The FirstLight Care Corner

September is Healthy Aging Month

From our Care Blog

[caption id="attachment_2174" align="alignright" width="300"] September is Healthy Aging Month[/caption] Aging is a process that brings many changes. No matter what your age, it's never too late to take steps to improve your health. Car­olyn Wor­thing­ton, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging® Mag­a­zine and exec­u­tive direc­tor of Healthy Aging®,  is the cre­ator of Sep­tem­ber is Healthy Aging® Month, an annual health obser­vance designed to focus national atten­tion on the pos­i­tive aspects of grow­ing older. Here are some great tips that you can apply to your life during the month of September (and beyond to help you live a healthier life as you grow older). Be pos­i­tive in...

Learn More about September is Healthy Aging Month

Is It Normal to Have Aches and Pains at 60?

From our Care Blog

Is it normal to have aches and pains at 60? Learn what is common, what is cause for concern and how FirstLight Home Care professionals can help.

Learn More about Is It Normal to Have Aches and Pains at 60?

Health: Teeth & Aging

From our Care Blog

Did you know that your teeth age? As we age, so do our mouths. Even if you take excellent care of them, your teeth, gums and jawbone will change as you get older. The medicines we take can negatively impact your oral health which is why our Nurse Gina recommends you visit your dentist two times a year for cleaning and X-rays. Prevention is the key! As we grow older, the changes going on inside our mouth could include: Tooth Changes: Chewing, grinding and normal life will cause your teeth to wear down over time. People who clench or grind...

Learn More about Health: Teeth & Aging

Health: Tips to Stay Cool during a Heat Wave

From our Care Blog

It’s August and that means it’s hot outside. Heat waves are hitting the U.S. hard and temperatures are soaring. For many people – especially our senior population - they do not have air conditioning. If you know someone in your neighborhood who does not have air conditioning and is struggling to keep cool, here are some tips for surviving a heat wave that you can share with them. Purchase a fan. Box fans and ceiling fans can promote air circulation throughout the home. Opening doors in the house and using box fans to push hot air outdoors can function as...

Learn More about Health: Tips to Stay Cool during a Heat Wave

Health: Foot Care and the Right Pair of Shoes

From our Care Blog

Be kind to your feet. As we age, the years of wear and tear can be hard on them. Disease, bad circulation, poorly trimmed toenails, and wearing shoes that don't fit can also harm your feet. Nurse Gina has discussed many times within the FirstLight Home Care family that foot problems are sometimes the first sign of more serious medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and nerve or circulatory disorders. Her recommendations.... practice good foot care. The National Institute on Aging recommends that you look at your feet often; use a mirror to look at the bottoms of your feet....

Learn More about Health: Foot Care and the Right Pair of Shoes

Aging: 7 Ways to Stay Active with Arthritis

From our Care Blog

If you have arthritis, there may be days where you don’t feel like being active. But this just might make your arthritis pain feel worst and add to the pain problem. It is important to stay active with arthritis. Here are a few fun things we found on WebMD that you can do even with your arthritis: Start walking: walking keeps your joints flexible and your muscles strong. This low-impact, weight-bearing exercise is a good choice for people with arthritis. Carry your groceries: Make the most of your supermarket trip by carrying your groceries in the store and to your...

Learn More about Aging: 7 Ways to Stay Active with Arthritis

Keep your Brain Sharp and Healthy with 5 Small Changes

From our Care Blog

Are you getting more forgetful? We all have occasional lapses, especially once we hit our forties. It might be alarming to you to have a “senior moment” now and then, but the good news is that research shows that by keeping your brain healthy with the right diet and “brain” exercise, you can keep your cognitive function strong – boosting your memory and brainpower. Here are five things you can do to stay sharp. Eat Fish: People who eat fish once a week have a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (research by Martha Clare Morris, ScD.). The reason...

Learn More about Keep your Brain Sharp and Healthy with 5 Small Changes

Family Discussion: Long Distance Caregiving

From our Care Blog

Caregiving from a distance is no easy task. It can be stressful because you can’t be there at a moment’s notice when your parents need you.  To help reduce some of the stress and to help you organize the process for care when your loved ones do not live near you, we have put together some helpful tips we’ve gathered from Nurse Gina. Create a Contact List: Assemble and organize a contact list that includes addresses, phone numbers and emails of friends, neighbors, doctors, faith leaders and others in regular contact with your parents who you can be reached in...

Learn More about Family Discussion: Long Distance Caregiving

The Benefits of Dancing and Aging

From our Care Blog

Dancing is a great social outlet, a fun form of exercise and will help you slow down the aging process. Hello people, let’s boogie. Dancing and depression: Australian researchers* found that men and women with mood disorders who participated in a two-week tango instruction program felt less depressed and experienced significant reductions in their levels of stress. Dancing is good activity to keep you social and active. Dancing and Strength: Dance classes, such as Salsa, can increase an older adult’s strength and balance. A study published in the journal Gerontology found that dancing provides a safe and feasible exercise program...

Learn More about The Benefits of Dancing and Aging

Restore Your Joy With These Caregiver Stress Relief Tips

From our Care Blog

Find yourself overwhelmed with your caregiving duties? Try these caregiver stress relief tips from FirstLight Home Care.

Learn More about Restore Your Joy With These Caregiver Stress Relief Tips