Where Will You Fall?

Do you ever think about falling in your home? I have never fallen in my home and the last fall that did occur happened when my young daughter was running in our home. Regretfully, she broke her toe. Thankfully, that happened only once. After young children grow up, falls are rarely if ever thought of again.

Recently, I noticed that my 70 year old mother sometimes struggles to get up after sitting for long periods of time. I have also noticed that sometimes her balance is compromised when carrying heavy objects. With this in mind, I have started to concern myself once again with falls and the dangers and consequences of a fall.

There are many causes for falls in older adults as stated in “Preventing Falls in the Elderly” by K.R. Tremblay, Jr. and C.E. Barber. Some common causes include osteoporosis, weakened muscles, loss of eyesight, medications, and hazards in the home. Falls can cause broken or fractured bones. There are varying degrees and severity of falls as well.

Cataracts and glaucoma alter older people's depth perception, visual acuity, peripheral vision and susceptibility to glare. These limitations can hinder an individual’s ability to safely negotiate their environment, whether it is in their own home or in a shopping mall.

Sedatives, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotic drugs can contribute to falls by reducing mental alertness, worsening balance and gait, and causing drops in systolic blood pressure upon rising to a standing position. Additionally, people taking multiple medications are at greater risk of falling.

At least one-third of all falls in the elderly involve environmental hazards in the home. The most common hazard for falls is tripping over objects on the floor. Other factors include poor lighting, loose rugs, lack of grab bars or poorly located/mounted grab bars, and unsteady furniture.

To learn more about falls and how to avoid falls, watch the free online fall prevention videos provided by mmLearn at Morningside Ministries.

Link: http://msm.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=9d6fcf6611f14b6d9f095328afd400fb1d

Centenarians Offer Long-Life Secrets

Today is Centenarians' Day. Centenarians' Day is a day to recognize and pay our respect to those who have reached the iconic status of a century-worth of life. According to USAToday, in 2005, there were 71,000 Americans 100 years or older. The U.S. Census Bureau expects that by the end of this year there will be 114,000 Centenarians and growing to 241,000 by 2020. Of those 114,000, we have the pleasure of having 15 living here with us at Morningside Ministries! We spoke to three of our Centenarians at Morningside Ministries and they had this to say about the "secret" to living to 100 years old:


Angelina Spencer will turn 102 on October 2nd



Angela Dambrosia was born August 2, 1910 and lives at Morningside Manor. Ms. Dambrosia was never married but loved her line of work very much. She worked with a sewing machine all her life and enjoyed many kinds of music but truly adored classical. Angela’s centenarian “secret” comes from her love for dancing.

Marguerite Lewis, who will turn 100 on November 28, 1910, lives at Kaulbach Assisted Living. She was married for 70 years before her husband passed away a few years ago. The couple loved to travel, visiting every state in the US. She recollects her marriage as being a wonderful and happy experience. Ms. Lewis’ “secret” is to thank God every day for her health and finding peace in her prayers.

Caroline Sanford was born December 18, 1907. Ms. Sanford lived in San Antonio, for 25 years before moving to Ingram, Texas for another 25 years. She currently lives in Boerne and for the last 4 years has been living at the Menger House. While in San Antonio, Mrs. Sanford volunteered at a children's hospital for 15 years. She and her husband traveled to all 50 states and loves to read and listen to music. It is very important to her to stay active and believe in God. She believes her “secret” to living to 100 is to "keep on going."

According to the National Centenarians Awareness Project, the most important secret to becoming a centenarian is to stay active and social. Whether it’s a walk in the park or attending social events, today’s Centenarians are the role models for the future of aging. Like Ms. Dambrosia, Ms. Lewis and Ms. Sanford believe: It is never too late to enjoy the little things in life.

Love Will Find A Way

Love conquers all. While many of us have heard this saying, Harris and Doris Shinn have lived its truth. The Shinn’s story proves that love CAN conquer all, even a broken heart.

Harris and Doris Shinn, both residents of Morningside Ministries at The Meadows, met in passing before the loss of their respected spouses but never struck up an acquaintance. However, after their spouses passing, Doris and Harris ran into each other once again. This time they had something in common. They realized they found a mutual source of comfort in the understanding of each other’s pain and sorrow and soon began to spend more time in each other’s company over breakfast each morning in the dining room.

As time passed, Harris and Doris realized that not only did they support one another, but that they truly enjoyed each other’s company. They added lunch and social events to their daily schedule together. A big relationship changing moment came when Doris invited Harris to attend the Trinity Baptist Church with her. Doris had been a member of the church for a number of years and regularly attended their services. Harris found he was graciously welcomed by all and later joined the congregation.

When Doris went on a sixteen-day trip to Thailand with her family, Harris kept in contact with her son-in-law via email. Since Doris did not have an email account, this was Harris’ way to keep in touch and follow her adventures. Although Doris’ son-in-law wrote back and forth about the different things that Thailand had to offer, to this very day Doris has never read Harris’ emails.

In February 2010 Doris professed her affections and intentions to Harris with a Valentine’s Day card. Months later, Harris sent back the same Valentine’s card stating: “You have a standing invitation to be my wife.” They were married August 28, 2010.

Sometimes the biggest surprise in your life is finding that the very person whose shoulder you have leaned on can spark a light in your heart. Life and love will find a way even in what seems to be the darkest moments in your life. Let Harris and Doris Shinn be an example of a life with hope and love.

What Men Need to Know

One would think that in the 21st century and after the generation of “I’m Okay; You’re Okay,” men would find it easier to go to the doctor. Regretfully, it is not so. Studies show that men still associate going to the doctor as a sign of weakness. They’re more likely to take their vehicle in for maintenance when nothing is glaringly wrong, yet many men won't show that same attention to detail and care for their own health.

Men have shorter life expectancies than women and die at higher rates for all the leading causes of death. I once read by Dr. Sharon Orrange, “Going to the doctor is a chick thing. Many men feel this way, but remember chicks live longer than men. If doctor visits are a chick thing, well, then, nursing homes are a guy thing.”

‘What Men Need to Know’ is a free online video with helpful information for men about erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. Watch it and share it with the men in your life.

Link: http://msm.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=0c28c1bc822b4835a699e6c3dbb4f4761d

Urinary Tract Infections Not Only For Women

by Rebecca Green

I used to think only women could get urinary tract infections (UTIs), but of course, both men and women get them. Recently I learned urinary tract infections in an elderly man or woman can be very serious. Sometimes, the only symptom of a UTI in older adults is acute confusion; however, such clear symptoms are rare. UTIs in older adults might not involve pain or discomfort at all. “As you get older, your immune response changes; it’s part of normal aging,” explains Anna Treinkman, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago and President of the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners.

A sudden change in behavior is one of the best indicators of a urinary tract infection in older adults. Other warning signs might include the onset of urinary incontinence, confusion or not being able to do tasks the patient could easily do a day or two before. “Anytime there’s a change in an older adult, a red flag should go up in a caregiver’s mind,” Treinkman says. 

Older adults living in a group setting such as senior communities or nursing homes are more likely to be resistant to the antibiotics most often prescribed for urinary tract infections such as amoxicillin or nitrofurantoin. They may require stronger antibiotics as well as a longer course of antibiotics to combat the infection.

Early treatment of a symptomatic UTI may prevent more serious symptoms and complications and can quite possibly result in a return to the elder’s normal mental status.

Learn more about UTI symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures for seniors by watching two free videos. Both are short (less than six minutes) and provide useful information from Dr. David Talley of Urology San Antonio.

Link to Preventing Urinary Tract Infections: http://msm.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=793d4838e2104b6087f0d12d5b9f96891d

Link to Signs, Symptoms and Diagnoses of Urinary Tract Infections: http://msm.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=fd6d5815b20c4019898d6474389719601d