The FirstLight Care Corner

Love Your Heart: Helping Prevent Heart Disease with a Healthy Diet

From our Care Blog

Taking care of your heart is integral to healthy aging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 27.6 million Americans – about 11.5 percent of the population – have diagnosed heart disease. The good news is heart disease can often be prevented – and even reversed – when people make healthy choices. That includes adoption of a healthy diet. February is American Heart Month, and it's a good time to take a look at lifestyle changes we all can make to help fight cardiovascular disease. Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your...

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The Home Care Decision: What to Look for In a Partner

From our Care Blog

By Jeff Bevis, President and CEO of FirstLight Home Care For people who are aging in place, living with a disability, recovering from an illness or injury, or adjusting to a major life transition, navigating the typical activities of daily living can be an ongoing challenge. Home care can be a lifeline. Non-medical home care services provide the assistance people need to maintain their independence in the places where they live, and to enhance their quality of life along the way. This is different from, and in addition to, the more common home health alternative. Choosing the right care provider...

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Random Acts of Kindness: Good for the World, and Good for Your Health

From our Care Blog

Next Week, February 12 to 18, is Random Acts of Kindness Week. And it's the perfect opportunity to shower some kindness on the people in your life -- or maybe even a total stranger. We've all heard stories about the person at the drive-thru who bought coffee for the stranger who was next in line. Simple deed, big reward. Everyone could use a little boost from time to time to raise their spirits. Those who need a little extra support – an elderly neighbor, an adult with a disability, a loved one recuperating from surgery – could find even the smallest...

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Senior Companionship: Building Relationships Later in Life

From our Care Blog

February. It’s a month that’s traditionally focused on love and relationships. But for older adults, maintaining relationships can be difficult. Often, they’re coping with the loss of a spouse or partner, shrinking social circles or family they can’t easily visit. Aging in place often means living alone, and older adults who live on their own without regular human interactions can feel isolated. That’s why some seek to form relationships with peers who have similar interests. This may be as simple as finding a casual friendship or someone to meet for a recreational activity. Or, sometimes, it could mean dating and...

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New Year’s Strategies for the Family Caregiver

From our Care Blog

By Beth Bourgault, Caregiver, FirstLight Home Care of Salem, Mass. FirstLight Home Care 2016 Caregiver of the Year Being a family caregiver is both a rewarding and challenging role. Becoming a primary source of care – when you used to be a daughter, son, sister, brother, wife, husband, friend – can be overwhelming. And it can place a strain on your most valued relationships. As a FirstLight caregiver, I work with many clients who are fortunate to have a loved one also providing support and participating in their care. While each situation is different, many of the challenges are the...

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Working Family Caregivers: Managing a Delicate Balance

From our Care Blog

The challenges of the family caregiver are gaining more visibility. But there's one part of the family caregiving story that still needs much more attention: the struggles of the family caregiver who's also maintaining a job. New data is giving us a clearer picture of the impact of caregiving on work-life balance, as well as employee productivity and performance. Let’s review that data, and explore opportunities for family caregivers to get more support during their 9-to-5. Working family caregivers are in good company. An estimated one-fifth of today’s working Americans are also family caregivers, which means they are, in essence,...

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The Post-Holiday Transition: Isolation and Depression in Older Adults

From our Care Blog

The holidays – and the many visitors and activities that come with them – have come and gone. And for many older adults, the looming question is, “Now what?” The post-holiday season can be especially challenging for older adults who are already dealing with isolation. The sudden and dramatic change in their environment when activities wane and loved ones leave after the holidays can have a profound impact on their mental health. A very real problem for the aging population As the population of adults 65 and older continues to explode, we’re learning more about the impacts of isolation. As...

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A FirstLight Wish: What We Hope You Bring to the New Year

From our Care Blog

 “What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” - Vern McLellan | Pastor, Author and Speaker The packages under the tree have been unwrapped. The final candle of the menorah will soon be lit. The first moments of 2017 are within reach. As we reflect on the holiday season and prepare to usher in the New Year, FirstLight wishes you five gifts to bring with you into 2017. The gift of companionship. May you be in the company of people whose presence enriches your life. The gift of...

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FirstLight Home Care’s Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

From our Care Blog

No matter where you live, FirstLight Home Care caregivers can help implement cautionary practices using these winter safety tips for seniors.

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Give Your Loved Ones the Gift of Memories This Holiday

From our Care Blog

One of the joys of aging is sharing stories. For many older adults, stories are a connection to the past and evidence of a life well-lived. And for the families of these historians, stories are a way to preserve memories for years – and generations – to come. With so many family activities during the holidays, it’s an ideal time to capture these treasured stories. But when it comes to building this type of family history, where do you begin? Following are some simple steps you can take to plan, capture and archive treasured stories from the older adults in...

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