Keep Moving: The Mantra of Aging Gracefully

 

“Move it or lose it!” Not sure if that expression was originally used to describe aging, but it should have been. Maintaining your mobility is key to keeping your independence as you age. In order to have the best quality of life in your senior years, you have to fight the urge to be a solitary couch potato. 

Here are some (of the many!) advantages to staying active in your senior years. The United Methodist Communities HomeWorks team has also included examples of mobility exercises that older adults can perform safely at home.

Why exercise is key for older adults 

It’s safe to say that everyone could be exercising a bit more – after all, the most popular New Year’s resolution is to sign up for the gym! But it’s even more important for adults over 60 years old. Here’s why:

• Helps you stay independent. When you lose your mobility as a senior, you lose a part of your independence. And the only way to prevent this from happening is to keep moving! Just 30 minutes a day of strength and cardio training will help older adults build the necessary muscle mass to keep them moving without any extra help.
• Supports healthy brain activity. Physical activity is just as essential for brain health as mental stimulation. Exercise helps to boost blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body. Not to mention, multiple studies show that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by as much as 30%.
• Reduces arthritis pain. Exercising regularly lubricates your joints which helps reduce the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. It also reduces overall pressure on your joints, which can help you shed some unwanted weight more easily. 
• Lowers your risk of heart disease. Heart disease is an extremely common condition for older adults in the US. Exercise is incredibly effective at lowering the risks for heart disease because it improves circulation to the heart, helps reduce excessive weight, and keep issues like high cholesterol and diabetes at bay. 
• Promotes better sleep. One of the most common issues seniors experience —  trouble sleeping. Not only do we tend to sleep lighter as we age, many medications can also prevent us from sleeping well. Exercise is a great cure, helping to tire the body and mind. Just remember to exercise each day (preferably not in the two hours before bed) and you should be able to sleep soundly every night.
• Helps fight depression. There are many ways to treat depression, and one of the most effective is exercise, which can reduce symptoms by as much as 30%. Not only does exercise benefit the body, it also helps the mind by preventing and treating feelings of isolation, depression, loneliness, and anxiety.

Senior mobility exercises to try

There’s no need to order the latest Nikes and start training at a marathon level. Exercise should be something you enjoy that is tailored to your abilities, not some dreaded event you don’t want to get out of bed for. Here are some mobility exercises suited for older adults. Please note: consulting your primary caregiver before performing any new exercises is advised. 

• Yoga and pilates – Build strength, improve balance, and relax your mind with yoga and pilates. What’s great is you don’t have to leave your home to participate! You can find many free yoga and pilates videos to follow on YouTube.

• Dancing – Dance is the perfect balance of entertainment and exercise, allowing you to enjoy great music and get a good cardio workout in at the same time. Like yoga and pilates, you can dance in the comfort and privacy of your own home with many videos available to watch on YouTube. 

• Nature walks – The outdoors benefit  the mind, body, and soul! Although it’s cold outside, it’s more than feasible to bundle up before taking a short walk around the neighborhood. 

 

Exercising with UMC HomeWorks  

The hardest part of sticking to a workout routine is staying motivated. You have to hold yourself accountable. A lot of the time, it helps when you have someone else to hold you accountable as well. With UMC HomeWorks, we have home health aides available who can come to your home and provide as little or as much support as needed. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, shopping or getting a morning workout in, our carefully screened and certified aides are ready to help! 

To find out more about our in-home care services, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/home-health-aide-services/

Originally posted: https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/keep-moving-the-mantra-of-aging-gracefully/

6 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

The outside temperatures are dropping quickly and that means a snowy, icy winter is on its way. As we get older, we become more susceptible to the challenges of this season, so it’s important for seniors to do a little extra preparation to stay safe and healthy over the winter. Here are six tips for older adults from our home care services team in New Jersey:

• Reduce Winter Fall Risks – Falls are incredibly dangerous for seniors, and the ice and cold conditions of winter make falls during this season very common. Check your loved one’s winter wardrobe and make sure pants, skirts, and dresses are the right length. Check winter shoes to ensure that they have a sturdy tread. If your loved one likes wearing house slippers, these should be checked to make sure they have a stable rubber grip. If you live nearby, volunteer to clear their steps or pathway outside their home to get rid of ice, or ask a neighbor to assist.
• Stock the Shelves and Medicine Cabinet – This is especially important when a storm is on its way. Pop over with enough food and essentials to last five to seven days, including fresh and canned goods, water, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription medication. Check that their emergency kit is stocked with a working flashlight and spare batteries, a whistle, and a warm blanket, and place it somewhere easy to reach.
• Keep the House Warm – Seniors can lose body heat quickly and are less likely to sense that their body temperature is dropping. While many seniors are on a tight budget, it’s recommended that thermostats are set at 68 degrees throughout winter. You can help keep energy bills down with some small home improvement projects, including closing vents in unused rooms, sealing around windows and doors, and replacing your furnace filter at the start of every heating season. A dirty filter sends particles into the air that contribute to winter illness.
• Banish the Space Heater – Space heaters are incredibly dangerous and expensive to run. So, it’s best to get rid of them. They are a leading cause of house fires, often caused by flammable furnishings, blankets or curtains that brush up against them unnoticed.
• Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Seniors are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, be sure to test detectors and make sure there’s a working detector on each floor of the home. Carbon monoxide,  a common byproduct of less efficient furnaces and heating systems, is called the silent killer because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating. Optimally, hire a home heating professional to make an onsite service visit during the fall.
• Stay in Touch – Whether you are close enough to visit or whether you call, it’s important to check in on a regular basis. Winter can be a time when many seniors are vulnerable to isolation and depression, so social contact can do a lot to keep seniors connected and active. It’s also a good idea to keep in contact with a few of your loved one’s neighbors so that they can also check in on occasion and make sure everything is alright.

For Peace of Mind, Choose the Best Home Help Services for the Elderly in NJ

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through our HomeWorks program. This program is dedicated to assisting seniors in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families, and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness, and independence.

For more information on our at-home health care agency or our residential in-home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/6-essential-winter-safety-tips-for-seniors/

Ask These 3 Questions When Hiring For In Home Respite Care Services

In home respite care services are a useful option for seniors who need some additional assistance in their daily lives after an operation, fall or illness, or for family caregivers who need additional help caring for their loved one. Here are some important issues to cover in the interview process.

What are Your Qualifications?

In most states – but not all – home health aide services are required to have the correct license, which includes regular reviews, in order to ensure that the quality of the services they offer meet a particular standard. You can ask to see an up-to-date license and you can also call your state health department to confirm that the company you are interviewing is licensed to operate.

Another area to look into is the personal qualifications of the individual who will be providing your in home respite care services. This can be confirmed by talking to the organization about their employee background screening process, by contacting personal references, and getting a clear idea of their training and experience.

What Services Do You Cover?

Home health aide service providers offer a wide range of services that meet the needs of a variety of people and offer an hourly rate. This ensures that you aren’t paying for time or services that you don’t need. It’s important to understand the range of services that your home health aide can cover, which may include:

• Companionship
• Bathing and dressing
• Light housekeeping (laundry, vacuuming, etc.)
• Grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation
• Transport to social and medical appointments
• Home care for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia, palliative care, stroke recovery, cancer recovery, etc.

What Do These Services Cost?

It’s important to find out how the agency handles expenses and billing (especially when it comes to skilled nursing care), whether costs can be submitted to health insurance or Medicare, and if the agency offers any kind of financial assistance. Be sure to get quotes in advance so that you can check with your insurance provider and ensure that it fits in your budget.

High-Quality, Compassionate In-Home Respite Care Services in NJ

Whether you need assistance as a family caregiver or your loved one is recovering from an operation or illness, our care team is here to help through our HomeWorks program. As one of the leading residential in-home respite care providers in NJ, our fully certified staff have all the essential senior care training and experience needed to provide for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Care-Services-For-Seniors

Original Content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/ask-these-3-questions-when-hiring-for-in-home-respite-care-services/

Effective Therapies to Change Senior’s Lives for the Better this New Year!

Aging is a process filled with new challenges and adjustments, and the effects of aging – from losing bone and muscle tissue to changes in cognitive functionality – often mean that seniors can no longer participate in activities they previously enjoyed. However, this is more about discovering new activities and paths to wellness and happiness! Here are some great therapeutic, fun activities ideal for seniors from our in home respite care services team.

• Art therapy: Arts and crafts are a source of enjoyment at any age, but this type of creative expression is especially beneficial to seniors. It provides mental stimulation, improving cognitive and sensorimotor functions, triggering the memory, building self-esteem and self-awareness. And there are so many creative activities to choose from, including painting and drawing, origami, crafting photo albums, knitting, weaving baskets, making jewelry and pottery – there’s something for everyone.
• Movement therapy: If you have a senior loved one, you know just how important it is – and how challenging it can be – to stay strong, fit and mobile. Movement therapy is calibrated especially for seniors and customized to their current mobility and health status. Not only does preserving or improving mobility help seniors live a more full and independent life, it also fights a wide range of health conditions, improves the immune system, helps create social connections, improves appetite and memory, and fights depression. Again, there are so many activities to choose from, including water aerobics, tai chi, swimming, nature walks, dancing, yoga, and gardening.
• Music therapy: As everyone knows, nothing can quite lift spirits and transform a mood as hearing your favorite song! Music therapy, whether it’s learning an instrument, taking singing lessons, joining a choir or dancing, is a critical part of living a full life. The activities are social, co-operative and encourage engagement, helping build social connections, relive good memories and living a life of purpose and accomplishment.

In Home Respite Care Services in NJ – Experienced Home Health Aide Services for Seniors 

Whether you need residential in home respite care in NJ or need someone qualified and experienced to assist your loved one on a more permanent basis, we are here to help through our HomeWorks program. Our staff are fully certified in New Jersey and have training and experience, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/effective-therapies-to-change-seniors-lives-for-the-better-this-new-year/

5 Things Seniors Need to do to Prepare for Winter

Winter is approaching quickly and along with all the celebrations and festivities, the season also brings a few challenges like snow, ice and cold weather. Here are five tips for seniors to prepare for the winter ahead from our specialists in home help services for the elderly:

1. Home maintenance. Start early with home maintenance before the rush sets in. Have your home’s heating system checked and serviced, make sure the gutters are cleared out and schedule small home maintenance repairs before they become bigger problems. It’s also a good idea to have smoke and CO₂ (carbon monoxide) detectors checked to ensure they’re in good working order.
2. Wardrobe. Go through your winter wardrobe thoroughly to ensure that your warm weather items are in good condition and within easy reach when the cold sets in. Make sure you have enough warm clothing, scarves and blankets, as well as weather-proof gear, for when you go outdoors. Check your shoes to make sure they are still weather-tight and can grip well to avoid slipping on ice. Walking sticks must also be checked to ensure that worn cane tips are replaced.
3. Car maintenance. Driving in the winter can be dangerous, so make sure your vehicle is fully serviced before the icy weather arrives — check oil, wiper blades, tires and the battery. Ensure that your roadside assistance service is up-to-date and pack an emergency kit to leave inside your vehicle (not in the trunk). This kit should include a blanket, snacks with a long expiration date, hat/socks/gloves, booster cables, emergency flare, flashlight with additional batteries, cellphone adapter to charge your phone from inside the car, basic first aid kit and bottled water.
4. Home provisions. Stock up with non-perishable foods and bottled water to eliminate trips during bad weather. Frozen meals can also be stockpiled in your freezer. Aim for as much variety as possible and ensure that you have Vitamin-D-rich foods like tuna, salmon, milk and grains. Also, stock up on common over-the-counter medications.
5. Assistance. If needed, don’t hesitate to ask for help from neighbors, family, and friends. They can take on bigger jobs like clearing away snow and ice, home maintenance or fetching winter goods out of hard-to-reach places. Lifts to and from the shops, appointments or social events can also make daily life a lot easier. Some communities even have shuttle services specifically to help seniors.

Winter or Summer, Choose the Best Home Help Services for the Elderly in NJ 

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through HomeWorks. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home health care agency or our residential in home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-things-seniors-need-to-do-to-prepare-for-winter/

5 Ways to Assist a Senior Recovering from a Stroke

Assisting an elderly loved one after a stroke requires patience, planning and a lot of hard work. Here are some tips to help make stroke recovery caregiving easier and more effective, from our in home respite care services team in New Jersey:

1. Research strokes. Knowing as much as possible about your loved one’s condition is key to providing effective assistance. In addition to reading about the subject online from reputable sources like the American Stroke Association, speak to your loved one’s physicians and find out exactly how the stroke has affected your loved one, what the recovery process looks like, and signs of a possible relapse or an additional stroke. Hospitals also offer stroke support groups.
2. Prepare the home. While your loved remains in hospital, take some time to prepare the home to accommodate their caregiving needs. You might need to relocate their bedroom to avoid stairs, get rid of mats and loose carpets that can cause trips and falls, or install grab handles in the bathroom.
3. Identify risk factors. Since stroke patients are more vulnerable to additional strokes, rapid treatment is essential in the event of another. It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate a second stroke, such as loss of balance, fatigue, slurred speech, facial muscle weakness, numb or tingling limbs and blurred/double vision. You can also reduce risk factors by helping your loved one follow a healthy eating plan, adhere to a strict medication schedule, get gentle exercise, and quit bad health habits like smoking.
4. Create a routine. Daily routines aren’t only comforting to stroke patients and easier on caregivers, they also aid in the recovery process. Write down what daily activities your loved one can do independently, which ones they need help with and those they are unable to manage completely, so you know when you’re most needed. While providing assistance, always encourage your loved one to try to complete as much of the task as they can comfortably manage, rather than taking over. This is crucial to helping them re-learn these skills.
5. Take care of yourself. Caring for a stroke patient is hard work and can be frustrating — and when they’re a loved one, this can be a difficult emotional strain, too. Don’t forget to care for yourself — whether it’s joining a support group, letting other family members share the workload, or calling in professionals to provide expert assistance on a temporary basis.

In-Home Respite Care Services in NJ – Support for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones 

Whether you have an appointment you must keep, a meeting you need to attend, or you simply require a day to yourself to recharge, our care team is here to help through our HomeWorks program. As one of the leading residential in-home respite care providers in NJ, our fully certified staff have all the essential senior care training and experience needed to provide for stroke recovery patient, so please feel free to ask for formal certification and references.

For more information on our home health aide services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Care-Services-For-Seniors

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/5-ways-to-assist-a-senior-recovering-from-a-stroke/

8 Spring Cleaning Safety and Health Tips for Helping Seniors

Spring is a wonderful time of year that’s all about transitioning into those long, care-free summer days. For seniors, however, this season can bring its set of challenges despite the warmer weather!
Here are some tips for caregivers to help senior neighbors, friends, family and members of community to shake off the winter weather:

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips 

Some of us dread spring cleaning and seniors are no exception! If you’re planning to help an elderly loved one with this task, follow these tips:

1. Plan ahead. Make a list of each area that needs to be addressed in the home and what you want to accomplish. Be sure to get approval for each step — especially about what must go and what should stay.
2. Team effort. Your loved one is likely only going to be able to manage lighter tasks and supervise some of the process, so don’t take on everything else alone. Get friends and family in to help — it will make the job easier and faster, as well as a lot more enjoyable!
3. De-clutter first. Clutter is a very real health hazard for seniors, so it should be a priority when cleaning out. Once you’ve dealt with initial clutter, only then move on to cupboards and storage areas. Remember to keep clear paths throughout the house that can accommodate your loved one’s walker or wheelchair, if necessary.
4. Test safety devices. Use this opportunity to install safety devices in the home or test ones already in place to make sure they are in working order. This includes ensuring grab bars are secure, fire and carbon monoxide detectors function, and that lights are bright and in full working order.

Spring Health Checks 

Spring is allergy season, and seniors are no exception!

5. Be sure to check if your loved one is suffering from any allergy symptoms and if so, plan a trip to the doctor to prescribe the right medication.
6. If you suspect that the allergen is inside the home, check and clean air conditioning filters.
7. Check for mold growth in moist areas of the home and inside cupboards.
8. Give bedding and soft furnishings a thorough cleaning.

Companionship, Nursing and More from Our NJ Home Help Services for the Elderly 

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we understand the challenges of providing expert medical care and companionship to seniors while encouraging a full and independent life, which is why we’ve developed our HomeWorks program.

Through this program, trained and experienced staff can assist seniors and their families through comprehensive in home care. Each care plan is designed around the client’s needs, filling in with necessary assistance while allowing your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home.

In addition to helping with daily tasks, transport and personal hygiene, our senior home care services team can assist with nursing, medication management and much more on a permanent or temporary basis. For dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, we can develop specific care routines that ensure a sense of structure and help reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information on our home health aide services and residential in-home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/elderly-home-health-care-nj/

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/8-spring-cleaning-safety-and-health-tips-for-helping-seniors/