All Hallow’s Eve – Halloween

Private Home Health Care wishes you a safe and Happy Halloween.

We are wondering how some of Halloween’s traditions began.  Are you?

The actual day began at the end of the harvest time and the start of the new year. You may recall that it was actually called Samhain, a Celtic festival.  Roots from our past in agriculture.

Today in addition to candy, Halloween has traditions of witches, Jack-O-Lanterns and bobbing for apples.  Do you know how each of these came to be?

Witches go way back to the Middle Ages.  

Women would sit in front of a fireplace and go into a trance, chanting and meditating.  Back then, the superstitious people believed that these women had broomsticks and would fly out their chimneys and scare people with magical deeds.

Jack-O-Lanterns 

Would you believe these started as Jack-O-Turnips?  That’s right.  Back in Ireland, you could easily find turnips.  People would carve and light the turnips and put them in their windows.  The hope was that this would keep away evil spirits and welcome their dead.

If you fast forward to the United States, Irish immigrants could not easily find turnips but pumpkins were plentiful.  Jack-O-Turnip turned into Jack-O-Lantern using a pumpkin.

Bobbing for Apples

Do you believe that apples represent love interests?  Well, it appears that the Romans did!

The festival of Pomona was around November 1 and they bobbed for apples.  They believed that the first person, male or female to catch it with their teeth would marry in the coming year.

Additionally, you would peel an apple in one continuous and unbroken strip and throw it over your shoulder while you are spinning.  The fallen peel would reveal the first initial of the peeler’s true love.

Whether you are taking out children to trick or treat or giving out the candy, we hope you have a wonderful and joyful time.

Blindness

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be visually impaired or blind?

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, there are 1.1 billion people worldwide living with vision loss.  Of those people 43 million are actually blind.

For those of us with our sight it can be a terrifying thought to lose it. Perhaps you were born blind or it could be that you have developed an eye condition with age.  Either way if you cannot see you need to find alternative ways to manage your life.  Where do you begin?

Independence is very important to all of us and if you are blind it is no different.  The good news is that there are organizations in the US that can help.

The National Federation for the Blind is one group that can help guide. They are an advocacy group for the blind with many good resources. They can be found at https://nfb.org/

There are also a few non-profit organizations that train you so that you can learn to cook, go shopping and learn computers and smartphones.  One of these is in Colorado https://cocenter.org/ 

These are two organizations that can help you if you find you are starting to lose your sight or if you are actually blind and trying to manage your life.

Private Home Health Care knows that it is possible to live independently if you are blind and we herald those people.  We also encourage regular visits to your optometrist or ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked and to manage any symptoms.

#BlindnessAwarenessMonth

National Fire Prevention Month

Fires at home can be very frightening.  This month is National Fire Prevention Month.  This is because it is during the winter months that there is an uptick in fires.

According to FEMA, cooking was the biggest reason for fires in residential buildings in 2021.  This year there have actually been a total of 1, 671 deaths from fire.

It’s important for you to be aware of some of the important precautions you need to take in your house to try your best to avoid having a fire.  

• Check on your heating source.  No matter if it’s gas, wood or electric, be sure to have your source serviced at the beginning of the season.

• You want to be sure that there is nothing around or in front of your heat source.  There are some items that are easily flammable.

• If you like to burn candles you should never leave a burning candle unattended in a room.

• When cooking in the kitchen, it’s important for you to stay close by when there is food on the stove.  This is for both gas and electric stoves.

Additionally, it is recommended that you have a fire extinguisher available in your house.  These are easy to use and can be a life saver.  These are handy indoors and outdoors.

Here are some tips on how to use a fire extinguisher:

First, pull the pin out.

Make sure to aim low at the base of the fire.

Slowly squeeze the handle.

Make sure you sweep the nozzle on the handle side to side.

Private Home Health Care prays that you never have to deal with a fire.  We are hopeful that you will have the tools to manage one while you await help from fire fighters.

#NationalFirePreventionMonth

Nuts

Do you like nuts?  Today we are thinking about nuts and the very good health benefits we can gain.   We hope you are a fan but if not maybe we can convince you to become one!

When you choose to eat nuts you’ve chosen a great heart healthy snack. Studies have shown that regularly choosing nuts can improve many factors in heart health.

Your artery health will be improved.

You can reduce inflammation that can lead to heart disease.

Lowering your blood pressure is another benefit.

Your bad cholesterol or “LDL” gets lowered by adding them to your diet.

Furthermore, the best nuts to choose include walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts and pecans.  They all contain healthy fat but even so they can add up in calories.  The amount you have is key.

As an adult you should try and eat about 1.5 ounces at a time and four to six servings in a week.  Raw or dry-roasted are best and unsalted.  Additionally, It’s best to avoid any nuts cooked in oil.

While you are enjoying your handful of nuts, you can think about the unsaturated fats, heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber that’s traveling through your body.  All filled with goodness.

You can find nuts easily in the grocery store and hopefully it won’t be too overwhelming.

 Also, even though peanuts are a legume they too can be a good choice.

Private Home Health Care loves to munch on almonds for a snack.  Nuts really are like magic bullets aiding your body and keeping you on a healthy road.  Enjoy some nuts today!

World Osteoporosis Day

Osteoporosis.  

You and I have heard about health issues caused by osteoporosis, especially if we are women.

Osteoporosis is caused when the loss of old bone is more than the creation of new bone.  You’ll find this happens to women more than men.  It often occurs after menopause.

This bone loss and osteoporosis is a disease worldwide and can be found on every continent.

There are reports that it is most prevalent in the Middle East due to a lack of Vitamin D.

If you have osteoporosis a hip fracture is the most common accident.  This is true in all areas of the U.S and world.  You can break other bones as well, but the hip is most prevalent.

It is important to work with a doctor if you get diagnosed with osteoporosis.  There are exercises and dietary changes along with medications to help you.

Osteopenia can be a precursor to osteoporosis.  Osteopenia is when you have low bone density.  This is caused by less minerals in your bones. Those minerals prevent your bones from breaking.

Interestingly, your bone mass peaks in your early to mid-thirties.  Consequently, It’s very important for you to keep active by walking, jumping or running.  

It’s also key to be sure to have foods in your diet that are high in Vitamin D.  Foods like milk, cheese and yogurt.  Additionally, beans, broccoli, mushrooms and salmon are high in Vitamin D.
Private Home Health Care is very aware of the effects of osteoporosis. We hope that you check with your medical professional but if you are over the age of sixty-five a test is recommended every two years.

Global Dignity Day

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, said the following about dignity:

“The spirit of Ubuntu is very difficult to render into Western language. It speaks of the very essence of being human. You are generous, caring and compassionate. It means that my humanity is bound up in yours,” and embodies the ideas of community, connection, caring and kindness.” 

If you look up the meaning of Ubuntu it is an African word for humanity.  Does not every human being deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion?

On this day the hope is that each of us will treat those we meet with great caring and dignity.  You and I should also be aware of our own dignity. Each one of us should be treated with honor and respect.  

At this time when global wars show us the opposite of dignity it is more important than ever that we come together to spread caring and kindness in our communities.

Wherever you go in your day, acknowledge those around you.  Listen to them and give encouraging words if needed.

You can teach dignity to school-age children.  Starting with the young can begin a culture of caring and acceptance of people.  A person’s skin color, ethnicity or religion should not matter.  Everyone deserves honor and respect, from the very small to the very old.

How do you define dignity?  Do you feel honored and respected?  Do the people around you see kindness and compassion?

Private Home Health Care believes that all people should be treated with dignity.  By treating people in our community with honor and respect we hope to promote dignity for all.

#GlobalDignityDay

National Dictionary Day

Today is National Dictionary Day.  

This is National Dictionary Day to celebrate the birthday of Noah Webster.  Who you might ask?

For those of us old enough to remember old fashioned printed dictionaries, Noah Webster was the pioneer.

Noah was born in 1758 and he died at the age of 85 in 1843.  At the age of forty-eight, Noah began to publish his dictionaries.

In 1806, Noah published his first dictionary titled, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language.  Realizing that a more comprehensive version was needed he began compiling an updated version called An American Dictionary of the English Language.

This took Noah twenty-seven years to complete.  This new version included the etymology of words, or linguistics of how words are connected across languages.  

To accomplish this, Noah learned six languages including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit. 

His final version included seventy thousand words, with twelve thousand words never appearing in a dictionary before. You and I might call him a bit of an overachiever.  

An overachiever and a reformer?  Yes, a reforming of the spelling of words. 

Noah believed that American English should be separate from British English so he changed the spelling of words like color, from “colour” and “wagon” from “waggon” to name a couple.

Private Home Health Care understands that in today’s world finding a word and its definition is a digital click away on a phone or computer. We are, however, believers in the value of historical knowledge.  Thank you Noah Webster. 

#NationalDictionaryDay

Train Your Brain Day

It’s National Train Your Brain Day.  This is a day to focus on improving your brain power!

As you age, your brain slows down.  In addition, if you do repetitive things your brain gets tricked because it does things from memory.  

Today, we want you to learn or do something new to get different brain cells stimulated.  By doing a new game or activity it exercises your brain.  Exercise is good for all parts of your body, including your brain.

What do you like to do?  Are you a knitter?  Are you a stamp collector?  Do you work on any puzzles or crosswords?

Whatever you are doing currently, try and expand on it or even try something brand new.  If you like to work in a group, find a new twist to an activity. 

Meet with your knitting group and propose a new stitch or a new pattern.  If you play bocce ball, change it up a bit.

Do you like to do things on your own?  Try a new puzzle, traditional or online.  Find the Wordle app online and try using your brain with that.  There are so many ways for you to give your brain some new exercise.

When you drive, you can mix up your route to go a different way when you travel.  Try taking a new class or learn a new instrument. 

The goal is to train our brains for a better quality of life.

Private Home Health Care loves to do crossword puzzles.  We hope that this helps to expand our brain power.  Try something new to expand yours!

#TrainYourBrainDay

The Mighty Kiwi

Did you know that this tiny fruit the size of an egg is a powerhouse of nutrition?  It’s true the kiwi has so many health benefits it’s amazing!

Look at the vitamins and minerals in one kiwi fruit.

Vitamin C – more than in two oranges.

Boosts your immune system, fights fatigue and helps your body absorb iron.

Vitamin E – a solid amount in one kiwi.

Works to widen blood vessels and is also good for your immune system.

Vitamin K – an important but low key vitamin.

This vitamin can help ward off osteoporosis.

Potassium – one kiwi delivers 215 milligrams, more than in a tablespoon of peanut butter.

Helps your heart, kidneys, muscles and nerves function properly.

Antioxidants –

Keeps those free radicals from damaging your cells. The sun’s ultraviolet rays and air pollution take that!

Fun Fact

You know that fuzzy brown skin of the green kiwi?  Well according to the Cleveland Clinic, that skin is edible and packed with fiber and yes, more antioxidants.  Give it a try!

One note:  if you are prone to kidney stones these are NOT a good fruit for you.

Private Home Health Care adores all of the health benefits you get from one little kiwi fruit.  If these are new to you we hope you pick some and give them a try.

Peace

What does peace mean to you?

Does it mean freedom from quarrels and disagreement?  Does it mean the absence of war?

Here in the United States we live overall in peaceful times.  Things are not perfect but we are not currently experiencing major conflicts or war.  

There however, are parts of this world that are not as fortunate as we are.  These countries are not experiencing peace but the polar opposite, war.

In the news you hear about the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.  These two countries are in the midst of horrific wars. Additionally, if you investigate a bit deeper you see that there is also serious conflict and unrest in Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

These countries are all very far away from peace.  Should everyone not have peace in their lives?

What can you and I do to help promote peace?

Can we try and promote peace in our workplaces and neighborhoods?

Are we able to join groups that provide assistance to those nations in conflict?

Could we pray or meditate for our world that the opposing sides in war can come to an agreement to bring peace to their people?

Private Home Health Care is very pensive today.  It is distressing to think about the many conflicts in our world.  We hope that everyone can help promote peace and that all countries in our world will fully embrace peace.