Rhode Island

Meditation Helps the Aging Mind

Meditation is thought of as a form of relaxation and can be associated with specific religions and cultures. What seniors might not realize is that there are so many benefits to meditation that can help them through the aging process. Most seniors worry about losing their memories, but it doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of the aging process, especially not with the incorporation of meditation. Here are some reasons why meditation helps and how seniors can get started:

• Meditation increases longevity; cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral flexibility; and learning ability in older adults

• Meditation creates an outflow from the parasympathetic nervous system and helps to slow the heart. This allows the mind to declutter and focus as the body relaxes

• Meditation doesn’t have to mean the classic form, there is no specific chant that people need to use in order to get into a state of meditation. It can be counting, repeating one particular phrase, using the sound “ohm” or virtually any repetitive word or sound to establish a constant breathing pattern. Focus on relaxation, and if your mind wanders, bring it back; you don’t need to focus on meditating perfectly, just get the benefits you need from it!

Via: AARP

Home Care Rhode Island

Exercise for Seniors – NIA Guide

Exercise is an important thing for seniors. Some seniors have little or no exercise in their daily life. This can cause many problems and can have a negative impact on overall health. The NIA has issued a guide that can help seniors begin to exercise. The following list contains some of the benefits that are offered in the guide as well as some tips on exercising.

1. Seniors need to be organized and able to review their current activity levels. This is important in evaluating the benefits of exercise for seniors.

2. The guide offers some great tips on how to get started with an exercise program. Since seniors have different physical restrictions than younger adults, they must know what exercises are safe to perform.

3. The guide will provide some sample exercises to help seniors begin a routine. After basic exercises have been mastered, seniors can move to different levels depending on their abilities.

4. Rewarding success is an important factor. These rewards will help seniors maintain their current regime and will give them a reason to keep exercising.

5. The guide also contains various worksheets that can help seniors keep track of what exercises they are doing and how they are progressing. There are also many resources available that offer exercise support to seniors with health problems and disabilities.

Source: NIA

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island

Benefits of Walking

While many seniors are still physically active, they still are affected by stress and tension. By taking a short walk when stress arises, seniors can manage this stress and reduce their tension levels. The list below provides seniors with some tips and facts on walking and how it can offer many benefits.

1. Walking can reduce stress and tension. Short walks can have positive effects on the mind and body.

2. If you feel stress building, try taking a short, but brisk walk. If you cannot fit in a walk, do some simple stretches to move your body around. This will also help to reduce stress.

3. Do not look at walking as though it is an exercise. Take it as time to be alone and clear your mind while reaping the benefits of a physical exercise.

4. Focus on the surrounding and breathe calmly. Sights, sounds and smells can make seniors relax and reduce tension.

5. Bring along a friend for the walk. This is a great way to socialize while getting some exercise. Walking partners can make the walk seem very short and enjoyable. The same goes for pets. Take the dog for a walk each day. The pet will benefit, and so will you!

Source: AARP

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Helping Seniors De-clutter their Lives with a Caregiver

Caregivers play such an essential role for seniors, and they can make a big difference in a senior’s well-being. This critical role is why caregivers need to be careful when helping seniors make their homes safe and clutter free. For many seniors stuff represents memories and control; not just the objects the rest of the world might see them as. Caregivers can help seniors get their homes clutter-free for safety, and also help them separate memories from the objects.

1. Start small – instead of getting frustrated about a senior’s unwillingness to let go of certain items; praise and be happy for some small purges. Even if all you’ve managed to do is go through old mail cluttering the kitchen counter, it’s a victory that should be rewarded!

2. Take baby steps – like starting small, taking baby steps can allow seniors to see how they feel when a few things have been given away. If they have too large of a collection of old clothing, donate just a few pieces. After a few weeks have past, find out how the senior feels. They’re likely to discover that the parting wasn’t as bad as they thought

3. Let them take control – the accumulation of clutter can be about control; whether it’s controlling memories of the past they feel they’ve lost, or simply remaining in control of certain aspects of their life at a time when there’s so much change. Allow them to decide how to get rid of things and which items to start with first. If they refuse overtime, tell them that if they don’t take control then you or someone else will have to

Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

How Seniors Can Get Organized

Organizational skills are needed by everyone. When a senior is organized, their daily life is much more structured. This allows for less stress and anxiety that many seniors experience when they have to take care of things. Being organized can also be responsible for increasing mood and keeping seniors happy. Below is a list that contains some tips for seniors on organization.

1. There is no one way to be organized. People have different needs, so they will need to find an organizational system that works best for them.

2. Make use of organizational products. Written lists on paper are easy to lose, so try a dry erase board on the fridge to remember certain things.

3. Becoming organized is a process. It will not happen in one day. Begin by setting priorities and always know what things must be taken care of before others.

4. After finding a system that works, the challenge is maintaining it. Many seniors will go through the planning steps but often fall short when maintaining their organizational system.

5. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Friends and family members can offer some great ideas that will help seniors get organized and save time and money.

Source: NAPO

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

End of Life decisions for Seniors

There are many decisions that need to be made as people continue to grow older. Seniors are placed in a position where they need to plan for medical care. They also are gaining support from many who believe individuals have the right to decide if they want to be kept alive during a medical treatment. Terminally ill seniors should have this choice. The following list contains some information on this topic.

1. 84% of Americans believe seniors should have a choice whether they live or die when they have a terminal illness.

2. 22% of nurses and doctors feel that everything should be done in order to keep the senior alive, despite their wishes.

3. Seniors should put their wishes in writing. This is one way to make sure that doctors are aware of what the senior wants if they are unable to make decisions at any time during treatment.

4. Many Americans believe family members should have a say in the end of life decisions that pertain to a loved one.

5. In most cases, older women are more apt to discuss these wishes with family members. It is important for all seniors to express their desire about what should happen to them during the course of treatment for a terminal illness.

Source: Pew Social Trends

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

No matter what your relationship to your mother, you have a respect and appreciation for her for giving you life.

Especially if you are an adult child who is involved in the care of your aging mother, you play such a big role in her life and her in yours. You may know all this, but putting it into words can sometimes be easier said than done.

However, you don’t need to use your own words to express the love of your mother. A number of books written with Mother’s Day in mind can help you to get the message across. These are just a few of the popular choices:

1. The Adventures of Mighty Mom by Gwendolyn Mitchell Diaz: this book focuses upon a mother’s devotion for her child

2. Mothers are like that by Carol Carrick: Mothers and their children don’t all have the same relationships and this book focuses upon the differences but how all show support for one another in their own way.

3. Dear Mom: Thank You for Everything by Bradley Trevor Greive: A child’s thoughts and feelings about a mother accompanied by pictures that all mothers and children will relate to.

4. Love Lessons from My Mom by Kelly Corbet:  This is a quote from the book which really represents the focus of the book “A love lesson can come dressed as a baggage handler or a bag lady, from a family counselor or a drive-you-nuts member of your family A love lesson might even come in the shape of a flower growing in your backyard. It’s all in the invitation. So if you’re open to life, there’s no telling what great joys you’ll have over for tea or meet in a parking lot.”

5. All That Matters: A Mother’s Memories by Janis Hogan: A focus upon the special moments in life and how that impacts the relationship between mothers and children.

Mother’s Day Celebration

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Foods Seniors’ Hearts Should Say No To

One of the hardest aspects to daily life can be maintaining a healthy diet. For seniors, that can be especially true when convenience and simplicity come before healthy food options. However, keeping hearts healthy does not have to be a chore. Here is a simple list of foods seniors can say no to for the benefit of their hearts.

• At The Restaurant—Sometimes when seniors go out to eat, those heart healthy diets fly out the window. Seniors should avoid restaurants with all you can eat buffets, as you are more likely to eat more food, which leads to more calories. Seniors should also resist ordering appetizers, cocktails, and sides with cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. Asking for dressings and sauces on the side is a great way to control the quantity you consume.

• At The Drive In Window—Fast food can be easy and quick for seniors, but it is not always healthy. Avoid the unhealthy sides of fries and go with healthier options like fruit. Also seniors should pass on any value or super size.

• At The Supermarket—Seniors should stay away from fruit juices as they do not provide the fiber of whole fruit. In the dairy case, do not grab butter, ice cream and cream as they tend to have more saturated fats than whole milk. Seniors should also be weary of baked goods and desserts loaded with saturated and hydrogenated fats. The same goes for snacks. Fried chips should be replaced with vegetables or baked alternatives.

Source: American Heart Organization

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.