As our loved ones age, admitting the need for help is difficult. So, how will you know when it is time to provide some assistance for your aging parent? One thing is for sure, Mom and Dad will not be the ones to tell you that it’s the time! We all have a strong desire to remain independent and control our lives. When daily living tasks become more challenging, we tend to downplay or hide any issues from those that...
Exactly How Full is Your Glass? Picture a giant glass goblet filled to the halfway mark with water. How do you see it – half-full or half-empty? Consistently finding the glass half-empty and the world as a difficult place is a hallmark of negativity. Research has found that a negative outlook can contribute to everything from depression to heart disease to lowered immune system function. It can affect sleep, weight maintenance, the quality of your relationships, your social life, and...
Spring is in the air! Last week's warmer weather got me thinking about what a great time of year it is to take our clients out to enjoy the outdoors! In addition to the physical benefits of natural sunlight and fresh air, being outside provides mental and emotional benefits. Experiencing the outdoors increases socialization and provides opportunities for us to interact with children and animals. In this week's column, I'd like to share some of my favorite "senior-friendly" activities: Catch a...
You're Retired. Now What? By: Peggy Hayes Executive Director, The Helm at the Boll Life Center So you’ve reached that stage in life where the R-word is beginning to sneak in. Should I retire? When? What will I do? It takes planning to retire successfully. Obviously, financial considerations are first and foremost in the decision to retire. Beyond that, you need to look at what you will do in retirement to keep your days full and purposeful. The Helm can help with that!...
We often kick off the New Year with goals to “change our lives.” Whether we want to lose weight, exercise regularly, or organize our homes, we jump in and give it all we’ve got. By the time spring arrives, many of us have abandoned the effort for achieving our goals - however, as our name implies, we have hope! Obtaining your goals does not have to be an all-or-nothing prospect and you may just need a change of perspective relative to your goal setting. Making small changes...
As I wrote in last week's column, March is National Nutrition Month. In discussing nutrition, I emphasized that it is more than what you eat - it's also how you treat your body, mind, and spirit. In that theme, I'd like to introduce a new (to some of you) concept: Primary vs. Secondary food. When you think of "food," you likely think of what you put in your mouth - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition actually considers the food you eat your...
As we continue through Heart Health month, I'd like to do a deeper dive into stress management and how it can affect your heart. When discussing heart health, we tend to focus on food and fitness – however, there are other major players in the health game when it comes to your heart: stress and sleep. There is growing evidence that stress can contribute to heart disease. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize the impact daily stress has on our lives – we become accustomed...
Caregiving for your loved one can be an emotionally and physically exhausting experience. For many families, the need for care comes on suddenly, and without the time and resources to adequately prepare for the circumstances. Throughout my career, I have counseled families as they make difficult and emotional decisions about the next steps for their aging family members. As a care provider, I found much comfort in the experiences and stories of individuals who have managed a care plan and hearing how they...
Chronic pain is more common than you might imagine. Everyone experiences pain from time to time; Pain alerts us to potential health concerns and injuries. Chronic pain occurs when it lasts longer than 12 weeks. The National Center for Health Statistics approximates that 76.2 million Americans (1 in 4 people) regularly experience pain that lasts longer than 24 hours, and millions more have acute pain. It is the most common cause of Long-Term disability in the United States. Symptoms of...
It can be difficult to know when your aging loved one could use assistance in their home. The desire to maintain independence can make them more secretive. As things become increasingly challenging, they may hide or minimize incidents. The fear of losing independence can outweigh their ability to see the risks to their health and safety. The bottom line is many older adults find it difficult to accept they need help. When you visit your loved one, you need to...
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