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.

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.

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.

Protect New Jersey Seniors Against Fraud and Scams

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Elderly Fraud and Scam Prevention

New Jersey seniors, not unexpectedly, comprise the segment of our state population most vulnerable to frauds and scams. To limit the possibility of this happening to you or an elderly loved one, the following points are offered:

Under no circumstance should a senior ever let a stranger into their house. Many thieves will knock on the door to try to see if the senior is home alone and if there are any opportunities to take advantage of them. Many seniors tend to trust people, especially if they appear to be distressed or have children with them.

Your elderly loved one should never reveal credit card, date of birth or social security information over the telephone, in person, in writing or online. A senior, for example, may receive a telephone call advertising a can’t-miss opportunity with little or no risk or identify themselves as calling from a local bank or store, but what really happens is the scammer is trying to get is steal their identity.

Notify police if your senior ever receives a letter or e-mail threatening consequences unless they agree to something.

Call the police if your senior receives a letter that is mailed from Nigeria (or some other country) offering him or her the opportunity to share a percentage of millions of dollars if they allow a deposit to be made into their bank account.

Checks should be written in the name of the charity when making donations. Many seniors have been scammed by someone posing as a representative for a charity or organization and asking for a donation. The scammer tells the victim to write the check out to himself instead of the charity. The check is then cashed, and the scammer keeps the money.

Shred all credit card receipts and bank statements. Close unused credit cards or bank accounts.

20 Safety Tips for NJ Senior Citizens, Elderly

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Frank Esposito

New Jersey Elderly Safety Tips

One’s entire house can be an accident waiting to happen, particularly for seniors who may have unsteady balance or less than perfect vision. Here are some modifications that can be made to minimize accidents and some things to keep in mind:

OUTDOORS

• Paint porches with grit to prevent slips
• Railings need regular inspections for sturdiness on porches and steps

LIVING ROOMS

• Remove extension cords, throw rugs and other tripping hazards
• Use light sensitive night lights in unlit stairwells and hallways.
• Place light switches at doors to prevent walking in the dark.
• Install smoke alarms in every room and test the batteries regularly.

KITCHENS

• Use heating elements that shut off electric burners on the stove.
• Keep fire extinguishers handy.
• Only use sturdy step stools with handles and use poles for reaching.
• Keep vents clean of grease.

BATHROOMS

• Modify baths with tub cutaways.
• Install grab bars.
• Install higher toilets to assist in standing and sitting.
• Apply non-slip strips to bathtubs.
• Use shower seats with back and portable shower heads.
• Paint with contrasting colors.

CRIME PREVENTION

• Keep doors and windows locked. Use peep holes. Never open your door automatically.
• Notify neighbors and the police when going away on a trip.
• Never leave notes on your front door.
• Be suspicious of offers from unknown contractors to do home repairs. Only work with reputable businesses.

Money Saving Tips for NJ Senior Citizens

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Frank Esposito

New Jersey Senior Money Management

If you’re like most of us, you’re probably still digging out from the spiraling economy. Seniors, with crashing 401(k) plans, tend to be the hardest hit. As a means of recouping some of the losses, here are some money saving tips for seniors to consider:

The senior discount at your favorite New Jersey retail stores: Some stores offer a 5-10% discount on all purchases made by seniors every day of the week. Others have a senior day, where seniors get a 20% discount. You may have to ask for the discount, although many stores now just automatically figure in the discount for anyone who looks as though they might fit into the “senior” category. The important thing is to be armed ahead of time with the policy of each store so that you can arrange your shopping trips in order to take advantage of any savings you are entitled to.

Some items can be altered or used less often to save money: The recommended amount of laundry detergent is often far more than necessary to get clothes clean. Try experimenting to see how little you can actually get by with. Reuse dryer softener sheets. Save them in a small cardboard box and then place them in the laundry room and use two each time until they are gone. This may not be a huge savings, but a worthwhile one.
Dilute thick shampoo with water. Keep a spare bottle on hand and pour half of your new bottle into the spare bottle. Then fill both the rest of the way with water. Once they are shaken up, you can barely tell the difference, and it takes less time to get the shampoo to come out of the top opening like it does with the thicker shampoo. Try taking several used up tubes of toothpaste, snip the bottom off of each one, and see how many brushings you can still get out of an empty tube of toothpaste. Buy large economy sizes of items, then divide them into smaller containers so that the extra won’t spoil after the package or bottle has been opened.

Buy gifts and holiday items throughout the year; not just when needed: If you keep your eyes open, you will find gift items for a fraction of their original cost this way. Keep them tucked away in a closet somewhere so that they will be ready at a moment’s notice. Cards and wrapping paper are also great items to stock up on ahead of time. No last minute rushing out to buy a birthday gift.

Lists are beneficial: Grocery shop with a list to discourage impulse purchases. Post a list at home so other members of the household will be reminded to keep an eye out for a good buy on posted items. Update your lists frequently.

Consider online shopping: Do your homework and you will often find brand-name products at huge discounts. Watch for special times when online stores are offering “no-shipping cost” prices. Many stores like Target, Circuit City, Staples, and Walmart now have online outlets where you can order online and choose home delivery or you can pick up the item at your local store.

Watch where you eat: As well as being less expensive, home-cooked meals are usually healthier. Watch for coupons offering senior discounts or special prices at your favorite restaurants. Eating out too frequently can quickly become so routine that it no longer seems to be a special treat. Save eating out for special occasions.

How to Talk to Your Elderly Loved One

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Living & Lifestyle

In general, there is a difference between seniors in their 80s and older, and those who are now in their 70s. For example:

Seniors in Their 80s

Seniors in their 80s, who lived through the Depression, have often spent frugally and saved as much as possible. They focus on wanting to leave a legacy to their children, are less willing to spend money on themselves, and less inclined to talk about future plans.

Seniors in Their 70s

Seniors now in their 70s are more questioning, more discerning and less amenable to institutional, assisted living alternatives. This new wave of “young” seniors is beginning to ponder difficult questions that do not have easy answers, such as, “Where do I want to live if I’m no longer able to stay at home? Who do I want to take care of me in the event I become ill? What are my wishes regarding end of life care?”

Align the Conversation to Your Senior’s Values

Knowing the seniors’ priorities can help their loved ones know what to say to convince them to get the help they need. For someone in his 80s, who doesn’t want to spend money on services for himself, having his children (and grandchildren) tell him they prefer that he spend it on his own needs and not gift it to the kids, might really free the parent up to take care of his own needs.

For someone in his 70s, having the children (and grandchildren) talk with him about his different options and help him identify the ones that best fit his needs and financial situation, might be helpful. This can be complicated due to the fact that seniors are often reluctant to discuss their finances with their children. Nevertheless, having an outline of your senior’s assets so you can know which options are available, is important.

When children have conversations with their parents about the future, they must first reassure the senior that they will be in control and have the final say and that the children just want to help them think about future possibilities and understand their preferences.

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Category Archives: Senior tips