The air quality in the Northeast has been hazardous for several days due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a health advisory for the region. Here’s what you need to know to keep elderly family members safe from negative air pollution health effects.

Why Seniors Are at Increased Risk

Poor air quality poses risks to everyone, but seniors are particularly vulnerable. As people age, their lungs become less efficient at filtering out pollutants, and their immune system weakens. This can lead to acute respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, bronchial spasms and respiratory tract infections like pneumonia.

Seniors are also more likely to have preexisting chronic health conditions that can be exacerbated by air particles. In addition, some medications may make them more susceptible to the effects of air pollution.  Beta-blockers, which are often used to treat heart disease, for example, can make it more difficult for the lungs to clear mucus.

As a result, emergency room visits and hospital admissions typically increase as air quality decreases. Research shows that the correlation between air pollution and heart failure, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke grows stronger with age.

How to Protect Your Loved One

There are a few things you can do to protect senior family members during an air quality crisis:

• Encourage them to stay indoors as much as possible. If they must go outside, they should wear an N95 mask that covers their nose and mouth.
• Check the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a measure of how polluted the air is. If the AQI is high, it is particularly important to stay indoors.
• Advise them to avoid strenuous activity when the air quality is bad. Strenuous activity can increase susceptibility to the effects of pollution.
• Maintain air quality indoors. Keep doors and windows shut and use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier. Avoid smoking, burning candles or cooking fried foods.
• If your loved one has a preexisting heart or respiratory condition, get in touch with their doctor to see whether their medication should be adjusted.
• Monitor for signs of respiratory distress. If they experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing

What to Expect If Your Loved One Is Hospitalized

If your loved one does get admitted to the hospital due to the air quality crisis, there are a few things you can expect:

• They will be monitored closely by the medical team.
• They may be given medication to help with their breathing.
• They may be put on oxygen therapy.
• They may be asked to stay in the hospital for a longer period of time.

After discharge from the hospital, they may need to go to a post-acute rehab center to continue their recovery. Post-acute rehab centers provide specialized care and services – such as cardiac care and pulmonary rehabilitation – that can help seniors regain their strength and function. As you evaluate your options, reach out to the facility to understand what protective measures are in place.

By following these tips, you can help to protect elderly loved ones from air pollution health effects and ensure that they receive the best possible care if they are hospitalized.

The post How to Protect Seniors from Air Pollution Health Effects appeared first on CareOne.

The large integrated healthcare network is set to transform senior living and memory care in Sharon, MA 

JUNE 16, 2023 – SHARON, MA – CareOne, a leading, family-owned senior care provider with more than 60 locations in the U.S., has completed the acquisition of Whitney Place at Sharon, formerly owned by SALMON Health and Retirement. The renamed building, CareOne at Sharon, marks a milestone as CareOne’s first assisted living and memory care community in Massachusetts.

CareOne is bringing 25 years of experience in assisted living from New Jersey to Massachusetts. The new facility joins the ranks of 15 existing skilled nursing facilities and an independent living facility in the state. Driven by its values to deliver the highest quality and most compassionate care, CareOne at Sharon is poised to become a leading assisted living facility in Massachusetts and a welcome pillar in the Sharon community.

In honor of the opening of CareOne at Sharon and to personally meet and greet local residents, CareOne hosted a celebratory event on June 15. Festivities included food tastings and refreshments, music, dancing, and raffles. The fresh, gourmet food, vibrant entertainment, and interactive social setting reflect what CareOne calls the CareOne Difference to deliver care in a safe environment that provides best in class culinary offerings, full mind-body wellness and meaningful connection. Also in attendance was the son of CareOne CEO and Founder Daniel Straus and Principal at The Straus Group, Joseph Straus, Town Administrator, Frederic Turkington, Chair of Select Board, Hannah Switlekowski and Member of Select Board, Kiana Pierre-Louis, to welcome CareOne to the Sharon community.

“We are elated to introduce our world-class assisted living offering to the state of Massachusetts,” said CareOne CEO, Daniel E. Straus. “Our assisted living and dementia care specialists work to provide daily services and activities to support the physical and mental health of our residents. CareOne provides 24/7 care and hotel-style senior living experiences that give each resident freedom of choice, consistent social interaction, and the tools they need to maintain the safest level of independence possible.”

[gallery size="full" ids="8221,8222,8223,8225,8226,8227"]

CareOne assisted living communities are committed to delivering the highest quality of patient-centered care for their residents. By using a positive approach to care, their dementia care practitioners work with care partners and residents’ families to teach techniques that allow for dignity and supported independence. The program is expertly designed to meet the unique medical, emotional, and social needs of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or related conditions. Success-based programming with a hand-under-hand approach often allows difficult tasks such as activities of daily living to be carried out successfully, with limited to zero frustration for our residents. The highly skilled staff leads specialized programming tailored to each resident’s unique needs and abilities in an environment designed to feel like home.

“The dedicated staff at CareOne work tirelessly to meet the evolving needs of each patient. Our memory care community takes a unique approach to memory care, housing residents in neighborhoods based on their unique abilities and disease progression,” said Emily Vazquez, Vice President of Operations at CareOne. “Expanding our offering of senior living experiences in the state of Massachusetts is part of our commitment to partnering with nurses and caregivers to support seniors through the continuum of care.”

About CareOne 

CareOne is a leading, family-owned senior care provider with more than 60 locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut. From independent and assisted living to sub-acute and long-term acute care, CareOne supports residents, patients and their families through every stage of their care journey. The team prides itself in nurturing a people-centered environment and administering a personalized approach to care. This, combined with CareOne's commitment to innovation, allows CareOne to deliver best-in-class clinical service in a place that feels like home. CareOne is where care and community come together to create a better way of aging.  

The CareOne promise is to never stop innovating for you and your loved ones, because everything we do is dedicated to the continuing care of people at every stage of life. 

Interested parties can engage with CareOne on social media by following @CareOneCares on Twitter, @careonecares on Instagram, and CareOne on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

The post CareOne Acquires Its First Massachusetts Assisted Living Community appeared first on CareOne.