The FirstLight Care Corner

Medication Mismanagement: Tips on Prescription Drug Safety

From our Care Blog

Persons aged 65 years and older comprise only 13 percent of the population, yet account for more than one-third of total outpatient spending on prescription medications in the United States*. If you are older, or the caregiver for someone that currently takes multiple prescription medications simultaneously to treat different conditions and symptoms, mismanagement of any medication can be harmful and could lead to hospitalization or even death. In 2016, the American Family Physician publication reported that one in six hospital admissions of older adults is because of a medication error, a proportion that is four times that of younger people. ...

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The Benefits of Humor as we Age

From our Care Blog

For many people getting older isn’t funny, but keeping your sense of humor as we age has proven to help us cope with the changes, challenges and unexpected obstacles of aging. A dose of humor promotes good health, and has a beneficial effect on some of the most common health challenges of aging. These benefits fall in four important areas, including: Humor reduces stress: It is believed that laughter works by relieving stress, which is implicated in so many negative impacts on our health. Laughing can help relax muscles, lowers blood pressure and increase the oxygen level in your blood. When...

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Summer Travel: Elderly Travelers Checklist

From our Care Blog

Pack The Essentials: Elderly Traveler Checklist Summer is quickly approaching and more elderly people will be heading out-of-town and will travel by car, plane, train or ship for their next adventure. AARP is reporting that adults 50 and older will be active travelers in 2017. More than 55% will travel within the U.S.; 42% plan to travel both domestically and international; and 3% are expected to travel solely abroad. If you or your parents are one of the millions 50 and older travelers preparing for a trip, FirstLight Home Care has put together the following Senior Travel Checklist Essential that...

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Five Myths + Misconceptions of Parkinson’s Disease

From our Care Blog

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. There are many myths and misconceptions about Parkinson's Disease and FirstLIght Home Care is here to set things straight. During the month of April, our caregivers at FirstLight Home Care will share information through our social media channels about the disease. Conversations will include living with or caring for someone with Parkinson’s Disease and tips and resources to help you better understand this progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the United States. The first step in understanding Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is to recognize some of the many common misconceptions and myths that...

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Enjoy the Fresh Air and Sunlight: 12 Springtime Activities for Older Adults

From our Care Blog

After months of colder weather and gray skies in many parts of the country, springtime is a welcomed season. It can be especially refreshing for older adults who have spent the winter cooped-up indoors. Fresh air, warmth and sunshine can play an important role in renewing the spirit and enhancing quality of life. The Benefits of Fresh Air and Sunshine Exposure to sunlight and fresh air offers many health benefits – greater energy, reduced stress and improved sleep, to name a few. Fresh air cleans the lungs and helps bring more oxygen to the cells. This increased oxygen in the...

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Diabetes Alert Day is Coming: Are You at Risk?

From our Care Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and one in four of them doesn’t even know it. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease and can be managed through diet, physical activity and appropriate use of insulin and oral medications to lower blood sugar levels. American Diabetes Association Alert Day® is next Tuesday, March 28. It’s observed to help sound the alarm about the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in American adults by asking people to take the "Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test." The Importance of Detection...

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Nutrition and Aging: Eating for a Healthy Body and Mind

From our Care Blog

FirstLight Home Care provides tips on nutrition and aging that support your loved one’s journey to a healthy lifestyle.

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The Importance of Sleep for Elderly and Older Adults

From our Care Blog

The importance of sleep for elderly adults cannot be stressed enough, as a major contributor to overall wellbeing as we age.

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Home Care: Enhancing the Lives of People with Developmental Disabilities

From our Care Blog

For an estimated 5 million people in communities across the United States, developmental disabilities are part of life. Their conditions – autism, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, to name a few – may impact physical capacity, language, learning or behavior, but not their spirit. When people with these different abilities are connected to the right opportunities and resources, they can live secure, fulfilling lives. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. And the observance is an opportunity to explore how we can all do more to help our neighbors, friends and family members who have developmental disabilities live side-by-side with...

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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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