO Reduce Threat OF COLON Cancer: According to the recent Berkeley Wellness Letter, the subsequent steps enable avoid this second foremost lead to of most cancers death in the U.S.: 1. Get screened by colonoscopy or a stool take a look at identified as In shape setting up at age 45 and previously if possibility components these kinds of as family members history of colon cancer are current 2. Maintain perfect overall body bodyweight 3. Take in a eating plan higher in fiber, fruits, and vegetables 4. Avoid or at least limit crimson and processed meat (smoked or treated) 5. Physical exercise routinely 6. Aspirin was encouraged in the earlier to prevent colon most cancers but no for a longer time is.

Lead IN CERAMICS: The exact publication warns in opposition to employing traditional glazed ceramics for cooking or storing food items or beverages, due to experiences of guide poisoning.

Physical exercise AND Cancer: According to Diet Motion, published by Centre for Science in the Public Desire, individuals who get 150-300 minutes of reasonable or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise a week have lower hazard of bladder, breast, colorectal, kidney, stomach, and uterine most cancers.

LUNG Most cancers kills far more Us citizens than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined and 2-½ moments more people than colorectal cancer. Eighty percent of lung most cancers fatalities are thanks to cigarette cigarette smoking, according to Diet Action.

Chubby AND Most cancers: According to the similar publication, currently being chubby is a hazard component for the pursuing sorts of cancer: colorectal, uterine, kidney, thyroid, postmenopausal breast cancer, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, and the blood most cancers a number of myeloma.

Dr. Feinsinger is a retired relatives doctor with particular interest in condition avoidance and reversal via diet. Cost-free services via Centre For Avoidance and The People’s Clinic involve: one-hour consultations, shop-with-a-doc at Carbondale Metropolis Current market and cooking courses. Contact 970-379-5718 for appointment, or email [email protected].

December 16, 2022
A New Study Links COVID-19 With This Debilitating Disease
New investigation posted in the Nature Cardiovascular Investigation journal has joined postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS for short) with COVID-19 an infection.

The examine confirms the relationship between the two diseases, which had been observed by several cardiologists, together with Aneesh Tolat, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist with the Hartford Health care Heart & Vascular Institute.

Dr. Tolat points out POTS and its potential link to COVID.

> Connect with the Coronary heart & Vascular Institute

What is POTS and how is it dealt with?

POTS affects a part of the nervous program that regulates involuntary capabilities like coronary heart level, blood pressure, respiration, digestion and sexual arousal. It is normally additional widespread in females among the ages of 15 and 50.

Indicators of the disease include:
- Quick coronary heart charge
- Lower blood force
- Fainting
- Lightheadedness
Therapy for these with POTS is largely self-care this kind of as expanding fluid ingestion, blood pressure treatment, IV fluids and compression stockings, says Dr. Tolat.

> Linked: Is There a Url Among COVID-19 and Atrial Fibrillation?

Vaccine connection

The researchers analyzed facts on close to 300,000 individuals in California who gained just one dose of COVID vaccine or had the virus. Most of all those vaccinated received a Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine.

They found a modest raise in POTS soon after vaccination, exclusively dose a single, but established the threat was five moments higher for all those infected with COVID. This underscores the worth of vaccine, which the Centers for Sickness Command and Avoidance a short while ago credited with preserving additional than 18.5 million individuals in the U.S. out of the healthcare facility and conserving much more than 3.2 million lives.

“The information is apparent. Much more individuals who ended up unvaccinated and obtained COVID obtained POTS,” Dr. Tolat suggests.

> Want extra well being information? Text MoreLife to 31996 to sign up for text alerts

A challenge to diagnose

POTS can be hard to diagnose simply because it shares signs and symptoms with a number of other wellbeing disorders, together with dehydration. Until finally this point, health professionals experienced no crystal clear cause to join it with COVID.

“Inflammation is possible a variable, but the precise induce for POTS is not known,” he clarifies, adding that swelling might also be the website link concerning the condition and COVID vaccination, as pointed out by the investigation.

When to see a medical professional

If you see any indicators of POTS, talk with your main treatment medical professional.
December 15, 2022
Impact of CBD on the Pharmacokinetics of Methylphenidate

With the increase of cannabidiol (CBD) use, understanding how it can influence the outcome of other medications is important.

The use of cannabidiol (CBD) for a assortment of health care reasons is growing and some persons working with CBD could also choose other medicines. Earlier in vitro investigation has indicated that CBD could potentially negatively impact selected drug-metabolizing enzymes, these kinds of as carboxylesterase 1. Methylphenidate is a person drug that utilizes that enzyme. New study examines the effect of CBD on methylphenidate.¹

The investigators recruited healthier, nonsmoking grownups aged 21 to 45 years. Participants were being not authorized to use other prescription or OTC medicines, with the exceptions of oral contraceptives for woman members. Dietary supplements and emergency beverages ended up also restricted. Just about every participant experienced 2 visits where they either have been randomized to both get CBD 750 mg, presented as 7.5 mL of CBD alternative 100 mg/mL of CBD, or 7.5 mL of CBD placebo answer made up of no CBD, to be taken 2 times for each working day. The pharmacokinetic sampling stop by lasted 8 several hours wherever contributors ended up provided an indwelling venous catheter standardized lunch and breakfast and just one 10 mg of methylphenidate dose, as properly as a CBD dose that matched what they’d taken prior to the pay a visit to. Pharmacokinetics for both equally methylphenidate and CBD had been identified utilizing noncompartmental evaluation.

The study recruited 12 subjects, with 2 withdrawing as a end result of scheduling conflicts and suffering from nausea. Investigators identified that the peak concentration for the CBD and placebo group was 13.5 ± 43.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} ng/mL and 12.2 ± 36.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} ng/mL, respectively, with an area under the curve of 70.7 ± 32.5{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for the CBD group and 63.6 ± 25.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for the placebo group. When when compared with only methylphenidate, the geometric signify ratio for location less than the curve and peak focus along with administration of CBD was 1.09 (.89, 1.32) and 1.08 (.85, 1.37), respectively.

The investigators concluded that usage of a clinically related dose of CBD “led to nominal effect on the pharmacokinetics of methylphenidate.” This implies that CBD is not likely to generate a important drug-drug interaction with methylphenidate and may perhaps produce very similar effects with other medicines that utilize carboxylesterase 1.

Reference

1. Markowitz JS, De Faria L, Zhang Q, et al. The impact of cannabidiol on the pharmacokinetics of methylphenidate in nutritious subjects. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids. 20225(1):199-206. doi:10.1159/000527189