Benefits of Adult Coloring Books: Coloring is a common activity amongst children. However, coloring can be a beneficial and even enjoyable activity for adults. Many coloring books are actually created specifically for the needs of adults as they feature complex, black-and-white illustrations, typically inspired by Read more…
More: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/08/14/benefits-of-adult-coloring-books/
The 3 Stages of Alzheimer’s: Alzheimer’s disease tends to develop slowly and gradually worsens over several years. Alzheimer’s affects most functions of the brain which includes: memory, thinking, judgement, language, personality, and movement. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s can develop differently in each person, but there are some commonalities in the symptoms and stages of the disease. […]
More: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/06/05/the-3-stages-of-alzheimers/
Sundowning in The Elderly
While most people are “winding down” or relaxing as the day comes to an end, those with sundowners syndrome are becoming increasingly active. Late afternoon and early evening can be difficult for some people with Alzheimer’s disease. Sundown syndrome, or “sundowning” as it’s often called, can produce a range of behaviors, including confusion, anxiety, and aggression. While there is no cure for sundowners, there are ways to lessen its effects.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, sundowning may continue for several months and often happens in the middle and later stages of dementia. Here are some of the triggers that may cause sundowning:
• Disturbance to the “body clock” that tells our bodies when to sleep
• Too much or too little light
• Too little or disturbed sleep
• Lots of noise
• Medications wearing off
The National Institute on Aging suggests a few tips to help prevent sundowning:
• Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object or activity.
• Play soothing music
• Close curtains or blinds at dusk to minimize shadows
• Avoid caffeine late in the day
• Don’t plan too many activities during the day, as they can be tiring.
If sundowning continues to be a problem, seek medical advice. While sundowning may simply be occurring alongside dementia, there may be other causes such as pain, sleep disorders, or other illnesses.
Learn more: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/05/29/sundowning-in-the-elderly/
Keeping a Food Journal
What exactly is a food diary? A food diary or journal is a record of foods that are eaten on a meal-by-meal, daily, or weekly basis. The diary can include nutrition, carbohydrates, calories, fat content, sugars, or other dietary information to help organize and track foods by group, and so forth.
A food journal is a record that helps us maintain a daily log of what we eat, when we eat, what foods we eat, and the amount of calories we take in.
Some tips for successful journaling:
• Write down “everything” as soon as it is consumed
• Be as specific as possible, include amounts and serving sizes
• Include snacks, salad dressings, condiments, – “EVERYTHING”
• Include a brief description of mood and thoughts before eating
• Choose a journal format – notebook, a computer spreadsheet, or smartphone “app”
Keeping a food diary or journal can be very informative and may even help shed some unwanted pounds. In order to be successful with a food diary, the diary needs to tell the truth. Nothing is gained by cheating. Happy journaling!
Learn more: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/05/22/keeping-a-food-journal/
Ballroom Dancing for Seniors
One nostalgic activity is dancing with a partner in an elegant setting to a band playing romantic classical music. Seniors can relive these memories by doing ballroom dancing in their homes as an exercise to improve health. Being an activity that requires two people, both individuals can take advantage of the health benefits ballroom dancing has to offer.
Ballroom dancing is an enjoyable way to treat health-related issues most common with seniors such as dementia and osteoporosis. The steps of ballroom dancing are simple to learn, and they will be done repeatedly thus enhancing memory. Also, seniors are engaging in a social activity. Playing music in the background while dancing can help with relaxation and put both dancers in a good mood.
Despite ballroom dancing being a slowly paced activity with a low amount of required movement, the activity has its physical advantages that seem to be designed for seniors. Dancing with a partner is practice for maintaining balance which could help reduce the risk of falls. Even slowly dancing, the body is constantly moving. The movement of the body results in a healthier heart rate, and it can also make fragile bones stronger.
Along with its health benefits, ballroom dancing offers seniors offers fun, smiles, and laughter.
Learn more: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/05/15/ballroom-dancing-for-seniors/
Shoes for Fall Prevention
Falls are common and costly, especially among Americans age 65 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every second of every day, an older adult suffers a fall in the U.S. – making falls the leading cause for injury and injury-related deaths. Older adults often experience a combination of factors leading to falls, but one easily modifiable factor is footwear.
Wearing the right shoes is an important “step” for preventing falls at home. Here are a few tips when selecting footwear:
Soles: Use only non-slip soles. The better the grip, the lower chance of falling. Also, avoid soles that are too thick. Foot clearance is an issue for some adults, and thick soles can be a tripping hazard.
Heel Cup: Use shoes with a high firm back that supports the heel and provides needed stability.
Velcro: Velcro proves easier to manage than laces and may result in shoes being fastened most of the time.
Size: Size is very important! If shoes are too large, they can become problematic for walking. If shoes are too small, this can cause a variety of foot problems including corns, calluses, and bunions.
While not every fall can be prevented, looking for ways to reduce risks is the key goal. Wearing the right shoes can help older loved ones maintain their balance, improve their gait, and reduce their risk of a dangerous fall.
Learn more: https://ihchc.nwsltr.info/2020/05/08/shoes-for-fall-prevention/
We wish you and your family the happiest of holidays. Remember to stay safe: mask up, social distance and wash hands. If you find your loved one needs extra help to stay home in the coming year we are here to serve you.
