Century Home Care, Inc

10/06/2025

People living with IBD need better treatment options. Help us learn about an investigational medicine. Interested to learn more? Contact 305-868-4144 or mgarcia@mrcmb.com

Century Home Care is a home health agency that serves all Miami Dade county, a nurse is on-call 24 hours a day for all your home health needs.

08/31/2021

10/09/2018

November is Homecare and Hospice Month, when we are reminded that care in the home is freedom. Home healthcare provides freedom to be surrounded by everythin...

10/29/2015

Go Nuts!: Squirrels may be on to something. A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that the more nuts you eat, the longer you live.
Researchers studied the association between nut intake and mortality among 76,464 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (1980 – 2010) and 42,498 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They found that people who ate nuts 7 or more times per week had a 20% lower death rate over 30 years compared to people who didn’t. People who ate nuts more often were less likely to die from cancer, heart disease, or other causes. Even just occasionally eating nuts lowered the death rate by 7 percent. Results were similar whether the participants ate tree nuts, such as hazelnuts and chestnuts, or peanuts (peanuts are actually a legume.)
This is just the latest (and largest) study of the health benefits of nuts. In previous studies, nuts have been shown to help prevent heart disease and cancer, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve blood sugar levels.
Before you start stuffing your cheeks like a chipmunk, it’s probably a good bet to choose dry roasted or raw nuts, avoiding added salt and oils, and stick to a handful a day. Nuts coated in layers of chocolate and sugar don’t count. Though nuts have the reputation of being fattening, the team found that “increased nut intake was associated with less weight gain.” Study participants who frequently ate nuts tended to lead a healthier lifestyle; they were leaner, less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise and eat fruit and vegetables than people who didn’t. So go nuts.
Source:
Ying Bao, M.D., Sc.D., Jiali Han, Ph.D., Frank B. Hu, M.D., Ph.D., Edward L. Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., Meir J. Stampfer, M.D., Dr.P.H., Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., and Charles S. Fuchs, M.D., M.P.H. Association of Nut Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality. N Engl J Med 2013; 369:2001-2011.


More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/go-nuts/

01/31/2015

Just a Pinch of Salt: In a recent study in the journal Hypertension, the research team estimates that a reduction in sodium intake throughout the United States could lengthen a quarter to half a million lives.
Three different modeling approaches were used to evaluate the effects of the salt reduction over a 10-year period. The first scenario used a gradual reduction totaling 40% over the 10 years. The second and third models both had instantaneous reductions: the second by 40% and the third down to 1500mg of sodium per day, a decrease of over 50%. The effects on cardiovascular disease and blood pressure, as well as epidemiological studies, were taken into account in all three scenarios.
Each of the methods show substantial health benefits with an average of 280,000 to 500,000 lives prolonged from a decrease in sodium intake. Projections from the instantaneous reduction models estimate the number of deaths that would be averted to over 1 million.
Source: Coxson P, Cook N, Joffres M, et al. Mortality benefits from US population-wide reduction in sodium consumption. Projections from 3 modeling approaches. Hypertension. 2013; 61: 564-570.



More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/just-a-pinch-of-salt/

09/04/2014

Just a Pinch of Salt: In a recent study in the journal Hypertension, the research team estimates that a reduction in sodium intake throughout the United States could lengthen a quarter to half a million lives.
Three different modeling approaches were used to evaluate the effects of the salt reduction over a 10-year period. The first scenario used a gradual reduction totaling 40% over the 10 years. The second and third models both had instantaneous reductions: the second by 40% and the third down to 1500mg of sodium per day, a decrease of over 50%. The effects on cardiovascular disease and blood pressure, as well as epidemiological studies, were taken into account in all three scenarios.
Each of the methods show substantial health benefits with an average of 280,000 to 500,000 lives prolonged from a decrease in sodium intake. Projections from the instantaneous reduction models estimate the number of deaths that would be averted to over 1 million.
Source: Coxson P, Cook N, Joffres M, et al. Mortality benefits from US population-wide reduction in sodium consumption. Projections from 3 modeling approaches. Hypertension. 2013; 61: 564-570.



More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/just-a-pinch-of-salt/

08/23/2014

Physical Therapy Has Proven Benefits in Parkinson’s Disease: Therapy for Parkinson’s disease often focuses on medication and neurosurgical treatment, but there is a growing awareness and acceptance of the benefits available through physical therapy. There have been multiple studies, and the most authoritative of them have been recently combined in a systematic review and meta-analysis by Claire Tomlinson and her team from the University of Birmingham. They combined the results of 39 higher-quality, published trials that involved a total of 1,827 people with Parkinson’s. The studies reported on various forms of exercise therapy and physical therapy.
Researchers tracked 18 measures of possible improvement, and found that physical therapy in general created statistically significant improvement in nine of those measures. There are three categories of improvement in which physical therapy demonstrated the most clinically significant gains for patients with Parkinson’s disease:

Gait speed
Balance
Ability / Disability

If you or someone you care about is challenged in these areas by Parkinson’s disease, please give us a call.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition for which there are multiple supportive therapies and treatments, but no cure. Each person with the disease is challenged by it in a different way and has a unique set of symptoms. The four main signs and symptoms known as the primary motor symptoms are:

Bradykinesia: slowed motion and movement
Resting tremor: shaking, often in one hand, one foot, the jaw, or face.
Rigidity: muscle stiffness
Compromised posture and balance

Symptoms of these nature should be reported to a doctor.
Source: BMJ 2012; 345: e5004



More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/physical-therapy-has-proven-benefits-in-parkinsons-disease/

08/09/2014

Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis or “porous bone” is a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis leads to an increased risk of bone fractures typically in the wrist, hip, and spine. Diet and exercise can do a lot to not only prevent osteoporosis, but to also reverse osteoporosis that is already occurring. A lifestyle that protects bone health starts in childhood.
When we reach late retirement years, many people exercise less out of fear of self-injury or worry about making some health condition worse. Ironically, it is usually the regular activity and exercise that will decrease the risk of future injury and make many chronic conditions better — when the exercises and activities are done correctly. Give us a call if you or someone you care about would benefit from an in-home activity and exercise plan for bone health.
While men and women of all ages and ethnicities can develop osteoporosis, some of the risk factors for osteoporosis include those who are

Female
White/Caucasian
Post-menopausal women
Older adults
Small in body size
Eating a diet low in calcium
Physically inactive

Weight-Bearing Physical Activity
Regular physical activity has been associated with many positive health benefits including strong bones. Like proper calcium consumption, adequate weight-bearing physical activity early in life is important in reaching peak bone mass. Weight-bearing physical activities are those that cause muscles and bones to work against gravity. Some examples of weight bearing physical activities include

Walking, Jogging, or running
Tennis or Racquetball
Stair climbing
Basketball
Dancing
Hiking
Soccer
Weight lifting

Incorporating weight-bearing physical activity into an exercise plan is a great way to keep bones healthy and meet physical activity recommendations set forth in most health guidelines.
Adults: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most (but preferably all) days of the week
Children: Engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity on most (but preferably all) days of the week


More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/preventing-and-reversing-osteoporosis/

07/24/2014

Combat COPD With a Walk Each Day: Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)? Good news. Recent research shows that a daily walk can lower your risk for hospitalization from a COPD attack.
The study followed 543 COPD patients from five respiratory clinics and found that the participants who maintained a moderate to high level of physical activity could reduce their rate of hospitalizations. This was the case even if the activity of choice was a low intensity one such as walking. In this study, the patients who had the best chance of staying out of the hospital were those who walked approximately two miles at least three days a week. In addition, the research shows that the participants who had a low level of physical activity or who slacked off from their exercise routine increased their chances of having an attack and needing to be hospitalized.
While walking was the focus in this study, other exercises can be beneficial. Consult with your doctor to discuss an activity plan that is right for you. For a more specific and assertive exercise and rehabilitation program to recover more quickly from a recent loss in fitness, call us.
Source: Esteban C, Arostegu I, Aburto M, et al. Influence of changes in physical activity on frequency of hospitalization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology, 2014 Apr; 19 (3): 330-338.


More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/combat-copd-with-a-walk-each-day/

07/11/2014

Defeating Uncontrolled Hypertension: Did you know that nearly half of retirees have blood pressure that is not sufficiently controlled? The good news is that focused treatment can help. Clinical trials show that proper treatment of high blood pressure, or hypertension, has resulted in significant reductions of strokes (35-40%), heart attack (20-25%), and heart failure (>50%).(1)
In addition to treatment with medicine, physicians will often recommend lifestyle modifications and management strategies such as diet, exercise, alcohol moderation, weight loss, and smoking cessation. Studies have shown the positive effects of such lifestyle changes. For example, changes in diet alone have proven to reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) by up to 14 mm Hg, while regular physical activity such as a daily walk can reduce SBP by as much as 9 mm Hg.(2-6) Another study found that four hours of everyday activity around the home can drop blood pressure by one category (hypertensive to pre-hypertensive, pre-hypertensive to normal).(7)
Give us a call for help with hypertension. We can assist with medication teaching and reminders, dietary changes, and an in-home activity and exercise plan to help get your blood pressure back to normal.
Sources:
1. Gillespie C, Hurvitz K. Prevalence of Hypertension and Controlled Hypertension – United States 2007-2010. MMWR. 2013; 62 (3): 144-148.
2. Sacks R, Svetkey L, Vollmer W, et al. DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344: 3-10.
3. Vollmer W, Sacks F, Ard J, et al. Effects of diet and sodium intake on blood pressure: subgroup analysis of the DASH-sodium trial. Ann Intern Med. 2001; 135: 1019-28.
4. Whelton S, Chin A, Xin X, et al. Effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Ann Intern Med. 2002; 136: 493-503.
5. Hagberg J, Montain S, Martin III W, et al. Effect of exercise training in 60 to 69-year-old persons with essential hypertension. Am J Cardiol. 1989; 64: 348-53.
6. Kelley G, Kelley K. Progressive resistance exercise and resting blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension. 2000; 35: 838-43.
7. Stewart S, Pearson S, Horowitz JD. Effects of a home-based intervention among patients with congestive heart failure discharged from acute hospital care. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1067-1072.


More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/defeating-uncontrolled-hypertension/

06/26/2014

It’s Cataract Awareness Month: Cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens and is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. An estimated 20.5 million Americans aged 40 years and older have cataract in one or both eyes. That’s almost one out of five people over the age of 40. People with diabetes are also more likely to develop cataracts.
Symptoms include:

Being sensitive to glare
Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision
Difficulty seeing at night or in dim light
Double vision
Loss of color intensity
Problems seeing shapes against a background or the difference between shades of colors
Seeing halos around lights

Finding and treating eye problems early can help save sight. It is best to have an eye doctor give you a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Because eye disease may develop without symptoms, regular eye exams are important for finding problems early. Some people may notice signs of vision changes. If you’re having trouble reading, if your vision is blurred, or if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may have eye problems. Be sure to tell your health care team or eye doctor about any eye problems you may have.


More: http://centuryhomecareinc.nwsltr.info/its-cataract-awareness-month/