Carmel, CA Family inHome Caregiving Promotes Healthy Diet To Clients

A pyramid of food with people around it.


At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress that seniors should get the proper amount of exercise, plenty of social interaction, and eat a healthy diet.  Many of our clients are in their 90’s and some even over 100 and most have lead very healthy lives which lead to their longevity.  Following a diet like the Mediterranean diet which includes a lot of vegetables, fish, olive oil and is light on red meat can help stave off a number of diseases.  Nutritional supplements can help, but they just aren’t the same thing as eating healthy food.  A 2019 study of more than 30,000 adults found that healthy levels of vitamins A and K and the minerals magnesium and zinc may be associated with a lower risk of death—but only from food, not pills (AARP The Magazine, April/May 2022, page 34).

Super Foods Can Stave Off Dementia


A number of studies have been performed on the relationship between various foods and the onset of dementia.  One showed that walnuts can improve cognitive function.  Another that blueberries can boost memory.  And fish oil supplements can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.  The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet—both of which encourage you to eat lots of fresh produce, legumes, nuts, fish, whole grains and olive oil have been shown in multiple studies to provide protection against cognitive declines.  And they can be delicious if prepared with lots of fresh spices.

 

Seniors Should Get Regular Checkups, Even If They Feel Good

A person holding a hamburger in their hand.


AARP The Magazine just had an interesting article (April/May Issue, page 33) about how some seniors don’t go to the doctor regularly because they feel great.  As we have seen with COVID-19, many diseases and viruses are symptomless but if left untreated can turn into something very serious.  Researchers have been studying this phenomenon which they call future-time perspective.  The more time we perceive that we have, the more we’re able to ignore the fact that we’re overweight, have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, and other serious health problems.  Make sure you see your doctor at least once per year.

Traffic Signs, Ironically, Are Killing People

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A new study which was published on science.org found that electronic signs which are meant to alert people to dangers on the road actually cause an increase in car wrecks as distracted drivers stare at the sign.  The researchers studied traffic around areas that had signs displaying year-to-date road fatalities and found that the number of vehicle crashes increased, on average, by 4.5% in the 6.2 miles following the fatality-statistic message.  Researchers believe that the signs put excessive demands on drivers’ attention and information processing abilities in what is known as cognitive load.

Hope Is On The Way For Insomniacs : Check Out These Sleep Apps

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COVID-19 made this year’s spring forward especially hard to get used to, say sleep experts.  Dr. Abhinav Sing, a physician at Indiana Sleep Center, says about 40% of people have experienced sleep problems, what he calls “coronosomnia,†during the pandemic.  To help get your sleep rhythm back on track, try these apps:

Casper Glow Light:

When you’re ready for bed, flip the light over to turn it on.  Depending on the time you’ve selected, the light will slowly fade over a period of between 15-90 minutes.

OneClock Analog Waking Clock:

This minimalist clock will gently nudge you awake in the morning.  Waking songs currently include atmospheric, invigorating pieces.

Somnox 2 Sleep Robot:

As you hold the 3-pound rechargeable jelly bean to your chest like a teddy bear, it’s soft in-and-out movement and sounds are designed to encourage deeper breathing.

Wesper Sleep Kit:

After sleeping for at least three nights with patches stuck to your chest and stomach, you schedule an initial video consult with a sleep specialist, who will analyze the results and come up with potential solutions.

Dodow Sleep Aid:

This 3 inch device uses a pulsating light to coach your breathing at night.  Tap the top as you climb back into bed, and the battery-operated device projects a blue circle onto your ceiling.  You inhale when it expands and exhale when it retracts, which helps control your heart rate and help you fall asleep quickly.

 

Take Advantage of AARP Senior Discounts

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AARP offers a vast array of discounts with membership, including:

15% off at Denny’s

10% off at Outback Steakhouse

10% off at McCormick & Schmick’s

5% off UPS shipping and 20% off online printing at the UPS store

Go to www/aarp.org/ourbenefits for a full list

Obesity A Big Problem In America

A piece of cheese sitting on top of a table.


There have been mixed results on the health effects of reducing the number of calories we intake.  Multiple studies have shown that long-term calorie reduction can reduce metabolic function and slow the cellular aging process, but they have been on rats and not humans.  A study which was published in the journal The Lancet found that people who reduced their calorie intake by 12% had lower blood pressure and cholesterol and increased insulin sensitivity.  However it was a small study of 238 people so it must be followed up on (AARP Magazine, April/May 2022).  What we do know is that diets low in fat and high in fiber and vegetables such as The Mediterranean Diet have shown many health benefits.  And if you are obese, there are most certainly health benefits with losing weight.

Seniors Getting More Adept At Using Technology

A person holding an iphone in their hand.


Seniors are getting more and more adept at using technology.  It was great to see that Alliance on Aging is offering free one-on-one technology training classes for seniors age 60+ every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., by appointment only.  You can learn the basics on how to use your devices – smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, computers, and laptops.  The training is provided by Loaves Fishes and Computers at 236 Monterey Street in Oldtown Salinas.  For an appointment, call 831-646-4931 or 831-512-1330.  This is a national trend.  The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about senior communities and assisted living facilities offering similar training.

New Book Cost Of Living Explores Healthcare System Inside And Out

Three older women are holding pink dumbbells.


A new book by Emily Maloney called “Cost of Living†explores the health care system from a unique point of view.  The book’s author tried to kill herself when she was 19 and ended up in a psych ward.  Later in life she worked as an emergency room tech and later in hospital billing, so she has seen the healthcare system from the inside and the outside.  The book explores the financial side of the health care system but also the emotional side where hospital staff can sometimes be callous.  It’s worth a read.

God Bless Ed Dowd : Largest Donation in Natividad’s History!

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God Bless Ed Dowd, who just gave a $1 million donation (the largest in its history) to Natividad Foundation, the funder for Natividad hospital and its health care system.  He made the gift in his mother’s memory.  Nora Dowd worked as a registered nurse in Natividad’s mental health unit for 30 years.