New Year’s Resolutions so often follow the same structure. This year, make yours a little bit different by setting resolutions that will change both 2010 and the years to come in your future.

1. Help other seniors in your community – younger generations often volunteer to work with senior’s in hospitals and senior centers, but provide companionship to your peers by reading or socializing with them in these settings

2. Focus on eating well – give up those convenience items, and find a way to incorporate at least one new healthy item into your meal routine daily

3. Socialize – it’s not uncommon for seniors to shy away from social activities later in life. Don’t let this happen to you – join a social group with other seniors. A book club, exercise class, craft lesson or other activity will keep you connected

4. Organize your life – organizing your affairs for future care and even a will is an important goal. You can also take the opportunity to organize other aspects. Clean your house, declutter and donate the items you don’t need to charity

5. Find help if you need it – hire a senior home care service company to fill in the gaps (any areas in life you struggle with) as needed, or ask for help from family and friends

6. Stay connected with technology - if you don’t have a computer, 2010 is a great year to get one or learn how to use all of its features. Use email, instant messenger and other social networking sites to stay connected with loved ones around the world

Via: wickedlocal.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

It’s that time to start thinking about your New Year’s resolutions, and for those who want to focus on their health, here’s some information about the Power of 9 that will change your health and your life. This list is compiled by researchers based on the lifestyle aspects of populations around the world who live the longest and that are the healthiest and happiest:

1. Get moving – planned exercise isn’t the only way to remain active. Don’t just schedule your daily 45 minutes at the gym. Stop relying on technology to do things for you. Use a snow shovel instead of the snow blower, bike instead of taking the car, and get rid of your garage door opener and lift it yourself. Simply incorporating movement in your life will help you to live longer

2. Remember why you’re here – everyone has a different reason for living and for getting up each and every morning. Remember what yours is, write it down somewhere so you remember your purpose no matter what crosses your path

3. Cut out calories – don’t stuff yourself when you sit down to a meal. Cutting out 20% of portion sizes and in turn calories is a much more convenient method than actually counting calories. Buy smaller plates and bowls, and eat only when you’re actually hungry

4. Think like a vegetarian – you don’t have to stop eating meat entirely, but a decline in meats and processed foods can be beneficial when you incorporate more vegetables

5. Practice happy hour – if you’re drinking red wine, happy hour is a good thing, provided it doesn’t get out of hand. A glass everyday has extensive health benefits

6. Remember to step back – we live in a busy society, but learning to slow down and relax is crucial

7. Join a community – spiritual practices have their benefits, but those who do not practice a religion simply need to find a place that gives them a sense of belonging. Practicing yoga and/or meditation can have similar benefits

8. Associate with people like you – those that have similar goals and mindsets will benefit your health

9. Make family time – even if you’re busy, schedule regular time and rituals of things to do with your family, your spouse and your closest friends to maintain that connection

Via: USNews

Image Source: sxc.hu

Sometimes as we age, it’s harder to get into the spirit of the holiday season. But here is a special holiday poem that’s sure to put that sparkle back in your eye and the holiday spirit back in your heart!

A Senior Christmas

’Twas the night before Christmas at Rock-Away Rest,

And all of us seniors were looking our best.

Our glasses, how sparkly, our wrinkles, how merry;

Our punch bowl held prune juice plus three drops of sherry.

A bed sock was taped to each walker; in hope

That Santa would bring us soft candy and soap.

We surely were lucky to be there with friends,

Secure in this residence and in our Depends.

Our grandkids had sent us some Christmassy crafts,

Like angels in snowsuits and penguins on rafts.

The dental assistant had borrowed our teeth,

And from them she’d crafted a holiday wreath.

The bedpans, so shiny, all stood in a row,

Reflecting our candle’s magnificent glow.

Our supper so festive — the joy wouldn’t stop –

Was creamy warm oatmeal with sprinkles on top.

Our salad was Jell-O, so jiggly and great,

Then puree of fruitcake was spooned on each plate.

The social director then had us play games,

Like “Where Are You Living?”  And “What Are Your Names?”

Old Grandfather Looper was feeling his oats,

Proclaiming that reindeer were nothing but goats.

Our resident wanderer was tied to her chair,

In hopes that at bedtime she still would be there.

Security lights on the new fallen snow

Made outdoors seem noon to the old folks below.

Then out on the porch there arose quite a clatter

But we are so deaf that it just didn’t matter.

A strange little fellow flew in through the door,

Then tripped on the sill and fell flat on the floor.

’Twas just our director, all togged out in red.

He jiggled and chuckled and patted each head.

We knew from the way that he strutted and jived

Our social security checks had arrived.

We sang — how we sang — in our monotone croak,

Till the clock tinkled out its soft eight-p.m. stroke.

And soon we were snuggling deep in our beds

While nurses distributed nocturnal meds.

And so ends our Christmas at Rock-Away Rest.

’fore long you’ll be with us, we wish you the best.

-Author Unknown

Via: MSGR.ca

Image Source: sxc.hu

Buying a gift for a senior can be a challenge. You want to present them with something that has a personal touch, but you do not want to give them something that cannot be used. It takes a lot of thought to come up with the perfect gift for any senior. The following list contains ten ideas that may help this holiday season when you are shopping for a senior.

1. If the senior lives alone, a Medical Emergency Notification System is a great gift to ensure their safety.

2. Cell Phones with Easy to see and use buttons.

3. If the senior is a pet owner, a pre-paid walking service or grooming is a great gift.

4. Gift certificates to the barber or hairdresser, especially if they will come to their home.

5. Pre-pay a season of lawn mowing and landscaping.

6. Wall clocks with a large face so they are easy to see.

7. If the senior is hearing impaired, a flashing light doorbell or telephone will be of great use.

8. Universal TV Remotes with large buttons.

9. Lap tables can be handy to eat on and can also provide a place for small items, such as remotes and eyeglasses.

10. Clothing with zippers or large zipper pulls.

Source: associatedcontent

Image Source: sxc.hu

Q – My sister cares for our elderly mother full-time. I want to come up with a great gift idea for the holidays that I know she’ll appreciate. What would you suggest?

A – Here are some great holiday gift ideas that can help senior caregivers to put the focus back on themselves!

1. Respite care – a break from caregiving responsibilities is appreciated by most caregivers, whether they’d admit it or not. Hire a service to provide respite or step in yourself, offering assistance once a month, or even just one time!

2. Entertainment gift certificates – send them for a night out at the movies or dinner with a gift certificate

3. Spa services – a day out at the spa can be rejuvenating for a female caregiver. Treat them to the chance to relax!

4. Subscription to a book club or movie service – this is something they can do to relax while providing care. Movies can be enjoyed with their senior, and books can be shared

5. Service to help them at home – caregivers have so much to take care of, help them maintain responsibilities of their own homes with cleaning services for inside the home or for yard work

Via: AgingCare

Image Source: www.sxc.hu/

As people enter retirement, they find that they are forced to live on a fixed income. For those that enjoy traveling, that could mean the end to annual vacations. There is a way for seniors to continue to travel without the worry of expenses. A home exchange is the perfect solution for any senior homeowner. The exchange is when one homeowner trades their home with another. Each homeowner then travels to the other home to spend their vacation. This mutual agreement allows for affordable and safe travel. The benefits to senior home exchanges are highlighted below.

1. Travel becomes affordable. This is an important aspect for seniors living on a fixed income.

2. A home is much more comfortable than a hotel room.

3. Location choices. Since you will be exchanging your own home for another, you have the opportunity to travel to anywhere.

4. Eliminate other travel costs. Some home exchanges also include a vehicle, so the need for a rental car is eliminated.

5. The process is simple. The internet has many sites for seniors who are looking to exchange a home.

Source: transitionsabroad.com

Image source: sxc.hu

Can it be possible that certain medications increase the chances of a senior experiencing a fall? After research was completed, the studies have indicated that this is true. There are many medications that contain sedatives. These medications, including sleeping pills and antidepressants, can in fact increase the chances of a senior experiencing a fall. If you are a senior, or have an elderly family member, it is important to review current medications with a doctor to see if there is an increased risk of a fall. Below is a list of facts associated with falls.

1. Elderly individuals are usually more sensitive to prescription drugs. They cannot metabolize the medication as well as younger patients. This can cause adverse events, including falls.

2. One third of seniors who reside at home experience at least one fall per year.

3. 90% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Of this percentage, 15% of the patients will have to move into a long-term care facility.

4. Any drug that contains a sedative, including antidepressants, anti-psychotics, sleeping pills and some high-blood pressure medications, will increase the risk of a fall.

Source: toronto.ctv.ca

Image source: sxc.hu

A senior’s release from the hospital can be an exciting time, but for families, it’s when the hard work really begins to help with their recovery process and ensure that they receive the best care possible. There are a few things that families can do in order to help the transition from hospital to home:

1. Don’t expect too much – release from the hospital doesn’t mean that a senior has recovered; there will be lots of hard work at home for many seniors

2. Ask questions – understand the senior’s diagnosis and their future prognosis. Take notes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions

3. Talk to a hospital discharge planner – a discharge planner can help families determine if a senior will require home care or nursing care after they leave the hospital. They can also advise families on additional supplies and equipment needed

4. Make sure you’re prepared at home – before the senior goes home, purchase any necessary safety equipment; hire a care provider, and make sure you have medications on hand

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – get the contact information of hospital staff who provided care to your loved one, and don’t be afraid to contact them with any questions or concerns after your senior has left the hospital

Via: Caring.com

Image source: sxc.hu

Seniors with Alzheimer’s are notorious for wandering away from home, which is a big issue that senior caregivers need to deal with as it poses a great risk to the health and safety of the seniors that they care for, as well as others that might be affected. It’s important that caregivers take steps to preventing wandering in seniors with Alzheimer’s, and here are some useful tips:

1. Install alarms that tell you when external doors or windows are open – you need to give seniors with Alzheimer’s the freedom to move around their home, but even a home alarm system that chimes when doors or even windows are opened can warn you that your loved one might be wandering away

2. Disguise doors – if you don’t want seniors wandering between rooms or outside, paint rooms so the doors blend with the walls

3. Discourage wandering with signs – post signs on doorways inside the home, reminding seniors with Alzheimer’s what can be found on the other side. If there are rooms that seniors should not go in, or doorways that lead to outside, label them with “do not enter”!

4. Give seniors a safe area to walk around – seniors with Alzheimer’s often find themselves restless. Having a secure backyard or garden area can get them out of the home when they feel the need to wander in a safe manner

Via: About.com

Q – I’ve read that it’s a good idea to pre-pack a hospital bag to ensure I am prepared if my senior care recipient falls ill. In my particular circumstance, I am a family caregiver providing part-time care to an elderly parent. Should I pack ahead of time, and if so what should I include?

A – The better you’re prepared, the less stress you’ll have to deal with when trying to cope with your loved one’s medical emergency. By packing a hospital bag in advance, you’ll be able to focus on supporting your elderly parent when they’re taken to the hospital, rather than running around trying to gather items that they need. Here are some things to include:

1. Medications – although the hospital will need to be provided with a list of medications that your senior care recipient requires, having a set of medications for at least a couple of days in their original bottles is essential

2. Robe and gown – though some hospitals may require seniors to wear hospital garb depending upon the medical care received, some seniors might be allowed to wear their own items provided they allow access to areas that medical professionals will be examining. Having these clothing items will make seniors more comfortable

3. Socks and slippers – most hospitals will not provide these items, so seniors are more comfortable and warm moving around the hospital, socks and slippers can be worn

4. Pack personal items – miniature shampoos, soaps and other personal products will make seniors feel more at home in the hospital rather than using the products provided there. However, be sure they are not overly perfumed as most hospitals do not allow these items

5. Pack comfortable clothing to return home in – in all the hustle and bustle when a senior is being released from the hospital, it’s easy for caregivers to forget a change of clothes for their loved one. Packing this in the hospital bag in advance will ensure clothing is on hand!