Archives for Healthy Living

The Benefits of Reading for Seniors

With National “Read A Book Day” approaching in early September, what better time to learn about the benefits of reading for seniors than now! As a homecare agency, we know just how important it is to maintain your best possible physical and mental health. Find out the benefits of reading from us here at Freedom Home Care!   The first benefit of reading regularly is that it will help enhance memory skills. While reading on a regular basis, it can be very critical to the short-term recall of events that happen each day. Think of it as a mini-workout. Each time
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The Effects of Stress on Physical Health

We all know that unfortunately, stress is a part of everyone’s life. When people experience stress more frequently, it can put a strain not just on your mental health, but your physical health as well.  For seniors, it can be harder on your body because of the physical impacts from stress. We here at Freedom Home Care Highland Park know just how important your health is and have shared some tips to eliminate stress.   The first sign of stress affecting your physical health is developing a sleeping disorder. While this is a pretty common one, being up all night
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Personality Traits That Increase Life Longevity in Seniors

  You might be wondering- what does it take to live a very long and happy life? For as long as we can remember, history has shown that some have lived to an older age and they all share a few things in common. Luckily for you, we at Freedom Home Care have put together a list of personality traits that seniors have in common.   Number one: having a productive and active lifestyle. Not only does an active lifestyle have health benefits, but it is widespread amongst seniors. Staying active for as long as you can is the key
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Heart Healthy Foods That Help Your Cardiac Diet

Following a heart healthy or cardiac diet can benefit everyone- even those who do not have heart disease. Heart healthy foods are foods that have a lot of nutrients and avoid sodium and large quantities of sugar. At Freedom Home Care, we have put together a list of these foods to incorporate into your everyday diet.   When you incorporate these foods into your lifestyle, you are fueling your body with everything it needs to stay as healthy as possible and improve your overall health. These foods can help you lose weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and will
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How Swimming Can Benefit Your Mental and Physical Health

There’s nothing better than floating in the pool or on a lake on a hot summer day. While it’s great for beating the heat, there are many physical and mental health benefits to swimming. This exercise is fun for people of all ages and healthy too! Find out why at Freedom Home Care.   The first health benefit is that swimming is a whole-body workout. It engages and uses almost every single major muscle group throughout your entire body. It also increases your heart rate without putting stress on the body.   Up next, swimming builds cardiovascular strength. Just as
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The Mental Health Benefits of Gardening

You may remember gardening with your loved ones as a child helping your mother or father in the backyard, or maybe it wasn’t a hobby until you grew up. No matter the age, there are many mental health benefits of gardening. Not only is gardening a fun, rewarding hobby, but it also can have many positive effects. At Freedom Home Care, we have put together a list of the benefits below.   Number one, practicing acceptance. Majority of the suffering one goes through is from things that we cannot control. By being outside in nature, it helps you understand that
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The 4 Benefits to Using Music Therapy

Music has the ability to bring happiness to everyone no matter their age. The young and the elders can benefit from using music therapy to provide comfort. We here at Freedom Home Care have put together a list of how music therapy and alternative therapy can help your loved one.   Leading us off at number one is reduction of stress. By using music therapy and frequently listening to music, you can help deal with the stress and tension life brings. Choosing music that is more relaxed can reduce high heart rates and calm your loved one- helping to make
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6 Activities to Celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day

Do you know what is held every last Wednesday in May? It’s National Senior Health and Fitness Day! At Freedom Home Care, your home care agency, we are here to provide six activities that you or a loved one can do to celebrate.   With over 100,000 people participating in retirement communities, park district, and hospitals, here is how you can get active as well. Leading us off at number one is going to the park. With the weather finally warming up, take a stroll in the park filled with trail walking, a picnic, etc.   Next up on our
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Celebrating the Family Caregiver

Caregivers are a vital member of our community and perhaps more personal- your family. At Freedom Home Care we know just how much time they spend with your loved one and how much effort they put into developing a relationship with a family.   Caregivers come from all over and serve a purpose in a variety of roles. Some of these roles may be an advocate, nurse, consoler, helper, chef, companion, safety guard, merrymaker, and steward. Each role unique and important, they all require different strengths and skills that should be celebrated and appreciated.   Our caregivers are constantly reading
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Old Timer, Seniors, Elderly Person, What Else?

Figuring out what to call someone who is higher on the age scale is not as simple as it may sound. If you call someone in their late fifties “elder” they will be offended, and you will probably be getting some mean looks. So how do you go about it? Find out here at Freedom Home Care.   This topic is getting more challenging each day because more and more people are living longer than ever before. People feel more youthful longer because of this and those over the age of fifty don’t look at age the same as some
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