Are you trying to be healthier in 2012? The Administration on Aging shares its list of resources to help you stick to your health and fitness goals this year.
Agingcare.com reports on the seven questions every caregiver should ask to help them be more effective and at peace while caring for a loved one.
Happy 90th Birthday, Betty White! In a video gallery, the Los Angeles Times takes a look at Betty’s seven decades on the silver screen and TV.
There’s nothing more comforting than those dishes that take us back to our childhood. But sweet and savory indulgences often come at a cost to our health. There may be “healthy” alternatives, but they’re just not the same, are they?
It’s a no-no to play around too much with the classics, be.group Executive Chef Bruce Oravetz said in the latest issue of be.magazine. “You don’t paint a mustache on the Mona Lisa,” he said.
That said, Oravetz and his team have come up with a series of be.group signature dishes that whisk healthy ingredients into some erstwhile favorites without compromising the flavors we grew up with. They including everything from herb-roasted chicken to the new be.group cookie, a big chewy flavorful treat that seems to have a little bit of everything in it—and we mean that in a good way.
Oravetz and chefs Dave Powers (Regents Point), Ben Root (White Sands La Jolla) and Darin Wachs (Windsor) also offered their advice on how to transform some family favorites into dishes a little less threatening to your diet with a stealthy injection of healthful ingredients.
Take a look at what the chefs had to say and some signature recipes in be.magazine.
New York Times personal health columnist Jane E. Brody shares lessons from “30 Lessons for Living,” a new book offering practical advice from more than 1,000 older adults on how to live a life without regrets.
A new Gallup Poll shows that seniors who socialize at least three hours daily are likely to say they’re happier in life without the stress and worry.
CBS News reports on a new GPS technology within shoes that is being used by caregivers to keep track of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
In the Wall Street Journal, financial advisers offer baby boomers advice on how to help their children financially without hurting their retirement.
And because most of us love to travel, here’s the New York Times list of the top 45 places to visit in 2012.
Who doesn’t want the secret to a long, healthy life? We’ve all heard the adage that if you got married, exercised regularly, maintained a positive disposition and didn’t work too hard, you’d be well on your way. Well, maybe not.
In “The Longevity Project,” published last year, UC Riverside psychology professors Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin explain why many of our assumptions are “ill-advised or simply wrong.”
Many of be.group’s longer-lived residents could be poster children for their book. In addition to staying engaged and connected through life in their communities, they have a few other secrets to longevity that they share in the latest issue of be.magazine.
The CareConnection blog, managed by Pennsylvania-based eldercare assistance provider Aging with Grace, shares the keys to living a longer and healthier life.
Smart Money talks about the three ways the recession has altered our views on retirement.
Tara Parker-Pope reports in her New York Times health blog on “the good news and bad (news)” about running for seniors.
The New York Times reports on the story of Southbury, Conn., a town that has evolved into a senior citizens’ community haven.
The New York Daily News reports that a new trends study predicts that we’ll see more new food products with added health claims to appeal to healthy, active seniors.
AARP offers tips for caregivers on things to watch for when checking up on elderly loved ones during the holidays.
A new study by the University of California at San Francisco shows that the quality of care at the nation’s largest for-profit nursing home chains is significantly lower than that delivered by nonprofit and government-owned facilities.
Lower nursing staff levels among the big for-profit chains are a major contributor to the “significantly lower quality of care,” according to the study. Researchers examined staffing levels and deficiencies at 10 of the largest nursing home chains operating about 2,000 nursing homes, compared to facilities operated by five other entities.
Between 2003 and 2008, the 10 biggest for-profit nursing home chains had reduced hours for nursing staff and received 36 percent more deficiencies and 41 percent more serious deficiencies from regulators. The study found that four of the sites received more deficiencies after they were acquired by private equity groups.
“Poor quality of care is endemic in many nursing homes, but we found that the most serious problems occur in the largest for-profit chains,” Charlene Harrington, R.N., Ph.D. and lead researcher, told the McKnight’s “Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living.”
“The top 10 chains have a strategy of keeping labor costs low to increase profits.”
The study was published in the Health Services Research Journal.
Since the number of 90-year-olds has almost tripled over the past three decades to 1.9 million, the U.S. Census Bureau took a closer look at that population in a new report titled 90+ in the United States: 2006-2008.
Smart Money reports on how the St. Louis-based nonprofit The Oasis Institute is helping seniors brush up on their technological skills.
Remember that loan to your son or daughter or grandchild? The New York Times blog “The New Old Age” tackles the contentious issue of what to do about those family loans when a loved one passes away.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia has become a central topic when discussing seniors and their mental health. One in eight elderly Americans has Alzheimer’s, a number expected to swell over the coming years.
As a way to help families understand and cope with the disease, AgingCare.com recently launched a new website, The Caregivers’ Guide to Alzheimer’s. On the site, patients, family members and caregivers will find articles, educational resources and other tools that address the issue.
There’s even an ongoing community forum, where family caregivers can discuss specific topics impacting their loved one. Participants are sharing a host of experiences, which range from coping with memory loss to getting Power of Attorney and Guardianship for someone with Alzheimer’s, as well as finding assisted living and nursing homes that specialize in memory care.
Choosing the right assisted living community can be daunting. One facility isn’t the same as another. The differences can be small, but in many cases they can be major. Whatever the case, keep one thing in mind—you can tell a lot about a place from the people who live and work there.
“Be thorough,” says Sherri McInnis, director of community relations at Kirkwood Redding. “Determine what it is that you want, or if you’re deciding for a loved one, look through their eyes and see what it is they would want.”
Here are a few questions to ask in choosing a community for yourself or a loved one:
What makes you comfortable? In many ways, choosing an assisted living community comes down to personal preferences. With that in mind, you should take a stroll through the entire community during a visit, and not just look at the available apartments. Are the residents and staff friendly and welcoming? Is the community a size in which you’d be comfortable? When considering living space, think of the common areas, dining room and other shared spaces as part of “your space,” not just the apartment you’re considering. Ultimately, the place that makes you feel at home is the right place for you.
Does a community have enough activities to keep you busy? Review the activities calendar. If you’re a social type, then a community with little happening probably isn’t the place for you. But if you prefer to keep social engagements to a minimum, you may appreciate the relative quiet. Also, check the amenities—are there fitness facilities, a library, chapel, transportation—but don’t get caught up with features you probably wouldn’t use anyway. What’s important, are those amenities that serve your needs?
What’s on the menu? “How goes the food, so goes the attitude,” says McInnis. Take a look at the daily menus of any community and you will get a taste of what to expect. It only makes sense that good food helps keep people happy. Be sure to dine at the communities you’re considering.
How would you rate the level of care? Safety and quality of care are critically important issues at any assisted living community. Every state has its own regulatory agencies and standards for licensed communities. In California it’s the Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division.
One last suggestion … while it’s usually good to make an appointment for a tour, you should also drop in unannounced as part of your review process. “You’ll get an immediate feel for a community as soon as you walk in the door,” says McInnis.
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