Author: Gina Snider

Why Are Seniors at Risk?
People over age 50 have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and the risk increases with age. As people age they lose some of their ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D also needs to be activated in the kidney before it can be used by the body and this function also decreases with age. Finally, elderly people who are homebound are less likely to get outdoor exercise and activity. Researchers have suggested that it takes up to 30 minutes of sun exposure twice a week to make a sufficient amount of vitamin D from sunlight.
How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?
You need more vitamin D as you get older. According to the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, an adequate intake of vitamin D up until age 50 is 200 International Units (IU) for both men and women. Between age 50 and 70 the adequate daily intake is 400 IU for men and women. After age 70 the adequate intake is 600 IU for men and women.
"The clinical manifestations of suboptimal vitamin D levels has a significant physical, psychological and financial impact on older people and society as a whole," —Age and Ageing
Because seniors are at greater risk for vitamin D deficiency, there have been many recent studies to determine if vitamin D supplements are useful in preventing falls and fractures. Some studies have found that a supplement of 400 IU daily is adequate and effective for reducing falls and fractures in seniors. Other studies suggest that the best dose for fracture reduction is 800 IU daily, and still others have found that a dose of 800 to 1000 IU daily is best.
It is possible to take too much vitamin D supplement. Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include nausea, vomiting and weakness. Too much vitamin D can cause your calcium level to increase and lead to mental confusion and heart arrhythmias. Too much sun exposure does not lead to too much vitamin D (though there are skin cancer risks to consider). To be in danger of overdosing on a vitamin D supplement you would need to take well over 2,000 IU daily.
Ideas for Caregivers
If you are a caregiver for a senior, here are some things you should know about vitamin D deficiency and supplements:
Older people who do not take vitamin D supplements are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency.
Not all seniors have the same risk. Women are at higher risk than men. Seniors with darker complexions don't produce vitamin D from sunlight as well as light-skinned seniors.
Sunlight may not be enough. If you live in the northern part of the America, above a line drawn between Boston and the top of California, there is not enough sunlight to produce vitamin D from November through February. Skin needs to be uncovered (no sunscreen either) to absorb the sun's rays and sitting inside next to a window doesn't work.
Some medications, like steroids, some weight-loss drugs, some cholesterol-lowering drugs and some drugs used to control seizures, can interfere with vitamin D supplements.
A senior's sex, age, diet, sun exposure and medical history all need to be considered when deciding on vitamin D supplements. Talk to your health care provider about the possibility of vitamin D deficiency and best dose for vitamin D supplements.
Article Link: https://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/vitamin-d-deficiency-a-common-risk-factor-for-seniors/

Seniors and Vitamin D

Volume 1 Issue 3

October 2020

Dunson Daily Dish

Safety First: Fall Risks and Fall Prevention Tips
There is nothing more important than slip and fall prevention when providing elderly care. Fall risk prevention means making the home or living environment as safe as possible for a parent, grandparent or any elderly person. According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries resulting from falls caused roughly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in the past three years. The risks of women suffering from fall fractures is alarming, with nearly 72% of seniors admitted to hospitals for hip fractures being women. Those who fall three or four times a year are most likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility with permanent disabilities, while men who fall are more likely to die as a result. Many seniors who fall never go home again and are placed in care facilities, and many are relegated to a wheelchair for the remainder of his or her life. Those numbers, coupled with the number of fall risk hazards found in the common home, result in thousands of hospitalizations every year.
According to the CDC, the average cost for health care as the result of a fall totals $19,440 (excluding doctor's fees). How do you go about initiating fall prevention in the home? Take a good look at your parent or grandparent's house or their living environment. Remember that a fall prevention program, whether it's initiated in the home, a hospital or a nursing home, will help reduce catastrophic injuries, surgeries and medical expenses.
Look at every object as a potential hazard to safety and do what you can to adapt the home to make it more senior-friendly and fall-proof. Such home modifications might be as simple as replacing light bulbs to installing grab bars in the shower or tub area.
Preventing Falls in the Bathroom
Fall prevention research finds that most falls occur in the bathroom and the kitchen area of the home. Home modifications in these rooms may help to reduce the risk of accidents through a series of fall prevention interventions:
Shower grab bar installation is a must – provide bathroom grab bars in and around the shower or bathtub as well as near the toilet.
When necessary, install a raised toilet seat to make getting on and off the toilet much easier.
Place non-skid mats in front of and in the tub and shower area.
Non-skid stickers should be placed on the floor of shower stalls or on the bottom of the bathtub.
Preventing Falls in the Kitchen
Fall prevention programs initiated by many county health departments or community services offer information on how to make the most popular room in the house – the kitchen – safe for elderly residents.
Ensure that everything your elderly parent or grandparent needs is within easy reach. He or she should not have to stand on step stools or benches to reach foodstuffs, appliances or cooking utensils.
Remove throw rugs or mats that may cause trip and fall hazards.
Ensure that floors are kept clean and free of spills or grease.
Move tables, chairs, wastebaskets, cords or other objects that may cause trips and spills to the edges of the room and away from typical pathways.
Preventing Falls in the Living Room
Remove clutter from every room in the house, especially the living room. Old newspapers, books and magazines are often difficult to see and cause potential falls and accidents.
Remove furniture that bulges out into a much-used path.
Remove loose throw rugs that can catch on walking canes, walkers and rollators, and shoes.
Remove unused furniture that forces an elderly person to carefully navigate a pathway from one room to another Bottom Line Home fall prevention saves money, reduces accidents and fall risks.
Family members or friends of an elderly person should address fall prevention in the home as soon as possible. Don't wait for an accident before you provide a safe living environment for your loved one.
Article link: https://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/safety-first-falls-risks-and-fall-prevention-tips/

Senior Quick Tips
People who had good healthy habits when they were younger tend to become healthy seniors, but it is never too late. Good health habits can make a difference even to seniors who are prone to illness or have not made their health a priority in the past.
Consider these 10 tips for keeping up with the health needs of a parent or senior loved one:
1. Eat healthy.
The digestive system slows down with age, so high-fiber fruits, vegetables and whole grains are as important as ever. Because seniors are prone to dehydration, they should drink plenty of water to stay energized and sharp.
2. Focus on prevention.
Preventative care visits, including health screenings for cholesterol levels, colon cancer, heart problems and more, qualify for Medicare coverage. Seniors also need to get vaccinations that can help prevent influenza and pneumonia.

Page # by Gina Snider

Dunson Daily Dish