New Years Resolutions for Senior Citizens

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior News & Resources

What can New Jersey seniors do to make the New Year a good one? Consider the following:

Shared experiences and the resulting wisdom
The younger generations need the benefit of the wisdom elderly citizens have acquired throughout their lives. By sharing their wisdom with young people, senior citizens become a benefit to the community. They need it and local seniors will enjoy feeling needed.

Volunteer
Find an organization to support and volunteer to help them. Doing so will not only make a senior citizen’s golden years meaningful, but it will also bring them happiness.

Keep using all faculties
Look for ways for seniors to continue using all of their faculties (physical, mental and spiritual) so they do not suffer from lack of use. Playing games, engaging in social activities, prayer, meditation and exercise are perfect for strengthening these faculties.

Maintain good health
Maintain your health by exercising regularly, and making adjustments to lifestyle and diet. Talk to your doctor about reducing medications to the least amount and strength possible.

Enjoy the arts
Do you enjoy the fine arts, such as music, visual arts, performing arts etc. that New Jersey has to offer? This is an active rather than passive interaction like watching run-of-the-mill programs on television.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care. New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

Healthy Flying for Seniors – 7 Tips

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health

Plan to travel by plane this winter? If so, here are a few things to consider:

Wash your hands. Under all circumstances it’s important to wash your hands regularly – this is more important when you’re in any public place. You might also carry a small bottle of hand-sanitizing gel for times when you can’t get to a sink, and sanitize your hands more frequently when traveling by plane (train or bus).
Avoid touching your face. This is a good idea in normal circumstances, but especially on a plane, where you don’t know who sat in the seat before you. Never touch your face, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands and always wash your hands thoroughly after performing any personal hygiene task.
Switch your seat if possible. If your flight isn’t packed, look for a seat by yourself, away from other passengers, to limit your contact with germs. It might also be a good idea for you to wipe down your seat, and anything else you touch on the plane, with an antibacterial wipe.
Consider a mask. If you or someone you’re traveling with is sick and coughing, you might want to bring a surgical mask to prevent the spread of germs to other people on the plane.
Protect against “airplane air.” Air inside the airplane is fairly dry, so stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and/or juices. Apply moisturizer to your skin if it becomes uncomfortably dry, and protect lips against chapping, too, by using a medicated lip balm.
Reduce your risk of a blood clot. Staying immobile for prolonged periods, such as on long flights, increases the risk of developing blood clots in your legs. You can minimize this possibility by getting up from your seat and walking about the cabin every 60 to 90 minutes. Drinking plenty of water and juices can also help. Avoid beverages that cause you to urinate excessively, such as alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
Pack medications just in case. It’s a good idea to pack a few over-the-counter medications in case you do start to feel a little under the weather or show symptoms of an illness while traveling. These can come in handy if you begin feeling stuffy or feel a cold coming on.

Elderly Senior Diet – 5 Quick Tips

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health

If your elderly loved one is hoping to drop a few pounds, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Exercise
Studies of the elderly indicate that current weight, rather than age, determined energy intake in men and women. The study suggests that changes in lifestyle, not age, resulted in the dietary changes seen in the healthy elderly survey. As you mature, your body will lose muscle mass, decreasing your metabolic rate, which in turn burns fewer calories at a slower rate. A great way to maintain control of your maturing body is to exercise regularly.

2. Eat More Fiber
Maintaining a regular cycle of all systems in our bodies is very important. Fiber helps maintain regularity, preventing constipation and gastrointestinal diseases like diverticulosis (pouches that cause spasm or cramping in the large intestines). You may also want to be extremely selective in your diet and not include gaseous foods.

3. Get More Calcium
Around 40 years old, our bones start to lose more minerals quicker than it can replace them. For women, menopause causes a drop in estrogen levels, estrogen helps bones maintain calcium. Menopause is responsible for a greater loss of calcium than in men. You should discuss with your physician a dietary supplement to ensure you are properly maintaining your body.

4. Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential from birth throughout life. It is critical to health and is chronically overlooked. Second only to air in its steady and relentless necessity, H2O carries nutrients to cells; aids digestion by contributing to stomach secretions; flushes bodily wastes and reduces risk of kidney stones by diluting salts in the urine; ensures healthy function of moisture-rich organs (skin, eyes, mouth, nose); lubricates and cushions joints; regulates body temperature; and protects against heat exhaustion through perspiration. And the list goes on and on. You should consume the minimum eight glasses of water daily to maintain a youthful vigor and pep.

5. Avoid Foods With Too Much Sugar
Too much sugar causes a number of problems – it suppresses the immune system, weakens eyesight, contributes to obesity and diabetes, causes constipation, leads to all different types of cancers, and the list goes on and on about the effects of sugar intake. Young and old should never binge on sugar.

Eating well and exercising regularly can make you feel a lot better. It gives you more energy – and it can actually help slow down the aging process!

Best Senior Exercise: Walking

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health Tips

Walking is an excellent and easy way for the elderly to exercise. Walking offers:

Improvement of cardiovascular function and possibly a reduction in the chances of having a heart attack
Potential weight loss or weight control
Reduction in blood pressure
An aid in the prevention and treatment of depression
A positive impact on the health of people with diabetes
Greater endurance and muscle strength
Building and maintenance of bones and muscles

Here are some tips to help you start walking:

Find a buddy with whom you can walk regularly. A friend can encourage you to walk on days when you aren’t motivated and can help you continue walking at a good pace.
Use a pedometer, which keeps track of the distance you’ve walked. This will help you keep track of your steps and can be an excellent motivator that can encourage you to gradually reach your goal.
Schedule regular walks in a PDA or calendar. This helps to ensure that you have a set time every day for walking.
If you have chronic medical problems such as heart disease or diabetes, check with you doctor to make sure a walking program is safe for you.
Start slowly if you need to – just get started, even if it means just walking around the block. Somewhere between three and four miles an hour should be your goal, but if you have to work up to that gradually, it’s better to walk slowly than to do nothing.

Senior Sleep Tips

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Living & Lifestyle

Sleep is important at any age, yet many seniors have problems sleeping as well as they did when they were younger. Here are some tips to getting a better night’s sleep:

1. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Your body gets used to a sleep pattern. Even if you are retired, try to get up at the same time each day, weekends included.

2. Do not take naps. Napping can interfere with sleep. If you must take a nap, limit it to 30 to 45 minutes and do it early in the day.

3. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy or sugary foods four to six hours before bedtime. These foods and beverages may stimulate you, making it harder to fall or stay asleep.

4. Don’t eat big meals or drink a lot late at night. A large meal may cause indigestion, which could interfere with sleep. If you drink close to bedtime, you may need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

5. Do not exercise within three hours of bedtime. Regular exercise is great, but doing it close to bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep.

6. Have a light snack close to bedtime. Try warm milk or a banana.

7. Relax before bed. Practice deep breathing exercises, take a warm bath or do other activities that help you unwind before bedtime.

8. Don’t lie in bed awake. If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, go to another room and do something else until you feel tired. Do this if you wake up in the middle of the night, too. Let your body associate the bed with sleeping (and sex) only. Keep computers, televisions and other distractions out of the bedroom.

9. Invest in a good mattress and pillows. Your comfort is a top priority for good sleep.

10. Make sure your room is dark, quiet and cool. Sleeping may be hard if your bedroom is too hot, noisy or bright.

Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays – 10 Tips

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Living & Lifestyle

The end of the year holidays are approaching. What can you do to make the holidays particularly pleasant for your aging parents or loved ones? Here are some thoughts:

Stroll down memory lane. Holidays provoke memories, which can be especially powerful in the later years of life. “Leading authorities have observed that memory and ‘life review’ are important parts of the aging process,” says Barry Lebowitz, Ph.D., deputy director of the University of California San Diego’s Stein Institute for Research on Aging. “Older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty remembering recent events, but they are often able to share stories and observations from the past. These shared memories are important for the young as well—children enjoy hearing about how it was ‘when your parents were your age…’.” He suggests using picture albums, family videos and music, even theme songs from old radio or TV programs to help stimulate memories and encourage older seniors to share their stories and experiences.
Plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of time they are included. The noise and confusion of a large family gathering can lead to irritability or exhaustion, so schedule time for a nap, if necessary, and consider designating a “quiet room” where an older person can take a break. “Assign someone to be the day’s companion to the older person, to make sure the individual is comfortable,” says Daniel Sewell, M.D., director of the Senior Behavior Health Unit at the UCSD Medical Center, who adds that these guidelines work well for young children as well as adults with mental, emotional and physical health issues.
Eliminate obstacles. If a holiday get-together is held in the home of an older person with memory impairment or behavioral problems, don’t rearrange the furniture. This could be a source of confusion and anxiety. If the gathering is in a place unfamiliar to an older person, remove slippery throw rugs and other items that could present barriers to someone with balance problems or who has difficulty walking.
Avoid embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family member who may be experiencing short-term memory problems. If an older person forgets a recent conversation, for example, don’t make it worse by saying, “Don’t you remember?”
Create new memories. In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Add something new to the holiday celebration, or volunteer for your family to help others. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, or window-shopping at the mall or along a festive downtown street.
Be inclusive. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members. “Older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers,” Sewell says.
Reach out. Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times. “Reaching out to older relatives and friends who are alone is something all of us should do,” Lebowitz says. “Loneliness is a difficult emotion for anyone. Recent research with older people has documented that loneliness is associated with major depression and with suicidal thoughts and impulses.”
Beat the blues. “Holiday blues” are feelings of profound sadness that can be provoked by all the activities of the holiday season. Seasonal blues can have a particular impact in the lives of older people, according to Lebowitz. “In some people, the ‘holiday blues’ represent the exacerbation of an ongoing depressive illness,” he says. “Depression is a dangerous and life-threatening illness in older people. Tragically, suicide rates increase with age, specifically for older men. Depression is not a normal part of aging and should never be ignored or written off.”
Stay on the sunny side. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression is an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. It is important for people confined indoors, especially those at risk for winter depression, to make time for activities that will increase exposure to daylight.
Monitor medications and alcohol. If you have senior family members, be sure to help them adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays. Also, pay attention to their alcohol consumption during holiday parties and family gatherings. Alcohol can provoke inappropriate behavior or interfere with medications.

Senior Safety at Home – 7 More Tips

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Frank Esposito

Keeping New Jersey seniors safe around the home

Here are some very important things to remember to keep things safe around the house for your elderly loved ones:

Aerosol sprays vs. pump

Aerosol cleaning sprays are not only unhealthy to our bodies, but can be unhealthy to carpeting, vinyl, wood, and our total home health environment. When buying cleaning supplies, choose the pump type.

Ice on wood decks

You can add safety to icy wood decks by sprinkling them with cornmeal, which adds traction and is easily swept away without harming the wood, lawn, or plants.

Don´t advertise expensive purchases

When purchasing expensive electronics, or appliance that come in boxes, be sure to break-down (flatten) the boxes they come in before placing outside for pick-up. Otherwise, you will only be alerting thieves that you have something inside for them to steal.

Health check for gas heaters

Gas heaters should be checked before each winter as soot can build up at the outlets causing problems and may need cleaning. Proper ventilation and clean filters are important. Call your gas utility or manufacturer/installer for information.

Types of paints

Finished paint efforts will be more rewarding when the right types of paints are used. Here is a basic list:
-Latex that is available in flat or semi-gloss finish can be thinned with water and is washable; is odor free and quick drying; good for ceilings, walls and woodwork.
-Polyurethane, that is available in satin or high gloss and very durable; can be thinned with alcohol; good for floors and wood surfaces.
-Oil-based paint, high gloss that can be scrubbed; can be thinned with mineral spirits or turpentine; best for trim, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Spots on carpet/floors

Humidity can cause furniture casters to discolor wood flooring or carpeting underneath. This can be prevented by spraying clean casters with shellac or clear urethane. Remember to have good ventilation when spraying these solvents. If you are unsure, place stiff pieces of clear plastic under the casters or legs of furniture.

Icy doorsteps

To avoid icy doorsteps in wintertime, add dishwashing liquid to warm water, then pour all over the steps. This will thaw ice and prevent refreezing.

Lifestyle Tips for NJ Seniors

Posted on December 7, 2009 by David

New Jersey Senior Living & Lifestyle

Here are some wise tips that every senior should consider following:

Phone solicitations

Never respond to phone solicitations for products or winning sweepstakes. And NEVER give out ANY personal information to ANYONE who contacts you by telephone – especially a social security number or credit card information. Tell them you are not interested and hang up the phone.

Eating less-the easy way

Diets aren´t always the easy way to maintain a healthy weight for seniors, but eating less can be. Use the salad plate for meals rather than the dinner plate; less surface, less food.

Arthritic hands

For those with arthritis, clothes with buttons can be a challenge. One suggestion would be to convert your present clothes to velcro closure by remove all buttons and sew onto the button-hole opening (closing button-hole); sew a strip of velcro (purchased from craft or cloth stores) to an area where buttons were removed and to an area on backside of the button-hole strip. Some velcro has a sticky backside that can be ironed onto cloth, but sewing is more permanent. If you cannot sew, request assistance from family, friends, or professional seamstress.

Over-extending ourselves

Whether it is gardening, exercising, running errands, we should know what our limit is without adding stress, aches and pains. At the beginning of each week, make a list of things you want to accomplish for that week, then break them down to no more than one hard task per day. Write down what you want to do in a daily-planner or a convenient wall calendar. If you miss a task, add it to next week´s list. You´ll find yourself more flexible and not as rushed (or achy!)

Outside activity for seniors

Check with local houses of worship and the city hall in your area. Also check with your doctor or hospital administration. Many of these locations offer rides to and from their facilities. If no locations are available, ask your local municipal administration or house of worship if they can create activities for seniors.

Gas Saving Tips for New Jersey Seniors to Reduce Costs

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Money Management

Here are some things to consider to help New Jersey seniors reduce the cost of gas. Also, remember to ask your mechanic if they have a senior discount.

Maintenance:

Keep your car properly tuned up to improve gas mileage by about 4 percent.
Improve mileage by up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor.
Keep tires properly inflated to improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent – which will also extend the life and ensure the safety of your tires.
Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve your gas mileage by another 1-2 percent. Select motor oil with “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, and a clean filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.
Purchase less expensive regular unleaded gas if your vehicle does not require premium or midgrade fuel. Check your vehicle owner’s manual.
Shop for low gasoline prices locally, but don’t waste gas driving to a distant filling station to save a few cents.
Don’t race a cold engine to warm it up and avoid extended idling to warm up the engine.
Spark plugs must be in good condition. Some will last for 100,000 miles, but many need to be replaced more often.

Driving

Curtail aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas – and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Use slow acceleration from a dead stop.
In addition, speeding cuts fuel economy 7 to 23 percent, as gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Each five mph you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 15 cents per gallon.
Avoid idling, which gets 0 mph. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas at idling than cars with smaller engines.
Combine your errands into one trip and plan your routes carefully to drive fewer miles and use less fuel.
Use overdrive if available. Use your vehicle’s overdrive gear when appropriate to reduce engine speed, save gas, and decrease engine wear.
Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.
Don’t use air conditioning, if it is not really needed. Maybe just the blower will keep you cool. Air conditioning dramatically reduces fuel economy. Most air conditioners have an “economy” setting that allows the circulation of unchilled air – just a fan, which does not affect fuel economy. Many also have a “maximum” or “recirculation” setting that reduces the amount of hot outside air that must be chilled. Both settings can reduce the air conditioning load — and save gas. Fan speed does not affect fuel economy.

Helping Your Senior Save Money

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Money Management

Saving money is a problem for people at any age, but for New Jersey retirees with limited budgets, it becomes all the more important. Here are some things to consider:

AARP costs very little to join, but it can save a senior money through the discounts and other programs they offer.

Check with local banks to see if they offer banking programs for seniors. Some banks will not charge monthly fees for seniors or they might be able to get their checks for free.

All states have a senior citizens agency that will have information on state and federal programs that may help you save money. Check your local Department of Social Services for a starting point to find these types of agencies. You might also want to check with AARP to see if they have a list of agencies in your area.

Check with senior citizen organizations to get information on inexpensive day and weekend trips. You have the safety of a group and they offer a wide variety of trips. You can also check with your Parks and Recreation Department to see if they offer any trips. When you make your reservations for hotels, restaurants, etc. let them know you are a senior citizen. Most places won’t ask and you might be surprised at the discounts offered.

Organize a maintenance service program if you live in a neighborhood with other seniors. You can get together with your neighbors and find out what kinds of things need to be done around everyone’s home. Then you can bargain with a contractor to get a more affordable price for all the work.

Take advantage of educational programs that many colleges offer at discounts to seniors. Continuing education programs can keep your mind sharp and help you learn something new.

See a free movie, usually a matinee, at a theater that offers free movies to seniors. Most recreational and entertainment organizations, as well as restaurants, offer similar discounts during certain time periods.

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Yearly Archives: 2009