4 Clues That Suggest Assisted Living

A question we often hear is: ‘how do I know when it is time for our loved one to go into an assisted care facility?’ This is a difficult question to ask but there are a few well defined indicators for you to keep an eye out for when trying to decide the right time to make the transition. Remember that when your loved one needs more care than you can provide, then it is time to consider assisted care.

Some of the key points to help you know when it is time to consider assisted care are:

1. Wandering: This can be a major worry for you and a great source of danger for your loved one. Your loved one may be used to walking to the local store or park and they may still believe they are capable of it. Unfortunately, if they are no longer able to do these things on their own, they may stray into traffic or get lost in what was once a familiar neighborhood. If you find that you can no longer trust them to stay at home alone, then it may be time to consider the more secure environment an assisted care facility can provide.
2. Home Safety Issues: Is your loved one getting forgetful and leaving the gas stove burning? Or worse, maybe they have switched on the gas and forgotten to light it. Other safety issues include stairs or maybe even just those few steps into the kitchen. If a loved one takes a fall when they’re alone the consequences could be serious. Home security can also be an issue, as you want to ensure that your loved one is safe while alone in their own home. If you’re having concerns about their safety when home alone, it may be time to consider the added security an assisted living facility can provide.
3. Escalating Care Needs: As your loved one gets older, their care needs can increase as well. They may need regular, more constant care. Some of the things they made need help with are taking their medication regularly and correctly, performing personal hygiene tasks, and even preparing healthy meals and eating regularly. These tasks may need daily supervision to ensure they get taken care of properly. If your loved one is starting to require more regular daily supervision, it may be time to consider an assisted care facility, where your loved one can maintain their independence, but also have a bit more supervision throughout the day.
4. Rising Stress Levels: Caregiver stress can be a real problem. The constant worry of caring for your loved one is a difficult burden to carry, and the stress may begin to affect your health as well as the overall wellbeing of your family. An assisted care facility can help take some of the pressure off of you by providing your loved one and you with additional support and supervision, freeing you and your family up to spend time enjoying your loved one, rather than worrying about making sure they get the right care.

These are just some of the many indicators to look at when considering if it is time to place your loved one in a care facility. Stepping back and taking an objective look at the situation can help you better understand the needs your loved one has and whether an assisted living facility is the right choice for them, and for you. We are always available to sit down with you and help you assess your specific situation to determine the best solution.

Source: APFP

7 Stress Strategies for Assisted Living Decisions

Choosing the correct home for your parent or loved one can feel overwhelming. Not only do you have to deal with their changing condition but you also have to find the right place to care for them. You may be the only family member suitable for the task or you may be looking for a friend who desperately needs care. There are many things you can do to manage the stress you feel while looking for the right solution for your loved one.

Here are a few strategies for managing the stress during this transition:

1. Take One Step At A Time: You cannot do it all at once. Put together a schedule and follow it as closely as possible. Look online and ask your friends or colleagues for advice on good care facilities. See how they may fit with your loved one’s needs and schedule a tour. By breaking this search into smaller steps, and giving yourself plenty of time, you will make this challenging job quite a bit easier.
2. Focus On The One Who Needs Care: This is a good way to help you see clearly what you need to do. Keeping your focus on the care needs of your loved one can make it easier work past any possible barriers and get on with the job of choosing the correct facility. Think of how they are going to fit in and what level of care they will need. This will help you decide on the right home. After all you are doing all of this for them.
3. Get Help: If possible do not take on the burden all by yourself. Involve other family members or friends you can trust. Sharing the decision makes it easier and an extra pair of eyes can only help when taking a look at all a facility has to offer. Others may see things you cannot and they may be a big help in doing research or even doing a tour or two.
4. This Is A Process: You are not the first person to have to find the right place for your loved one. Talk to other people who have been through similar searches about what process they used to help them decide on the right place. Talk with the staff at the facilities you visit about what they would look for. Then lay out a process that works best for you. There are plenty of homes out there, so do what you need to do to get your loved one into the right place. Do not let the process run you, take charge from the beginning and it will be an easier time for you.
5. Keep The Loved One Out Of It: Until you are ready with a few viable alternatives, keep your parent or loved one out of the process. When you have a final list drawn up, then lay out the choices for your loved one and listen to what they have to say. Arrange visits to a few select facilities, as it will be easier for them and you to make a decision when the choice is narrowed down.
6. Trust your gut: If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If a home gives you a bad feeling, especially after a second visit, then drop it from the list. Use your intelligence to draw up a shortlist but use your intuition to discard any unsuitable candidates. By going with a place that doesn’t match your gut feeling you will only be increasing your stress levels. You will find yourself waiting for something to go wrong.
7. Stress is unavoidable: There will be stressful moments during this process. The idea is to reduce the stress as much as possible. Recognizing that there will be stress involved, and figuring out a strategy for handling it, will make it easier for you to manage during this process. Identifying possible stressful areas in advance, such as organizing home tours, can help to reduce the overall stress levels.

Stress will be a factor when deciding on a care home. Utilize these strategies so that it doesn’t take over the process. W have been through this with many care givers, so please give us a call and see how we can help take some of the stress out of this challenging time.

Source: APFP

6 Strategies for Adjusting to the First 3 Months

The first three months following a transition to assisted care can be the most challenging for a new resident. Depending on their level of awareness they may be able to communicate this verbally, or we may see other indicators such as a decline in their day-to-day condition. At A Parents Paradise & Care, we believe in working as a team with you and your loved one to make this transition as smooth and easy as possible.

Here are a few things to watch for in the first three months and some strategies for handling them:

1. Transitions can often be difficult: No matter what you do, what the new resident does or what we at A Parent’s Paradise & Care do, this transition is often a challenging one for your loved one. This is a major change in their life and one that is happening at a time when they already feel vulnerable. Be prepared for a few challenges in the weeks following the transition but also know that when the adjustment is made life will improve overall. We’ve found that our residents really start to settle in after three months and really embrace the new lifestyle and surroundings. It just requires patience and dedication from the whole team.
2. Expecting to go home: Many of our new residents expect this to be just a temporary measure and that they will be going home soon. A few ways to make the transition easier are making regular visits and also decorating their rooms with familiar objects from home. The shock of this big change can be difficult so it is important to be as present and supportive as possible during the initial change in accommodations. The first three months are all about adjusting to a new home and new routine.
3. Preserving the home life: We find that the most successful transitions are the ones where all the family or friends are involved and as much of the loved one’s home life comes with them as possible. Your loved ones do not want to feel they have been abandoned in an institution but rather that they are moving to a new home. Decorating their room with furniture from home and by bringing in their prized memories and possessions too, along with books and clothing can make the transition much easier.
4. Making contact with other residents: Our goal is to place our residents so each home accommodates people of similar care and life experience, and we always encourage your loved ones to make contact with others in the facility. This way they can see that they are not alone and can share what is happening to them with others who already have transitioned successfully. Many people discover old friends or people from the neighborhood and that familiarity helps them settle into their new lives.
5. Continuity of experience: Encourage your loved ones to do as many of the same activities they enjoyed when they were still living at their old home. Maintain family traditions, such as weekly family meals or other activities, so they can see that life has not stopped but just entered a new phase. When they feel that they still have their independence, such as mobility or going to their room when they want to, that can make the adjustment to their new living situation much easier.
6. Keep visiting and calling: It is very important to minimize the feelings of abandonment your parent or loved one may be experiencing. If you are a daily caller keep up the visits and maybe stay longer than you would have when they were at home. Bring other family members and encourage them to visit too when you are at work. A quick phone call can mean a lot to a resident when they are settling into their new home. Knowing that you are thinking of them will make a world of difference.

The first three months are going to be difficult. Be aware of this in advance, and making the necessary room in your life so you can help your parent or loved one to adjust, will make the transition much smoother.

Source: APFP

7 Challenges of Moving Your Loved One

This transition is going to be difficult for your loved one. Taking a little time to yourself, and imagining what it is like for your parent or loved one, can help you make the transition so much easier. By taking the time to see it through their eyes you can make this a smooth process, not the traumatic one it could become if not managed correctly.

Here are a few factors to consider:

1. The Trauma: Imagine what it would be like if you were leaving your home and familiar surroundings behind. This is not an easy move, but you know your loved one well enough to know how to make it easier for them. Think of it as a positive move, as just a change in surroundings and not a permanent break from friends and family. This may be a difficult process but you can help make it positive move rather than a traumatic one.
2. The Loss Of Independence: Up until now your loved one has retained their independence and this is often something of which they are very proud. It is important to understand that, as their living arrangements change, they may no longer fee in control. Talking with them about this and showing them that they can still live a full life too and more importantly, continue enjoying it, is key to making this an easy transition. Yes, they may be losing their independence in certain ways but also gaining new independence in other ways.
3. Adjustment Takes Time. Adjusting to any major change in life takes time. Your loved one may feel like this is all happening too fast and at a time when they feel resistant to it. By acknowledging their feelings and working together to make this transition as easy as possible, you’ll be helping your loved one to adjust. It can be helpful to talk with your loved one during this transition and help them understand that it is for the better. Time is a great healer and sometimes your loved one just needs additional time to adjust to their new living arrangements.
4. The Denial. Your loved one may believe that the move is temporary and will be in denial for a while that they now have a new home. Once again, allowing for a bit of time and staying supportive and available throughout the transition can help. Eventually they will begin to enjoy their new surroundings. You can help them overcome the denial by talking with them about the care facility as their new home and helping them settle into their new surroundings.
5. Not Settling: There may well be a period when your loved one does not seem to be settling into the care home. Sometimes, no matter how good it is or what you do to help, they just do not want to stay. Nobody has failed, it is just that what looked good on paper is not proving to be a good fit for your loved one. This is not unusual, and by having a few alternatives ready you may quickly help them to settle elsewhere. It may be that they need more time to settle in, but knowing you have a back-up choice can help immensely when moving to a care home.
6. Making Their Own Space: Take a step back and imagine what you would miss most about home. Then imagine what your loved one would miss from their place. Picture the care home and see how you can furnish the room there so it is like where they now live. A good care home will allow you to decorate a resident’s room with their favorite furniture, objects and books. Even having their own bedside lamp to switch on at night can help make a big difference towards making a new room feel like home.
7. Frequent Contact: Adjusting to the new home can be much easier for your loved one if they see you and other family members frequently. Visiting regularly is a great way to lessen their sense of abandonment, and help them to adjust quickly to their new surroundings. Have them show you and other family members around the facility. Do whatever you can to make them to feel part of their new home. Everyone loves seeing a familiar face come in the door, so remember that frequent contact is crucial at this time.

Understanding what it is like for a parent or loved one to move to a care facility will help everyone with the adjustment process. If you have any fears or questions, please call so we can help with the transition process and take the worry out of it for both you and your loved one.

Source: APFP

Northwest Valley Connect Senior Transportation

Aging is inevitable and there will come a time where it will be physically impossible for people to get on with their daily routine without much assistance. It is undeniable that one of the major challenges your aging loved one will face is access to transportation. Driving to and from appointments is not an option for many seniors because ailments that come with age such as:

• Eye problems
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• And more

may hinder the elderly from driving.

As result, doctor’s appointments, trips to the grocery store, essential errands, emergencies, visits with family and friends are often compromised, heightening the risk of social isolation – especially when your loved one lives alone. To solve this problem, you will need to find a platform that can help your loved one get around the city easily and efficiently as well as maintain their social independence. The Northwest Valley Connect does just that and helps your loved ones stay active and connected with the people around them.

There are over 375,000 residents that make the northwest Phoenix metropolitan area their home. This number also includes around 100,000 seniors living in the age-restricted areas of Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Sun City, and other neighboring areas that do not have immediate access to public transportation. To make matters worse, a local non-profit transportation service that mainly caters to seniors stopped its operations in 2010. Due to this incident, Maricopa County and other local cities made it possible to expand the services of Dial-a-Ride (link to Dial-a-ride blog post) to ease the inconvenience.

There is still a lack of awareness and there are gaps in the service. A local community survey of seniors conducted in 2013 confirmed that the issue of accessing public transportation is still one of the top issues in the area.

To help solve the problem, two non-profits that have served Northwest Valley for more than 85 years, Benevilla and Sun Health, merged together and created Northwest Valley Connect (NVC).

What is Northwest Valley Connect?

Northwest Valley Connect (NVC) is a one-call service that aims to meet the transportation needs of the people in Northwest Valley. Since its launch in September 2014, NVC has given its users a Mobility Management service that helps residents access available public, private, as well as volunteer transportation resources depending on their need.

You can view these resources on their website or through your phone with NVC volunteer operators to assist you. NVC provides a personalized service that presents the transportation options in the area. Additionally, NVC attempts to fill in the gaps found in accessing public transportation through the utilizing volunteer-based transportation services that aim to help more seniors get to medical appointments, obtaining medical supplies and daily needs, and keep them socially active.

Dial-a-Ride’s services are currently available throughout Maricopa County and Phoenix. But these services are limited by age depending on the location and are generally only available on Mondays to Fridays, 7 am to 5 pm, with a 24-hour notice. This serves as an opportunity for NVC to enter the game and provide transportation past 5 pm and on weekends and therefore, improving the transportation in the area. NVC would be extremely helpful for people who need transportation to:

• Various medical appointments on the same day
• Urgent care or emergencies
• Shopping
• Social activities on weekends
• Church
• Any after-hours or weekend appointments
• And the like.

The NVC senior transportation service is professionally managed by paid dispatcher services. A transportation-specific software program makes sure that the company is always efficient in serving clients. For trips, NVC uses passenger vehicles, a combination of volunteer-owned cars and other vehicles that are donated by community residents.

Since NVC operates with passenger vehicles and does not have options for vans or buses with wheelchair lifts, the service may not be suitable for passengers in wheelchairs. However, to ensure your wheelchair-dependent loved one will still get the transportation they need, you can talk to NVC’s Mobility Manager so he or she can refer you to other available resources within the area.

You can also ask for assistance from the Mobility Manager – without fee – to help you and your loved ones to connect with public, private, and volunteer transportation that is available in the area near you.

What Are The Services They Offer?

NVC mainly provides transportation services for people in the Northwest Valley, but they technically offer two services to their clients.

1.    Call-Click-Connect Mobility Center

Connecting Residents to Local Transportation Resources

NVC is the point of contact within the community and they are able to give you information regarding existing travel options so they are armed with information that is easy to understand and that can assist residents in planning and organizing their transportation needs.

NVC also plans on working with the government, private, non-profit or volunteer transportation providers so they can inform residents on new and available transportation resources and give them more options regarding transportation.

2.    Ride Connect – Transportation for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

Providing Additional Options to Meet Needs

Additional options to meet needs pertains to facilitating people who are 65 years old or older who reside in Northwest Valley to plan local trips to doctors, the pharmacy, the grocery store, or other social gatherings, appointments, and errands. The riding fee of NVC is comparable to or slightly lower than a taxi. Subsidized rides are also accessible to riders who have low income.

Northwest Valley Connect provides services to the residents of:

• Sun City
• Sun City West
• Surprise
• El Mirage
• Youngtown
• Parts of Peoria and
• Certain areas in the region that are unincorporated.

These cities are found in the northwestern area of the metropolitan region of Pheonix, home to more than 375,000 residents.

Some transportation options in the area focus on benefiting specific riders with certain qualifications regarding age, disability, income, or veteran status. However, the transportation services where NVC operates do not usually have specific qualification criteria and can be availed without the need to qualify.

If you need more information regarding available transportation and needed qualifications (if any), you can call NVC’s number (623) 282 9300 or you can access their online database of available transportation resources by clicking here.

Do You Need A Ride?

All you have to do is request one! If you need a ride or if you want to know more about Northwest Valley Connect and ask for personal advice or guidance, you can call them or fill out a form found on their website The people from NVC are always willing to help.

Give them one to two business days before you expect to get a response from them. If your concern requires immediate attention, you can call NVC’s call center at (623) 282-9300. Their call center staff are composed of specially trained operators that are friendly, informative, and are able to provide you with options that can best meet your needs. Their operating hours are usually on Mondays to Fridays, 8 am to 12 noon and will resume at 1 pm to 5 pm.

Review of MusicGlove for Stroke Victims

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the US. It also kills more than 130,000 Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 700,000 people suffer from a stroke per year or about one person every four seconds.

Through the advancement of technology, there are numerous treatments that help stroke survivors regain their lost abilities. The only drawback is that only a few stroke survivors continue with their therapy after they leave the hospital. They usually get bored with the repetitive exercises their therapist gives them, so they tend to discontinue their therapy.

Nizan Friedman, the founder of Flint Rehabilitation Devices – a company that develops effective and engaging rehabilitation aids that are backed by science, made it a point to remedy this problem. Friedman is not only an entrepreneur, he is also a musician and an engineer. He came up with an idea that fused all of his passions together while working on his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of California.

To help stroke patients, he wanted to combine robotics and music therapy but upon realizing that a robotic hand would be too expensive, they came up with MusicGlove instead which worked better than they could’ve hoped for.

What is MusicGlove?

MusicGlove is a wearable hand therapy device that is specifically made for stroke survivors. It helps people who had neurological and muscle injuries improve and regain their motor skills. The glove has tiny sensors that can detect the patient’s hand movements.

The glove is designed similarly to the game Guitar Hero. Patients can play a musical game that includes pinching and gripping music notes that you can see on a tablet screen (or your laptop) while a song is playing. The glove takes into account the speed and strength of the movements so stroke survivors are able to track their improvement after a time of playing.

MusicGlove helps in increasing the patient’s attention span, neuropsychological scores, cognitive function, well-being, recovery, and encourages them to be independent.

For a quick overview of MusicGlove, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-0DF58FUDo

MusicGlove is the first rehabilitation device that is approved by the FDA and clinically validated to make at-home therapy sessions fun and effective for stroke survivors. Using the glove is similar to the exercises a patient does after leaving the hospital. The key to a fast recovery is high repetition, which means that the patient needs to do a movement repeatedly and being motivated to do it every single day.

MusicGlove aims to take away the boredom that comes with doing the same thing over and over again. With the use of catchy songs and gamification principles, the patient will never see therapy as a chore again.

Aside from being FDA approved, MusicGlove is also clinically proven to develop hand mobility in just two weeks.

How to Use MusicGlove

Using MusicGlove is fairly simple. You have to wear the device on your hand and plug it into your personal computer of Flint tablet and then press play. When the music plays you just have to follow through and make the right pinching movements when musical notes start floating down the screen. It is as easy as that.

It is portable, easy to set up, and user-friendly. Unlike most of the innovative rehabilitation devices, MusicGlove allows you to practice effective therapy right in the comfort of the patient’s home or on the go. Setting the device up takes less than two minutes of your time and does not require any knowledge on how to use a computer.

When you buy a MusicGlove, it comes in with everything you need to get started: a 10-inch tablet for the home version or a 21-inch monitor for a clinic version, the glove, custom headphones, a user manual, and connection cables. Since it is FDA approved, you can purchase MusicGlove without a prescription.

One session of musicGlove is about 45 minutes long, and each session enables the patient to do over 2,000 repeating movements.

(Caption: Guitar Hero simulates playing a real guitar through following electronic cues on a screen)

MusicGlove is not for people with no hand movement. However, there is one testimonial of a man with a paralyzed hand who used MusicGlove similar to mirror therapy. He thought all hope was lost but after numerous sessions, he started to regain hand movement. There is no assurance that a stroke survivor would reap the same benefits but this inspiring story leads you to believe that there is hope.

(Caption: Mirror Therapy helps trick the brain into thinking there is movement in a limb without pain when there really isn’t any.)

To use MusicGlove, the patient is given a choice on how many grips he or she wants. They can start with a single pinch or several pinches, depending on the need and comfort level.

Flint Rehabilitation Devices recommends this regimen:

1. Start with a 15-minute session on the easy level.
2. Increase the duration of the session gradually until the patient is able to complete sessions that are 45 minutes or an hour long.
3. If the patient can master the easy level or can hit 90% of the notes perfectly, he or she can move onto the next difficulty level.

The main goal is to constantly challenge the brain to help it rewire itself and have the stimulus it needs to recover. As the patient’s MusicGlove skills are improved, the patient should take it up a notch and try harder songs. Always focus on getting better – consistency and repetition are the keys to attain full recovery.  Two tips to increase the effectiveness of MusicGlove include:

• Follow a regular schedule
• Pick a specific time each day to do rehab exercises until it routinely becomes a part of your loved one’s day.

To give you a demonstration on how MusicGlove works, take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM-2L7028TA

Who is MusicGlove For?

MusicGlove has been used to effectively rehabilitate the following conditions:

• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Developmental Disability
• Cerebral Palsy
• Neurologic and Muscular Injury

MusicGlove has helped thousands of stroke survivors all over the world. Its users reported that they regained the ability to perform simple day-to-day tasks with their hands such as buttoning a button, brushing their teeth, and opening doors. These are significant improvements for people who actually thought they’s be paralyzed for the rest of their lives.

You can purchase a MusicGlove for your loved one here, starting at $349. Their 30-day return policy, free shipping within the US, one year warranty, and customer support (you can call 1-800-593-5468) ensures that you get the most out of your purchase.

4 Types of Exercises for Seniors that Everyone Can Use

Whether you’re 10 or you’re 92, regular physical exercise plays an important role in living a long and healthy life. As we age, our bodies may be may be prone to develop different health issues, such as

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure, and h
• Heart disease

Exercise helps combat these issues and prevent them from developing altogether. Additionally, a strong body will help you elderly loved one remain independent for as long as possible. These types of exercises for seniors especially can help them enjoy their retirement years much more independently.

There are four different types of low-impact exercises for seniors to include in their daily exercise routine: balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance. A mix of all these exercises ensures that your elderly loved one will remain healthy and safe from certain injuries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly suggests that seniors should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate endurance exercise, as well as two strengthening exercises, each week.

There are numerous local gyms and senior centers that offer exercises specifically tailored to your elderly loved one. However, they don’t need to hit the gym to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. There are a few apps they can download which create a customizable workout plan that they can do anytime, anywhere. These exercises for seniors can be done in the comforts of their own space.

Disclaimer: Visit your doctor prior to starting a new exercise.

Before you or your elderly loved one begin a new exercise routine, it is crucial to inform your doctor about this matter. It’s recommended that your loved one should get a medical clearance before participating in any exercises for seniors. This is especially true if the senior leads an inactive lifestyle or has any medical conditions.

It’s also important to ask your loved one’s physician if there are any types of activities they should avoid. Certain health conditions  can affect your workout. For example, if your loved one had an ankle sprain that did not heal properly, exerting too much effort may worsen the condition. Senior diabetics should also take into consideration the timing of their medications before starting a new exercise regimen.

4 Types of Workouts

Incorporating these types of workouts in your elderly loved one’s routine ensures that they

Strength Training

Weight training exercises for seniors can really help with aches and pains

A lot of seniors think twice at the mention of strength training because they think they’re going to lift heavy weights. But contrary to popular belief, strength exercises can still be effective even without equipment because of the resistance from body weight.

Strength training workouts can be done two to three times each week, 30 minutes per session. Rest days in between strength exercises are very important to allow the muscles to recover. As your loved one progresses with the exercise, his/her muscles become stronger. By this time, they can add light weights or use resistance bands (or small household objects, such as bottled water). You can see our article on some great resistance band exercises for seniors here.

Strength exercises not only improve your elderly loved one’s strength. They also boosts metabolism, build muscles, and strengthen bones – all of which help in making everyday tasks and chores easier.

Flexibility Exercises

Flexibility exercises for seniors also enable them to have more freedom of movement. This promotes independence and a prolonged active lifestyle. Prior to doing endurance or strength exercises, it is important do a light stretch. Additionally, seniors can also include certain exercise programs that mainly focus on increasing flexibility, such as yoga or Tai Chi classes, which are some great exercise for seniors. Common hobbies or activities, such as gardening and golfing can also aid in keeping your loved one strong and flexible.

Endurance Exercises

Endurance exercises, or more commonly known as cardio, aid in

• Lowering blood pressure
• Speeding up metabolism, and
• Improving heart health.

As your elderly loved one include cardio in their exercise regimen, ask them to ease into it and start slowly (5-minute increments). They can add more time as they progress with the exercise.

Keep in mind that the goal is to elevate the heart rate and breathing.  However, they shouldn't be so out of breath that they can’t carry a conversation. If your loved one feels dizzy or in pain, they may be exerting too much effort. It is best to slow down and recover.

Aim for at least 10 minutes of cardio at a time as your endurance increases, building up to at least 30 minutes each day. Seniors should at least get about 150 minutes of moderate endurance exercises each week. As seniors start their exercise, it’s recommended to begin with moderate endurance exercises before progressing (with their doctor’s approval) to vigorous exercises.

Moderate endurance exercises:

• Gardening or mowing the lawn,
• Stationary cycling
• Brisk walking on a flat surface
• Swimming
• Biking on a flat surface

Vigorous endurance exercises:

• Jogging
• Climbing stairs or hills
• Brisk bicycling uphill
• Shoveling snow

Balance Exercises

It may not seem much, but adding balance exercises to your elderly loved one’s exercise routine and potentially save their lives. Seniors are prone to falls and according to the CDC, it is the leading cause of injury and even mortality in people over the age of 65. Therefore, improving a senior’s balance promotes a safer and more independent life.

At a Paradise for Parents, we know that it's very important to stay physically fit and healthy especially in our golden years. We encourage our senior residents to get fit and active by having a personal trainer who works closely with residents in all of our assisted living homes in order to ensure that their physical capabilities are accommodated. He has some great exercises for seniors to make them more healthy.

If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.

12 Ways to Support Senior Veterans

The reason Americans proudly declare that America is ‘the land of the free and home of the brave’ is because of a special set of people who bravely fought for the country we all enjoy. Many service members dedicated their lives to fight for the nation’s freedom.

Whether a veteran is a family member, an acquaintance, or a total stranger – any form of support is very welcome. Especially when their health starts to deteriorate and their resources start to decline. It couldn’t hurt to take a little chunk of your time to show them that you are grateful for their service by supporting them in your own little way.

One way to show appreciation is to gather your family together and commit to visit your elderly family member on weekends, once a month, or during Veteran’s Day. Here are 12 simple ways to show support and gratitude to other senior veterans:

1. Visit A Senior Veteran

You can freely visit senior veterans who are residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes on appropriate time or dates. Even just devoting 15 minutes of your day can be a big deal for them. You can also show gratitude simply by saying ‘thank you’. There is always a positive impact whenever someone says a heartfelt thank you to war veterans, even if they are no longer in service. A Paradise for Parents always has several veterans who would welcome a chat or visit.

Take it up a notch by actually sitting down with them and lending them an ear. Be ready to hear a lot of interesting stories of survival, camaraderie, and loyalty. But remember to be cautious since there are veterans who feel anxious when they talk about their experiences.

You can ask for assistance by contacting your local VA hospitals. After the visit, you will surely feel positive and you’ll keep coming back for more.

2. Deliver Food to Veterans

Food can be an easy tool to approach people. You can contact food banks in your vicinity or delivery services to help you to deliver food to veterans. Check out Area Agency on Aging for more information.

3. Visit Service Members Who Are Wounded

Your veteran family member undeniably needs someone to talk to, someone who can relate to their experiences. You can contact veterans’ hospitals near you to ask about the visiting hours of the wounded soldiers so you can spend time with them. Better yet, bring a senior veteran with you. Aside from the benefit the senior veteran gets, they are also able to offer friendship and encourage these veterans. There is a huge difference when a fellow soldier is able to give advice. It’s definitely going to be nostalgic and therapeutic.

4. Extend A Helping Hand

If an elderly veteran lives within your neighborhood, find ways to help them – even in the littlest things. You can offer to mow their lawn, plant flowers, clean their house, or bring him/her food. The veteran will surely appreciate the much needed assistance you give them.

5. Go to ‘Honor A Veteran’ Nights

A bunch of sporting events such as basketball or soccer games often show their gratitude by saluting veterans and active military personnel. You can invite your veteran loved one so they will not only feel appreciated, but also might enjoy the game itself. A court or arena full of grateful people will let veterans know that their efforts do not go unnoticed. Through this event, they can also meet with other veterans so they can widen or create their social circle.

6. Watch Out For Discounts for Senior Veterans

Many companies offer discounts to veteran or military people. If you are a business owner, the least you can do is to offer one. They are able to enjoy discounts whenever they go shopping, eat at restaurants, watch movies, and the like. Or you can also do some research yourself and look for a list of discounts for veterans. Here is a list of veteran discounts to start.

7. Give Back to A VFW in Your Area

The budget for supporting VFWs is greatly reduced. Active service members who return home from wars and tours of duty, as well as elderly veterans, are in need of continued support. It is greatly beneficial to extend any form of help financially to your local VFW or Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. You can give back through conducting a neighborhood fundraiser and donating the money to the organization.

8. Bring A Veteran To A Special Event

For senior veterans who live alone or spend most of their day in a nursing home, taking them out for the day can be really exciting for them. If you do not have a veteran friend or a family member, you can contact the local VA office and arrange a visit. Inform them that you wish to take a veteran out for the day.

It’s as simple as eating snacks together, walking around the park, or watching a movie. Usually, the veteran will not care about the nature of the activity, he/she will be elated by the fact that someone wants to spend time and be with them.

9. Volunteer at Your Local Hospice

In every four deaths in America, at least one of them is a veteran. By volunteering in a hospice, you may give veterans the last bit of appreciation and hope. Simple ways to express your gratitude can make up for the years of lacking recognition from other people, especially to veterans who have no family or have never been welcomed home. Encourage them and love them up until the veteran’s last breath.

10. Listen To Them

How would you feel if you didn’t have anyone to talk to or no one would listen to what you have to say? The least you can do for veterans is to strike a conversation and then listen to them. Even just by asking, “Any favourite memories?” and the will start a great conversation. Help them to celebrate their accomplishments.

11. Open a Support Network for Senior Veterans

With the help of talented friends and family, you can start a support network for veterans within your community. Ask the members to check on them regularly, take them out for brunch, or you even invite them into your own house.

12. Get Involved with Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude is an organization that primarily focuses on honoring veterans and appreciating what they did for the country. Every year, they honor veterans by sending out over 200,000 care packages filled with foods, personal hygiene, hand-made crafts, and letters of appreciation.

The organization’s mission aptly states that they help lift the spirits of the people who loyally served the country and be an avenue for people who truly care. They become totally involved and appreciated by veterans.

There are a lot of ways in which you can extend your help in Operation Gratitude and support service personnel as well. If you do not have the time, you can

• Make a simple donation
• Participate in collection drives
• Write letters to servicemen
• Help organize special events, and
• Spread the word about Operation Gratitude.

Most of their lives, veterans are so used to serving the country and the people – it’s their purpose, their way of living. Imagine being stripped of that responsibility and left with nothing to do. This is one of the reasons why veterans often struggle as they age. It is exactly why it is important to engage with them and encourage them. Make them feel appreciated. Connect with a senior veteran and invite them for a cup of coffee or walk with them in the park. Helping veterans to be more sociable prevents them from being socially isolated. They will feel a sense of pride and satisfaction when they tell you their story.

Source: APFP