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Elderly woman dies after falling into scalding hot bath

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:17:25 +0000

By Alan O’Keeffe, Wednesday August 31 2011

An elderly woman unable to get out of a very hot bath died from severe burns.

Evelyn Attwell (78) was trapped in the scalding bath at her home in Dublin as her daughter desperately tried to break down the locked bathroom door.

“I’m stuck. The water’s too hot,” she called to her daughter Vivienne Thompson, who tried to rescue her.

Mrs Attwell, who had seven daughters, died a week later at the National Burns Unit at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

A post-mortem found she died of multi-organ failure due to “thermal burns as a result of partial immersion in hot bath water” at her home in Brookwood Rise, Artane.

Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell delivered a verdict of accidental death. Extending his sympathy to her family following the “very tragic occurrence”, Dr Farrell said it appeared she must have slipped into the bath.

In a statement to the coroner’s court, Ms Thompson said her mother appeared to be suffering from early-onset dementia and was scheduled to undergo a medical scan for the condition the day after the accident happened.

Ms Thompson visited her mother on the afternoon of October 25 last year and brought her dinner. Mrs Attwell was preparing for the hospital visit and went upstairs for a bath. After 10 or 15 minutes, Ms Thompson heard her mother calling her. She went upstairs and heard her mother calling through the locked door.

Ms Thompson said she tried to force the door open but it was a new door and she couldn’t get it open. She sent her daughter for help and called the fire brigade.

Her mother was “still talking” to her for a few minutes before falling unconscious. When the fire brigade arrived and broke in the door, she was found lying widthways in the bath with her legs out. The paramedics revived her and she became “fully alert”. She spoke with her daughter on the ambulance trip to Beaumont Hospital.

Mrs Attwell was transferred two hours later to St James’s Hospital burns unit, where she died on November 2.

Family members told the coroner in court that Mrs Attwell used to complain of feeling “a little bit dizzy” from time to time. The family were concerned that she had been declining cognitively over the previous eight months.

The family did not know how the bath water became too hot. The coroner said she must not have put any cold water into the bath and she may have slipped into the bath while preparing it.

hnews@herald.ie

Heat Stress in the Elderly

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:16:35 +0000

From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Elderly people (that is, people aged 65 years and older) are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:

Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Continue reading Heat Stress in the Elderly

95-year-old woman forced to remove her adult diaper at airport security

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:37:35 +0000

Recent reports allege that security officials at a Florida airport forced a 95-year-old woman with cancer to remove her adult diaper as part of a security pat-down.

While this is an extreme example, some medical equipment and assistive devices– such as pacemakers, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks – can hinder airport security screening procedures.

In response to the incident involving the adult diaper, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials released this statement: “While every person and item must be screened before entering the secure boarding area, the TSA works with passengers to resolve security alarms in a respectful and sensitive manner.”

From http://www.agingcare.com. Read more…

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.