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How long does it take to pass a kidney stone?

Kidney stones are painful. There are no two ways about that.

And if you’re currently experiencing it, then you’re wondering when you’ll be free of this nuisance.

While there is no hard and fast rule as to when a kidney stone will pass, there are a number of things you can do as an individual or as a caregiver to help your loved one get rid of a kidney stone.

Passing a kidney stone – How to speed the process along

Regardless of the size of a kidney stone, it is important to report to a doctor immediately so they can help determine the best course of action. If the stone is small enough, the doctor might send you or your loved one home with instructions to drink more fluids so the stone can pass. Once they determine it is a large kidney stone, there are medical procedures that can be used to break up or remove the stone.
If your doctor determines that the stones are small enough to be passed, they will recommend that you drink more fluids. One of the causes of kidney stones is dehydration. If your body doesn’t not have enough water to dissolve the salts and minerals in your body, it can lead to kidney stones. So drinking a lot of water will help that stone pass quicker.
Pain medication. Kidney stones are painful. Pain killers can help to reduce the pain so you can move around and perform your daily activities. Moving around could also help with breaking apart the stones and help you or loved one pass the stones easily.

Passing a kidney stone: Special circumstances to pay attention to

Even if you’ve seen a doctor previously and you notice that your urine is cloudy, you should go again.

Cloudy urine indicates that there is an infection.

If a medical professional does not treat the infection, sepsis (the spread of bacteria through the body) can happen. Sepsis regularly causes death.

Thus, cloudy urine should move you to action immediately.

So how long again?

According to the American Urological Association, once a kidney stone makes it way to the urinary tract, it will pass within 2 days.

However, it is not unusual for a kidney stone to take up to 40 days to pass.

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Our feet carry us our entire lives.

On top of that, as we age, various health problems arise-diabetes, joint problems, heart issues-to name a few.

It is therefore no wonder that people develop problems with their feet in their old age.

As a family caregiver, one of the best things you can do for an elderly loved one is to help them get proper foot and nail care.

In today’s post, we will go over how you can provide excellent foot and nail care to your elderly loved one.

Let’s delve into it.

Foot and nail care for the elderly

Get to know your podiatrist

Podiatrists are trained medical professionals who diagnose and treat all kinds of foot illnesses. They can also take care of seemingly regular foot and nail problems like thickened nails that are hard to cut and bunions.

Your feet and nails can be an indicator of other health problems. A podiatrist may help catch the health issue before it becomes a problem.

My mom-in-law recently had a painful ingrown toenail while she was visiting us recently.

We had a podiatrist take a look at her foot and he was able to resolve the issue quickly.

So get familiar and friendly with your podiatrist and save yourself and your family from expensive problems later on.

Inspect feet daily

This way, you will notice any abnormalities in how your loved one’s feet look.

Wash and moisturize the feet daily

Keep dirt and nasty microbes away from your loved one’s feet by washing them each day.

For most people, the feet tend to dry up quickly. Thus it is also helpful to use a moisturizer after washing.

I especially love petroleum jelly for my feet because it keeps dryness away longer.

Keeping the feet moisturized will not only protect your loved one’s feet from dryness but will also keep blisters from forming.

After washing, keep the feet dry

Bacteria and fungi love to hide and grow in warm and damp areas of our bodies.

You don’t want these to become an issue as they are hard to treat!

(I know this to be true from personal experience as well.)

So after washing your loved one’s feet, use a towel to dry their feet completely.

Some people go ahead and use foot powders to keep the moisture away.

If a podiatrist approves, this can be another way to keep your loved one’s feet nice and dry.

A nail file to keep nails straight

A good way to prevent ingrown toenails is to make sure you’re cutting nails straight across.

Even if you use nail clippers to cut a majority of your loved one’s nails, it is always helpful to finish off with a nail file to keep the nails straight.

Wear proper-fitting shoes

Ill-fitting shoes only cause pain and can lead to problems with the bones and ligament in the feet.

Avoid them!

If your loved one needs orthotic shoes, a quick Google search in your area or calls using the Yellow Pages should yield a place where you can go and get your loved one fitted for the right shoes.

Diabetic foot care

If your elderly loved one has diabetes, they need special foot care.

The first step to taking care of a diabetics foot is to make sure their diabetes is under control.

This includes, checking blood sugar, regular exercise, healthy diet choices and visits to the doctor to make sure any prescribed medication is working.

In addition to the tips I shared above, it is also important that diabetics wear protective foot wear at all times.

For most diabetics, a small cut to the foot will go unhealed and could become an even bigger problem that can lead to infections and even amputation. Thus wearing shoes or socks, at the very least, is essential for a diabetic.

For more tips on diabetic foot care, check out this post.

Arthritis and foot care

If your loved one has arthritis, they will most likely be in a lot of pain all the time.

Their doctor will prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce the symptoms of disease.

It’s important to stick to this regimen so your loved one can live a functional life as much as possible.

Following the general tips above for a loved one with arthritis will help them enjoy healthy feet as well.

Don’t go to nail salons you don’t trust

As much as nail salons can be a wonderful experience, for your loved one with an existing health condition such as diabetes, it is always important to be careful.

You can call ahead and let the nail salon know for instance that your loved one has a health condition that affects their feet and find out if they can accommodate that.

Otherwise, I recommend sticking to a podiatrist for foot care especially if there is an underlying health issue.

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Who would think that drinking more tea could improve brain health?

As far-fetched as it sounds, recent research is showing that drinking tea could improve brain health.

There are several studies that point to the impact of tea on human health.

Some of those health benefits include:

Tea has antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent chemicals called free radicals in our bodies from causing damage to our organs.
Tea had less caffeine than coffee. This means it will not affect your sleep as much as coffee does.
Some research studies have shown tea could reduce a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke.
Tea can boost your immune system.

And those are just a few examples of what tea can do for your body.

In this new research, scientists at the National University of Singapore were able to gather data from 36 human subjects that showed that tea can affect brain health.

This is especially interesting, because their results could have implications for people with degenerative brain conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Let’s take a look at how to improve your brain health with tea.

Improve your brain health with tea

The research team recruited 36 people who were over the age of 60 for this study.

This same group of researchers had published research earlier that suggested that tea could affect the cognitive or brain health of older people.

The researchers observed and collected data from these people from 2015 to 2018.

The research team found that study participants who had been drinking oolong, green tea or black tea for at least 4 times a week over the last 25 years had better brain arrangements compared to their non-tea drinking counterparts.

The researchers were able to show this using MRI studies.

These better arrangement and connectivity of the brain means that brain signals are transmitted more efficiently.

The participants also had to take neuropsychological tests and the researcher found tea drinkers scored higher on the tests.

Even though we will still need more data to definitively conclude that drinking tea has positive effects on the brain, this research is enough to spark our interest and maybe what you need to get started drinking tea.

You can read the full research study here.

What this could mean for you or your older loved one

On this blog, we are always doing out best to bring you the best ways for older adults to stay healthy and live productive lives.

Apart from all the other fantastic health benefits of tea, this new research is opening up a new area that could help anyone at any age to protect their brain health from an early age.

Even if you’re already over 60, chances are that you will live for another 20 or 30 years with improved medicine and healthcare.

Thus, drinking a cup of your favorite tea at least once a day could be just what you need.

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There’s a lot of anxiety around getting a hospital bed at home.

For most, the first thought is “how much will a hospital bed cost us?”

You might even wonder if your loved one needs a hospital bed at all when they have a perfectly fine regular one.

These are all valid concerns.

However, it’s important to realize that for your particular situation, a hospital bed at home may be just the thing your loved one needs.

Here are some advantages you might want to consider when it comes to getting a hospital bed at home.

Ease of transfer

For your loved ones who are completely immobile, a hospital bed can be a great advantage.

What do I mean?

In order to prevent bed sores and to perform tasks like perineal care and bed baths, you will need to move your loved one.

In a traditional bed, this can be challenging especially since most beds are low. Because of the height of traditional beds, transferring and moving your loved one can put a lot of strain on your knees and back.

A hospital bed on the other hand has adjustable heights.

Thus, you can adjust the height to a safe level and move your loved one in a safe manner.

It is also easy to raise the head or raise the bottom of the bed depending on your loved one’s medical needs.

Hospital bed at home-Safety

Another advantage of getting a hospital bed is for safety purposes.

Most traditional beds don’t have railings on the side that prevent your loved one from falling.

Hospital beds on the other hand do.

Furthermore, just like you could raise the hospital bed when you’re moving your loved one, you can also lower these beds.

A bed that is lower to the ground will keep your loved one from getting severely hurt if they do fall.

Hospital bed mattresses are easier to clean

Hospital bed mattresses are typically easier to clean than a regular mattress.

Thus, if there’s a spill or accident where body fluids are spread on the bed, cleaning the mattress is easy.

You can move a hospital bed

Hospital beds usually have wheels.

If your loved one would like a change of scenery but would not like to get out of bed, this feature might come in handy.

Make it easier for hired caregivers

If you have agency caregivers who come in to take care of your loved one, take it from me when I say they will love you for getting your loved one a hospital bed.

It helps them do all of the above so your loved one is properly and safely cared for in their own home.

Paying for it

Cost is the biggest obstacle for most people when it comes to hospital beds.

Medicare Part B (medical insurance) will cover the cost of a hospital bed if a doctor prescribes that your loved one needs it at home.

You and/or your loved one would be responsible for paying 20% of the approved Medicare amount. After this, the Medicare deductible will kick in.

In order for this to happen, the doctor and the medical supplier will have to be enrolled in Medicare.

If your doctor and/or medical supplier is not enrolled with Medicare, the cost of the hospital bed will not be covered.

Thus, it’s important you make sure all these factors are aligned.

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You just found out you will be giving your loved one bed baths.

But you know nothing about bed baths.

And perhaps this is causing you a bit of anxiety.

I have good news for you-yes giving your first few bed baths will feel awkward. And that’s usually because giving one is brand new.

But once you get a hang of the basics, you might be able to give one in your sleep.

Well, maybe not.

But you get the point.

How to prepare to give a bed bath

There will be some emotion around it

There is always some kind of emotion around something new. If this is the very first time you’ve had to do this, you might feel nervous. Your loved one might be nervous too.

If this is your older parent, they might have feelings of sadness around not being able to take their own bath in a tub for instance.

It’s important to understand the emotions around this new thing so that you can adjust quickly and so you can find ways to help your loved one as well.

Get the supplies you’ll need

If you know ahead of time that you will be giving bed baths, now is a great time to get the supplies you will need.

I recommend storing all of the bed bath items into a small plastic basket/tub and saving it in a place you can access easily. This way, you don’t always have to frantically search for an item you need when it’s bath time.

You will need:

2-3 wash clothes
A basin of water
Soap/body wash, lotion, deodorant, dry shampoo/regular shampoo
2 large towel or lightweight blanket
Clean clothes

Let your loved one know it’s bath time

Right before bath time, let your loved one know that you’ll be giving them a bath.

If they currently have memory problems, it is helpful to mention it a few times before the bed bath actually happens.

You can do this as you gather the items you’ll need to give them a bath.

Protect their dignity

Always protect the dignity of your loved one during a bed bath.

You can do this by announcing in the house that your loved one is receiving a bed bath before it happens.

Make sure to close the door behind you while a bed bath is going on.

Close windows. If it is necessary, you might also want to turn on or increase the heat in the room so they don’t get cold.

Giving the bed bath

Wear gloves.
Fill the basin with warm water. Place the wash cloth in the warm water.
Place a few drops of body wash or rub soap on the wash cloth.
Place the towels or light weight blankets on the bed to catch any moisture.
Use the soapy wash cloth to wipe your loved one’s body. I like to start with wiping the face before cleaning other parts of the body.
Make sure to pay special attention to those parts of the body that are usually folded over such as the armpits and around the groin.
Perineal care is important and a bed bath is an excellent time to provide it.
After cleaning the part of the body that is not lying on the bed, you will need to turn your loved one over so you can clean the backside of their body. If you need a tutorial on how to turn a person who is bed-bound, watch this video. I highly recommend that you get help to turn them if they are completely immobile or obese.
Once you’ve wiped their entire body with the soapy wash cloth, you could change the water and do a second wipe down with just plain water.
Place a dry towel around their neck area and use dry shampoo or a small amount of shampoo to help them wash their hair. If you use regular shampoo, use a wet wash cloth wipe out all the shampoo from their hair.
Once the bed bath is over, apply lotion, deodorant and perfume (if they like that) to help them smell fresh.
Remove all wet clothes, towels etc from the bed and help your loved one put their clothes on.
Before you leave, make sure your loved one is comfortable in bed.

And just like that, you’re ready to give bed baths!

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Fall activity ideas for seniors, already?

Hard to believe that summer is almost over, isn’t it?

Well, summer being over doesn’t mean we cannot stay active and engaged.

Getting involved in fall activities is fun for the whole family,will help your loved one be engaged and will help everyone get some exercise!

That’s just too many benefits to ignore.

So let’s jump right in and learn of some fall activities to put on your calendar.

Fall activity ideas for seniors

Go fruit picking – Local farms in your area will be harvesting right about now and will be thrilled to have you come fruit-picking.
Get lost in a corn maze – This is definitely fun for the little ones but you will want to make sure to stay close to your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Go for a hayride.
Hit a local amusement park before it closes down for the season. And speaking of amusement parks, they usually have a lot of fun fall activities going on at the parks right before Halloween. Make sure to check those out.
Watch fireworks. This draws on the amusement park point above. They usually have shows you can watch for free if you’re willing to drive up close enough.
Take a hike. The weather is cooler and more conducive for taking hikes.
Try indoor mountain climbing. I always feel like this is a less dangerous alternative for those who love to take risks but who may not be physically up to climbing an actual mountain.

Even more fall ideas…

Take a drive through the country. Late evening drives are the best, aren’t they?
Make a meal together. Such a great memory-maker.
Grill outside while you still can!
Start an audio-book series that whole family can listen to.
Carve a pumpkin.
Go camping. Make sure this is safe for your elderly loved one. If they are prone to wander off, I would not recommend this activity.
Build a bonfire. Make sure to stay safe!
Find a natural water body and visit it. Rivers, lakes, waterfalls and the oceans always have a calming effect on people. At least it does on me!

And there’s 15 fall activity ideas for seniors!

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If you’re a caregiver, then you’re no stranger to stress.

The pressure of taking care of an elderly loved one who has a chronic illness causes stress.

And the cost of making sure your loved one is getting the best care possible can be stressful as well.

But perhaps you are the person who experiences more stress than most.

Is this because you are not “strong” enough?

As it turns out, a recent study shows that some people are more susceptible to stress.

How come?

Why some people may be more susceptible to stress

In the study I quoted above, the researchers exposed mice to a source of stress for 10 days. One group was considered “susceptible” while the other group was considered “resilient”.

After this, the scientists noticed that one group of mice avoided social interaction. And there was another group of mice kept interacting as normal.

When they looked into the brains of these mice, they found that while a group of brain cells called glial cells were normal in the mice that kept interacting, there were changes in the glial cells of the mice that avoided social interaction.

Very interestingly, it turned out the glial cells in the second mice had reduced amounts of a substance called myelin which is very important when it comes to brain cells working properly.

Caregiver stress: what does this mean for humans?

What could this research mean for humans?

While human beings and mice are vastly different, this study is important for a few reasons.

First of all, it shows us that people who have been exposed to multiple stressors over and over again are more likely to feel the effects of stress more than someone who hasn’t been through the same amount of stress.

Now, you’re probably saying “Gertrude, we knew that! That’s what’s called PTSD”.

And you would be absolutely right.

But until now, scientists did not have a biological reason to tie to PTSD.

With this research, scientists are beginning to uncover more about the biological basis for why some people get stressed easier than others.

And so, if you find yourself more stressed out as a caregiver because of a lot of previous stress, you now know that there might be a biological reason for all you’re feeling.

If this is you, continue to take care of yourself so you can take care of others and make sure you’re getting the help you need.

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Elder scams are on the rise.

Nobody expects a scam to happen to them until it does.

But it’s happening.

The elderly are scammed to the tune of $37 billion each year according to Bloomberg.

So what should you do when you find out your elderly loved one is being scammed?

In today’s post, I’ll share some tips on how to salvage such a situation.

Elder Scams: the signs to look out for

But first, how do you tell if something is a scam or not?

Your elderly loved one tells you they received a call or letter from a government agency asking them to verify personal information. Usually, these types of scammers will call and say they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or will erroneously say they are calling from the “Tax Department”. Once, they get personal information, that can use to it drain bank accounts and do whatever else they wish.

You elderly loved one says they received a call or letter telling them they’ve won some kind of lottery or sweepstakes and that the company needs a credit card so they can “save their spot”.

If you cannot find any information online about the company that is making calls or sending letters, there is a chance they are scammers.

More tech-savvy scammers will send e-mails with the logo of a legitimate organization such as a bank and ask for the other person to click on a link to verify something. A scammer once sent me an email with the logo of a bank I use asking me to verify some details. I almost clicked through until I decided to check the email address it had come from. It was not the usual one I got from the bank so I stopped and then called the company to make sure they really wanted this information from me. Turns out they did not need that information. Had I clicked on the link in the email, I could have been defrauded.

And while these are good rules of thumb to follow, scammers do get savvier with their techniques each year.

A combination of keeping your guard up and not falling for anything that is too good to be true is a key to preventing scams.

What should you do?

Scammers got your loved one, what should you do?

Report elder scams

First of all, it is likely that your elderly loved one wouldn’t want to tell you that they were scammed. In fact, according to the FBI, older Americans are less likely to report a scam.

However, reporting it can help to retrieve their money.

It will also put an end to this activity so that other seniors don’t suffer.

If you know the person who has scammed your loved one, it is your responsibility to call the FBI and report them.

Call the financial institution involved

If the scammers stole money, the financial institution will more than likely refund the money following their own investigations.

Help your loved one understand elder scams

Help your elderly loved one by educating about elder scams.

Tell them about the warning signs.

Send them this post to read!

Preventing a scam is better than salvaging it.

However, if they have this information after the first time, you will reduce the likelihood that this happens again.

Get a fiduciary

If you live far away from your loved one but you need someone to help them manage their money properly, you could hire a fiduciary.

A fiduciary will make sure to pay the bills, manage investments and other financial assets.

This should put your mind at ease that someone will take your loved one’s hard-earned money.

To learn more about what a fiduciary does, READ THIS POST.

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Preventing falls in the community for the elderly should be a topic that is discussed more often.

However, usually when you read information about preventing falls, the focus in on the home.

But chances are that your loved one also spends time outside the house.

And although we cannot always control what happens in the community, there are precautions to take to help your loved one stay safe in the community.

In today’s post, I’ll share a few tips that will help to prevent falls in the community.

Preventing falls in the community for the elderly

Safe footwear

Wearing the right footwear is key to preventing falls in the community for the elderly.

Shoes should have:

A good tread on the bottom to encourage friction so a person is not likely to trip. Worn shoes which don’t have a good tread will cause your loved one to trip easily.

Orient your loved one to the area

This is especially important if your loved one will be visiting a place for the first time.

Let them know of any obstacles in the way or sudden elevations (eg. a step) so they don’t trip over those.

If it helps and where appropriate, you could visit the premises ahead of time to note those problem areas so you can prepare your loved one for them.

Glasses and contacts

If your loved one uses glasses or any other visual aid to help with a visual impairment, encourage them to put them on.

Communicate with event organizers

If you know someone on the event organization team, it might help to communicate with them ahead of time so they can make sure electrical cables are out of the way and fluid spills are wiped up immediately.

Sometimes this is impossible.

But if it can be helped, communicate ahead of the event.

Use mobility aids where necessary

Anything that makes mobility easier for your elderly loved one while they are in the community is great for staying safe in the community.

Easy communication devices

Say your loved one is walking their dog and falls down in a secluded area.

Do they have access to a communication device that will help them get in touch with someone immediately?

Several companies now have devices that the elderly can hang around their necks or otherwise gain easy access to.

You could encourage your loved one to have such a device on them in case this happens while they’re on their own.

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Reducing your risk for heart disease is not just for the young.

As an older adult, there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk for heart disease so you can enjoy your loved ones longer.

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing guidelines from the American Heart Association that will help you keep a healthy heart.

8 ways to reduce your risk for heart disease as an older adult

Get active

If you get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, this is enough to keep heart disease at bay.

This translates to 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week.

It doesn’t matter what you do.

You could dance, walk, run or swim. It’s really up to you.

So if you’re getting at least 30 minutes of exercise into your day, you are doing great.

Eat healthy

The key here is to keep your plate colorful.

Vegetables and fruits will help you achieve this goal.

And there are so many ways to prepare your vegetables beyond just eating a salad.

You could saute them and turn them into a stir-fry dish.

You can pair them with your favorite meals so they are more palatable.

Personally, one of the ways I’ve been ensuring that I get my daily dose of vegetables is to prepare a green smoothie out of them.

I will usually combine spinach, celery, an apple and a bit of ginger to make a smoothie that tastes great and gets me on the healthy bus.

Bottom line: you can get creative with vegetables and fruits so you don’t get bored and give up on them.

Control cholesterol

Cholesterol is called a silent killer for good reason.

There is no way to tell if a person has high cholesterol or not just by looking at them.

In fact, there are people who have high cholesterol because of their genetics.

The best way to know your cholesterol levels is for you to check with your doctor.

In those results, you want to see if your LDLs (low density lipoproteins) are high or low. If they are high, it’s important to pay attention to that.

One of the best ways to reduce cholesterol is to eat foods that are low in cholesterol.

Eating fruits and vegetables are an excellent start.

Including foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel, salmon, herring, oysters and anchovies are a good start as well.

In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe cholesterol-reducing medication for you.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, this is a good time to quit. Smoking is linked to several heart diseases and quitting reduces your risk of heart disease.

If you’re having trouble quitting, talk to your doctor about medication that could help you on the journey.

Lose weight

It goes without saying that if you’re eating well and exercising, you will lose and maintain a healthy weight.

Control your blood sugar

Blood sugar is important for your body.

However, if it cannot reach the cells and organs of your body-a situation that happens in diabetes, it can affect your heart.

Sticking to several of the activities on this list will help to reduce and control your blood sugar.

Where necessary, your doctor will prescribe insulin or another diabetes medication to help you control your blood sugar.

Control your blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your blood vessels.

Stress and unhealthy eating are strongly linked to high blood pressure.

You can control it by eating well, exercising and reducing the amount of stress you put your body through.

Get enough sleep

Even Superman needs sleep.

Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night is essential to keeping your heart healthy.

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