The FirstLight Care Corner

Aging: Live Well & Happy

From our Care Blog

There’s no avoiding it. We’re all getting older. That doesn’t mean we have to feel like we’re getting older. There are many things you can do to impact the process of aging so that you will age well and be happy. Here are a few of our favorites. Keep Your Cool. It is said that some levels of stress can be good for us. “If you never have to react to anything demanding, the mechanisms in your brain that help you deal with taxing situations will atrophy,” says Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD., scientific director of the National Institute on Aging....

Learn More about Aging: Live Well & Happy

Family: Traveling with your Aging Parents

From our Care Blog

Summer travel is in full swing. If you are like any families across the United States, your traveling and your trip mate might include traveling with a senior. They may not be as mobile without a wheelchair, or they may have a specific health condition such as Alzheimer’s disease or heart problems that may require you take the lead, not only as the tour guide, but as the caregiver. This may make your vacation much more complex, regardless of whether you’re traveling by plane, cruise ship or your own family car. We spoke with Nurse Gina and she put together...

Learn More about Family: Traveling with your Aging Parents

Prostate Cancer Questions To Ask Your Doctor

From our Care Blog

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. For many men talking about their prostate and/or prostate cancer can be an uncomfortable discussion - but necessary. If you are going to have your annual health check-up, we suggest you use this time to talk to your doctor and learn more about prostate cancer. What questions should you ask? Here are some basic prostate questions to ask your doctor or nurse. Am I at risk for prostate cancer? Are there things I can do to lower my risk for prostate cancer? What are the benefits and harms (risks) of prostate cancer screening and treatment?...

Learn More about Prostate Cancer Questions To Ask Your Doctor

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