Rehab for shoulder surgery or injury

After shoulder surgery my mom was given exercises to gradually increase flexibility. When the exercises didn't seem to be working she made an appointment with a physical therapist who discovered that she was not doing the exercises correctly. The therapist helped her gain flexibility and mobility in her arm so that she could drive and car as well as a golf ball again.

The therapist recommended using heat before exercising to help improve flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking over-the-counter pain medication was also recommended to help with the discomfort of moving those tight muscles and disturbing the scar tissue.

The Amercian Academy or Orthopedic Surgeons has a list of exercises for shoulder surgery patients. After surgery it is best to consult with your physician before attempting exercises, and it is especially helpful to have a physical therapist guide you through them for several sessions until you are sure you are doing the exercises correctly.

If you need a heating pad to help with flexibility check out Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads. They are easy to use, portable, reusable, and high quality. They are filled with whole corn which smells a bit like a bowl of pop corn and will not take on a peculiar odor as rice socks often do. They do not have any added perfumes or fragrances. A variety of traditional and animal shaped heating pads can be used on shoulders. Check out these Back Warmers and Neck Warmers to help relax tight muscles, improve circulation and flexibility.

What information is necessary to have in emergencies for elderly parents

If you are the person who cares for an aging parent it is important for you to have some basic information regarding his or her medical records. In an emergency, if he/she can't answer questions can you? It may make a huge difference regarding medical decisions.

The Mayo Clinic Web site has a list of things a caretaker should know in an emergency. This list is taken directly from that page.

• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of their doctors
• Birth dates
• List of Major Medical problems
• List of medications and supplements
• List of allergies
• Insurance cards
• Power of Attorney statement
• Advance directives (such as do not resuscitate orders, living wills, & where are they located)
• Religious beliefs
• Lifestyle information

Regarding privacy issues

The article states that in an emergency, when a parent is unable to give medical information the doctor may discuss your parent's health with you if "it is the best interest of your parent."

Before an emergency happens it is helpful to have your parent's basic medical information with you. You may download an emergency medical form from the Mayo Clinic web site on the page link above.

If you have an aging parent who needs a little warmth, even on warm days, give him or her a Maine Warmer to take the chill off. Stroke victims often have cold hands and feet. A Cozy Sheep, Bear, or Moose might be just the thing to help bring a smile. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads are portable, safe, washable, reusable, and made of high quality fabrics that have lasting value.

On May, 2009, MedLine Plus (part of the NIH) announced the results of a recent study, "Volunteering may increase retirees lifespan."

They sited reasons such as more social interaction, increased exposure to information, and feelings of self-worth as reasons for the lowered chance of death.

When I volunteered I learned new skills, met interesting people, solved problems, and felt appreciated for the work I did. Retirees can choose a field that interests them and can leave it when they feel like it. Volunteering often offers flexibility in schedule too.

If you know someone who is retired and a bit cranky staying at home, you might suggest a volunteer activity. Sometimes crankiness can be due to aches and pains. Outside interaction may refocus the attention on other things helping to forget about those physical discomforts.

If you know an older person with sore muscles or arthritis pain, you might give them a gift of warmth and comfort -- a Maine Warmer. It can be microwaved for heat to help relax sore muscles, and increase blood flow and flexibility. It can be frozen and used as an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain for those who have had surgery or a mild injury from a fall. Check out Back Warmers, Neck Warmers, and Ice Packs for the knees.

Cold or Flu?

What's the difference between a cold and a flu? Both may include stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, cough, and fever. The flu includes body aches, chills, often a high fever, and comes on suddenly. With a cold there may be a fever, usually of no more than 102 degrees.

The National Institutes of Health has two articles showing the differences between colds and flu, with in depth expalanations of prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.

Complications from both cold and flu may include bacterial infections which can have serious effects on elderly people. Keeping one's immune system up and running well is important in preventing these complications. Taking care of oneself during a cold or flu is important also.

According to the NIH, Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) and Relenza® (zanamivir) are two drugs approved by the Understanding Flu.

CDC that are used to treat flu symptoms within the first two days of infection. Check out their explanations in the article,

If you experience chills due to a flu you may want to use a microwave heating pad to help provide comfort and relaxation. Maine Warmers' Back Warmers and Neck Wrap can be microwaved and taken to bed without the fear of overheating while falling asleep. There aren't any electrical wires and extension cords or hot water bottles to fill. This Cozy Penguin provides warmth and comforting companionship for children and elderly people who are experiencing the chill of a flu or inactivity due to illness or surgery.

Age-Related Increased Bruising

A bruise is caused when small blood vessels called capillaries are broken and blood seeps out into the surrounding tissue. With time the blood is reabsorbed into the body and the bruise disappears.

According to the Mayo Clinic in an article, Easy bruising: Common as you age, the following are a few causes.

As we age the supporting tissues surrounding capillaries weaken thus increasing the tendency to break. The skin also becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fat layer around surface blood vessels. What seems like a minor bump may produce a large bruise.

Blood thinning medications reduce the ability of blood clotting and increase the amount of blood that spills out of vessels when broken. Corticosteroids (cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone) and diet supplements such as garlic, ginger, fish oil, and ginkgo may also increase one's proneness toward bruising.

The article recommends contacting your physician if there is pain associated with a bruise, if you are bleeding from the nose, intestines, or gums. If you suddenly experience large bruises for no reason, or if you start bruising when taking a new medication please contact a medical professional.

Time will help heal the bruise. If swelling occurs with the bruise the Mayo Clinic article suggests using a cold
compress and elevating the affected area to reduce swelling. Twenty minutes at a time is the recommended time to ice an injury. After swelling has gone down a warm compress might help "speed the removal of blood." Wearing long sleeves can help protect the skin and will hide a bruise.

To prevent bumps try clearing clutter and objects that block passage or free motion.

Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads can be frozen and used as cold compresses. The corn filling is not harsh like ice cubes. Mainely Ice, a knee pack, will also strap onto a leg or arm. Back Warmers and Neck Warmers can also be used on bruises. Maine Warmers animal designs like their sheep, bears, and Dachshund dog, and others, make excellent gifts for someone who is prone to bruising.

Preventing Falls

The risk of injury due to falling rises as people age. Many seniors are afraid of falling because it can result in a broken bone and loss of independence. Avoiding exercise to keep from falling can result in the loss of muscle mass, contribute to poor health and balance.

Staying active is included in a long list of things one can do to prevent falls.

• Wear non-slip shoes.
• Have eye exams and wear glasses that are not bi-focals while exercising.
• Make home safer by removing area rugs and having grab bars installed.
• Make sure proper lighting is available.
• Be more focused while exercising and moving about.
• Learn more ways to prevent falling at in an article, What Are Ways to Prevent Falls and Related Fractures, published by the National Institutes of Health.

When swelling occurs to to a fall or fracture use ice to reduce swelling and pain. When muscles are stiff and one needs to improve flexibility use microwave moist heating pads to relax tight muscles, stimulate circulation, and increase flexibility. Maine Warmers sells Neck Warmers and Back Warmers that can be heated or frozen for hot or cold therapy. If you know someone who has fallen you might want to give them a Cozy Sheep for comfort as he or she heals.

Strength Exercises for those in their 80s & 90s

The NIH (National Institutes of Health) article, "Teaching Old Muscles New Tricks," is about maintaining muscle mass to keep osteoporosis at bay, keep weight under control, sustain a healthy blood sugar level, and aid with balance and depression.

People who stop exercising lose muscle mass, but those who do muscle strengthening exercises benefit from keeping that tissue, helping them do more things for themselves as they age, and increasing the odds of remaining independent longer. Even folks well into their nineties who start a muscle strengthening routine see the benefits within a few months.

View their section on Exercise for Older Adults and get started!

If your muscles seem a little tight at first, try a microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers. Their Back Warmers and Neck Warmers are filled with whole corn and provide comforting moist heat, without added fragrances -- a plus for people with allergies. An inner bag is baffled to distribute the corn equally. Maine Warmers are made in the USA. Visit the site for more info, and don't let a few sore muscles keep you from exercising.