How do I survive the Holidays if I have Diabetes?

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year and “tis the season for social eating”. Tempting treats are everywhere. If you have diabetes, you know that the holidays can be an especially tricky time of year to manage.

With some careful planning and smart choices you can make sure that your holidays are both happy and healthy. Now that the season is upon us, here is a simple recipe you can follow to manage your diabetes:

• Have a healthy snack before going to a social event so you don't give in to cravings.
• Fill your plate will healthy things like fruits and veggies. Holiday favorites like pumpkin and turkey are also nutritious and delicious!
• Share a dessert, have only a small amount, or skip the whipped-cream topping.
• Bring a low-fat or sugar-free dish at the next holiday party you attend.
• Make your traditional holiday foods healthier. When baking, use less sugar in a recipe and increase the use of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and other sweet-tasting spices and flavorings.
• Use sugar substitutes to cut carbs and calories
• When you're out shopping, bring along healthy snacks like apples, carrot sticks, or nuts and avoid the food court.

Enjoy Yourself!
You don't have to let diabetes spoil your celebrations. Get caught up in the festivities. Savor time with loved ones. Remember that a little bit of self-control can help make sure that there are many more happy holidays to come for diabetics and their families.

Can Falls be Prevented in our Senior Population?

Falls are the leading cause of injury hospital admissions for seniors in Alberta, as one in three seniors living in the community and over 40% of those living in supportive living experience a fall each year.

While it is recognized that the prevalence of falls increases as we age, it has been well researched that the incidence of accidental falls in the elderly can be prevented. 

At our Retirement Residence we attempt to reduce accidental falls by:

ü      Supporting independence with all activities of daily living, as well as encouraging daily exercise and ambulation within our Home area

ü      We assess the appropriateness of using one bed rail and arrange that the environment is obstacle free

ü      Establish easy access to lighting at night, use night lights and or keep the light on in the bathroom

ü      We frequently monitor the resident and observe that proper footwear is worn before getting up

ü      Shoes should be closed at the toe and heal with a not too smooth or not to chunky sole

ü      We remind our Residents to keep their functional and sensory aids within reach and to avoid fast movements including quick turns or changes in position

ü      We consult with our Health Professional partners on medical and pharmacological management if required

The Alberta “Finding Balance” campaign advocates four specific strategies for Alberta seniors to use in preventing falls.

ü      Check your medication – have a doctor or pharmacist check your medications every year

ü      Keep active – do a half hour of physical activity every day

ü      Watch your step – clear debris from your path, wear supportive shoes, take extra time on ice, and use the hand railings on stairs

ü      Speak up about dizziness – let your health professional know if you are feeling dizzy, and take steps to manage dizziness

Always take care of yourselves with healthy eating, staying active, and learning about the effects of your medications. By doing this you can reduce hospital visits and prevent falling injuries.

What is “the flu” (influenza) and why seniors should receive “the flu shot” (Influenza vaccine) yearly each fall.

Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by influenza A and B viruses. In Canada it generally occurs each year in the late fall and winter months.

Influenza viruses change from year to year. When influenza viruses change, so do the vaccines. The World Health Organization identifies the strains of influenza that are expected to circulate every year. This information is used to develop a vaccine to protect against these strains. The immunity you get from your vaccine decreases over time, which means you need to get immunized every year to stay protected (even if you've been immunized against the same strain before).

Symptoms typically include the sudden onset of headache, chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, running nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur, especially in children and or seniors

Most people will recover from the flu within a week or ten days, but some - including those 65 years of age and older and adults and children with chronic conditions - are at greater risk of more severe complications, such as pneumonia.

The immune system weakens with age leaving older adults more vulnerable to severe disease when they get sick, including influenza, making vaccination critical for this age group. The Influenza vaccination is the best way to help protect against this potentially deadly disease.

If you’re 65 years or older, getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from the flu.

Get Your Flu Vaccine. Not the Flu.

What does retirement home living have to offer a senior who is thinking about making a move?

Many seniors feel that if and when they decide to move into a retirement home, they would have to give up their present lifestyle and one’s self. Of course, you may want to give up some of your daily or weekly chores of cooking and cleaning, but a reputable retirement home will encourage you to remain yourself, involved in what interests you; surrounded by your family and friends. They would understand how important it is for you to live independently, just as you please, in the privacy of your own suite; your home.  Social activities and supportive services should be developed around your needs and choices, that respect your individuality and be supported by engaging and caring staff.

A retirement home that provides supportive living care services will have a regulated nurse, such as a registered or licensed nurse, who takes on the responsibility of being actively involved with developing foundational and regulatory systems that promotes safety. When requested they should be available to work individuality with you, your family and or your community of health professionals to coordinate services that may be required for you to live safely in your suite.

You have many retirement homes to choose from, visit them all, know what your needs and wants are and explore all to see whether the retirement home you are considering can meet your requirements and standards.

Are retirement home employees aware of the many disease processes that affect their senior population?

Education and support are ongoing between the health professionals and support staff at our retirement home. This is usually triggered either by the need to assist a Resident and or their family or by taking the opportunity of monthly awareness campaigns. This month is Arthritis Awareness Month and we took this opportunity to present the topic of Arthritis, the methods of prevention, its symptoms, and approaches to living with it. 

Arthritis causes pain and fatigue, which are the symptoms of the disease process. Inflamed, damaged joints are responsible for most of the pain. The energy your body uses to fight back is the source of the fatigue. This can make everyday activities difficult or painful. When joints are damaged, people tend to presume that reducing movement will reduce pain. The fear of pain usually leads to inactivity and loss of strength; this only worsens the situation because strong muscles are needed to support damaged joints.

There are ways that a person with Arthritis can prevent needless pain and have more energy to do what they want or need to do. Maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity will improve joint flexibility. We incorporate exercises that are approved by the Arthritis Society in our daily chair exercise classes and support the use of Dr. approved medications and therapies to ease the pain, so that our residents can remain as active and independent as possible.

Why do Retirement Homes ensure that there is a robust social program that offers scheduled exercise, activities, and outings into the Community?

Studies have shown that Seniors who choose to not become involved with others or activities increase their risks for falls, dehydration, and are also more likely to have feelings of being depressed.

It is normal for a person to experience a sense of loss if they lose a loved one or have moved out of their life long home and or away from their friends. Sharing with friends helps multiply the joys and divide the sorrows. The physical health benefits of socializing almost as equal to physical exercise, even though the social activities involve almost no physical exertion. Friendship, love and support are lifelines to be shared. It's never too soon to start building relationships and keep active.

By working with your health professionals, keeping physically active, eating healthy, and maintaining or developing new social connectedness, will assist you in optimizing your health and well-being.

In a Retirement Home setting we all work together to promote health and well-being while our Seniors lead healthy and active lives, while ageing.

Will I have to pay privately for care services when I require assistance, while living in a retirement home setting?

In a retirement home setting your suite is your private home, this enables you to access home care services from Alberta Health Services. You access home care services the same way you would if you were in your own home; referral by a family physician, health professional, family member, or self-referral.

The only time you would choose to pay privately from the retirement home health care staff, would be if you had been advised by home care that a particular service was not able to be provided at the time you require the service. Home care is mostly able to provide scheduled care, whereas the retirement home is able to provide care throughout the full 24 hour period.

Home care is always approached first before any private options are presented.

What information would I have to disclose if or when I decide to move into a retirement home?

There are many standards and laws that govern over any retirement home in Alberta. One of these standards is that a retirement home must follow all applicable laws and legislations to ensure that all resident confidential information that is shared, stored, transferred and or disposed of, is done so in a manner that maintains the residents right to have their personal and health-related information kept private and confidential. These standards were developed to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the resident’s right to privacy.

Information is only to be collected for the need to provide safe care or services and is to be collected directly from the resident whenever possible. Retirement homes are only to disclose or share information if it is deemed essential to promote safety and or perform their job duties and to only be passed on to those with a need to know bases.

Any other information shared by a resident or family member will be done so if you deem it to be important to know in case of an emergency.

We all have very different comfort levels as to what we want others to know about us. If at any time you feel uncomfortable passing on information when asked, do ask why it is needed and refuse to give it if you feel the information is not needed to be known to promote your safety and or provide a service.

Making the Move into a Retirement Residence & Downsizing

Moving, at any point in your life is overwhelming, whether it is into your first apartment, new home or retirement residence.  The to-do-list can be daunting to say the least, but making the move from a family home into a retirement residence or assisted living facility adds a large emotional aspect.  Most of the time, this move means downsizing from a home to apartment style accommodation.  With this comes the thought of going through years of treasured personal items which, understandably, causes some stress.

Getting rid of these treasured items is an emotional loss for some of us and as with any loss it is important to honour the emotion that goes along with it.  The memories and stories surrounding these items is often more important than the item itself so consider taking the extra time to create a keepsake book of photos and stories to help cherish and remember these memories. 

It is also much easier to part with things if we know they will be used or appreciated by someone else. So research companies in your area who can help you sell, donate or recycle unwanted items.  You will also come across items that you already have a home in mind for, for example items you want your family and friends to enjoy.  Having a contact list ready before hand, will make it easier when or if you need to contact them.

Now you can break the process down into manageable tasks.  I recommend starting by getting rid of the obvious.  Every home has its chipped coffee mugs, collection of flyers, pens that don’t write, duplicate coffee makers and mismatched socks.  Once you have finished this take a thorough look in your closets and drawers to remove clothes that don’t fit, or those you haven’t worn in the past year.  This will help you get started and ease yourself into the process.

Next, consider tackling the areas of the house you use the least.  For example the spare room or garage.  These spaces are less likely to be over-cluttered so you will see faster progress, keeping the momentum going.

Select furnishings, keepsakes and meaningful decorations to move with you.  Be sure to have a clear objective in mind, the best approach is to bring enough to fit the space without overwhelming it.  Make sure you have your new floor plan, a tape measure and some patience.  Begin selecting items that are both functional and familiar.  Make sure to incorporate your favourite paintings, framed photographs, treasured souvenirs, family heirlooms and most cherished personal items.  This will create a comfortable atmosphere that will make your new place feel like home.

The next step is determining items that can be sold, auctioned or donated.  Selling items is a fantastic option because someone else can cherish the item and make their own stories around them.  For items that are not sellable, you can donate them to local charities and people in need.  There are also some organizations that will provide you with tax receipts for your donated items.

Moving into a retirement residence isn’t always easy, but you are not on your own.  There are so many resources to help and people, just like you, who have made the transition that would be happy to share their story.

For more information about local downsizing resources email Suzie Mandziak at smandziak@masterpieceretirement.com.  Suzie is the Lifestyles Manager at Masterpiece River Ridge, a retirement residence in Medicine Hat , Alberta that offers supportive living, assisted living and continuing care.  www.MasterpieceRetirement.com