Here's to all the women (not just mothers!) who take care of their elderly parents. Seeking out care, scheduling appointments, keeping up with their progress. We see it everyday, truly inspiring!

Happy Women's Day!

Google teamed up with a group of doctors to help give you accurate medical info when you search common health conditions. We tested it out by searching "low back pain". Very cool! Click below to see the results.

Google Search Results for "Low Back Pain"

According to gerontologists, personal happiness as we age is directly linked with one's continued involvement in everyday activities. But diminishing physical abilities can make daily routines difficult to manage.


This easy-to-read pamphlet provides useful information on making an existing home more livable and safer for occupants who are limited in movement, strength, vision, or hearing. It's written by John Salmen, a licensed architect who specializes in designing environments that are usable by people of all ages and physical abilities.

Managing doctor appointments for an elderly or disabled family member can seem like a full-time job (as if you didn't have enough on your plate already!) That's one of the reasons why we offer home visits. We also added some features to our website recently that we hope makes caring for a loved one a bit easier. Now you can:

•  View and manage upcoming home visits online.
  
•  View patient progress reports for each visit.
  
•  View and print recommended home exercises.
  

You can do this from a computer, iPad, or even your phone! Manage doctor visits on your schedule.

For more information, view our patient progress page.

Related: Preventing Falls and Improving Balance

Every year, one out of three adults aged 65 or older fall. These falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. One of the most heartbreaking things I see in my practice isn't the physical effects of a fall, but the psychological toll. Many older adults fear falling again, and as a result, they limit their activity and social engagement. This often leads to social isolation, depression, a loss of independence, and feelings of helplessness. While we can't completely prevent older adults from falling, there are ways to help improve their balance.

 Here are some tips:

• Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medications, as some medications can cause dizziness or drowsiness
• Have their home assessed for ways to make it safer. Consider adding grab bars in the bathroom, railings on both sides of the staircase, and ensure that there is adequate lighting throughout the house
• Exercise regularly. Yes, even the elderly need exercise! As strength and flexibility decrease, the risk of falls increases. A program that includes strengthening of the legs, increasing balance, and education on fall prevention can help.

For some more information, visit the following sites:
NCOA.org
CDC.gov

Related: New Website Features with Caretakers in Mind