Recent Posts in Senior Health

Vickie Scott Dedicates Her Life to Those in Need

Vickie Scott, now in her sixties, has dedicated her life to helping others in need. After years of mentoring young girls and providing them a shoulder to lean on, Vickie found that her volunteer work meshed perfectly with FaithHealth Catawba, so she joined the organization in 2019. FaithHealth Catawba is a dynamic partnership between the faith community, Catawba Valley Health System and other ...

The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's

Known as the most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease is associated with problems of severe memory loss, thinking, and behavior that interfere with a person’s everyday life. Alzheimer’s is the 6 th leading cause of death in the United States. It is a progressive disease that, as of now, has no cure. According to 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, North ...

In Occupational Therapy, The "Occupation" is Living

Nicole Coffey is an Occupational Therapists working at CVMC. She says patients frequently question the title on her hospital badge. “They politely tell me that they don’t work, they’re retired, or they don’t have an occupation,” says Nicole. “I tell them that doesn’t matter. It’s my job to help them with the occupation of LIVING.” She then ...

Easy-to-Follow Foot Health Tips

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and a time when the providers at the CVMC Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbarics suggest people take a moment to stand up for their feet. Right now, 6.7 million Americans are living with a chronic wound, and more than two million of those are suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer. Even more startling, about 60% of non-traumatic limb amputations are ...

PODCAST: When a Loved One Goes to the Hospital

As our parents or elderly loved ones begin to age, their conditions are more likely to result in a hospital visit, either at the emergency department or as an inpatient. Any level of admission can be extremely confusing and stressful for the patient and their families: What do they need to know? Who can help? What's the difference between being in the hospital for observation versus being ...

DVT - Stop the Clot, Spread the Word

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in the deep veins, usually in the legs. Adults over the age of 60 are at greatest risk for DVT – and not just during air travel. DVT is a concern for anyone who is stationary longer than four hours at a time, on prolonged bed rest or who has recently had an injury or surgery. Dr. Paige Parker with Catawba Valley Family ...

Sleeping Well As You Age

Getting a good night’s sleep may become more difficult as we age. According to the National Sleep Foundation, older adults experience at least four types of sleep disorders more frequently than younger people. These include: sleep apnea, a breathing disorder in which there can be loud snoring and breathing actually pauses repeatedly during sleep, causing an individual to wake up throughout ...

Tips for Eating Well as You Age

Eating well is a smart thing to do—no matter how old you are. But for seniors, the benefits of a healthy diet can be especially important. “Eating well gives your body the right nutrients to help keep you energized while preventing muscle and bone loss so you can remain active and independent as you age,” explains Renee Greene, Wellness Dietitian at CVMC’s Health First ...

Keep Moving - Advice for Happy Retirement

For most people, retirement is a time to slow down and relax, but the best way to stay healthy is to remain active. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends weekly activity for seniors, combining light aerobic activity such as walking, vigorous activity like running, strength training, and balance training. If it’s been a while since your last workout, take it slow. ...

Colorectal Cancer Screening Can Save Your Life

March is colorectal cancer awareness month and, if you’re over 50 or if you’re younger than 50 but have a family history of colon cancer, it is recommended you undergo a screening colonoscopy. Although colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, it is also one of the most preventable. Dr. Keith McManus of Catawba Valley Family Medicine – Maiden says ...