According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 50-70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations can be attributed to people who are 65 years of age or older. With many hospitals still struggling to meet the demands of COVID-19 positive patients, it’s easy to see how adding flu-related hospitalizations could make an already tenuous situation worse.
Mark Thompson, an epidemiologist in the Influenza Division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states, "People who can avoid the flu will help reduce the burden on a U.S. health care system already overwhelmed by COVID-19.”

With this in mind, the Florida in-home care experts at American, Advocate, Douglas and Whitsyms In-Home Care provide the following three tips on the importance of getting a flu vaccine this year:

1. Plan to get the vaccine early. Healthcare providers and many pharmacies offer the flu vaccine each year. Due to an anticipated increase in demand for the flu vaccine, it’s important to plan to get the vaccine as early as it’s available, which is typically September. This online resource provides information about local clinics that offer flu vaccines near you.
2. Learn about the different types of flu vaccine. While the flu vaccine is approved for most people 6 months of age or older, there are different types of flu shots for specific age groups. Doctors typically recommend a high-dose vaccine or a vaccine made with adjuvant for anyone over the age of 65 years old.
3. Be proactive and protect yourself. Because the immune system becomes weaker with age, it becomes difficult for the body to fight off infections like the flu, putting seniors at greater risk for serious complications and potential hospitalizations. Getting an annual flu shot is a proactive way to protect your health.

Flu shots for seniors are covered by Medicare and by most private insurance. For seniors who don’t have insurance, many pharmacies and clinics offer flu shots at very low cost.

A seasonal flu vaccine is an easy way to reduce or minimize the risk for the serious complications that can occur when older adults get the flu. Our experienced referred care providers can help provide transportation to ensure seniors are up-to-date on all of their vaccines, and can also help keep the home clean and sanitized and the refrigerator stocked with healthy food and snacks.

Discover more about the ways our family of brands can help promote optimum health for a senior you love, select the location nearest you:

• American In-Home Care – Serving North, Central, and West Coast of Florida
• Advocate In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
• Douglas In-Home Care – Serving Treasure Coast
• Whitsyms In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida

Contact us any time for additional information on how our professional Florida Home Health Care Services can help keep seniors safe & healthy during Flu season and beyond.

State of Florida License and Registration Numbers: 30211518, 30211651, 30211295, 30211390, 30210978, 30211293, 30211382, 30211504, 30211733, 30211535, 30211531, 30211710, 30211709, 30211045, 5661

The post The Importance of Flu Shots for Seniors appeared first on Advocate.

Seniors can have particular difficulty withstanding a hurricane. Evacuation can be especially difficult for seniors, many of whom can’t drive, or have mobility issues. Evacuation can be challenging emotionally for seniors as well.

Even though we have more sophisticated methods of predicting storms and their paths than ever before, it is often difficult for seniors to access information about a storm’s approach, and to prepare for it on their own.

Because of this, seniors in hurricane-prone areas should be aware of ways to prepare, and should make specific disaster-preparedness plans with their family members and caregivers.

Special Considerations

It is important to understand the difference between an advisory, a watch, and a warning. When dealing with weather events, forecasters use a three-tier system to let people know what risks they face.

1. An Advisory simply means that hurricane-related weather might inconvenience people in an area or cause mild disruption.
2. A Watch means that there’s a high likelihood that a hurricane will strike in the area in the next two days, and works mostly as a suggestion to stay tuned to emergency bulletins.
3. A Warning means that there’s a very high likelihood that a hurricane will strike in the area in the next 36 hours, and means that you should probably prepare to evacuate.

Special Plans

To prepare for hurricane season, the best strategy is to do the most you can to prepare for the worst. This includes:

1. Take an inventory of valuables in case the storm damages the home. This can be as simple as taking a video or pictures of your home’s interior using the camera on your phone.
2. Make your home as weather-proof as possible, including cleaning out gutters and downspouts, and making sure sump pumps and other anti-flooding measures are in good condition. You may also want to make sure that valuable items and important documents are out of the range of any floodwaters. If seniors are unable to do these activities their your own, be sure that caregivers, family members, or friends help them prepare in this way.
3. For your safety and comfort, have a disaster supplies kit packed and ready in one place before a disaster hits. Assemble enough supplies to last for at least three days. Store your supplies in one or more easy-to-carry containers, such as a backpack or duffel bag (seniors might want to consider storing supplies in a container that has wheels so that it is easy to carry)
4. Keeping your kit up-to-date is also important. Review the contents at least every six months or as your needs change. Check expiration dates and shift your stored supplies into everyday use before they expire. Replace food, water and batteries, and refresh medications and other perishable items with “first in, first out” practices.
5. Be ready to evacuate. Try to make your emergency preparedness kit is as portable as possible, and, if you have a car, always leave it with at least half a tank of gas during hurricane season to facilitate a quick getaway.
6. Arrange for someone to check on you during the event of a disaster. Be sure to include any caregivers in your meeting and planning efforts.
7. Carry family contact information in your wallet. Choose an out-of-town contact person. After a disaster, it is often easier to make a long-distance call than a local call from a disaster area.
8. Keep copies of vital family records and other important documents such as birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, passports, wills, deeds, and financial, insurance and immunizations records in a safe location, like a fire safe or safe-deposit box
9. Keep support items like wheelchairs and walkers in a designated place so they can be found quickly. This step is essential for those who have home-health caregivers, particularly for those who are bed bound.
10. Label any equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes or walkers, that you would need with your name, address and phone numbers.

Heat In The Aftermath

A hurricane often brings hot, humid weather in its wake, and that can be dangerous if it’s coupled with a long-term power outage, because seniors often have particular difficulty coping with heat. Even if your home is intact and you haven’t been told to evacuate, a power outage could still happen, and might be a good reason to leave the area in order to avoid heat-related health problems.

Help Seniors Be Prepared

In summary, it can be hard for seniors to prepare for disasters on their own. It is essential, then, for seniors and the people who care for them to give a lot of thought to how best to respond to natural disasters. They should, ideally, plan and prepare for them far in advance. One thing that people can do to help is check in to make sure that seniors are aware of any potential threats and to encourage them to take appropriate action.

Meet with your family, friends, and caregivers frequently to explain your concerns and create a support network that can work as a team to prepare, and to respond in the event of a natural disaster.

For a complete guide on disaster-preparedness, we recommend utilizing this booklet from the Red Cross.

Partner with a Trusted In Home Care Provider

Trusted by Florida families for more than 25 years, American In Home Care’s credentialed caregivers can help support the hobbies, pastimes, and activities that our older adult clients enjoy. In addition to helping keep a senior loved one active and engaged, let us assist with light housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, and so much more.

To learn more about our comprehensive home care services, reach out to one of the four
offices conveniently located throughout the state:

• American In-Home Care – Serving North, Central, and West Coast of Florida
• Advocate In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
• Douglas In-Home Care – Serving Treasure Coast
• Whitsyms In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida

Contact ustoday to learn more about how our professional Florida home care services can offer much needed companionship during the pandemic for a senior you love. We look forward to hearing from you!

State of Florida License and Registration Numbers: 30211518, 30211651, 30211295, 30211390, 30210978, 30211293, 30211382, 30211504, 30211733, 30211535, 30211531, 30211710, 30211709, 30211045, 5661

The post Hurricane Preparedness for Seniors appeared first on Advocate.

Social isolation and loneliness can be especially challenging for seniors during the pandemic. Learn ways to help keep seniors engaged, active and safe, right in the comfort of home. For nearly everyone, the coronavirus pandemic upended the way we live. Social and religious gatherings were suspended, face-to-face meetings with friends and family strongly cautioned, even trips to the grocery store or to run errands were seen as hazards due to potential exposure.
As communities begin to take tentative steps toward resuming some of these activities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to recommend that people who are 65 years of age or older and those who have severe underlying medical conditions like diabetes or heart or lung disease continue to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible due to a higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
For many older adults, this continued disruption to a routine that, under usual circumstances, would include in-person interaction and social outings, presents added issues: health risks due to social isolation and loneliness. While loneliness and social isolation are sometimes used interchangeably, they are, in fact, different, but related, according to research conducted by the late John T. Cacioppo, Ph.D., former director of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago:
Social isolation: the objective physical separation from other people (living alone).
Loneliness: the subjective distressed feeling of being alone or separated.
The health impacts of social isolation and loneliness can be quite consequential and may include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• A weakened immune system
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Cognitive decline
• Alzheimer’s disease

To help older adults successfully cope with the continuing upheaval to “normal” life, we recommend the following to counteract social isolation and reduce loneliness:
Outdoor activities: Research has shown that interacting with older adults outdoors is safer than being in closed, indoor spaces. Take advantage of our nearly perfect year-round weather in Florida and have a social distancing dinner or happy hour in the driveway or on the back porch. Go for a walk around the block or at a nearby park. Outdoor activities with a few select individuals are a great way to maintain in-person contact while still respecting social distancing guidelines.
Electronic communication: While a phone call is always welcomed, help a senior loved one install and use a video conferencing app. This is a great way to have a face-to-face conversation, especially if your loved one lives out of the area and you won’t be able to visit in person this summer. A small family gathering could be planned, too, by inviting relatives from around the country to join in on a video chat.
Hobbies and other pastimes. If your loved one has a particular hobby that has been put on the backburner, encourage him or her to engage in it again. Maybe a loved one is knowledgeable about your family history or has a lot of old family photographs that can be sorted. Taking the time to write and record information that can be shared with younger generations is vitally important. Consider other hobbies such as gardening, playing a musical instrument or knitting. Now is the perfect time to learn a new hobby, too.
Partner with a trusted provider of credentialed caregivers. Offering friendly and consistent companionship and care, our referred care providers can help older adults navigate these trying times and ward off feelings of isolation and loneliness. From planning engaging activities at home to preparing nutritious meals and assisting with personal care needs, we work with you and your senior loved one to make an ideal care provider match, considering not only the skills necessary to deliver expert care, but personality and interests, too.
Our family of brands has proudly provided trusted and reliable in-home care in Florida for over 25 years. With offices conveniently located throughout the state, learn more about the services we provide in the following communities:
American In-Home Care – Serving North, Central, and West Coast of Florida
Advocate In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
Douglas In-Home Care – Serving Treasure Coast
Whitsyms In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida
Contact us today at the location nearest you and let us help a senior you love thrive in the comfort and familiarity of home.
State of Florida License and Registration Numbers: 30211518, 30211651, 30211295, 30211390, 30210978, 30211293, 30211382, 30211504, 30211733, 30211535, 30211531, 30211710, 30211709, 30211045, 5661

The post The Impacts of Social Isolation on the Elderly During the Pandemic appeared first on Advocate.

Since older adults require special considerations when preparing for a natural disaster such as a hurricane, we’re compiled some helpful resources to ensure their particular needs are addressed:

• The Administration for Community Living Emergency Preparedness: With as many as half of older adults diagnosed with two or more chronic medical conditions, in addition to the normal impacts of aging, vulnerability is magnified during a time of crisis. This page provides tips for a “whole-community” approach to preparedness to ensure the wellbeing of our area’s senior population.

• State of Florida Elder Affairs Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders: With messages from both the governor and secretary of Florida, this downloadable document contains a wealth of information, answers to frequently asked questions, help with determining insurance coverage, what to do when a hurricane warning is issued, and much more.

• The American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness For Seniors By Seniors Guide: Written by a group of seniors who experienced the unique perspective of enduring a two-week power outage during a massive ice storm in New York, this guide is invaluable for gaining firsthand wisdom and suggestions to help older adults safely weather any storm.

• Older Floridians Handbook: Published by the Florida Justice Institute, Inc., with input from Carlton Fields, P.A. and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, this handbook highlights legal and program information on topics that are of special interest to older Floridians.

• Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has compiled important information on the use of medications impacted by fire, flood, unsafe water, or power outages – crucial for older adults, the majority of whom are taking multiple medications.
In addition, we’re pleased to refer fully credentialed caregivers to seniors and their families to ensure they’re completely prepared and supported before, during, and after a hurricane. Whether the need is for assistance in putting together an emergency preparedness plan and kit, helping with personal care needs, preparing meals, running errands, or simply providing friendly companionship and reassurance during a time of uncertainty, our referred care providers are here for you.

As the trusted choice for senior in-home care in Florida for over 25 years, our family of brands has offices conveniently located throughout the state:

• American In-Home Care – Serving North, Central, and West Coast of Florida

• Advocate In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida

• Douglas In-Home Care – Serving Treasure Coast

• Whitsyms In-Home Care – Serving Southeast and Southwest Florida

Contact us today at the location nearest you and let us help find the perfect care provider to meet your needs.

State of Florida License and Registration Numbers: 30211518, 30211651, 30211295, 30211390, 30210978, 30211293, 30211382, 30211504, 30211733, 30211535, 30211531, 30211710, 30211709, 30211045, 5661

The post Hurricane Preparedness for Seniors: Tips to Help Older Adults appeared first on Advocate.

Saturday, March 10  |  10:30 AM - 1:30 PM  |  Frank Mackle Park, Marco Island, Florida

Cure PSP is a non-profit organization that helps families affected by rare, neurodegenerative brain diseases through education, support, and advocacy, along with educational programs for physicians, public awareness, and worldwide research efforts.

Help us support the CurePSP organization by joining us on Saturday, March 10th to walk! You can either join in the walk, or come to the event to support and enjoy other entertainment.

There will be a Silent Auction, Raffle Prizes, and Live Entertainment. Our American In-Home Care sister company, Advocate In-Home Care, will also have a booth set up.

Registration is $25 per person or $10 per student (Cash and check only at the event, credit cards accepted online). Registration includes lunch and t-shirt!

To register, donate, or for more information, go to:
www.swflpspsupportgroup.wixsite.com/swflsupportgroup

The post Upcoming Community Events in Florida! appeared first on Advocate.