Q – My mom’s energy levels are dropping as she gets older, and I feel that it’s affecting her quality of life and her ability to meet her goals. Is it true that diet can have an impact on senior energy levels, and if so, what should be considered?

A – A well-balanced diet with a focus on proper nutrition can give seniors the energy they need to meet all of their retirement goals. Here are some things to consider when trying to improve a senior’s lifestyle when it comes to eating habits:

1. Eat raw foods – some nutrients can be best digested when in raw form and they are rich in fiber. Make sure that at least one of your daily servings of vegetables are consumed raw either on their own or in a salad

2. Choose whole grain carbs – unprocessed carbs that are whole grain provide energy , choose brown rice, and whole grain breads and pasta. White carbohydrates are starchy and can make you feel tired and bloated

3. Stick to lean proteins – limit red meat and instead go with lean sources of protein like poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts which will give you the fuel to get through you day and are also very health conscious

4. Incorporate low fat dairy items into your diet – calcium is crucial for senior health so drink low fat milk, and make sure you stock up on yogurt and cheese

5. Don’t avoid all fat – there are some good fats that should be part of your diet; make sure you get the positive benefits of healthy fats and oils through olive oil, avocados and nuts

6. Stay hydrated – remember to drink plenty of water and choose foods that have a lot of water content

Via: HelpGuide

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a risk that all individuals who use a computer face, but there is a greater risk in individuals aged 40-60 who work typing on a keyboard on a daily basis. If you’re a senior still in the workforce who works on a computer, you need to take steps to prevent carpal tunnel which can affect your ability to work.  Here are 3 tips for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Warm up before typing – this is especially important for people who find themselves working at a keyboard al day, so seniors who have not yet retired should focus on wrist exercises before they get started everyday to prevent injury

2. Use ergonomic computer accessories – ergonomic keyboards are designed to work with the natural positioning of the hands and fingers. If typing a lot, rather than using your laptop keyboard, purchase an external one because they tend to be the worst for causing carpal tunnel. You can also purchase a mouse that is more ergonomic and buy supportive cushioned wrist rests

3. Take breaks throughout the day – there are programs available that will remind you to take a break every hour and lead you through a series of exercises designed to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Or, you can just do it yourself, taking a break for 5 or 10 minutes every hour. Get up, walk around, and shake out your arms to remove your hands from their repetitive position that could be damaging

Sources:

1. About.com

2. EHow.com

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

As parents, we think we look forward to the day when our kids leave home and we’re left with freedom. But in reality, a sense of loneliness kicks in known as empty nest syndrome. Older adults might feel like they’ve lost their sense of purpose once they’re no longer parenting day-to-day. But empty nest syndrome can be combated and avoiding in the following ways:

1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have

2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in New Braunfels

3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your  vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!

4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!

5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.

Via: Let Life In 

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Breast cancer screening is an important part of health maintenance for older women; however, there are still many women that avoid getting their mammograms out of fear. It’s fear about the process, and the fear of knowing that something could be wrong that leaves many women in the dark about a potentially crippling disease. Here’s what you can expect from the process; now that we’ve put your mind at ease, embrace breast cancer awareness month and have your breast cancer screening completed!

1. When dressing the day of the mammogram, avoid applying deodorant, talcum powder, or any other heavily scented items that can be irritating to others, or that could affect the imaging. Also wear a 2 piece outfit.

2. When arriving at the imaging office, you will be asked for copies of previous mammograms, if they do not have them already, and will also ask you to fill out a form with your medical records

3. Upon going into have the mammogram done, you will be asked to remove jewellery and clothing that can interfere with the procedure, including your shirt and bra, and any other clothing you have on above the waist

4. To prepare for the mammogram itself, one breast at a time will be placed on an imaging cassette and will be compressed with a paddle so that the maximum amount of breast tissue is visible on the image

5. The image will be taken and then the process will be repeated with the other breast

6. The images will be examined, not for results but to ensure they are effective. Typically, you will be allowed to get dressed and wait to find out if you are able to leave, or if more images are needed

7. The images and results will be returned for your doctor for review

Sources:

1. About.com 

2. Imaginis

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

In the United States, households run by grandparents are not uncommon, with more than 6 million older adults taking care of young grandchildren under the age of 18. The reasons may vary, but the challenge these New Braunfels grandparents face are the same.

1. Seniors who are retired often have limited finances available, and adding another member to the household can come at an increased expense

2. Seniors may not have the same physical capabilities that younger parents would when responsible for the physical care of children when carrying them around, bathing, and physical chasing after children

3. Seniors may neglect their own health needs when worrying about others

4. Seniors may be under the stress of legal issues when trying to adopt a child or ensure that they legally remain the child’s guardian

Despite issues that are presented by age, grandparents can still effectively raise their loved ones and overcome the challenges. Here are some tips for multi-generational households where seniors are at the helm:

1. Find out if there are assistance programs available in their area to help grandparents raising grandchildren financially

2. Remember to simply do the best that they can, and remember, that loving the children and ensuring their safety, health and happiness is all that’s really important

3. Of course, the health of their grandchildren is important, but grandparents need to remember if they don’t take care of themselves, they’ll be unable to care for anyone else

4. Seniors can try to minimize the stress of the process by seeking support from those who have been in similar situations

5. Respite help is necessary to give seniors a break. If children are too young to be in school seniors can find a daycare or ask for help

Sources:

1. Care-givers 

2. AARP 

3. Answers for Families 

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Breast cancer awareness month is upon us, and it’s time for both the young and old to show their support and join the fight against breast cancer. Any gesture, big or small, can help to honor those who have lost their battle against breast cancer, so get involved this October!

1. Wear or hand out pink ribbons – show your support by breast cancer by wearing a pink ribbon. You’ll find them for sale at establishments around New Braunfels, available if you make any donation to the cause. Or you can make your own pink ribbons to wear and hand out to friends and family

2. Wear pink – even if you can’t afford to make a big donation to a breast cancer cause, simply wearing pink clothing items, along with a pink ribbon will help you show your support and honor those who have successfully fought the disease or lost their battle

3. Fundraise – holding an event with a pink theme, where the proceeds will go towards breast cancer is a great way to bonds with others over a common cause and give something back to breast cancer research. Hold a bake sale, or get creative and think up another event

4. Try a run/walk for breast cancer – while many took place over the summer, runs and walks for breast cancer are still ongoing in October

5. Shop for breast cancer awareness – breast cancer awareness merchandise is available where a portion or all of the proceeds of a sale go to breast cancer. This way you donate, and show your support with your merchandise

6. Donate – make a donation online, by phone or in person to breast cancer research

Via: Associated Content

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Art activities of any kind offer a form of creative expression and communication that can greatly benefit San Marcos and New Braunfels seniors who are struggling with illness or loss, or just having a hard time keeping their self-confidence intact as they experience the changes of aging. If you’re a family caregiver, bring art therapy home to your loved one by following these simple principles for introducing the creative process:

1. Choose activities suitable to the senior’s level of mobility – although skill really doesn’t play a role in the benefits of artistic expression and seniors, you don’t want to make the experience frustrating for them. Keep a senior’s physical abilities in mind when choosing an activity.

2. Make activities challenging – age doesn’t mean seniors are less capable of creation. Don’t choose activities that are too simple, like those you’d give to a child.

3. Create a quiet environment – to receive the best possible benefits from a creative activity, seniors need a quiet environment where they can simply focus on creating. An area free from distraction will help set the tone for the creative process

4. Think about long-term projects – a quick craft that can be finished in a couple of hours won’t have the same benefits as one that extends over a period of time. Choosing an activity that seniors can think about and go back to day after day will really get the creative juices flowing

5. Work together – remember, even if you’re working on an art project together, don’t take over and don’t try to lead; it’s not about the end result of the creation, it’s about the journey along the way

Sources:

1. Washington Post

2. My Optum Health

3. Associated Content

Image: artandaging.com

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

In the past, seniors dreamed of the day where their children would be gone and they could set off to far off places around the world without a care in the world. But, since American’s suburban populations are made up 50% of seniors aged 75 and older, there’s proof that more seniors are choosing to maintain their roots in the suburbs. The only problem with seniors in the suburbs, is their ability to adapt to a community structure more set to accommodate families; but maintaining roots in the suburbs is possible with these simple tips:

1. Address financial restraints – consider a reverse mortgage to fund any additional financial needs of the home like maintenance, renovations, or any remaining amount on a mortgage loan

2. Make the home safe – suburban homes aren’t necessarily designed for senior living. They are often 2 stories, and are not compatible with those who need to use wheel chairs or other assistive devices. To make the home accessible and safe, install safety bars and hand-rails, improve the lighting in the home, and have ramps or other assistive devices incorporated into the home as needed

3. Get help – for older adults, keeping up with the routine maintenance of a home can be challenging, but that doesn’t need to be a reason to give it up. Hire services to clean and keep up with the yard work, or get an in-home caregiver to cook and provide basic assistance with other tasks as needed

4. Look into transportation – walking to get to shops and other areas in the suburbs may not be convenient. Seniors who don’t drive can use transportation services available, or hire a caregiver that can help them get around

Via: CSA Connections

Image: seniorcarehomesmidwest.com

Home Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.