The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year. We shop, we plan, we cook and we visit. With all of the activity, it’s easy to for seniors to get caught up and forget to take the time to look after their health.

Seniors of all ages and health need to make sure that they don’t overburden themselves, remain well-rested, eat well and enjoy their time with family and friends. Seniors with diabetes need to take particular care of their health at a time when food is in abundance and diets go out the window until the New Year.

In order to get through the holidays with health in tact, individuals with diabetes need to watch their portion sizes even though there may be a temptation to fill their plates with the vast assortment of food available. While preparing for the season, seniors also need to eat regularly and often (5 to 6 small meals) in order to keep energy levels up.

Meals should consist of lean meats and proteins and fill up on salads, vegetables and calorie-free drinks. Alcohol should be avoided, and to encourage the healthy eating of others, bring a healthy snack or dish to a party.

Image: Home Instead Senior Care

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Holiday activities for senior family members are more fun if they are simple. It’s not necessary to make intricate plans involving your senior family members or to make elaborate ones. Seniors are more interested in keeping to routines. It’s not comforting to them if these routines are interrupted too much.

Here are a few simple holiday activities that seniors enjoy:

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Ask family members and seniors to put together a recipe book or cook book. Each family member can select their favorite food or recipe.
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All family members can join in the kitchen and prepare a meal together.
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A favorite activity for Home Instead to do is put together a family photo album or scrapebook.
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Take a family drive to look at you local city holiday lights.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Art might just seem like a fun hobby for many, but for seniors with Alzheimer’s it can have extensive benefits that can truly change their lives in the following ways:

1. Communication – seniors with Alzheimer’s often struggle to communicate verbally; art gives them a method to communicate non-verbally, expressing their feelings in a way that can act as an emotional release

2. Improved memory and concentration – Alzheimer’s doesn’t eliminate memories, it just limits the pathways that seniors have to access them.  Art can help seniors to access some of these memories, and it generally taps into the skills and abilities that seniors still have, rather than focusing upon what they’re lacking

3. Better sense of well-being – seniors with Alzheimer’s can be difficult when dealing with their caregivers due to lingering frustrations that come with the disease. Art has calming effects which can benefit not only the well-being of the senior, but also the caregiver through increase cooperation

4. Forms a bond – by allowing the senior with Alzheimer’s to tap into elements of themselves and show their abilities, caregivers and family members are reminded that there’s someone that’s still in there

Sources:

1. AARP

2. USA Today

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

4 reasons older generations have embraced social networking:

1. To stay in touch – with all generations of family online on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and more, seniors can stay connected to their loved ones through written communication, photo sharing and the other features that these sites offer

2. Bridging the generational gap – connecting online with grandchildren and younger generations of the family can bring seniors closer to their loved ones of shared interests. It doesn’t even have to be through traditional social networking sites, but through games using video game platforms like the Nintendo Wii that allow players from different locations to play together

3. An easy way to meet people – especially later in life, seniors might have a harder time making new friends or seeking support to deal with their aging issues. But, social networks make for a risk-free meeting place

4. Communication without limitations – as seniors get older, they might deal with hearing problems which make it challenging to talk on the phone, or other issues that inhibit their ability to communicate. By getting online, there are methods of communication that work for almost everyone

Via: AARP Bulletin Today

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, a direct correlation exists between physical fitness and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease; a cognitive condition which affects a large portion of the senior population. According to the study which looked at 121 seniors over the age of 60, many of whom were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were routinely physically active had four times less brain shrinkage than those who lead more sedentary lifestyles. Based on previous evidence, decreasing brain volume is linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, so a regular fitness routine can actually help prevent future cognitive problems as well.

Throughout the aging process, it’s important to remain active, even if it means just getting out to take a walk, going for a swim, or completing a series of stretches at home. Phoenix, AZ. seniors will not only improve their overall health through routine exercise, they will also increase the blood flow from the heart to the brain, which improves brain functioning and prevents the onset of other diseases which can aggravate mental conditions like Alzheimer’s.

Seniors in Phoenix shouldn’t feel that it’s too late to begin an exercise program at anytime in their lives; they can start small and slowly build up their endurance to greater activities for the optimal benefits to the body and the mind.

Sources:

1. About.com Alzheimer’s

2. BBC News

Image Source: homeinsteadil.net

Getting Out From Behind Nursing Home Walls

Often elderly residents who live in Phoenix nursing homes tend to fall into a rut. They embrace the routines and the world inside the nursing home, and block out the rest of the world. For seniors who don’t have family living nearby, there is an even greater risk of falling into isolation and losing a connection with the real world. While this is a common reality for many seniors living in Phoenix and Scottsdale nursing homes, there is another way.

It might not seem like the obvious answer, but families can hire a professional caregiver to work with and provide companionship to a senior in a nursing home. Not only can these individuals bring news from the outside world to keep seniors in touch, they can also take seniors out into the world so they can have their own experiences and stay connected.

While a nursing home will encourage seniors to remain behind the closed doors of the facility and within the grounds, an independent caregiver can take seniors out into the world so the seniors can engage in activities of their choosing. Whether it’s going to a favorite store, seeing a movie, or just getting out for a walk, seniors can remain connected to the outside world with the help of a caregiver. Residing in a nursing home doesn’t have to be a life sentence for nursing home residents, but with the right motivation and guidance, they can get out to see the world from outside the nursing home walls.

Sources:
1.    Help Guide

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q1 – My elderly mother from Phoenix has been looking into vacation options for seniors. Are cruises a good option for seniors looking to take a vacation? What are the benefits?

A1 – Cruises for the senior demographic are great vacation options for seniors for a number of reasons! Since cruises are typically semi-inclusive, non-luxury cruises for seniors can be very affordable vacation options for those who are retired and on a limited budget. Senior cruises also cater to the specific needs of the elderly; typically there are more accessible rooms for those who are disabled or face mobility issues; there is flexibility to cater to specific dietary needs; on ship doctors keep a supply of medications needed based on the vacationers medical conditions and illnesses; and activities are senior-friendly and enjoyable for the demographic.

Q2 – Do senior cruises depart from Phoenix?

A2 – Departure points vary with the specific cruise line. However, once seniors have chosen their desired cruise, they may need to travel by plane to the departure port.

Sources:
1. Expedia Cruise Ship Centers
2. About

Image: 2 Be Our Guest

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Since she became retired and her mobility has declined, most of my mom’s favorite hobbies and activities have kept her confined to the home. Her love of crafts has her knitting, building doll houses, painting ceramics and even beading jewelry (though this is becoming increasingly difficult as her eyesight changes). Last spring, I began to notice that she just hadn’t been getting outside much; particularly since living in a condo in Phoenix she has no garden to take care of and no pets to encourage her to step out of her home. I would never ask her to give up her hobbies, but I helped her find a way that she could do her favorite activities outside of the home. Her building has a public patio area, and with permission, we decided to setup a patio table and chairs to give her a surface to sit and do her crafts, while enjoying the fresh spring air and sunshine in Phoenix. This year, I know that when her grandchildren come over to their grandma’s for a visit, they will love sitting out on the patio playing board games, cards, making crafts and socializing with their loved one because they won’t be cooped up inside when the weather should be getting them into the spring air!

Sources:

1. Suite 101 Janienne Jennrich

2. Disabled World

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – How can I help retain a good memory into my senior years?

A - A healthy, active brain in older adulthood can prevent the onset and symptoms that relate to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and the natural process of aging upon memory. Some simple tips, which you can implement into your daily routine, can help to keep your mind sharp and active. These tips will not only help you to remember information, it will ensure that your brain remains active and can help you maintain your cognitive capacities into old age.

1.    Use the art of focusing and meditation
2.    If you want to memorize information, mentally repeat it
3.    Summarize the information you’d like to remember
4.    Create acronyms to help you remember details
5.    Create associations
6.    Use landmarks and objects to help you remember, especially when driving and practicing routes
7.    If you have a daily routine, make it into a ritual instead, to help you remember simple daily tasks

A healthy, fit brain into older adulthood, whether you are developing early Alzheimer’s or simply want to prevent the development of future cognitive issues, may start with brain fitness. But like with the body, brain fitness does not only involve exercising the mind directly. Ensure that you incorporate these tips into your daily routine as well, for a sharp mind.

Sources:
1.    Prevention
2.    Third Age
3.    Reader’s Digest

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.