The holidays are here! But not everyone isn’t quite so excited, many seniors and senior caregivers suffer from the holiday blues and this can be a hard thing to cope with when everyone else is caught up in the joy of the season. Here are some tips and tricks that can help individuals suffering with the blues get through the holidays:

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

Image Source: www.sxc.hu

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

With Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah all just around the corner, there’s another celebration that might be overlooked and that’s National Family Caregiver’s Month. Family caregivers often find themselves under-appreciated as it stands, so it’s important that everyone recognizes this season and does what they can to celebrate. Here are some ideas!

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Eating can be challenging for many seniors, with taste, lifestyle and physical difficulties making it harder to focus on nutrition. But a proper diet is crucial to keeping energy levels up, health in check, and making it possible for seniors to live out their every whim and dream during their retirement. If you make your diet a priority, and consider the following tips, you can make the most out of older adulthood:

1. Eat raw foods – some nutrients can be best digested when in raw form and they are rich in fiber. Make sure that at least one of your daily servings of vegetables are consumed raw either on their own or in a salad

2. Choose whole grain carbs – unprocessed carbs that are whole grain provide energy , choose brown rice, and whole grain breads and pasta. White carbohydrates are starchy and can make you feel tired and bloated

3. Stick to lean proteins – limit red meat and instead go with lean sources of protein like poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts which will give you the fuel to get through you day and are also very health conscious

4. Incorporate low fat dairy items into your diet – calcium is crucial for senior health so drink low fat milk, and make sure you stock up on yogurt and cheese

5. Don’t avoid all fat – there are some good fats that should be part of your diet; make sure you get the positive benefits of healthy fats and oils through olive oil, avocados and nuts

6. Stay hydrated – remember to drink plenty of water and choose foods that have a lot of water content

Via: HelpGuide

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

As you get older, don’t let senior stereotypes hold you back. Despite society’s views about aging, older adulthood is a time where you can pursue your dreams, and improve your way of living body and mind. Here are 4 ways to take control of  your senior years:

1. Take a class – learning lasts a lifetime, so take advantage of the opportunities that you have in front of you in older adulthood. Take a college extension class or see what classes are offered at a local community center. You can take anything that interests you, whether it’s active, crafty or intellectual

2. Be social and seek support – don’t withdrawal from social activities like so many seniors have the tendency to do; no matter what’s going on in your life stay in touch with friends and family members with social activities, and get support from groups with any issues you’re dealing with

3. Live and laugh – they say laughter is the best medicine for a good reason, make sure that you do things that you enjoy that make you laugh and smile. Laughter is a great way to cope with grief, overcome stress, and gain a better appreciation of life!

4. Safety first – take the opportunity to look at how you can improve your safety so an accident doesn’t put a damper on your chosen lifestyle. Should you still be driving? Can you avoid busy driving periods or roads? Are there improvements you can make to your house? Are you aware of common frauds targeting seniors, and do you know how to protect yourself from them?

Via: Associated Content

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Gardening is a great pastime enjoyed by people of all ages, but it is a hobby that often older adults take on during retirement once they have more time to really nurture the items that they’ve planted and enjoy the experience. The benefits of gardening can affect the overall health in  Phoenix seniors in the following ways:

1. Exercise – gardening is a low impact cardiovascular workout that has benefits to the heart. More strenuous gardening, like hauling rocks can equate to 600 calories and hour, but lighter activities have their benefits too! Gardening is said to work all the major muscle groups and can increase flexibility, balance and strength.

2. Nutrition – if you plant a garden with fresh fruits and vegetables, you will take pride in what you created and will be more likely to maintain a healthy well-balanced diet with your produce straight from the garden, which once planted, is also budget friendly!

3. Stress reduction – gardening helps reduce stress, even just from allowing you to be out in nature. The colors and smells are stimulating and stress relieving, and the activities can help you take your mind off of the things that are on your mind. Horticulture therapy is a common practice, and it can even help those who are sick recover faster!

Via: Associated Content

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that were once believed to play a role in dementia prevention, since high cholesterol levels during mid-life are shown to increase the risk that seniors will have Alzheimer’s or dementia in older adulthood.

Despite this positive research, a study that looked at 25,000 participants showed no support that the cholesterol lowering drugs have any influence when it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s or dementia later in life which seems to contradict previous research. The good news is, that since statins are so commonly prescribed to middle aged adults and seniors for high cholesterol, there are no risks of taking the drugs with regards to cognitive functions and perhaps in the future, research will show that one of these studies just might have been wrong. So if you’re a believer that statins might prevent dementia, keep on taking them and continue to hope, because you never know what benefits might be unearthed by scientists and medical professionals in the future.

Sources:

1. MSNBC

2. Cognifit

Image: geriactrics-and-aging.com

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

No matter where you live, mall walking is a great activity for seniors who want to remain active. It’s a safe environment sheltered from weather conditions, as well as extreme heat or cold depending upon the time of year. Plus, it’s a great social activity for [location] seniors, where they can bond with others and lend their support and motivation for a healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips to make mall walking an even more enjoyable and rejuvenating experience!

1. Don’t walk alone – part of the fun of mall walking is to socialize, so bring a walking buddy; either a family member or friend, but make sure that they’re at your fitness level so you can keep the same pace and get the exercise benefits

2. Window shop – since you’re already in the mall, scope things out. You’ll spot stores that are having sales or other great bargains as you pass by the shops

3. Take motivational music – take your MP3 player with a compilation of music that motivates you to walk and push yourself to get the best fitness benefits

4. Make plans – having plans for after mall walking will help to motivate you. Make it a regular date to go for coffee with friends, or hang around to shop at the mall

5. Set incentives – organized mall walking programs may have prizes if you meet certain goals, but even when walking independently you can set your own goals, meet them, and then set some more!

6. Take in your surroundings – walking in the mall you can take in the décor, especially coming up to holidays and people watch

7. Clear your head – when exercising, there’s no better time to clear you head and make positive plans. Don’t allow your worries to plague your mind

8. Play games – when walking with a buddy, play games based on what you see around you. Try Eye Spy or other fun games based on signs and other things in the surroundings

9. Reward yourself – reward yourself after completing a mall walking session, it will help you want to come back and do it again and again!

Via: Grand Times

Image: ifatloss.com

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Deciding to bring a caregiver to help out in your senior’s Phoenix home is a big decision, since it’s like you’re putting their fate in the hands of someone else. But Home Instead Senior Care takes steps to ensure that only the best caregivers are placed so that all seniors receive the highest quality of care. Through their training and development program, seniors are always in the best of hands.

The traits of  Home Instead Senior Caregivers:

• Dependability - work history and employment reference checks are completed for all staff members
• Honesty - drug test and background checks are completed by HISC
• Experience – personal or professional experience in the senior care industry or dealing with senior citizens is considered
• Compassion – a sense of compassion for giving seniors a better quality of life is looked for during the interview process
• Motivation – someone who is motivated in everything they do is better suited to ensuring that seniors are provided the highest quality of care

HISC also has a Caregiver Leadership Training Program that focuses on creating a fantastic caregiver experience by focusing on the following elements:

• Treating CAREGivers with dignity and respect
• Nurturing positive relationships
• Showing appreciation
• Humanizing and professionalizing the caregiving journey
• Connecting CAREGivers to Home Instead, its mission and other CAREGivers
• Dealing with issues openly and honestly.

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228

Q – I care for a Phoenix elderly gentleman who is interested in learning about computer use. He recently received a computer from his family as a gift, but isn’t familiar with the technology so he’s asked me if I can help him. Of course, I am fairly computer literate, but I’m not sure how teaching him a skill like this would affect our relationship. As a caregiver, am I the right person to teach my senior about computer use?

A – Admittedly, teaching a senior about something they are completely unfamiliar with can be a challenge, and it can potentially put a strain on your relationship, especially if they don’t pick up what they are being taught quickly. Seniors might become frustrated when they are not picking things up as fast as they’d like to, and they can become even more frustrating when they are aware that computer skills are something that most people have. If you can be patient, and are willing and able to repeat and walk seniors through things that you’re teaching over and over again without allowing the senior’s frustration to effect you, then you might just be the right person to teach them about the basics of computer use. It’s all about the relationship you have already and your specific personalities; if you are too concerned about how engaging in this activity together might hurt your relationship, then you might be better off finding a local community center or another organization that provides lessons to seniors, and then you can help them practice what they’ve learned after someone else has already introduced them. Many senior development programs, which can include computer learning, and actually provide for free or very inexpensively; plus they can be a great way to help seniors get out there and socialize with others in their demographic.

Sources:

1. UINTA Education Center
2. Suite 101

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228.

It’s never easy to watch someone you love getting older, but as a relative of a senior, often the responsibilities fall to you to decide when they need help. For the sake of your loved one, it’s important that you know when home care just might be right for them. Take the following checklist, and if your Phoenix senior meets any of the below criteria, it just might be the right time for senior home care.

• Your loved one is struggling with Activities of Daily Living  (dressing, bathling, preparing meals, taking medications, keeping up with chores at home)

• Your senior’s balance and mobility is declining, putting him/her at greater risk for in-home accidents.

• Your loved one has given up driving and finds it challenging to get to appointments and run errands.

• Your senior doesn’t have family nearby, or family members who are able to help them on a regular basis.

• Your loved one has recently come out of the hospital or rehab and needs to focus on recovering

• Your loved one’s memory is suffering because of Alzheimer’s or Dementia which could impact their ability to care for themselves safely.

Sources:

1. Elder Issues

Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228.