The Aging Suite

Safe Holiday Home Decorating

This article was originally posted on December 21, 2009 Home safety is essential to successfully aging in place. Home safety can take many forms, from preventing falls in the kitchen and bathroom, to preventing accidental fires. As the holidays approach, we need to continue to pay close attention to home safety and fall prevention. This time of year, we love decorating our homes for the season, however, in our desire to be festive, we sometimes overlook safety issues. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, 3,300 residential fires originate as a ...

Aging in Place Workbook

Aging in place is an important topic for seniors as well as baby boomers. Simply said, aging in place is as it sounds; it’s the ability to remain in one’s home safely, functionally, and independently as long as possible. Baby boomers make up 28% of the US population and own 48% of all homes. Boomers, now more than ever, are looking for ways to age in place, realizing that they may need to make changes to their current homes or move into one that will allow them to do so. An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said ...

End Stage Renal Disease

Keeping with National Diabetes Month, we will be discussing End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) this week. Diabetes is the most common cause of ESRD and ESRD impacts all of the body’s major organs. ESRD occurs when there is permanent failure of the kidneys meaning the kidneys no longer having the ability to regulate electrolytes, remove waste, and concentrate urine. ESRD may occur after a person has suffered chronic kidney failure (which may span over a period of one to two decades). Treatment for the disease includes dialysis or a kidney transplant. Additionally, individuals may ...

Diabetes and Blood Pressure

A major part of aging in place is living in your home safely and independently. Diabetes can impact your independence, but you can limit its impact. Education is key. Atherosclerosis occurs when deposits of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances build up in the arteries and cause a plaque buildup in the lining of the artery. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can contribute to atherosclerosis. A diabetic is at increased risk for developing high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. In fact, it’s estimated that 60% of people with diabetes have ...

National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month It’s estimated that 23.6 million people in the US have diabetes. 17.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease and another 5.7 million are unaware that they are diabetics. November is National Diabetes month. The American Diabetes Association has a national movement this month to Stop Diabetes. In recognition of this, The Aging Suite will be discussing issues that affect older individuals with diabetes. Diabetes impacts the entire body including a person’s sensation and vision. The Aging Suite hopes to help empower people by educating them about diabetes ...