Tag Archives: loneliness

DANCE TO STAY HEALTHY

Dance belongs to those things that really can colorize the monotonous life of any person. Dance is good for the emotional state, psychological health and physical condition, together with feeling good and self-awareness in general. When you decide to add physical activity into your life, you try to choose something exciting and entertaining. And what could be more exciting than dances?

The dance with a good reason is called “a song of the soul” – the older a person is, the more meaningful are his or her movements, the more sense and experience it is possible to invest in the dance steps. Dance is a nonverbal way to express yourself, to process the accumulated problems, find new dimensions of the world. One should not also forget what a wonderful way to exercise are the regular!

Dancing is just a perfect way for people, irrespective of age, to keep themselves in a good shape. Dancing is not only fun and enjoyable, but also very good for health. In this article, we will tell you what kind of benefits can dancing bring to your body.

How useful is dancing for the general well-being?

- Dance protects our hearts
Dance is an excellent exercise for people who are living with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. An Italian study has proved that people with heart failure, engaged in dancing as a kind of exercise strengthen their health, heart and improve their breathing. Their life-quality also improves significantly in comparison with those who are doing exercises on a stationary bike or treadmill.

- Dance helps to lose weight
If you attend dancing-classes regularly, they will definitely help to lose weight. The scientific research has shown that sportive aerobics based on dance movements, is as effective for losing weight and gaining of a good shape as cycling or running.

- Dance gives energy
Do you feel during the day, that you do not have enough energy? Dancing is one of the things which can help you regain it. Yet another scientific study found that weekly dancing can improve the physical condition and make adults more energetic.

- Dance endows with flexibility, strength as well as endurance
Ever and again dances require flexibility from you. Most dance classes are started with a warm-up, when people are doing stretching and suppling exercises. During the dance, you have to do your best to have all the muscle groups involved.
Dancing makes you stronger, causing the muscles to resist the weight of your own body. Many styles of dance, jazz and ballet among them, include jumps. In order to jump, your leg muscles need to be particularly strong.
It’s not a secret that dance can be called a physical exercise that is why it makes everyone more enduring. And what is endurance? It is the ability of muscles to work each time for more time without getting tired. If you’re dancing regularly, especially if you are doing some energetic style, you will be much more enduring.

How useful is dancing for the emotional state?

- Dance brings happiness
Dance is a special action which is enjoyed by any person. If you watch a dancing person, you will certainly notice a big happy smile on a dancer’s face. Smile and laughter while dancing is absolutely normal! That is because dancing provides an opportunity for real enjoyment of life and each other. Unlike other physical exercises, dancing has no age limit. A person irrespective of age can dance and take advantage of the benefits that this activity brings to his/her health.

- Dance saves from depression and de-stresses
It is proved that the dance can prevent mild depression and make a dancing person more self-confident. Depression is becoming increasingly common problem in teenagers and adults of various ages.
The research, published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, has proven that therapy that includes dance moves, not only helps to get rid of depression, but also helps to fight stress, since it regulates serotonin and dopamine levels in organism. Taking into account that dance has also a social aspect, it helps to get rid of feelings of loneliness, from which so many people in depression are suffering, and very often – elderly people living alone.

- Dance enhances the self-esteem
Dancing helps to become more self-confident. Each time you master a new movement, a wee bit of confidence is added to you and your mood gets better. And this increased self confidence extends to all areas of your life.
As we have already said, dance is a social action. Studies of specialists have proved that strong social relationships and communication with friends help to increase self-esteem and give a positive attitude towards life. Dancing gives you plenty of opportunities to meet other people. Sign up for dance classes and it will give you a chance to raise the self-esteem and make new friends. Considering that the physical exercises relieve tension and stress, dance will allow you to feel good in general.

How useful is dancing for the state of mind?

- Dance improves memory
Scientists have proved that dancing can improve memory and prevent dementia. Scientists have found that aerobic exercises help to prevent reduction in the hippocampus volume – the part of the brain responsible for memory. Hippocampus in a natural way diminishes during adulthood. This often leads to problems with memory, and sometimes to dementia.

- Dance helps to combat Alzheimer’s disease
A study involving elderly people, represented in the New England Journal of Medicine, enlightened the fact that dance frequently helps to prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease along with some manifestations of dementia. Moreover, dancing makes people of any age smarter. This study also manifests that people having Alzheimer’s disease are capable to restore forgotten memories when dancing to familiar music.

- Dance makes people smarter
For centuries, books and other writings about dancing praised benefits of this activity for health, considering dance, as a rule, as a physical exercise. Today, thanks to the scientists, the benefit of dancing for the mind has been proved. The main quality of an intelligent person is the ability to make decisions. The ideal way to develop this ability – to get engaged in an activity that requires a constant fast (within seconds) decision making. Thus, to become smarter, it is enough just to work on your dance style, without having to remember the sequence of movements.

What is the best dance style?

There are many dance styles. Jazz, salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, zumba, hip-hop, ballet, etc., all of which require different music. Each dance style is equally useful. Any dance gives an opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle. Dancing can help in many different things. All kinds of dance are equally effective, the main thing to choose the style that you prefer, and do it regularly, so that this pleasant activity brings benefit to the health.
During the scientific study the specific dances have been established, which have the most positive impact on the state of health of elderly people. These include: Waltz and Argentine Tango.

Pet Therapy – a Wonderful Cure for Loneliness

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The help to elderly people cannot be accomplished without ensuring, first of all, a harmony in the soul of an elderly person. Pet can carry out the most important assistance to the elderly – to make them not so lonely, provide them with an extra incentive to existence, and give them their warmth and joy. Pets bring harmony and order into the emotional state of their masters.

Any pet, whatever it may be – large or small, and even a fish in the aquarium, as if connects to human energy, adjusting it to a positive mood. Each animal species has certain unique features; that is why their positive impact on a person has its shades and nuances, but the result of this interaction has always the most beneficial impact on an elderly person.

Sometimes there are such situations in life, when pets are the only friends for the elderly and lonely people. They fill their lives with meaning and care. Help to relieve mental and physical pain and suffering. Pets give their owners life energy.

Elderly people understand that the main and the best part of their lives is left behind. Their emotional tone is decreasing, and the physical condition is worsening. And this in its turn may lead to such a mental state, as depression. To avoid this, we need positive emotions, and in this our four-legged friends can help.

Animals have a natural ability to maintain a person’s emotional state. And remove the feeling of loneliness when you are not needed. This feeling appears because the majority of elderly people live alone, away from their children and grandchildren. And they need anything to fill in the lack of attention and communication. Animals will love devotedly their master and will constantly be near. And most importantly is that the elderly and lonely people will acquire a vital need to be wanted and needed by someone.

Pet-therapy or animal therapy

The origins of psychological illnesses treatment with the help of animals go back to the end of the 18th century, when the Yorkshire mental hospital began to use dogs for the treatment of patients. Even then, the clinic doctors have noted that animals had a positive impact on patients. In the course of therapy the reduction of aggression and frequency of episodes was noted in patients.

Today Canistherapy (dog therapy) and Felinotherapy (cat therapy) is widely used to improve the condition of children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other pathologies. The specialists observed the improvement of coordination, decrease of spasticity and significantly improved memory in children.

Communication with your pet has also a beneficial effect on the activity of a human brain, which helps to prevent or reduce many psychological disorders. Thus, in particular, during Alzheimer disease – communication with cats eliminates anxiety, which is so pronounced in this disease. A sense of great responsibility in relation to a pet, and taking care of the beloved one stimulates an elderly person to be active, which in its turn stimulates the desire to be healthy and to live.

How pets help to cope with depression and stress

With the approach of autumn, many people gain such kind of psychological disorder as “autumn spleen”. Causeless melancholy, gloom and other subdepressive states begin to exhaust us with the arrival of the first frosts. Often even quite healthy people can be difficult to force themself to get out of bed in the morning and do not frown during the day. If you are familiar with such states, physicians strongly advise to adopt a pet.
Pets live according to their own schedule, in which the emphasis of life corresponds to the daily cycle. Thus, a dog or a cat is sure to wake you up early and require a morning walk or feed. And it will be a good enough reason for you not lie in bed until noon.
Morning walking the dog helps to strengthen immunity, is good for the heart and helps to lose weight. If you feel a bit lethargic and inactive, a dog will teach you to be more cheerful, open and determined.

Equally effective cure for the blues Is communication with the cats. Did you notice that the Internet is full of videos with funny shots of the cat tricks and pranks? These animals are very curious, and having got a kitten in your home will be an endless source of funny events and situations. In addition, cats are curing the vain anxiety and excessive fatigue by the warmth of their body and the characteristic “purr”.

But not only dogs and cats are “home psychotherapists”. Other pets, such as aquarium fish, birds, rabbits, hamsters and even insects, are also doing an excellent job in fighting with stress and despondency.

Psychological observations allow the following conclusions: pets help people to cope with the problems they face, with stress, loneliness. They significantly improve the bad mood and give a great emotional support. And it does not matter who lives at a person’s home: a cat or a dog, a bird or a simple fish – any animal has a positive effect on the physical and psychological well-being of an elderly person. Daily contact with a pet reduces the risk of various diseases, as well as inspires the human soul with optimism and reliability.

Pets give their owners a hundred percent, selfless love and attention, no matter who is their master: a young boy or a very old man. Pets turn into the very best friends with whom you can talk and share feelings. Communication and interaction with the animal increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which increases the sense of well-being of the owner.

Take care of yourself and your pets, and stay healthy!

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!

Top Technologies in Adult Family Homes

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Healthcare and technologies are the industries that are developed quickly, and it’s not a surprise; the part of new technologies in the life of seniors is getting bigger and more impressive. And it doesn’t matter whether your aging parent lives alone or in an adult home, new technologies can become great helpers and improve mobility, safety and independence of your parents.

Here is the list of the most popular and trendy:

· WI-FI

Our list starts with Wi-Fi because it is very important for seniors to feel comfy wherever they work. It’s much better for them to use their laptop on their favorite and cosy couch and feel safe

· Wearable devices that are used for monitoring, recording and then transmitting health information to physicians.

Such devices are very important because doctors can control the health state of your loved ones, ask for a visit if needed or prescribe medicines.

· Wander protection devices, GPS-based systems.

These gadgets help to protect seniors with Alzheimer disease from wondering, which is related to the disease. These devices save from being disoriented and lost.

· Devices that help to control medication.

Such gadgets work perfectly for those seniors who have problems with memory. These devices help to control the medication process. Special reminders can be set for medication intake and monitoring of the whole process is provided.

· Internet-Based Brain Games

There are technologies that help to maintain and improve cognitive skills of your loved ones. These technologies include brain games that help to stay focused.

· Gadgets for caregivers such as video systems.

Video monitoring systems help to observe remotely and respond quickly. However, these systems are not frequently used because they intrude seniors’ privacy.

· Technologies that keep seniors stay socially included and connected.

We always say that social isolation is a murderer for your loved ones. Physical and emotional health can be improved if your loved ones stay connected with others and with things they like.

Social Isolation and Ways to Stop It

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First of all, we need to realize that loneliness and isolation has a negative impact on health.

Recent researches and studies have shown that social isolation of elderly people has directly connected to health problems and earlier death. 59% of adults at the age of 60 and older, who consider themselves to be lonely, show significant disabilities to carry out everyday activities.

Another study that can be found in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry states the fact that elderly people who suffer from isolation and loneliness double the chances for developing dementia within three years.

Some other researches have shown the connection of loneliness with early death. Social isolation and loneliness are strong predictors for an early death, strong as alcoholism and smoking. All these results should be taken seriously and the life of seniors should be changed, they should stay connected and be socially active.

What are the ways of helping your aging parents to overcome these problems and ease the sense of loneliness and isolation?

One of the possibilities is to move into an adult family home with lots of possibilities for communication.

Social isolation can be also caused by transportation difficulties. You need to resolve this problem for your aging parents. There are different transportation options provided in most cities, you just need to contact a local agency on aging, who will provide all the needed information.

Different activities and classes can be a good answer to loneliness. Local libraries, colleges, community centers provide numerous classes, clubs, social activities, etc. it would be great if you take these classes together with your loved ones.

If you’ve noticed more serious problems than just loneliness, it’s time to talk to the doctor and at the same time it’s time to join a support group. These support groups provide important information, as well as encouragement and understanding.

Is it Dementia or Depression?

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It’s not a secret that dementia is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases. If you see that your elderly parent begins to forget or has real problems concentrating, may be your loved one suffers from dementia? Or it can be usual depression?

To tell you the truth, it is very easy to diagnose these diseases wrongly. Both have very similar symptoms: sleep problems, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulties with concentration, loss of interest, people become irritable and have problems remembering things.

As well as there are similarities between diseases, there are differences between them. Depression, for example, causes loss of energy and suicidal thoughts; and dementia can cause problems with organizing things, speech problems and incontinence.

People who suffer from dementia seem very unreachable, but there are several ways that help to unlock their hearts and emotions.

Very often such people make statements that are not correct and your reaction is very important. First of all, it’s better to be silent than start correcting. If you are silent, there is no tension between you and your parent. Your loved one feels secure and not frustrated. If you choose to correct, be ready to cope with anger and grief that were trigged by your correction. It’s much better to say something neutral or change the topic asking a question.

It is also very important to remember about the 5-minute rule. Caregivers and doctors know that people who suffer from dementia have short memory. If your parent refuses doing something, stay calm and wait for a little bit, then return with the same question. Usually their reaction is changed. Very often 5-minute rule helps to keep stress on a low level.

If you have questions or problems with taking care about your parents, Day View Adult Home in Renton will gladly help you. Contact us and our professional team will resolve your problem.

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.

How to Encourage Your Parents to Move into an Adult Family Home?

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What can be harder than encouraging your parents to move into an adult family home? Where to start? What to say? Lots of things should be taken into consideration, but the main thing lies in the fact that living in an adult family home has more advantages and possibilities than staying at home alone.

One of the benefits of an assisted living is care and guidance from a team of professionals.

You should take into consideration that elderly people suffer not only from physical diseases, but they also have emotional problems such as depression, etc. It is very important to have someone who takes care of your loved ones and enlightens their day. Professionals from Day View Adult Family Home know for sure what your loved ones need and how to make their life brighter and easier. Tell you parents that people who work in a family home will keep an eye on them and will be of a great help and assistance.

Great opportunity to meet new people.

Living in an adult family home opens wonderful opportunities to meet new people and to have much in common with them. The atmosphere at an adult family home is favorable for interaction and numerous activities with new people.

Active life and entertainment.

Life in an adult family home will be more attractive and full than a life at home in loneliness. Games with friends, all kinds of entertainment, social inclusiveness… all this can be found in an adult family home.

Be sure that your parents as well as you should be prepared for this new period in your lives. Nobody says that transition period will be easy and smooth. Your loved ones will have the adjustment period, but our professionals try to make it as smooth as possible for our residents.

Trained staff provides quality service and hospitality. Your loved ones will be in good hands at Day View Adult Home.

If you have any questions or propositions, we will be glad to hear from you. Don’t hesitate – contact us.

Elderly Depression

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Numerous life changes, such as retirement, health problems and limited mobility lead to elderly depression. Elderly depression is considered to be a serious problem that can cause other health diseases.
How can we help our loved ones to come back to life and to enjoying it in a full sense?
Firstly, let’s understand what leads to depression at this age?
One of the main reasons why people are depressed at this age is loneliness. People do not feel that they are needed. Most of them don’t want to be burdens and they do not want to ask for help, though the help is needed.
Isolation and loneliness, disability to physically function on the same level, disability to stay active and to do things and attend the activities they liked. Lots of reasons to feel depressed at their age.
What can be done in order to make elderly people’s life easier, happier and free of depression?
One of the answers is adult family homes. People who work there are trained to watch for causes of elderly depression including loneliness, physical disability, health and cognitive problems, sociability, etc.
At the same time depression can be caused by medication, especially improper usage of the medicine such as painkillers, sleeping peels, calcium blockers, tranquilizers, beta-blockers, high cholesterol medications. Employees from adult family homes will surely monitor medication process to ensure that elderly depression isn’t caused by medication process.
What are the signs and symptoms of elderly depression?
There are numerous symptoms and signs, but the most obvious among them are sleep problems, weight loss, alcohol and medication usage, fatigue, loss of interest in life, social isolation and suicidal thoughts.
Social isolation and loneliness are the main reasons for elderly depression. That’s why our trained employees at Day View Adult Family Home make sure that your loved ones receive not only care, but are included into social life. At the same time, we are here to help your elderly loved ones to control medication and eating process, exercises and social activities.
If you have any questions concerning elderly depression, please call us and our professionals will gladly help you. Elderly depression affects health and wellness of your loved ones, but we are here to help you.