Exceed Home Care

Eat Healthy

Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can help
keep you in the best possible health as you age. Not only can it help keep you in good shape, but it can also keep you healthier. Diets that contain high levels of sodium can lead to cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The article from WebMD mentions that a whole food diet can help you live a longer and healthier life. Choose veggies, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and low-fat dairy and reduce your consumption of fatty meats, sugar, salt,
butter, and packaged foods.

How to Stay Healthy As You Age

Aging is inevitable and something many of us dread. Growing older and losing the ability to do your favorite activities or fully take care of yourself properly can be hard for many people to wrap their minds around. But it happens to everyone. However, there are things you can do to make sure you age as well as possible, both mentally and physically. If you take care of yourself when you are younger, you will be more likely to keep yourself healthy as you age.

There are several ways you can keep your mind and body healthy as you grow older. By doing these things you can enjoy more of your day to day activities and live a healthier and happier life. At Nova Home Health Care in Fairfax, we offer in-home health care, post-surgery care, and other services for aging adults. We make it easier to stay independent and provide the help you need.

Our caring and professional team wants to help you learn more about your aging and how to keep your mind and body healthy throughout the process. Hopefully, you kept yourself healthy at a younger age and have set yourself up for success. By following these tips, you can help make your aging process simpler and healthier. Read on to learn more!

Stay Active
This may seem obvious since staying active can help keep you active, but you should be making an effort to do something active every day! Go for a walk, join a workout group, go for a bike ride, and create a regular routine that involves physical activity. By staying active, you will be able to prevent a variety of different conditions that often go hand-in-hand with aging, including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and osteoporosis. While it can be difficult to keep yourself active, one good way to ensure you still with your active routine is to do something you love. If that is walking through the park or riding your bike around town, be sure to do it daily.

A WebMD article suggests walking 30 minutes a day. A brisk walk that gets you breathing a little heavier, can offer a wide variety of health benefits. It can keep your brain cells healthy with a fresh delivery of oxygen and blood. The article mentions that aerobic exercise may be able to delay or improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Eat Healthy
Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can help keep you in the best possible health as you age. Not only can it help keep you in good shape, but it can also keep you healthier. Diets that contain high levels of sodium can lead to cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The article from WebMD mentions that a whole food diet can help you live a longer and healthier life. Choose veggies, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and low-fat dairy and reduce your consumption of fatty meats, sugar, salt, butter, and packaged foods.

This diet can help protect you from serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. The article mentions that researchers believe this diet works by physically changing parts of your chromosomes that are linked to age-related diseases. Not only will you feel better as you age, but you can also maintain your health!

Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is just as important for older adults as it is for young adults, but it is common that they get much less. You should still try to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night in order to stay healthy. An article from Dartmouth-Hitchcock mentions that a lack of sleep can cause depression, memory problems, irritability, and a greater risk of falling. The best way to ensure you get enough sleep is to create a sleep schedule and bedtime routine. Make sure you keep your bedroom dark and don’t use your electronic devices while in bed. Avoiding caffeine in the evening can also help you get better sleep. If you have trouble sleeping and have tried everything, talk to your doctor about what the problem might be.

Challenge Your Mind
Cognitive decline is a normal part of aging, but it is something that can be delayed if you choose the right methods. By making active learning a part of your lifestyle, you can help slow cognitive decline and keep your brain sharp. Cognitive stimulation can keep your brain challenged and your mind sharp. Just because you are aging does not mean you should stop learning! You can attend a lecture at the local college, sign up to learn a language, learn how to play an instrument, sign up for dance lessons, or simply read a book. You can always learn something new and this will help challenge your mind and keep your brain young and healthy! Try to do something every day that provides cognitive stimulation, even if it is a crossword puzzle or reading before bed.

Stay Social
Loneliness can be harmful to your health and as you age, you are more likely to find yourself alone. According to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock article, 28 percent of older adults live alone. This increases the risk of loneliness. Retirement, loss of a spouse, and many other factors linked to growing older can lead to social isolation. Loneliness can lead to an increased risk of dementia or depression. The WebMD article mentions that seniors who feel isolated have reported having a difficult time with everyday tasks, such as bathing and climbing the stairs. Lonely people also tend to live shorter lives than those who surround themselves with other people.

This is why it is important to stay as social as you age. It can be as simple as befriending your neighbor, joining a group, volunteering with other people, or connecting with others in any other way you know how. Plan a weekly get-together with some friends to catch up and enjoy some time together.

Reduce Stress
Stress is a terrible thing at all ages, but as you get older, your stressors and ability to deal with stress changes. Long-term stress can lead to damaged brain cells and depression. It can also increase the risk of memory loss, fatigue, and a decreased ability to fight off infection. The Dartmouth-Hitchcock article states that stress can cause or complicated more than 90 percent of illnesses.

Learning how to cope with stress can help keep you healthier as you grow older. Getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy can all help you better deal with stress better. The WebMD also mentions practicing Tai Chi, a Chinese exercise that combines slow movements with deep breathing, making it the perfect meditative workout for older adults. There are many benefits to this workout type, especially for seniors.

Stay Positive
Growing older is not always fun and it comes with many challenges, but staying positive can help keep you healthier and happier throughout the process. It can be difficult to stay positive at times, but it can help you live longer, reduce your risk of heart attacks, and lower your chances of developing symptoms of depression. There are many ways you can work on developing a positive mindset including keeping a gratitude journal, helping others, surrounding yourself with positive people, and trying to not dwell on the bad so much.

Growing old is hard and we get that, but there are many things you can do to make this time in your life as good as possible. Follow these tips and enjoy the aging process! It is just another beautiful part of this thing we call life.

If you or a loved one needs at-home health care or services in the Fairfax area, be sure to contact Nova Home Health Care today! Contact us today to learn more about the services we provide and to get a free in-home consultation!

To schedule FREE In-Home Consultation: (703) 359-9000

Exceed Home Care, Inc.
(703) 359-9000
10340 Democracy Lane,
Suite 302 Fairfax, VA 22030

http://www.exceedcare.com/

Understanding the Unique Nature of Elderly Care

Welcome back to our blog page here at Exceed Home Health Care! We are proud to be a team of people who are passionate about providing elderly and disabled people with the care that they need and providing families with a new quality of life. If you’ve been taking care of your elderly parent or aging loved one on your own, at times, you’ve probably experienced frustrations, weariness, and even a loss of hope. Not only are you addressing the physical needs of someone who used to be independent, you’re managing a new set of expectations for your family, and dealing with the emotional strain that providing care might be costing you and yours. Caring for someone else, even on a part-time basis, can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining for anyone.

That’s where we come in!
Exceed Home Health Care steps into your situation and helps make sense of what has been so discouraging and perhaps, chaotic for you and your family members. By providing outstanding home health care in the form of skilled nursing, speech therapy, physical therapy, post-surgery care, occupational therapy, and so much more, we’re helping the amazing people of Fairfax, one family at a time. If you’re ready to let someone help you bear the burden of care for your elderly parent or disabled loved one, reach out to us at Exceed HHC today!

The Joys of Youth
When we’re young, our bodies are agile, our minds are sharp, and our energy is so often where it needs to be to stay active. Physical activities like running and jumping are simply done without a second thought. Days spent out in the sun hardly pose a physical threat because our tanned skin is tough and supple. Foods that we eat that are high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol don’t have a long-term effect on us because our youthful systems are able to filter out what we need and don’t. Similarly, when we’re young, we can function fairly well on little sleep, and our minds stay pretty active and able even some extreme circumstances. Who doesn’t miss being young?

As we age, it’s no secret that our bodies and minds start to lose some of the strength, flexibility, and stamina that they once enjoyed in abundance. Our bodies stop allowing us to do activities that we once performed so easily, we’re reliant on the right food to feed our systems, and we don’t have the same mental alertness that we once took for granted. Since elderly people are more sensitive and fragile in many ways, there are simply things that have to be considered when caring for them. Let’s take some time to look at the unique nature of elderly care.

The Effects of Aging
Aging Bones
Throughout our lives, bones are always changing through a process of absorption and formation called “remodeling.” As we get older, the balance between these two becomes off kilter and this results in a loss of bone density. The mineral content of our bones decreases and causes them to become brittle. Brittle bones mean that problems like osteoporosis and broken bones are much more likely.

In addition to the loss of bone density, the cartilage between bones is affected by a lack of water content from the bones and starts to become more susceptible to stress, causing arthritis. The ligaments that act as connective tissue between bones, become less elastic and reduces flexibility.

Aging Muscles
As one can easily assume, as muscles age, they tend to shrink and lose mass. The number and size of the fibers within the muscles also decrease, making it harder for muscles to respond when we’re older. In addition to the loss of muscle mass, the content of tendons decreases and makes muscle tissue stiffer and less able to tolerate stress. Because the heart becomes less able to propel large amounts of blood throughout the body, we become more tired and fatigued and it takes us longer to recover when we’re older.

Aging Skin
As we age, our skin loses elasticity and starts to become wrinkled and saggy, trading the luster and melanin for a more sheer, translucent-look. In addition to the visible changes, elderly skin is as fragile as it appears. Elderly skin is usually much more sensitive than younger skin and not only is it more susceptible to injuries, rashes, and irritations, elderly skin is much slower to heal than skin that’s younger.

Aging Brains
It’s no secret that the mind often slows down or the memory becomes cloudy as one gets older. Elderly people often find it more difficult to multitask because they’re needing to focus all of their attention on one thing at a time. Similarly, they often lose the ability to keep multiple facts and figures at the forefront of their minds at the same time. In the same way, the memory of someone in their 80s is often in much worse condition than a person in their 20s.

While the physical and mental changes we’ll all undergo can be a little bit intimidating, it’s important to remember that there are plenty of ways to help keep the effects of aging at bay. There are definitely steps that you and I can take — the younger you are when you start, the better — to help slow the effects of aging in our bodies and our minds.

How to Combat Physical and Mental Aging
For your body
Skin – Take care of your skin by using sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, and eating a balanced diet. Don’t intentionally get sun damage and remember to moisturize.
Body – Since your body is almost all water, you need to stay hydrated in order to properly care for it. You also need to make sure that you’re eating enough of the right foods and staying away from the foods that will do damage to you in the long run. Also, remember to get exercise at least three to five times per week, take your vitamins and give up unhealthy habits like smoking and fast food binges.
Mind – There are plenty of ways to not only help improve the functionality and ability of your mind but keep it able to stay young for decades to come. Refer to the information in our last blog series to learn more!

For more information on ways to stay young and healthy, check out some of our previous blogs and if you’re ready to talk to someone about getting some home health care assistance in your or your loved one’s home, reach out to us at Exceed Home Health Care today!

Coping With Alzheimer’s – Tips for Family & Friends

Alzheimer’s is debilitating for those who suffer from the disease, and it can be a trying time for their caretakers.

If you have a spouse, family member, or friend who suffers from Alzheimer’s, you know all too well that the disease can cause major behavioral changes, including emotional changes. These changes can be overwhelming for all those involved. You may be asking yourself: How do I prepare for these changes? What can I do to alleviate some of the obstacles that Alzheimer’s can cause?

There are many things you can do to improve the quality of life for the person in your life who is affected with Alzheimer’s, and there are several ways that you can make care-taking easier for yourself. Here are our tips to help friends and family members of those of us who are suffering from Alzheimer’s — and as always, you can count on the caretakers here at Nova Home Health Care for in-home care-taking services.

Accept Behavioral Changes
Alzheimer’s is a confusing time for its victims, and it can be incredibly frustrating. Imagine losing precious memories, or losing your short term memory. Alzheimer’s patients may act agitated, or they may be depressed. Patients often feel trapped, or they may begin pacing frequently. Regardless of how Alzheimer’s affects the individual in your life, it’s best to accept their behavioral changes and to adapt to them.

Be understanding and accepting. Show that you respect this individual’s emotions, and ask them simple questions about how they’re feeling.

Simplify the Day to Day
A simple, repetitive schedule may be best for an Alzheimer’s patient. Plan on a consistent bedtime, consistent meal times, and simple activities throughout the day. A succinct schedule can be helpful for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, since it can make the world feel more familiar. Build a simple schedule for the person you care for, and help them to stick to that schedule.

Be Patient
Alzheimer’s sufferers make mistakes. They repeat themselves. They may need constant care and attention. It can be difficult to remain patient, but it’s best to remember that Alzheimer’s patients operate best with consistency in their lives. Be patient even during challenging times.

Stay in Good Humor
As we mentioned, Alzheimer’s is frustrating — that’s true for both patients and those who care for them. However, it’s especially important for caretakers to remain in good humor, even when times can be trying. A bit of positivity can go a long way to reduce the inherent negativity of Alzheimer’s. Be sure to be as optimistic as possible with the one you care for. If you are upset, try to remain calm, or remove yourself from the situation if possible. Never act aggressive towards an Alzheimer’s patient, since it can cause even more issues. Again, be patient with the person you care for.

Work on Simple Tasks
It can be difficult to socialize as a person who suffers from Alzheimer’s. However, Alzheimer’s patients can often perform simple tasks, especially tasks that they’ve practiced their whole lives. Until the later stages of Alzheimer’s — where it can be difficult to perform the most habitual tasks — simple tasks can help patients to engage with other people in their lives, and it can help them to feel useful.

You might ask for help while doing the dishes. Or perhaps you can work on a crossword together. There are many options that help patients to cope with Alzheimer’s; these small tasks provide a brief escape from the effects of Alzheimer’s.

Soothing Distractions
If this person is constantly overwhelmed or agitated, some distraction can help to soothe the mind. Consider putting on some light music, or a familiar TV show. Or have a puzzle to work on. These distractions can be especially helpful for those that are having difficulty coping with the concept of Alzheimer’s and its effect on their lives.

Now, while some distraction can be helpful to keep the mind at ease, too much stimuli can be overbearing. Playing music while the TV is on, for instance, may seem confusing and overwhelming for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s. Keep distractions simple and calming, and change activities if the patient reacts negatively.

Keep Things Familiar
As your friend shifts through phases of Alzheimer’s it can become more and more difficult for them to recognize their surroundings. A restaurant can become overwhelming. Even a look in the mirror can seem strange. Do your best to provide a familiar environment for the person who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. If possible, care for your close one in the comfort of their own home. Provide familiar food, partake in familiar activities. Keep old friends around to help provide care, and to simply provide a familiar face.

Also, look for signs that the person with Alzheimer’s is uncomfortable. People often become agitated, angry, or even quiet, depending on their disposition. You can always offer to move to a more comfortable space.

Seek Help
The National Institute on Aging tells us that extra attention may be necessary for Alzheimer’s patients that are prone to hurt themselves in their daily activities. In their article, Home Safety and Alzheimer’s Disease, the National Institute on Aging we should ask ourselves the following questions to help determine whether or not an individual should be left alone:

“Does the person with Alzheimer’s:

Become confused or unpredictable under stress?
Recognize a dangerous situation, for example, fire?
Know how to use the telephone in an emergency?
Know how to get help?
Stay content within the home?
Wander and become disoriented?
Show signs of agitation, depression, or withdrawal when left alone for any period of time?
Attempt to pursue former interests or hobbies that might now warrant supervision, such as cooking, appliance repair, or woodworking?“

If you are caring for someone who should not be left alone, consider hiring help from an in-home caretaker, or collaborate with other friends and family members. Also, do your best to remove dangers from the home of the Alzheimer’s sufferer. Take note that even a stove top can be dangerous for someone who is forgetful. Install protective devices (including a fire alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and other home safety devices) to reduce the possibility of an accident.

Count on Exceed Home Health Care
If you live here in Fairfax, Alexandria, or Arlington, Nova Home Health Care can help you to care for the one that you care for. Let us help you to reduce the burden of demanding Alzheimer’s care. Get in touch with us for more information. Also, feel free to take a look at our full list of care-taking services, including in-home care-taking.