Archives for Fun

The Best New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors

The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to start building a healthier new you! Making a New Year’s resolution to eat better and exercise more often can boost your health and daily energy for years to come. The American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation recommends these eight healthy changes for older adults to help you achieve your goal of getting — and staying — healthy.    Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, low-fat dairy and healthy fats. Just because you’re not a kid any more doesn’t mean you’re excused from consulting the food pyramid. The
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The Benefit of Seniors and Interaction with Young Children

Senior citizens run a high risk of loneliness and isolation due to a lack of social interaction – especially with younger generations. But that’s where the Intergenerational Learning Center at the Mount (ILCM) is trying to change things: they recently put a preschool in their nursing home. And it changed everyone’s lives. Studies have shown that 43% of older adults experience social isolation, which is closely correlated with loneliness and depression as well as mental and physical decline. And many elderly become lonely when they move into nursing homes, or lose a loved one and remain alone in their own
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Travel Tips for Seniors With Alzheimer's   

Now is the time that many of us make plans to take a vacation, travel and sight see, and visit loved ones. But it can be also especially difficult for seniors who want to do all of the things they used to do, but may be need a little more assistance because of Alzheimer’s. With a little planning ahead of time and lots of support from family and friends, older adults can still experience the beauty of the season and recreational times that go along with it. The safety and enjoyment of you and your loved ones is always the number one
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Freedom Home Care Sponsors Fitness Classes for Seniors

We at Freedom Home Care enjoy being regularly involved in our community, and one way we do so is by sponsoring some fun and exciting senior fitness classes, such as… Sit and Be Fit: One of the most popular classes offered to residents, this class provides residents with a combination of strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination based exercises. Part of the class is done seated, while the other half of class is done standing. However, for those who are unable to stand for the exercises, modifications are given. Chair Yoga: Very light class offered to residents interested in learning basic yoga while also improving their flexibility. The instructor takes the class through meditation techniques, breathing strategies, and seated yoga routines. This class is meant to leave the participants feeling calm and relaxed.
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You’ve Got Options – Get Outside!

Getting outside is one of the healthiest things we can do for our bodies and our minds. It improves long-distance vision and attention span, reduces stress, and increases immunity. Simply the Vitamin D provided by sunlight alone can improve cognitive function and prevent bone problems, heart disease, and diabetes. Getting outside also helps fight depression. Unfortunately, seniors are especially prone to getting stuck in the rut of remaining indoors. The idea of going outside seems like so much effort, and many people have physical disabilities or simple, everyday discomforts such as back pain that make movement difficult. But there are actually
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Fun Activities for Seniors in the Winter

With snow on the ground, there is officially no doubt that winter has arrived. As the days become shorter and frigidly cold temperatures settle in, it can be easy to stay cooped up inside for the long haul. But even though temperatures may be chilly, it’s important for everyone, including seniors, to keep busy and socialize. Here are a few ideas from us here at Freedom Home Care for some activities for seniors in the winter to keep active and have fun too! · Join a club- Be it a book club or a coin collectors club, finding a group of people with
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Healthy Holiday Cookie Tips Offer Big Flavor and Low Calories

The holidays have arrived, and with the holiday season here it can be easy to get bombarded with an abundance of sweets, fancy dinners, and desserts. If you’re not careful it can be easy to add on some extra pounds during this year, but we here at Freedom Home Care have a few healthy holiday cookie tips to help you enjoy the season’s sweets while still maintaining a good diet. Simply by altering some of your favorite recipes, you can enjoy your seasonal favorites without the guilt! Whether its substituting ingredients or altering portion size, you can still feel like you/re
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Helping an Elderly Loved One Fight Off the Winter Blues

As the year comes to an end and winter goes into full effect with dreary days and chilly nights, it can be easy to catch the winter blues. Especially for our aging loved ones, this time of year can bring isolation due to loneliness and frigid temperatures. Here at Freedom Home Care we put together a few tips to help your elderly family member or friend fight off the winter blues. Socialization Keep communication open! The days may be shorter and colder, but connecting on a regular basis helps keep spirits up. Another way to help is by assisting seniors
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Glenview Celebrates Bacon Month

March was National Nutrition Month, and we all know it’s important to think about how to get and keep our bodies working their best by eating healthy and staying active. And now, April brings the first major hurdle in eating healthy: Bacon Month. A group of restaurants got together to create the ultimate experience for bacon-lovers in Glenview Illinois called the Northshore Bacon Fest. This festival has everything from the ordinary, like bacon cheeseburgers, to the unusual, like bacon ice cream. They fry it, bake it, and even coat it in chocolate. April is a true Baconpalooza in Glenview. If
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Unexpected Holiday Shopping Secrets

Here’s some refreshingly unexpected holiday news! Research says when it comes to Christmas gifts, being lazy is best.  You heard that right. That doesn’t mean you can put off shopping altogether, but it does mean that you can spend less time finding the perfect personalized gift for each person on your shopping list. In a recent study, a shopper was given either one person to buy for or two with similar interests.  When buying for one, the shopper would find something that the gift recipient would really like.  When buying for two, the shopper would focus more on finding gifts
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