National Herb and Spices Day

Charlemagne is quoted as saying “Herbs are the friend of the physical and the pride of cooks.”  Do you know who wrote “Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.” ? That would be William Cowper, one of the most popular poets of the 18th century.

On this National Day of Herbs and Spices we pay tribute to all of the wonderfully delicious herbs and spices that exist to tantalize our palates.

You and I use herbs and spices all the time for added flavor but herbs have also been used for centuries to alleviate our ailments.  Today, herbal medicine is a big market and medicinal plants are used to help with pain management.  Herbal remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration however.  

The other side of the coin is the belief that you should use herbs as complementary medicine along with FDA approved treatments.  

The good news is that herbs and spices are key to adding flavor to our foods. What would bruschetta be without basil?  When you make Indian Korma, what would the flavor be without garam marsala, curry powder, cardamom, coriander and tumeric?

Private Home Health Care wants to know what herbs and spices you have in your kitchen? No matter what, we believe that variety truly is the spice of life so use what you love!! 

National Best Friends Day

Today on June 8 it’s Best Friends Day. You connect with a best friend and no matter how much time passes between visits, the friendship remains.  A best friend can help you celebrate happy times in our lives and he or she can help support you through the difficult times of divorce, loss of a job or a death.  

The day was actually started back in 1935 by the US Congress who wanted to promote one day a year to close friendships.  It was so popular that it became something celebrated in different areas of the world.  Over the years it lost some of its popularity but social media has begun to change that and it’s picking up speed.

Is your best friend your partner?  Is it someone you met in school or summer camp? Maybe it’s your favorite pet?  Touch base today with your best friend or friends and let them know you care.  Share a photo or a friendship story on social media using #NationalBestFriendsDay or #BestFriendForever.

Share the love!

Gardening

This first week of June is National Gardening Week.  It celebrates the joys of owning and caring for a garden.  On this day, June 6, it’s National Gardening Exercise Day.  Today is the day for enjoying your garden and getting some exercise too!

Did you know that when you garden you build muscles and burn calories?  It’s true.  Think about working in a garden.  You have to carry tools outside so you walk and lift.  When you prune, weed or plant you use your arms and hands. You stretch and bend when you pick up what you’ve pruned and weeded to place in bags.

Do you carry bags or push a wheelbarrow? Think about all the muscles you’d use.  Do you enjoy the fresh air and look at the beautiful flowers that flourish and bloom? Who can be stressed when you look at a lovely garden that you created.

Private Home Health Care knows it can get harder to garden as you get older so take it slow and make sure you drink plenty of water.  Make sure you bend your knees and lift with your legs and not your back.  Try working on a smaller garden or a container garden if that’s easier for you.  Whatever you do, be sure to enjoy yourself and your garden!

National Trails Day

Tomorrow is set aside by the American Hiking Society for National Trails Day.  The day is to bring together people of all ages that love the outdoors.  It’s also to honor those who preserve and maintain hiking trails for everyone.

A bit of historical information.  In 1968, Lyndon B Johnson signed the Trails Act which dedicated a specific set of trails across the US for recreation and tourism.  From that was born the American Hiking Society who formed in 1976.  

It wasn’t until 1988 however when the National Park Service and the American Hiking Society joined forces to review trail-based issues and make recommendations of trails that would be good for Americans.  There is currently a set of 11 National scenic trails within the National Trails System.  Here is a link that gives locations and descriptions of the scenic trails:  https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationaltrailssystem/national-scenic-trails.htm

The trails are for hiking but they are also great for bird watching, biking or canoeing trips.  There are many local trails too if you are looking to have a hike or walk through nature.  You might notice a downy woodpecker, a variety of birds or even turtles in a pond.  Trails are for everyone and they range from easy to challenging so it’s up to you to choose. 

Private Home Health Care hopes that you can find some time this summer to go out and enjoy the great outdoors.  Find a trail and have a leisurely walk or a hike.  There are some national trails in central Massachusetts that you might want to check out. 

Intergenerational Day

The inspiration for Intergenerational Day came from a teacher in British Columbia, Canada in 2009.  The love, care and respect of elders was being taught to students and the idea caught on.

Young people and the elderly can have a wide gap in interactions.  This day was created to highlight the importance of spending time with the seniors in our lives.

As you age there can be less activities to keep you busy.  There are not as many goals for you on a day-to-day basis.  This can lead to loneliness, anxiety and depression.  Spending time with someone younger can help change your feelings from negative to positive ones.

For you the younger person, connecting with a senior can help you understand different life experiences.  It can give you more empathy towards others.  A senior citizen has many experiences to share.  Simple connections are so helpful in making a person feel needed and happy.  

You don’t need a big celebration.  You can visit and spend time with someone in a nursing home.  Try listening to stories, playing a game or making a craft.  Simple activities can help with positive connections for everyone.

Private Home Health Care continues to respect the older generations we serve. We strive to make everyone feel cared for and respected on this day and every day.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

Private Home Health Care would like to honor, thank and remember those men and women who died in service of our country.  These men and women gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.  

Namaste.

Memorial Day Weekend

Today is the first day of the long Memorial Day Weekend.  This is a special time to thank those who have defended our country over the years.  The commemoration often happens on the Monday of Memorial Day weekend.  Check local stations and websites for a parade and ceremony near you.

This weekend is also a very big travel weekend and many of us travel by car.  With the gas prices high at this time we might find ourselves staying closer to home.  Private Home Health Care would offer a few suggestions for things to do locally.

In Boston, you can visit the Boston Common where over 37,000 flags have been planted.  These flags represent everyone in Massachusetts who died defending our country since the Revolutionary War.  It is quite a sight to see.

At the Boston Opera House, the Boston Ballet is presenting Swan Lake from May 26-June 5.  Do you like museums?  The Massachusetts Institute of Fine Art and Institute of Contemporary art are both offering free admissions on May 30.

Gloucester offers Whale Watches, beaches and a guided- or self-guided tour of Hammond Castle.  $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 ages 5-12 and free under 4.

No cost things to do in Salem, including walking along Chestnut Street to see the old houses.  It claims to be the first planned street in the US.  You can also picnic and play ball at the Salem Common.  There are lots of old cemeteries to visit and many shops to explore.

Private Home Health Care wishes everyone a lovely and relaxing weekend on this unofficial beginning of summer.

Senior Fitness

The last Wednesday in May is all about Senior Health and Fitness.  Fitness and exercising is good for all ages and it doesn’t need to stop when we get older.

Today is a day when many places have events for seniors that involve exercise.  Check your local senior or community center, YMCA or retirement community and see what you can find.  You can modify exercises to fit your body and level of fitness.  The important part is making sure you are physically active. Today is a day to work to improve your health or highlight what you do to stay active.  The benefits of staying fit are enormous!

As you age your balance gets compromised.  Exercising helps you maintain your balance.  If you are active it helps keep muscles and joints strong.  Arthritis can give you lots of aches and pains.  Movement and exercises can help alleviate the pain.  Do you have high blood pressure?  Regular activity can help keep it stable. Do you feel anxious?  Physical exercise can not only help with anxiety, if you exercise in a group it provides a sense of community too.

Private Home Health Care believes in doing whatever you can to live your best life.  Being physically active can definitely help.  Share what you do on social media using #SeniorHealthFitnessDay.  

Fun

When was the last time you had some fun?  Scavenger hunts are one way people have fun and tomorrow just happens to be National Scavenger Hunt Day.  

The goal of the scavenger hunt is for you to work with a team to find a list of items and be the first to do it.  You are not allowed to purchase anything.  You may need to go to multiple places to find what you are looking for.  Everything on the list could also be in one location.  It all depends on who creates the list.  

For extra fun and a bit more challenge, you can use riddles to describe the item to be found.  First work with your team to figure out the answer and then find the item.  Does that sound like fun?

A scavenger hunt can be as easy or as hard as you make it.  It all depends on who wants to play.  It definitely uses brain power so it’s good for all ages.

Elsa Maxwell, a woman from Iowa who became a gossip columnist and a professional hostess, is credited with coming up with the first scavenger hunt as a party game.  Elsa did create a scavenger list in Paris in 1927 that ended up causing disturbances in the city so do be careful with what you create!

Private Home Health Care wishes you some fun tomorrow having a scavenger hunt or playing a game with friends.

May is Stroke Awareness month

Private Home Health Care would like to remind you of how to look for signs of a stroke.  We would also like to share tips from the CDC on how to prevent strokes.

Signs to look for:  BE FAST  (www.strokeawareness.com)

B – Balance – loss of balance or dizziness

E – Eyes – vision changes

F – Face – face drooping, bad headache

A – Arms – weakness, numbness

S – Speech – trouble speaking, confusion

T – Time – time to call 911

Ways to prevent strokes:  (www.cdc.gov/stroke)

Choose healthy foods and drinks.  We have spoken of this before.  Foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, high in fiber.  Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

Keep a healthy weight – check with your doctor on what’s right for you.

Get regular physical activity – moderate activity like a brisk walk, 30 minutes per day

Don’t smoke

Limit alcohol

Work with your doctor to control medical conditions and blood pressure, check cholesterol, and treat any heart issues.

If your doctor recommends medicines make sure you understand and ask questions.  

In 2018, 17% of deaths were attributed to strokes.  Private Home Health Care wants you to gain knowledge to keep you as healthy as possible.