Archives for May 2012 | NJ Senior Care

Archive for May, 2012

Your ReSource offers reconditioned home medical equipment at low cost…

May 31st, 2012 1 Comment

Another great NJ elder care resource: Your ReSource. A division of Goodwill Industries of Southern NJ and Philadelphia, Your Resource accepts used home medical equipment donations, then reconditions them to sell at a low cost.

Examples of Donated Products:

Wheelchairs
Scooters
Hospital beds
Walkers, canes, crutches, and portable ramps
Unopened medical supplies
Rehab Equipment
Daily Living Aids
Bath Items
Hearing, Vision and Speech Devices
Patient lifts

Visit their showroom at 8 Industry Court, Ewing, NJ 08638, call them at 609-530-1513, or go to their website www.YourReSourceNJ.org for more information.

Donations are accepted at their Ewing location, or at any Goodwill Stores in selected NJ/PA counties.

Today is National Senior Health and Fitness Day

May 30th, 2012 1 Comment

The last Wednesday in May is celebrated as National Senior Health and Fitness Day across the country and in NJ elder care circles as well. Its goal is to promote health and fitness in older adults.

An inactive lifestyle can be linked to 23% of deaths from chronic diseases
Around one-third of people over age 65 lead a sedentary lifestyle
Percent of those who don’t do any leisure-time physical activity: 54% of men and 66% of women age 75+

Seniors shouldn’t overextend themselves, but exercise is important to maintain an independent lifestyle.

Examples of fun outdoor activities:

Badminton
Croquet
Horseshoes
Badminton
Shuffleboard
Tennis
Bocce ball
Gardening
Swimming
Water aerobics
Riding bikes

For those who wish to stay inside, chair exercises are a great home care NJ way to exercise.

Excessive Heat Warning today until 7pm

May 29th, 2012 No Comments

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for our area of NJ today until 7pm. It’s especially important for seniors to stay inside during this heat, and to drink plenty of fluids. Hot Weather tips for NJ elder care.

Visit us at the Lawrence Senior Center’s Open House & Information Fair May 29th

May 25th, 2012 No Comments

The Lawrence Township Senior Center is having an Open House and Information Fair on Tuesday, May 29th. Visiting Angels Senior Home Care NJ will be there at a vendor table, so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Learn about recreational programs, special events, and services available to Lawrence Township’s older adults (60+). Door prizes and refreshments, too!

What: Lawrence Township Senior Center’s Open House and Information Fair
Where: Lawrence Township Senior Center, 30 E. Darrah Lane, Lawrenceville, NJ
Time: 10am to 1pm
Phone: 609-844-7048

Don’t miss this NJ elder care event. See you there!

Mercer County Seniors…have you heard of RideProvide transportation service?

May 24th, 2012 No Comments

Transportation is so important to all older adults in order to remain independent. RideProvide is a program of Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association. This program transports seniors over 65 and those with visual impairments of any age to medical appointments, shopping, visits to family, etc. The purpose of the trip isn’t restricted.

The NJ elder care program, which uses paid and volunteer drivers, operates Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm (special arrangements for nights and weekends may be possible). The fee is based on an annual membership ($40 for individual; $60 families) plus a zone fee for each trip. Cash is never exchanged–it is subtracted from a pre-paid account. You may ride as often as you wish within Mercer County. Rides are door-to-door and drivers will even help you with your packages!

To register or to volunteer, call 609-452-5140. Visit their website at www.rideprovide.org.

Detecting dementia early? There’s an app for that…

May 23rd, 2012 No Comments

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are rapidly on the rise. Every 68 seconds someone in the U.S. will develop Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, it will be every 33 seconds. Early detection of dementia is critical to provide NJ elder care treatment when it’s most helpful–at the beginning of the disease. Cambridge Cognition is a British company which has developed an iPad app, CANTABmobile. This app helps medical professionals determine if a person shows signs of early dementia. The app gives a 10-minute memory test which helps assess a person’s short-term memory. It shows results instantly, and gives suggestions for doctors on how to proceed with their diagnoses. Current testing methods are traditional paper and pen, which aren’t always accurate. Don’t rush over to iTunes just yet, however. The app is only available to doctors in the U.K.

For more information, visit www.cantabmobile.com.

How popular is your name?

May 22nd, 2012 No Comments

Are you a family caregiver? Here's something fun you can do during your NJ elder care activities. Take a journey into the past and find out what the most popular baby names were during each decade. Is your name listed? Is your mom's? What about your son's? You'll see some names have stood the test of time…and some haven't. Check out the Social Security website www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/

National Alzheimer’s Plan announced…

May 16th, 2012 No Comments

Promising NJ elder care news for all affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

On Tuesday, May 15, the Obama Administration released the National Alzheimer’s Plan. This plan shows the nation’s commitment to fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Its main goal is to find successful ways to treat and prevent the disease by 2025. Other goals include expanding support for those with Alzheimer’s and their families, enhancing public awareness, optimizing quality of care and efficiency, and tracking progress and improvements.Visit the government’s new web site at www.alzheimers.gov to learn more.

May is Healthy Vision Month. Read these tips to avoid macular degeneration

May 15th, 2012 2 Comments

May is Healthy Vision Month, developed to promote the importance of early detection and treatment to prevent vision loss. Macular degeneration, a loss of vision in the center of the visual field, affects older people, and is caused by damage to the retina. It makes it hard or impossible to recognize faces, but typically there is enough peripheral vision to allow the person to do daily living elder care NJ activities.

Tips to maintain healthy eyesight:

Eat foods rich in carotenoids. Examples: spinach, collard greens, kale, broccoli, mango, green beans, sweet potatoes, egg yolks, squash, bell peppers, okra, corn
Eat foods rich in vitamin C. Examples: oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, strawberries, leafy greens, broccoli, tomatoes, cantaloupe
Eat foods rich in vitamin E. Expamples: nuts, whole grains, eggs, fruit, wheat germ, vegetable oil
Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Examples: walnuts, tuna, sardines, salmon
Take vitamins specially formulated for Macular Degeneration

Visit our “Assisting the Sight Impaired” home care NJ page.