Hugs for Seniors

When your body is stressed, you are more susceptible to becoming sick because higher cortisol (the stress hormone) levels can suppress your immune system. Hugs—as an indicator of social support but also because it involves touch—might pack a flu-fighting punch. Studies have shown that strong social ties can protect against stress, anxiety and depression, which in turn can help prevent or decrease illness.

A hug, pat on the shoulder and other forms of physical touch offer many health benefits, especially for seniors, who often get touched less often. Studies indicate that therapeutic touch can ease pain, improve sleep, ease anxiety and calm agitation in older adults with dementia. Physical touch can also help lower heart rate and improve blood flow, increase alertness, and ease the stress of interpersonal conflicts.

Unfortunately seniors receive the least touching of any age group. Researchers assert that the reason may be that many older adults live alone and may be socially isolated. Touch is especially important for older adults, who may be suffering from lack of social interaction, depression and chronic illness. We know how strong the link is between emotions and the immune system.

At Private Home Care, we integrate this important element in our care. Whether it be holding someone’s hand, a loving hug, brushing hair, or a gentle pat on the back can be very healing and comforting for seniors because they do not feel isolated and alone. The power of therapeutic touch is strong and can help physical and emotional healing. Our motto is ‘Compassion is at the Heart of Our Care’. This inspires us to take the very best care of your loved ones, which of course includes hugs to nurture the basic human need for touch and social connection.

What Happens to Your Body When You Hug!

What happens to your body when you hug!

1. Hugs boost oxytocin levels. Elevated oxytocin levels lead to lessening of feelings of anger, loneliness, and isolation.

2. Hugs raise serotonin levels. Elevated Serotonin levels improve your mood, create happiness, and help to regulate your sleep cycle.

3. Hugs release endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers, so getting a hug will actually soothe your aches and pains!

4. Hugs increase production of dopamine. Dopamine is produced in the reward center of the brain and makes you happy, relieves depression, and just makes you feel good all over.

5. Hugs reduce levels of circulating cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. By reducing the amount of cortisol circulating in the blood, hugs can alleviate stress and calm the mind.

6. Hugs lower blood pressure. Hugs activate pressure receptors in the skin called pacinian corpuscles, which send signals to the part of your brain responsible for lowering blood pressure.

7. Hugs strengthen your immune system. Hugs can help stimulate the thymus gland which regulates the body’s production of white blood cells, which fight off disease.

8. Hugs relax your muscles. Hugs relieve tension in the body and soothe pain. As a result, they increase circulation to the soft tissue and relax the muscles.

9. Hugs balance the nervous system. The same pacinian corpuscles which help to lower blood pressure also help balance out the nervous system. The longer the hug, the more balanced the nervous system becomes.

10. Hugs are wonderful! You didn’t need to read about the physiology behind hugs to know that they not only feel great but are also great for your health! Hugs help us connect with the loved ones in our lives and help strengthen our social network and support. They have a similar effect on the body as laughter and meditation by detaching you from stress and connecting you with mindfulness and happiness. So give someone you love a hug today. The bigger the better!

National Coconut Day

It is National Coconut Day!

Not only are coconuts delicious and can be used in a variety of recipes, they are a nutritional superfood!

-Coconuts are nutritious – Although coconut meat is high in fat, the MCTs it contains may help you lose excess body fat. The meat also provides carbs and protein along with many essential minerals, such as manganese, copper, iron, and selenium.

-Eating coconut may improve cholesterol levels and help decrease belly fat, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

-Coconut is low in carbs and rich in amino acids, healthy fats, and fiber, making it a great choice for blood sugar control.

-Contains powerful antioxidants (our favorite word)! Coconuts contain polyphenol antioxidants that can protect your cells from damage, which may reduce your disease risk.

-The polyphenols found in it can prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, making it less likely to form plaques in arteries that can increase the risk of heart disease.

Some studies have shown that antioxidants found in coconut oil may help protect cells from damage and death caused by oxidative stress and chemotherapy.

-Easy to add to your diet! Coconut is versatile in the kitchen and works well in both sweet and savory foods. It’s a great choice for those on low-carb, paleo, gluten-free, or nut-free diets.

https://tasty.co/article/rachelysanders/coconut-recipes

National Bingo Day!

It’s National Bingo Day!

Bingo first came to the U.S. in the 1930s, started with paper cards sporting 24 numbered squares arranged in five rows and five columns — plus that enticing “free space” in the middle which seems to promise a short cut to riches!

Bingo is a popular game among seniors because it is a fun activity that can be played no matter your age or capabilities. Researchers have learned that this game has a lot more value than for just fun and leisure, and it is very beneficial for seniors!

Benefits of playing bingo:

-Cognitive abilities boosted
-Hand-eye coordination improved
-Physical health strengthened
-Social participation is increased (very important!)
-Healing from illness and surgery is sped up

https://abovebeyondhc.com/…/5-ways-bingo-can-help-boost-se…/

Tips on How to Keep Seniors Hydrated

Private Home Care is here to help take care of your loved ones. Dehydration is a risk for seniors, and the caregivers of Private Home Care use these tips and techniques to help make sure our clients are safe and hydrated!

1. Remember that there are many sources of fluids
People don’t have to drink only plain water to get hydrated. Coffee, tea, fruit juice, sweetened beverages, fruits, and vegetables all contain water.

If dehydration is a serious issue for your older adult, but they really resist drinking healthy fluids, it may be necessary to make trade-offs like allowing them to drink less healthy options like sugary drinks or diet soda.

To be sure that the pros outweigh the cons and their overall health will benefit, speak with their doctor. first

Or, try serving more foods with high water content to increase hydration without drinking fluids.

2. Keep water close by at all times
Sometimes, making it easy for seniors to serve themselves could encourage them to drink more water.

Try keeping a lightweight pitcher of water and a cup near their favorite seat to make it quick and convenient to take a drink. Having a special or beautifully decorated cup can help encourage drinking more water!

3. Experiment with beverages at different temperatures
Your senior may prefer hot drinks to cold, or the other way around. Experiment to find out which type they like better.

Try different things like warming up juices, making decaf iced coffee with cream, or adding plain soda water to make tea or juice bubbly.

4. Try something savory
Those who like savory foods may enjoy drinking hot soup broth instead of a sweet or neutral tasting beverage.

For convenience, the broth could come from a can, box, or powder. It’s especially comforting in cold weather.

And if your older adult is watching their sodium intake, make sure to get a low sodium broth or consider making homemade broth.

5. Make popsicles
Homemade popsicles made from fruit juice or a mix of juice and water are a great treat and a great way to get more fluids into your older adult. You can even include frozen berries – adds to the taste and texture of the popsicle and gives it a healthy boost from antioxidant rich berries!

6. Offer smoothies, milkshakes, Ensure, sports drinks
Some stubborn older adults may really resist drinking fluids.

If so, you could try enticing them with smoothies, milkshakes, Ensure, or sports drinks even if they’re not the healthiest choices.

If they like the flavor or texture of these options, they may be more willing to drink them regularly.

7. Set a timer or reminder! Older adults tend to do well with routines, and incorporating hydration into a routine can be helpful to keep a person hydrated!

Why We Need to Pay Extra Attention To Keep Seniors Hydrated

National Hydration Day!

Why we need to pay extra attention to keep our seniors hydrated:

Dehydration is a serious concern for seniors. Elderly adults are among the most at-risk groups for dehydration, one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization after age 65.

As a natural part of the aging process, our bodies undergo physiological changes that increase our risk of becoming dehydrated. With advancing years, seniors can lose their sense of thirst and tend not to drink enough. Our appetites decrease, we eat less food and as a result get fewer fluids from solid food sources, too, problematic for the elderly since almost everyone gets about half their daily water requirement from solid foods and fruit and vegetable juices.

In addition, our fluid balance can be affected by medication, emotional stress, exercise, general health, and the weather. Many seniors have chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, and may take medications that can make them more susceptible to dehydration. Our aging bodies also lose some natural ability to regulate temperature due to diminishing sweat glands, which makes seniors more susceptible to temperature changes in the environment. In addition, cognitive decline, including dementia or Alzheimer’s, can also increase the risk of dehydration because people may simply forget to hydrate or not be aware of their condition.

The two most serious conditions for seniors that result from heat and exposure to high temperatures are heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both of which primarily result from dehydration.