Seniors

On this last day of June we are thinking about our community’s senior citizens and some of the challenges of aging.   

There are an estimated 55.8 million Americans over the age of 65.  The younger you are the less you may feel some of the communication issues that older seniors encounter.

The older you get the more you slow down cognitively and your hearing can diminish.  If you live alone it can prove difficult to hear phone conversations. 

As an older senior you may not be technologically savvy and consequently that can make day-to-day living and communicating difficult. 

It’s important for all of us as we age to keep communication lines open.  It helps us to stay mentally well and less isolated.  

Are you able to learn a new skill with help?  Cell phones provide opportunities to connect with family members with a phone call or a visual.  See if your child or grandchild can help you. Facetime provides an opportunity to see the person you are speaking with no matter the distance between you.

Make time to visit or meet with friends.  Play a game at a senior center or in the activity room at your living facility.  

If you have access to a computer, see if you can access the internet. You can find out how to knit or crochet or build a birdhouse.  You can research your family history and then share the information.  Reach out for help if you need it.

As we age it’s very important for all of us to stay connected to each other.  Family and friends become vital to our well being and helps keep us from feeling isolated. 

Additionally, try to stay positive and keep an open mind to learning new things.

National Day of Joy

As we close out the month of June we come to a day that is new to the national day calendar.  It is the National Day of Joy.

You may wonder why a special day for joy and why did this begin?

The day actually was created by a group of caregivers for seniors called the Comfort Keepers just recently, in 2019. The Comfort Keepers realized how important joyful moments are to our elderly population.

Oftentimes joy is defined by wealth and material things.   While both can help with your joy there are many other ways to experience true and lasting joy.

Think about what brings you joy and take time today to experience it.  

Do you have family members that make you happy?  Spend some time with them on the phone or in person.

Does music and singing bring you joy?  Surround yourself with it.

Religion is another road to joy for some people. Take some time today  to pray.

Does smiling and laughter give you a warm feeling?  Spread these when you go out and see the reaction you get from others.

In order to spread joy, you need to feel it.  If you spend time comparing yourself to others that can lead to unhappiness.  Each of us is unique with our own experiences and it’s important to understand and appreciate this.

Henri Nouwen, now deceased, was a Catholic priest and theologian.  He is quoted as saying, “Joy is not something that happens to us.  We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”

Private Home Health Care believes that each of us is unique and special in our own way and because of this it’s important to add joy to our lives each and every day. 

#Joy

National Rose Month

June is the month of the rose and there is a good reason as rose lovers most likely know. The blooming of the roses begins in June!

You can find over 150 varieties of roses in the United States and Canada. They have been so popular for their scent and beauty that in 1986 President Ronald Reagan made it the official flower of the United States.

Did you know that the rose is actually an ancient flower found in Asia and the Orient centuries ago?  Napoleon’s wife Josephine was a huge rose lover.  Their chateau in Malmaison outside of Paris had over 250 varieties of roses in the gardens.  

You’ll see references to the rose in poetry, music, religion, medicine, art and perfume. There are even edible roses.

The American Rose Society was established in 1892 with the goal of promoting the culture, preservation and appreciation for the rose. You can visit them at https://www.rose.org/.

The Society has actually classified roses into two categories. One is the old roses cultivated before 1867.  Likewise, the other category is the modern roses for any that came after mainly because that is the date of the hybrid tea rose.

The hybrid tea rose is very popular today.  They are a cross between hybrid perpetual roses and tea roses.  You know them by their large, high buds and tall, straight stems.  These are very easy to find to plant or to buy.

Likewise, if you are getting married and you want a bouquet of roses there are a few options from both old and new roses. 

• Old garden roses are perfect if you’re looking for a strong scent and large bloom.  
• Modern garden roses are mainly grown in greenhouses but you can choose from a wide variety of colors.
• Sweetheart roses are great for corsages and flower girls as they are smaller.
• Spray roses are smaller but they come in clusters.  These are good paired with other flowers.

Private Home Health Care hopes that now and throughout the summer you will take some time to smell the roses!  They really are beautiful.

Do You Drink Enough Water?

You and I need to drink water to keep us hydrated.  Every part of our body needs water from our cells to our tissues to our organs. 

Hydration is important for all ages.  The older we get, the easier it is to get dehydrated.  

The recommended daily intake is 92 ounces for women and 124 ounces for men.  That’s about 11.5 cups for women and 15.5 cups for men.  

That sounds like a lot of water, so what are some ways to help us stay hydrated?

• Add some flavor to your water.  Try fruits like strawberries, lemons or limes.  You could even add cucumber for a change.

• Develop a routine for when you drink your water.  Try in the morning before you eat or after you brush your teeth.

• Get a large bottle to keep track of your water.  You could even set an alarm on your phone to remind you to drink.

• Work with a friend to remind you or have a competition on how much water you each drink.

• Traveling to work or to visit a friend?  Take your water bottle with you to drink on the way. 

Private Home Health Care works with many people and we always stress how important it is to stay hydrated.   As the summer gets warm find a water bottle and be sure to drink up!

Summer Solstice

We cannot pass up this day without saying, “Welcome Summer!”

Today is the longest day of the year for you and I in the Northern Hemisphere.  The Summer Solstice.  A time for warmth, sun and fun in the outdoors.

For many of us it has been a cloudy and cool spring so we have truly been awaiting the warm days of summer.  You may have planted flowers or new bushes.  Now the time begins to nurture the plants and enjoy the beauty of your work.

Summer is a time to be outside.  You can take a hike or a walk.  You might head to a beach to read a book or play some volleyball.  All of a sudden you may be yearning for ice cream and there may even be an ice cream truck that comes to your neighborhood.

Speaking of neighborhoods, oftentimes we see more of our neighbors in the summer.  If there are children they usually ride bikes or play outside. You spend more time outside too because the weather is great.

Does anyone go camping?  Summer is the perfect time to head to the woods.  Tents work great or a trailer but either way you can set up camp, have a fire and relax. 

Additionally, many grills fire up with hamburgers or veggie burgers and many friends gather for good food and conversation outside.

We in New England have a change of seasons.  Each season is to be celebrated and because of the changes we are apt to truly appreciate all the warm days of summer.

Private Home Health Care loves the summer season and we enjoy it while also remembering to protect ourselves with sunscreen, hats and sunglasses.  

#SummerBegins

#SummerSolstice

National Dairy Month

One of the many things to celebrate in the month of June is National Dairy Month. 

National Dairy Month began back in 1937 to celebrate the many healthful benefits of dairy products.

The goal is to have you appreciate and enjoy the variety of food and drink that is a dairy product.  These include milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and sour cream to name a few.  

Most of us take dairy products for granted.  We naturally gain the nutritional benefits offered by familiar dairy products.  

By using dairy products you can help prevent diabetes and keep your heart and bones healthy.  Some products help you to manage your weight as well.

You will gain protein and vitamins like vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.

Massachusetts is full of productive dairy farmers.  There are close to 60 dairy farmers that are members in the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers.  

The association supports the many dairy farmers, many of whom are a part of the Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Producers Federation.

How can you support and celebrate those in the dairy community this month?

• Visit a dairy farm and learn how it runs.
• Pick up some cheeses or frozen yogurt to enjoy.
• Find an ice cream factory to tour.  (Ben and Jerry’s has one in Vermont)

Private Home Health Care supports our dairy farmers.  We realize how important they are to our community and our health.

#NationalDairyMonth

National Eat Your Vegetables Day

Tomorrow is National Eat Your Vegetables Day.  Another reminder about how important vegetables are to our healthy bodies.

Do you ever recall hearing your mother or father say, “Eat your vegetables” during dinner ? At this point in my life my childhood was quite a while ago but I have vivid memories of hearing these words at our dinner table growing up.

It turns out that knowledge of how important vegetables are to you and I has been around for many years yet how many of us actually meet the recommended guidelines?

The US government recommends a minimum of three to five fruits and vegetables each day.  

At a recent talk on osteoporosis it was mentioned that we should really have nine helpings of ½ cup to one cup of fruits and vegetables each day.

You have so many different types of vegetables to choose from in this country.  There are a lot that you can have either raw or cooked too.

Additionally, they contain vitamins and minerals, anti-oxidants and even fiber.  All good things for our bodies and the wide variety gives us so many options.   

Private Home Health Care has spoken about the benefits of vegetables, and fruits, before and while we don’t want to nag, we do want to celebrate these national days when they occur.  We love for you to have a healthy diet no matter your age. 

#EatYourVegetablesDay

Flag Day

Today is Flag Day for those of us in our United States. We hold our flag in high honor on this and all days but do you know how the flag and the official day came about?

It began In 1777 when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution saying that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

You may believe that Betsy Ross was responsible for designing this first American flag.  The confirmed truth is however that a delegate from New Jersey who signed the Declaration of Independence designed it.  His name was Francis Hopkinson.

Reading a bit more you’ll discover that the official holiday came many years later. It was 1916 when Woodrow Wilson decided to designate June 14th as the official Flag Day.

The basic configuration of the flag has stayed the same over the years but there have been some revisions.

In the 1950’s when Alaska looked to be incorporated many people worked on designing it’s addition to the flag.

A seventeen year old boy from Ohio named Bob Heft is actually responsible for a new flag design.  It was a class project and in order to recreate a star design with fifty states he used his mother’s sewing machine. 

He turned the project in to his teacher and he also sent it to his congressman.  Once the states of Alaska and Hawaii officially joined the US the new design was presented to President Eisenhower.  

In 1960, Bob’s design was adopted and when the first new flag was raised Bob Heft was present with President Eisenhower when it was raised. 
Private Home Health Care has great respect for the flag of our country.  We honor it on this day each year.

Men’s Health Week

The week before Father’s Day is Men’s Health Week.  The goal is to raise awareness of the health issues that can affect men.

Private Home Health Care checked online and found that on average women live five years longer than men.  We discovered a couple of things that contributed to this.

One is biological.  Men are biologically more susceptible to some diseases.  Another thought is the way men approach their health.  Do you have a man in your life who doesn’t like to visit the doctor?  This often leads to coming in on a health issue late.

Basically there are a few diseases that lead the pack with men, more so than women.  They include:

Cardiovascular disease – hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis can lead to heart disease and stroke.  This is actually the leading cause of death in both women and men but men succumb to it sooner.

• Check your cholesterol, starting at age 25 and every 5 years.
• Make sure your blood pressure is not high.
• You need to stop smoking if you are a smoker.
• Take part in 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.

Lung Cancer – many men still smoke which causes 90% of lung cancers. Stop smoking.

Prostate Cancer – in men, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer in common cancers.  It’s important for you to meet with your doctor to be monitored as it is very treatable.

Depression and Suicide – you may think that depression refers more to women then men but if often comes down to the way men handle depression. Be aware.  There are many treatments for depression. Your doctor can help discuss treatments best for you. 

Diabetes – this is a silent disease.  Since 2000, one-in-three boys has a chance of getting diabetes.  Obesity is a huge factor so diet and exercise are key. 

The good news for you as a man is that a healthy lifestyle including a diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and exercise can help prevent these diseases.  Regular check ups with your doctor are also key. Seize the day this week!

Bocce Ball

I was looking at my local Council on Aging flier and I noticed that there were Bocce games being played.  This made me ask some questions, like what is Bocce ball, how long has it been around, and how do you play it?

A general definition is that Bocce ball is an Italian bowling game. See if you think it sounds like what we think of as bowling by the end.

The game appears to have started quite a long time ago.

A version of the game appears in Egyptian artwork back in 5200 BC.  It moved from Egypt to Greece then on to Italy.  Fast forward to today and after rules and versions changing it’s played all over the world. The game has even made it into the Olympics.

You play with two people or in teams of two, three or four people. You need one smaller target ball called a palladino (usually white) and eight larger bocce balls (two different colors or designs).

Measure out a space of approximately 82 feet long by 13 feet wide. (Hint: it can be a different size and the smaller the area the easier the game is). 

There is a foul line at 13 feet on each side of the court.  A player or team member throws in the palladino and it is live once it stays within the main area between the two foul lines.

Basically each team takes turns tossing in their balls.  The goal is to get as close as possible to the palladino.  You can knock another player’s ball out of the way so your ball can get closer but it must stay within bounds to be valid.

When all the balls are thrown, distances from the palladino are measured.  In order to get points you need to have balls the closest to the palladino.  Play continues and points are added up and when you hit 12 points you’ve won the game. (You should think about having a tape measure ready.)

If you belong to a Council on Aging center you can use their materials, otherwise it’s an investment in a palladino ball and eight team balls. You should find an area to play as well.

Private Home Health Care thinks this game sounds more like curling than bowling but it sounds fun.  It’s a great way to socialize too!