Caring Senior Service "The Women Vs. Men: Who Needs Long-Term Care Most Often?"

There's a reason you see many more older women than men at the bingo parlor - - women live longer than men. For most of us, that's really no secret, but the related numbers may be surprising:

Profile of Nursing Home Residents

• 14% of the U.S. population is made up of older (65+) Americans.
• Of this group, women outnumber men greater than 4:3.
• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.2 years (20.4 years for females and 17.8 years for males).
• In Texas, the population of older Americans has increased over 30% from 2000 to 2011 (2.7 million).

Why do Women Live Longer than Men?

• Stress -- women, as a group, tend not to internalize stress as much as men.  Also important is the fact that women have stronger social connections than men, which help them vent and share their stress.
• Delay of the onset of cardiovascular disease. Women tend to develop cardiovascular problems in their 70's and 80's, while the male trend is in the 40 - 50 age bracket. Estrogen is credited as keeping the arteries strong.
• Men often take bigger risks with their well-being than women. Unfortunately this biological marker leads to more men dying earlier.
• Women take better care of their health. It's estimated that 28% of men don't have a regular doctor.

The fact that women live longer means that many of them will need long-term care - and need it for a longer period of time than men. The insurance industry has taken note of this fact as well. Long-term care insurance rates rose between 20-30% for a female policy from 2013-2014, while a male policy actually dropped about 15%.

Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence. The resources provided by Caring Senior Service can help. ​Get in touch with us today!  Visit us @ http://tucson.caringseniorservice.com 

Caring Senior Service "Safeguard the Elderly Against the Outdoor Heat"

Safeguard Elderly Against the Outdoor Heat

As we get closer to the end of the dog days of summer we must remember that we are not out of danger when it comes to the heat of the late-summer sun. As we all know, the sun continues to provide us with its extensive warmth all the way through September.

The dangers involved with going out into the heat of the sun are often overshadowed by the dangers of sunburn. Prolonged exposure to the sun results in sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. There are a number of things we can do to avoid these conditions but ultimately, the best way to avoid these dangers for our seniors, is to pay close attention to them.

1. Visit them twice a day and help them stay in contact with their neighbors. This is very helpful since seniors who remain isolated are at risk of heat related conditions.

2. Avoid going outside during the mid-day heat. Plan any errands for the morning or late evening.

3. Stay hydrated. Do not wait until you are thirsty since it takes time for your brain to signal thirst. It is important to note that for seniors, the thirst sensation is even less sensitive than that of younger adults.

4. Wear appropriate clothing. For seniors, the body's ability to cool itself is not as good as it once was. Compensate for this by donning clothes that are cool, breathable and loose-fitting.

5. Wear lots of sunscreen ensuring that the ears, nose and lips are protected with a minimum of an SPF 15 sunscreen. Consider wearing a hat and sunglasses as well. The hat will help protect your head and provide shade to your neck and face. Sunglasses with UV protection will protect your eyes and reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

Visit us online @ www.Tucson.caringseniorservice.com