Senior
Health & Wellness

Heatwave: Keeping Seniors Cool

From our Care Blog

Because we are in the middle of summer and the temperature is rising, this could be deadly for the elderly in our local communities. We did some homework and found some pretty simple tips to help keep everyone in your family cool this summer: Stay hydrated: Drink cool drinks, preferably water. Stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day, which is typically 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. To keep your rooms cool, close your blinds. Only open windows when it’s cool enough to do so. Head downstairs. Hot air rises. A lower floor or basement can be a cool...

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7 Secrets For A Longer Life

From our Care Blog

Living longer can happen if you stop and take a look at your life and well, follow these secrets we found on WebMD’s website. The health focused folks over at WebMD put together a great slideshow on 18 secrets for a Longer Life (which we guess really aren’t that much of a secret since they have it on their website that millions of people view each month). We went through the slideshow and picked out some of our favorites that we’ve started to try (we can already feel the years being added on to our lives). Eat Like an Okinawan:...

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5 Reasons We Love America

From our Care Blog

The 4th of July may have come and gone this year, but the memory lingers on. We should celebrate all that is good about America each and every day, not just reserve our patriotism for one day of the year! We think this is a brilliant idea that needs little motivation. But, in case you do, here are 5 reasons why we love America: Freedom: We have the freedom to do what we want, believe in what we want, and say what we want and to do so without persecution. For many in the world, this is not true. In...

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Getting To Know Americans Age 50+

From our Care Blog

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LIVE LONGER AND STRONGER: Tips to aging gracefully

From our Care Blog

Our friends over at the National Institute of Aging have put together a pretty awesome list of benefits that as you age, healthy eating and exercise can improve the following: Increase mental acuteness Help resist disease and injury Offer faster recovery Yield higher energy levels Boost a functioning immune system Provide better management of chronic health problems So what can you do?First, speak to your doctor about your current eating and exercise routine. Get their recommendations. The National Institute of Aging promotes these basic things: Eat smart - less salt, more fiber, more fruits and veggies. Add exercise into your...

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FirstLight Home Care Supports National Safety Month.

From our Care Blog

June is National Safety Month. Following are some practical tips to keep our aging family members living on their own safe, and contribute to their well-being. This might surprise you - according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than a third of adults ages 65 and older fall each year. Statistics show that every 18 to 20 seconds an older adult ends up in the emergency room because of a fall, many of which happen in their own homes. Most elderly people living at home do not take the appropriate safeguards within their home to...

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Seniors: Walk Your Way to Health

From our Care Blog

We all know we should exercise, but we have a million excuses why we don’t. There’s not enough time. Your aches and pains prevent it. The weather outside doesn’t permit it. It’s important to get moving and stay moving no matter how old you are. However, did you know that to burn off one plain M&M candy, a person would need to walk the entire length of a football field? That inactivity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., second only to tobacco use? Walking is the most popular form of exercise in the United States....

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Be Optimistic Even In The Face of Grim News

From our Care Blog

There are those who see the glass half full and others who see the glass half empty. At FirstLight Home Care, we always see the glass half full with hope. Did you recently receive a cancer diagnosis? Have a chronic debilitating illness? March is National Optimism Month, and as hard as it is, you have to try and maintain a positive attitude. You have to take all your negative thoughts and stuff them under your mattress where you can’t see or reach them. My Mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus when she was 20-years-old and had a colostomy...

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Ways to Make In-Home Care Easier

From our Care Blog

There's no question providing care at home for a loved one is a hard job. Having good resources at hand, both products and services, is a big help. Here are a few of the resources available for patients and for the people who help to take care of them. Oxygen Concentrators Oxygen therapy can be a difficult burden for patients and caregivers to take on, especially when first starting. Managing bulky tanks can be physically difficult and seriously limit patient mobility. Having sufficient oxygen supplies on hand is also a work-intensive chore. New oxygen therapy devices called oxygen concentrators are...

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Five Tips for Seniors for Good Bone Health

From our Care Blog

Millions of Americans age 65 and older suffer from a condition called osteoporosis, which weakens the bones and makes them more likely to fracture. As people age, their bones become more brittle, and fractures could lead to great pain, loss of mobility or force people into assisted living. Fractures can also require surgery, such as hip replacement, which can lead to additional complications. Maintaining bone health is also important because osteoporosis is a disease that sneaks up on people and often times has no symptoms until a fracture occurs. Adopting healthy personal habits is important for people to avoid having...

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