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.

Weigh-In Day

January 4th has a list of many topics for the National list of days.  Today we have chosen Weigh-In Day because it may be just the time to talk about it.

Many of you have celebrated New Year’s Day recently along with other holidays with delicious food and drinks.  

Hmmm, did any of you happen to overindulge at all?  Could that have added any additional weight to your previously healthy body?   

If you are anything like us then the answer is probably yes.  Let’s face it.  Holidays come once a year so it’s only natural to have some foods that you might not have during the rest of the year.

We talk a lot about healthy foods and habits in our blogs because we care about our readers.  We try to give tips on how to help you keep your body and minds in top shape, no matter your age.

Today is a day of reckoning to get us back on a healthy track.  When you step on a scale you can see if there has been any weight gain or maybe a steady weight with little added.

There are so many different scales to choose from today.  You can even find some at the grocery store.  Be brave and check it out.  You’ll find out exactly where you stand so you can make a plan to change if needed.

You’ll find many options to help you if you do manage to add some pounds after the holidays.  Be positive and look for solutions to help you take the weight off again.  Getting weighed is a good starting point.

Private Home Health Care has a digital scale and we are going to jump on it once a week to help us stay on track.  There is a whole year ahead to make any changes!  Good luck!!

Happy New Year

Private Home Health Care would like to wish all of our family, friends, caretakers and clients a very Happy New Year!

We wish you a year ahead of good health, love, friendship and laughter.

Photo by Anna Tarazevich

It’s That Time of Year, Again

You are either past your holiday celebration or in the middle of it but either way, New Year’s Day is coming quickly.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.  A night of eating, drinking and welcoming in a new year.  When we think it will be 2025 it seems amazing for some of us.  

For others we are young enough to know only the 2000’s so it’s another year in the decade.

Either way you may be thinking of what kind of resolutions you will make.  New Year’s is the time when you feel like there is a renewal, a chance to start again.  Resolutions are born out of this sense of new beginnings.

Resolutions can come in all forms.  You may say that you’ll drink less in the new year or perhaps start a new exercise regimen.  Dieting is often a common resolution, especially since the past couple of weeks have been full of eating.

Whatever your resolution, the next question is how to keep it going throughout the year.  How do you make it a new part of your life?

What if you make signs around your living area with your goals listed?  What about teaming up with a friend to help keep you on the straight and narrow path?  

Small goals can help keep you from feeling overwhelmed.  Keeping a journal might be a good strategy too.

We think resolutions are made with good intentions but following through can be a challenge.  Setting realistic and specific goals are key.  Pick a strategy that will work for you.

Private Home Health Care usually tries to make a resolution or two for the new year.  We have had some success so we will try again this year.  Best of luck to you! 

Photo by Breakingpic

National Call A Friend Day

Tomorrow is National Call a Friend Day.  It’s a day to reach out to a friend that you may not have been in contact with over the holidays.

We think this day was created and placed just before New Year’s Day because it can be such a busy and hectic time.  Family often comes first but good friends are important too.

Facebook and Instagram are available 24/7 but it’s not the most personal way to keep in touch.

Taking the time to make a phone call is a much closer way to find out what’s happening in other people’s lives.  If you haven’t spoken to a good friend in a while a phone call can bring the friendship right back.

The trick to the call is to try and do it when you aren’t surrounded by people.  You may also need to step away from the mounting chores or cleaning needed.  The words from Annie of “tomorrow, tomorrow” is a good mantra.

You might even try having a facetime call which gets you really up close and personal.  Today’s technology is a great way to stay in touch with friends near and far..

Private Home Health Care hopes that tomorrow is a day to renew a friendship.  We wish you some free time to take a few minutes to reach out to an old friend and warm your heart.

Photo by Katrin Bolovtsova

Celebrations!

Private Home Health Care would like to wish everyone very Happy Holidays!

Christmas and Hanukkah both begin on the same day this year. Kwanzaa is right after.

Christmas starts tonight with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a blessed and joyful celebration for the church and families.  

Hanukkah begins December 25 at sundown and this festival of lights celebration is enjoyed over eight days.  It is another time for family and friends with lighting of the menorah and eating some potato latkes, donuts and gelt.

Kwanzaa runs from December 26 to January 1.  Black Americans celebrate with family and friends with candles lit each day.  A theme of unity is celebrated  along with dancing and togetherness and a feast on the last day.

These three celebrations have different names but have common themes of joy, family and togetherness.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Happy Kwanzaa.

Look on the Bright Side Day

Are you a person that sees the glass half full or half empty? 

Tomorrow on the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of daylight in the year it is also a day to look on the bright side!

What this means is that if you are a person who sees the glass half empty tomorrow you can try and change your attitude by focusing on a positive in your life.

The winter solstice has caused many people to feel a bit depressed and perhaps even out of sorts.  This is understandable because light leaves us early and it’s also often cold and cloudy.

You might say, how then with the early darkness and less than sunny weather can you see a bright side?

One way is to set your sights on looking for the silver lining in a situation or place.  If you see the glass half full that’s not hard to do.  You probably do it naturally in any given situation.

If you see the glass half empty you might say that sounds like a cliche.  Well maybe so but looking to find a positive can be rewarding and it can lift you up.

Here’s one silver lining.  All over the world people celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.  These are all festive holidays in the month of December, making it a festive month.

As you go through the day tomorrow do your best to look for the bright side.  Putting the lights on the tree can bring people together.  Preparing the potato pancakes can gather people in the kitchen to share stories.

Private Home Health Care works hard to see the glass half full as we go through our days.  There can be bumps in the road but how you manage those bumps makes all the difference.

Look for your silver linings tomorrow and look for a brighter day.