Holiday shopping in general can be tough, but finding the right gift for a senior can be even more challenging. Whether it’s space constraints in their home or having everything they need, an elderly relative can be the ultimate “hard to buy for” person on your list. With the help of Redding.com, we here at Freedom Home Care have put together some helpful ideas to help you find the perfect gift: 1. Food. Who doesn’t love some delicious baked goods around the holidays? Think about making a “Snowy Day” basket, complete with hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, a few different kinds of cookies, and a
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Posts by Freedom Home Care
Tips to Help Seniors Stay Warm This Winter
Winter and all of its activities are nearly upon us. Often, though, these activities are outdoors in the cold and snow, making it difficult for seniors who are sensitive to cold. Here are some tips to staying warm while participating in the fun of the season: 1. Layer up. Layer clothes so that you can add or remove articles easily when going in and out. Consider adding a fleece or sweater under your coat that can be removed if you enter a warm building. And make sure that your winter coat is in good condition to protect you from the chill
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4 Ways to Help Elderly Loved Ones Get Involved for the Holidays
The holidays are a time of togetherness with family and friends. But sometimes physical limitations can exclude seniors from participating in the season’s fun. Here are some activities that will bring the family together in a way that everyone can have a good time. 1. Watch a holiday movie. From the classic to the modern, there are plenty of movies created for the season. Sharing “It’s A Wonderful Life” with a grandchild can be very special. Or try something newer such as “Love Actually” to add some fun to the day. 2. Find some family movies. Even better than watching a holiday
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3 Ways to Recharge Between Holidays
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family, friends, and colleagues. But if you sometimes feel like you need a break from it all, you’re not alone. According to a new study, more than half of the population needs downtime to recover from stressful social situations. It doesn’t mean that you don’t like being with your friends and family, but all of the interaction can become exhausting and weigh you down. Finding some quiet time for yourself during the holidays can be tricky, but with a little planning it can be done. Follow these 3 tips: 1. Schedule a break.
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Are Herbal Supplements Effective?
Many seniors dutifully take vitamins and other supplements to keep themselves healthy and make up for lacking nutrition. But what exactly are those pills made of? And are they doing your body any good? Recent studies have identified various herbal supplement ingredients and their effectiveness. As many people know, the FDA doesn’t regulate many supplements. Because of this, many pills do not need to state exactly what is in their product. It becomes unclear if what they claim is in the supplements is actually accurate. And that’s exactly what the researchers found. Using a system of identifying the supplements’ DNA,
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The Secret Link Between Singing and Memory
Sarah Dessen said, “Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” But it seems that music not only unites people with each other, but also with their own minds. As we mentioned in an earlier blog post, researchers began a singing lab with seniors who have moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. The seniors were brought together three times a week to share the music of their youth. Half of the participants were lead in singing songs from their young adulthood while the other half listened. While the
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The Next Generation of Seniors
As more baby boomers enter their retirement years, many are pushing for change. Instead of being quietly pushed into a nursing home, seniors are demanding more and better ways of living. So, what exactly does the future hold for this growing population of seniors? 1. More seniors will live at home. It has become clear for some time that today’s seniors prefer to remain at home or in retirement communities. And their health doesn’t have to prevent them from living where they want. As quality home caregivers, like Freedom Home Care, are readily available and affordable, relying on nursing homes is a
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Can Using the Internet Reduce the Risk of Cancer in Seniors?
According to a recent study, seniors who use the Internet are less likely to get cancer than their less tech-savvy peers. The study showed that seniors who used the Internet regularly were more likely to have a lifestyle that kept them cancer-free. It was found that those seniors who valued their online time were more likely to exercise regularly, eat moderately, smoke less, and be screened for cancer more often – all good habits to avoid cancer. And, it turns out, the more a senior uses the Internet, the more likely he or she is to engage in healthy behaviors.
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Medications Found to Increase Risk of Falling
Falling is the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for seniors. Head injuries and hip fractures are two of the worst and most prevalent results of a bad fall. And some medications increase the risk of injury for seniors. We know that some medications can increase the chances of falling, but often seniors rely on their doctors to tell them if their medicine will put them at risk. Instead, seniors should take matters into their own hands. Research has been done to discover which drugs cause the most falls. The common link between the main offenders is that they
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Easy Ways for Seniors to Exercise This Winter
As we get deeper into winter, Mother Nature makes it increasingly difficult to remain active outside. But the good news is, there are still ways for seniors to stay active even when the weather starts to become chilly. We have put together some great ways to stay fit this season. S, grab a sweater, a pair of sneakers, and maybe a friend, and try these ways to get active this winter: 1. Enjoy the scenery. If you’d like to do more than look out the window, consider taking a short and slow walk through a park or forest preserve. Layer your
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