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What's Happening at Live Free
Happy birthday to the following employees:
Jane, RN 9/15
Barbara, PCSP 9/23
Tracey, LPN 10/6 (also welcome Brady who was born on 6/30!!)
Employee Anniversaries:
Allene, Office Mgr 3 yrs.
Stacy P., LNA II 3 yrs.
Elizabeth, LNA 3 yrs.
April, LNA 1 yr. |
Living With and Writing About Alzheimer's
Follow
a blog written for USA Today by Bob Blackwell, a retired CIA operative
who now has Alzheimer's disease. Bob has agreed to blog regularly as he
becomes more cognitively impaired with the disease's progression. His wife, Carol, adds comments. You can leave questions and comments as well. Read here.
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What is your personal risk for cancer?
Take
a quick interactive online survey by WebMD to find your personal risk
for the 5 most common cancers. In just a few minutes you will get a
personalized report to share with your doctor, content tailored to your
personal risks, and tips from Web MD experts to help you prevent cancer.
Take the survey here.
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Simple Tips to Avoid Colds and Flu
Avoiding
colds and flu this season is at the top of everyone's list. Here are 14
tips to help you keep healthy and happy as compiled by medical experts
who want to keep you out of their offices and safe at home and work.
1. Wash your hands often, including every time you shake someone's hand.
2. Do not touch your nose and eyes.
3. Feeling bad? Go to bed and get some sleep.
4. Get a flu shot (you may need two this year with H1N1 widespread).
5. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Exercise to enhance immune function.
7. Stay away from sneezers, coughers and sick people.
8. Use alcohol-based hand wipes often.
9. Stop smoking if you have not already done so.
10. Avoid 'double dipping' with chips or watch out for those who may be dipping double.
11. Use a purse that can be wiped down, like leather or vinyl.
12. No nail-biting.
13. Get happy!
14. Sneeze into the crook of your arm and not your hands.
To read why these 14 tips work, and get some tips on what to do if you are already sick, click here.
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Live Free Home Health Care Newsletter
November 2009 |
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Greetings!
This autumn we've harvested a number of encouraging articles on
preparations for an aging society. The demographic bulge created by the
baby boom generation is bringing about a refreshed focus on health and
innovations in architecture, care and technology in order to better
accommodate the lifestyles and needs of seniors as the population ages.
Some of the information may surprise you! In a spirit of sharing and
community, we hope you will find the included news informative and
beneficial. And we give thanks to all who make this community a
wonderful place to live, work and grow old.
Thank you,
The Team at Live Free Home Health Care
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Boomers will Retire Comfortably, but Later
 Retirement
expert Ken Dychtwald, the Age Wave guru, paints a pretty picture about
retirement for the boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). In his
latest book, With Purpose: Going From Success to Significance in Work
and Life, he states that retirement for the boomers will be so
different from traditional retirement that we may well need a new word
to describe it.
The biggest reason for this changing retirement
scenario? Life spans are changing. Dychtwald sees a shift in attitude
about aging. "When our moms and dads reached their 65th or 70th
birthday, they felt like they were in the ninth inning, and they were
quite happy. Now, boomers look around and see 80-year-old newlyweds and
90-year-old marathon runners."
Dychtwald also forecasts boomers
working longer, but being happier than current retirees who report
boredom. And he expects boomers are going to continue to try new
things, no matter the age.
Feeling sad because you have lost 45% of your net worth as you head into retirement age?
Read the full article here and start to feel better.
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Benevolent Ballet Creates Exercise Regimen that Strengthens
 Because
no exercise regime can be successful without the full participation of
its students, the author of the Mini Mental State Exam (the gold
standard test in determining cognition) Dr. Marshal F. Folstein, Chief
of Psychiatry at New England Medical Center, has suggested an exercise
therapy program that patients enjoy enough to readily participate. The
Benevolent Ballet Program uses classical ballet concepts and was
developed with the goals of improving coordination, balance, range of
motion and strength to help the frail elderly prevent falls. Secondary
benefits are improvement of mood, confidence and self-esteem.
Participants also report improved socialization and feelings of
wellbeing.
The exercises have been taken to their simplest form
and have been developed into sets of easy-to-follow movements. All
exercises are presented as dance movements, not calisthenics, and are
accompanied by music. Since the program is capable of adjusting to the
functioning level of the participants, it has been especially useful
for Alzheimer's patients. Read about the program at their Web site.
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New Recommendations for Nutrition
 In the last two decades, the recommendation of what to eat and how to prepare it has changed. The latest information on diet recommends that for optimal health:
- Stay active and eat a variety of foods
- Choose fruits and vegetables in all the colors of the rainbow
- Reach for whole grains, beans, and a wide range of lean protein, from a little red meat to seafood
- Consume three servings of low-fat dairy and three or more ounces of whole grains daily
- Moderate intake of healthful fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados
- Take the time to cook as well as savor meals and share with family and friends
- Eat seafood twice a week
- Drink water to quench thirst
Note that the Institute of Medicine has declared the health benefits of eating seafood outweigh its risks, even for pregnant and nursing women. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it's good for your heart, brain, joints, and possibly your mood!
Just two weeks of eating a diet low in sodium, rich in fruits and vegetables, fiber, whole grains, and modest amounts of healthful fats can significantly lower blood pressure. Want to learn how nutrition advice has changed in the last two decades? Read a comprehensive article here.
For details, check out the food pyramid, which is now interactive.
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Gaining Better Understanding of Senior Living Design
 What
better way to learn than through experience? Between March and
September 2009, an innovative architectural firm assigned top
architects to stay overnight in a diverse range of senior living
communities from Boston to Los Angeles, Seattle to Miami. The selection
of assisted living and skilled nursing communities was in urban,
suburban and rural locations, and offered accommodations ranging from
modest to high-end. The 'Sleepers' were assigned a specific medical
condition and were instructed to assume the limitations of that
condition to experience a simulated version of its treatment and care.
For a full 24-hour period, the 'Sleepers' experienced the varying
levels of service and activities that accommodated their condition and
corresponding lifestyle.
All experiences were recorded in a
journal, which is now online. The long-term goal of the Sleepover
Project is to provide better design for building more responsive senior
living communities. It is an earnest effort to gain insight into the
daily lives of aging seniors who reside in assisted living and skilled
nursing communities.
Read the findings of the CSD Architects Sleepover project on their blog.
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Introducing Live Free Home Health Care's "Advanced Health Watch System"
 A powerful option available to clients is Live Free Home Health Care's technology-based solution to monitor for falls, emergencies, or problems that may arise when there is no caregiver staffed in the home. We can even make sure that your loved one remembers to take his or her medications. This is a cost-effective way to assist in keeping your loved one safe at home.
- 3 out of 10 seniors will experience a serious fall this year.
- Close to 80% of falls will occur in and around the home.
- Falls are the leading cause of injury and death of persons over 65.
- Getting help quickly after a fall reduces the risk of death by 80%.
- In the first two weeks of a senior's discharge to home after a hospitalization, his or her risk of falling is four times greater than any other time.
- 40% of nursing home admissions are precipitated by falls or instability.
Click here to learn more.
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About Live Free Home Health Care, LLC
Serving
central and northern New Hampshire, Live Free Home Health Care, LLC is
dedicated to providing top quality care in the comfort of home as an
alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Family
owned and operated, Live Free Home Health Care offers a wide range of
services, from companion care and assistance with activities of daily
living to skilled nursing, and all care is supervised and updated by a
registered nurse. Live Free Home Health Care also offers medical alert
systems to provide extra peace of mind should an emergency care need
arise. Whether the need is for short or long term care, Live Free Home
Health Care's compassionate staff promises to treat each client
respectfully and like a cherished family member. For further
information, contact (603) 217-0149 or visit
www.LiveFreeHomeHealthCare.com.
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