A Healthier You

Carol Tucker, Founder & CFO
Trustworthy Home Health Care

Many health fads come and go, as there is no miracle pill or magic bullet.  But the good news is, that there are reliable ways to stay healthy and live your life with the quality and wellness that you long for.  This steadfast advice will allow you to be the healthiest you can be at any age.

The first step is to practice prevention.  The age-old saying is “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, ” and that is true!  Disease and disorders are prevented or easily treated if discovered early on.  So, the first step in prevention is to see your primary care physician.

With the proper testing, many diseases can be caught in the initial stages, treated, cured, or kept at bay.  Your doctor plays a huge role in your preventative health.  If you are uncomfortable with your physician, get a second opinion, or choose another doctor that you can open up to when making personal health decisions.  Along with your general practitioner, if you are having a particular issue, it’s critical to see a specialist.  Medicine is at an advanced age, and the tests that are available now can show even minuscule changes in your health.

Even though it may not seem like an overall health issue, visiting your dentist regularly will help you to stay healthy.  A dentist can spot oral cancer in its earliest stages.  The cure rate of oral cancer (if detected early) is 95%!  That’s right; oral cancer can be cured, not just treated if caught early on.

Another reason to visit your dentist regularly is that there are correlations between periodontal bacteria and general wellness.  If your mouth is unhealthy, then there is reason to be concerned that there may be other co-morbidities associated with the disease.

The next steps are to make certain that your vaccinations are up to date.  This is a critical step for the aging population.  As we age, our bodies and immunity change, making us more susceptible to diseases and infections.  One of the most important inoculations is the influenza vaccine.

Since 90% of flu-related deaths are in adults over the age of 65, it’s important to plan ahead, as there are ways to prevent the flu. Along with the traditional flu shot, there is a high-dose flu vaccine. This high dose vaccine is ideal for the elderly population because it contains three different flu strains, which makes staving off the flu virus, much easier. It also contains more antigens, than a standard flu shot, which creates antibodies that fight the virus.

If you had chicken pox when you were younger, getting a shingles vaccination is significantly important.  Anyone with the chicken pox virus also has the shingles virus living inside of them.  The Shingles rash can be extremely painful and can cause undue stress for the elderly.  It’s imperative to speak to your physician about getting this immunization.  If you have already had the shingles virus, you can still get the virus again. A vaccine is just as important for those individuals.

Every ten years we need to have a tetanus booster to keep the vaccine active.  If you are injured, you should get a tetanus shot immediately.  During your primary care visit, please make sure to talk with your provider about this booster or vaccine as well.

Water is your friend; it’s one of the most important elements to keep us going.  Living in Florida, we need to stay on top of making sure we drink enough water.  Drinking other non-caffeinated beverages like decaf tea or coconut water are good options too.  Staying hydrated will flush out toxins and keep your brain fresh. It’s imperative for every organ in your body.

What we eat really is one of the most beneficial preventative measures we can take to maintain health.  Eating a diet that is full of fresh veggies and fruit, good sources of protein like eggs, fish, and poultry and heart healthy oils like olive oil are imperative to staying productive.  Eating this way will also help our bodies recover faster from an illness.

Exercise is not easy when we get older, but trying to make sure we take extra steps by walking a little farther in the parking lot, or doing leg lifts will watching T.V. are ways that we can incorporate more movement into our lives.  If you’re healthy enough to take a long walk, jog, bike ride or to swim a few laps, then, keep up the good work.

Last, but not least, avoiding stress is one of the best preventative measures that we can take.  It’s not easy, but try to take the time to unwind by praying, meditating, and avoiding stressful people or situations.  If watching the evening news causes you to become irritated, stop watching it.  The morning news is usually full of lighter stories.  If you have an intrusive neighbor that treats you poorly, avoid contact with them.  Preventing stress is just as important as all of the other methods mentioned.

Every day, do something that makes you happy, even if it’s only for 10 minutes a day.   Incorporating these steps into your life will keep you at your best and feeling the fullness of life that all of us want.

Your Preventative Plan
• Speak with your Primary Care Physician
• See a Specialist
• Visit your Dentist
• Flu Vaccine
• Tetanus Immunization Booster
• Shingles Immunization
• Stay Hydrated
• Eat a Healthy Diet
• Exercise
• Avoid Stress

Getting The Help You Need
Unfortunately, when the elderly are stuck dealing with the degenerative effects of aging, it can be extremely taxing on their quality of life. It’s quite common that those struggling with the consequences of aging rely on external help for basic needs, as well as medical requirements. That is where home health care can be so beneficial to the individual as well as the caregiver.

At Trustworthy Home Health Care, they provide, private duty nursing, skilled nursing, speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, social workers and much more. The difference between Trustworthy and other agencies is that they are locally owned, faith-based, and currently serving Sarasota & Manatee counties.

Trustworthy Home Health Care is nationally accredited and specializes in providing care to adult patients who need continued attention after hospital discharge, surgery, rehabilitation or for those seeking on-going daily nursing services.

Trustworthy Home Health Care is a licensed and bonded home healthcare agency that provides medical and therapeutic treatments to patients in the comfort of their own home. With thorough background checks, they diligently employ caregivers that will provide, compassionate and dependable, high quality; multidisciplinary services that will help patients reach the greatest level of potential in their day-to-day self-care activities.

At Trustworthy Home Health Care, their overall goal is to exceed your expectations in the delivery of care and services. Their aim is to help you heal at home with dignity and comfort while maintaining your independence. If you or a loved one is suffering from a disease or other age-related issues, please contact them today to discuss your options.

(941) 377-CARE (2273)
Trustworthy. Care