What is Aging in Place? - Show Me Health

You may have heard the term “aging in place” in our local news last week, thanks to a new effort spearheaded by the Health Center.   We, along with various entities and individuals passionate about our senior population, have formed a coalition called Aging in Place Livingston County.

The goal of the coalition is to educate residents about how to create an aging in place plan, bring awareness about existing services for 60 and older—including a resource guide and learning series regarding aging mastery; identify the need for additional services; and create a community spirit of Aging in Place as a whole. 

What is aging in place? Aging in place (AIP) is a term used to describe a person living in the residence of their choice, for as long as they are able, as they age. This includes being able to have any services (or other support) they might need over time as their needs change.

The focus of aging in place is to help seniors ensure they can live where they choose and get any help they need for as long as they can. It is more than that, though. The goal of a person wanting to age in place should be to maintain and/or improve their quality of life.

In order to do that, a good plan that focuses on quality of life and covers self, home, finances, care and other items should be created as early as possible. This plan should be maintained over time as the situation changes.

Aging brings changes to us all. As a person begins their aging in place experience, it is important for them to consider and plan for the changes that will happen to them and what impacts these changes will have on their lives.

Making these choices gives a person control over their independence, quality of life and dignity. Planning also presents the individual with an opportunity to lessen the burden on family members by outlining how and where needs are met. As well as lessening the need for emergency assistance from community resources.

An Aging in Place plan is not for ‘Old’ people.  Let’s face it, we are all in the same boat when it comes to aging, we’re just at different points in the process.  Aging in Place should be a lifetime plan, that adapts and changes as the need arises.

Creating an Aging in Place plan empowers to ensure their quality of life and live it out in dignity, without being a burden to their family or community.

Regardless of whether a person has retired or not, it’s always a good time to plan. If you haven’t retired yet, it means you have time to think about your needs, research your options and put together a plan that is good for you and your family.  If you have retired, putting the time in to building a plan will help keep you in control of your life. Building a plan will help you deal with issues you will encounter down the road and ease some of the burden your loved ones will experience.

AIP Plans are also helpful to family and caregivers.  It provides an opportunity to sit down with loved ones and talk about how to ensure their needs are met and wishes are respected. It also will helps provide the level of care that is right for them, and shows respect by ensuring their dignity is kept intact and their needs are met.

Aging in Place Livingston County is currently surveying county residents 60 and older throughout February.  If you haven’t been surveyed and would like to, please contact the Health Center at 646-5506. 

Plans for the future include two health fairs and two memory screening dates in May during Older Americans month; a resource guide for seniors to be distributed in May and the development of an Aging Mastery program to be implemented in 2018.

Source: AARP, Age In Place

Flu Numbers High in Our Region

Livingston County Health Center would like to encourage residents to practice good flu prevention habits such as handwashing, social distancing and vaccination as our region is experiencing widespread flu activity at this point in the season.

Influenza activity is rising in the U.S. at this time, as well as in Missouri and our Northwest region in particular. Outpatient visits for influenza-like-illness are above the national baseline. Activity is expected to continue during the coming weeks.

The Northwest District has had 7,435 cases of influenza to date as of last week, 1,760 in the week alone.  In comparison, last year at this point in the flu season, the northwest district had 448 cases to date, and 14 individual positive cases during the week.   Flu activity is listed as “widespread” in our region, while last year at this time was “sporadic.”

Flu activity seems to be hitting children the worst, with numbers for 0-17 year olds testing positive for influenza exponentially higher than those 18 and over. 

Vaccination rates for influenza in Livingston County were down significantly this year.  Last year, 1513 kids 18 and under were vaccinated, as well as 885 adults 19 and older.   To date in 2016-2017, 466 kids 18 and under have been vaccinated, and 941 adults over 18.    Part of the large number of vaccinations of children last year was due to grant funding that allowed health center nurses to administer vaccine at all school sites, as well as the availability of FluMist intranasal vaccine.  During this flu season, the CDC determined FluMist to be less effective than believed, and many parents opted out of vaccination altogether. 

The Livingston County Health Center advises everyone who has not already received the flu vaccine get their shot now.  CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. It is still not too late to receive protection during the 2016-2017 flu season.

The CDC has determined that the influenza vaccine produced for this year’s flu season was a good match to the two viruses circulating in this area.   Those who were vaccinated and still caught the flu likely experienced less significant symptoms.

Your illness might be the flu if you have fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your health care provider. It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care. However, if you have symptoms of flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick and worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. There are tests that can determine if you have the flu. CDC also recommends prompt treatment with influenza antiviral drugs for people who are very sick with flu or people who are at high risk of flu illness who get flu.

If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. Also, you can take medications such as Tylenol to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever.

Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, except to get medical care or other necessities.  Keep sick children home from school and limit social activities to avoid spreading the illness. 

Practice good handwashing throughout the day and encourage family members to do so as well.  Clean and sanitize surfaces that may have been infected with flu virus. 

Those who would like to be immunized against influenza should call the health center at 646-5506 to schedule an appointment, or attend one of our Tuesday walk-in office visit days during regular hours. 

Heart Health Month - Show Me Health

Heart disease is a major problem. Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year—that’s 1 out of every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the United States is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

The situation is alarming, but there is good news—heart disease is preventable and controllable. We can start by taking small steps every day to bring our loved ones and ourselves closer to heart health. CDC is providing a tip a day throughout February, but you can take these small steps all year long.

One Step at a Time

As you begin your journey to better heart health, keep these things in mind:

Don't become overwhelmed. Every step brings you closer to a healthier heart.

Don't go it alone. The journey is more fun when you have company. Ask friends and family to join you.

Don't get discouraged. You may not be able to take all of the steps at one time. Get a good night's sleep and do what you can tomorrow.

Reward yourself. Find fun things to do to decrease your stress. Round up some colleagues for a lunchtime walk, join a singing group, or have a healthy dinner with your family or friends.

Plan for Prevention

Some health conditions and lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have.

Eat a healthy diet. Choosing healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid heart disease and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables—adults should have at least 5 servings each day. Eating foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high cholesterol. Limiting salt or sodium in your diet also can lower your blood pressure. For more information on healthy diet and nutrition, visit CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site and ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate a number called the body mass index (BMI). Doctors sometimes also use waist and hip measurements to measure a person's body fat. If you know your weight and height, you can calculate your BMI at CDC's Assessing Your Weight Web site.

Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends adults engage in moderate-intensity exercise for 2 hours and 30 minutes every week. For more information, see CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Web site.

Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis. You can check your blood pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at a doctor's office. Find more information at CDC's High Blood Pressure Web site.

Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit. For more information about tobacco use and quitting, see CDC's Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site and Smokefree.gov.

Limit alcohol use. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can increase your blood pressure. Men should stick to no more than two drinks per day, and women to no more than one. For more information, visit CDC's Alcohol and Public Health Web site.

Have your cholesterol checked. Your health care provider should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years. Talk with your doctor about this simple blood test. You can find out more from CDC's High Cholesterol Web site.

Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talk with your doctor about treatment options. Visit CDC's Diabetes Public Health Resource for more information.

Take your medicine. If you're taking medication to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you don't understand something.

Source: American Heart Association, WebMD