National Coloring Book Day

National Coloring book day

Today, August 2cnd, is National Coloring Book Day! Once thought of an activity for children, coloring books are now becoming popular with adults, especially seniors. Not only is coloring a fun activity, but there are also many health benefits! These include:

-Relaxing the brain by minimizing the amount of thoughts running through your head.

-Reducing anxiety and stress by engaging in a grounding and calming activity, which takes your mind off of any issues at hand.

-Develops focus because coloring fosters direct attention to the task at hand. Because your immediate focus is on the picture, your mind becomes centered. Practicing focus is very good exercise for the brain, which helps with brain health and healthy aging. 

-Increases creativity because it is an artistic activity. Creativity is excellent for seniors because it can serve as an emotional outlet and a way for seniors to express themselves.
-Enhances motor skills due to the hand-eye coordination needed to color. The precision required will help reinforce and improve very basic motor skills that begin to fade as we age.

National Sisters Day

National Sisters Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August — this year it fell on August 1. Nothing can quite compare to the bond that sisters have and this is a day to treasure the closeness that forms as you grow up together, sharing your secrets, your dreams, and all the fun times. Sisters have a deep connection that grows throughout childhood and remains strong throughout life. National Sisters Day is a chance for you to spend some quality time with your sister and to cherish the connection that you have.

Private Home Health Care encourages you to celebrate National Sister day by reaching out to your sister! Even if you do not have a sister, a close female friend can be like a sister, and you can celebrate National Sisters Day together!

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies?! They are a favorite old young and old alike, a classic American dessert that is now loved worldwide. 

Did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident? You may associate the name ‘Toll House’ from the chocolate chips or break-apart refrigerated cookie brand. Before ‘Toll House’ became synonymous with chocolate chip cookies, it was actually the name of an inn located in Whitman, Massachusetts. In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, added broken chocolate bar pieces into her cookie batter thinking that they would melt. Instead, the classic dessert was born.

There are some health benefits to eating chocolate chip cookies! Sweets can actually help with memory. The taste of a favorite childhood treat, such as a chocolate chip cookie, can bring you back to those days and help with memory recollection from early years. Also, using quality dark chocolate chips with a high cocoa content makes for a healthier choice. With antioxidants such as flavonoids and less sugar, dark chocolate is a more wholesome mix-in for our cookies. Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese. 

Today, for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Private Home Health Care invites you to celebrate by baking up a batch of these yummy treats or munching on the best chocolate chip cookie you can find at a local bakery!

More National Avocado Day

More National avocado day

July 31st is National Avocado Day! While guacamole is grand, don’t settle for just chips and dip on this food holiday. Since avocado is so versatile, clear the table for the entire meal. That includes everything from the appetizer to the dessert. On National Avocado Day, this tree grown fruit has them all covered!

There are many health benefits that come from avocados. For one, avocados target insulin resistance with heart-healthy fats. They also fight Alzheimer’s with its Omega 3 fatty acids. Another one of the secret weapons in avocados are the high oleic acid content. This moisturizing fatty acid helps keep skin soft and hydrated but also supports the regeneration of damaged skin cells, reducing redness and irritation.

Avocados are packed with good fats and fiber that help you stay full longer. In addition to healthy fats and dietary fiber, avocados are also filled with other goodies your body needs. Avocados are a great source of nutrients such as folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B2, B3, B5, and B6, as well as vitamin C.

Avocados are not only healthy, they’re also incredibly delicious and go with many types of food. You can add them to salads and various recipes or simply scoop them out with a spoon and eat them plain. A notable mention is guacamole, which is arguably the most famous use of avocados. And if you are craving something more sweet, feel free to try avocado ice cream!

Enjoy an avocado and try a new recipe. Enjoy the taste without worrying about the health consequences and celebrate National Avocado Day with Private Home Health Care!

National Avocado Day

Yes! It is finally here – National Avocado Day!

In recent years avocados have become very popular – and for good reason. Not only are they creamy and delicious, but they are very healthy!

Did you know that avocados are not a vegetable, rather they are a fruit! Also, because it’s a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary, an avocado is actually a berry! (And we do LOVE berries at Private Home Care!)

Although avocados may be a little higher in fat than most fruits, they are still a very healthy food! This is because it is the type of fat found in avocados. Avocados contain mostly ‘good’ fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Avocados do have a small amount of saturated fat (the unhealthy fat), but the high level of fiber in the fruits in a way counterbalances that because fiber is known for lowering cholesterol. Because avocados are higher in fat, be sure to be aware of the portion size (meaning it may not be the best idea to consume 4 avocados a day).

P.S. Please note in the video how they are SAFELY cutting open avocados. Rest it on the cutting board and turn the avocado against the knife blade, then break open. Unfortunately, every year many people end up injuring themselves because they tried cutting open an avocado in their hand. Enjoy this delicious food safely!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYPKqRIFVdU

National Parents Day

July 25th was National Parent’s Day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July. On this day each year, Americans recognize outstanding parents, celebrate the teamwork in raising children, and support the role of parental guidance in building a strong, stable society. Throughout the nation in almost every state, community leaders organize Parents’ Day events to honor parents.

National Parent’s Day was established in 1994 when the Congressional Resolution was signed into law for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”

National Parents’ Day honors all parents. No matter where our parents may be, this day serves to celebrate their important role in our lives. Parents play a vital role in the lives of children. From our birth, parents protect, teach, provide, and serve as role models. As part of a family, we look to them for guidance. We mirror their behavior and learn to be a core part of our communities. On this particular Sunday, we honor all parents who do everything to raise and protect their children.

Private Home Care honors parents by helping their children take care of parents in old age. Just as your parents cared for you, elderly parents may need caregiving from their children. Caregiving for an older parent is not always easy, but that is what Private Home Care is for – to provide the highest quality of care for your parents and loved ones.

Family Golf Month

July is Family Golf Month!

At Private Home Health Care, we love golf, as well as spending time with family! 

The Professional Golfers Association celebrates Family Golf Month every year in July. Originally an idea that came out of a charity event in the form of National Golf Day, Family Golf Month is now celebrated for a whole month. It encourages family and friends to try their hand at golf and have a good time. 

Family Golf Month is a great opportunity for healthy living. Golf is fantastic for physical as well as mental health. It is a low-impact sport that is available to players of different skill levels and physical abilities. As with any physical activity, golf promotes heart health. Golf keeps your heart rate up for hours as you walk and play. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease and many other illnesses. 

Time spent outdoors while playing golf is great for your health. Being surrounded by nature is known to help alleviate stress and anxiety. Exposure to sunlight lets the body soak up Vitamin D, which helps promote bone growth as well as reduce depression. 

Family Golf Month is a wonderful opportunity for family bonding. Playing golf with loved ones promotes healthy competition and creates fond memories. Strong social ties are important for a healthy and high quality life. In honor of Family Golf Month, Private Home Health Care encourages you to get your relatives out on the putting greens!

National Personal Chef Day Pt 3

Why personal chefs are a great option for seniors:

Carrying heavy grocery bags, lifting heavy pots, spending hours on your feet in front of the stove – most of us don’t give a second thought to the physical and mental work that goes into preparing a home-cooked meal. But for an aging loved one, these seemingly simple tasks can be very burdensome, leading to compromised nutrition and health.

Maintaining access to nutritious meal options is one of the biggest challenges faced by an older adult who wishes to remain living in their own home. As their ability to prepare healthy meals for themselves declines, they often turn to take-out, frozen meals, and pre-packed products for sustenance. These foods tend to be high in calories, loaded with salt and sugar, and contain large numbers of artificial preservatives.

National Personal Chef Day Pt 2

Today, July 16th, celebrates National Personal Chef Day and recognizes the dedication and hard work of personal chefs across the United States. There is a difference between a personal chef and a private chef. A private chef usually works exclusively for one client and typically lives in a person’s home or on the property. A personal chef may have clients, run their own business, or work for a company.

The services a personal chef provides may include preparing meals in the clients’ homes or delivering meals already prepared. They may also create a meal plan according to dietary needs or the clients’ preference. Clients then follow instructions provided by the chef for heating the meals. Some personal chefs offer catering services as well.

A personal chef service provides stress-free meals prepared to your specifications in your home. Your kitchen is left spotless with a refrigerator full of delicious meals. Having your own personal chef is not an out-of-reach luxury. A personal chef service can cost you less than eating out at a moderately priced restaurant.