Therapeutic activities are essential for seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to help them maintain a sense of self worth and dignity. Therapists often work with others within the facility to develop a comprehensive plan of care that suits the needs of each resident. According to the 2010-11 edition of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” certain activities can help recover basic motor skills, cognitive abilities, and confidence

April is Occupational Therapy Month! The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to ensure individual autonomy in regards to the routine activities of daily living. These are the things most of us take for granted, like bathing, dressing, eating and cooking. The Occupational Therapist’s main objective is to confirm functional independence for their patients while preserving their highest degree of dignity. As we age, it is important that we continue to maintain an adequate

Spring is here! Flowers and trees are starting to bloom, the birds are singing, and the sun is shining. We can all say goodbye to the cold gloom of winter and say hello to the longer, warmer days that spring affords us! Yes, spring is beautiful, but it is also painful to many as it marks the start of allergy season. It is estimated that more than 50 million people across the country suffer from allergies each year. According to research, they are the sixth leading cause o

March is National Nutrition Month! Our next series of blogs will address ideas and simple suggestions for a healthy diet – especially for Senior Adults. As always, we recommend talking to your doctor before changing anything about your diet. *Healthy eating begins with you! Giving your body the right nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can help you stay active and independent. You’ll also spend less time and money at the doctor. This is especially true if you have a

Happy New Year! It's time again! Though we all have a tendency to avoid making those dreaded New Year’s Resolutions, they are not really a detriment to us. No matter what age we find ourselves, anything that holds us accountable is a good thing! Even if it’s an annual self determination at the beginning of each year to hold ourselves accountable to those habits and ways of life which promote the good in our health and relationships. So, if you’re stalling on making a few f

We all have little lapses in memory like leaving the keys in the door, forgetting someone's name, or missing an appointment. No matter what your age, exercising your brain can make a difference in maintaining memory capacity. Here are some activities that can strengthen your memory and help you stay mentally sharp: 1. Stay mentally active… Just as physical activity helps keep your body in shape, activities that stimulate the mind help keep your brain in shape, and memory los

It’s been said that, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." I would also argue that this truth can be applied to many things. Take your health for instance. You could say that one sure way for your health to decline is for you to do nothing about it. Most of our health is not controlled by the health care system but by our own actions, our environment, our genes, and social factors. In addition, physicians are not perfect. The mor

As we age, our stressors change and so does our ability to deal with stress. Long-term stress can damage brain cells and lead to depression. Stress may also cause memory loss, fatigue, and decreased ability to fight off and recover from infection. In fact, it is estimated that more than 90% of illness is either caused or complicated by stress. Let’s face it, we cannot avoid stressful situations entirely. Stress is a daily part of our lives. But why? What causes the stre

Think about it. Humans can go longer without food than without sleep! Research has shown that older adults need just as much sleep as younger adults – seven to nine hours per night – but often get much less. Besides the feeling of fatigue, lack of sleep can cause a host of other ailments such as depression, irritability, increased fall risk, and even memory problems. Everyone should try their best to get enough sleep. Proper sleep keeps your mind alert, preserves energy l

Today is Falls Prevention Day! It marks the beginning of National Falls Prevention Week. One would suppose that their home is the safest place on earth but the majority of falls take place in the home. The odds of falling each year after age 65 are about one in three. You're more likely to fall as you get older because of physical changes, medical circumstances, and the actual effects of the medications you take for treatment of your medical conditions. It is true that a

According to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Academic Health System Research Group in New England, cultivating your relationships is among the top five tips for healthy aging. They state that 28% of older adults live alone and that living alone is the strongest risk factor for loneliness. As a result, their research has found that common life changes in older adulthood such as retirement, health issues, or the loss of a spouse may lead to social isolation. Part of healthy aging is

September is Healthy Aging Month! Healthy aging is and always has been a hot topic everywhere. We all know that a big part of having peace is knowing that we are in good health physically, mentally, emotionally, and – yes – spiritually. Without this assurance, we have a tendency to be anxious about what may be lurking ahead or just around the corner. These apprehensions follow us around for the majority of our lives but especially affect us in our later years. Undoubtedly