National Blood Donor Month

January is set aside for donating your blood which is still an important need in the United States.

You are likely aware that the American Red Cross is one place where you can donate your blood.  Their national blood program has been around since 1940.  They are a trusted organization and supply about 40% of blood needed.

There are other places you can turn to as well if you’d like to donate.  There are regional organizations along with national and independent centers where you can go.

Donating your blood is important because there are always needs.  At times it can be more urgent if supplies get low but blood is crucial for many different reasons.

According to the American Red Cross*:

• Every two seconds someone needs blood or platelets
• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells
• The average red blood cell transfusion is three approximately units 
• Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors
• The most common blood type requested from hospitals is Type O

If you choose to donate blood you can estimate that it will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes in total.  

The actual blood drawing is eight to ten minutes but you need time at the beginning and then time at the end to make sure you are ok to leave.

Private Home Health Care understands how important it is to donate blood.  There is always someone in need and it’s an easy and generous thing to do.

*Information taken from the American Red Cross website (https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/blood-donation-importance.html).

January is Thyroid Awareness Month

Your thyroid is a very important gland in your body and this month is a time to highlight it to raise awareness.  The gland has a big job so if it goes off track it needs to be treated. 

This mighty butterfly or H-shaped gland in your neck is responsible for regulating your metabolism or how your body uses energy.

The hormones created by your thyroid go directly into your blood system.  They affect almost every organ system in your body:

• Cardiovascular
• Nervous
• Digestive
• Reproductive

The size of your gland is about the size of a walnut so not too big.  You take a simple blood test to check if your thyroid is working well or if something is amiss.  Problems are fairly common but the good news is that they are very treatable.

Some possible problems and number of people here in the United States with thyroid issues are:

• Underactive thyroid – affects about 10 million people 
• Overactive thyroid – about 1 of every 100 people over the age of 12 have this
• Enlarged – includes about 5% of people
• Cancer – about 44,000 people (with a survival rate of 98%)

Treatments vary from medications to surgery to radiation and chemotherapy.  

You can live without your thyroid but you will need to take medication for the rest of your life to keep up with its important bodily functions.

Private Home Health Care knows thyroid health is important.  It’s not difficult these days with all the foods we eat but getting enough iodine in your diet helps support this.  Table salt, fish, seaweed and dairy products all have iodine.

Grandparents

Do you have any grandchildren?  

Being a grandparent can be super rewarding and it can help your health too in addition to being fun.

You raised a child or children and they’ve grown and now have children.  Hopefully you get a chance to visit with your grandchildren whether near or far.

Time spent is so much different than when you were raising a child.  Unless you are a guardian of your grandchild, your time can be spent on fun things without expectations.  Some might say that you can actually spoil your grandchildren.

You can play sports, do puzzles, bake cookies, go bowling or whatever you think your grandchild would enjoy.  Taking in a movie with lunch after can be fun too.

You’ll get in return unconditional love.  That comes with no price tag attached.  Your mental health can be helped and you might find help to fight off any depression.  

Depending on the age of your grandchild you could have interesting conversations.  You never know what kids will say.  An adventure could be in your future.

For your grandchild, you can be that security blanket for them and a grown up who listens to them without any judgement.  Add some kisses and hugs and the warmth will spread over them.

Many grandparents help out with childcare on a regular basis.  Studies have shown that this can help boost your brain function.  You do also have to be careful that you don’t overload yourself.  As we age, watching children can become more difficult.  

If the childcare gets overwhelming at all you may need to reassess.  You want to be sure to take care of yourself in situations.  Pay attention to what you are feeling.

Private Home Health Care loves to see grandparents and grandchildren and the love and joy between them.  It can be very special.  We hope you get a chance to experience it.

Honoring a Legacy

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister who led a nonviolent civil disobedience movement to better the lives of Black Americans in our country.

Today on this third Monday in January we honor him and his legacy.  He was born on January 15 so the day coincides as closely as possible with this.

The goal of this day is a national day of service so that everyone can volunteer in their communities.  This is carried on in many communities across the country.

Additionally, in some areas of the country this is a big travel weekend, especially for those of us in the Northeast.  Skiing can be at a premium this time of year.

This year the holiday also coincides with the Presidential Inauguration.  This is a major transfer of power for our United States, so an important event too.

Still, Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered today for his work that led to all races with equal rights in our country.  He was a very inspiring man.

Private Home Health Care celebrates the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the way he touched millions of people of all races.

Soup Swap Day

Tomorrow is Soup Swap Day.  A day to break out your soup recipes to share with family and friends.

You need a location, some recipes, some soup to share and people.  A fun day to have a get together, especially in these cold winter months.

Soup connoisseurs have determined that soup has been around in the world for the last 5,000-9,000 years.  You must be able to find a recipe to two! 

It can be found in all cultures in one form or another so it’s universal.

The word derives from the word, “suppa”.  Interesting if you live in Boston since “suppa” is really dinner in this neck of the woods.  “Suppa” actually comes from the Latin word for bread soaked in broth.  French Onion Soup anyone?. 

What kind of soup do you like to make?  Are you a potage type of person?  Do you like chowders or maybe a minestrone soup?  Vegetable soup with barley can be delicious.  There are so many options.

Are you someone that follows a recipe or do you create your own?  If you make your own you might want to jot down a few notes in case it’s a hit and people want the recipe.

No need to rush into it tomorrow if you need more time to get organized and cook.  A soup swap is good any time during the winter months and we still have a few more cold months to go.

Private Home Health Care loves to make soup during the winter.  Vegetable soups are our favorite but we wouldn’t pass up a yummy chicken or beef based soup!    We hope you can take time to have a swap and add to your list of recipes to make.

Photo by Navada Ra

National Hat Day

Today is National Hat Day!  What kinds of hats do you like?  There are so many options.

Do you like a fedora, a beret or perhaps a homburg?  Are you more on the casual side so perhaps a baseball style cap or a newsboy? 

Looking for style?  Ladies could try a cloche or pillbox.  Gentlemen might like a bowler or a panama hat.

During the winter it’s more important to think about warmth over style for good reasons.  

The temperatures can get pretty low during the winter months and by keeping your head warm you can keep the rest of your body warm.

A hat keeps the heat capped to your body.  It’s key to keep your head warm and dry.  Merino wool and synthetic materials are good choices.  

Your body can lose heat in many ways.

Losing heat by radiation is one common way our bodies lose warmth. If you’ve ever done an outdoor winter activity and removed a helmet or hat and you’ve seen steam, that’s radiation!

Your best choice during the long winter months would be a beanie, with or without a pom, pom or maybe a trapper hat. Both are great for warmth.

For people dealing with Raynaud’s syndrome, the cold can really affect your fingers.  Having a hat on your head and a warm set of mittens, not gloves, is a big factor in getting through the cold.

Keeping your entire body warm from head to toe is a must if you like to be outdoors.  A hat, long johns, warm clothes, socks and mittens all work together to help you enjoy your adventures.

On National Hat Day Private Home Health Care hopes that you put on your favorite hat as you head out the door.  We know it can flatten a good hair style but keeping your body warm in the winter is more important.  Give your hair a good fluff after!

Wolf Moon

Each year you and I will experience a full moon each month.  Scientists have come up with full moons every 29.5 days.

In 2025 we will have 12 full moons.  It’s exciting because this year we will also have two lunar eclipses, March 13-14 and Sept. 7-8.  You have plenty of time to get ready for both.

Today you will see the full moon called the Wolf Moon.  History got its name this month because of the cold and often snowy days in our North America.  It’s thought that the Wolf name comes from the often heard howling wolves during these months.

Wolves howl for mark territory, coordinate hunting and due to hunger from scarcity of food.  In our area there are times near woods when you can hear coyotes howling.  We imagine that the howls are similar.

Today’s Wolf Moon gives you and I an extra surprise.  It could be a bit late but if you can stay up you might be able to see Mars.  The Wolf Moon is scheduled to pass in front of it at a time when Mars will be its biggest and brightest.

You can look for the full moon starting at approximately 5:27pm here by us on the East Coast.  To see Mars you need to look around midnight when many of us are asleep.

Additionally, if you can stay up, a recommendation is that you block the right half of the moon with a distant object.  That way you can see past the moonlight and hopefully catch a look at Mars.

Private Home Health Care is not always able to stay up late but we hope anyone who can will be able to enjoy today’s Wolf Moon.  The next full moon for February is the Snow Moon, February 12.

Houseplants for Seniors

Houseplants are great to have around the house and it turns out they can be helpful to you too.

Believe it or not, a houseplant can give you allergy relief, they can keep your spirits up, they can add about 10% more humidity and purify your room too.  

Those are the regular, run-of-the -mill houseplant.  When you get into certain types there’s even more benefits.

You might say, well that’s great but I don’t have a green thumb and I don’t have the time at this stage in my life for a plant.

The good news is that there are some plants that don’t require having a green thumb.  Additionally they are low maintenance so easy to care for.

Here are they top five kinds of houseplants you can add to your abode.  You might actually find that you enjoy them.

1. Spider Plant – pretty and very tolerant. They  can easily bounce back from any overwatering.  They can also live inside or outside depending on where you live.

2. Jade Plant – this is a succulent which translates to lots of sun and little watering.  Easy.

3. Snake Plant – snake plants can grow big but are extremely low maintenance.  If you water them once a month they are happy.  Shade or sun, but they are happier in the sun.

4. Prayer Plant – definitely an indoor plant.  This plant grows slowly and does not like to completely dry out before it is watered again.

5. Cast Iron Plant – definitely a green plant that is crazily sturdy.  It can grow in deep shade and if you forget to water it, no big deal.

Private Home Health Care hopes that we’ve made a good case for having a houseplant or two.  All the plants listed are easy to care for and perfect for seniors.

Apricots

Today we are going to talk about apricots.  Why apricots since they are in season from May to September depending on your region?

Private Home Health Care is preparing you plus you can get them dried all year round.

Apricots are a stone fruit, so they have a pit like peaches and plums.  They do have their own unique flavor between sweet and tart.  

In addition to a great taste you’ll find many good nutrients in apricots.  Some people actually call them a superfood!

When you eat a fresh apricot you’ll get beta-carotene, potassium and vitamins A, C and E.  It also has lutein that is good for eye health and fiber.  All that in a small apricot.

All those good nutrients and fiber make you want to have a fresh apricot doesn’t it?

Right now we are in the middle of winter so fresh apricots for those of us in the northeast are not an option.  What to do?  Look for dried apricots which are available in grocery stores.

If you eat dried apricots you’ll still get benefits.  The fiber, potassium and vitamin A are still beneficial.  You’ll also get polyphenols that are plant compounds that can have a biological effect on your body.

Additionally, dried apricots can help to keep your blood sugar levels down by offsetting carbohydrates consumed.  Their GI levels have a low glycemic index which significantly lowers blood sugar levels.

For now, dried apricots are a great fruit to add to your diet.  When the spring comes, look to eat as many apricots as you can.  Your body will appreciate it.

Photo by Markus Spiske

National Bean Day

Here we are again starting a new year and talking about beans.  There are so many good health benefits to beans that we just can’t resist the topic.

You know so many beans carry superpowers.  They are full of protein and nutrients, a powerful health punch.  Additionally beans contain plenty of fiber good for gut health.

You need to make sure you choose the right beans to get all the superpowers in a serving.  Look for these in your local stores, dry or canned:  Peas, soybeans, lima, cannellini, chickpeas, red kidney, roman, pinto, navy, black-eyed peas, black, split pea, lentils and great northern beans.

Bean protein power comes from 21 to 25 percent by weight compared to vegetables.  Beans have between six and nine percent protein for a half-cup serving.  Meat has more protein but beans have the fiber that’s missing from meats.

An array of minerals, no saturated fat and a wide variety of choices make beans an awesome and powerful food for your healthy diet.

A bean chili is a great winter meal for a family.  Hummus uses chickpeas and is easy to make.  There are unlimited options so find recipes that work for you.

Eatingwell.com is a great website for all things healthy.  We found a bean recipe there that we thought you might like.  

Here is the link:  https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250222/sweet-potato-black-bean-chili/

Private Home Health Care loves the variety and versatility of beans.  We hope you take advantage of the healthy benefits of adding beans to your diet.  It’s a great path to weight loss too.