Download Hearing Loss and Your Well-Being

Volume IV, Issue 3
SENSE
a quarterly newsletter from THE MEDICAL TEAM
Hearing Loss and Your Well-Being
Hearing loss is common in seniors and can have a serious effect on your well-being, causing isolation and even
depression. You may stop struggling to listen to others,
and your friends and family may stop talking to you. One
study found that a person’s hearing loss also increases
the chances that their spouse’s or partner’s physical,
psychological and social well-being will worsen.
Hearing loss can be gradual and not obvious. Many
people are in denial about hearing loss and avoid seeking
treatment. Mention it to your doctor if you are experiencing any of these warning signs:
n Trouble hearing while on the telephone.
n Difficulty following a conversation if there is background noise.
n Struggling to understand women’s or children’s voices.
n Complaints from others that you turn up the TV volume too high.
n Constantly asking people to repeat themselves.
n A long history of working around loud noises.
n A ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in your ears.
Fortunately, most types of hearing loss can be helped.
Treatment may be as simple as removing ear wax and
assistive devices such as amplifying devices and hearing aids, or as complicated as reconstructive ear surgery.
Don’t delay getting help. A National Council on Aging
survey found that when people began to use hearing aids,
many saw improvements in their mental health, sense of
independence, social life, and even romantic life.
Sources: www.caring.com, www.everydayhealth.com, and www.ncoa.org
In this Issue:
n Hearing Loss and Your Well-Being n Easy “Food Swaps”
for a Low-Cholesterol, Healthy Diet n Brain Puzzles
Sense
THE MEDICAL TEAM is committed to providing quality home care services in private homes and senior
communities. We hope the information in this newsletter offers practical information about healthcare issues
affecting seniors and helps illustrate why home healthcare makes sense.
A Quarterly Newsletter from THE MEDICAL TEAM
Easy “Food Swaps” for a
Low-Cholesterol, Heart-Healthy Diet
Brain Puzzles
Keep your mind sharp by regularly doing puzzles,
crosswords and other brain activities. Try these two.
It is important to keep cholesterol levels healthy to lower the
risk of heart disease and stroke. A low-cholesterol diet is one
of the best ways to improve heart health. A diet makeover can
lead to as much as a 10 to 20% reduction in bad cholesterol.
Here are some easy food substitutions you can make to keep
your cholesterol levels in check.
Word Puzzle
As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Sprinkle walnuts on your salad not carb-laden croutons.
If drinking, sip red wine not cocktails Note: be sure to limit your
Each cat had seven kits.
Forget cheese and crackers for a snack and go for
nuts and edamame (boiled baby soybeans).
How many were going to St. Ives?
Kits, cats, sacks and wives,
consumption to one glass daily (women) and two glasses (men).
BrainBat
What is represented
by this BrainBat?
Hint: Say what you see.
DOG
THE
Answer: The Underdog
HomeHealthSense
Answer: One. Only
I was going to
St. Ives.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar or lemon juice over your
salad and skip the high-fat dressing.
Choose a good fat such as a vegetableoil based spread (Smart Balance or
Olivio) instead of butter.
Source: www.brainbashers.com
Substitute ground turkey for beef
in recipes which call for beef.
THE MEDICAL TEAM’s “Heart Smart”
Eat more fish by substituting
salmon or scallops for chicken.
In-home Cardiac Care Program provides
care and teaching for patients needing
help managing their heart conditions
or risk factors for heart conditions and
strokes. Patients are taught about medications, diet and lifestyle modifications
to help control heart disease and blood
vessel conditions.
Use quinoa (a South-American
seed) as a tasty alternative to rice.
Munch on popcorn not tortilla chips.
Replace fatty sour cream with plain
Greek yogurt as a topping or in recipes.
Sources: www.health.com and www.webmd.com
Do you have our 2014 calendar?
It’s handy for jotting down appointments, social events,
and upcoming visits from THE MEDICAL TEAM!
Please ask any MEDICAL TEAM staff person for a copy.
• Medicare Certified Home Health Agency
• Private Duty and Personal Care Services
• Catastrophic Care Solutions
• Community Care Services
Our family of companies:
THE MEDICAL TEAM, INC. • Med Team, Inc.
THE MEDICAL TEAM Personal Care Services
Catastrophic Care Solutions
www.medicalteam.com
Email: [email protected]
© 2013 THE MEDICAL TEAM, INC.
Louisiana
Houma (985) 872-6666
Metairie (504) 834-4447
Michigan
Livonia (734) 779-9700
Flint (810) 239-3000
Virginia
Reston (703) 390-2300
Texas
Austin (512) 418-9555
Brownsville (956) 504-9000
Dallas (214) 373-1111
San Antonio/New Braunfels
Home Health Services
(210) 227-9000
Community Care Services (210) 227-9900
In New Braunfels
(830) 626-3525
This publication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your doctor or other healthcare
professional about health-related questions and concerns.