Hanukkah

Private Home Health Care would like to wish our Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, known as the Festival of Lights, started on sundown last night.  The holiday lasts for 8 days. It celebrates when the Maccabee people rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors to take back the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

The miracle happened as the work began for the rededication of the Temple.  There was only enough uncontaminated oil to last for one day.   The oil lasted for a total of eight days which allowed enough time to prepare more oil.  This is seen as a true miracle by the Jewish people.

May this be a blessed holiday for our Jewish friends.

Thanksgiving

On this day before Thanksgiving, Private Home Health Care would like to express their gratitude to all of our caregivers and to the people and communities that we serve.

We understand that life can be difficult at times.  It can be hard to be thankful.  Our caregivers work to care for the body and the spirit.  We hope that this provides comfort.

This Thanksgiving we are grateful for each other and we wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving?

National Game and Puzzle Week

It’s the week of Thanksgiving but did you also know that it’s a week of games and puzzles!! 

Many families gather together this week for the holiday.  It’s the perfect time to play a favorite or new game or build a puzzle.  

There are so many different games.  Find some that work for age groups like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Connect 4, Jenga, Apples to Apples or Monopoly.  Charades is a great group game that many ages can enjoy and it’s usually good for a few laughs.

The word puzzle comes from a French term that means to bewilder or confound.  This explains jigsaw puzzles which can trick and confound your brain.  Try a jigsaw puzzle with your family.  Choose from one for school kids or more challenging ones for the older, more seasoned puzzle builders.  

Private Home Health Care hopes you can find time during this holiday to play some games and build some puzzles with your family.  It’s a great way to bond, have fun and feel young at heart.

Baklava

Is your mouth watering for this deliciously sweet dessert?  

Baklava is a Mediterranean dessert that has been around for centuries.  In the early days it was considered a dessert for the rich.  Nowadays it is popular all over and many countries have their own versions.  Those countries include Lebanon, Armenia, Turkey and Greece.

Festivals and special occasions are where you can often find baklava served.  At Private Home Health Care we enjoy making baklava and sharing it with friends.

We use Phyllo dough, butter, honey and nuts.  It can take a while to make but the end result is absolutely scrumptious!

Try this recipe and share it: Greek Baklava Recipe

Govardhan Pyja

Diwali is the biggest and most important holiday in India and lasts 5 days.  It is a festival of lights.  Clay lamps are lit outside homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. 

Govardhan Puja is a holiday celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali.  The day represents when Lord Krishna was triumphant over Lord Indra, the Hindu God of War. Lord Krishna lifted Govarhan hill to shelter his people according to Hindu mythology.

Govardhan Puja means “a pile of grain” and this day is to express a true love of nature which is part of Lord Krishna’s teachings. 

We at Private Home Health Care believe in honoring all faiths and we love to learn and share festivals and holy days of different faiths.

National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

A warm cup of chicken soup can cheer a person from the inside out.  The heat of the cup warms the body and the smell can radiate goodness.

Private Home Health Care wants you to use this day to celebrate the person you are and the road you took to get there.  It’s a day to nurture yourself and celebrate your uniqueness.  

Try telling an uplifting story to a friend or family member, read a good book, or take a casual stroll.  As we age we have more to reflect on and celebrate our journey through life so make the most of this today.

We wish everyone a joyful and inspiring day.  Be sure to give yourself a hug.

Veteran’s Day

Private Home Health Care would like to thank our veterans as we honor them on Veteran’s Day tomorrow.

Words cannot express how grateful we are for the service of all of the members of our armed forces. We appreciate and respect all those who served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, the Coast Guard, the National Guard and the Merchant Marines.

A special 246th birthday to the United States Marines today too!!

Please take time tomorrow to pause and think about our service men and women and the sacrifices they made.  If you see a veteran be sure to thank them for their service.

World Kindness Week

Today begins the first day of World Kindness Week.  What can we say about kindness?  Kindness binds us together as humans.  It creates positivity and many smiles and good feelings that can last a long time.

This week Private Home Health Care will be looking to share kindness in the communities we serve.  We hope to be able to observe kindness in action as well.  Even the smallest of offerings can make a difference. When a person is struggling a kind act can bring them into the sunshine even if it is for a moment.

Give a compliment to a friend or stranger.  Open a door for someone, offer a seat on public transport or pay forward for a coffee and bagel.  You could also make a donation to a favorite charity.

See how much kindness you can spread in your community this week.  I have a feeling that you will feel the positivity yourself.

Play Outside Day

Tomorrow is Play Outside Day.  It was started in 2011 by Aaron Wiggins and Rhonda D. Abeyta  who were concerned about the time spent indoors on digital devices.  The day emphasizes ditching all screens, including games, tvs, and social media.

Private Home Health Care loves this day and believes time outdoors is important no matter our age.  Whenever you can you should try and get outside.  Whether you can walk outside yourself, if you need assistance or if you use a wheelchair it is so beneficial to get outside for fresh air.  

Being outside can change attitudes and can touch all the senses.  We encourage caregivers to take time to make sure that those they care for can get outside, even if for a short time.  

Have some outdoor fun!!

Stress Awareness

Private Home Health Care understands that the way we handle stress changes as we age. We believe it’s important to understand stress so you can manage it and enjoy your life.

Changes in our physical health can trigger stress. The loss of a loved one or too much unstructured time can also be stressors.

Some symptoms are tension headaches, indigestion, poor concentration, sleep difficulties and anxiety.  

If you feel symptoms are interfering with your life we recommend that you speak to a loved one and contact your doctor.  Your doctor can help identify stress factors.  Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet or offer better ways to sleep.  There are also activities like yoga, tai chi and meditation that might be helpful.

Private Home Health Care wants you to be your best self, no matter your age so make sure stress is not putting up roadblocks! 

#privatehomehealthcare

#stressmanagement