Muscle Building After 60: Paving The Path For Healthy Aging
As we age, our body’s functions deteriorate at several levels. We may be faced with changes in our musculoskeletal or cardiovascular health, we may experience restricted mobility. While these are all experiences that we can try to prepare for mentally and with our habits, what most seniors do not prepare for is age-related muscle loss, also known as sacropenia.
Sacropenia can start as early as 30 years in some cases and can cause a decrease of up to 5% muscle mass each decade.
Symptoms and Causes
Sacropenia may result in a reduction of the body’s ability to convert protein into energy. This may also lead to a decrease in muscle size and a loss of muscle fibers. The loss in energy may induce weakness, a decreased in stamina and may lead to a reduction in physical activity. Those suffering from sacropenia may also experience low levels of hormones, difficulty in maintaining balance and climbing stairs.
Sacropenia has the potential to greatly impact and impair a person’s functionality. Hence, it is crucial that a regular fitness regimen be in place to help you recover from the loss of muscle mass. Here are a few recommendations.
Ensuring Proper Nutritional Intake
As we age, our body’s daily calorie requirement lowers but we still need several other nutritional needs to account for. A balanced diet that includes lean protein, nuts, greens such as broccoli and spinach as well as food that is plentiful in calcium is a pre-requisite of a healthy diet for seniors. It is also crucial to take multivitamins daily and ensure that you are hydrated sufficiently.
Increase Reps, Not Weights
Increasing weights may lead to overexertion. Rely instead, on increasing the number of reps per exercise so that each muscle group is worked sufficiently to retain its mass. Break away from the typical pattern of 10 reps per set and work each muscle until you begin to feel fatigue.
Recovery Time Is Important!
According to research, it is more difficult for us to recover our muscles after a workout when we are older, as opposed to when we are younger. This means that older adults may subject themselves to the risks of overtraining, increasing their chances of overexertion and injury. It is therefore recommended that the workouts be spaced with rest days in between. Another way to ensure that you give yourself enough time to recover is by alternating between strength training and cardio workouts.
Looking for a senior living facility that helps seniors age healthily? Reach out to AvantGarde.
AvantGarde is a senior living facility and retirement community in Tarzana, CA that provides services in assisted living, elder care and memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
Book a tour at the AvantGarde facility, by calling (818) 881-0055 or visit their website for an online tour!
Risks of Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a challenging condition for the individual dealing with it and their loved ones and caretaker(s). Caring for someone with this debilitating condition requires precise care, and if handled incorrectly, can be risky for both the patient and the caregiver.Read more
Here’s What You Need to Know about Strokes in Elderly
Strokes are one of the leading causes of health concern in Americans today.
With over 800,000 people being affected by strokes annually, nearly 75 per cent of the victims of this disease are over the age of 65. It is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, along with being one of the leading causes of long-term disabilities among Americans.Read more
Senior Safety Checklist: Tips for Ensuring the Safety of Dementia Patients
Taking care of a senior loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia requires careful attention on behalf of caregivers.
With the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia, a person’s abilities also change. A loved one suffering from such an illness can stay at home under the supervision and care of their families, as long as there are safety measures in place.
How Does Dementia and Alzheimer’s Affect Safety?
Alzheimer’s and dementia can cause numerous changes in the brain and body of the patient, which may affect safety. These changes progress differently, depending on the stage of the disease. Some examples of the causes of threat to safety are as follows.
Judgment
Patients may forget how to use household appliances.
Sense of time and place
Patients may forget how to navigate around their own street.
Behavioral Changes
Patients with dementia can become easily confused, disoriented, paranoid and fearful.
Physical Ability
Dementia patients may have trouble keeping their balance.
Senses
Dementia patients may experience changes in their vision, hearing, and ability to assess temperatures and may even fail to perceive depth accurately.
Safety Tips for Home
Dementia patients may sometimes find themselves in unsafe situations. The areas that invoke special concern are driving and wandering away from home.
Caregivers may also need to make changes in their homes by removing furniture, installing locks, etc. Here are a few safety tips for home that can help you ensure the safety of your loved one.
Discourage Dementia Patients from Driving
Dementia patients should abstain from driving. Not only is it unsafe but it can also be potentially illegal. To be on the safe side, ask your loved one’s healthcare provider if driving is safe for the patient. If not, you can take several steps to ensure their safety.
Begin by limiting their access to the car. Help them understand this.
Watch Out For Wandering
Patients with dementia may wander away from the house, fail to navigate or assess their location and hence lose their way back.
To ensure their safety, try having your loved one wear an ID bracelet at all times.
Install door chimes in your home so that you can be alert when doors leading out of the house are being opened. Ask your neighbors to call you if they see your loved one wandering around and try to go along with them if they insist on leaving the house for a walk. This can be very challenging for them; be empathetic.
Make Living Spaces Patient-Friendly
A crucial part of ensuring safety for dementia patients is by making living spaces clutter-free and installing safety alarms.
Make sure emergency numbers and home address are displayed visibly near phones. Install smoke alarms and keep your home well-lit. Move electrical cords out of the way to reduce the chances of tripping and falling.
Looking for Alzheimer’s Care and assisted living communities for a loved one in Tarzana, CA?
AvantGarde Senior Living is an assisted living community in Tarzana, CA that provides services in assisted living and memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. To book a tour at the AvantGarde community, give them a call at (818) 881-0055 or visit their website for an online tour!
How to Choose the Right Senior Living Community for a Loved One
Choosing a senior care facility for your loved is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll ever make. But, it’s also one of the most important ones!
It’s understandable that you’re not sure where to begin and are struggling with so many options to choose from. Choosing the right facility isn’t easy but it’s not impossible either!
There are probably hundreds of assisted-living facilities nearby but only one of them will be the right choice. Here’s what you should take into consideration when making a decision:
How To Help a Senior Memory Care Patient With Alzheimer’s Live Well
Did you know that Alzheimer's affects 5.7 million people in the US and this number is set to increase to 14 million by 2050? Moreover, Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country.
Finding out that someone you love has Alzheimer's can be a traumatic experience. In order to care for them and ensure they live the best possible quality of life, here is what you should do:
Educate yourself
Understanding the causes and effects of the disease is imperative. The more you educate yourself on Alzheimer's, you will be in a position to understand how the disease affects them and how you can assist them.
Preserve your relationship with your loved one
Focus on your relationship with your loved one. People suffering from Alzheimer's need love, companionship and support. Communicate with them and plan out different activities for them to perform.
A recent study shows canine companionship can be beneficial for those with Alzheimer's. It can improve symptoms of anxiety or depression among patients.
Stay calm
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s can change daily. Naturally, taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s can be frustrating.
Be patient and keep your calm. Avoid venting out your frustrations on your loved one. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s requires a lot of mental and physical stamina.
It is important to take care of your own health and well-being, enabling you to get through difficult times.
Explore support groups
Taking care of someone with any form of dementia is a full-time job. If you not able to give your best, you may want to move your loved one to a memory care facility.
Memory care facilities are designed for seniors suffering from memory-related issues.
Under the supervision of trained, experienced staff, seniors receive comprehensive support and assistance to perform daily tasks, such as bathing, medicine reminders, and more, and maintain a decent lifestyle.
At AvantGarde Senior Living & Memory Care, we understand that each senior has unique needs. Our living arrangements are designed to cater to their needs and ensure they receive topnotch levels of care and personal assistance.
Our memory care facility is suitable for those suffering from Alzheimer’s in Tarzana, California. Our team of knowledgeable, trained professionals are equipped with innovative techniques, memory cues, verbal and non-verbal communications to help residents live with dignity. In addition, they are compassionate, courteous and are dedicated to delivering the best care for seniors with Alzheimer’s or any other memory loss condition.
Healthy Aging: Keeping Your Senior’s Mind Active
We often remind ourselves to exercise physically but we seldom remind ourselves to train our brains. It is important to encourage your seniors to stay fit both physically and mentally. When they participate in activities that challenge their brains, not only will they maintain good health, it will also greatly boost their mood.
It is important that seniors consistently participate in activities that help them keep mentally fit. Engaging the brain in creative ways will promote emotional and physical rejuvenation. It will also help them ward off degenerative mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia.Read more
Old Age Need Not Be A ‘Snore-Bore’ – 5 Fun Activities To Do In Assisted Living Facilities
Being safe, cared for, and healthy aren’t the only things that matter when you live in an assisted living facility; your happiness counts too.
Residents of a senior living community have the same basic needs as everyone else. No matter what age, they need to let loose and have some fun, to learn and explore new things, to laugh, and to live their lives to the fullest—which is why, activities in assisted living communities are more important than ever.
But a game of bingo or bridge isn’t enough. Although a classic enjoyable activity, seniors need fun and new things to keep them active and content.
Here are 5 entertaining things that seniors can take part in at an assisted living community:
1. Field Trips
Frequent field trips to exciting places such as sport games, museums, concerts and shows will provide great entertainment to your elderly. It serves as a change of scene and will make for a fun group activity.
2. Karaoke
It is never too late to sing your heart out, no matter how bad you sound. Karaoke has always been a fun activity and can greatly boost spirits. Engage in a fun singing session with other senior members. Assisted communities may even host an “American Idol” type of competition to make it more challenging and entertaining.
3. Dancing
Dancing keeps you physically fit and young at heart. Senior living residents can enjoy various kinds of dancing such as line dancing, ballroom dancing, swing dancing and more.
4. Virtual Games
It is never too late to play video games. Just because it’s new technology, senior members should not be deprived of fun Wii games. If they want to, senior residents can play a game of Wii tennis or bowling right in the living room.
5. Workshops and Learning Lessons
Learning new things and skills can bring great joy to anyone and is a sign of growth. Writing workshops are a great activity as they can help the elderly pen down their experiences or craft a new story to tell their peers.
Painting lessons and learning new languages is also great. Residents who are more literary inclined can form book clubs. Computer classes are also a great way to keep in touch with distant family members.
We know how important entertainment and fun activities are to your overall health. Our senior living community residents at AvantGarde Senior Living have daily fun-filled activities such as golf, corn hole toss, drum circles, group exercise classes and more.
If you are looking for a facility that provides both comfort and fun, schedule a tour or contact us at (818) 881-0055 right away!