All it takes is one song to bring back 1,000 memories. We each have a soundtrack to our lives. A few familiar notes, the first line of a song, and we are back in time with precious memories and emotions washing over us. For older people, the power of music has the priceless potential to improve mental, physical and emotional health. There are touching videos online that show amazing examples of the way music can break through the walls of dementia. In one, an elderly man is seen hunched over […] Read Full Article »
How to Protect Your Loved One from Nursing Home Abuse
Just turn on the TV or radio or read the news, and you’re likely to hear horrible stories about elder abuse permeating the airwaves. As early as 1996, it was reported that nearly 450,999 adults over the age of 60 experienced abuse or neglect in a domestic situation. Then, when you factor in self-neglect, this number jumps to over 550,000. To break it down even further, 10% of study participants experienced some form of elder abuse or neglect in the prior year. One study stipulates that one in 14 cases […] Read Full Article »
7 Tips for Choosing the Right Caregiver for Your Loved One
As difficult as it can be to see a loved one grow older and less able to do all the things they did in their younger years, it is equally difficult to acknowledge you are unable to take care of their needs yourself. Your loved one may want desperately to remain at home. If you can help make this possible, it will be a blessing. Depending on their level of physical and emotional health, it may not be safe to them to be alone all of the time. Having the […] Read Full Article »
7 Tips for Staying Active As You Get Older
Retirement used to be viewed as the time to just sit back, relax and enjoy your “golden” years. When most people think of retirement, they imagine themselves traveling, visiting loved ones, having fun and filling their days with fun activities like fishing, reading, watching movies, quilting, drawing, etc. However, having fun is only one part of the puzzle for achieving health, happiness and longevity. The other part is staying active. Today, as people live longer, it’s important that they stay mentally and physically alert. The best way to do this […] Read Full Article »
Tips on how to make new friends as a senior
During certain phases of life, making friends can be relatively easy, especially when you are exposed to a lot of different people while at school, work, or when you are a parent of young children. Though, making friends for senior citizens can at times be difficult for particular reasons, like relocation or retirement. As a senior, there may be less opportunities to meet new people, as well as there may be more resistance to making new friends at this point in life, but making and maintaining close relationships is actually […] Read Full Article »
Why maintaining a fitness routine as a senior citizen is so important
Starting and maintaining an exercise routine as a senior citizen can be quite challenging, but there are many options for staying active during this phase of life, for example, senior citizen fitness classes like seated aerobics, are especially designed to fit the health needs and abilities of senior citizens. A class like seated aerobics is particularly useful to work on mobility, strength, and flexibility. Plus, the addition of using a chair, means that even those with balance issues can take part in the class. Some of the benefits to taking […] Read Full Article »