Spending quality time with a senior loved one is a good opportunity to look for signs that they may need in-home help from you or a caregiver with things like cleaning and personal hygiene. Some things to look for include: 1) Housekeeping – old food in the refrigerator, no clean dishes, an unclean bathroom. 2) Dexterity and balance – being unable to grasp handrails, step over small obstacles, or keep their balance. 3) Hygiene – disheveled appearance, stained clothing. 4) Socializing – not being able to go out, few or no friends. 5) Memory – repeatedly forgetting the same things or asking the same questions.
Community News
Benefits of In-Home Pet Sitting
If work or travel keep you away from your pets, you’ve likely considered various pet-care options, from boarding your pets at a boarding facility or animal hospital, to securing the services of a professional pet sitter. More and more pet owners are taking advantage of the benefits in-home pet care provides: • Diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted. • Pets are happier and experience less stress at home. • Travel trauma for both owner and pet are eliminated. • Pet’s exposure to illness is minimized. • Untrained or unwilling friends/family/neighbors need not be called. • A professional pet sitter will maintain the visit requirements of home insurance without having to bring in another person.
Living Sustainably: But There’s More…
For decades we have been warned that not changing our wasteful ways to be better stewards of our planet would lead to dire consequences. So, we compost, recycle, lower our thermostats, buy local and more. But there’s one more thing. Your environmental stewardship does not stop when your heart does. Reconsider your end of life plans to include sustainable funeral alternatives. No embalming; local, earth-friendly caskets; no concrete grave boxes are a few examples. Richard Rosin Funeral Director Ltd., your Green Funeral provider, helps guide you in creating a funeral event that is kinder and gentler to our planet.
Smoking and Wearing Dentures?
We know that smoking can have a variety of negative effects on our health, but do you know how smoking can affect denture wearers or those with dental implants specifically? If you have dental implants and are also a smoker, your risk of dental implant failure increases. Smoking can also put you at greater risk for infection when having dental implants fitted. Healing time after any type of dental surgery is increased in smokers since nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces blood flow to your gums. Additionally, smoking can accelerate the bone loss that normally comes with losing your teeth.
Ask Dr. Tyler Anderson OD
Q. What exactly is Dry Eye?
A. “Dry Eye” is a condition in which symptoms include dryness, scratching, burning and a “foreign body sensation” caused by a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication of the eye’s front surface. Poor tear quality and/or quantity can also cause blurred vision and less enjoyment of visual tasks such as reading. Treatment options include lubricating eye drops and applying a warm washcloth to the lids while lightly massaging to release oils from the glands along the eyelid rims. Visit your optometrist who can help identify the cause of your dry eye symptoms and recommend the best therapy options.
Recipe: Roasted Squash Dip
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups roasted or mashed squash; 2 tbsp light cream cheese; 1/2 tsp roasted garlic seasoning paste; 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/8 tsp salt; 2 tsp finely chopped chives; 1 tsp olive oil; 2 tbsp slivered almonds, toasted. DIRECTIONS: In a blender or food processor, purée squash, cream cheese, garlic paste, cayenne, lemon juice and salt on medium-high until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Transfer purée to a small bowl and garnish with chives, olive oil and almonds. Try this dip spread on a turkey sandwich or serve it with pita wedges and raw vegetables.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Waking up with numbness and tingling in your hands and fingers? You may have carpal tunnel syndrome – a condition that occurs when the median nerve is compressed or pinched as it travels through the carpal tunnel of the wrist. This is caused by swelling of the tendons running adjacent to the nerve, often caused by repetitive hand use. Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may involve activity changes – particularly with the hands, nighttime splinting to reduce pressure off the nerve, or surgical intervention. Talk to your doctor or healthcare practitioner to see what’s right for you!
Holiday Gift Idea: Winter Eyewear
For those interested in skiing or snowboarding, eye protection can make a great thoughtful gift! Consider protection from ultraviolet rays, glare, and wind. Special filters and anti-glare coatings in a wraparound design with specific venting to prevent fogging are all great options. Cross country skiers, outdoor family leisure activities and dedicated outdoor walkers can choose from a variety of brand names and styles. Some even have interchangeable lenses designed for different altitudes, terrain, and light conditions to protect the cornea, intraocular lens and retina. In many cases, prescription lenses are available. Check with your Optometrist for that special Christmas eyewear gift!
Kickboxing Your Way to Weight Loss
Combining martial arts techniques and heart-pumping cardio, kickboxing is a high-energy workout that is guaranteed to burn calories and fat. The cardio-conditioning element of kickboxing is one of the most effective ways to burn fat-especially that stubborn belly fat that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. A person who weighs 155 pounds can burn 400 calories during just 30 minutes of this high intensity workout! Our 13-bag smacking, skill building, core strengthening stations will get your heart pumping, clear your mind, and transform your body faster than you could ever imagine!
It’s Your Turn to Quit Smoking
Laser Therapy is an accu-pressure point therapy similar to acupuncture but without the dreaded needles. It is a modernized natural approach to help heal the body without the use of drugs. The entire procedure is external, and the laser treatment conducts low energy to accu-pressure points to your ears, face, hands, arm, legs, and feet. The first hurdle in quitting smoking is to get through the nicotine withdrawal phase, which people often dread. The laser treatments significantly reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, so people generally sail through this phase with greater ease and break their nicotine addiction.
The Ability to Age in Place
As seniors continue to age, there is often one common request and that is to “Age in Place”. Most people would prefer to remain in their own home for as long as possible, however, should health issues arise this may require hospitalization or moving into a long-term care facility. With proper planning you can purchase coverage NOW while you are young and healthy. Planning ahead of time makes it easier to afford the necessary funds to hire personal in-home care when it is needed allowing you the freedom and choice to age in place.
