Category: Health
Getting older has its own disadvantages. With age, health issues creep in and begin to affect the day-to-day routine of the elderly. It is observed that the organs of the body work efficiently till the age of 60. However, as the age progresses further, bodily functions slowly decline, and visits to the doctor become inevitable.
Health Concerns in the Elderly
Elderly people are susceptible to a wide range of health problems. In older people, the numerous biological processes work below their optimum level. So, following are the elderly health issues observed after the age of 65.
Vision Problems
With age, one may notice decline in eye function. Aging can bring undesirable changes in the eyesight. Vision problems is one of the most common elderly health issues that require urgent medical treatment to prevent further deterioration of the eye. Minor eyesight problems are often corrected by wearing spectacles. Read more on eye problems. The most common age related eye disorder is given below:
Cataracts: Also referred as clouded vision, cataracts affects the lens of the eye, thus leading to impaired vision. Cataracts is a condition in which the part of eye lens gets covered with a white film, making the lens opaque. As we all know, the lens of the eye is a transparent elastic structure that allows light to enter through it. This lights falls on the retina, that is exactly behind the lens. The light signal thus received by the retina, helps to produce clear images, which is interpreted as vision. However, as the lens becomes opaque due to formation of white film, the passage of light is obstructed, making it difficult for the person to view things clearly.
Cataracts is a progressive condition that eventually affects the entire lens. Disturbances in vision are noticed when the eye lens affects significant area of the lens. Blurred vision and sensitivity to light are some of the most common symptoms of cataracts. Fortunately cataracts can be safely cured using a surgery.
Hearing Loss
As a person ages, his ability to hear and discriminate sound diminishes. It is naturally for elderly people to be upset and anxious, as it interferes with normal communication. ‘Hard of hearing’ or partial deafness are the common complaints among the elderly. However, with the advancement in science and technology, a wide range of hearing aids are available today, to treat age related hearing loss effectively. Programmable hearing aids are the latest devices that can make understanding people easier. Keep in mind, that this is one of the health problems for seniors and elderly, that has to be addressed early to avoid complete hearing loss. Read more on hearing loss.
Osteoporosis
With increase in age, a significant decrease in bone mass or density is observed. Loss in bone density that makes the bones brittle and weak is referred as osteoporosis. It is rightly said that elderly have a higher chance of developing bone fractures. A minor fall or even coughing can put elderly in the risk zone of bone fractures. Although more common in women over 65, men too can develop osteoporosis at an early age due to inadequate calcium intake.
Osteoarthritis
Wear and tear of joints with age, often manifests in the form of osteoarthritis. As we all know a joint is a place where two bones meet. In other words, the joint is a connecting point between two bones. The ends of the bones are covered with a tissue, known as cartilage. This covering of the end points of the bones prevent friction, that may occur during joint movement. However, over time the cartilage wear away. As the layer of cartilage depletes, the bones rub against each other, causing inflammation and pain in the joints. Joint problems such as morning stiffness in the elderly are warning signs of osteoarthritis. In this condition, the joints are less flexible and cause pain during normal movement. Read more on joint pain.
One can always slow down the progression of these elderly health issues, by leading a healthy lifestyle. Habits like smoking can lead to early manifestation of cataracts. Calcium deficiency in the diet can make a person prone to bone diseases. So, following a healthy diet and an exercise program can prolong and even prevent the occurrence of these elderly health issues.
Remember, an actor like Clint Eastwood who is more than 75 years old, even today, directs movies. Sounds incredible, isn’t it? Even at this age, he has ventured into film direction, which is not an easy task. He has been successful in keeping elderly health issues at bay, thanks to his healthy lifestyle, his overall health is in good shape.
Kidneys play an important role when it comes to cleaning up someone’s blood and ginkgo biloba can affect how it operates. The majority of people have two kidneys that are located below the rib cage and next to the spine. Kidneys are about the size of someone’s fist and act as filters. Not only do they filter blood which helps bring nutrients to someone’s body they also create urine, help control high blood pressure, keep someone’s bones healthy, and assist with manufacturing red blood cells.
Kidneys can become damaged and unhealthy from a variety of reasons. For one a physical injury such as an auto accident can cause kidney failure. Another common way would be if someone consumed too much harmful chemicals such as drinking a lot of alcohol. Having low blood volume, dehydration, drugs and diseases all can cause kidneys to shut down. Another ailment which can be very painful is kidney stones. This is a condition in which material builds up in the inner lining of the kidneys. Someone can get this health condition by not drinking enough water and consuming an unhealthy diet.
Ginkgo biloba comes from a tree called the ginkgo tree which can grow larger than 100 feet tall and may be one of the oldest trees available. This herb is sometimes used to treat kidney problems in Chinese medicine however in some countries they don’t recognize that ginkgo as a solution because of lack of scientific evidence. Ginkgo is somewhat popular for being able to thin blood. So if there is blockage in the kidneys than this might be able to help.
Also ginkgo has something called antioxidants which can be helpful to someone and that includes improving the health of the liver. Various studies show that toxic damage to the liver can be reduced through the antioxidants of ginkgo. Also this herb can reduce inflammation that can be associated with kidney problems, which helps protect healthy cells and tissue from being damaged by the immune system.
The majority of people take ginkgo in a supplement form and this can come in a pill, powder and even liquid form. We recommend a multi-vitamin that has gingko for the simple reasons that it’s much easier to take a fewer pills rather than a whole lot. One brand that we really like uses pharmaceutical GMP compliance, enteric coating and standardized herbal extracts.
Have you ever heard the advice to not put all your eggs in one basket? Well the advice is good, especially if you are a Home Health, Home Care or Hospice agency. Putting all your eggs in one basket in the Home Health, Home Care or Hospice industry means having only one line of business. In todays environment, one line of business is a dangerous path to walk. Already we have seen repeated cuts to the Home Health reimbursement formula, and Hospice is under scrutiny and will probably see some rather dramatic cuts in the future. Some Home Care (Private Pay) agencies are seeing a decline in both clients and hours, as well. Just as the chant location, location, location is cited for a business success, diversification is the same for agencies in the Home Health, Home Care and Hospice industry.
As a Home Health or Hospice agency, you may be asking how you can diversify. You already take private insurance, much of which doesnt even cover your expenses. Where can you diversify?
Years ago, many Home Health agencies invested in private duty services. Unfortunately, many of them tried to run these agencies the same way they ran the Medicare-Certified agencies. This turned out to be a less than a financial success for them and, as a result, most of the agencies closed their Private Pay agencies or sold them. I was one of those administrators running both types of agencies. Fortunately, the corporation that owned the agency I managed understood the differences required to successfully operate these two very distinct businesses. As a result, the internal structures and systems for Private Pay were run with entirely different staff and procedures. Fortunately, the Private Pay agency was a financial success and a great partner for the Medicare business.
In todays environment, it may be wise for Medicare agencies to look again at the Private Pay industry and invest in another line of business that will not be subject to the changes of CMS. This holds true for both Medicare Home Health and the Hospice agencies. The opportunities in a Private Pay agency are endless. The services offered are as open and vast as the community served will support. By using the lessons learned from the previous attempts to diversify into Private Pay, the new line of business makes the difference between surviving and thriving.
For Private Pay (Home Care) agencies, diversification is just as important. By having only one or two lines of business, you will very likely have some down times with loss of revenues. Diversification of services helps to diminish the effects of the decline on your personal care or live-in services. There are so many opportunities in the Private Pay arena, it really is a matter of finding out what your marketplace will support and then developing it in such a manner that your customers will see value and buy.
Over the years I have seen some very creative and innovative Private Pay agency owners create truly unique services that were well received by their communities. One agency had a very viable service line in cruise companions. They had a high end senior population that were used to cruises, but because of declines in health and abilities, many of the seniors could no longer travel. The agency developed a contract with a major cruise line where they provided the personal care workers or aides that accompanied the senior on the cruise. The client paid for all the related cruise expenses as well as the daily live-in rate for the aide. Reportedly a great time was had by all.
Another agency developed a Mom and Babe program that catered to the large number of young, educated families in their geographic area. The program retained the services of an OB-GYN RN, who made the first visit to the home the day after the mother was discharged from the hospital. The aide, who was a trained doula, also accompanied the RN on the first visit. The services were bundled into either 5- or 7-day, 12 hour/day packages that included the RN visit and the 5 or 7 days of the specialty aide. The aide not only cared for the mother and baby, but tended to the home and other children, allowing the new mother and baby to have bonding time. The aide planned and cooked the meals and did the laundry and light housekeeping so that the mother could rest. The program, as mentioned, was sold as a package and made great shower gifts. The aide was available on an hourly rate to continue services beyond the package if the family wished, or her services could be bought by the family directly for however long they were needed.
As you can see, there is no limit to what your agency can provide. With appropriate due diligence and an ability to listen to what your community is seeking and willing to pay for, you can do anything. If youre ready to plan a more secure financial future for your agency, contact us today to discuss the many diverse opportunities that are awaiting you.
What can I do with this qualification?
Graduates of the National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training are fully qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers and can work in the health fitness industry at home and abroad or in a self employed capacity as a personal trainer.
Successful completion allows graduates to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover to faciliate exercise prescription to members of the public.
Programme Overview
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training will offer successful graduates the opportunity to prescribe safe and effective exercise to the general public in either group fitness situations or on an individual one-to-one personal training basis.
This qualification, which is delivered by the National College of Exercise and Health Studies (NCEHS), offers individuals the opportunity to learn the skills required to teach safe and effective exercise to the general public. Exercise prescription offered by NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors includes resistance training classes using the wide variety of weight training machines available in health clubs and fitness centres. Graduates also deliver group exercise to music classes, either in health clubs and fitness centres in an employed capacity, or in community centres, parish halls etc. as self employed individuals. They also have the opportunity to deliver one-to-one personal training as this excellent programme also includes the National Qualification in Personal Training.
As a result of the superb quality of instructional skills and internationally accepted qualifications, NCEHS Health Fitness Instructors can obtain a highly specified Professional Indemnity Insurance policy which is available exclusively to our graduates.
NCEHS graduates will find themselves immediately employable and in strong demand within the health fitness profession. Opportunities also exist for NCEHS qualified Health Fitness Instructors to work on board luxury cruise liners through our professional relationship with Steiner, the company responsible for staff placement in this area.
Entry Requirements
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training is open to anybody with a strong interest in exercise and health fitness and the desire to pass their enthusiasm on to the general public as part of their day-to-day working routine as either a full time or part time health fitness instructor.
The course content includes anatomy and physiology, exercise to music, resistance training, diet and sports nutrition, first aid, injury prevention and other areas of interest. The content is delivered to facilitate adult learners of mixed ability.
Synoptic Syllabus
The National Qualification in Exercise, Health Studies and Personal Training covers all relevant areas including:
# Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology, Basic Exercise Physiology
# Concepts and Components of Fitness
# Exercise Principals & Energy Systems
# Lesson Planning & Class Structure
# Muscular Actions & Exercise Analysis
# Resistance & Flexibility Training
# Exercise to Music, Choreography & Music Appreciation
# NCEHS Key Elements to successful Instruction and Personal Training
# Safety and Contra – Indicated exercise
# Personal Training & Instructional Teaching Skills
# Diet & Sports Nutrition
# Injury Prevention in exercise
# Introduction to Sports Massage
# Business Aspects
# Code of Ethics
Tutors
All National College of Exercise and Health Studies tutors are expert in their chosen field with some having represented Ireland at international level in health fitness competition.
All senior tutors have many years of experience working in the health fitness profession and, having obtained a H. Dip. in Education have learned the skills required to deliver complex information to learners of mixed ability.
All tutors have dedicated areas of speciality to enhance the learning experience for NCEHS students.
CPD
NCEHS graduates have a responsibility to ensure that the exercise prescription which they offer the public is current, safe and effective. In order to achieve this goal graduates must participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which ensures that they are always operating within ‘best practice’ standards.
CPD can be achieved through attendance at health fitness conventions and conferences or through the participation in advanced educational programmes which bring graduates up to date with changes.
Freelance workers, independent consultants and independent contractors enjoy many advantages. Their schedules are flexible, they set their own agenda, and with a little planning, they can take extended time off. However, while these benefits can improve quality of life, there are other benefits that these workers do not receive, such as health insurance. Finding health insurance as a freelancer or independent consultant is one of the most challenging aspects of being a sole proprietor. A variety of insurance options are available to these workers, however finding a plan that the worker qualifies for and can afford is the difficult part. Of the many choices in insurance available, independent contractors and independent consultants may be surprised once they start shopping that some are unavailable to them, some are too expensive, and others offer poor or unnecessary coverage. By the time these workers narrow down the choices to the affordable insurers that will accept them, the list may be very short indeed.
Group Insurance
Group insurance coverage is undoubtedly the best insurance plan overall. In a group plan there is no need to qualify, no medical exams, no health questions to answer and the rates are the same for everyone and do not raise with claims. That being said, if you are self-employed, group health insurance is very difficult to find. Group health insurance is typically provided by employers, and, since an independent contractor works for themselves, there is no employer. If your spouse is employed, you have recently been employed and qualify for COBRA, or you can get your employment covered under an umbrella company, it may be possible to receive group coverage. If you can qualify for group insurance, you will probably find it to be the most affordable and most inclusive of the insurance options that you find.
Insurance through an Association or Chamber of Commerce
In their effort to ease the financial hardships for sole proprietors, many professional organizations and local chambers of commerce offer insurance to their members. These policies are not true group policies, but pooled risk policies. A pooled risk policy can still be affordable, particularly if you are young, have no serious medical conditions, and have low risk of an accident. Because you generally receive an individual insurance premium rate, members with pre-existing conditions or those in poor health may find that they pay a higher rate. Also, unlike in a group plan, your rate can, and will, change as a result of claims. Even those in good health that are in a pooled risk policy will usually pay more for coverage than someone with group coverage, but, overall, the insurance choices provided by professional organizations can be a good choice for self-employed workers.
Coverage through the State
Some states offer medical insurance benefits programs. In many cases, health insurance that is offered through your state is not a great choice. While each state offers its own plan and they vary widely, a state plan does not typically cover the full spectrum of preventative care and may be very limited with regard to prescription coverage. Coverage through the state is sometimes called catastrophic coverage, intended to prevent financial ruin if a self employed worker becomes seriously ill or injured. State coverage may also have income limits (intended for lower income individuals) or other qualifying factors. State coverage can be an option to explore, but you should also make sure that you have money in your savings to cover routine preventative office visits, the cost of medications, and reserve funds in case you need to come up with partial payments for something more serious.
Individual Coverage
Buying an insurance plan directly from the insurance company is an expensive way to get health coverage. If you have pre-existing conditions or are in poor health it may be impossible to find a company that will cover you affordably. Individual coverage is typically the last choice for independent contractors and freelancers because of the expense, the limits, and the aggravation of attempting to secure this type of coverage.
Getting the Coverage That You Want
Group health insurance is, hands down, the best all-around choice. Qualifying for a group plan as a self employed individual can be tricky, but there are ways to do it. The benefit is affordable coverage and the knowledge that you can protect your health and wellbeing affordably. If you cannot qualify for group insurance through your spouse or COBRA, and you are working as an independent consultant or freelancer, your best choice may be to get benefits coverage through employment by an umbrella company or “employer of record”. An umbrella company often offers benefits to their employees, such as insurance. The work you perform is not for the umbrella company however, it is for your existing clients. The umbrella company invoices the clients, and pays you. This allows your client to be free of maintaining your paperwork, while allowing you to receive benefits from the umbrella company.
Umbrella firms commonly employ only “white collar” professionals, so if you are an independent contractor in trucking, construction, or other more labor-oriented industries, then an umbrella firm may not be right for you. Also, it is important to ask many questions about the insurance and benefits provided by any umbrella firm. Many umbrella firms offer complete insurance packages that include health, life and disability coverage with a true group program. Other firms offer “group discount” health plans that may not be truly corporate group health. Find out who the insurance company is, and ask lots of questions to be sure – if you can get a cost estimate of the insurance premiums right away, then that can indicate a real group program, as everyone in a group program will have the same rates. If you have to give personal health information such as age or health conditions to get a rate quote, then chances are, the plan is not truly a group plan. While getting benefits through an umbrella firm is a good deal for many individuals who are a good fit for that kind of program, for those who only want health insurance, it may not be the best choice because these companies are not only providing health benefits, but a full suite of employer of record services.
For any independent consultant or freelancer, it is important to protect your physical and financial well being by having solid health insurance coverage. Even a short amount of time away from work due to an unforeseen health problem could be very damaging to a “company of one” – not to mention sky high medical costs if youre uninsured and the unthinkable happens. If youre working solo, make sure you have great coverage. Shop around, ask questions, and compare your options. Always look for a true corporate group health plan, – whether through a spouse, through COBRA coverage, or through an employer of record, as this is the safest and most stable option for great benefits protection.