Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease today. And according to the Center for Disease Control, out of the 30 million Americans with the condition, 1 in 4 don’t know they have it. The good news is that the rate of new cases being reported since 2008 has decreased each year. This is due to the fact that many new diabetes self-management education and support programs have been implemented across the U.S. to help boost prevention efforts. Still, because people are living longer with diabetes, the number of cases continue to increase. That’s why prevention and
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
How Stress Affects Seniors and How We Can Help
Ready or not, stress always seems to have a sneaky way of finding us. And while most of the time it comes and goes and we’re able to bounce back fairly quickly, as we get older it’s harder and harder to get a hold on stress—and stress ends up taking a hold on us. Unfortunately, along with the stress comes a boatload of health concerns that are directly caused by it. But there’s good news: there are so many things you, and your home care agency, can do to help manage your stress and take back your life. How
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Go Green with Fun Earth Day Celebrations Perfect for Seniors
It’s by no accident that Earth Day falls right in the midst of a blooming spring season. After a long stretch of gloomy winter weather, your seniors will appreciate the chance to open up those windows, step outside, and enjoy some fresh air. This all-about-earth holiday is a fun opportunity to encourage seniors to engage in what brings them joy. And this year at our Highland Park Home Care, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite Earth Day activities that you can do with the seniors that are dearest to you. Getting Outside Walking in the Neighborhood
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Spring Arthritis Relief
The unfortunate truth about arthritis is that those who have it, are constantly trying to find relief from it. But is there a method that actually works? With more than 100 different types of arthritis, there’s no set treatment for everyone. Once your doctor does an evaluation to determine your specific type, a diagnostic test is done to confirm the diagnosis. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of the disease. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints starts to break down. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the hips, knees and spine, but can also target the neck, thumbs, fingers
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Fun Spring Activities for Seniors
With spring right around the corner, you want to make sure your senior has enough fun things lined up this season to help ward off boredom and prevent loneliness. And with warmer temperatures right around the corner, your loved one is once again able to enjoy all of their favorite outdoor activities – and maybe even try a few new ones. In fact, being outdoors, your senior gets a healthy dose of vitamin D – necessary for proper development of the brain, bones and muscles. Doctors say sunlight is also helpful in improving mood and cognitive function, while offering mental
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Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors
We’ve all heard the saying, “You are, what you eat.” So, it’s only natural that a healthy diet makes for a healthier you. This is especially true for older loved ones. A well-balanced regimen, rich in vitamins and nutrients, becomes more essential to our overall well-being as we age. Over time, the body begins to go through a lot of physical changes. Our metabolism start to slow down and we don’t burn as many calories as we should. The digestive system no longer absorbs nutrients the way it used to, and we tend to lose much of our appetite. That’s
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Improve Health and Mood with Aromatherapy
Often, when people think of their health and mood, the associations that come with these words relate to one’s diet, exercise regimen and stress level. To alter their state, people try all kinds of treatments and lifestyle changes to better themselves. One type of alternative therapy that is often overlooked is aromatherapy. What Is Aromatherapy? Defined by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy as “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit,” the use of essential oils’ is growing. Everyone from
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Music Appreciation with Jim Kendros!
At A Glance Event: “Music Appreciation by Jim Kendros” Location: Lake Forest Senior Center located in Dickson Hall. Dates: 3/7, 3/28, 4/25, 5/23, 6/27, 7/25, 8/8, 9/26, 10/24, 11/28 and 12/26 Time: 10:30 a.m. Registration: Due one week before each class Starting this March and continuing through December, Music Researcher and Composer Jim Kendros will explore the world of music in the monthly music series, “Music Appreciation by Jim Kendros” at the Lake Forest Senior Center located in Dickson Hall. Music Salon Magic Proudly sponsored by Highland Park home care agency Freedom Home Care, this event series
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Easy to Grow Plants for Seniors
If there’s one activity that benefits us all as we age, it’s gardening. Since at least the early 1900’s, Americans have taken advantage of gardening and all that it has to offer. Not only does planting and growing your own garden increase mental health, it also provides a host of other benefits like building endurance, improving sleep cycles, increasing mobility and flexibility, decreasing stress levels and reducing anxiety and depression. Desite all of the favorable aspects of gardening, your loved one doesn’t have to have a green thumb to get started on their own garden. Growing your own flowers and
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Childrens' Books Teach Kids About Alzheimer's
Understanding Alzheimer’s is difficult for most adults. And explaining a complex disease like dementia to a child, can be even more of a challenge. That challenge is magnified when the loved the one suffering from Alzheimer’s as a grandparent. Children have fond memories of grandmothers and grandfathers. Traveling back-and forth to their homes for the holidays, times spent cooking or fishing together – even listening to familiar stories passed down through the generations. When family members branch out and begin their own lives, grandparents are often the glue that holds everyone together. They also seem to hold a special place
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