The FirstLight Care Corner

National Eye Donor Month

From our Care Blog

Are you an eye donor? Many of us have checked the eye donor box on our driver’s license or state ID card, but do you really know what it means?  Did you know you can be an eye donor even if you have cataracts, bad vision or have had lasik surgery? Although the cornea  (the clear tissue in the front of the eye) is usually the only part of the eye that can be transplanted, the sclera (white of the eye) can also be used in some surgeries, and eye banks accept the whole eye for research and education.  In...

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Celebrating Wellderly Week

From our Care Blog

We read a lot in the news about exercise and nutrition regardless of your age. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy is 78.8 years. .. at an all-time record high. In fact, the life expectancy for females is 81.2 years; for males, it's 76.4 years. As more and more people wait longer and longer to retire, it’s top to banish all thoughts of sitting back in a rocking chair in your 60s! It’s time to get up and exercise. According to Dr. Richard Brassard, president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), " The...

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FirstLight Home Care Salutes the American Red Cross

From our Care Blog

Did you know that the logo for the American Red Cross is one of the best recognized insignias in the world? That the Red Cross has won more Nobel Peace Prizes than anyone? And with good reason.  After such natural disasters as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, their disaster relief team was one of the first on the scene, distributing much needed food and medical supplies, providing shelters to keep warm, and dispensing the necessities we often take for granted – a clean toothbrush,  shampoo and deodorant. Although they respond to more than 70,000 natural disasters each year, many people...

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Must Have Documents For Your Aging Parents

From our Care Blog

Too often, we are caught off guard: an sudden illness or accident robs us of our ability to plan ahead when it comes to critical healthcare and legal decisions. We wait until a crisis hits, when we are least capable of making rational decisions. Whether you’re a baby boomer or a senior citizen, there are some must have documents to protect yourself and your loved ones. Planning ahead will ensure that your children will be able to make health and legal decisions on your behalf should you be unable to do so. No one wants to think about dying or...

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Bone Health Tip: Eat for your Bones.

From our Care Blog

When it comes to building strong/healthy bones there are two key nutrients: calcium and vitamin D. Calcium supports your bones and teeth structure, while vitamin D improves calcium absorption and bone growth. Here are some great foods to help you build strong bones. Yogurt: One cup of yogurt can be a creamy way to get your daily calcium. Yogurt is fortified with vitamin D. Milk: Eight ounces of fat-free milk will cost you 90 calories, but will provide you with 30% of your daily dose of calcium. Cheese: Just 1.5 ounces of cheddar cheese contains more than 30% of your...

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Bone Health Tip: Protect Yourself Against Falls

From our Care Blog

Keep your bones healthy by eating right, exercise, keeping tabs of your T-Score, don’t smoke and limit your intake of alcohol and meats. But don’t forget to check your home and make sure you have your home safe to help you avoid accidents that could lead to a fall. Here are some simple do-it-yourself (DIY) fixes can reduce your risk of falls in your home: Secure rugs so they won't slip Remove clutter from walkways Install night lights in hallways Use a no-skid rubber mat in the bathtub Install a grab bar in the shower Make sure your slippers have...

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Why Give Blood

From our Care Blog

January is National Blood Donor Month. If you have donated blood to an organization like the American Red Cross, thank you. If you’ve never donated blood but are interested, here are a few reasons why you should donate this month and in future months. Blood is essential for life: it carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, fights infections, and helps heal wounds. And everyone has this self-generating resource that can be generously given to others—when and where it is needed most.   Your donation will save lives. Every time you donate you can save the lives of as many...

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2015 Wellness Trend: Bone Health

From our Care Blog

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 15% of all women will break a bone in their lifetime. And the risk of breaking a bone increases dramatically as one ages, from 3 in 1,000 at age 55 to 45 in 1,000 at age 75. Thus, this is a major health risk for post-menopausal women. All signs indicate that bone health will continue its climb up the popularity ladder as the U.S. population ages and lives longer. In 2015 the health trend everyone will be talking about will be bone health. It’s one that if you start early (or even start today)...

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How Well Do You See: Senior Vision

From our Care Blog

January is National Eye Care Month. Why is this health awareness holiday so important?  The Vision Council of America notes that 12.2 million Americans require some sort of vision correction but don’t use any. Nearly 50% of parents with children under 12 have never taken their children to an eye care professional. Your eyes are very important and you should take care of them. Here are some reasons why you should visit your eyecare professional and have an eye examination: Unexplained headaches. If you have been having unexplained, constant headaches, your solution could be visiting your optometrist. An eyecare professional...

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What are you reading? January is National Book Month.

From our Care Blog

Typically the weather in January isn’t cooperating in most states across our country. That’s okay. January is national book month so why not find a couple of great books and celebrate the month lost in something fabulous. Many of us at FirstLight Home Care are avid book readers. Here’s a small list of our favorite books (some we have read more than once) that we thought others might like. And no, they are not in any order, just our list. Tuesday with Morrie, Mitch Albom To Kill a Mockingbird – yes, if you had to read this book in High...

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