What Does Vitamin D Have to Do with Kidney Health?

Posted in Caregiver in Elba AL, Home Care in Elba AL |

May 20, 2020

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More than 50 percent of people in the United States don’t get enough vitamin D. You may know that vitamin D has been linked to bone health since it helps the body to absorb calcium. However, what you may not know is that it is also important to kidney health.

 

Homecare in Elba AL: Vitamin D and Kidney Health

Homecare in Elba AL: Vitamin D and Kidney Health

 

The Link Between Vitamin D and Kidneys

People get vitamin D from three sources: the sun, food, or supplements. The kidneys help the body to turn the vitamin D it takes in from the sun or from supplements into its active form, a substance the body can use.

Often, people with chronic kidney disease are very deficient in vitamin D, sometimes severely so. The reason for this is that as kidneys become more and more damaged, they are not as effective in turning vitamin D into its active form. Elderly people with kidney disease seem to be among those especially susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.

Because vitamin D can be an issue for seniors with kidney disease, a doctor may suggest they take a supplement, even in the early stages. In addition, family caregivers can help older adults to support kidney health by serving foods that are rich in vitamin D. Some good sources are:

  • Cheese.
  • Beef liver.
  • Fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon.
  • Egg yolks.
  • Foods that have been fortified with vitamin D, like certain dairy products, orange juice, and cereal.

Other Ways to Support Kidney Health

In addition to eating foods that contain vitamin D, there are plenty of things seniors can do to improve their kidney health, such as:

-Exercise: Exercising regularly can support kidney health through weight loss and lowering blood pressure.

-Control Blood Sugar: Uncontrolled blood sugar can harm the tissues in the kidneys.

-Keep an Eye on Blood Pressure: Having blood pressure that is consistently higher than 140/90 can also damage the kidneys.

-Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps the kidneys to flush toxins from the body.

If your older family member has chronic kidney disease, home care can help them to maintain, and perhaps improve, their kidney health. A home care provider can prepare meals that are balanced and healthy as well as including foods that contain vitamin D. Home care providers can also help your older family member to exercise by doing things like taking walks with them or driving them to an exercise class or facility. Home care providers can also remind the older adult to take medications or supplements suggested by the doctor for managing kidney problems.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Healthcare in Elba, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources
https://www.kidney.org/news/
https://www.webmd.com/
https://www.healthline.com/

Simple Crafts That Keep Your Mom and Children Occupied

Posted in Home Care in Elba AL, Home Health Care in Elba AL |

April 24, 2020

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Maybe there’s a virus going around your house that has your family staying inside. Maybe the weather isn’t cooperating. For whatever reason, your children and mom are stuck inside and getting bored. It’s hard to get things done around the house when your family is bored.

 

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Senior Crafts

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Senior Crafts

 

Instead of letting the boredom continue, get them involved in simple crafts that all ages can do. These crafts are all easy for children and adults and keep people occupied for hours.

 

Melted Crayon Art

Sharpen a bunch of crayons using a hand-held sharpener. Set the crayon shavings aside on small sheets of wax paper. Set those wax paper squares on a table with some sheets of paper.

Have your mom and children place the crayon shavings on a sheet of paper in whatever design appeals to them. Cover the artwork with the second sheet of paper. Carefully carry the paper to an ironing board and iron the paper so that the crayon shavings melt. Pull off the top piece of paper to reveal the crayon art.

 

Origami

You don’t need much to get started with origami. Paper squares and instructions that you can print out online gets you started. From there, it’s all a matter of following the instructions when it comes to folding the paper into different animals or objects.

Origami paper is sold in packets at craft stores. You can also make squares from magazines, wrapping paper, and junk mail. You’ll need scissors to cut them into squares.

 

Painted Rocks

Gather rocks while you’re out walking. Bring them home and soak them in a bleach and water solution and scrub away any dirt. Once they’re clean, allow them to fully dry.

Cover a table in a newspaper or a vinyl tablecloth to protect the wood. A selection of paintbrushes and cotton swabs provide the tools needed to paint. Use a styrofoam egg tray or several small paper cups and fill them with different paint colors.

Your mom and kids can paint the rocks and transform them into little creatures, flowers, or other objects. Once dried, they can go into your gardens to add splashes of color.

 

Are you struggling to get everything done when you’re a family caregiver? Have you considered hiring caregivers to help your parents out? If you’re balancing the care of your children and your parents, which is common in the sandwich generation, caregivers are important. Call a home care agency to help your parents so that you can focus on family.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Elba, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

July is UV Safety Month- Help Your Senior Loved-One Stay Protected!

Posted in Caregiver in Elba AL, Home Care in Elba AL |

July 2, 2019

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July and the rest of the summer months pose significant risks from excessive sun exposure. This is why UV safety month is a great time to refresh your knowledge about the dangers of things like sunburn and the possibility of skin cancer from excessive solar radiation.

 

Home Care in Elba AL: July is UV Safety Month

Home Care in Elba AL: July is UV Safety Month

 

The purpose of UV safety month is to focus on providing information related to staying safe while exposed to the sun.

Senior care is also especially important when considering UV safety, as the elderly tend to be much more susceptible to health problems. This is especially true if older people are fair skinned or taking certain medications that can exacerbate the effects of UV radiation. Decreased immunity that is associated with the elderly and infirm also puts certain individuals at a higher risk of damage from the sun.

How to protect aging skin?

One important tip is to stay in shaded areas as much as realistically possible during the middle of the day. From about noon to 4 or 5 pm is when the sun will be strongest in most areas, so the skin can burn quickly and the elderly can get dehydrated and stressed from intense heat and sunlight.

There are a number of skin care products that also give protection. Most doctors recommend that any kind of sunscreen or lotion should be SPF 15 or greater and should be reapplied every few hours as the protection starts to break down.

Clothing such as hats or long sleeves can make a big difference when someone will be outdoors for extended periods of time. Ideally, most exposed skin should be covered in order to minimize the possibility of burning, especially around areas such as the head, neck, and back.

Sunglasses can protect against cataracts and other harmful effects of UV rays entering the eyes consistently. Many sunglasses now are specifically designed to block UV rays and protect much of the face and forehead. Unfortunately, exposure to the sun and UV rays is believed to be one of the main reasons seniors begin to lose their vision.

 

Aftercare

After someone has been exposed to the sun, it can be helpful to take some precautionary measures even if no noticeable burns are visible. Remember that sunburn may not appear until several hours later or even the next day. Aloe Vera and other related products can moisturize and heal the skin after intense sun exposure. Water and sports drinks can help maintain hydration, while alcohol should be avoided immediately after sun exposure to prevent further dehydration. If someone is actually sunburned, a cold towel or over the counter pain relievers can be used to minimize the symptoms and discomfort. In cases where an elderly person seems to be severely burned or in a lot of pain, they may require a visit to an emergency room to prevent further health complications. A home care service provider can help you with this, by taking them to the doctor if you are unable.

 

Remember to be safe and have fun

While sun exposure can really be harmful, by following just some of the basic rules outlined above, your time outdoors can be enjoyable and worry-free. As long as you are making an attempt to be safe, remember to relax and make the most of the beautiful summer weather.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Elba, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Source

Precheck.com