by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Mar 20, 2014 | Caregiving, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
When you hear someone is being treated for depression, what likely comes to mind is counseling and medication. Most of us think these two treatments are the keys to overcoming the disorder. One overlooked avenue of helping to heal the mind, body and spirit just might be by making friends with a furry, four-legged creature. Adopting a pet has proven to be a successful way to treat depression among older adults.
How Pets Help Combat Depression in Seniors
Having a four-legged friend to kick around with can help a senior loved one boost their mood in a few different ways:
1. Unconditional love. Animals can be there for us in ways people can’t. They listen to our sorrows, share our joys and keep our secrets. If an older loved one has experienced loss, a pet can be an ideal solution for helping them to heal. They have someone to love and care for who will love them back unconditionally.
2. They get us moving. A senior who may be reluctant to take a walk around the block on their own may be willing to put in a lap or two with their furry friend. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for older adults and is often recommended to help overcome and prevent depression.
3. Pets are social. Pets attract attention. If an older loved one has a pet they routinely take for a walk, it won’t be long before the two of them have made new friends. Children will especially be drawn to your senior family member if they have a furry companion. These new friendships can help your loved one feel more connected to the world around them. That can help them fight off depression.
Added benefits of having a pet are that they help to decrease both stress and blood pressure. Researchers agree that the simple act of stroking a pet’s fur can help calm people down.
The American Humane Association has more information on Adoption & Pet Care that you might find helpful if you are considering finding a furry friend for a senior loved one.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Feb 12, 2014 | Dear Donna, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My great aunt lives on a large, wooded farm in mid-Michigan. Unfortunately, she is almost 90 miles away from us. We bought her an iPad during the holidays and are trying to find ways to encourage her to use it to keep in touch with us and to connect with other homebound seniors. Do you have any advice to offer us on ways she can safely make those connections?
Sandy in Saginaw, Michigan
Dear Sandy:
What a thoughtful gift and a great way to help your aunt stay in touch with you! According to a study from Pew Internet Research adults 65 years and older are the fastest growing social media demographic and tablets, like an iPad, are easy for seniors to use. After you have your great aunt set up, preferably with WiFi in her home, here are a couple of sites you can help her navigate as you are teaching her how to use her iPad:
- Skype or another free video chat service. This may be the very best way to help her feel connected with you and other far away family members. It also offers you peace of mind by allowing you to “see” her for yourself every few days.
- Find friends on Facebook. Helping your aunt set up a Facebook page (complete with privacy settings) is another way for her stay in touch. She might be able to reconnect with childhood friends and neighbors that she has lost touch with over the years. It might also help her save money if she “Likes” some of her local merchants so she can watch for sales.
- Set up an email account. This is still the place where older adults spend the majority of their online hours – reading and responding to email messages. Having email access will allow her to keep in touch with you and other loved ones more easily.
- AARP Online. Their site is rich with resources, helpful articles, entertainment opportunities, online communities and more. You will find information on topics ranging from healthy eating in later life to travel tips for seniors.
We hope this helps your aunt get started on her new iPad!
All the best,
Donna
Are you an older adult who enjoys staying connected through social media?
Do you have any tips to share with Sandy? Please add them in the Comments below.
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by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Jan 24, 2014 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
If you are one of the 50 million adults in the U.S. that lives with arthritis, you may be feeling the effects of a Michigan winter in your joints. Arthritis pain often rises as the mercury level falls. What natural methods can older adults take to manage the pain of arthritis? Here are 9 suggestions for you to try:
- Find ways to keep moving. Even though it seems like the last thing you want to do when you are in pain, exercise is important for managing the pain of arthritis. Ice and snow might keep you from talking your daily walk during winter months. Consider investing in a treadmill or exercise bike to use during inclement days. Many senior centers have bulletin boards where you can find a used one inexpensively. You can also consider seated activities like chair yoga and Body Recall.
- Warm up your joints. Older adults often say one of the best things for their pain is a hot bath or shower. Warming up those damaged joints can provide relief. If you have a YMCA or other rehab center near you, find out if they have an aquatic therapy program you can join.
- Watch your weight. We know how important maintaining a healthy weight is, but for those with arthritis it is doubly so. Each extra pound of weight you carry around puts three to four extra pounds of pressure on your knees. A weight loss of just five pounds can translate to 15 – 20 pounds less pressure on your knees!
- Give your hands a paraffin dip. The kits to do an in-home paraffin dip have fallen significantly in the past few years. You can purchase one for under $30 now. They allow you to heat up the paraffin and soak your hands in it. Some can also accommodate feet! If your hands and feet are the source of your arthritis pain, this is a good investment.
- Have your vitamin D checked. During the cold months of a Michigan winter, many seniors don’t get outside much. That puts you at greater risk of a vitamin D deficiency. Ask your family physician about having a blood test to check your vitamin D. You might need a supplement or prescription dose to pump up your D.
- Consider supplements. Talk with your physician about this first, but consider a supplement to help manage arthritis pain. The Arthritis Foundation has a list of those that science supports and those believed to be harmful. Just be sure to discuss this with your physician and pharmacist to avoid drug interactions.
- Food choices matter. Add more inflammation-fighting foods to your diet. Those include berries, grapes and plums, as well as omega-3 rich foods like fish and nuts. Adding ginger to recipes can also help with inflammation.
- Vitamin C may help. Foods rich in vitamin C are now being linked to new collagen production. That is a critical component of cartilage. For those living with joints damaged by arthritis, bell pepper, oranges, kiwi, cauliflower and strawberries might be good dietary choices to make.
- Drink your green tea. The benefits of this little tea leaf are numerous and include helping to block the chemicals in your body that are believed to cause inflammation. That might help prevent cartilage from breaking down more.
We hope one or more of these suggestions helps you find relief this winter!
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by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Dec 31, 2013 | Caregiving, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
For readers of our blog that are family caregivers, we have an idea for 2014 we would like to share with you. We know that your role as caregiver for someone you love creates considerable stress for you every day. The job is physically exhausting and emotionally challenging. As we head in to a New Year instead of making New Year’s resolutions you probably won’t have time to keep, consider adopting one little word.
The One Little Word Project was created seven years ago by author Ali Edwards. Edwards felt that by adopting one simple word for the year, she would be able to keep her life centered. Her word would give her focus as she went about her daily life. Her project has taken on a life of its own and been widely adopted by individuals ranging from physicians and nurses to emergency services workers.
In lieu of a making a list of resolutions this New Year’s Eve, pick one word that summarizes your goal for 2014. Own that word throughout all of the year. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your caregiver duties or sad about the change in health you see in your loved one, focus on your word.
How can you get started?
Think about what you hope for in 2014.
- Are you trying to be grateful for each day you have with an elderly loved one and live in the moment? Maybe your word could be PURPOSEFUL.
- Struggling to convince yourself that good enough will do as you juggle all of your roles in life? Try adopting ACCEPTANCE as your word in 2014.
- Trying to let go of worrying too much about things you can’t control? Make your word BELIEVE.
Get the idea? Think about your struggles and your hopes and pick a word. If you keep this up year after year, your word may begin to find you.
We’d love to hear from some of you who adopt a word! Please share your journey with us next year…
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Dec 23, 2013 | Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Finding healthy holiday food choices can be tough on our waistline. Health experts say that the average American gains from ten to twelve pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year. For older adults with a health condition like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, that amount of weight gain can spell trouble.
How can you enjoy the season’s festivities without packing on the pounds?
Here are few tips to help you separate foods that are naughty from those that are nice:
- Choose lean poultry and seafood over beef when you have a choice of entrees.
- Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and a great alternative to fat laden mashed potatoes and gravy.
- Cranberries are a power food rich in antioxidants and fiber.
- Always go for the leafy greens like spinach, romaine and kale. They are full of fiber and vitamins ranging from A – K.
- Pumpkin pie is a much better choice for dessert than pecan pie in terms of fat, fiber and vitamin A.
- Wines and wine spritzers are much better than drinks made with liqueurs.
- Skip the eggnog and spiced cider and instead order hot cocoa.
- If you are heading for the fresh vegies, choose hummus to dip them in not ranch or dill dips that are usually made with sour cream.
- If you can’t resist the bowl of nuts, choose almonds, cashews, pistachios or walnuts over pecans and macadamia nuts.
Also make sure that you don’t overlook the basics of a healthy lifestyle just because you are busy enjoying the holiday season. It is a dangerous mistake older adults often make. Be sure you remember to:
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day
- Get 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week
- Take your blood pressure as often as recommended by your physician
- Limit your alcohol consumption
- Monitor blood-sugar levels as directed
- Take all medications as prescribed
What is the hardest healthy lifestyle choice for you to maintain during the holidays? Is it food selections? Exercise? Monitoring blood pressure or blood-sugar?
Should you have questions about senior living, we encourage you to call the Heritage community nearest you. We’ll be happy to help!
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by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Nov 15, 2013 | Caregiving, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Like it or not, old man winter is making his way to Michigan. For older adults in colder climates like ours, winter creates additional risk factors. The aging experts from the Heritage Senior Communities offer these 3 winter safety reminders for seniors in Michigan:
Home Heating Sources
Rarely does a winter pass in Michigan that we don’t we hear about a family who loses their home or even their lives because of problems stemming from a heating source. Older adults that live on a fixed income may try to cut expenses and that makes them even more vulnerable.
- Be sure your aging loved one has their furnace inspected each year in the early fall.
- You also want to be certain their smoke detector is working and has good batteries.
- A carbon monoxide detector is a must in all homes.
- Space heaters can be a hazard. While they are great for warming up drafty rooms, fire safety experts say nothing should be placed within three feet of a space heater. Also make sure the heater has an automatic off in case it tips over.
Auto Safety
Winter can be tough on our vehicles. If the older adult in your life is still driving, remind them to schedule a winter tune-up. Specifically ask them to check tires and tire pressure, window wipers, and the battery. Don’t forget anti-freeze and wiper fluid.
Fall Prevention
Icy walkways and porches create fall risks for seniors in the winter. If a landscape service to clear sidewalks is out of the budget, there are a few ways to help keep seniors safe:
- Non-skid shoes and boots are a must. You can even add non-skids pads to your loved one’s everyday shoes and boots.
- If your older loved one still shovels their own walkways, consider investing in a shovel on a wheel. Sounds strange but it not only helps to maintain balance while shoveling, it can also prevent back strain.
- Call your local agency on aging. Many have budget-friendly programs to help seniors with snow removal.
Are you a Michigan caregiver for a senior loved one who lives alone?
What is your biggest worry for them in the winter months?
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