Health Archives - Abbeyfield Bognor

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Retirement Options – The Alphabet Soup of Terms You Need To Know

by Abbeyfield Bognor Elderly Health

Planning for retirement can be a complex endeavor. From 401(k), IRA and pension accounts to consider, the alphabet soup of words may become daunting.

Since pensions and Social Security no longer guarantee income security, now is the time to start planning for your future. An expert financial consultant can assist in helping you to understand all of your retirement options and how they fit together.

Investing

Your retirement savings could be stored in various accounts: company 401(k), individual retirement account (IRA), self-employed business account or brokerage. How you invest your funds will depend on when they need to be withdrawn as well as your comfort with risk.

Before your retirement age arrives, your investing goal should focus on growth and long-term gains in your investments. Most experts suggest adopting an aggressive portfolio rather than one found in traditional savings or brokerage accounts.

Once you reach retirement age, it may be beneficial to shift towards more conservative asset allocation in your retirement accounts and even more conservative in taxable brokerage accounts. This approach gives you more flexibility to take advantage of opportunities or short-term needs without needing to sell assets when markets decline which could damage your portfolio.

Some investors opt to research and purchase individual stocks and bonds directly, rather than investing through mutual funds. Although this takes more time and knowledge, this strategy may offer higher returns than a diversified mutual fund portfolio. Other popular retirement investment options include dividend-paying stocks or creating a bond ladder (an arrangement in which bonds have maturities across several years); real estate investment trusts which invest in income-generating commercial properties with regular distributions; annuities which offer periodic payments based on principal amount invested and age; or buying shares of real estate investment trusts which invest in income-producing commercial properties that pay regular distributions; purchasing shares of real estate investment trusts which invest in income-producing commercial properties with regular distributions; or annuities which offer regular stream payments based upon principal amount invested and age of investor.

Savings

Saving for retirement is often more complex than saving for other goals like cars or houses, as estimating how much to put away each month may prove daunting. Planning for unexpected expenses such as medical costs may also present its own obstacles to savings success.

Work with a financial professional to create and adhere to an effective savings plan. An IRA (individual retirement account) is an ideal vehicle for saving for retirement as it allows your assets to grow tax-deferred. If your employer offers a 401(k) or 403(b), make use of any matching contributions available – this will maximize your returns!

Roth IRAs offer another great retirement savings solution, enabling you to accumulate after-tax dollars while deferring income taxes until withdrawal – an attractive choice if your income tax bracket will likely increase during retirement.

As another way of saving for retirement, taxable investment accounts such as brokerage or mutual fund accounts offer tax-deferred earnings. You could also consider adding income-producing equities or an annuity as additional sources of retirement income beyond Social Security benefits, pension payments and savings plans.

Taxes

As you save for retirement, there are various strategies you can utilize to put away funds, including 401(k), 403(b), Individual IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs. Employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s offer tax breaks to employees by letting them invest a percentage of their paycheck into an account managed by the company; typically this means contributing 10% or so each paycheck into the account that’s invested by them – some employers even match employee contributions up to certain amounts!

Certain companies offer defined benefit pension plans, although they’re less prevalent nowadays. Under such plans, an annual payment goes into an investment pool which offers benefits depending on how much money has accumulated by retirement time.

When you withdraw a lump sum from a pension plan, it becomes taxable in the year of withdrawal. To avoid this taxation and maximize tax-deferral options for yourself and your future beneficiaries, roll your pension over into an IRA instead.

An annuity provides monthly checks for life. Joint-and-survivor annuities offer the possibility of joint and survivor payout, meaning your spouse or beneficiary will continue receiving portions of your annuity payments even after your death. When considering an annuity as a retirement strategy option, speaking with a financial professional is crucial; they can assist with calculating expected returns as well as selecting products tailored specifically to your retirement needs and risk tolerance.

Insurance

Many retirees wish to travel and explore the world, which can be both exciting and costly. Insurance plans provide peace of mind by helping retirees meet their travel dreams while meeting retirement goals without incurring additional debt.

Retirement investment accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs should be your go-to investments for funding retirement, but for some individuals life insurance policies can play an integral role in planning for their golden years. Such plans typically provide death benefits and cash benefits that serve as alternatives to traditional investments, although their rates of return tend to be significantly lower compared with dedicated accounts.

SEPs offer another retirement solution for self-employed individuals: pretax contributions can be made pre-tax into individual retirement accounts owned by either employer or employees; contribution limits of 25% of income or $61,000 will determine which account receives these funds.

Some life insurance policies provide access to tax-deferred investment funds that grow tax-deferred. This option is typically utilized by high net-worth individuals who have maximized contributions to traditional retirement investment accounts and require another tax-deferred growth vehicle, usually an annuity that offers safety, long-term growth and guaranteed income as part of your retirement assets. Some annuities may even be purchased before taxes are deducted while others become taxable only upon withdrawals.

Mental Health in Care Homes

by Abbeyfield Bognor Care home improvements Care Homes Elderly Health Mental health

Mental health is a common concern for those who live in care homes. From adjusting to a new environment to dealing with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, maintaining good mental health can be difficult for many.

To understand and support the mental health needs of older adults who move into residential aged care, a mixed methods study was conducted. Staff participants from various departments, whose work involved managing or supporting residents’ transition into residential aged care, were interviewed. Their responses were compiled into three broad themes:

Depression

In long-term care homes, depression is a common, often untreated mental health condition. It is also linked with an increased risk of death from physical illnesses, such as heart disease.

Depressive symptoms occur in a variety of ways and can be related to a variety of factors, including the length of time in the home, the type of home and staff training and experience. However, no single factor has been found to be associated with a higher incidence of depression in any given care home.

Most of the depressive symptoms observed in care homes are situational depression, which generally responds well to clinical and pharmacological treatment. Chronic depression, on the other hand, can be long-lasting and often reflects a more in-depth character trait. It requires more intensive therapy and medication.

Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues among care home residents. Whether it is anxiety due to medical problems, depression or a general feeling of dread, it can greatly affect a resident’s life and quality of living.

A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry states that 3.2 percent to 20 percent of individuals living in long-term care facilities suffer from anxiety. Fortunately, there are medications that can treat anxiety disorders.

Anxiety is a common problem among older people living in NHs and can be difficult to detect because it can mimic other conditions, such as poor health or mobility issues. This is why it is important to be able to recognize symptoms of anxiety in elderly care homes.

Mood Disorders

Depression is one of the most common health problems in older adults and may be a factor in residents’ poor quality of life. Depression is often diagnosed by a medical doctor, and medications such as antidepressants or cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to treat the condition.

Mood disorders can have serious consequences for residents’ health and quality of life, and may increase risk for death (Ashby et al. 1991; Rovner et al. 1991; Suominen et al. 2003).

The first step in addressing mood disorders is detection. This requires training of care home staff, particularly personal carers, to identify and refer residents for assessment and treatment. It also involves setting up a screening process and ensuring referral is linked to initiation of assessment and treatment.

Behavioral Issues

There are many behavioral issues that can arise in care homes, especially among seniors with dementia. These range from wandering to sexually inappropriate behaviors to hoarding.

These behavior problems can be difficult for caregivers to manage. Often, they are the result of underlying medical, psychological or social conditions.

Behavioral assessment by a trained staff member can help to pinpoint the cause of a resident’s challenges. The assessment should include a psychiatric interview and a thorough medical and family history.

Once the cause of a resident’s behavior is known, staff can then work to address those needs and goals in a way that meets the resident’s specific personality. By doing so, they can effectively reduce the amount of challenging behavior.

Medications

Medications are an essential part of the treatment for many mental illnesses. They can help make therapy more effective, improve mood, reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

Several types of medication are used to treat these disorders, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and sleeping pills. It is important for nursing home staff to ensure that medications are being properly prescribed and given to the right patient at the right time.

The use of antipsychotic drugs in care homes has been a problem for years. Inappropriate use of these powerful psychiatric drugs has been linked to fatal falls and other serious health issues.

Personal Injury Claims Glasgow: Things You Should Know

by Abbeyfield Bognor Health

Personal injury claims in Glasgow like in any other city in the UK are based on tort law, which is a civil wrong that causes harm without government action. There are three types of torts: negligence, strict liability, and intentional torts. In a negligence claim, for example, you must show three elements to establish a claim. Read this article for more information. Then, contact an attorney to discuss your situation. Ultimately, you can make a claim for compensation for the damage and losses you suffered.

Basic elements of a personal injury claim

There are four basic elements that must be met if you plan on making a personal injury claim Glasgow. The first of these elements is the duty of care. This is a legal and moral responsibility that both parties have to each other to ensure the safety and well-being of others. The duty varies from case to case and is a common requirement for cases involving car accidents and other types of injuries caused by accidents or negligence. A driver has a duty of care to all road users and must drive in a safe manner. If he fails to do so, he can cause harm to other traffic participants and might even produce accidents. It is important to know your rights and who to contact in case you are a victim of an accident.

Defining fault in a personal injury claim

There are four elements to determining fault in a personal injury claim. First, the defendant must have a duty to the claimant, and this duty must be breached by the other party. The duty may be as simple as driving safely, or it could be more complicated like failing to stop at a stop sign. Other types of liability may be involved, such as product liability or property liability.

Defining strict liability

Defining strict liability in a case may be tricky because it doesn’t apply to every situation. A person who owns a wild animal may be held responsible if an animal bites or tries to attack you. This is because the animal is not governed by conscience and possesses a great capacity for mischief. However, this doesn’t mean that if you’re bitten by a dog, you should not hold the owner of the dog or cat responsible. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to ensure it behaves properly when it is outside of their property and interacts with other people or pets.

Filing deadlines

The filing deadline for personal injury claims varies according to the country in which the incident occurred and the type of claim. The law in the UK requires that an injured person file his or her claim within 30 days of the date the injury occurred. There are some exceptions to this rule, including when a minor is involved. To find out more info about personal injury claims Glasgow you should get in touch with a specialist in this field who will offer you the most up-to-date advice according to your individual circumstances.

Taxes on personal injury settlements

Taxes on personal injury settlements in a personal accident claim may be a tricky subject for victims. While compensation for lost wages and future income can be taxable in some situations, pain and suffering are not. Although this is a subjective topic, tax officials may view a large settlement or jury award as income, even if the amount is directly related to a person’s regular income.

Diet Recommendations For Seniors

by Abbeyfield Bognor Elderly Health

Calcium

As you age, your bones are at risk of becoming weak and fragile, which is known as osteoporosis. Your body needs enough calcium to absorb in order to keep bones strong and healthy. This will allow you to achieve better mobility and strength. You can find calcium in milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Fat

There is a risk of losing weight as you age, which can place you in an unhealthy BMI range. Your body should be a healthy weight for your age and height in order to function properly and this can also avoid further health issues. Foods that are high in saturated fats can include meat, cream, chocolate, pastries etc.

Fibre

With age, you may also be at risk of your digestive system weakening. This can affect bowel movements, and when this occurs you may experience some stomach pain, bloating and gas. To maintain a healthy digestive system, you should consume more wholegrain cereal, porridge, bread, and fresh fruit.

Fluid

It is common for seniors to suffer from dehydration which can affect their health condition. It is vital to consistently be consuming enough fluids like water, tea, fruit juice etc. This helps the body stay hydrated and healthy.

Haemochromatosis Blood Test: Understanding The Disease

by Abbeyfield Bognor Health

Haemochromatosis is when the human body accumulates lots of iron in the blood, epidermis, pancreas, joints, and heart. It is known as iron toxicity, and excessive quantities of iron in the body can harm cells and tissues in the long run. Doctors use a haemochromatosis blood test to screen for this metabolic disorder.

On the other hand, some individuals do not know what develops haemochromatosis. Continue reading to learn all you need to know about haemochromatosis disease.

Haemochromatosis Disease: What Are The Effects?

Severe instances of haemochromatosis can cause life-threatening effects if left untreated. If this metabolic disease is discovered once an organ has been damaged, a person’s liver could become permanently scarred, which could lead to liver cancer.

Moreover, the consequences and effects caused by iron excess might become permanent.

One of the most critical elements affecting a person’s lifespan that has haemochromatosis, according to research, is if liver problems caused by cirrhosis have already occurred by the period the disorder was detected.

Are There Factors That Develop Haemochromatosis?

Haemochromatosis comes in two forms, and each has its own set of causes. The most prevalent reason is a heritable gene alteration. For instance, primary haemochromatosis, also known as hereditary haemochromatosis, is a genetic illness. This primary condition is caused by DNA abnormalities inherited from both parents, which lead to over absorption of iron by the body. However, you can also develop this condition through secondary factors such as:

Iron treatments or iron tablets
RBC deficiency (red blood cells)
Blood exchanges
Liver failure
Dialysis of the kidneys for a lengthy period

Can This Disease Be Treated?

A person may alleviate indications of haemochromatosis with dietary modifications and other therapies. They may also stop you from getting or postpone future organ failure:

Diet adjustments: The doctor would most likely advise you to skip iron pills, avoid meals high in iron and reduce your vit C intake. Minimise daily alcohol intake as well since it is harmful to the liver.
Iron chelation: It helps the body get rid of excess iron. It’s treated orally at home or through a medical practitioner who injects it into the bloodstream.
Medical phlebotomy: It removes the iron and the plasma it carries from the body using a needle.

Moreover, a medical professional may also issue the following orders:

Blood test. It determines the amount of iron present in the organs and blood.
Genetic test. It is used to check whether a person has developed this condition through genetics
Liver biopsy. It is done through a tiny tube used to retrieve a small number of hepatocytes for microscopic examination.
MRI scan. It is used to get comprehensive images of the organs.

Conclusion

Haemochromatosis is a disease that affects masses of people and families all over the globe. You can’t stop this condition from happening, but you can seek assistance managing the iron levels. Medical practitioners may assist you in avoiding difficulties by detecting and screening metabolic disease effectively using a haemochromatosis blood test.

Exercises For Those With Limited Mobility

by Abbeyfield Bognor Fitness Health

Those suffering with mobility issues should not be limited to no exercise. Our bodies need exercise to survive and work the way it should. As we age, our body becomes weaker and more fragile if we do not look after it. Many people who may be limited with their mobility, are more than capable of partaking in some form of exercises each week that keeps them healthy and strong. Here are three different types of exercise to consider:

Cardiovascular

Taking care of your heart is vital for everyone but especially if you suffer with limited mobility. Your heart needs some sort of exercise and movement in order to operate and keep blood pumping through your body. To keep your cardiovascular health in check, you can:

Daily walk – short walks every day are a great way of strengthening your muscles, improving your mental health and caring for your heart
Dancing – low intensity dance classes can be used by people who struggle with mobility. It gets your body moving and your heart pumping in a slow, safe and effective way.
Water aerobics – Many people enjoy sports or exercises in water as it provides more support for the body and reduces the risk of joint and muscle pain.

Building Strength

It is vital to keep your strength up when your mobility is limited. If your mobility issues concern your lower body, you should focus on using weights. If your issues concern your upper body, you should focus on training your legs and core. Building strength makes you look and feel fitter. It has been proven to increase mood and is a great way of building back muscle that you may have lost.

Flexibility

Staying flexible can decrease your risk of pain such as joint, muscle and hip pain. It can also prevent injuries from occurring in the future. Exercises such as stretches are easy, quick, and effective to improve your flexibility. Even if you suffer with low mobility in your legs, you should be encouraged to keep exercising them in ways which are possible to prevent any further damage, injury and pain.

How Electric Stacker Lift Can Help The Elderly

by Abbeyfield Bognor Health

Electric stacker lift can have a huge impact upon the quality of life which is able to be enjoyed by elderly people. It is so important in modern day society for elderly people to feel like they are able to have many uses still within their lives and they are not approaching the end of their usefulness. If people begin to question their uses in society this can have a serious impact on how they feel about themselves. For an elderly person, negative thoughts can have a strong hold on them and it can be extremely difficult to shake this negativity. Care homes are trying to introduce various new techniques to improve the mental well-being of the members of their homes.

Electric Stacker Lift

Electric stacker lift have been thought of for generations as being hugely influential with regards to improving delivery times and the way that warehouses are able to conduct their business operations on a daily basis. Unbeknown to the person who invented this technology, it could have a huge impact on the elderly in the country. The elderly frequently encounters difficulties when they are trying to reach things on the top shelves or things which are higher up. This can cause so many problems for elderly people, ranging from being physically unable to reach certain things and increasing the likelihood of them becoming injured.

Likelihood Of Injury

The likelihood of somebody over the age of sixty becoming injured is very likely if they are forced to perform manoeuvres which their body has become rusty to and they are forced to perform these unfamiliar tasks which can take their body by surprise. Care homes are now placing huge importance on introducing yoga into their daily routines within the care homes. The influence yoga can have on the flexibility of older people can be detrimental with regards to the capabilities of elderly people on how they can manoeuvre their bodies in tight situations which they may not have been exposed to for a considerable period of time. People’s bodies can become used to not needing to position their body in certain ways which can cause their body parts to become used to their static positioning.

Uses of Yoga

For generations, yoga has been regarded as something which can greatly enhance people’s physical and mental state. For elderly people, it can become difficult for them to find activities which they can improve how they feel about themselves doing. Many elderly people look to become more involved in walking and hill walking but for some who are less capable this can prove difficult. These people often rely on people who visit the care home to provide entertainment for them, otherwise they tend to be bored. This is where yoga instructors who visit their homes can greatly improve how they feel about themselves and will begin to look at things more positively in comparison to when they were confined to their beds or social areas with nothing other than the same people to look at every day.

The Dangers Of Woodworm Glasgow

by Abbeyfield Bognor Care Homes Health Information

What Is Woodworm?

Woodworm Glasgow is a small wood-eating insect, a common name for the larvae stage of wood boring beetles. You may find woodworm in your property from early spring to mid-autumn. Property owners tend to only find the woodworm once the infestation has occurred. The woodworm is really difficult to see but once an infestation has occurred, you will see holes in the wood as well as wood dust.

How To Treat Woodworm

It can be difficult to know if the infestation active due to the beetles being elusive, however this is when woodworm treatment is best done. The correct chemical treatment must be given to the infected piece of timber. A water based fluid is given to the surface of the wood which is designed to target the beetles.

Unfortunately some wood structures may be so badly damaged that they are no longer treatable. Experts will then come in and remove the old timber while replacing it with brand new, larvae-free wood.

As woodworm has a 3-year life cycle, timber, furniture or timber products bought containing a woodworm infestation, may not manifest itself until years after the timber has been brought to your property. Infestation can be tackled by the application of a residual insecticide to infected areas. This is a chemical product and should be applied only by professional woodworm treatment contractors. If you are trying to tackle the infection alone, simple aerosol insecticide sprays will generally not eliminate the infestation. Our Technicians are trained and qualified in the safe use of chemicals to eradicate woodworm from your property.

How To Prevent Woodworm Glasgow

Make sure your timber wood is ventilated properly and keep humidity levels low as much as possible – avoiding damp conditions
If the infestation has already occurred, removed the infected area if possible to avoid it spreading

Nutrition And Vitality Within Care Homes

by Abbeyfield Bognor Care Homes Elderly Fitness Health UK

At Abbeyfield Bognor we pride ourselves at providing the best care for our residents that we can give. We do this through ensuring there are a variety of different activities for them to do throughout the day as well as making sure that they have a healthy lifestyle during their stay at our care home. In order to facilitate this we believe that there are a number of important practices that need to be followed to ensure residents are happy and healthy. Nutrition and vitality is key to achieving this.

Exercise And Wellbeing

In order for residents to remain healthy and fit we believe that there should be the option for residents to get involved in sports and team based games to help keep them active. Often we encounter residents who have been previously bed ridden for years and have had very little movement or exercise to keep them or their bodies engaged. We have found through organising specially tailored and less stringent exercises/group exercise that people have a new lease of life through exercise. We believe the importance of this cannot be understated and would encourage others to take the initiative. It has been proven through several studies that even short walks each day can help improve someones mental health as well as their overall fitness levels. Fitness and exercises are completely optional but we do encourage all residents to take part in activities.

Nutrition And Diet

Nutrition and diet are both key areas for us at Abbeyfield Bognor. We believe that a balanced and nutritious diet is key to our residents staying fit and healthy, in order to achieve this we provide them with balanced meals with a range of fruits , vegetables and other food products such as dairy which hold valuable nutrients and help overall vitality. Unfortunately many care homes across the UK fail to provide such balanced and nourishing meals and this can ultimately lead to digestion problems , lack of energy and important vitamins that are needed . This is a direct result of trying to cut costs in an ever more competitive industry.

Mental Wellbeing

As previously mentioned Mental Well being is a very important factor that we believe should be incorporated into the care of Residents in a care home. Lack of activity and structure to an individuals day can lead to a multiple mental health conditions including but not limited to : Depression , anxiety , loneliness , Stress, Irritability and hopelessness. In addition to this existing condition such as Dementia can be made worse by lack of activity and interaction. In any case it is clear from studies around the world that having a form of routine coupled with activities can help to greatly reduce the effects of these conditions.

CDISC SDTM All You Need To Know

by Abbeyfield Bognor Clinical Trials Health UK

Healthcare plays an invaluable role in our society and is made up of a number of different roles and functions coming together to care from the nation. From emergency care to elderly and disabled care. In this blog we are going to explore the impact clinical trials can have on healthcare and how they can benefit us all. CDISC SDTM also known as the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium and the Study Data Tabulation Module are both important tools that are used in the US to benefit healthcare which we will explore in this guide.

What Are Clinical Trials And How Does CDISC SDTM Apply To Them

Clinical Trials are forms of medical research that are organised by a variety of different groups from crowdfunded think tanks to universities and charity funded independent work. Clinical trials can often vary in what objectives and outcomes are but ultimately the main goal of most trials is to further medical research and help aid treatment. Common clinical trials may research illnesses such as cancer or malaria which are deadly and need more solutions. In the US CDISC SDTM play an important role amongst Clinical Trials as anyone conducting trials must follow their guidelines. Clinical Trials can take a number of different forms and can run up costs in millions depending on the scale of the trials and the equipment and participants required to undertake it.

CDISC SDTM

CDISC SDTM come hand in hand when it comes to clinical trials in the United States as both have factors that intertwine and effect each other. Here are some of the key attributes of both:

CDISC- The Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium is a group that was formed to ensure that data is recorded accurately to improve overall standards of data
CDISC- Can be divided into two separate main forms: data models and concept models. Data models vary from concept models as they are made up of data or meta-data. They define how something may be described. Content models in contrast define what is allowed within a dataset.
SDTM- The Study Data Tabulation Module is a guide that sets out a structure for clinical data trials. SDTM can be described as a branch of CDISC as it helps to enable its guidelines.
SDTM- Is made up of two main factors/standards – the core model defines a number of different factors that can be affected by different variables. The second factor also known as known as the implementation guide defines a set of standard domains. A domain is essentially an observation that has been made during our outwith the trial which related to the trial.

Advantages Of SDTM

Data is more accurate and effective between studies so this means that there are less mistakes made and less time needs to be spent on study helping to free up resources elsewhere
There is a global community online which can help provide support in relation to any questions or queries you may have
SDTM can help make cross platform data interchange much easier