What’s up in senior living?

Topic: Health & Aging

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The Importance of Senior Rehabilitation

Following a hospital stay for an injury, surgery, or illness, many seniors begin a rehabilitation program designed to help them fully recover and improve their long-term health as they continue to live an independent living lifestyle. The goal of these programs is to increase strength, mobility, and balance, as well as to improve communication skills and cognition. Some studies show that rehabilitation after an incident, like a fall, can increase a senior’s chances of returning to an independent lifestyle by …

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Why “When Something Happens” is Too Late: Choosing the Best Living Options for Senior Couples in Need of Additional Care

One of the more difficult decisions couples face is deciding where to turn when one spouse is still able to maintain an independent living lifestyle but the other is experiencing health issues that require additional support. The choice typically comes down to two options: bring in home health, or find a new living option that can assist the spouse in need while supporting the independence of the other. Whether you are the healthy spouse or the adult child in the …

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The 8 Dimensions of Wellness

Health and Wellness for Seniors Older adults are living longer, healthier lives today thanks both to advances in healthcare and the knowledge that staying well helps improve our minds, bodies and souls. Wellness means much more than simply eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly; it is defined as “not only the absence of disease, illness or stress, but the presence of purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment, …

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Power Foods and Healthy Aging

Senior Nutrition: Eating Right for Healthy Aging Eating a well-balanced diet can start to become more difficult throughout the aging process. The metabolism slows down, which leads to a decline in physical activity and the body needing fewer calories to function properly. However, even though seniors’ appetites have decreased, they still need the same nutrition as they did in their younger years—if not more! Recent research reveals that certain types of food offer benefits above and beyond others. These “superfoods,” …

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10 Healthy Aging Tips

Debunking the Myths of Aging and Health The stereotypes surrounding seniors are fairly easy to identify. For one, there’s the “cranky old man”, constantly yelling at kids to stay off his lawn. Or, maybe you picture a white-haired elderly woman, surrounded by cats and baskets of knitting yarn. However, today’s older generation tends to be a far cry from those stereotypes. Seniors are living longer, healthier and more vibrant, active lives through the age of 65 and beyond in independent …

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Knowing the Signs of Stroke

The Causes of Stroke A stroke can be caused by a blocked artery, known as ischemic stroke, or the leaking or bursting of a blood vessel, which is hemorrhagic stroke. Also called a “brain attack,” a stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is suddenly cut off. This can happen to anyone, at any time. When it does, the brain cells are deprived of the oxygen that keeps them functioning. Without early intervention, these situations will …

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The Importance of Physical Therapy for Seniors

What Does Senior Physical Therapy Involve? The definition of physical therapy is “the treatment of disease, injury or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment and exercises rather than by drugs or surgery.” Physical therapists are trained to evaluate and teach individuals how to prevent or manage their condition and achieve the long-term goals they set for themselves, as well as reduce their pain, restore function and independence and prevent further injury. After a senior has been impaired …

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The Benefits of Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s

Music: A Treatment for Alzheimer’s Music has a way of bringing us back to a certain moment in time, evoking memories, emotions and feelings from our past. Listening to certain songs can bring comfort in times of sadness, boost your mood, and just make you feel more positive and happy overall. For those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, thanks to many recent studies, the power of music is more evident than ever. This is due to the …

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How Nutrition Needs Change as You Age

Benefits of Proper Nutrition for the Elderly Eating a proper diet is vital at any age to help us stay active and healthy, but for seniors, getting the right nutrition daily becomes even more important. A good diet provides numerous benefits, like helping build stronger bones and teeth, increasing cognitive function, aiding in digestion, and keeping the body functioning as it should on the whole. Proper senior nutrition can also help reduce the risk for issues like heart disease, high …

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Fall Prevention Tips

The Importance of Preventing Falls in the Elderly As people age, falling becomes more likely to lead to long-term consequences from broken bones or head injuries. For adults over age 65, one in five falls results in serious injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is why  preventing falls is one of the most proactive things you can do to stay healthy while enjoying an independent living lifestyle. The CDC reports that each year, 2.5 …

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