Q – I’ve been trying to get my mom to come visit us from her Phoenix home for a number of years, but she refuses. She has a dog that means a lot to her, and she’s worried about taking him on an airplane, and for her, the distance is too far to drive. We visit her often, but would love to have her in our home so she can see the things her grandchildren are up to up close and personal. Any suggestions for how she can travel with a pet while knowing he is safe?

A – If your mom is reluctant about bringing her dog on a traditional airline, which many pet owners are and she doesn’t have the option of driving, then she can check out a great new airline that caters to only the furry traveler. Pet Airways might not offer trips between your cities just yet, but they will be adding on more soon, so your mom can put her dog on the airline and then meet him at the other side. They offer the following services to make the experience more comfortable to the dogs and cats that they take onboard.

• Pets ride in a climate controlled airplane, where they are regularly checked by staff for comfort and safety

• Pets on Pet Airways are not accepted if they have been given a sedative, something that is commonly required for pets riding on traditional airlines f they are nervous or excitable

• Unlike on other airlines, pets have the opportunity for potty breaks. They are brought out right before the flight and as soon as they land, and on long flights there are stop-overs  so pets can relieve themselves

• Larger dogs have the option to travel without having to be placed in the cargo hold like they are luggage, which is not climate controlled and there’s no way to know how safe the animal is

Via: AARP

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

I’m a geriatric specialist in a Phoenix clinic, and we see a large number of seniors who are dealing with the symptoms of stress; from insomnia to more serious health effects. Older adulthood comes with a large number of stresses naturally, but there are some, like choice of place to live that can reduce the effects. Believe it or not, some places to live are more stressful than others, and not only when comparing a tropical town to an urban environment. When choosing a place to retire, we suggest that seniors look at the following factors of living:

1. Population and crowding – consider the population density in the area is the more likely it becomes that there can be crime, petty problems between neighbors, and other factors that can influence your overall quality of life. If you’re looking for a quieter retreat where you can relax in privacy, avoid cities like Chicago (ranked the most stressful place to live) where crowding is high.

2. Employment – even in retirement, the level of unemployment in your area can affect your quality of life. You don’t need to be in the workforce for it to have an impact! Unemployment rates attest to the overall state of the economy.

3. Air quality and weather – the air quality can affect your overall health, which greatly impacts your quality of life, as well as your finances. Also choose a climate that brings you the most enjoyment.

4. Home values – with rising interest costs and decreasing home values, it can be a worry that you might lose your home in older adulthood or find it unaffordable. Low home values can also mean little equity when it comes time to sell. Choose a place to live where home values seem to be higher and holding strong.

Image: gotoretirement.com

Via: Yahoo! Real Estate

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

The boomer generation hasn’t really played by the rules, beginning with the days when they were just barely out of diapers, and now, they’re set on transforming our perceptions on aging as it’s predicted that they will live longer than generations before and change the ways we look at age:

1. Seniors today are living longer – with the standard retirement age set at 65, seniors are spending more and more time in retirement than generations past. The seniors of today and those of the future will have to reconsider how they will survive financially, since social security might expire before they do

2. Changing career structure – while this might not apply today, it’s a shift we’ll certainly see in the future as living longer in retirement will come with increased financial burden. Instead of retiring at 65, we might just see seniors living into their 100s working into their 70s, 80s and 90s out of obligation

3. 60 as the new 40 – today’s seniors are more active than ever, and at 60 show few signs of slowing down, and to think, not so long ago we looked at 40 as “old”!

4. Embracing life – today’s seniors are adventurous and have a zest for life, but society still fits these seniors into stereotypes, thinking that 70 year old grandmother’s should be in their rockers with their knitting, not going out skydiving or hiking

Via: About.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

It’s not always easy to come up with ways to entertain a senior with Alzheimer’s, but by getting creative and trying some of these activity ideas you can make sure that they don’t just get through life simply surviving, they get to live a little along the way.

1. Reintroduce old favorites – reintroducing seniors to games and activities that they once enjoyed can activate old memories and nostalgia, and they are generally enjoyable. Try tic tac toe, checkers, cards, or large piece jigsaw puzzles.

2. Bond over magazines – looking through magazines like Reminisce or Good Old Days are a great way to share stories; or simply pick up any publication a senior enjoys  for an entertaining way to pass the time and create conversation

3. Reminisce with photos – get out the family photo albums to remind seniors of cherished memories or family members. This is also a great way to start sharing stories and memories of great times with loved ones

4. Get online – for a senior who loves to learn, get online and browse travel destinations, look up information about activities or facts that interest the senior, or simply use it to look at pictures. If your senior is feeling really adventurous, you can even get them signed up on Facebook or Twitter

5. Share a treat – a great activity can be as simple as going to a local bakery or ice cream shop to bond over a sweet treat. Or, it can be made at home and enjoyed there

6. Get outside – don’t underestimate the power of fresh air and sunshine for a senior, get out there!

Via: Suite101

jupiterimages.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of any healthy diet, but it can seem impossible to get the 7 or 8 servings of each that are recommended without always enjoying every color of vegetable. With these 10 simple preparation and nutrition tips you can make sure you get your recommended daily vegetables everyday.

1. Visit a Phoenix farmer’s market – instead of visiting the grocery store, check out a local farmer’s market where all of the in season fruits and vegetables will be available often at a more budget-friendly price. Plus, seeing the produce in a different environment might inspire you to try something new.

2. Mix color – try to ensure that you incorporate fruits and vegetables from every color group into your meals everyday to get the ultimate nutritional and health benefits.

3. Get creative with cooking – if there are vegetables that you don’t enjoy as much because of the textures or tastes, try blending them into a soup or stew so you don’t miss out on the nutritional benefits.

4. Try smoothies or juice – in order to increase the number of servings of fruits and vegetables you get in a day, blend them into smoothies or juices.

5. Buy frozen – frozen fruits and vegetables still offer the same nutritional benefits. Frozen berries are versatile; blend them into a smoothie, or thaw them in the morning to add to your cereal or oatmeal.

6. Add fruit – breakfast is the perfect meal to add some fruit. Add bananas or strawberries to your cereal, or instead of plain pancakes, add the fruit too!

7. Maintain good habits when eating out – when you’re eating out, make sure you get at least one serving of fruits or vegetables.

8. Be open to salad – you don’t need to stick to traditional salad ingredients. Start with deep green lettuce and add any vegetables you have on hand that seem appealing. The more colorful, the better! Add  bell peppers, tomatoes, beets, or avocado. Drizzle your salad with lemon instead of fatty dressings for a vitamin C boost.

9. Go with stir fry – stir fry recipes are a great way to incorporate a wide variety of vegetables into a meal. Start with a bed of rice, flavor with garlic or ginger, and then include a vegetable from every color group.

10. Analyze your meal – when you sit down with a meal that has a wide variety of vegetables, notice if you favor one color group over another, and make a point to add more of the others to your next shopping list.

Via: Body and Health

Image: gourmetfoodappetizers.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

The Swine Flu has caused a great deal of worry amongst the Phoenix senior population, who worry that contracting the disease could signify the end of their life. There are always risks, but greater fear surrounds the illness due to a number of myths. By understanding the facts and fiction of Swine Flu, seniors and their families can have more knowledge about how the illness could affect them and how it can be prevented.

1. Since the H1N1 virus derives in pigs, it can come from pork – Swine Flu cannot be transmitted from eating pork, although it does often occur in those who are in contact with infected living livestock. The current outbreak, however, is coming primarily from human-to-human transmission

2. Symptoms of Swine Flu different from the seasonal flu – the symptoms of Swine Flu are very similar to the seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue

3. There is no effective treatment for Swine Flu – Tamiflu and Relenza are medications that have been used to effectively treat H1N1

4. There aren’t enough flu drugs to treat the pandemic – the federal government has in fact stockpiled enough flu drugs to treat 50 million Americans with Swine Flu, and some states actually have additional stock

5. The 1970’s Swine Flu shot offers protection today – as diseases adapt and change, it becomes more unlikely that a previous vaccination will offer prevention for the H1N1 virus of today

6. Flu drugs can prevent the Swine Flu – it’s not recommended that the flu drugs used to treat the swine flu are taken for prevention. There is however, a vaccine under development

7. Seniors are most at risk – healthy seniors actually are not believed to be the demographic most at risk for the Swine Flu. The vaccine that will be available will first be offered to individuals aged 25 to 65 as they are most at risk

8. The spread of Swine Flu can’t be stopped – it’s not yet known how contagious Swine Flu is, however, like any illness, the spread of it can be prevented through frequent hand washing, covering mouths when coughing and disinfecting surfaces that might carry germs

Via: Loyola Medicine

Image: jazdb2b.wordpress.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – With flu season approaching I’m starting to worry about the spread of Swine Flu increasing again. I have young children and an elderly parent who is not in the best of health on a good day, and I worry about how they would fare if they contract the virus. Will there be a vaccine available?

A – The good news is a vaccine will be available entering flu season, and here are some details that you should know:

• Availability – the H1N1 vaccine should be available in fall of 2009 in order to combat formal flu season. Specific dates have not yet been released as they are based on manufacturing

• Production – a Swine Flu vaccine is currently in production, and before being offered to the public, will be involved in clinical trials

• Combined vaccines – the Swine Flu vaccine will be separate from the seasonal flu vaccine. It can be administered at the same time, although since the H1N1 vaccine is likely to be available later in the season, seniors are encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine first

• Age for priority vaccinations – studies have shown that H1N1 is more likely to affect people aged 25 to 64, or those with compromised immune systems due to health issues. The vaccine will be available to these people initially, and older adults over 65 can receive the vaccine after

• Locations – the Swine Flu vaccine will be available in locations that aren’t just your doctor’s office. Vaccination programs will take place in offices, schools, pharmacies, and other private settings

• The 1976 vaccine – the Swine Flu pandemic of 1976 also had a vaccine developed to fight the spread of illness, however, even those vaccinated then should receive the new H1N1 vaccine as the disease is not likely the same

Via: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Image: hubpages.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

For years as a caregiver I’ve been discouraging my care recipients from drinking coffee because it has been believed to have detrimental effects upon the health of seniors; but recently, I read something that just might prove me wrong! This is great news for all of those seniors who love to wake up every morning with a cup of coffee. Now, because of each of the benefits outlined below, I’ll reconsider encouraging my seniors to indulge in a cup of coffee; but I will still discourage them from adding cream or sugar!

1. Dementia prevention – drinking 3 to 5 cups a day can prevent dementia

2. Lower risk of stroke – according to research, the more coffee you drink, the more your likelihood of having a stroke is reduced!

3. Prevention of skin cancer – coffee can disrupt the protein that causes damaged skin cells to turn into skin cancer

4. Relieves pain – coffee is a proven treatment for headaches and it can help alleviate pain from exercise

5. Reacts with brain’s receptors – by reacting with the brain’s receptors, caffeine prevents Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, improve moods, lowers suicide rates and reduces pain.

6. Healthy heart – since coffee is a great source of magnesium, it can make for a healthy heart!

7. Prevention of other diseases and illnesses - Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, several types of cancer (liver, endometrial, colorectal), suicide and some mood disorders, gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and cavities are all prevented and reduced in regular coffee drinkers

Via: Cognifit

Image Source: twincitiesdailyphoto.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.