Senior
Health & Wellness

Benefits of Walking: Walk Your Way To a Better You

From our Care Blog

I have long ago passed the point in my life where I can jog. Two ACL surgeries have left my arthritic knees unable to take the impact. I don’t live anywhere near a swimming pool and I am too hyperactive to do yoga. Spin classes give me a headache just thinking about it. And because I am a work-a-holic who works out of my house, I need to get out and about for my own sanity and the sanity of my family. I have a million excuses NOT to exercise. “I’m too busy” is my favorite. “It’s too hot outside”...

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Organization: Write Things Down

From our Care Blog

Life gets busy and we are inundated with a ton of noise coming from our cell phones, emails, text messages, videos, TV and more. When things get hectic, we can tend to get forgetful. A simple but powerful habit to get into your daily routine is to write things down. Why is it so important you ask? Time has a way of changing our memory: Writing things down as they happen or right after they happen will help you to memorialize the facts. Every time we remember something, we recreate what happened and each time we do this things change....

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Safety: Falls are Preventable

From our Care Blog

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older, according to Injury Facts 2015, the statistical report on unintentional injuries created by the National Safety Council.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: ? One in three older adults fall each year. About 2.5 million nonfatal falls were treated in emergency departments in 2013. Of those, 734,000 people were admitted to the hospital. That year, 25,500 older adults died from unintentional falls More than 250,000 hip fractures are reported every year, and 95% of those are from falls. The good news. Falls are preventable...

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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....

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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...

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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?...

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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