Home Health Phoenix cares for many older adults with heart issues. Heart disease affects millions of seniors each year. It may be difficult for many seniors to make major changes to their diets. However, this is one of the ways to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. By following some simple steps, seniors can make the necessary diet changes needed to avoid the disease. Below is a list of steps that can be taken.

1. Reduce the intake of cholesterol and unhealthy fats. This is one of the most important steps to lower cholesterol as well as the risk of heart disease.

2. Eat foods with low-fat protein. This can include fish, poultry and egg whites. Flaxseed, walnuts, beans and peas are high in protein and low in fat.

3. Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in fiber and low in calories. They also contain substances that can reduce the risk of heart disease.

4. Eat whole grains instead of bread with refined flour and cereals with sugar.

5. Reduce salt intake. Don’t forget that processed foods contain high amounts of salt. Reduce the intake of processed foods and avoid the addition of salt while cooking and eating at the table.

6. Eat in moderation and avoid filling your plate. Keep portions of food balanced.

7. Create daily menus to help you plan ahead.

Source: mayoclinic.com

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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.

While most people wait until the beginning of the year to start working on their resolutions, there are many benefits and reasons to start earlier. Seniors do not have to wait until a new year begins to make and start working on a resolution. Any positive change in daily life is a benefit and there is no reason to wait to make those changes. At Home Health Phoenix helping to improve the lives of seniors is important to us, and we encourage you to use the tips below and start working on your goals today!

1. Millions of people make resolutions each year and many of them are seniors. These goals are often centered on changes that will improve daily life, so there is no better time to start than now!

2. Resolutions do not have to be made just for the New Year. You can make a resolution at any point during the year and begin working on it as soon as you can. There is no need to wait until the first day of a new year.

3. When starting early, you will see there are benefits. You will begin improving your life sooner. Self-discipline is one of the most important factors of any resolution success, so start early and make changes for the better.

4. Keep your goal in mind, no matter when you start to work on your resolution. Create a plan that will allow you to stick to your convictions and achieve your goals. Resolutions not only improve life, they also help people grow physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Source: ehow.com

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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.

Home Health Phoenix cares for aging adults, and we know that achieving goals can be a challenge for many seniors. No matter what the goal is, making a change is never easy. The computer may be a wonderful way to help seniors keep on track and eventually attain their goals for the year ahead. Below is a list of some websites that are great resources for anyone trying to reach their goals.

1. ResolutionsReminders.com – This is a free site that can help you stay on track and attain your resolutions. The site was established in 1997 and has been going strong ever since. It contains valuable resources and users can sign up to receive email reminders.

2. DietTV.com – This site is great for anyone who has set diet goals for the New Year. A personalized program can be created, including a customized diet plan. The site has many areas that will help with all diet and exercise needs, such as an exercise finder and support groups.

3. StopSmoking.net – Many seniors still smoke, and many members of the senior population make resolutions each year to quit smoking. This is one of the hardest goals to achieve, especially for seniors who have been smoking for many years. The site also offers tips on how to quit as well as the option of creating a personalized stop smoking plan.

Source: helium.com

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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.

Home Health Phoenix knows that there are a number of common mistakes that seniors often make when setting goals which can lead to failure. Don’t fall into that trap this year, by ensuring you avoid these goal setting downfalls:

1. Don’t procrastinate – get started with them right away. As soon as you set your goals, get going. The longer you procrastinate, the less likely you’ll ever begin on your journey

2. Overcome the hurdles – it’s Murphy’s Law that what can go wrong will go wrong; but just because you encounter hurdles while trying to meet your New Year’s resolutions doesn’t mean that you need to give up. Overcome!

3. Don’t let a plateau discourage you – no matter what your goal is, you’ll see a lot of progress early on and then hit a plateau. This doesn’t mean you’re not meeting success, this a natural occurrence, and you simply need to keep moving forward with your goals

4. Recognize that if you feel discouraged, it’s simply an emotion – at some stage along your journey to reaching a goal, you’ll likely feel discouraged. But that doesn’t have a bearing on your success, especially once you recognize that it’s simply an emotion and you can get through it

Via: Huffington Post

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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.

With a New Year ahead, seniors want to make new memories that they will remember. For many seniors, this is a big concern in their lives, particularly if there is family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia. But, no senior just needs to accept that with older adulthood, memory loss and cognitive impairment can occur; they simply need to take simple steps to keep their brain thinking!

1. Keep your brain active – use training sessions that keep your brain active regularly. Try memory games, activities that require skill and logic, or learn new skills in order to help keep your brain on its figurative toes!

2. Snap out of your routine – when you follow the same routine day after day, your brain is no longer actively engaged. Simply by doing the same routine tasks in different ways you can keep your brain sharp

3. Think positively – since stress can affect memory, think positively about all aspects of your life. Don’t expect that your memory is likely to fail simply because of family history. Understand that you can take some control over your future in a positive way!

Via: AARP

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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.

If your New Year’s resolution is to increase your brain power in 2010 and fight the cognitive decline that can come with aging, then try these 25 tips:

1. Choose fruit – instead of chocolate bars, try blueberries and almonds

2. Dance – ballroom dancing can help prevent Alzheimer’s

3. Choose healthy crunch – in salads, instead of croutons try walnuts for texture

4. Walk daily – reduce blood sugar with a 20 minute walk daily

5. Try Chinese vitamins – use Chinese moss

6. Become a tour guide – at a hospital, museum or historical place guide tours to help you remember facts

7. Use video games – use brain teaser games and practice hand-eye coordination

8. Try new things – don’t stick to the same old logic puzzles you’re used to

9. Deal with stress – seeking support helps reduce the effects of shrinking to your brain’s memory center

10. Look around – take in your surroundings closely

11. Notice details – really look so you could recount your surroundings

12. Try special tea – gotu koala tea protects brain cells

13. Use other herbal teas – teas with ginseng and holy basic can protect from cortisol

14. Choose a calming word – focus on a word that calms you as a form of meditation

15. Stay focused on time – keep calendars in every room

16. Take a course – take a class at a college

17. Wear a helmet – if you ride your bike, protect your head

18. Drink red wine – drink 2 or 3 glasses of red wine per week

19. Have thyroid testing – thyroid problems can hamper the brain, receive testing and get it under control

20. Choose lean foods – skip the burger and fries

21. Choose healthy sweets – fruits can satisfy a sweet tooth like candy

22. Try oats and cinnamon for breakfast – oats prevent plaque in brain arteries and cinnamon improves blood sugar

23. Listen to music – turn off the TV, turn on the music

24. Try Indian food – ingredients in curry have great antioxidants for brain health

25. Eat regularly – break for food throughout the day

Via: AARP

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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.

Not all New Year’s resolutions need to feel like a burden; these 10 tips will improve your health this year, and you’ll also have a great time giving them a try! There are benefits all around!

1. Be social – attend parties, classes, and social groups. Seniors who are socially active have better physical and mental health than those who are isolated. It’s not uncommon for seniors to withdraw, but avoid it in 2010

2. Try healthy indulgences – controlled amounts of red wine and dark chocolate are enjoyable and can improve health by preventing diabetes, lower blood pressure and more

3. Laugh a lot – you’ve heard laughter is the best medicine. It’s true. Laughter is about the only thing you shouldn’t do in moderation. People should get in a good laugh a couple of times a week to improve the health of their blood vessels

4. Take a snooze – heart related death has been proven to be reduced in seniors who nap for 30 minutes at least 30 times per week. It can also help seniors feel refreshed and improve their immune systems

5. Dance for health – dancing can help to prevent dementia, and is a great form of exercise. Get out those dancing shoes in 2010!

6. Eat some fat – linoleic acid and safflower oil can actually help seniors with a few pounds to shed lose weight, so incorporate them into your diet

7. Get some sun – don’t forget the sunscreen, but vitamin D can lift spirits and reduce the risk of heart disease

8. Try tai chi or yoga – these activities can improve mental health through meditation and help with balance, strength and flexibility

9. Have sex – many seniors give up sex, but it can help you to sleep better, reduce pain, blood pressure and stress

10. Spend time in nature – anxiety and depression are greatly reduced in those who appreciate green space!

Via: AARP

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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.

No one enjoys being sick, especially with the flu. Seniors tend to face additional challenges with the illness. As a senior caregiver, you can easily give your elderly loved one some helpful advice towards staying out of the flu’s radar.

• Wash Your Hands—The simple act of cleaning your hands can prevent germs from spreading or reaching your senior. Encourage your senior to wash their hands or carry hand sanitizer.

• Avoid People Who Are Sick—As much as a senior may love to see their grandchildren or children, if any party is sick, it is best to just stay out of close contact until no longer contagious.

• Stay in Bed—If you are a sick senior, try to not push yourself by going out on errands. Not only can rest help a senior recover faster, but you will also prevent others from getting sick.

• Sleep, Exercise, and Eat Healthy—Some of the best ways to fight the flu can easily be by getting a full night’s sleep, being active, and eating foods and drinking liquids beneficial to your health.

• Keep your hands out of your eyes, nose and mouth—One of the most common ways germs can spread is by rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth after touching a doorknob or other item that is contaminated.

• Cover Your Nose and Mouth—When sneezing or coughing, it is always better to cover your mouth and nose to prevent your flu-like symptoms from spreading to others.

Source: cdc.gov

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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.

Particularly with the winter months here, and ice and snow hitting cooler climates in the United States, falling is an even bigger concern of many seniors. Unfortunately, for those with chronic pain, the risks of falling are increased by as much as 50%. Seniors need to learn to cope with chronic pain from their personal perspective and address these issues with their doctor as well.

1. Keep a pain journal – using a calendar or day planner to rate the level of pain felt each day creates a document of the consistency and frequency of the pain and can help identify other factors that might contribute to it. Seniors can rate their pain on a scale from 1 to 10 in their journal

2. Be persistent – doctors don’t always take a senior’s complaint of pain seriously. Some may feel that the older adult is simply complaining, others may not think it’s as serious because some seniors downplay their experiences. Seniors suffering from chronic pain need to be honest, and persistent to make their doctor understand

3. Understand triggers – if specific activities make the pain worse or physical temperatures outdoors, seniors should record this and adjust their activities to reduce the instances

4. Get on with life – chronic pain can cause seniors to withdraw and avoid all activity. They should continue with activities that they enjoy and maintain a physical routine

Via: Chronic Pain Support

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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.