I was browsing Huffington Post’s Healthy Living section and an article caught my eye that I wanted to share with everyone. Former Alzheimer’s caregiver and author, Marie Marley wrote a moving piece called, “Who Suffers More: Alzheimer's Patients or Their Caregivers?” The title immediately conjured up the image of Gena Rowlands and James Garner from the movie “The Notebook” and the heartache the two main characters endured at the end of movie as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.  Watching a family member debilitated by Alzheimer’s disease and the effects it has on his or her memory is not only distressing, but emotionally difficult to process for the caregiver. In juxtaposition, the family member dealing with the Alzheimer’s is also experiencing a great deal of confusion and anguish because they are unable to control what happens to them. The article does a good job of explaining how a caregiver should view their situation and understand the three traits that people with Alzheimer’s disease have to better help him or her cope with the stress caused by this situation.

The three traits that people with Alzheimer’s disease share are: “they usually quickly forget unpleasant things that happen to them, they usually adapt to change faster than their caregivers do and they rarely worry about the future.” Marley carefully examines each trait so that caregivers can be better equipped to emotionally understand and separate their own struggle from their loved one’s struggle. Marley explains the simple fact that many people with dementia don’t realize that a change has taken place because they don’t remember what things were like before the change. Also, one is not to worry about tomorrow because quite frankly people with dementia don’t have that mental capacity. Death and what may happen to them because of the disease is just not something they can worry about.

Lastly, Marley advises caregivers to remind yourself that your loved ones’ lives are only in the present; this can be key for overcoming stress. Thank you, Ms. Marley, for this wonderfully insightful post and I hope that we can all take away something from this article.
 

When you experience a variety of health issues such as chronic pain and tension, for example, the last thing you may think is responsible for causing these symptoms is your clothing. However, recent research is pointing to particularly tight clothing as the culprit for constricted nerves and digestive issues.

Both men and women should be concerned if tight clothing is causing discomfort.  According to a study from Cornell University, men who wear tight collared shirts and neckties experienced blurred vision, headaches and increased muscle tension in the back and shoulders.  Also important to note is that neckties are not cleaned as often as other articles of clothing and can therefore are more likely to transmit bacteria and other infections. 

For many, it is common knowledge that wearing high heels is bad for your feet and your back and can cause bunions, ankle sprains and other ailments. However, did you know that wearing flip-flops might be worse than wearing high heels? Researchers at Auburn University conducted a study and found that the majority of participants had to clench his or her toes to keep the flip-flops on. This behavior led to sore calf muscles and altered the individual’s gait which can lead to long-term ankle and hip problems.

Moral of the story: Using tight clothes to nip and tuck problem areas may do more harm than good when it comes to your health.
 

With the proper regime involving eating right and exercising, your body will have an easier time slowing down the aging process and staying healthier.  According to Dr. Oz, you can do this in less than 24 hours – here’s how:

To commence the 24-hour plan, start the morning off right with light exercise around 6am. Try an easy 7-minute yoga routine. Yoga can be great for lowering your heart rate and reducing stress, which helps keep your mind and body in check throughout the day.

Once it’s 7am, it is time to consume an anti-aging breakfast. When too much sugar is present in your bloodstream it can block cells from repairing themselves (e.g. sugar makes it harder for collagen cells to repair themself, thus causing more wrinkles as individual’s age). Instead of eating a breakfast loaded with sugar, opt for a breakfast with a low glycemic index to keep your blood sugar levels lower for a longer period of time.  Oatmeal and eggs are excellent options as they are both loaded with protein and sustenance that will help keep you full longer.   

As we age we continue to lose muscle mass, which can make us more susceptible to injuries like fractures and broken bones.  This is why exercise is just as important as eating a healthy and balanced diet.  Ideally, aim to choose healthy food options six of the seven days a week and save one day for a “cheat day.”  Exercising moderately three to four times a week will also help maximize your health benefits.

Startling new changes are being made to Alzheimer’s guidelines. Patients who are currently diagnosed with mild dementia might be classified as having slight memory loss or mild cognitive impairment, which may lead to confusion among patients and their families.

The diagnosis of mild cognitive impartment previously pertained to individuals with declining memory, however, doctors have noticed that these patients also suffered from other memory related issues as well.

Often mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be the precursor to more advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementias.  A mild cognitive impairment diagnosis recognizes cognitive decline in its earliest state.  The definitions for both MCI and Alzheimer’s are being revised to better help distinguish between the two.  In the past, the distinction between the two diagnoses was the ability of an individual to perform daily activities such as shopping, paying bills and cooking with mild difficulty.

These new guidelines are creating reluctance among doctors to diagnose a patient with Alzheimer’s on the spot without further research. 

Without a restful night of sleep the next day can be both physically and mentally draining, but did you know it can actually put you at risk for a heart attack?

According to a recent study published in Circulation, a Journal published by the American Heart Association, individuals with insomnia increase their risk of a having a heart attack by 27 to 45 percent! Even being able to fall asleep, but not stay asleep can increase your risk by 30 percent. Poor sleep has also been linked to heart disease, an increased risk of developing diabetes and obesity.

Simply making adjustments to your nightly routine can help you minimize these risk factors and enjoy a restful night of sleep and a healthy heart. The first step is to create a routine. Try to set your schedule so that you are waking up and going to bed at the same time each day, even on the weekends. This will help train your body to be more prepared for rest and more likely to stay asleep throughout the night. 

Another quick and easy way to prepare yourself for a good night sleep is to turn down the lights about two hours before bed.  Our bodies are very receptive to light and associate it with daytime.  It fact, studies have shown that light, artificial or natural, will keep you awake.  Turning down the lights signals to your brain that it is time to go to bed.

Going to bed hungry or too full will also prevent you from having a peaceful slumber. Being mindful of what we put into our bodies at the end of the night will help set you up for success and a night of little or no tossing and turning. Stay away from stimulates like coffee and energy drinks and keep a light snack like peanuts or a piece of fruit handy to help you curb your late night hunger pains!
 

Home Care Assistance will be celebrating Heart Month throughout February. Heart disease is a prevalent and serious issue in both America and Canada for many reasons.  To start, every 25 seconds an American will have a coronary event and once every minute an American will die from a heart related disease.  Furthermore, heart disease and stroke are responsible for the deaths of one in every three Canadians and it is the leading cause of death among Canadian women.

It is an issue of dire importance for all people which is why it is so imperative that we properly recognize and raise awareness for Heart Month this February.  Aside from understanding ways to ensure heart health like eating a proper diet, adequate exercise and not smoking or binge drinking and participating in activities like National Wear Red Day this Friday will help raise awareness around this cause. “We need to be aware, we need to keep healthy,” Sparrow Ionia Hospital Community Relations Director Laurie Tjalsma said. “We always encourage everyone to wear red.”

This February do your best to educate yourself on how to prevent and cope with the many different forms of heart disease and coronary events which currently devastate our society and many other individuals around the world.  Understanding the cause of congestive Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Stroke or other cardiovascular condition is the first step toward delaying the onset of these events. 
 

As a caregiver, you accompany your client or loved one nearly everywhere they go – depending on their physical and mental capacity.  From eating together to running errands, caregivers are always by the side of the person they are caring for.  In turn, they build a certain level of rapport with their client or loved one that others may not have. 

This raises a question: how can caregivers utilize this close relationship to help improve their loved one’s health and quality of life?  For example, it may be as easy as accompanying him or her to the doctor’s and serving as an intermediary between the doctor and the patient.

A recent study found that caregivers help doctors communicate better with their patient.  The study found that out of all of the elderly patients who came in with a caregiver, 70% of these companions provided the doctor with additional information while 67% asked additional questions.  Caregivers act as a sounding board and can ensure that the patient follows the prescribed care plan based on their needs.

"Continuity of care is a central tenant of an effective patient-provider partnership," said Jennifer L. Wolff, PhD, lead author of the study and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of HealthPolicy and Management. "This work suggests that quality of care improvements may result from more productive communication and education that targets both patients and their companions."

To read more click here: http://www.caring.com/blogs/fyi-daily/doc-visits-its-good-you-came-along?utm_campaign=fanpage&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

What do the Peruvian, Scandinavian, Japanese and the Mediterranean women know what American women don’t? It’s to eat your way to a long life…yes we said eat! 

Maintaining simple changes like portion control, eating farm fresh foods, reducing stress and eating foods with good oils and fats can make a significant difference. Eating certain foods may even ward off the chances of developing depression, obesity or cancer. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish can help keep you slim and happy well into your later years.

Places where these healthy lifestyles prevail are called Blue Zones, which some of you may or may not be familiar with.  Blue Zones are areas where people traditionally lived healthier and more active lifestyles and many times live to ages 100 and older. Cold regions also have the lower rates of heart disease, depression and certain cancers, compared to those who live in warmer, Western regions. Studying these cultures and their lifestyle habits can help Americans and others adopt healthier eating habits and implement them into their daily lives. 

The important thing to remember is that it’s not about a complete lifestyle change, but more how small changes to one’s lifestyle habits can have significant benefits to one’s health and happiness. For example, eating out less and choosing smaller portions can help cut out unwanted calories.

“One thing we Americans have going for us: We are always up for a challenge. So try these healthful Blue Zone — and Cold Spot — inspired ideas. Click HERE for 7 things to do starting today!
 

A recent study has confirmed what many of us already know: that caregiving is one of the most stressful occupations in North America.  This study found that caregivers are the third most stressed group in America behind the obese and the depressed.  Coincidentally, these are two issues that many caregivers are at risk for; this only amplifies the already high stress level of caregivers.

“Caregivers are not only more likely to report stress than other groups; they also report it at higher levels,” said Caring.com senior editor Paul Spencer Scott. “Caregivers are more likely than the general public to have a chronic illness (82 percent vs. 61 percent) and to rate their own health as fair or poor (34 percent vs. 20 percent). Caregivers also appear to manage stress in less healthy ways than the general population. Caregivers are twice as likely, for example, to report smoking to manage their stress (20 percent vs. 10 percent).”

It is more important now than ever to take time out of your day to takes steps toward protecting one’s health and avoiding caregiver burnout.  The ability to provide care to another individual is an invaluable service to society, but the caregiver and their patient’s health need to be of equal importance.

Other interesting findings garnered from this report are that people still refuse to accept how stress affects their daily lives.  Nearly one third of those polled do not believe that stress affects their physical or mental health.  Tests have proven that the truth is quite the opposite; reduction of stress is a major step towards a healthier lifestyle.

To read more click here: http://www.caring.com/blogs/fyi-daily/caregivers-top-list-of-most-stressed-psychologists-say?utm_campaign=fanpage&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Life’s biggest questions are naturally the hardest to answer, and if you choose the wrong action you could end up regretting it in the long run.  We all hope to live with no regrets, but for many, this is not the case.  Thankfully, Karl Pillemer of Cornell compiled a list of life’s greatest trials and sought out advice from people who have already made their life changing decisions and lived with their results.  These people, of course, are our elders.  As they say, another year older, another year wiser.

On Regrets – The seniors questioned on how to avoid regret came to a consensus on two major points.  First, always be honest while taking advantage of new opportunities and embracing challenges.  It is impossible to regret something if you did everything within your power to accomplish it.  Second, try to travel as much as possible.  Most seniors believe that this should take precedent over many other things young people spend money on.

On Happiness – Happiness is a choice and not a culmination of positive or negative circumstances life throws at you.  You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always control how you react to it.

On Marriage – While love can initially bring people together, a lasting friendship and complementing qualities will build a lasting relationship.  As one 89-year-old woman put it, “too many young people are giving up too early, too soon.”

On Careers – Out of the seniors polled on careers, not one said that they achieved happiness by working in a profession they did not like for a big paycheck at the end of the day.  As one 83-year-old former athlete and recruiter put it, “the most important thing is to be involved in a profession that you absolutely love and that you look forward to going to work every day.”

On Parenting – It is important to spend more time with your children despite whatever busy work schedule you may have.  Sacrifices may have to be made along the way, but spending time with your children should come before your career.

Click here to read more life tips from our wise elders.