HOT TOPIC: How Seniors Can Stay COOL During the HOT Summer Months

Summer is now here along with its hot temperatures and humidity.  Therefore, it is very important for all of us to stay cool and hydrated especially the elderly population.  Below is a listing of things to do in order to stay safe and cool during these extremely warm summery months to come:

• Keep air circulating with fans; take cool sponge baths.
• Go to an air-conditioned building if possible. Older adults can visit their local senior center, library, or mall.
• Wear loose-fitting, light-weight clothing.  If going out, wear a hat.
• Drink lots of water and don't wait to get "thirsty".
• Avoid alcohol.
• Limit physical activity and direct exposure to the sun.
• Check with your health care provider about how the warm weather may affect your prescription drugs.
• Contact your health provider if you experience prolonged heat-related symptoms, or if those symptoms significantly affect the ability to care for yourself.

Very hot intense weather can also cause dangerous strain on the heart, exacerbate respiratory impairments like asthma or emphysema and a range of other medical conditions, and also affect the ability to manage chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.  For more information about services for the elderly, call NYC, Department for the Aging at 311 or 212-New-York outside the five boroughs.

Health Care Related Topics/Issues You Would Like To See On Blog

Spring is in the air, and I would love to hear what topics or issues you would like to see featured. Just simply comment to this posting and your request will be headlined as one of the upcoming "Today's Hot Topic". I can't wait to see your feedback!

TODAY'S HOT TOPIC - Alternatives For Senior Living

Being a Senior this day and age definitely isn't an easy task like the "Good Old Days" . There are so many more things to think about besides where's the next vacation spot. Instead, majority of their time is spent making sure they are budgeting properly do to the current cost of living, which eventually causes for some drastic life changes. The most emergent change that first comes to mind is senior living accommodations.

I know some folks reading this off the bat will say, "hey there are tons of retirement centers, nursing homes, and other services out there so what's the big deal". Well, this issue is a very big deal. A lot of us need to put our feet in their shoes and see how difficult it is to actually step outside our comfort zone. Plus, they really have to downsize in order to efficiently reside in their new quarters, giving up tons of mementos.

At different stages in a Senior's life, residential needs become more demanding. Therefore, the intentions of this post is to address alternatives for "Senior Living" besides the typical retirement centers and depressing nursing homes.

After visiting http://www.alternativesforseniors.com/ , I didn't know myself that there are so many options out there for seniors to choose from based on their needs. Unfortunately, this information isn't really publicized or readily accessible so this population can obtain it easily.

Alternativeforseniors.com has some really beneficial residing features. For instance, you have the ability to chose from a listing of Housing Options (Independent Living, Senior Apartments, Assisted Living, Alzheimer's Care, Nursing/Rehab Centers, and Continuing Care Retirement) and Care Options (Adult Day Care, Home Care, and Hospice Care), which are broken down by state. The really great part about this site is that all the information provided is FREE! They also have additional resourceful information that Seniors can benefit from a great deal, and I plan to address those topic in future posts.

However, if you know anyone that can benefit from this information please help me spread the word. If you need any additional assistance or have questions please feel free to contact me at wynn_healthcarecounts@yahoo.com .