Tag Archives: aging parents

THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS IN SPRING

Spring is the most magical time in the life of nature. When everything around wakes up and life, as if reborn, begins to open up in a whole new way: it gives us the sun, the warmth, the chirping of birds. At this beautiful time, everyone more than ever wants to enjoy life, dance, meet guests and find pleasure in a special, inspirational mood.

But unfortunately spring also brings one negative attribute – in spring usually our organism is weakened and needs vitamins replenishment.
That is why let’s talk about vitamins for the elderly, both men and women.

Aging is a natural process of the body development. With age metabolic processes are slowed down, protein biosynthesis is disrupted, the work of endocrine glands is weakened, the work of the body’s immune defense is disrupted, and atherosclerosis develops. The decrease in height, muscle atrophy, the appearance of wrinkles, changes in the vascular walls, heart muscle, bone tissue, changes in the digestive tract are all the result of the aging of cells.

Taking into consideration all these changes in the body of the elderly, special attention should be paid to nutrition, which must meet the following requirements: moderation, variety in food, using of foods and dishes that have easy digestibility, antisclerotic orientation of the diet, the food should be sufficient and relevant to the needs of the body, the content in it of Vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins are the same necessary for people of all ages. But as you know, aging slows down the oxidation-reduction processes, metabolism, and associated with this weakening of the functional capacity of organs and systems happens. Vitamins can accelerate the reactions taking place in the body, restrain the development of the processes observed with aging in elderly men and women. Their important role in preventing atherosclerosis and delaying its progression has been revealed.

What vitamins are elderly people lacking?

Constant fatigue, problems with skin and hair, frequent headaches and colds … Most likely, your already aged organism simply does not have enough vitamins.
Malnutrition for older men and women is much more dangerous for health than it seems at first glance. If the body loses certain vitamins, it begins to malfunction. At the first alarming symptoms, revise your menu and include in the diet foods that are rich in vitamins you need.

Vitamin A

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency: increased fatigue, poor appetite, dull and brittle hair, seborrhea, dryness of skin and mucosae, poor eyesight, frequent colds and ARVI.

Include in the menu: red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, cabbage, greens, egg yolks, fatty fish, liver, butter, milk.
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, so vegetables should be eaten with sour cream or oil.

B vitamins

Symptoms: depression, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, constipation, upset stomach, poor appetite, rashes on the skin, dull complexion, hair loss and frayed ends, brittle and cracked nails, cracks in the corners of the mouth.

Meals: dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, kefir, sour cream), meat, fatty fish, eggs, green vegetables (broccoli, celery, spinach), nuts and seeds, vegetable oil (olive, linseed, sunflower), dry brewer’s yeast.

Reduce (and better eliminate!) The consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and tea – they remove the B vitamins from the body.

Vitamin C

Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency: anemia, frequent colds, nosebleeds, weakening of tooth enamel, bleeding gums, dry and brittle hair, constant weakness and fatigue, depression, body aches, muscle pains, apnea.

Include in the diet: vegetables (leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, zucchini, green onions, carrots, radishes, radishes), fruits (citrus fruits, apples, apricots, persimmons, bananas, grapes), berries (rosehips, cranberries, raspberries, currants, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon), milk.

Vitamin D

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency: irritability, pressure surges, clotting disorders, muscle weakness, convulsions, sweating, pains in the lower limbs and joints, caries.

Necessary food products: mushrooms (chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, champignons), pork and beef liver, fish (mackerel, herring, flounder), cod liver, fish oil, fatty dairy products, egg yolks.
Try to walk more: vitamin D is synthesized in the body under the influence of sunlight.

Vitamin E

Symptoms: impaired vision, muscle weakness, a constant sense of fatigue, sudden mood swings, dark circles under the eyes, bleeding gums, pigment spots on the skin.

To include in the menu: nuts, seeds, vegetable oil (corn, sunflower, soy, olive), cereals, vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, radish, onions, broccoli, spinach), fresh peas, dry beans, beef, liver, egg yolks, milk.

Vitamin K

Symptoms of deficiency: nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bruises, fatigue and weakness, constipation, prolonged and painful menstruation, anemia.

Include in the menu: vegetables (spinach, broccoli, green leaf, purple cabbage and cauliflower, cabbage lettuce and watercress, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes), beans, soybeans, cereals (wheat, rye, oats), eggs, meat, pork liver, chicken, cod.

Vitamin PP

Symptoms: poor appetite, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, bad breath, soreness of the gums, insomnia, headaches, redness of the skin, its dryness and dullness.

Diet: citrus fruits, berries (raspberries, blueberries, cherries, black currants), grapes, apricots, cabbage, tomatoes, pod-pepper, green salad, greens, buckwheat, dark chocolate.

Essential vitamins necessary for the elderly

It is established that in the elderly the need for vitamins is increased. First of all, this refers to water-soluble vitamins (C, P and the whole group B). These vitamins should be included in the diet of the elderly in full, because they have vascular-strengthening and antisclerotic properties.
Postponement of senility and prolongation of life are primarily associated with maintaining the normal state of the cardiovascular system.

Thus, nutrition of elderly people should be full and balanced. Particular attention should be paid to vitamin supply. It should be borne in mind that in elderly people, hidden forms of vitamin deficiency can also develop, associated not only with their small intake into food, but also with the development of any disease process, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
But even an ideal diet can not completely cover the physiological needs of the elderly person in vitamins and minerals. The only true solution is the regular intake of multivitamin complexes or vitamin-mineral complexes, as well as the inclusion in the diet of specialized vitamin-enriched products. It is considered appropriate to take such complexes throughout the year, regardless of the season.

10 TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE MEMORY IN THE ELDERLY

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Advanced age is frequently accompanied by impairment of the memory. This happens because of a general decline in brain activity related to the age, reduction of the excitability of nerve cells, connections’ disturbances between neurons. Unfortunately, the aging process cannot be stopped and is irreversible, but to keep the clarity of mind to the very old age is for the most part in our power. Let’s talk about how to improve memory in old age.

General rules

1. Healthy surrounding conditions. It’s simple – for a good memory you need healthy functioning of the brain, and for this in its turn, it is necessary each day to maintain healthy surrounding conditions of work and recreation. Namely:

· do not work on the verge of physical or mental overstrain;
· rest every day, every week, every year;
· daily walk in the air.

2. Regular physical activity. For the good brain function a good blood circulation is needed, for which it is important to exercise regularly, to keep the muscles of the body in good shape. During physical exercises blood circulation improves, and therefore, the brain receives more nutrients. It is also helpful to walk. Useful are also anaerobic exercises, they include jogging and strength training. With regard to the age, it is best to train under the supervision of a trainer. He will help to make the training program based on your medical condition, age, experience, and past diseases.

3. Proper nutrition. For the good functioning of the brain it is necessary to eat healthy. Thus scientists have determined that in the daily diet of an elderly person fatty acids omega-3 should be present (fish is rich in them). Blueberry juice also has a positive influence on brain. It is this berry which is the most rich in antioxidants. They have a beneficial effect on the body and slow down the degradation process. Glucose intake is also important. Doctors often prescribe to elderly patients special medications with high glucose content. This component is essential for the normal functioning of memory, but with age it becomes harder to absorb it from food, so it is better to take pills. Nootropics also help to improve blood circulation in the brain. But remember that any medical products should be prescribed only by a doctor.

Tips on how to improve memory in the elderly

Aside from exercise and a special diet, what else can be done to improve memory in the elderly?

1. It is important to “load” memory. Learning a foreign language, logic tasks solving, doing puzzles – all that makes the “brain work”, that is, to remember, recall, to think. Any activity where your head has to handle a large amount of information will work in favor of your memory.

2. During each hour of work it’s important to do short breaks. You can get up, walk around the room and do some physical exercises. Thus the brain will switch from one activity to another, and it would benefit its functioning.

3. It is necessary to try to avoid stress and emotional experiences, as they lead to a loss of nerve cells, due to which reduction in attention and memory impairment occur. Chronic sleep deprivation can be referred to as stress to the body. For a complete relaxation of the brain, it is very important to get enough sleep every day.

4. A personal organizer can also help with senile forgetfulness. Now in stores there is a great variety of notebooks of different sizes and colors. Any person will find something to his liking. It is possible to record in it all the important dates and schedule actings. This will allow to “unload the head”.

5. Reading books trains memory well, because while reading not only visual memory works, but also motor memory and logical, associative and abstract thinking develop. But to improve your memory it is important not just to read, you need to do it properly, with the retelling of what you’ve read, as best of all we train our memory at the time when we recall the read! It is useful during the reading to mark the details of nature and temper of the main characters, their habits and the like. After reading a book recall all the storylines. Such memory training will benefit.

6. The peculiarity of all genius people is attention to details, when meeting a new person they can immediately see a lot of small details and remember them. Brilliant people are people with a well-functioning head, it is indisputable. Therefore, to improve memory in the elderly, it is possible to adopt this method of talented minds and to try to learn to be more attentive. To do this, you should try to look at any chosen object carefully, noting the details of its appearance, and then try to reproduce the details in your memory. Make it your useful habit.

7. There is a useful exercise to improve your memory at any age – learning poems by heart. Choose any poet interesting for you and start learning all his works by heart. And then recollect at any time.

8. People have known already quite for a long that music lessons are incredibly good for improvement of brain function. In advanced age you can sing yourself when you are alone at home or join a choir, or start learning playing some musical instrument, or you can do all together at once. Rehearsals, learning new texts, music, mastering new skills, help the brain to receive the load, which has a positive impact on the state of memory.

9. Do not forget about the psychology. Positive attitude helps to cope with any task. Elderly people are more susceptible to depression then all the others, but depression also leads to deterioration of memory. Such attitudes, as: “I am too old to learn new things,” “I am, after 30 years (40, 50, etc.) is useless,” and so forth, not only lead to the undermining of self-esteem, but also indirectly lead to memory impairment. Therefore, it is important to set yourself up correctly. Believe that life does not end in old age, but is just beginning – children have grown up, the work is over, there is a pension, it is possible live for your pleasure!

10. At any age it is useful to master the techniques and methods of mnemotechnics (mnemonics) – a science of making things easier to remember by forming associations, replacement of memorized objects and facts for familiar concepts and ideas.

GETTING READY FOR AUTUMN

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HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN AUTUMN

Autumn has already come, and the cold is just around the corner, which in our climate occupies quite a long part of the year. The so-called “golden autumn” passes quickly, and the rest of the time is dominated by mud, cold and slush. The sharp drop in temperature and frequent changes in barometric pressure may themselves cause serious deterioration of health, especially this appeals to elderly people with chronic diseases.

First of all, these factors affect the condition of elderly people with diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, disorders of musculoskeletal system and psycho-emotional disorders. The sharp fall of temperature causes a spasm of blood vessels, which can lead to a hypertensive crisis or angina attack. Atmospheric pressure drop causes hypoxia – low oxygen content in the body. This in its turn leads to a lack of it in the heart muscle and brain. People can feel heartaches and headaches, and in people who are prone to emotional instability, their psychological condition is deteriorating, and sometimes they face a real depression.

Elderly people who have diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteoarthrosis, rheumatism), there are aching pain in the affected joints in places of old fractures or wounds, and even absolutely healthy people during this period often feel uncomfortable.

The cold leads to a reduction of immune system capacities: dramatically increases the number of acute respiratory diseases, chronic illnesses are aggravated.

Following our recommendations below will add some bright colors to your autumn:

• If during this period of the year you experience the exacerbation of chronic disease, you should consult your doctor and try to follow all his prescriptions and recommendations. Do not self-medicate.

• If your health and mood are heavily dependent on the weather, take care of yourself. Dress warmly in cold.

• Include in your diet herbal teas, which may include some brier, eat more vegetables and fruits, add some vitamin complexes with microelements.

• If the state of your health allows this, move more regardless of the weather – it enhances the metabolic processes in the body and normalizes blood circulation.

• Wear low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles. Remember that the fall is the main cause of serious injuries and death among the elderly.

• If you have a reduced visual acuity, try not to leave the house in the dark period of the day, to avoid injury.

• And most importantly – create for yourself and your family a good mood, it is a universal remedy against different diseases. Friendly and smooth attitude towards others, optimism and humor – all this contributes to a long and healthy life.

It is well known that negative emotions: resentment, fear, sadness, anger, grief, envy, hatred – are risk factors, approaching old age and shortening life, and vice versa, positive emotions – delight, joy – cause extraordinary rise of vital forces of an organism. Laughter is a sign of joy, cheerful mood and mental health. It favorably affects the lungs and regulates the metabolism.

Practice care and attention towards each other. Try especially after retirement, to organize the rhythm of life. Alternate feasible work with a reasonably organized rest.

• Much attention should be paid to sleep. Sleep is a vital human need. The duration of sleep should be such that after waking up a person should note good spirits and a burst of energy. A healthy and sound sleep requires a right regime of life: go to bed at the same time, dine without overeating not later than 2-3 hours before bedtime. Take a thirty minutes walk before the bedtime and do not watch too emotional television broadcasts, neither take tonic beverages such as strong tea or coffee before the bedtime.

Autumn of life is called the elderly age, and it is a very difficult season. But this time of life has its joy and delight. A person in this age moves into a new quality, he or she becomes a grandparent. And life begins to play with new colors, new, previously unknown feelings and joys, new worries and concerns, life takes on new meaning.

WHAT A SENIOR SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLU

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Flu (Influenza) is an acute respiratory disease of viral etiology, occurring with symptoms of general intoxication and damage of respiratory tract. The influenza virus is very easily passed. The most common route of infection – airborne. Another route of virus transmission is also possible (although much rarer) and that is infection through various articles of daily use.

Flu is a severe viral infection that affects people regardless of sex or age. This is an acute disease that is characterized by an acute toxicosis, catarrhal symptoms in the form of rhinitis, stuffiness in nose and cough with bronchi lesion.

Flu in elderly patients causes the largest number of complications, and it is quite difficult to cure it, because the immune system of people after 59 years is significantly weakened.
The regular flu can turn into a tragedy for an elderly person who is suffering from chronic diseases.

What is different about the flu in elderly patients against the flu in people of other age categories?

Peculiarities of influenza in seniors

- The majority of people of this age group have not one, but a whole bunch of chronic diseases, therefore, the flu in such patients will proceed particularly hard with possible hospitalization.

- The frequency of complications after the recent flu in this age category is many times higher than the permissible percentage (up to 70% of flu cases have serious complications on the cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys, acute exacerbation of chronic diseases).

- The risk of death in a case of severe influenza among the elderly is several times larger than that of middle-aged people, frequently visiting the areas with large concentrations of people. This means that a person of the age 35-40 years with a chronic disease and always using subway services, is less likely to get sick during the seasonal flu period than the older man, who came in a regular store to buy some bread, and the risk of getting a severe complication is significantly higher for an older person.

- Elderly people at the age of 65 and over, especially living alone, seriously suffer from flu, because they have to take care of themselves, and therefore, during the first 3-4 days there is a high risk of dehydration and increasing stress on heart.

- Unlike young people, seniors get sick with flu faster, stay sick longer, and often do not seek medical advice, engaging in self-treatment, or come absolutely sick to a clinic, becoming a source of infection for other people, and exposing themselves to a risk of complications, incompatible with life.

- Seniors have an extremely weakened immune system, so the flu will progress rapidly, causing complications.

- Elderly people impaired cough reflex, which leads to stagnation of bronchial mucus, which in its turn causes complications connected with the respiratory system of the sick person, provokes heart failure and may cause death.

- The presence of chronic diseases with a large number of medicines do not always allow vaccinating an elderly person.

How does the flu manifest itself in elderly patients?

The flu manifests itself approximately the same as that of other people, but older people suffer through the flu much harder – organism can no longer serve them as truly as before, the work of many organs, including the immune ones, is partially impaired.

Flu symptoms:

• Fever
• Total weakening of the whole body
• Chills
• Headache and muscle aches
• Severe fatigue that lasts up to three weeks
• The pressure in the chest, cough, runny nose
• Dry throat and nose
• Difficulty in breathing
• Sometimes gastrointestinal disorders may appear in seniors with flu: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However, these symptoms are more characteristic of childhood.

Possible flu complications in seniors

These complications can manifest themselves not immediately but that doesn’t make them less serious. Sometimes, in particularly difficult cases, there are several complications, for example, bronchitis and tonsillitis. Also, the symptoms of long-standing chronic diseases may aggravate, which a person previously disturbed a person, and now resumed after or with the onset of flu.

• Dehydration of the whole body
• Tonsillitis of different species
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Tracheitis
• Laryngitis
• Rhinitis

Therefore, when having any of flu complications one should immediately seek medical attention. The earlier the treatment is started, the greater is the chance to avoid more serious complications.

How to prevent flu in elderly people?

A young person can easily cope with flu in a week, but for an elderly person this disease can be fatal. Or it is rather difficult to cure. Every day of life of our beloved ones is very valuable to us, and we do not want them to suffer. Therefore it is very important to help seniors to protect themselves from the flu.

The best protection against the flu is annual vaccination.
Practice shows that vaccinations that are properly selected and are done at the right time, reduce the risk of flu by 80%. Studies show that vaccination in the elderly can reduce mortality rate due to influenza in nearly 90% of cases, and the possibility of hospitalization – up to 70%. These are very large numbers. Behind them – a lot of lives.

How to treat the flu properly in seniors?

Flu treatment in elderly patients is not limited to pharmacy drugs. To eliminate dehydration and remove toxins it is necessary to drink plenty of warm fluids (not soda). It can be fruit drinks, brews, teas, mineral water without gas.

Also, you need to protect yourself from stress – for a weakened organism, it is destructive, moreover, it disrupts the nervous and immune systems.

In old age, almost all people are taking some medicines. Therefore, you must make sure that these drugs can be combined with preparations for the prevention of influenza or its treatment. Your doctor should consult you on this question.

The usual medication for the elderly, eliminating the symptoms of flu at the initial stage is Relenza (zanamivir) or Tamiflu (oseltamivir). If you take these medications (one of them) for two days after noticing flu symptoms, the disease will significantly reduce its course and will be suffered through much easier than without treatment. Flu in seniors can be prevented if they would take good care of their health. But if you are already sick, see a doctor immediately, because in this case, timing is critical.

Seek medical advice immediately if the following symptoms occur:
- If you start feeling difficulty in breathing
- Flu symptoms do not improve, but worsen after 3 or 4 days
- After the flu symptoms improved, and then suddenly the symptoms of a more serious illness started developing: nausea, vomiting, high fever, chest pain or expectoration of yellow-green mucus.

Take care of your beloved ones and stay healthy!

The Importance of Exercising for Seniors

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Physical activity is the way to health and longevity, especially when it concerns elderly people.

It is believed that with age many people have reduced activity. This may be due to age-related negative emotions and decrease in self confidence. The lack of physical and mental activity really accelerates the aging process, therefore it is for the benefit of all people to prevent or at least reduce the effects of aging. For this purpose it is certainly worth to sharpen our focus on physical training.

Is not hard to guess, that physical activity contributes to muscle tone, maintenance of the cardiovascular system, good mood and improvement of the quality of life.

Factors affecting the change in the life balance of elderly people

Unfortunately, the factors of aging every day have a negative impact on human health. Several factors are inevitable, and they cannot be affected, but some can be controlled or even minimized.

Behavioral factor of elderly people

- Maintain an active lifestyle. Use comprehensive training programs: strength / resistance, cardio/endurance, stretching/flexibility.

- Balanced proper nutrition including the most essential vitamins and nutrients. In particular, vitamin D is very important.

- Comfortable shoes. Shoes should not be too high (a negative effect on your posture) and heavy. Comfortable, lightweight, fitting shoes provide the best contact with the ground. Even walking barefoot (not everywhere of course) becomes an excellent help

- Pay attention to reception of medications. Individual side effects are possible. Always consult your doctor as for the impact of certain drugs.

Age-related biological factor

With age loss of vision, hearing and mental clarity is possible. There is a risk of arthritis developing and deterioration of the vestibular apparatus. You may experience the appearance of any chronic disease.

Studies show that many diseases and ailments that accompany the aging process, such as difficulties with movement, can be prevented by physical training. In addition, physical activity is an excellent way to improve the quality of life and make friends. Also, regular physical activity reduces the risk of the following diseases:
• heart disease,
• stroke
• diabetes
• osteoporosis
• arthritis,
• back pain,
• high blood pressure,
• some cancers, such as colon cancer.

As a prevention of the described above diseases can serve all the same exercises and training. A competent physical activity improves endurance, strength and immune system.

Exercises help to increase muscle strength and improve their tone, thus reducing the risk of accidental falls, leading to injuries. In addition, regular physical exercises develop flexibility, mobility, speed of movements, endurance improve cognitive abilities, memory, the ability to sound judgment, well-being and quality of life.
Physical training is also new acquaintances and communication.

External factors

Try to avoid the potential dangers that surround us in everyday life. That’s a minimum list of external factors:

- Winter time. The presence of ice on the roads
- Rooms with slippery floors
- Curbs and various roughness of the pavement
- The quality of lighting in the streets and indoors
- Escalators

The task of exercises is to adapt the body to everyday loads, regulate the cardiovascular, autonomic, neuromuscular systems, strengthen the musculoskeletal system, create a good mood. All exercises should be done with a smile and best of all to the music.

The most important point to be considered in training is a balance between physical exercises. For example, between normal walking and running. Understanding the balance helps to optimize the training process and avoid unexpected injuries. This is especially important for the elderly.

Each year, about 20 percent of people older than 60 years receive a variety of injuries. Fear of injury restricts people in physical activity. This fact, and the fact of biological changes in the body, changes in the environment and the difficulties of life forms certain stereotypes. But all this can be avoided through a balanced exercise (strength training, cardio, etc.).

Nowadays almost all gyms develop various special programs for seniors. But before you start any training it is better to consult your doctor concerning the possible initial physical loads for your body.

Remember, it is impossible to stop the natural biological processes, but it is completely possible to control them, staying active at any age. Physical activity is that little thing you can do for yourself at any stage of life.
As one very wise man said: “Help your body now and the body will help you in an old age.”

Day View Adult Family Home provides qualified and affordable services for seniors. Our trained staff understands the importance of exercises and we work to create positive environment for seniors’ training.

Is it important to look after your skin?

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Life is life, and aging is a part of it. Our loved ones become older and not only their health changes, but also their appearance and skin in particular. The skin looses its fullness and becomes thin.

It’s not a secret that skin plays an important role in protecting our bodies from the environment. Healthy skin is very important for people of all ages, but seniors need to pay special attention.

We have prepared the list of tips that will help your loved ones to come with skin problems.

· Don’t forget to moisturize!

Dry skin is one of the main problems for seniors. Face, hands and feet must be moisturized. There is a great number of products that can help the skin to become smooth and shiny.

· Do not forget to protect your loved ones from the sun!

Even in our Washington State, it is important to protect your skin from the sun. Using special creams will help prevent wrinkles and brown spots. While choosing a cream, look for those that contain SPF components.

· Healthy eating

A healthy diet is one of the main ways for skin improvement. Dermatologists agree that products that we eat affect our health, hormone balance, etc. Do not think that healthy diet is a boring one. Not at all! Healthy diet is one that makes your body healthy and improves your mood.

· Regular visits to the doctor

It is very important to visit your doctor regularly, to have your loved ones skin checked. If you notice any changes, encourage your loved ones to look for professional medical advice.

Alzheimer’s Disease, Stay Away!

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According to Alzheimer’s Association about 5.2 million of Americans suffer from the disease, and it is true that the disease is incurable, but there are concrete ways and steps that should be taken in order to stay healthy.

Neal Barnard, M.D., president of the nonprofit Physicians Committee and an adjunct professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine says that Alzheimer’s disease is not a natural way of aging, but if a person stays active and consumes a lot of plant-based foods, we have the chance to avoid this serious disease.

Seven main steps from the doctor include:

1. A person should minimize the intake of saturated fats and trans fats.

2. Eat plant-based foods.

3. Every day a person should consume 15 micrograms of vitamin E (from food).

4. B12 supplement is a must do.

5. Choose aluminum-free products.

6. Do not choose vitamins containing iron and copper.

7. Exercise your body – at least two hours per week.

Make sure that your aging parents stay active, keep their mind engaged. If you have any questions, prepositions or need help with your aging parents, please, feel free to contact us, we would be glad to provide any kind of help.

Nutritional Warning Signs

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Taking care of an aging parent or your loved ones requires great attention, not only personal, but attention to the things they do, to the stuff they prefer, or to the things they forget…

With age, certain things that seem usual to us can become really difficult for them: personal care, driving, shopping, cooking and eating. Malnutrition has become a serious problem among seniors that cause a variety of health problems.

It is very significant to look for the signs of malnutrition, so you can help you loved ones before serious problems can happen. In many cases malnutrition is a result of difficulties with cooking process, shopping or a matter of forgetfulness.

If you’ve noticed the warning signs, you need to consult a doctor and make a special correction plan for food intake.

Below is the list of signs that will indicate the problem of poor nutrition.

1. Weight Loss

Weight loss is the biggest and the most obvious sign. If you notice that your aging parent or loved one has lost weight, it’s time to check with a doctor, especially if you are not sure, what is the main reason for the weight loss.

2. Empty refrigerator of a great number of spoiled products

It is very important during your visits to your loved ones, to check the content of the fridge and the pantry. If you notice that there are not so many products left or there are spoiled items, this might indicate that they do not shop or eat properly. Ask your parent or loved ones about their mobility, about the desire to cook and eat, about their memory.

3. Depression and social isolation

Very often the roots of the problem do not lie on the surface; most often they are hidden inside the person. Malnutrition can be caused by depression and social isolation. The person does not feel needed and important things become insignificant to them.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue is also one of the main signs of improper nutrition. When seniors do not get enough food, their bodies stop functioning normally, these seniors will have dental problems, can bruise easily, etc.

At Day View Adult Family Home we understand and try to meet the needs of seniors. If you have questions about our adult family home or about the topic we’ve discussed, please free to contact us. We are here to help you and your loved ones!

Healthy Food for Seniors

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Healthy eating is important for everybody, but especially for kids and seniors. Every elderly person has different nutritional issues and needs, but there is a list of the products that are considered to be the best healthy food for elderly people. If you like products from our list consult your doctor and talk to him about the possibility of changing the diet.

Products that improve brain functioning and memory:

• Salmon: Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are good not only for your brain, but also for your heart.

• Canola oil: Cook using canola oil and increase your daily intake of omega-3.

• Avocado: avocado contains a lot of healthy fatty acids that are good for your memory.

• Eggs: Choline that is found in eggs, is a type of Vitamin B and it is perfect for increasing you memory.

• Almonds: Almonds do not only give you energy, but they also contain choline useful for the brain.

Products for your bone health:

• Fortified milk: Only milk that is fortified with Vitamin D should be used by elderly people.

• Cottage cheese: Doctors say that cottage cheese contains 156 – 318 mg of calcium.

• Kale: Kale doesn’t only contain calcium that is good for your bones, but it is also rich in Vitamin K.

• Collards: Experiments show that just half of a cup of collards contains 20% of your recommended daily value of calcium.

Foods for better digestion:

• Beets: Nutritionists agree that red beets help constipation symptoms.

• Cod liver oil: This oil is rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin A that are good for the digestive tract.

• Prunes: they are rich in fiber, which helps to digest.

• Turnips: Turnips is another source of good dietary fiber.

Foods for the better eyesight:

• Lutein: All foods that contain lutein are good for your eyesight; this is kale, spinach, etc.

• Garlic: Garlic is a great source of sulfur that helps in production of glutathione, antioxidant for your eyes.

• Onions: Onions are also rich in glutathione.

• Fish Oil: Fish oil helps to preserve your precious eyesight. It can be found in flax seed, walnuts, salmon, mackerel, etc.

Memory Loss: Important Tips to Improve Your Memory

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Can’t remember? Can’t find? Forget everything? Here are simple, but important steps that will help to sharpen your memory. Sometimes these steps help to realize that your or your aged parents need help for memory loss.

Be mentally active
Mentally stimulating activities are very important at any age, but for your parents especially. Work crossword puzzles. Ask your parents to read an article and then retell it. If they still drive, encourage them to take different routes. Learning to play a musical instrument or improving of the computer skills can help to sharpen their memory.
Socialize a lot
Social inclusion helps to fight depression and stress. Experts say that stress and depression can lead to memory loss. Use every opportunity to include your loved ones in different social activities, meetings, clubs, etc.
Stay Organized
Very often we forget because our house, our life and our mind is cluttered. It’s time to straighten things up. Give your elderly parents a special notebook, calendar or teach them how to use an electronic planner. Encourage them to write down everything they want to do, where they want to go, etc.
Good Sleep
Getting enough sleep should be a priority not only to elderly people, but for them it is twice important.
Eat Healthy
Healthy food is good not only for your physical body, but also for your brain and your spiritual well-being. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables should be found in every kitchen. It is also important to choose for your parents such products as fish, lean meat and poultry. Encourage them to drink enough water.
Stay Physically Active
Physical exercises increase blood flow not only in the brain, but in the whole body. Take your parents for a walk as often as possible, spend time outside, travel with them.
Remember that you need to consult a doctor if memory loss doesn’t allow your parents to complete usual daily tasks.