New Jersey Senior Home Care - Elder Care - Live In Care for NJ

In our post yesterday, it addressed New Jersey Elders and Seniors - and how you need to pay attention to their diet and nutrition.. even though you live very busy lives, you must take the time to eat right and exercise! Expert Home and Live-In Care for Seniors and Elders in New Jersey. If you have an aging relative, and they need help with daily living activities, please call 800-848-2336.

We highly advise our New Jersey Seniors to exercise and eat healthy foods. Moderate exercise is good for you. The question is, What is moderate exercise? Well, according to the experts, a moderate exercise program doesn’t necessarily have to be EXERCISE in the traditional sense at all.

Moderate exercise can be …

• Walking “briskly” for 30 minutes.
• Riding a bicycle 4 miles in 15 minutes.
• Using a “stair-climber” for 15 minutes.
• Washing windows or floors for 45 to 60 minutes.
• Gardening for 45 minutes.
• Raking leaves for 30 minutes.
• Shoveling snow for 15 minutes.
• Dancing fast for 30 minutes.

If you’re considering beginning an exercise program and you’re currently getting no exercise at all, it’s a good idea to call your doctor just to ask if there are any reasons why you shouldn’t start. Assuming that he/she says it’s okay, the next thing to remember is to start gently. The surest way to sabotage your good intentions is to go “all out” on the first day, and then wake up the next morning so stiff and sore you give up the idea of exercising altogether.

Begin easy and work up to a moderate exercise program that uses approximately 150 calories per day. If you start slow, you may find yourself looking forward to gradually increasing your exercise routine as your level of fitness, strength and energy increases and that’s good for your health, your heart and your outlook on life!

Have a happy and healthy senior life in New Jersey. If you live in New Jersey, aging, and want to stay home longer but need help doing so, please contact Expert Home and Live-In Care for Seniors and Elders in New Jersey or give us a call 800-848-2336.

New Jersey Elders and Seniors need to pay attention to their diet and nutrition.. must take the time!

The most frequently cited reason why we don’t treat our bodies and minds to healthy, nutritious food or even a moderate amount of healthful exercise for seniors living in NJ is, “Too much to do, and not enough time to do it!”

One study found that approximately 64 percent of people combine eating with some other activity, such as reading, working or watching television. The same study disclosed that approximately 50 percent of those people surveyed rely on frozen, packaged, or take-out for their evening meal.

Most seniors in New Jersey are aware of the fact that what we eat today will affect our future health. Lowering our consumption of fats and red meat are the two most frequently mentioned ways that people say they are trying to improve their diets. Others, unfortunately, look for shortcuts through dietary supplements that promise effortless “miracles” of weight loss without any changes to one’s eating habits or physical activity.

Physicians warn against relying exclusively on miracle weight loss drugs, and suggest that the most sensible course of action is a healthy balance between a good diet and moderate and regular exercise.

If you have made a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, or are thinking about it, we urge you to keep the following in mind:

• Always consult your physician before making any radical changes in your diet or exercise routine.
• Always demand to see the clinical and medical research evidence that substantiates the claims of any dietary supplement. If in doubt, consult your physician or a professional nutritionist.
• Remember, there is no substitute for nutritious food, properly prepared, combined with physical activity, to keep your mind and body healthy.

If you have an aging family member living in New Jersey and they need in-home or live-in care, contact Expert Home Care in NJ for a consultation. We can be reached at 800-848-2336.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is an insulin deficiency condition that people are born with. Type 2 diabetes develops gradually as a person grows older. It can appear anytime, in anyone. Undetected and untreated, Type 2 diabetes can represent a very serious life-threatening disease.

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way your body uses food. During digestion the body converts food into glucose for energy. To get the glucose into your cells, the body uses a hormone produced by the pancreas gland: insulin.

In those individuals with diabetes, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is either absent or too little, or, the body simply doesn’t assimilate it. The result is that digestion creates glucose the body can’t use. The glucose builds up in the blood causing high blood sugar levels, or diabetes.

Fortunately, when diabetes is detected early, it can often be controlled by diet and exercise. In more serious cases, oral medications may be prescribed to reduce the body’s blood sugar level, or insulin injections may be prescribed to boost the body’s ability to assimilate the excess glucose. Untreated, over time diabetes may harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to prevent diabetes by eating a healthy diet, controlling your weight and getting regular exercise. Even those who develop diabetes can, with some relatively simple lifestyle changes, keep their blood sugar under tight control and avoid or delay other serious health problems.

The most common warning signs of diabetes are: fatigue, excessive thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, sores that won’t heal, sexual problems, blurry vision, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. Anyone who is experiencing any of these symptoms, or has a family history of diabetes, or is significantly overweight, should see their primary health provider and have periodic blood sugar tests performed.

If you are a family member caring for an aging relative living in New Jersey, Expert Home Care can help you keep your senior safe and healthy. Please call us at 800-848-2336.

New Jersey’s Senior Care and Live-in Care - Expert Home Care NJ - helps your loved ones stay safely in their homes longer. Call us today at 800-848-2336.

Women are at greater risk of developing heart disease than men. Heart disease, which can lead to heart attack, is currently the number one cause of death for American women! Here are some of the major “indicators” you should be aware of:

Overweight as a child. Excess weight during childhood can result in the development of thickened heart muscles which can significantly increase the risk of heart attack later in life.

If, at age 18:

• You were 10-to-20 pounds overweight, you have a 25% higher risk of having a heart attack between the ages of 40 and 70. 
• You were 18 to 24 pounds overweight, you have a 65% higher risk. 
• You were more than 24 pounds overweight at age 18, you have a 100% greater risk than the average person.

High triglyceride levels in the blood. Like cholesterol, triglycerides can produce abnormally high accumulations of plaque in the blood vessels that lead to the heart, which can result in a heart attack.
What can you do right now to help lessen your risk? According to medical experts, here are six ways to help protect your heart and lower your risk of heart attack:

• Quit smoking—It’s still the number-one contributing risk factor!
• Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid foods high in artery clogging saturated fats.
• Choose a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, grains, low-fat meats and dairy products.
• Exercise. Moderate exercise may well be the elixir of life. It raises good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol, lowers triglyceride levels, lowers blood pressure, helps control obesity.
• See your doctor regularly. He or she can help you assess your risk, offer you advice and therapy options for quitting smoking, changing your eating habits and an appropriate exercise program. He or she can also monitor your vital signs and recommend the use of medications that can help you to control your blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels.
• Whether you are a man or a woman, heart disease, heart attack and stroke represent your number one health risks. A proactive approach to improving your health and lifestyle can go a long way to put the odds in your favor by reducing your susceptibility.

 New Jersey’s Senior Care and Live-in Care - Expert Home Care NJ  -  800-848-2336.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help - 800-848-2336.

Preventing Falls In Senior’s Home

Approximately 25 percent of the population age 65 and older requires treatment for injuries received from a fall every year. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury for people in that age group.

So, what can the average “senior” do to protect themselves from a fall? There are several things to consider:

• Keep Your Home Safe. A majority of falls happen in the home. To make your home more fall proof, you should eliminate as many trip hazards as possible.
• Make sure all throw-rugs have non-slip backing pads.
• Make sure all stairwells and hallways are well lit and free of clutter.
• Equip bathrooms, bathtubs and shower stalls with securely attached grab-bars and use non-skid mats or treads to help prevent slips and falls.
• Stay Active. An active lifestyle is one of the best of all possible ways to reduce your “risks” in many areas, not just falling.
• Physical activity keeps your muscles strong, helps maintain bone density, keeps you limber and flexible, as well as helping you maintain a good sense of balance.
• Walking, gardening and stretching exercises are all good ways to help maintain optimum body mechanics no matter what your age.
• Live Healthy. Remember, eating a well balanced diet, limiting your consumption of alcohol, which may interact with your medications.
• Staying active and getting regular health check ups can all help you avoid falls, as well as many other health problems that could keep you down.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors is here to help provide care for aging seniors in New Jersey. Please call us if you have questions or concerns about your loved one - 800-848-2336.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care ensures the safety of your loved one in the comfort of their home.  Please call us at 800-848-2336.

A healthy immune system is capable of eliminating dangerous infections and diseases before you’re even aware of them. Our body’s immune system is a thriving swarm of billions and billions of white blood cells, T-cells and other antibodies that have one goal: to recognize foreign invaders within our body and destroy them!

When bacteria enters your body through a cut, specialized cells called macrophages rush to the scene to devour the invaders. Other helper T-cells, killer T-cells and B-cells which create antibodies also rush to the site to clean up any bacterial fragments left behind.

Viruses are more insidious than bacterial infections because they sneak into our cells and have the ability to alter them for their own purposes. Against a viral infection, the immune system dispatches swarms of antibodies to attack the viral invaders. In addition, your immune system has memory cells that analyze each viral infection, remembers the formula that successfully defeated it, and creates an immunity to that exact virus in the future.

Lastly, our immune system contains free ranging agents called natural killer (NK) cells that seem to be programmed to attack both viruses and cancer cells. Fortunately, you can strengthen your immune system without too much effort:

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Cut down on fats.
• Take supplements containing the antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E.
• Exercise regularly. Regular exercise increases blood flow and helps to move immune cells throughout your body.
• Minimize or neutralize the effects of stress. Chronic, unrelieved stress is probably the most severe threat to your body’s immune system.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Quit smoking cigarettes
• Get a good night’s sleep.

Without our immune system, even the mildest infection would be lethal. Under normal circumstances and with a little care and common sense, we can all keep our body’s immune system healthy and strong.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care can help keep your aging relatives safe & healthy. Call us at 800-848-2336.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care ensures the safety of your loved one in the comfort of their home.  Please call us at 800-848-2336.

Yesterday our post gave reasons “why” high blood pressure and hypertention is a potentially deadly disease, if left untreated. Today let’s share positive tips on caring for ourselves when living with high blood pressure.

Fortunately, there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your blood pressure, in addition to taking medication. For those whose doctor prescribes medication, compliancy is very important. Many people suddenly decide to stop taking their medicine because they don’t feel ill. As a result, their blood pressure increases and they put themselves at risk again for serious complications.

In addition to medication, experts recommend the following ways to lower blood pressure:

• Lose weight. For every 10 kg (22 pounds) of weight loss, blood pressure can drop as much as 20 points.
• Eat less salt. This can reduce blood pressure by as much as 8 points.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables and less fat. This has the potential to decrease it by 14 points.
• Start exercising. Even a brisk walk 30 minutes a day has the potential to drop blood pressure as much as 9 points.
• Reduce alcohol intake. This can result in an improvement of up to 4 points.
• Stop smoking. This will result in an all-around blood pressure improvement, as smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict putting added stress on the heart.
• Reduce stress. People who live with unrelenting stress tend to experience higher blood pressure readings.

 Certain stress reduction practices can be incorporated into one’s lifestyle. Taken together, these strategies can often impact dramatically on lowering your blood pressure. In addition, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked periodically to determine what, if any, changes need to be taken.

Call New Jersey’s Expert Home Care at 800-848-2336.

Expert Home Care in New Jersey helps elders in New Jersey stay in their homes safely. Call us at 800-848-2336.

If an elder is suffering from high blood pressure, or hypertension, without ever knowing it can damage the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes before the condition is ever diagnosed. Hypertension is widespread, affecting as many as 60 million Americans, or one in every four adults. It is often killed the “silent killer.”

In the medical world, 120 over 80 is considered a normal blood pressure reading and the range for pre-hypertension is 120 to 139 over 80 to 89. Stage 1 hypertension is a range from 140 to 159 over 90 to 99.

The top, larger number is called the systolic pressure. This is the pressure generated when the heart contracts (or pumps), and it reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial walls. The bottom, smaller number is called the diastolic pressure. This reflects the pressure in the arteries while the heart is filling and resting between heartbeats.

The key risk factors for hypertension include obesity, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, diets high in salt and fat, increased alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Men 55 and over and women 65 and over are most prone to the disease. African Americans, particularly women – and family history are also factors.

Visit us tomorrow when we give tips and lifestyle enhancements to decrease your high blood pressure.

In the meantime call Expert Home Care when you need live-in care for your loved one.. call us at 800-848-2336.

Expert Home Care - A New Jersey Senior Care, Elder Care, and Live-In Home care agency sponsors a Live Focus on Senior Radio program on wsRadio.com. Hosts are David Goodman, President of Expert Home Care New Jersey and Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care New Jersey.

You are invited to listen to our host, Frank Esposito, interview Donald Vanarelli, Esq., certified elder law attorney and co-founder of the Elder Mediation Center of New Jersey. The topic of the radio interview is Elder Law Mediation (click to listen). Don Vanarelli explains the circumstances that make elder law mediation a viable option for resolving disputes between family members over care, finances, independence and other issues involving elderly parents.

What is elder mediation?

Mr. Vanarelli explains that mediation is primarily for family members to find resolution when helping aging parents become a topic of family dispute, “when family members are unable to hear one another and find resolution on hard elder care issues, mediation can help find agreement between family members,” says Don Vanarelli.

Some of those hard elder care issues are:

• Housing Issues
• Power of Attorney
• Guardianship
• Family caregiving - scheduling sibling’s time committments and responsibilities
• Finding in-home help for aging relative or parent
• Living arrangements
• Healthcare Issues & planning
• Estate Planning
• Finances
• Medical Treatments

It’s best to come to resolution before filing a lawsuit, going to court, and having the judge make decisions for the family. If you are in dispute over any of the issues listed above or maybe another hard elder care concern, you might consider going to a professional like an elder law attorney to get resolution before your family comes to an impasse. It’s always better to keep the lines of communication open, especially when seeking soltutions that are best for your mom and dad.

Donald Vanarelli, Esq., certified elder law attorney points out in the radio interview some of the benefits you, a family as a whole, receives from mediation:

• Siblings come together in the same room - this may be the first time in years if family siblings live in different states.
• You get to experience sibling’s body language and make eye contact
• You may also view your parent’s reactions, physical responses
• Walk away with problems resolved, next steps to take, and have specific, clear action items for each family member to do/take

Listen now and hear if family mediation is right for you: Elder Law Mediation.  Brought to you by Expert Home Care New Jersey, the leader in New Jersey elder & senior live-in home care.

Call us for senior live-in help today, 800-848-2336 or contact Expert Home Care New Jersey.

Expert Home Care delivering elder, senior and live-in care to New Jersey Seniors and families since 1985. Call us today at 800-848-2336.

More Tips for New Jersey Seniors and Medications

The rule when buying from Internet pharmacies is not to purchase anything:

• Without a proper medical examination
• Stay away from medications that are not FDA-approved 
• Avoid sites that do not require a written prescription
• Resist claims of “new cures” or “amazing results”

How can you reduce the likelihood of adverse interactions? You can start by following these practices:

• Always read the label
• Follow directions exactly
• Drink a full glass of water and do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking medication
• Take medication in a well-lit room
• Only take medications that are prescribed for you
• Look for single ingredient products
• Do not take over-the-counter drugs without first consulting with your physician or pharmacist
• Discard any expired medications
• Keep a record of all prescription, over-the-counter drugs, herbs and vitamins
• Use one pharmacy
• Contact your primary care provider or pharmacist if you have any problems with your medicines

Many seniors not only are likely to take different medications but also see a variety of specialists who may prescribe medications without a full knowledge of what else they are taking. This can put your at further risk of taking multiple medications that may interact adversely. As a result, consider discussing your medication use with a geriatric specialist or a pharmacist.

Expert Home Care, we offer free van service for our caregivers directly to our client’s doors in the counties of Bergen, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Passaic, Union and Hudson.

Call us for assisted living at your New Jersey home - 800-848-2336.