Summer will be here before you know it! Here are some reminders to stay safe all summer.
Our built-in Emergency phone
Emergency situations can appear out of nowhere and happen anywhere, so be prepared. Thanks to modern cell phones its easier then ever to get prepared. You just need to know how.
New Galaxy phones have emergency settings pre-installed. These settings allow you to make emergency calls, activate your phones emergency mode, send SOS messages and more.
Emergency Calls:
Not enough time to unlock your phone and make a call? No problem, with emergency call setting you can dial 911 right from your lock screen. Just swipe up from the bottom of the phone and a dial pad will open. From there its just like any other call, just faster.
Emergency Mode:
In extreme cases you may be stuck in a bad situation for hours. By turning on emergency mode you extend your battery life keeping you connected the entire time.
SOS Messages:
SOS messages are more complicated to set up but are the easiest way to tell someone you need help. By going to SETTING and allowing SOS messages, you only need to press the power button 4 times and a message is sent to your designated emergency contact saying SOS. No need to unblock the phone, no extra steps. Simply press the power button 4 times and help is on the way.
The phone can be a great alternative for your clients that do not want to set-up a Personal Emergency Response device or only have one set up at home. When the SOS is sent, it includes your location in the SOS notice to your contacts.
To learn more: Click here
Get your phone to work for you--
At this point in my life I know I won’t ever be a technology wizard. I was happy with my blackberry in 2006, where did those go?
Now with so much crazy technology I can get lost in my phone for hours and never get anything done. But, with all the complaints I can make about my smart phone, there are so many easy quick tools that once I figured them out I started to see their appeal. I thought I would share with you a website that helped me figure several things out.
Techboomers is a free educational website that teaches older adults how to handle technology. They have tons of in depth tutorials, but if you just want to learn how to copy text they can help teach you that too. I encourage everyone to take a minute and go to their website.
Just think of a question you have about your device, and enter it in the search bar at the top.
Here’s a link, go take a look and have fun and hopefully make your life a little easier.
B12 shots can help with Cognition in seniors
B12 shots are being prescribed to our seniors, so I thought I would share this article I just came across on the potential benefits from Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH. You might find this helpful to share with your senior’s family or even talk about with your own doctor.
A deficiency in any vitamin can be catastrophic for health. But vitamin B12 deficiency stands out because a) it’s very common — experts have estimated that up to 20% of older adults may be low in this vitamin — and b) it’s often missed by doctors.
Geriatricians also like to pay attention to vitamin B12 because a deficiency can cause — or usually worsen — cognitive impairment or walking problems.
The most common problems related to low vitamin B12 levels include:
Anemia. This means the red blood cell count is low. Red blood cells carry oxygen in the blood, so anemia can cause fatigue or shortness of breath. The breakdown of faulty red blood cells can also cause jaundice. (Learn more about anemia here: Anemia in the Older Adult: 10 Common Causes & What to Ask.)
Neuropathy. This means that nerves in the body are not working well. This can cause a variety of symptoms, including tingling, numbness, burning, poor balance, and walking difficulties.
Cognitive impairment. This means that nerve cells in the brain are not working well. This can cause memory problems, irritability, and even dementia.
How Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Diagnosed and Treated
The first step in checking for deficiency is a blood test to check the serum level of vitamin B12.
The typical initial treatment for a significant vitamin B12 deficiency involves intramuscular shots – 1000 micrograms of the vitamin. This bypasses any absorption problems in the stomach or intestine.
High-dose oral vitamin B12 supplements (1000-2000 micrograms per day) have also been shown to raise levels, because high doses can usually compensate for the body’s poor absorption. However, oral treatments probably take longer to work than intramuscular shots. So they’re not ideal for initially correcting a deficiency, although they’re sometimes used to maintain vitamin B12 levels.
Read the entire article here.