Food plays a major role in many big holiday gatherings, and finding an adequate balance between healthy snacks and sugary treats can be an important step in planning a holiday menu that all your guests can enjoy. You and many of your guests may have a general preference for healthy recipes, but that does not necessarily mean that a December with no Christmas cookies or pumpkin pie is on anyone's mind. At the same time, various health preferences and needs may mean that serving only foods that are high in fat, sugar, and calories as you may have in the past is no longer the best option for making everyone feel welcome. Here are three helpful tips for creating a menu that considers both healthy treats and favorite sweets!
Food is an important part of holiday traditions. Learn some sneaky sources of gluten in common holiday foods and how to replace them for gluten-free relatives.
There are distinct benefits that go along with playing games on your own as well as participating in interactive games as part of a group. Learn all you need to know about the mental health benefits of gaming.
Regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Learn some tips to enable seniors to walk outdoors during the chilly mornings and evenings.
Everyone needs to exercise to improve their body and mind. Think Fit is offering classes designed for individuals with early stages of dementia, Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment. Exercise has been proven beneficial to these groups and people and Think Fit has a program designed especially for them.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) occurs during specific times of the year, most commonly during winter. Find out how online advice can be harmful to seniors with SAD.
Do you know what to do if someone has a seizure in your presence? Attached is a guide to helping a person experiencing a seizure and keeping them safe. It can be frightening for all involved. See brochure for what to do
Brave the cold weather for some holiday cheer! The Virginia Barbershop chorus will be playing at Collegiate School on Mooreland Rd. Richmond VA on Dec. 4th. This musical event will certainly brighten your spirits and help welcome in the holidays. See attached brochure for more information.
There are a variety of events and holidays to look forward to during fall. Learn some spooky projects that seniors and their caregivers may make together to help spread holiday cheer all through the Halloween season.
It can be challenging for seniors to leave their homes or go outside during the colder months. Learn some tips that will enable seniors to continue to walk outdoors during the chilly mornings and evenings.
Senior Helpers will be the proud sponsor of a Salvation Army Silver Bell tree this year! What’s a Silver Bell? This is the senior version of a Salvation Army angel, only for a senior citizen. There will be physical “Bells” on the tree at the Senior Helpers office on Midlothian Turnpike as well as online options. Further information will be coming in future issues . The season normally starts the first week of November the presents being due the second week in Nov. Stay tuned for further information
The right habits and hobbies can help extend seniors' healthspans as they keep them active and engaged. Here are the top 5 autumn habits and hobbies to extend senior healthspans.
Falls are a leading cause of death among seniors in the United States. Reduce the risk by installing the best rails and bars around the home.
With September quickly approaching, it is a great time to prepare your home for autumn. Here are fun tips for seniors to enjoy the season!
You've likely heard how pets can help reduce blood pressure and reduce depression and anxiety, but they also enrich the lives of those who might otherwise feel socially challenged, isolated, or unmotivated. Have you wondered whether you or a senior loved one might benefit from having a well-trained companion dog? Are you currently weighing the benefits of having a loyal, loving pet against the responsibility of caring for one? After reading this article, you may be inclined to start shopping for squeak toys and cute doggie sweaters. Dogs are just that good at making a senior's life better. Here are just three ways a dog can enhance a senior person's mental and emotional health.
Caregiving can cause burnout, stress, exhaustion, and loss of perspective towards one's life. This can be detrimental to a caregiver's health. Due to personal responsibilities, caregivers need to have reasonable expectations and determine where the companionship requirements end. Establishing these boundaries is crucial to balance their needs and those of older adults
Seniors with dementia face several challenges navigating through the house. They tend to be anxious and confused, so they can easily misplace items around the house. It is also important to note that for people with dementia, living at home instills independence. There is a need to ensure a conducive environment by making specific changes at home. Senior Helpers serves the Richmond area, and offers tips for an organized home for better dementia care, as listed below.
Care for aging parents and relatives is essential for some reasons. One of the reasons is that they are so vulnerable to identity theft, scams, or other online hazards, especially those that do not have anyone guiding and supporting them daily. It is important to have a caregiver, who knows how to protect your aging parents and relatives from online scams and attacks.
Summer presents the perfect opportunity to hit the road and visit out-of-town relatives or travel to an exotic holiday destination. And if you're tagging along older persons, you need to be a little more prepared because they might require special accommodations to help them enjoy the trip. At Senior Helpers in Richmond West VA, we know that a little forethought will make things easier for everyone, and it's why we feel the following practical advice would be helpful.
If you are the adult child or spouse of a senior with dementia, you know just how important it is to make sure that they are properly cared for as their dementia worsens. One way to do this is to ensure that the home that they spend their time in is well suited to them and meets their needs. Having a home that is organized and functions well for someone with dementia, can make a big difference for them. Here are some great tips for organizing a home for better dementia care.
Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for aging adults. Swimming boosts a slow, sluggish metabolism, facilitates good digestion, and gets the blood flowing. It engages and challenges every muscle in the body, improves coordination, and builds respiratory endurance. It also offers an entirely non-impact workout that's perfect for those with sore muscles and joints, or brittle, easily injured bones. However, if your loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or has already been battling this disease for some time, swimming provides an important and surprising range of additional benefits impacting memory, cognition, and social engagement among other things. At Senior Helpers of Richmond, we want to share four benefits of swimming.
While they are unlikely, natural disasters could happen in Richmond, Midlothian, Chesterfield County, and the surrounding areas. And if an emergency or disaster strikes in the Greater Richmond area, seniors will need to be prepared by having enough food on hand to get them through the disaster. Many emergencies will cause a loss of power and you may not be able to use your refrigerator or freezer or cook food in a microwave or oven.
Loneliness and social isolation are natural concerns for seniors and their loved ones. Here are some ways to help alleviate feelings of social isolation in seniors.