Older American's Mental Health Week - May 23- 29th, 2011

support@wellness.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:59:19 Z

Wellness.com - Older American's Mental Health Week - May 23- 29th, 2011 by Fletcher Walters

Mental Health

Regardless of age or physical ability, some people who suffer from mental health disorders become homebound during their recovery. Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression can all easily affect entire families, not just those who are diagnosed.

Right at Home can provide numerous Care Services that help you do more than just survive a loved one's struggle with the effects of a mental health disorder. We can be a large part of helping you thrive on their path of recovery.

We can also help when mental health is a concern for seniors who are coping with the reality of becoming homebound.

Here are five tips to keep your aging loved one's brain fit

The importance of keeping our minds sharp to prevent age-related memory loss is no secret. The memory is like a muscle, and as your loved one ages, it is important for him to exercise his mind. The more exercise the brain gets, the better it becomes at processing information. Here are five simple tips from Right at Home for you to share with your loved one:

Read the daily paper
Reading regularly can decrease the chances of mild cognitive impairment by 30 to 50 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic. Reading is an active mental process " you must interpret letters and words while processing overall concepts and ideas. Reading helps with word recall and improves concentration and focus. As an added benefit, reading always provides new conversation topics for your loved one to discuss with friends and family.

Play a memory game
Memory games are among the brain exercises most likely to maintain healthy cognitive function in seniors, according to a Journal of American Medical Association study. Play a classic game of "Memory" or put together a jigsaw puzzle to stimulate the mind.

Try new food
Trying a new dish for dinner with unique ingredients is a great way to stimulate our senses. While food is necessary for survival, our brain plays a big role in what foods we enjoy, and our senses play a big role in brain function. By introducing new foods to your loved one, you can increase his mental activity by tasting, smelling and seeing foods outside of his normal diet.

Paint a picture
Creativity is a beneficial cognitive exercise that can delay the onset of dementia or lessen any effects your loved one may feel from dementia, according to LiveStrong.com. The more frequently you engage in creative activities such as painting a picture or playing a musical instrument, the more beneficial they are.

Socialize with family and friends
Interaction is an unpredictable activity when it comes to brain function. Encourage your loved one to build and maintain relationships with his friends and family. Engaging in a stimulating conversation, playing a game of cards or sharing a meal together are all simple ways to socialize with others.

Right at Home is your international expert for issues related to caring for your loved one and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. Right at Home offers in-home care and assistance so your loved one can continue living independently and enjoying a vibrant life. Our caregivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one.

What kinds of mind-building games does your loved one enjoy?

For more information contact us at - http://www.rightathome.net/plantcity

or call 813 - 764-9290

Keeping Your Loved One Connected

support@wellness.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:55:01 Z

Wellness.com - Keeping Your Loved One Connected by Fletcher Walters

Technology is becoming increasingly more important in order to keep in touch with family and friends. This hasn't gone unnoticed by the senior population. In fact, the number of Americans 65 and older who use the Internet jumped 55 percent between 2004 and 2009, rising from 11.3 million users to 17.5 million. As the digital divide between the generations shrinks, new technology specifically designed for senior users is making it easier and more convenient for seniors to stay connected.

Many seniors want to jump on the Internet bandwagon, but aren't sure how. Tools like PawPawMail can help. This is an e-mail system designed to eliminate spam and scams for senior users. Only messages from listed contacts can be sent to the user's mailbox. It also offers a photo album where listed contacts can upload photos to send to the senior user. Hewlett-Packard offers the innovative TouchSmart computer, which includes a wireless keyboard and mouse. It also offers a touch-sensitive monitor, ensuring ease of use for less tech-savvy users. For those seniors who may not have an Internet connection, there's Celery. This service transforms any fax machine into an e-mail device. It allows the fax machine to receive e-mail messages, even photos. The user can also send messages (even if they're handwritten) via fax, and they are e-mailed to the recipient.

In addition to tools designed for web-a-phobes, there are also new web-specific tools for the more adventurous and tech-forward senior. Connected Living is an application that provides a customized homepage for the user where he can share and view photos, send and receive e-mails, listen to music and audio books, record his own memoirs and get news updates. Big Screen Live is a downloadable browser specifically for seniors and Crossloop is a tool which allows the user to share his screen so family and friends can navigate the computer and offer tech support from a distance. Finally, FamiliLink is a one-stop-shop page for aging adults to keep in touch. The interface is user-friendly and allows family and friends to send attachments and photos which will automatically display on the user's page. Users can create slide shows, enlarge photos, watch uploaded videos and write and receive e-mails all in one location.

With so many new tools on the market, it can be hard for your aging loved one to keep up. For this reason, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging published Staying Connected: Technology Options for Older Adults. This guide highlights texting, e-mail and Facebook, offering instructions and etiquette tips for aging users. This may be a useful tool to present to your loved one when talking about new ways to keep in touch.

Right at Home is your international expert for emotional, physical and financial issues related to caring for your loved one, and we're dedicated to keeping you informed. Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance so your loved one can continue living independently and enjoying a vibrant life. Our caregivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering your home, so you can trust us with the caregiving and focus on the love.

by Angel Carl - Right at Home Plant City

Wellness Posts by Fletcher Walters

Older American's Mental Health Week - May 23- 29th, 2011

Keeping Your Loved One Connected