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- Stay Healthy. Stay Home. Issue 76
Stay Healthy. Stay Home. Issue 76
Care Receivers Caregivers Nutrition Movement Wellness Aging In Place Caregiving
As we announced earlier, the newsletter has considerably more content going forward and will now be published every two weeks. There is a large amount of information available for the subjects we cover and it will be more efficient to provide the most relevant content over a two week period of preparation. Please see “Click Here To Learn More” at stayhealthystayhome.net for more detailed information. Feedback and suggestions are appreciated and can be submitted to: [email protected].
We will introduce you to affiliate relationships over the next several weeks, beginning today, with vendors who will provide valuable, relevant products and services to our subscribers. As we discussed earlier, in the next 30-60 days, we will develop a site with a store offering fitness equipment and other wellness products. Monthly rebates will be made to SHSH subscribers. We will also design fitness/exercise rooms for those interested.
Other features and changes will be announced as we go forward.
Mission Statement
To provide information, products and services regarding home based living in a way that preserves the wellbeing of those in the 45-85 year old demographic who want to stay healthy and remain in their homes and for care recipients and their caregivers.
If you have difficulty reading the newsletter in the color scheme below, please click on “Read Online” in the upper right hand corner for black print on a white background.
Care Receivers
Nutrition
From Health Partners, information for a balanced diet tailored to senior needs that can support overall health, and help prevent age related conditions. Key components that are recommended are fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, along with dairy and healthy fats. There is also a listing of foods and food categories to avoid. We post a lot of information like this and some of it is repetitive, but good nutrition is so vital at any age we will continue to post articles that provide value.
From Healthline, “Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible?” Treating type 2 diabetes usually involves lifestyle changes, maintaining a healthy diet, medication, regular monitoring of glucose levels, and regular appointments with your doctor. The answer to this question is, basically, no, but if you follow the recommendations here, the condition can go into remission, which means keeping the condition under control. This requires regular awareness of your individual situation, but can help to leading a more normal life.
Heart Healthy Nutrition for Northwestern Medicine. Maintaining heart health becomes more important as we age, as we are all aware of. A heart healthy diet focuses on whole, nutrient rich goods that help manage cholesterol, blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health. Extensive information and recommendations here from patient education at NM Health.
Movement
Senior Fitness With Meredith. Today Meredith offers us a beginners video that explains cognitive disability fitness and goes over slow range of motion and the importance of grip strength. Physical fitness for seniors with cognitive disabilities, including dementia (I have been diagnosed with early onset dementia), and Alzheimer’s can help improve their quality of life, mobility and even improve cognitive function. I do some form of physical fitness at least five days a week to try and maintain my current level of cognition. Meredith helps us with a safe and beneficial routine for those just beginning this process.
Dr. Jo of Ask Dr. Jo. A 4:00 video with some help with varicose veins, something that many of us can use help with. I found this video very helpful as over 3 million viewers of it have as well.
Taking Dr. Jo’s video a step further, here is a simple, safe calf stretch exercise we can do at home from the Mayo Clinic. Flexibility and a level of strength go a long way to preventing falls as we age. I have found that stretching is the most beneficial exercise we can do. The woman stretching in the picture isn’t doing the exact same stretch, but similar.
Wellness
From Market Watch, an article by Joseph Coughlin of the MIT Age Lab. He goes into detail about the recent supply chain interruptions caused by hurricanes and how, with the population aging (85 year olds are the fastest growing segment of the population), any disruptions in the health care supply chain can be devastating. An interesting read that, again, highlights our need to stay as healthy as possible.
Naps. Very Well Health provides us with information regarding the best way to nap if we choose to. For us seniors, naps can provide a great way to refresh energy and improve mood, but the length of the nap is crucial for reaping the benefits without disturbing nighttime sleep. This article gives us an ideal breakdown of nap lengths for us.
Medicare Wellness Exam. Bottom Line Inc. goes over what is a Medicare Wellness Exam for those who are new or will be signing up for Medicare in the near future. This exam is an annual checkup, paid for 100% by Medicare Part B, that is designed to help seniors stay healthy by focusing on preventative care. Unlike a traditional medical exam, this exam does not include a head-to-toe physical assessment. Instead, it emphasizes preventative health and helps seniors develop a personalized health plan based on their current health and risk factors.
Aging In Place
Online Therapy. Forbes Health gives us an overview of online therapy, also know as teletherapy or virtual therapy, it is a form of mental health counseling conducted over the internet through video calls and also with phone calls, messaging apps or a combination of solutions. It is a popular and accessible way to receive therapy, especially for those of us who might have difficulty making it to in-person sessions.
Senior citizens working past age 65. From Pew Research, “Older Workers are Growing in Number and Earning Higher Wages. Some very interesting statistics here. Many are continuing to work past traditional retirement age for a variety of reasons, whether it is financial stability, social interaction, health benefits, personal fulfillment or to delay Social Security benefits, so they will be larger. This is a trend that appears will continue in this direction.
Bathroom safety. This article is from Senior Services of America They operate senior living facilities, but they provided this information for those who live in their homes. There are an estimated 375 bathroom falls each day in the U.S. Usually from wet floors, small spaces and limited support features. Many key safety features are listed along with strategies to make bathrooms safer for us.
Caregivers
November is National Caregivers Month! The Caregiver Action Network supplies our caregivers with links to valuable information and recognizes them for the invaluable work they do. We are working on discounts and coupons from local businesses for caregivers to give them some respite. In November, lets make sure to recognize family members and others who we know who are caregivers and, again, thank them for their dedication. It might be a good time to take a caregiver out for a meal or remember them with a gift.
Johns Hopkins Health takes us in a different direction, asking us when it is time to bring help into the home. This sounds contrary to what we usually post, but knowing when we need a break as a caregiver is beneficial to all involved in the long run. Caregiver health, mental and physical, is essential. If you have a family member who is performing this duty for a loved one, maybe suggest a break to them if you seen them struggling. Or maybe bring this guy in for a few days. As we have said before, this is coming very soon if it is not in place already.
Tax deductions for caregiver expenses. FreshBooks lists 7 key deductions for caregivers along with much more information. This is very good information. It is useful to consult with a tax professional to ensure you are maximizing caregiving deductions based on current IRS related guidelines. Please keep in mind that FreshBooks is looking for subscribers to their app so please be patient with any pop-ups while you are on their site.
Being a caregiver. Northwestern Medicine offers basic information about caregiving including a section asking if a family member is able to provide the necessary care the person they are caring for needs or if professional help is needed as well, or some combination of the two. There are also links at the bottom of the article to three caregiving related organizations who can be helpful.
Mental Health America offers many ways here to find support for yourself if you are a caregiver. There are links to support groups and organizations along with links to organizations that share information between both patient and caregiver. This is such an important issue as the role of caregiver, while being rewarding in helping a loved one, it can also be very taxing mentally and emotionally. If you are a caregiver, please seek support and help when you need it. You are the main cog in the support system for your loved one or friend. If you know someone who is a caregiver and think they may need some support, please share this information with them or direct them to help you are familiar with.
This is a video from Caregiving.com that helps caregivers organize tasks in their role. Being organized can be very helpful in keeping stress at a minimum as a caregiver, especially for those new to caregiving.
This is advice we have been offering for a while now, the more we read and hear about caregiving. Here is a quote from a caregiver on the University of California San Francisco site: I think my advice for other caregivers would be – you can get lost very easily. To family and friends, I’d say, ‘Take care of the caregiver.’ Don’t worry about the patient, they’re taken care of. Take care of the caregiver.
Healthline lists essential items, supplies and tips for caregivers. As we pointed out in a post above, being prepared and organized can help relieve a lot of the stress in being a caregiver.
And One More Thing
Two this week. I have had people tell me they were unable to open the link to the Kaiser Family Foundation Annual Health Insurance Survey, so I am reposting it. This is good information for those who are working and receiving health insurance through an employer sponsored plan. Unfortunately, the trend continues up. We all know the importance of staying healthy and these numbers confirm that.
Zumba! It is making a comeback! Classes are available at a variety of locations. The Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health highlights the benefits of Zumba as a fitness tool and gives advice on how to proceed, depending on our fitness and overall level of health. Check out a local club or Y or community center to see if they offer Zumba Gold, which is designed for senior citizens. With winter approaching, a good indoor fitness activity may be just what we need.
Again, apologies for any pop-ups or ads that may appear. SHSH does not earn any income from any advertisers you may see. We simply publish the information we feel will be most valuable.
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