Halloween is the perfect opportunity to be creative! With so many fun activities to take part in, it may be hard to decide what to do, so we’ve compiled a short list of our favorites! Costumes Costumes provide an abundance of opportunities to engage your brain creatively. There is the planning stage where you imagine what you want to be. The gathering/making stage where you put everything together: whether you make your own outfits with needle and thread or pair pre-made pi

Effective communication, at its core, is very collaborative. It takes patience, clarity, and empathy from all parties to have important conversations while maintaining a feeling of dignity and respect. And make no mistake, the decision to move into an assisted living facility or senior community is an important one! It can fundamentally change someone’s life, alter power-dynamics, and upset pre-established patterns of communication within families. In our experience, making t

1 minute: Activates blood circulation 5 minutes: Improves mood 10 minutes: Reduces cortisol (stress hormone) 15 minutes: Decreases blood sugar 30 minutes: Begins burning body fat 45 minutes: Reduces overthinking and anxiety 60 minutes: Increases dopamine, improving motivation and well-being. Have a happy day! DeDe Merritt, RN AL Clinical Nurse Manager

You may have an obscure sense that exercise is beneficial for you and most likely heard that it is “good for your heart“. In most cases you are similar to many residents that find heart health is insufficient inspiration to get you to start a routine of exercise. That is unfortunate, because arising proof shows that there are a lot of convincing motivations to begin at whatever stage in life, regardless of whether you are healthy or not. Researchers are discovering that activ

Most individuals hope to live to an old age. Healthy aging largely depends on having good self-care habits. They try to eat nutritious foods and they try to get enough active exercise. No matter what age you are right now, it’s not too late or too early to improve your vitality and lower your chances of developing health problems. MOTIVATION is the key to staying healthy as you grow older. That means overcoming short-term pleasures like over indulging on sweets or napping, in

From the Journal on Active Aging Muscles matter for more than just strength. Muscles are the largest component of lean body mass (LBM), which is everything that makes up the body except for fat. In fact, muscles account for up to 50-60% of a person’s body weight. The role of muscles extends far beyond supporting movement and balance. Muscles help maintain posture, circulate blood, regulate breathing, generate heat, stabilize joints, aid digestion, and protect vital organs

People’s beliefs about aging have a profound impact on their health. It can influence everything from memory, balance, sensory perception, how well a person walks and recovers from a disabling illness. When aging is seen as a negative event individuals tend to experience more stress and pain. Which leads them to engage less often in healthy behaviors. On the contrary, when aging is viewed in a positive way, individuals are more likely to stay active, be social, exe

Choking occurs when an object blocks an individual’s airway, where it prevents air from reaching the lungs and causing a life-threatening emergency if the oxygen supply is cut off. A person is choking if they can’t speak, cough, or breathe. Or if they show signs of panic, such as grabbing at their throat, wheezing, or turning blue. Key prevention strategies include cutting food into smaller pieces, chewing thoroughly, and keeping small objects away from children, with appropr

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Some causes of stones can be from certain medical conditions, diet, excess body weight, and certain medications and supplements. Passing of kidney stones can be painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage if they are caught in a timely manner. Sometimes, pain medi

Today, we're here to spill the beans on the truth about fitness. Yes, you heard us right - we're going to let you in on some fitness secrets that will change the way you think about staying active and healthy. First off, let's debunk the myth that fitness is only for the young and spry. The truth is, fitness is for EVERY body, regardless of age or ability. Whether you're taking a gentle yoga class, going for a walk around the beautiful grounds of Evergreen Fountains, or par

An essential tremor is a disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking of your hands, arms and other body parts. It can disrupt everyday activities. Some individuals can have anxiety or feel embarrassed about the symptoms they are experiencing. The difference between essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease is that with essential tremors, it often runs in families (familial tremor), and solely involves the tremor, usually occurs on both sides of the body, but one side may be

Research points to the effectiveness of effortful learning that combines mental and physical exercise. Exercise is good for the aging brain; emerging research explores the benefits of combining physical and cognitive exercises to sharpen the body and mind. The importance of healthy blood flow to the brain cannot be overstated. Aerobic, strength and flexibility exercises help to bath the vital tissues of the brain with oxygen, glucose and other nutrients. The goal is to

"The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May." Edwin Teal We are all excited to finally smell the fragrance of spring and feel the warmth of the sun. The journey through winter beckons May, the mellow month, full of gardener’s dreams and adventurists get excited for outdoor activities and walking. Let us all partake in the joys of the moment and embrace the challenges of living a wellness life

IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) is a common condition characterized by abdominal discomfort associated with altered bowel movements. Many of the symptoms of IBS are related to hypersensitivity of the nerves found in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. These nerves are distinct from those in your spinal cord and brain. There are four subcategories of IBS: (1) Mostly diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. (2) Mostly constipation and abdominal discomfort. (3) Alternating loose

Nothing is worse than having dry, itchy eyes! It could be seasonal allergies, or if you find that your eyes are consistently dry, then you may have dry eye syndrome. Some of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome are: eye fatigue, irritation, grittiness, burning, intermittent blurred vision, and the sensation of dryness. Dry eye syndrome is caused by poor tear production, poor tear quality, or both. It is more common in women and seen mostly in individuals middle age and older.

The joy of spring is upon us. We are blessed each year with the renewal and hope that spring brings us. We hope everyone will celebrate the real meaning of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ with family and friends. Here is some valuable information regarding fall prevention. There are numerous studies by major universities and medical researchers such as Arizona State University and John Hopkins University regarding how to identify people with fall risks usin

Quality of life, live better and longer by avoiding major disease. “I feel like if there was a magic pill for our health it would be exercise and good nutrition.” Prokey Arger “Beyond thinking of physical activity and exercising as recreation, it absolutely is medicine, it’s the best medicine known to man,” says Glen E. Duncan, professor and chair of W.S.U. Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. When you do something like physical activity, it affects the entire

Have you ever had any problems falling asleep? Insomnia can make it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. An individual typically needs 7 to 9 hours a night to wake up and feel good. Insomnia can drain your energy levels. Some symptoms of insomnia not mentioned above are: feeling tired throughout the day, being a little moody, anxious or depressed. Also, your ability to focus could be decreased. There is short term in

The American Heart Association has designated February as a month that focuses on cardiovascular health and raising awareness about heart disease. It is a great time to learn more about your heart health and how to take care of it. Here are a few tips: Stay on the move! Sitting down all day and not moving can lead to heart disease. Instead strive to be active a minimum of 30 minutes per day, 4-5 times a week. Walking is a good choice, but be sure to do an exercise you enjo

Some days you may have trouble concentrating or feel a bit unfocused. It possibly could mean you have “brain fog.” It may be difficult to get through your daily routine and your thoughts may seem sluggish. Brain fog impacts everyone differently. But this is NOT dementia. A number of things can lead to symptoms of brain fog. Such as: poor sleep, hormonal changes, increased stressors, chronic health conditions, autoimmune disorders, and certain medications such as chemotherap