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Don't Ignore Food Safety When Enjoying Outdoor Summer Celebrations

7/17/2018

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PictureSenior Care Northbrook IL - Don't Ignore Food Safety When Enjoying Outdoor Summer Celebrations
Per the USDA, food-borne illnesses are more common in the summer months. Picnics and outdoor family gatherings are good reasons why it increases. Temperatures are warmer and tend to be ideal for the formation of bacteria. Bacteria that cause food poisoning grow best at temperatures of 90 to 110. In the sun, it's easy to maintain that temperature range.

Food safety is important throughout the year. It's really important to be cautious when packing a picnic or planning an outdoor gathering.

Here are the areas where you need to be extra cautious.

Don't Ignore Food Safety Practices With Salads

Many people don't think of mayonnaise as being an ingredient to keep cold. After all, it's in the normal aisles in a grocery store. Mayonnaise contains eggs. When mixed into something like a potato salad, the ingredients together can grow bacteria and lead to food poisoning. All salads should be kept cold at 40 degrees F or lower.

Ice packs within a cooler will keep salads from warming up. If possible, save up ice packs from meal kit services. Those larger ice packs will last hours, if not days, in a cooler. Your perishable items stay nice and cold for the entire day.

Do Not Cross-Contaminate

You have your burgers on a platter and head outside to the grill. Before the burgers finish cooking, have you washed that platter? If not, you're asking for cross-contamination. The raw meat juices will contaminate the burgers. 

You need to wash any utensils that touch raw meat before you use it on cooked meats. If you're going on a picnic, the raw meats you bring cannot be on top of cooked foods. Bring two coolers. One should have the raw meats. When you're done, use hot, soapy water to wash out the raw meat cooler.

Use an Instant-Read Thermometer

Do not remove meats from the grill until you've checked the internal temperature. Chicken and turkey need to be at 165 degrees F. Hamburgers should be cooked to 160 degrees F. Steaks and pork must be cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees. Use the guide at FoodSafety.gov to ensure you're cooking meats to the right temperature.

If you care for your mom or dad, you may find it hard to focus on food safety when planning an outing. You can't let it lapse. Hire a caregiver to provide senior care services every now and then. You'll get a break and be able to focus on planning the outdoor meal. Call our senior care agency to discuss respite care services.

Sources:https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/80b6374e-f059-40a4-a749-35cf64a83931/Foodborne_Illness_Peaks_in_Summer_Why.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/mintemp.html

​If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services in Northbrook IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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American Adventures Month: 5 Travel Tips for Seniors

8/3/2016

 
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For most people, the summer months are full of vacations and road trips. Since August is American Adventures Month, it is the perfect time to get your senior loved one out of the house and on the way to their own adventure.  

Whether they are seasoned travelers or rarely travel outside of their town, there are some ways to make these trips run as smoothly and safe as possible. The first step to start their vacation on the right foot is by hiring a senior care professional. This person helps by supervising the elder and providing help with tasks that are difficult for them to do alone.  

So, if your aging parent wants to go for a trip this summer, these 5 tips are necessary to make their travels as enjoyable as possible.  
  1. Coordinate transportation. While planning the trip, it is important the transportation will adhere to any physical limitations the senior has. For example, will there be space for the wheelchair, walker, or other mobility device? Is the transportation handicap accessible? If you will be traveling by airplane, arrange for transportation in the airport. There are usually cars driven by airport staff members that can take you from one gate to the next. 
  2. Wear loose-fitting clothes. When the clothing becomes too constricting, there is a higher chance the elder will suffer from a stroke, high blood pressure, and hypertension. Loose-fitting clothes reduce these risks, while also lowering the risk of developing blood clots when sitting or standing for long stretches of time. Older adults will also be much more comfortable on long flights if they wear compression stockings, since it helps stimulate circulation in the lower legs.   
  3. Keep all medical equipment in the carryon bag. If there is a chance your loved one will need a medication or health-related item, keep them all tucked safely in a carryon bag. Since this bag will be carried with you at all times, it will be easy to reach for these items when needed.  
  4. Stay hydrated. Water is essential when traveling. Elders are more prone to dehydration, which can cause a drop in blood sugar levels and cause them to become fatigued. Either you or an elder care aid should encourage them to sip water throughout the trip to ensure they do not become dehydrated. 
  5. Get to the airport early. Especially in large airports, there are usually long lines when trying to check bags, go through security, or get food. This can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for both you and your aging parent when you have a flight to catch. To calm your nerves and avoid any unnecessary tension, get to the airport early. Try to arrive at the airport 1 ½ to 2 hours before the plane takes off.   

Traveling can be fun, but also stressful when traveling with an elder. These ideas should better prepare you for any upcoming trips.  

Source:  http://traveltips.usatoday.com/travel-tips-elderly-13507.html 
 
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services Northbrook IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

April 14th, 2016

4/14/2016

 

Senior Care Safety: Preventing Infections in Minor Cuts

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Minor cuts and scrapes are a reality of life. You can get a paper cut opening the mail, have a fall and scrape your knee, or nick yourself with a knife while doing the dishes. While these little injuries may not seem like a very big deal, in the context of your senior care journey they could be much more impactful that you think. Cut and scrapes make your elderly parent vulnerable to infection, which
can not only be painful in of itself, but can also increase the chances of far more extensive infections and illnesses that can impact the entire body.

Seniors are especially susceptible to infections because they tend to have less effective immune systems. This not only means that they are more likely to develop an infection, but will have a more difficult time fighting off that infection should it occur. Infections and illnesses can lead to long recovery periods and immobility, which have a lingering negative effect on your parent's health, well-being, and quality of life.

It is likely that your elderly parent will experience a minor injury such as a cut or a scrape at some point in your senior care journey. Being prepared to care for that injury when it occurs is the first step in preventing infection and hastening recovery.

Use these tips to help you prevent infection in minor cuts and scrapes when these injuries occur:

• Prepare yourself first. Before you start taking care of the injury, prepare yourself. Wash your hands thoroughly. If you have them available, put on a pair of disposable gloves. This will help to minimize the number of germs that get into the injury during the care process.

• Ease the bleeding. Allow the wound to bleed for a few seconds to naturally push bacteria and germs out of the area. If it does not stop bleeding on its own, use a sterile bandage to apply pressure until the bleeding stops.

• Wash the area. Gently clean the injury and the entire surrounding area. Start by rinsing it with cool water to remove any blood or obvious debris. You can then wash the area with warm water and gentle soap. Avoid getting the soap in the injury itself, as this can be painful and irritating to the tissues. Minor injuries do not require potentially irritating cleansers such as hydrogen peroxide or iodine.

• Apply an antibiotic. As soon as you can after washing the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or gel. This will not only kill any germs or bacteria that may be present, but it will also help to prevent further contaminants from getting into the injury. Cover the injury lightly with an adhesive bandage or sterile gauze and tape.

Make sure that you have a fully stocked first aid kit readily available in your parent's home. For larger homes, consider having one on each floor, particularly in rooms where injuries are frequent such as the kitchen or craft room. Ensure that your parent's senior health care services provider knows where to access this kit in the event of an injury.

Source
https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/sports-wrap/identifying-infected-wounds

http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cuts/basics/art-20056711

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Northbrook, IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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