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

National Diabetes Month

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood sugar called glucose. Glucose is important to your health for muscle and tissue cells as well as the main source of fuel for the brain.

Diabetes affects close to 30 million people and can be chronic as Type 1 or Type 2.  There are potentially reversible conditions known as prediabetes or gestational diabetes. Prediabetes can be treated prior to becoming chronic and gestational happens during pregnancy and can resolve after birth. 

In 1982 National Diabetes Month began to raise awareness about the disease.  It is important to talk to your doctor if you feel you have any symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or fatigue. 

We recommend taking time this month to review your eating habits and add more fruits and veggies to your diet.  Try to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest too.

National Oatmeal Day

Yummy and nutritious oatmeal.  Oatmeal is gluten free and full of antioxidants.  You can lose weight, lower your blood sugar and reduce your risk of heart disease.

What kind of oatmeal do you like?

Oatmeal comes in rolled out flakes that can cook slowly into a porridge or quickly, in an “instant”.  You can have these with or without milk for breakfast.  You can splurge and make oatmeal raisin cookies or apple crisp too.

Steel-cut oats are grains of oats that are cut into 2-3 small pinhead sized pieces.  The name comes from the steel blades used to cut the oats.  Steel-cut oats are a bit chewier than rolled oats and they take longer to cook but the taste is delicious when they are done.

Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal today, regular flakes or steel-cut and if you get a chance, drop off a box of oatmeal at your local shelter or food pantry.  Share the goodness.