The FirstLight Care Corner

Meditation and Aging

From our Care Blog

For thousands of years, meditation has served as an excellent source of stress relief and relaxation. Through active practice, people can even see improvements in their health, including reduced blood pressure, a slower heart rate, and a stronger immune system.  But did you know that it might also help reduce the process of aging? Recent studies have found that people who practice mindful meditation (focusing on the present) had improved telomere health.  For those who aren’t neuroscientists, telomeres are the protective ends of our DNA that prevent the ends of chromosomes from fusing with nearby chromosomes or deteriorating.  The healthier the telomere,...

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Four Effective Ways To Ask For Help For Seniors

From our Care Blog

Taking care of an elderly parent or a person with a chronic illness can become too much. You have your own family, job and responsibilities, and can easily become overwhelmed. Don’t be too proud to ask for help – from other family members, friends, people in your church or community organizations. You’ll be amazed at how many people volunteer and will love helping seniors! Help with Meals. Too often, seniors neglect their nutrition and eat poorly. This can result in weight loss or serve as a precursor to illnesses such as diabetes. Round up a group of people to provide meals for one day/week each. They...

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Depression In Seniors

From our Care Blog

Depression is common amongst aging parents.  As parents begin to age, they also begin to recognize the realities of their mortality through physical and mental limitations. Signs of depression should never be taken lightly-there are a number of important issues in regards to depression amongst the elderly. Please make sure to address these issues with those around you, all care takers, and your parents. Depression is not something that is easily spoken of but imperative that it be for the health and safety of your parents. Know the warning signs of depression.  Take the time to be aware of the...

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Helping Seniors Move

From our Care Blog

When my parents moved from a 6,000 square foot home in Florida to a two bedroom condo in Arizona, it was a nightmare. What I considered “junk” suddenly became a priceless memory. Although my parents were not hoarders, they had accumulated 20 years of “stuff”, various collections and enough photos to fill a museum. From my own experience, the #1 tip I can give you if you are moving your aging parents to a new location is patience. Whether the move is voluntary or involuntary, there are many emotions involved. Emotions are running high as they get very sentimental about...

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Senior Citizen Exercising

From our Care Blog

During the winter months, exercising is the last thing many of us want to do.  Although, we all know how important it is to continue to stay active, and a good exercise regime year around will help maintain a healthy lifestyle. With that said, it isn't only important for you to continue to exercise but to make sure it is a goal for your aging parent as well.  This is an even trickier battle, since the winter months can be dangerous, and going outside isn't always the best plan.  “A regular exercise program is the best available prescription for independent, active...

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Caregiving Tips From Nurse Gina

From our Care Blog

Here at FirstLight Home Care, we believe it takes an incredibly special person to be a caregiver. Patience, understanding, unconditional love and kindness to not just a loved one, but to others in need of care as well. It’s not easy being a caregiver; there are struggles emotionally, mentally and of course, at the end of the day, physically, you are exhausted. Whether you are caring for a loved one or for several others-it doesn’t matter. You are an extraordinary person. You may be familiar with our very own Nurse Gina. With more than 40 years of experience as an RN, geriatric...

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Health Concerns in Aging Parents

From our Care Blog

As your parents age, it is important they receive proper care, especially if there are health concerns. We all know this is easier said than done since many aging adults hate to admit their health is fading. However, there is nothing more dangerous than an elderly parent living on their own and unable to care for themselves. When visiting and speaking to your parent(s), make sure to look for tall-tale signs of health problems. Listed, are five obvious signs of distress that may require medical attention or assistance for your parent. Note, that there may be other signs not listed, so it is always...

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The Benefits of Drinking Water

From our Care Blog

In today’s medicine-centric world there seems to be a pill for  everything. Whether you have a headache, digestive problems, or want to lose  weight, there is a “magic” pill that can take care of all your problems.  But do you ever stop and wonder what might be causing these problems in the first place? Yes, a pill can take care of the pain, but why not take precautions to prevent the pain from ever occurring in  the first place?  One of the most simple solutions to these problems is also one of the main culprits that cause them: water.  According...

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10 Early Signs of Alzheimer's

From our Care Blog

Early diagnosis is extremely crucial with Alzheimer's.  The sooner you know you mayhave Alzheimer's the more time you have to take advantage of all the treatment opportunities available.  It also gives you and your family time to know and understand the disease and enables you to plan for the future.  With that said, the Alzheimer's Association is a wonderful resource to use when researching information about Alzheimer's, including the brain science behind it, doctors visits, as well as early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's. Below is the list of signs and symptoms to look for when addressing the possibility of Alzheimer's....

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Care for Aging Parents - Best Foods to Eat

From our Care Blog

When you are younger, it’s not as hard on your body to eat an unbalanced or unhealthy diet, (Oh, to be young again).  Unfortunately, the more we age, the more crucial it is to eat a healthy, balanced diet on a regular basis. Focusing on the senior population specifically, it is even more essential for seniors to eat a well-balanced diet.  There are certain foods seniors should eat regularly that can benefit them greatly during the aging process: Calcium and Vitamin D – Calcium is crucial to bone growth, strength and overall health. Strong and healthy bones can help prevent falling and...

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