Rhode Island

If your goal is to boost your brain health in 2010, then here are some simple lifestyle changes that you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. Choose fruit – instead of chocolate bars, try blueberries and almonds

2. Dance – ballroom dancing can help prevent Alzheimer’s

3. Choose healthy crunch – in salads, instead of croutons try walnuts for texture

4. Walk daily – reduce blood sugar with a 20 minute walk daily

5. Try Chinese vitamins – use Chinese moss

6. Become a tour guide – at a hospital, museum or historical place guide tours to help you remember facts

7. Use video games – use brain teaser games and practice hand-eye coordination

8. Try new things – don’t stick to the same old logic puzzles you’re used to

9. Deal with stress – seeking support helps reduce the effects of shrinking to your brain’s memory center

10. Look around – take in your surroundings closely

11. Notice details – really look so you could recount your surroundings

12. Try special tea – gotu koala tea protects brain cells

13. Use other herbal teas – teas with ginseng and holy basic can protect from cortisol

14. Choose a calming word – focus on a word that calms you as a form of meditation

15. Stay focused on time – keep calendars in every room

16. Take a course – take a class at a college

17. Wear a helmet – if you ride your bike, protect your head

18. Drink red wine – drink 2 or 3 glasses of red wine per week

19. Have thyroid testing – thyroid problems can hamper the brain, receive testing and get it under control

20. Choose lean foods – skip the burger and fries

21. Choose healthy sweets – fruits can satisfy a sweet tooth like candy

22. Try oats and cinnamon for breakfast – oats prevent plaque in brain arteries and cinnamon improves blood sugar

23. Listen to music – turn off the TV, turn on the music

24. Try Indian food – ingredients in curry have great antioxidants for brain health

25. Eat regularly – break for food throughout the day

Via: AARP

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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.

Seniors often try to take it easy on themselves for fear of negative repercussions to their health. They don’t want to risk an accident or injury. But, according to a recent study, the more strenuous exercises can actually have benefits to seniors; high-impact activity improves bone density in a demographic that struggles with osteoporosis and bone loss. While there are benefits of the more high-impact activities to seniors, they do of course need to ease into any new exercise program with care and consideration. Here are some guidelines to get them started safely.

1. Start slow – particularly for those seniors who don’t exercise regularly, it’s important to build up strength, balance and endurance. Jumping right into high-impact activity could cause too much strain. Starting with light weights, aerobics and other activities will help to prepare seniors

2. Talk to your doctor – before beginning any exercise program as a senior, it’s essential you get clearance from your doctor. The study shows that your bone health could benefit, but of course, specifics depend upon your background and health. Seniors don’t want to do harm while trying to find benefit

3. Find exercises that work for you – high-impact exercises include anything that get your feet off the ground. Running, jumping rope, jumping jacks, and step aerobics can all have their benefits

4. Listen to your body – with any activity, particularly as you age, listen to what your body is telling you. Stop if it hurts or seems to cause strain; push yourself, but not too hard

Via: Xomba

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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.

As families gather around for the holidays, concerns may arise in regards to your senior’s mental and physical health. One of the most widespread health problems for the elderly can be depression, making it vital for families to know the symptoms and where their senior can receive help.

• Loss of appetite—A change in appetite usually results in the most common sign a senior is depressed of unintentional weight loss.

• Generally disinterest—Seniors may lose interest in daily activities they once enjoyed or found pleasing.

• Sleepless nights—A depressed senior may have trouble sleeping through the night. This can also explain another sign your senior is depressed, increased fatigue.

• Increased Irritability—Some seniors’ personalities turn increasingly agitated or dispirited when feeling low or depressed.

• Unusual thoughts about death—Abnormal notions about death and dying arise in a down senior.

• Where to get a geriatric assessment—Seniors and senior caregivers can receive help and more information on these depression signs by visiting their primary care physician or other outlets such as hospitals, senior centers, religious affiliations, Medicaid offices, or a local Area Agency on Aging.

Source: National Pace Association

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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.

For many seniors and their caregivers, the holidays just aren’t a joyous time. The holidays can be a source of stress and act as a reminder of things from the past that no longer exist. The holiday blues can be overcome, even in seniors and their caregivers. Instead of saying “bah humbug”, with these tips, they might soon be joining in on the celebrations.

1. Surround yourself with people – even if you don’t have family or friends around that you can spend time with, do join other social events taking place in your community

2. Volunteer – no matter what’s happening in your life, you’ll feel great when you volunteer and give back to those in need

3. Join a support group – sometimes it’s not easy to talk to family about the emotions you’re struggling with, so join a support group that allows you to share your feelings

4. Don’t put pressure on yourself – it’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays, don’t push yourself. Get involved with those things that make you happy, and don’t get down on yourself if you don’t feel joyful

5. Avoid alcohol – alcohol can depress your mood, so even though the wine and eggnog is flowing over the holidays, stick to the non-alcoholic stuff!

6. Know the signs of depression and seek treatment – the holiday blues are one thing, but you also need to recognize depression and get help

Via: Health in Aging

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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.

The number of seniors living in the United States with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow exponentially over the next 20 years, doubling from today’s 5.1 million seniors. Unfortunately for many of these individuals who find themselves in the hospital, the level of care that they receive is compromised. Not all seniors receive a formal Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and when they enter the hospital for another reason, their cognitive impairment can go undetected, resulting in inadequate treatment. A new approach aimed to improve care for Alzheimer’s patients has been suggested and
is based on the following components:

1. Screening upon admission to the hospital – rather than learning that a senior has Alzheimer’s or dementia retroactively following a medical issue, this approach ensures seniors are screened when admitted to the hospital

2. Education of the nurses and medical practitioners – there are three levels of care depending upon patient needs, but all of them ensure that all medical professionals responsible for the care of a senior are aware of their Alzheimer’s diagnosis

3. Planning for the future – right from the time of admission in this three-tier program, medical professionals talk with seniors and family members about preparing for the future, and arrangements that will need to be made for discharge. For those who require more comprehensive care, follow-ups are conducted to ensure that a senior’s health comes first

Via: Hospitals and Health Networks

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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.

Preparing to travel can be stressful for most seniors. There are many things they need to plan for while they are away from home. Creating a check list will ensure that everything is taken care of. Many times seniors travel with their spouses or caregivers, so they will be able to assist with the preparation. The following tips will help to make travel planning as easy as possible.

1. Have a medical check-up prior to travelling.

2. If you have medical needs, make sure to make arrangements ahead of time. For example, if you need a wheelchair, contact the hotel prior to arrival.

3. Make sure to pack all medications and make sure you have enough for the duration of the trip.

4. Check your luggage twice. Include things that will be needed during travel in your carry-on bag. It is suggested to pack all medications in a carry-on as well in case your luggage gets lost.

5. Consider your personal safety. Seniors are a target for theft, so try not to travel at night or alone. Do not wear valuable jewelry and make sure you always carry identification.

Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

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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.

With all of the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to forget that the holidays aren’t always a joyful time for everyone. Seniors in particular might find themselves depressed, because with lost family and friends, the holidays aren’t always as they used to be. If someone in your life finds themselves struggling to get through the holidays, there are some methods that you can use to make the holidays a little bit more joyful:

1. Allow memories and past rituals to live on – don’t discourage seniors from reliving those important memories of holidays past, thinking that it will prevent depression. Share memories of family members no longer with you, look at photos, and keep old family traditions alive

2. Make sure visiting seniors are comfortable – to help reduce the stress of seniors coming into your home over the holidays, make sure that your home is senior-friendly, with safety being the primary concern

3. Avoid impulsive holiday activities – to ensure that seniors can be involved with all holiday activities, avoid being impulsive that way seniors can be well-rested for more excitement

4. Focus on the joy – while it’s okay to reminisces, over the holidays make sure that all memories discussed focus on the positive

5. Create new traditions – while you can focus on incorporating old rituals into the holidays, create new ones as well that give the whole family, including seniors, new things to look forward to doing together. Holiday activities can’t just focus on the past

Via: ArticleBase

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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.

Most people think that only children and young travelers benefit from educational vacations. The truth is, the human mind never ceases to crave new information. This is why an educational vacation may be the perfect trip to plan for a senior traveler. Whether you are planning for a group or just yourself, including an educational aspect in the trip planning can be very rewarding. Here
are a few tips that will assist with vacation planning:

1. Use a travel agent that you trust. These agents will often have information that you would not get if you booked the vacation online. The travel agent will also be able to get the best deal and available senior discount.

2. Set some limits. Traveling somewhere new is exciting, but it is difficult to take it all in within the amount of time you are allowed. Try to narrow the scope of interest to include points of interest, historical sites or museums.

3. When on the vacation, make use of hired guides. These guides have great knowledge of the area in which you are visiting. They will be able to inform you of local history as well as other valuable information.

4. Take physical limits into consideration. If you are a senior, you know what your body can handle. If you are a caregiver who is planning the trip for another, make sure you are aware of what that person can handle physically.

Source: www.ehow.com

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.

Hypertension is a disease that can often be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly. It can also lead to other complications, which can include congestive heart failure and heart attack. While medications are successful, elderly patients must exercise caution when taking a prescription to battle the disease. In many cases, the medication could cause hypertension, which is very high blood pressure. This can also be fatal. While your medical professional will decide the best course of action, there are some simple things that you can do that will help lower blood pressure and even reduce the risk of onset.

• Diets that contain high amounts of salt. Studies have indicated that the reduction of daily salt intake will lower the blood pressure. Low sodium diets are highly recommended for most elderly patients.

• High levels of alcohol intake. If you, or an elderly family member, consume high amounts of alcohol on a daily basis, the risk of the development of hypertension is increased.

• Past family history of high blood pressure will increase risk. It is important to be aware of any family member who has been diagnosed with hypertension. The disease does run in families and can be transferred genetically, even if the patient does not live a lifestyle that includes any other risks.

• Obesity. It has been proven that hypertension affects obese individuals more often than those who maintain a normal weight.

• Individuals with an African American heritage will be at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Source: thedoctorwillseeyounow.com

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.

Living with someone else is never easy, and adding a senior to your household who has had a lifetime of independence is not an easy process – on you or on them. For some, living together is just too close for comfort; they just get along better when seeing each other only occasionally; others, manage to get on quite well even when in close quarters. Before jumping into any decisions, seniors and their families should all consider if they’re prepared to make sacrifices and changes to their lifestyles. Specific questions that seniors should ask include the following:

• What will my role be in paying for household expenses? Does it sound affordable and reasonable based on the living arrangements determined?

• What specific responsibilities will I have? Will I be expected to contribute to household chores or care for any of the grandchildren in the home? If so, how often and when?

• Will I be provided with my own space to maintain my independence? Will I have a room, or a bathroom that’s off limits to the rest of the family?

• What will become of my assets? How will we handle the sale of my home and finances I have in my bank accounts?

• Can I bring my pets to the home?

• Will changes be made to areas of the home to provide for my comfort and safety?

• Will I be a part of family decisions, such as vacations, travel, and hosting of events in the home? Or will the other family members make these decisions?

• Am I able to invite my friends to the home and entertain? What if I want to use the space without the grandchildren?

• What arrangements will be made if I need care assistance? Will someone in the home be able to help, or will we hire senior home care?

Via: 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.