Our Weekly Availability Information

The assisted living business is slow this time of year. Nobody wants to think of moving their parent into assisted living during the holidays.  Yet you shouldn't think of assisted living as something bad for an elderly parent. It is a chance for us to cater to your parent's care needs. You can then just visit and spend time with them. No need to worry about their care!

We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season with their family. It is a joyous time of year. We love the residents in our assisted living family.

If you would like to see one of our homes, please contact us for a tour (and maybe a free lunch!).

Facebook: @aparadiseforparentsassistedliving
Website: https://aparadiseforparents.com
Email: Cam@aparadiseforparents.com
Phone: 623-295-9890

A Diet to Reverse Alzheimer's?

We're learning more and more about the Bredesen ReCODE protocol for slowing or even reversing Alzheimer's.

Recently Cheryl Brittingham came to one of our homes. She operates the website 'Alzheimer's Has Been Reversed'. Ever since her father passed away from Alzheimer's, she's done wonderful work to let people know about the latest Alzheimer's breakthroughs.

God Bless you Cheryl!

Here is Today's Inspiration

It's always fun to see what the human spirit can do. We're inspired by the stories of so many of our residents. Many of them have lived full, wonderful lives and we love to hear about them.

Want to meet some of them? Feel free to stop by our homes any time. You can find 3 of them in Surprise Arizona at:

18175 W. Banff Lane
Surprise AZ 85388

15922 N. 164th Lane
Surprise, AZ 85388

15257 N. 135th Drive
Surprise, AZ 85379

And one in Goodyear:

15292 W. Campbell Ave.
Goodyear, AZ 85395

You can also find us on Facebook (@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving), our website, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com or call 623-295-9890.

Now go out and be inspirational!

11 Wildest Effects of Iowaska (and some Cautions about what it can do)

Let’s start this article by acknowledging that ‘Iowaska’ is not the best spelling for the drug known as ‘Ayahuasca’. When I first learned about this drug, I thought ‘Iowaska’ was how it was spelled. So it might be fun to leave it that way in this post. That way people like me who are not so great at spelling words in other languages could easily find information.

This drug is also known as Yage. Hopefully not too confusing. We’ll stick with Iowaska.

Recently one of our resident’s son travelled to Ecuador. He met with a Shaman and participated in several Iowaska ceremonies. I thought his story was interesting enough to look more into the Iowaska culture. Here is what I found.

For privacy reasons, I don’t want to delve deep into the son’s individual experience. Instead let’s look at aspects of this drug that would be good for anyone to know. Especially if they are contemplating using the drug.

What is Iowaska?

Iowaska is officially a Tea made up from several plants native to South America. The two most common ingredients are Banisteriopsis caapi (also known as Caapi) and Psychotria viridis.  Without getting too scientific, Caapi contains substances called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Psychotria viridis (also known as Chacunra) contains something called Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. DMT is considered a drug and is illegal to take in many parts of the world.

DMT on it’s own is not very potent if you drink or eat it. In your gut there are MAO enzymes that destroy DMT before it can spread throughout your body. You would have to inject DMT in order to feel the drug effects.

That’s where Caapi comes in. Those ingredients in Caapi ‘inhibit’ the MAO enzymes and allow the DMT to pass into your body. Your blood carries DMT across the blood brain barrier. The DMT is then able to produce the Hallucigenic effects that Iowaska brings about.

Religious Overtones of Iowaska

To prepare Iowaska, you soften the Caapi vine and boil it with leaves of Chacunra or other plants. Religious Shaman’s in South America are the most common producers of Iowaska The drink’s potency vary greatly among the different Shaman.

The potency and ingredients of the drink can also vary depending on what religious ceremonies the Shaman is seeking to perform.

Besides just the physical preparation of Iowaska, Shaman’s must follow a religious process to obtain the divine features of the drink they are seeking. For instance, the Shaman’s must pick the lower Chacruna leaf at Sunrise. And say a prayer while doing so.

The Shaman cleans the vine with wooden spoons only. Then he pounds the vine into fiber with wooden mallets. The total preparation of the Iowaska brew takes place over a whole day.

In traditional South American culture, everyone present for the religious ceremony drinks some of the tea. Think about communion for the Catholic Church.

These ceremonies (and religions) started to spread to North America and Europe in the late 20thCentury.  The first churches outside of South America sprang up in the Netherlands, following the Brazilian Santo Daime religion.

Here is a short video explaining more about the Santo Daime religion:

Remember that DMT is a controlled substance? Well the Dutch government immediately pounced on the church founders because they were using Iowaska in their ceremonies. The founders fought it in court and won. The court determined that the drug is part of the church member’s religious freedom and did not constitute a grave danger to public health.

The Popularity of Iowaska

Iowaska is becoming very popular in the United States, especially amongst backpackers and the Tech Industry. The tech guru Tim Ferriss (author of the Four Hour Work Week) told the New Yorker magazine:

“Ayahuasca is like having a cup of coffee here (San Francisco),” he said. “I have to avoid people at parties because I don’t want to listen to their latest three-hour saga of kaleidoscopic colors.”

Resorts are springing up around Central and South America to cater to the growing number of people who want to have the experience.

Here is an example of a resort in Costa Rica:

People generally go to Peru to find a retreat that offers Iowaska. Other countries offer it as as well, such as Ecuador where our resident’s one visited. You can also find the ceremonies in:

• Columbia
• Costa Rica
• Portugal
• Brazil

There is even the first legal Iowaska retreat in the United States starting up, thanks to the legalization of marijuana in Washington State.

Effects of Iowaska (and What to Watch Out For)

Remember that Iowaska contains the Hallucinagenic drug DMT. Many compare Iowaska to the affects to LSD or Magic Mushrooms. So be very careful if you try this drug. Here are some of the affects and cautions from experienced users of the drug and ceremonial participants (including our resident’s son):

1. It normally takes half an hour for the drug to cross the blood brain barrier, so don’t expect something to happen immediately. The drug can last up to six hours, with the maximum effects happening about 2 hours after ingestion.
2. You may experience great elation, fear or illumination. People say it’s a totally honest window into your soul and what kind of person you are.
3. They say you may have contact with the spirit world, converse with dead relatives, or meet a higher being that can help mentor and heal you.
4. Iowaska also can purge you of bad parasites and other evil entities in your body. It is supposed to be a release of bad energy built up through your life.
5. Be careful with the ‘purges’. Iowaska drinkers often ‘purge’ themselves through fits of diarrhea, hot and cold flashes, and vomiting. Not a pleasant experience.
6. A recent study showed that Iowaska can relieve depression. Make sure you are not on any anti-depressants before you take the drug. Drugs like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s)mixed with Iowaska can lead to Serotonin Syndrome. This syndrome can lead to muscle seizure and breakdown.
7. Iowaska users also say the drug can help relieve symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and addictions.
8. Many people sum up their experience as having 10 years of therapy in a single Iowaska session. Talk about bang for your buck! People find tranquility and calm through using the drug.
9. Death happens in some Iowaska ceremonies. One 19-year old British student, Heny Miller, died after taking the drug. Deaths seem rare, but definitely something to think about.
10. Sometimes people become violent during a bad trip. It might be best to avoid the ceremony if you are anxious or angry.
11. When taking Iowaska, don’t do it on your own. Don’t buy it from someone on the street either. Try to find a Shaman and/or resort who is very experienced in making and giving the drug. Unscrupulous vendors have been know to spike the Iowaska in order to rob or sexually abuse tourists.

Here is a video of an Iowaska experience:

We like to hear the experiences of our residents and their families at A Paradise for Parents. We think it helps make our homes a larger and closer-knit family. If you look at our activities page, you will see that we do lots of stuff that brings us closer together. Just to be clear, we are not planning any Iowaska ceremonies at our homes in the future.

We’d love to have you consider joining our family. If we can be of any help, or answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can use the form at the bottom of our home page, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or call us at 623-295-9890.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas is such a special time of the year - especially at our assisted living homes. We would love to have you or your loved one join our family and celebrate with us!

It's so wonderful to have our residents participate in putting up the Christmas tree and other decorations. Our Christmas parties will be on the 16th at our home on 135th Drive, on the 22nd for our home in Goodyear and 164th Lane (Surprise) and the 23rd for our home on Banff Lane in Surprise. 

Want to learn more? Please reach out to us at our website (https://aparadiseforparents.com), email Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or call us at 623-295-9890.

Bible Study is a Big Hit at our Assisted Living Homes!

Just a little more about Robert. He is non-denominational and is not seeking to convert anyone to a particular religion. He just helps brings a message of hope for everyone and talks to our residents about appreciating all the wonder of life.

He also plays a pretty good guitar. The residents like to here him play. They even join in and sing with him when the mood strikes them.

If you would like to learn more about our Bible study and our activities in general, please reach out to us via Facebook (@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving), our website https://aparadiseforparents.com, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com or call 623-295-9890.

Field Trips at A Paradise for Parents

Our residents love to get out and spend some time in the local Surprise and Goodyear community.  A little glass of wine can only be healthy. We love to take our residents out to dinner or lunch and hear all their stories.

If you would like to learn more, please contact us at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com or 623-295-9890

27 Important Aspects of Tricare Reserve Select You Need to Know

Let’s start this post by thanking all you service men and women out there for your service. We hope our posts can help service members navigate the benefits they deserve from Tricare and specifically Tricare Reserve Select.

It’s wonderful to have our assisted living homes in the community surrounding Luke Air Force Base in Western Phoenix, AZ. The base provides great services for our veterans and retirees in the area. We meet with a lot of families who are confused about the benefits they deserve. So we thought we would help.

Tricare is the medical insurance program that covers nearly all active duty, reserve, National Guard and Retired military members. This post will cover one component of Tricare – Tricare Reserve Select. Specifically we want to cover the criteria you will need to know to take advantage of Tricare Reserve Select..

Tricare Reserve Select Financial Cost

1. Tricare Reserve Select requires you pay a monthly premium. As of 2019 the premiums will be:

• Member only $42.83
• Family $218.01

2. In addition to the monthly premium, the Tricare Reserve Select program has a certain amount you will have to pay each year until you meet the ‘annual deductible’ amount (Hint: These deductible are much lower than most civilian employer plans):

• E4 and below: $50 per individual, but no more than $100 per family
• E5 and above: $150 per individual, but no more than $300 per family

3. Once you hit the annual deductible, you will ‘cost share’ with Tricare Reserve Select. Most of the financial burden of cost sharing falls on the Tricare Reserve Select program and not on you. It’s crazy cheap for you! You can see the costs for everything here. These costs include:
   • Specialty doctors
   • Vision care
   • Pharmacy and prescription drugs
   • Catastrophic care
   • Skilled nursing
   • Hospice
   • Mental health
   • Preventative services
   • Surgery
   • Maternity

Many of these costs are $0 out of pocket!

What Tricare Reserve Select Covers

4. Tricare Reserve Select provides medical benefits (doctor visits and procedures)

5. Your regular doctor doesn’t have to refer you to a specialist if you want to see one, but you may need authorization from your regional contractor.

6. Tricare Reserve Select does not cover your prescriptions. For prescriptions you will have to sign up for the Tricare Pharmacy Program (TPP).

7. Tricare Reserve Select does not cover your dental health. For dental you need to enroll in the Tricare Dental Program (TDP)

8. Tricare Reserve Select covers any kind of eyecare problems you or your family may have. You can learn more about the vision benefits here.

How You Pay for Tricare Reserve Select

9. After you enroll, you will pay two months of premiums up front with a check, money order, cashier’s check or debit/credit card

10. Future premium payments must by paid via Electronic Funds Transfer or monthly debit/credit card charge.

11. Payments come out on the first day of the month while you are covered.

12. There are different options for payment depending on the region where you live:
    • East Region Payment Options
    • West Region Payment Options
    • Overseas Region Payment Options

13. You may be charged $20 for a payment that doesn’t go through due to insufficient funds.

Are You Eligible for Tricare Reserve Select?

14. It only covers members of the Selected Reserve.

The Selected Reserve are members of the Ready Reserve. The Ready Reserve consists of:

• The Selected Reserve – People attached to a Reserve or Guard unit but not in active duty status. In other words ‘Weekend Warriors’ who come to drill and do their two weeks each year.
• Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) – Former active duty or reserve military personnel who don’t actively participate in military operations but may be called up if needed.
• Ready Reserve for the Army – Similar to the IRR, but only currently for US Army enlisted personnel

Tricare Reserve Select will not cover people in the IRR or Army Enlisted in the     Ready Reserve.

15. To be eligible, you can’t be on active duty orders (then you receive the normal Tricare benefits)

16. You also can’t be covered by the Transitional Assistance Management Program

17. Or if you’re enrolled in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program you can’t double dip.

18. You must be enrolled in DEERS in order to be eligible for any Tricare program. Service members are automatically enrolled in DEERS, but the service person has to enroll their family. Want to know how to enroll your family? Click here.

How to Enroll in Tricare Reserve Select

19. You can enroll either by phone or online. Visit the enrollment page to enroll online.

20. If you don’t qualify, you won’t be able to print the form on the enrollment page. If you think you should be eligible, contact your local National Guard or Reserve office. For technical problems with the website call 1-800-477-8227.

21. If you are overseas, you can also enroll by submitting an application to a Tricare Service Center.

22. Tricare Reserve Select is available for reservists worldwide.

23. You can request an appointment at a military hospital or clinic on a space available basis

24. If you sign up for a Military.com membership, you can have the latest changes to Tricare Reserve Select emailed to you.

25. Tricare Reserve Select meets the minimum requirements to comply with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

26. You can still use Tricare Reserve select for 180 days after you leave the Selected Reserves even if you separated under a less than ‘honorable’ or ‘general’ discharge. Check with your service personnel office for more details.

27. If you want to stop your Tricare Reserve Select coverage, just go to the web page for ending coverage.

I tried to put all aspects of Tricare Reserve Select that I could find for you. As a retired Air Force guy myself (see my story here) and assisted living homeowner, I realize how important health care is for veterans.

If you have any questions on Tricare or other medical plans, please feel free to reach out to someone at our assisted living homes. You can reach out to us via our website, Email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or call our central number – 623-295-9890.

Happy Thanksgiving from A Paradise for Parents!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration at A Paradise for Parents homes in Goodyear and Surprise, AZ. Thanks so much to the caregivers who did such a great job of cooking and entertaining.

A special thanks as well to all the families of residents who joined us for the celebrations. 

If you would like to learn more about our activities, please reach out to us through Facebook (@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving), https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or 623-295-9890.

Lazy Afternoons are Meant for Word Puzzles

Can games, puzzles and education help avoid or even prevent memory loss, cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer's?

Medical research is still working on an answer to this question. However, some studies are showing that challenging your brain does help. One study involved  around 2,800 older adults (65+). The participants attended training for 5-6 weeks that involved memory, reasoning and speed of processing information.

The people who attended all the training sessions saw improvements in their memory and ability to accomplish tasks that lasted 5 years or more.

We're not scientists at A Paradise for Parents. But it sure seems that our residents are happier when they're engaged and active.

Why not come take a look for yourself? You can reach out to us at our website (https://aparadiseforparents.com) by email (Cam@aparadiseforparents.com) or call us at 623-295-9890.

We'd love to help in any way we can.

Our 'Extended' Family Catches Dance Fever!

Send off for Hansel - Our Wonderful Caregiver!

If you would like to meet any of our caregivers, and possibly take a tour of one of our homes, please reach out to us at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or 623-295-9890

A Paradise for Parents Availability Week of November 12th

Every week we like to let everyone know what kinds and how many vacancies we may have. Just click on the picture or the link below it to see a complete listing of our homes and what we have available.

Thank you for your interest in our homes. If you would like to schedule a tour, please contact us at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@paradiseforparents.com or 623-295-9890.

Saluting all American Vets and the 100th Anniversary of the end of WWI

Please thank those Veteran's out there you meet for keeping us free. Their sacrifices are very much appreciated.

https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, 623-295-9890.

Happy Birthday Patricia!

If we can help make your loved one feel special, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can reach us through our website at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or 623-295-9890.

One of the Perks of Winter Time is the outdoor eating!

Some of the activities we engage in over the winter include:

• Barbecues
• Dinners out at restaurants
• Trips to the movies
• Drives around the area
• Walks to the local park
• Trips to Luke Air Force Base for the airshow
• Shopping trips

Just hanging out in the backyard and soaking up that Vitamin D can be sooo good as well. 

You're Only as Young as You Feel

We think you will really like this video we posted on our Facebook page. Take a look and see! Or better yet, come over and see how much fun we have at our assisted living homes. Just reach out to us:

Website: https//aparadiseforparents.com

Email: Cam@aparadiseforparents.com

Phone: 623-295-9890

Check out how much fun we had at Halloween!

We had so much fun at Halloween. These new 'blow-up' dinosaur costumes just rock!

It's the Most Happiest Time of the Year! (Here in Arizona anyway)

We love this time of year in Arizona. The temperatures are coming down, friends and relatives migrate down here, and we are approaching the wonderful holiday season! Our residents at A Paradise for Parents are enjoying the temperatures by having more meals outside. 

Barbecues may have ended around the rest of the nation, but they are just starting to rev up in Arizona.

We'd love to have you come over to our home and enjoy meeting our wonderful residents and staff. Feel free to stop by for a free meal. While you're here, take a look around. And of course if we can help you with any of your family's assisted living needs, we would be more than happy to talk to you about it.

For any questions, or to set up a tour, please reach out to us at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or 623-295-9890.

We Hope Everyone had a Great Halloween!

We really love to have fun at A Paradise for Parents. Holidays like Halloween give us a great chance to have a lot of fun with our residents. When I came in with this T-Rex suit, one of our residents stated

"Get away from me - you're too goofy".

It's that lighthearted mood that we are always trying to encourage around our homes. If you would like to learn more, please contact us at https://aparadiseforparents.com, Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or 623-295-9890.

22 High Fiber Foods You Should Eat

Fiber really helps people maintain a healthy gut, remove waste and move nutrients around the body. This is a good article that shows foods that will make sure you get an adequate amount of fiber in your diet.

If you have other questions about nutrition for an elderly parent or relative, please visit our website at https://aparadiseforparents.com, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or call us at 623-295-9890.

Happy Halloween from A Paradise for Parents

At A Paradise for Parents, we will be handing out candy and enjoying fun times with families and our residents during Halloween. We would love to have you stop by and see our home (and eat some candy!)

If you are interested, please go to our website at https://aparadiseforparents.com, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.com, or call us at 623-295-9890.

Happy Halloween!

Elderly People Are Getting Arrested On Purpose

Many seniors experience loneliness and depression due to a lack of social interactions. The video below shows the gravity of isolation, not just in America, but also to other countries all over the world.

It doesn't have to come to this. Visit your elderly loved ones or talk to them often.

Seniors in Japan Are Getting Arrested on Purpose

@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving https://aparadiseforparents.com623-295-9890 Cam@aparadiseforparents.com

3 Easy Ways to Raise Energy Levels in the Elderly

It's easy to think as we grow older that our low energy must be a result of our age. Yet some older people find ways to still be energetic and lead a full life.

Here are some tips that have helped older people gain more energy.

12 Things that Anyone Can Do to Prevent Elder Abuse

@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving https://aparadiseforparents.com623-295-9890 Cam@aparadiseforparents.com

Wonderful Video about Best Friends...

Come see more interactions with best friends at @aparadiseforparentsassistedliving https://aparadiseforparents.com, or email Cam@aparadiseforparents.com or call 623-295-9890

6 Important ways to Stop Elder Abuse

We vigorously maintain and loving and caring environment at A Paradise for Parents. Unfortunately elder abuse is way too common. It can even happen between family members. If you see an elderly person being abused, be sure to report it to the Police or other local authorities.

Elderly people have worked hard their whole lives. They deserve a break and to enjoy their golden years free of abuse.

Learn 14 Signs of Depression in Older Adults

If you don't want to download the whole infographic, here are the 14 signs of depression:

1. Emotional Numbness
2. Anxiety
3. Lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
4. Concentration and memory problems
5. Feelings of guilt and shame
6. Feelings of worthlessness
7. Lack of motivation
8. Suicidal thoughts
9. Increase or decrease in appetite or weight
10. Loss of interest in sex
11. Sleeping problems
12. Constipation
13. Combination of symptoms that last most of the day for two weeks or more
14. Lack of recognition that depression is NOT a normal occurrence in the aging process

Do you know an elderly adult who may be suffering from these symptoms? Find them help as soon as possible!

13 Important Signs of Elder Abuse [Infographic]

Signs of Potential Elder Abuse

• Unusual or unexplained injuries (cuts, bruises, burns)
• Unkempt appearance
• Pressure or bed sores
• Confined against their will (tied to furniture or locked in room)
• Dehydration or malnutrition without a medical cause
• Fear
• Withdrawal 
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Visits to many doctors or hospitals
• Strange and inconsistent explanations for injuries
• Helplessness
• Hesitation to talk openly

Symptoms of an Abuser

• Verbally, assoulting, abusing or threatening the older person
• Concerned only with the older person's financial situation and not their health or well-being
• Problems with alcohol or drug abuse
• Not allowing the older person to speak for himself or herself
• Blaming the older person
• Attitudes of indifference or anger toward the older person
• Socially isolating the older person from others

12 Amazing Benefits of Tai Chi for Seniors

We also have a blog post on our Paradise for Parents site with more information about Tai Chi.

Osteoporotic Fractures cause a lot of problems for seniors

Check out our Availability for the week of October 15th

@aparadiseforparentsassistedliving  https://aparadiseforparents.com Cam@aparadiseforparents.com 623-295-9890

8 Most Significant Contributors to 'Brain Fog'

11 Top Vitamin B12 Benefits for Seniors

As we age, it becomes more and more difficult to absorb the vitamins we need to maintain our health. Vitamin B12 is especially hard because our bodies don’t make it naturally. Our bodies can only absorb Vitamin B12 through the foods we eat or through supplements. Yet it is a vital vitamin for good health. The Vitamin B12 benefits people see can make the difference between great health and all sorts of problems.

Most of the Vitamin B12 benefits revolve around three areas of the body:

1. The production of hemoglobin
2. Improvement of nerve strength and
3. The regulation of homocysteine levels

Hemoglobin is the compound in the blood responsible for bringing oxygen all over your body. The Vitamin B12 benefits for nerve strength should be pretty obvious.

Homocysteine is an amino acid produced by your body. If the levels of Homocysteine become too high, your chances of having a heart attack or stroke spike up. Vitamin B12 interacts with Homocysteine to ensure any excess amino acid is expelled from the body.

Problems of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Not having enough B12 in your body can cause a whole host of problems. One of the biggest problems for older people is that it can lead to cognitive decline (loss of memory). Think of how important it is for Oxygen to head up to your brain. Remember (no pun intended) that Vitamin B12 helps produce hemoglobin that transports the oxygen up to the old noggin.

Here are some other problems with Vitamin B12 deficiency and a video explaining some of them:

1. Numbness or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet
2. Balance problems (increasing fall risks for seniors)
3. Megoblastic Anemia
4. Jaundice – yellowed skin
5. Paranoia
6. Hallucinations
7. Weakness
8. Fatigue

https://youtu.be/F5iQxxtsGRE?t=192

The Megoblastic Anemia is just a fancy term for the bodies inability to synthesize DNA during hemoglobin production. Come to think of it, that’s a pretty technical description as well. Just think of it as bad for carrying oxygen around your body. The problems of not receiving enough oxygen include what you would think – shortness of breath, muscle weakness, and possibly nausea and paleness.

Vitamin B12 Benefits

You would think that most of the Vitamin B12 benefits would be to stop the problems with the deficiencies. And you would be right about that. But there are a few other benefits we will mix in with this list:

1. Help Prevent Alzheimers and cognitive decline– Just taking Vitamin B12 (or any other B vitamin) supplement will not lower your risk of memory loss. But if you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency, you may be at greater risk for the disease. High Homocysteine levels seem to belinkedto higher risks for Alzheimer’s. Maintaining adequate levels of B12 will regulate the Homocysteine and bring down your risks.
2. Reduce chances for Hearing Loss– By helping improve blood flow and oxygen transport all over your body, your ears will resist hearing loss better.
3. Improve Macular Degeneration – A study from the National Institute for Health of 5,000 women showed that supplementing with Vitamin B12 benefits of supplementing on macular degeneration. The 7-year study also had the women taking B6 and Folate supplements. The vitamin combination seemed to reduce the chances for this dread eye disease by 34% in women over 40 and 41% for more severe forms of the disease.
4. Anemia – We mentioned this above, but it’s worth saying again. It is much easier for the adult population to not have enough hemoglobin and consequently to feel tired and weak. Vitamin B12 helps reduce anemia. Consequently, it will help with feelings of fatigue and weakness that many older adults experience.
5. Aids with Depression Symptoms– One of the processes Vitamin B12 helps is Serotonin Serotonin is a chemical in your body that is intimately involved in regulating moods. Low levels of Serotonin are associated with depression. Don’t think that taking a ton of Vitamin B12 will cure your depression. It is one part of a potential treatment program. Please consult a health professional if you have depression.
6. Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder Improvement – Some people just cannot maintain a regular sleep schedule. Vitamin B12 in one studywas able to help both younger and older people who were having this problem move their sleep schedule to the normal rhythm of the day-night cycle. When they were removed from the B12, they had trouble again. Vitamin B12 benefits also assist in Melatonin production, which is very important for a good night’s sleep.
7. Lowers the Chances of Birth Defects – Although most elderly people are not too concerned with giving birth (for a crazy exception see here), they do have children who are making grandchildren. B12 helps in a baby’s development including their:
   1. Neural tube
   2. Brain function
   3. Spine
   4. Blood cell formation
8. Pain Reduction– We mentioned above that a deficiency in Vitamin B12 can give you feelings of numbness and tingling. Therefore adequate levels of B12 can relieve those feelings. It can also provide relief for other pains:
   1. Neuropathy
   2. Neck pain
   3. Back Pain
   4. Neuralgia
9. Reduce Chance of Stroke and Heart Attack– As we mentioned above, high Homocysteine levels can greatly increase your stroke and heart attack risk. So you get it – proper levels lower your risk!
10. Helps your skin – Studies (hereand here) are showing that rubbing B12 ointment on your skin may help people with dermatitis. It helps your skin by scavenging Nitrous Oxide (NO) which contributes to the skin problems.
11. Contributes to Better Digestion– Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria in the guts of animals, including humans! We have to eat other animals to put the bacteria in our gut. Once there the Vitamin B12 helps the good bacteria digest other food. They also prevent the growth of bad bacteria that can lead to conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Obtaining Vitamin B12 Benefits Through Diet

The main foods that can provide Vitamin B12 are all animal-based. That’s why it is especially important for Vegans and Vegetarians to add a Vitamin B12 supplement to their diets. We’re not knocking Plant-Based eaters. We heartily endorse them. It’s just that they may need to add a supplement or two.

Most animal food contains some Vitamin B12. Some of the best sources include:

• Fish (Sardines, Salmon, Herring and Mussels)
• Eggs
• Milk
• Chicken
• Beef

Of course to really optimize the levels, the fish should be wild caught (not farm-raised) and the eggs, chicken and beef should be free range organic. The milk should be raw if possible.

Some cereals are also fortified with Vitamin B12. Check the labels to see what percentage of the US recommended daily allowance the cereal has. Of course eating Frosted Flakes for Vitamin B12 will also give you a lot of sugar and other unhealthy foods. This doesn’t seem like the best way to obtain Vitamin B12 benefits.

Obtaining Vitamin B12 Benefits through Supplementation

Vegans, Vegetarians, and maybe those who just don’t like fish can still maintain B12 levels through supplementation. It’s a good idea to consult a health professional about the right supplements for you.

There are two types of Vitamin B12 supplements:

• Cyanocobalamin – If you read other articles about B12, they will probably refer to B12 by this name. That’s because it is the most popular form of B12. Why is it so popular? Because it is the synthetic, lab-produced form of B12. It’s not found in nature. It’s also the cheapest form. Your body will take this form of B12 and convert it into Methylcobalamin.
• Methylcobalamin – Although a bit more expensive, this form of Vitamin B12 is the natural form. Because your body does not need to convert it, the Vitamin B12 benefits appear in your body much more quickly and easily. If you have to choose between the two possible forms of B12, Methylcobalamin would probably be better.

Generally it seems like around 2.4 micrograms daily works for most people to maintain adequate levels. Pregnant and nursing women should take a little more, since they are ‘eating for 2’. Your health care provider can determine an optimum level.

Don’t worry about overdosing on Vitamin B12. Your body won’t absorb any more than it needs. Any excess B12 will just go out in your urine. You’re just raising the cost of your pee.

We’d love to help you with any questions you have about diet or elder care. We have contracted with a nurse, personal trainer, nutritionist and several doctors in the area to answer any questions you may have. You can contact us through the main pageof our website, email us at Cam@aparadiseforparents.comor call us at 623-295-9890. We’d love to help in any way we can.