Seniors, do you want to lower your risk of dementia? An AARP.com story recommends these foods: beans, citrus, almonds, oily cold-water fish (salmon, herring), dark leafy greens (spinach), coffee, and foods rich in vitamin D (or get some sun). Check out the full story by clicking http://aarp.us/H6EEtg.
Archive for March, 2012
Lower your risk of developing dementia–eat these foods…
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Check out our NJ senior home care review on Google!
We at Visiting Angels NJ truly value the families we service, and greatly appreciate their feedback on how our company, services, and aides have helped them. Their personal recommendations carry more weight than anything we can say about ourselves. Take a look at our latest senior home care review on Google Places!
Food rich in color is good for the heart…
If you’re a senior adult who enjoys eating cherries, plums, strawberries, and blueberries, you are on your way to a healthier heart! For NJ elder care‘s information: A study has shown that older adults who eat these foods are not as likely to die of stroke or heart disease. These foods are rich in flavonoids, which help protect cells in the body. Keeping cells from damage may help ward off cancer and other maladies. Flavonoids are also found in dark chocolate, tea, spinach, red wine, oranges, apples, nuts, as well as soy products.
To read the full AARP story, go to http://aarp.us/yzTtDf. March is National Nutrition Month.
How to help dementia sufferers sleep through the night…
A common NJ senior care caregiver challenge is getting their loved one with dementia to sleep through the night. Many times, especially beginning with sundown, they become anxious and restless.
Some simple tips that will help:
- Diet: Make sure to limit caffeinated beverages to mornings; alcohol should also be avoided
- Limit Naps: Set and keep regular times for rising in the morning and keep naps to morning hours, if needed
- Active Days: keep the person as active as possible throughout the day–take a walk with them, have them fold laundry, rake leaves, etc.
- Make Evenings Relaxed: Develop relaxed routines each evening, such as listening to music or watching TV; keep excess activity, noise, and visitors to a minimum
- Don’t Go To Bed Hungry: A light snack before bedtime is ideal
- Keep a Diary: Maintain a log of activities, food, medications, or beverages that may contribute to their sleep disturbances
- Bedtime Routine: Keep it relaxed and easy. If they refuse to go to bed, let them sleep in the chair or couch. If they don’t want to wear their PJs, let them wear their day clothes
- Bedroom: Keep the bedroom comfortable–temperature, soft music, comfy PJs, blankets, nightlight
- Safety: Keep the path to the bathroom (and other areas of the house) clear, block dangerous parts of the home, such as the stairway, use audible monitors if necessary
- Provide Reassurance: If they wake up in the night, offer reassurance instead of arguing or explaining as you slowly get them back into bed
For more NJ elder care information on dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, visit our Alzheimer’s Awareness page.
Happy first day of spring!
Happy Spring from all of us at Visiting Angels NJ senior care!
Enjoy the beautiful weather with your older loved ones—take them out for a walk, sit outside, play games on the porch, etc. Read ideas on exercise and activities for seniors.
Are you facing the challenges of long distance caregiving?
Are your parents over an hour away? While it’s not easy to maintain a long distance caregiving routine, it can be done. Help from family, friends, church members, and senior organizations can help with elder care. If your parents need help with shopping, preparing meals, dressing, bathing, or other every day activities, it may be time to consider home care…let us help your parents! Read more about long distance caregiving.
Nutritional shakes: are they OK for your older loved one?
Is your mom or dad losing weight? Weight loss can be common in seniors (a leading sign of frailty), but is not considered a normal part of aging. Sometimes, caregivers may think that giving their loved one a nutritional shake such as Boost or Ensure will take the place of a nutritious meal. While the drinks may be good as snacks or used in conjunction to the regular meal (check with their doctor to confirm there aren’t special considerations), it’s always best to have the elder eat a nutritious meal.
Other tips on nutrition for seniors who are experiencing weight loss:
- A low-fat, low-calorie diet isn’t necessary (unless directed by a doctor)
- Encourage the elder to eat smaller meals more frequently, even before bed
- Encourage them to eat what they like
- Check with the doctor for reasons which may be causing the weight loss: thyroid disease, depression, ulcers, dementia, or denture problems
To read more, visit the AgingCare.com article at http://bit.ly/m35Qp5.
For older adults over 70, going to the hospital may be hazardous to your health…
For older adults over 70, going to the hospital may be hazardous to your health. One third of patients over 70 have reported being more frail than when they were originally admitted. One way to combat this decline is to exercise during your hospital stay. Hospitals tend to focus on the reason the patient is there, rather than also combining ways to prevent frailty in seniors. Some hospitals are starting to tackle this issue. Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights in Illinois is an example. To read more on this story, visit http://huff.to/AjYZpJ. For exercise tips, visit our resource page.
Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit helps with home care costs
If your loved one has served in a foreign war, he or his widowed spouse may be eligible for the Veterans Aid and Attendance benefit. If you’ve done research on this benefit, you may have become overwhelmed by the application process. Our special Veterans Program will take the worry and stress out of applying. We will help you each step of the way. Visiting Angels of C. Burlington & Mercer Counties provides non-medical personal NJ home care services to many seniors with limited resources at no personal expense to these seniors or their families. Click on our Veterans Program tab for more information.
The new issue of “Angel Home Care News” is hot off the press! Check it out…
Check out the new issue of “Angel Home Care News.” In this month’s issue:
- Senior Trivia: What was the real name of famed Hollywood actress Rita Hayward? What was Disney’s first animated feature film?
- How to keep healthy the remainder of winter
- New gadgets featured in the Gadget Corner
- and more!
Read the full issue today!
