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Showing posts from 2020

The Importance of Wellness for Seniors

The Importance of Wellness for Healthy Seniors As the population of older adults has grown so has the body of geriatric knowledge, improving upon the care provided to older adults. To that end, wellness has become relevant and mandatory factor in the delivery of geriatric care across the spectrum of health disciplines and has developed exponentially over a very short period of time. Today, we have come to recognize and realize a remarkable increase in the state of senior wellness through “person centered” programs in Long Term Care Facilities. Those “essential workers” that work diligently each day to ensure that each and every resident wakes up each morning with something to look forward to- a day that is individualized rather than institutionalized- a day that is meaningful and purposeful to the resident population regardless of their continued age progression. Achieving wellness is a common sense goal for anyone. But how does the concept of wellness benefits our aging population? A

Be The Change

Turmoil has certainly visited the world over the last year and it has thrown systems that have been in place for years wide open and exposed areas that are working and areas that are in need of massive social change. One of these areas is in the care of our elderly. Activity Directors have been shifted into the forefront of this pandemic within the walls of your facilities. Your importance in maintaining peace and stability in the lives of those you serve has never been more evident as you are each being called upon to perform tasks that you would have never thought possible only a few months ago. The flip side to upheaval is the renewed ability to put the pieces back together in a better way. I am sure you have thought of many areas over the years that could be improved upon or had many ideas of things that could be introduced that would be game changers. I think now is the time for us to all come together as a profession and start working towards some of these changes for the betterm

Self Care & COVID-19

Self-Care for Those Giving Care Indisputably, COVID-19 has increased the level of stress and anxiety across all walks of life. This frightening and highly contagious adversary is particularly weighing heavily on our front line healthcare professionals and they are feeling the conflicting hardship of helping those they care for while at the same time ensuring their own safety. But you need to know that you’re not alone and there are some things you can do to help mitigate the negative effects on your overall well-being. American Psychological Association (APA) notes that managing stress early on can prevent long-term mental health troubles. “If you start to feel an acute increase in anxiety, depression, or other condition, consider seeking professional help sooner rather than later, if possible.” The following are some strategies and preventative measures to help you take action to integrate self care while giving care to others. The Art of Self Support Self

Start the Week Off Right by Making the Most out of your Sundays

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Sunday Funday: The last bit of the glorious weekend until Monday comes along and sucks all the living energy out of you. Okay – maybe Mondays aren’t  that  bad, but a well spent Sunday can actually give you a little more energy to power through the week. How so, you ask? Lazy Sundays are for sure a thing, but making the last day of your weekend just a bit more productive goes a long way. Fruitful planning and well-thought out preparation can help you transform the start of your week. Keep reading to find out how you can make the most out of your Sundays and take back the week. WAKE UP EARLY Step one to getting a full and productive day in? Be up and out of bed by 9:00am at the latest. Don’t cut your weekend short by sleeping in ’till noon and writing off your entire morning. Get up and go – you’ll thank yourself later. Bonus: Getting up early means your body won’t let you stay up all night, binge-watching  Scandal . Instead, you’ll fall asleep sooner Sunday night, which

Meatless Monday

Chickpea Angel Hair Pasta Ingredients * 3 cloves garlic, chopped * 7 cups low-sodium vegetable broth * 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper * 1 pound angel hair pasta * 1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas * 1 cup flat-leaf chopped parsley * 1/4 cup unsalted chopped almonds * 1/2 cup grated Parmesan How to Make It Step 1 Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Step 2 Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth, crushed red pepper, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Step 3 Add the pasta and cook, stirring, until the broth is nearly absorbed and the pasta is al dente, about 6 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and parsley. Step 4 Divide among individual bowls and top with the almonds and Parmesan.

Spa Day Every

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Have you ever walked out of your favorite spa wishing you could somehow make enough money to always feel the way you do when you step out of a spa? While there were no “spas” in the ancient times when Ayurveda was revealed to  Rishis  (sages) living in the Himalayas and faraway forests of India, these Rishis have discovered an incredible daily ritual to make you feel like every day is a spa day – regardless of your annual income.  Though many people may only associate the word “ Ayurveda ” with fancy, expensive spa treatments, Ayurveda is actually a complete medical science of life. The word “ Ayurveda ” derives from the Sanskrit words “ Ayush ,” which means “life” and “ Veda ,” which means “knowledge of.” And the beauty of Ayurveda’s wisdom is that it truly touches upon every aspect of life. From psychology to managing difficult diseases like psoriasis to practical home remedies, to seasonal, dietary and lifestyle recommendations to prevent diseases, to guidance on how to attain th

How To Care For The Caregiver

More than 65 million family caregivers — 29% of the U.S. adult population — provide an average of 20  hours of care per week; some provide care around the clock. The physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming. So how can you nurture yourself as the caregiver? 1.  Seek support from other caregivers. There are great benefits from knowing that there’s a netw ork of other caregivers you can turn to for encouragement and problem-solving. 2.  Take care of your own health. You need rest, healthy food, plenty of water, and time away—whether it’s taking a walk, meeting a friend  for  a movie, or taking a nap. 3.  Keep your ow n doctor appointments. Let your doctor know that you are a caregiver and be sure to mention any signs of depression (e.g., overeating or loss of appetite; difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisio ns; feelings of hopelessness ). 4.  Be fl exible. Why argue  for 30 minutes to get your loved one to wear matching socks  only to  realiz e