Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602.265.8228.

Debbie Seplow, Owner, Home Instead Senior Care in Greater Phoenix speaks to you about her company.

Seniors Should Strive to Keep Up with Those Younger

By Debbie Seplow, CSA from the Home Instead Senior Care serving the Greater Sun Cities

Q. As a healthy 78-year-old, how much exercise do I need, and what other ways can I stay fit?  My wife used to plan my schedule, but since she died I’m on my own.

Seniors are not off the hook because of their age when it comes to exercise, according to new government guidelines recently released.  Adults including seniors need two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, which will return substantial health benefits, according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The recommendation for adults of all ages and physical conditions also offers an alternative to the moderate activity – an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity.

The report says, “Older adults should follow the guidelines for other adults when it is within their physical capacity. If a chronic condition prohibits their ability to follow those guidelines, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.” It also notes that if older people are at risk of falling, they should also do exercises that maintain or improve balance.

Recommended for adults are aerobic activity, such as walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing, jogging, that should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes.

Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities, such as weight training, push-ups, sit-ups and gardening, at least two days a week. The guidelines are designed so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy.

You should talk with your doctor about other ways to stay healthy including diet and medications.  Also, don’t underestimate the value of companionship.  If you don’t have regular interaction with others, get involved with a group at your church or local senior center. 

You shouldn’t have to feel that you’re on your own.  If you don’t have friends and family nearby, consider hiring a non-medical caregiving companion.  Home Instead Senior Care employs individuals who can assist with various activities including exercise.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Debbie Seplow, CSA at 623.583.5868 or visit our BLOG at www.homecareinphoenix.com.  For more information about exercise guidelines for older adults, log on to http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter5.aspx.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602.265.8228.

Debbie Seplow Speaks to You about Home Instead Senior Care in Greater Phoenix.

View our video on YouTube!  -  Home Care in Phoenix 

Home Safety for Seniors Living in Phoenix - Be Careful in Your Kitchen

These wonderful tips have been provided to us compliments of the Home Instead Caregiver safety training guide. Just another example of how our caregivers have been trained above and beyond the requirements to provide the best care for your senior!

Did you know that the kitchen is one of the most dangerous places in the house? This can be due to improper use of utensils and equipment that result in burns, fires, cuts or electrical shock, and improper preparation and storage of food, which can lead to food poisoning.

What you can do-

Avoid burns- Keep pot holders and padded mitts handy. Place lids on all hot liquids. Don’t put butter or ointment on a burn. Severe burns require medical attention.

Utensils and Equipment- Never handle any electrical appliances or fixtures with wet hands or standing on wet floors. Be cautious when using knives. If you or the senior gets cut, take care of the wound immediately. Always wash your hands.

Keep the kitchen clean- Make sure counters and drawers are free of clutter. Clean up broken glass. Put trash in outside bins.

Cooking- Make sure all beef, poultry and pork are cooked thoroughly. Never defrost on the countertop. Don’t leave meat uncooked for long in the refrigerator.

If you follow these tips you can keep the kitchen as the heart of the home rather than a danger zone. Enjoying good meals and lively conversation, the place where people gather and create a happy home.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602.265.8228.

Introducing Debbie Seplow, owner, Home Instead Senior Care in Greater Phoenix.

View our video on YouTube!  -  Home Care in Phoenix 

Most Older Workers Plan to Work into Retirement Years  - Do you?

A recent article on AARP states that seventy percent of mature workers plan to work into what they view as their retirement years. Here’s why…

A need for money (27 percent) was the most common reason cited by workers when asked why they plan to work. The latest AARP “Work and Career Study,” which updates a 2002 study, also found that a good number (21 percent) attribute their decision to work in retirement to the fact they enjoy working.

“Our study confirms that many mature workers are ready to work in some capacity in what used to be called the retirement years,” said Deborah Russell, director of workforce issues.

“Forward-looking companies which want to address the looming ‘brain drain’ by tapping the pool of experienced workers need to offer creative programs and policies to appeal to that group,” Russell said.

The “Work and Career Study,” which is available online states that an aging workforce means American businesses are “running out of time to prevent labor shortages, talent wars and knowledge loss.” For the 10-year period ending in 2016, the study cites federal government projections that the age 55-plus workforce will grow five times faster than the overall labor force.

The survey included 1,500 workers ages 45 to 74. Half of them (51 percent) plan to work part-time in retirement, and 6 percent plan to work full-time. Another 11 percent said they plan to start their own business or work for themselves. Just 29 percent do not plan to work.

To assist businesses in attracting and retaining 50-plus workers, the report includes a “Blueprint for Change” section that focuses on creative policies utilized by progressive employers.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602.265.8228.

Senior exercise expert Colin Milner says that even a small amount of activity for older adults living in Phoenix can be like a fountain of youth, actually reversing the negative impact that disuse has had on their bodies. 

Inactivity is a leading cause of health problems for seniors.  But it is never too late to start.  The key for family caregivers is knowing just the right way to motivate their aging loved ones.  In the below press release, Milner offers simple, creative ways family caregivers can add activity into a senior’s daily routine.  The sidebar educates family caregivers how to recognize when their seniors have become couch potatoes and what to do about it. 

Our CAREGivers at Home Instead Senior Care engage and stimulate seniors every day, implementing ideas from our brand new Activity Training Guide.  We would be happy to help you share this information with the many family caregivers in Phoenix who struggle with how to get mom or dad more active.  In fact, we invite you to join us while we work with local seniors so you can get a first-hand look.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 602.588.7725 or 602.265.8228.

Study Finds Surfing the Web Stimulates the Brain for Phoenix Seniors

New research shows that searching the Internet can help keep the brain fit. UCLA scientists found that, for computer-savvy middle-aged and older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision making and complex reasoning.

“The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults,” said Dr. Gary Small, principal investigator and a professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. “Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function.”

Small said that pursuing activities that keep the mind engaged may help preserve brain health and cognitive ability. Traditionally, these include games such as crossword puzzles, but with the advent of technology, scientists are beginning to assess computer use.

The Internet’s wealth of choices requires people make decisions about what to click on in order to see more information, an activity that engages important cognitive circuits in the brain.

“A simple, everyday task like searching the Web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older,” he said.

The research will be published in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. For more information, see the university press release.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 602.588.7725 or 602.265.8228.

As the famous castaway “Mary Ann” on the popular 1960s television classic “Gilligan’s Island,” and for years since, actress Dawn Wells has faced the challenges of quick, complicated costume changes.  And after helping to care for her grandmother and observing other seniors, she also understood the obstacles that many elderly surmount just getting dressed each day.  “I saw a real need for clothing that was not only stylish but that senior citizens could get in and out of easily,” said Wells, who created Wishing Wells Collections, Inc., a specialty line of clothing for the elderly and those with disabilities.

Whether you’re shopping or caring for seniors, choosing both functional and stylish fashions is important to their health and well-being.  And only a few fashion outlets like Wells and Silvert’s Clothing Company are supplying this relatively untapped market.

“Many seniors have mobility and health issues brought on by surgeries, illnesses or senior conditions like arthritis,” said Debbie Seplow, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care franchise in Greater Phoenix, “Traditional zippers, small buttons and snaps, for instance, don’t always work for this group.  At the same time, they still want to look good and wear stylish clothing.  Each day our CAREGivers see seniors struggling to dress in clothes they like.”

Home Instead Senior Care is the local franchise office of the largest non-medical home care and companionship company in the U.S.  Its CAREGivers provide the elderly assistance with dressing, companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, errands, shopping and light housekeeping.  Home Instead CAREGivers help keep seniors in their homes for as long as possible and provide a respite for family caregivers.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Nursing Senior Living helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 602.588.7725 or 602.265.8228.

Evidence is mounting that older adults are cutting everyday expenses to keep up with the economic downturn.  Local senior-care experts warn families to be on alert to make sure seniors aren’t cutting too deeply.  Warning signs include skipping medications, pulling the plug on air conditioning and canceling social outings. 

In a report released in May by AARP titled “The Economic Slowdown’s Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans,” 59 percent of seniors 65 and older surveyed said they’d found it more difficult to pay for essential items such as food, gas and medicine.  Nearly half (47 percent) said they found it more difficult to pay for utilities such as heating, cooling or phone service.  Forty-six percent have reduced the number of times they eat out and 45 percent cut back spending on entertainment.

“Cuts of essential items such as food and medication should be of immediate concern to seniors’ families,” said Debbie Seplow owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Phoenix and surrounding areas.
“Other reductions in spending can lead to less obvious issues.  One of the biggest problems that we see is senior isolation, which has been magnified during this troubled time in our economy with the high price of gas,” Debbie Seplow added.

“When seniors’ families live a distance from their loved ones, or when Boomer children are busy trying to make ends meet themselves, an older adult can get in trouble very quickly.  That’s why it’s so important that someone look out for the well-being of seniors to ensure they are safe in their homes and eating properly, taking their medications and able to maintain their appointments and social life,” Debbie Seplow said.

It’s important also for seniors to guard against fraud and too-good-to-be-true offers. Seniors want to get the best that they can from their investments without falling for scams or overselling tactics. Older adults also should beware of CDs and fixed annuities that can promise higher interest rates, but force seniors to lock in their money for longer time periods or otherwise put their investments at risk. When investing your money, always get a second opinion.