Diet and Better Health

There has been some recent hoopla about the effectiveness of multivitamins taken over time. Some of us take multi-vitamins to treat a deficiency in our diet (low calcium or iron) or just because it seems the prudent thing to do. Unfortunately, for some vitamins more is apparently not better. If we are getting enough of the proper nutrients in our diet, vitamin and mineral supplements may not be needed. We just need to eat our vegetables and drink our milk the way our mothers taught us.
Older persons may have an additional barrier to good nutrition. The inability to drive makes it very hard to do the marketing. Stocking up on canned or frozen goods may reduce the need for weekly trips to the market but when we are looking at nutritional content, fresher is usually better. Make it a point to assist your aging relative to get to the market at least weekly. If this is a problem, consider making use of the delivery programs more and more food markets are making available. Your loved one can place an order one time a week and have there groceries delivered directly to the house. There is usually a small fee but this will be off set by a decrease in the need for medical care.

Safety on Your Feet

As we get older, our sense of balance can diminish. Our ability to catch ourselves if we start to fall also declines. In order to prevent a fall, we need to be sure that we are wearing the proper footwear. I am seeing some really attractive and cute slippers being offered in the catalogs we get this time of the year. If you intend to order these, take the time to check the soles. If they do not indicate that they are slip resistant, don't buy them. If you have them in hand, return them.

Flexibility: the Key to Mobility

Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) it has become easier for mobility challenged folks to get around but it is not yet perfect. There are some public spaces that have been grandfathered into the act that have not been adapted for wheelchair accessibility. As facilities are remodeled, more and more are making the adaptation for access. Unfortunately, non-challenged people may not be able to spot subtle barriers. A 2" step may be too much for a small powered wheelchair or the rest rooms may be on another level without an elevator. Some places are just too narrow or otherwise cramped for someone to get through using a wheelchair or a walker.

Being adaptable and thinking creatively will go a long way to overcoming these challenges. Restaurants need to get supplies in somehow, you may find yourself coming in through the kitchen. If you can transfer or stand briefly, you maybe able to shift to a chair at the slightly higher level while someone lifts the wheelchair up one set of wheels at a time.

This is also the "teachable moment" for the manager or owner of a facility. Point out the barriers as pleasantly as  possible and if you can, suggest a solution for future reference. It has been our experience that most facilities are more than eager to help and happy to have the feedback.