Seabridge Bathing's Blog » elderly

Pensioner stuck in his bath

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:00:43 +0000

Here is an example where a walk-in tub would help in a dangerous situation.

From heraldexpress.co.uk.

An elderly man was rescued by firefighters after locking himself in the bathroom at his home in Paignton, UK.

He became stuck in the tub, but no one else in the property was able to help him out because the door had been locked.

The alarm was raised at an address off Kings Ash Road at 11pm on Wednesday.

A crew from Paignton were able to open the door and lift the man from the bath water.

The drama prompted fire officers to issue safety advice about the dangers of locking bathrooms when taking a dip.

“The best thing to do is not to lock the door,” said a fire spokesman after the rescue.

It is understood the pensioner, believed to be in his 70s, had not used a specially provided chair to immerse himself in the bath.

“In this case he could not get out. And no one could help him because the door was locked,” explained the spokesman.

Daughters suffer more than sons while caring for aging parents

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:43:29 +0000

An estimated 44 million adults in the United States provide unpaid care to another adult.

A 2004 study commissioned by the AARP and other organizations estimated that caregiving is more stressful on women, who make up more than six in 10 caregivers: 40 percent said caregiving stressed them at high levels, compared to just 26 percent of men.

“Adult daughters place greater emphasis on their relationships with their parents, and when those relationships go awry, it takes a worse toll on the adult daughters than the adult sons,” said review author Marina Bastawrous, a graduate student at the University of Toronto.

Elderly resident scalded with 1st degree burns

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:23:48 +0000

There was no thermo-static mixing valve!

A company which runs a nursing home in Essex has today been fined after an elderly man was lowered into a bath filled with water possibly as hot as 72°C.

Michael Ginn (72) was living at West House Nursing Home in St Vincent’s Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, when he suffered first degree burns to his feet on 5 May 2009.

Mr Ginn, who is unable to walk, was being bathed by two care assistants. He was lowered into the bath using a hoist but immediately began to cry out that the water was too hot. Despite being quickly raised out of the bath and having his feet immersed in cold water, Mr Ginn suffered first degree burns to both feet and was kept overnight at Southend Hospital.

Rootcroft Ltd, of 71 Sunnyfield, Mill Hill, London, which runs the nursing home, appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court today and admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,989 in costs. The company was also ordered to pay the victim £500 in compensation.

Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found no thermostatic mixing valve was fitted to the water supply to prevent the temperature exceeding 44°C. The bath was supplied with hot water from one of two tanks where the water was stored at 67°C and 72°C when checked by inspectors.

Continue reading Elderly resident scalded with 1st degree burns

Fear of falling can lead to more falls

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:48:11 +0000

The fear of falling can ironically lead to more falls among the elderly, according to new research.

Gait disturbances, or difficulty walking as a result of old age, often have many causes, according to the researchers from the Neurological Hospital and Health Center of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Germany.

These can include visual defects, neurodegeneration of the motor cortex, taking medication or drinking alcohol, and anxiety over falls.

Those elderly individuals who are afraid of falling typically restrict their own movements, inadvertently worsening the physical conditions they may have, and contributing to a greater risk of falls.

The prevalence of anxiety-related gait disturbances in elderly patients could be as high as 85%, according to the report.

Read the full report here: http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/archiv/pdf.asp?id=74599

You want me to age in place … there??

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:20:18 +0000

Why not?

They’re also called “mother-in-law apartments” but they’ve come a long way.

This beautiful cabin is produced by Emory Bakdwin, ZAI principle architect and 2009 Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) of the year. This new pre-fabricated ADU (Assisted Dwelling Unit), called a FabCab, is worth checking out.

The FabCabs are available in 3 sizes: small (449 SF), medium (538 SF) and large (800 SF).

Customers choose the finish colors and style.

The construction process takes about 3 months.

Check out the website for more information: http://fabcab.com/home.html.

Avoid the ‘Senior Sickness Snowball Effect’ with a strong immune system

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:19:59 +0000

(ARA) – An emerging health trend where a relatively simple illness leads to a number of physical and lifestyle changes is impacting seniors around the country, say immune system researchers from Embria Health Sciences, co-founders of the Nourish America Senior Health Project. They’ve dubbed this trend the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect, which impacts the overall quality of a person’s daily life and follows this recurring cycle:

* Loss of appetite
* Inadequate nutrition
* Decreased energy
* Reduction in social activities
* Decreased independence
* Limited social interaction
* Increased potential for depression, stress
* Weakened immune system
* Continued illness
* Loss of appetite

“Today’s older Americans are active and often have major responsibilities that require them to be in good health,” explains Stuart Reeves, Ph.D., director of research and development for Embria Health Sciences. “Unfortunately, as a person ages, their immune system becomes weaker and there is greater need for support, not just during cold weather seasons, but also throughout the year.”

Embria Health Sciences established this Senior Health Project, alongside non-profit organizations Nourish America and the National Foundation of Women Legislators, to address the increased need for senior health support. This series of free community education events provides seniors with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain and manage their own health through a combination of non-profit health organization outreach activities and no-cost distribution of EpiCor, an all-natural immune health supplement, clinically shown to reduce cold and flu symptom incidence and duration.

In addition to his participation in the Nourish America Senior Health Project, Dr. Reeves offers these easy lifestyle tips that will keep seniors’ immune systems going strong:

Get your grain: According to a 2008 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that a mere 18 percent of Americans 60 and older meet the dietary recommendations for daily grain intake. “Well-nourished people have fewer illnesses,” says Dr. Reeves. Seniors can easily add more whole grains into their diets through a wide variety of easy-to-prepare everyday foods, including brown rice, oatmeal and popcorn.

Adopt a pet: “Seniors living alone sometimes experience a sense of isolation, which is one of the main components of the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect,” explains Dr. Reeves. Studies show that when seniors establish an owner-pet relationship, their feelings of loneliness dissolve and the pet-related activities such as walking, feeding, grooming and playing improve their overall well-being.

Fill in the gaps: “Since seniors are at a higher risk of falling ill, getting the right amount of daily vitamins and nutrients is essential to their well-being, which is why taking a multi-vitamin supplement is often recommended,” Dr. Reeves explains. “Some seniors would also benefit from taking a supplement specifically designed for their immune system.” Dr. Reeves points out that, “EpiCor, an all-natural immune health ingredient found in a wide variety of dietary supplement products, works year-round to balance the body’s immune system for optimal health.” Visit www.EpicorImmune.com for more information.

Hit the mall: The mall is great place to kill three birds with one stone. You can run a shopping errand, participate in social dialogue, and get some exercise by walking a couple of laps around the perimeter. “Staying active, both physically and socially, is a key element to a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Reeves.

“By maintaining good immune health now, seniors may avoid experiencing the Senior Sickness Snowball Effect firsthand,” says Dr. Reeves. “The immune system is an important part of the body’s immune defense against germs and pathogens – keep it in check and the rest will follow.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Study: Dieting May Not Be Helpful for Overweight Elderly

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:01:07 +0000

More research indicates that being overweight can be less harmful for the elderly than for younger people. In fact, dieting may not be helpful for the post-70 crowd.

An Australian study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society tracked the number of deaths over 10 years in 9,200 people who were aged 70 to 75 at the start of the study. Study participants rated as overweight were found to have the lowest risk of dying during the period from cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease and also ran the lowest overall death rate among those in the group.

Continue reading from the Wall Street Journal’s blog or read the study itself.

73-year old man robs banks to pay mortgage

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:02:27 +0000

Tampa, Florida – Looking more like a grandpa than a wanted bank robber, 73-year-old James Bruce toddled front and center at Orient Road Jail.

Bruce was arrested on Thursday after detectives said he was robbing banks to pay his mortgage.

According to a criminal report, Bruce walked into three different banks in south Tampa. Each time, investigators allege, he would request $600 in $100-dollar bills then pass a handwritten note to the teller, “No alarms and wait 4 minutes.”

After the arrest, police confirmed that Bruce admitted to the robberies post-miranda.

Judge Walter Heinrich, citing the fact that Bruce carried no weapon into the banks and did not have a prior record, set bond at $22,000.

Heinrich ordered Bruce to stay out of the Suntrust and two Bank of America locations, the banks that he is accused of robbing.

From: http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=125123&catid=8

[You even got] approval of our state plumbing board for your nationally tested product!

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:32:42 +0000

Calvin, Rebecca, and Jim have always informed, guided, and helped us in many ways — your employees are outstanding in their customer service skills and their kindness to us!

You even resolved the issue of getting approval of our state plumbing board for your nationally tested product! Well done, that should benefit other Massachusetts customers!

The fine adjustment of the shower hot water temperature is very nice!

I find your walk-in bath to be just as high quality and full-featured as it was advertised to be. The therapeutic air-bubble system is appreciated by my wife.

We both like the fine adjustment of shower hot water temperature.

I like the seat you provide. It is very comfortable for sitting while bathing. It is very useful when showering because I can rest one foot on it while washing or showering off my feet and lower legs.

I like the fiberglass material, because it warms when warm water is turned on — much quicker than for standard porcelain-steel tubs.

Allan Smith
Framingham, MA
June 20, 2008

90-year-old California woman survives 3 days trapped in bathtub

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:25:01 +0000

Shirley Madsen, who turned 90 Thursday, survived three days trapped in her bathtub by drinking water from a rubber duck.

“I have never been so terrified in my life,” Madsen, of Walnut Creek, said of her harrowing experience.

Madsen’s daughter, Diane Weber, of Walnut Creek, said doctors at John Muir Medical Center-Walnut Creek Campus were amazed at her mother’s ability to recover from days of little sleep or water, and no food.

The potentially fatal episode began when Madsen returned from a seniors’ bus trip to Cache Creek Casino Resort on the evening of May 27. “I love the Indian casino. They have such wonderful buffets,” Madsen said.

But she skipped the buffet before boarding the bus for home.

“I only had an egg and a half of a pancake for breakfast,” Madsen said. “When I got home I was trying to decide whether to have dinner first or take a bath.”

The spunky woman chose the latter, not expecting that she would be too weak to get out of the tub, and unable to reach anyone for help.

“When I tried to get out of the tub, I just didn’t have the strength to lift myself out,” she said.

Read rest of the article 90 year old California woman survives 3 days trapped in bathtub