Q – My mom regularly complains that she’s tired, and I know that she’s not sleeping well. I find it’s extending beyond just the obvious, however, and affecting her overall quality of life and level of productivity. I want her to make the most of her retirement, and it seems that as long as she’s sleeping poorly that just won’t happen. What can she do to start sleeping better?

A – Insomnia and poor quality of sleep are things many seniors struggle with, but your mom can try these tips to improve her sleep and her retirement:

1. Get the right amount of sleep for your body – everyone needs a different amount of sleep, make sure you get enough to feel well rested, whether it’s 5 hours or 10 hours

2. Regulate your sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday in order to ensure that your body falls into a regular routine

3. Talk to your doctor about medications – if you’re having trouble sleeping, speak to your doctors about medications that might cause insomnia  and see if there are better alternatives

4. Try relaxing activities – yoga, meditation and other relaxing activities can reduce physical and emotional stress to help ensure a better night’s sleep

5. Set the stage – make sure that your room is dark and quiet, and ensure that it’s an environment even more conducive to sleep by keeping other activities, like watching TV, out of the room!

Via: WorkingCaregiver.com – “The Secrets to a 36 Hour Day”

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

Many women find themselves on their own later in life due to death or divorce. Those are just a couple of the harsh realities that can come along with getting older. Unfortunately, for many of these women of the boomer generation, it also means financial uncertainty simply because you’re unsure of your financial future. We’ll share our tips for money management below, but we’d like to hear yours. How have you overcome your financial struggles as a boomer woman to secure your financial future?

1. Let go of the idea that it’s too late – you might feel that as you approach your senior years, it’s too late to get yourself out of any financial mess you’ve made or learn new methods when it comes to managing your finances. When it comes to financial planning, it’s never too late to start!

2. Learn about money – this may sound obvious, but start doing your homework and research about all things finance. Learn about investment options, about financing available, about interest rates, and about anything that’s likely to apply to your situation before you even make your next move. Books and the internet are both great resources

3. Talk to a financial planner – you can hire a personal money adviser or speak to one that’s already available to you at your Dallas bank (although someone independent might be more impartial) in order to keep you informed and help you make financial decisions

4. Support yourself – if you don’t have the means to save, invest or pay off debts, you might need to get a job. Find something you love, but ensure you have a set goal for earnings that will help you reach your financial goals

5. Pay off debts – don’t put it off, find a way to start paying off credit cards and loans right away

6. Save and invest – put money away every month without fail, every little bit will help you reach your financial goals and bring financial security

Via: Let Life In

Home Instead Senior Care Dallas - a great assisted living alternative in Dallas for seniors and elders. Call us today for help at 972-239-3934.

What’s your dream retirement if you could spend your senior years anywhere, anyhow? Well, we’ve got something that might just enter your dreams! Floating retirement cities are the new trend, like the Alegria, which is actually an affordable option for seniors, who rather than living by the sea, would like to live on it! A retirement ship like the Alegria has the following features to make senior’s later days some of the best of their lives:

• 100 staterooms are available on the ship that are between 160 and 340 square feet and come fully furnished like a typical cruise ship

• The cost is between $159,000 and $399,000 for each room, plus a monthly maintenance fee, just like at a land-based condo

• The maintenance fee covers weekly housekeeping, all meals on the ship, a local country club membership, port fees, and a shuttle

• Each month the ship takes a trip to another vacation destination. On a monthly basis it travels to closer areas like the Bahamas, and once a year ventures farther out to sea to Central America or into the Caribbean

• 12 guest rooms are available to guests of the residents, at no cost and include all meals

Sources:

1. Let Life In 

2. Homes for NH 

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Touch has healing properties that can run deeper than any medication. For seniors, touch and healing massage can have extensive benefits which include:

1. It can improve the mobility of seniors who otherwise find it too challenging or painful

2. Can help seniors to relax, addressing stress and sleep issues like insomnia that are also prevalent in seniors, effecting their overall health and well-being

3. Increases circulation in the limbs and joints, improving lubrication which can help to prevent the progression of diseases like arthritis

4. Flexibility, coordination, strength and posture are all improved when massage is applied to seniors

5. Wounds heal faster with the power of touch

6. Respiration and digestion are both stimulated with overall helps to improve the health of seniors

7. Respiration can be improved with touch and massage, and energy levels are boosted

The greatest benefits can be achieved if the massage is administered by a professional, although caregivers and family members can learn some of the techniques used to try at home as well!

Sources:

1. EZine Articles 

2. Associated Content 

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

The kids have left home, you’re surrounded by silence, and you feel like you have no purpose and nothing to fill your day.  It’s called empty nest syndrome and is common amongst older adults who for the first time in their lives, no longer have their children living under their roof. Empty nesters can run a gamut of emotions, and can overcome empty nest syndrome with the following methods:

1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have

2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in Dallas

3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your  vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!

4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!

5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.

Via: Let Life In 

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

You might not look forward to your annual breast cancer screening, and you wouldn’t be alone if you have put it off out of fear. However, breast cancer screening is crucial to your health; so if you’re a senior who has yet to undergo the process, here’s what you can expect to put your mind at rest:

1. When dressing the day of the mammogram, avoid applying deodorant, talcum powder, or any other heavily scented items that can be irritating to others, or that could affect the imaging. Also wear a 2 piece outfit.

2. When arriving at the imaging office, you will be asked for copies of previous mammograms, if they do not have them already, and will also ask you to fill out a form with your medical records

3. Upon going into have the mammogram done, you will be asked to remove jewellery and clothing that can interfere with the procedure, including your shirt and bra, and any other clothing you have on above the waist

4. To prepare for the mammogram itself, one breast at a time will be placed on an imaging cassette and will be compressed with a paddle so that the maximum amount of breast tissue is visible on the image

5. The image will be taken and then the process will be repeated with the other breast

6. The images will be examined, not for results but to ensure they are effective. Typically, you will be allowed to get dressed and wait to find out if you are able to leave, or if more images are needed

7. The images and results will be returned for your doctor for review

Sources:

1. About.com

2. Imaginis 

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Although the generations of individuals approaching their senior years are beginning to wonder if they will have the chance to retire at all, some are still dreaming about a luxury lifestyle allowing them to live out their dream retirement. For some, this dream means living on a cruise ship like the Residential Cruise Line, which can be a dream come true for somewhere between $2 million and $10 million. A life onboard a cruise ship, in a suite that you own sure sounds like the dream, but it can take some careful planning to adjust to a different way of life. Keep the following tips in mind if you’re thinking about investing in real estate onboard the Residential Cruise Line.

1. Pack products for seasickness – although large cruise ships do offer stability, be prepared for rough seas and before going aboard, talk to your doctor about medications or products that can help with sea sickness.

2. Pack wisely – remember, you might not have as much space for your wardrobe, so choose key items for your cruise ship suite, and make sure you have something for every occasion.

3. Think about how much you’ll be there – you can purchase a property that’s just for you on a floating community or choose one that’s shared if you still intend on staying at a primary residence for part of the year.

4. If it seems pricey, think about what you’d spend on travel – if you plan on taking trips annually, those costs can add up. Think about what you’ll spend annually, and remember, by investing in a property like this, your travel costs are virtually always covered and it tours the high seas worldwide.

Via: TrendHunter 

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Breast cancer awareness month is here, and take the chance to show your support to someone who has suffered with breast cancer with a unique product that represents the fight against the disease while making a contribution towards finding a cure. Here are some fun products To choose from, that seniors and breast cancer survivors of all ages will appreciate.

1. Breast cancer awareness t-shirts: you don’t need to participate in an event with giveaways to receive a breast cancer awareness t-shirt. Buy one for a friend or loved one to honor their fight against breast cancer. T-shirts are available that take a light-hearted perspective to the disease and others are sentimental. Choose something that you know will mean the most to the recipient, although the gesture in itself will have the greatest meaning

2. Ribbon magnets – buying a magnet for someone who has survived breast cancer can allow them to put it on their fridge and be reminded everyday that their fight against the disease is appreciated by the people who love them. Even those who are still going through the fight will fight harder to survive if they know they are supported

3. Coffee Cups for breast cancer awareness – coffee cups can be used year-round, and like magnets, can remind recipients about the fight they’ve undergone and let them know that there’s someone to help them contribute to awareness and support towards a cure

4. Lapel pin – unlike other clothing items for breast cancer awareness, a lapel pin can be worn with any dress code, including office wear. If you purchase a lapel pin for someone who has gone through the fight against breast cancer, they can wear the accessory to show their support everywhere they go

Via: Associated Content

Image: giftsforyounow.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

No matter where our interests lie, we all practice some form of creation either through our jobs or through our hobbies, and the same can be said for seniors. Plus, for older adults there are benefits to their mind and bodies that can be achieved simply through artistic activities that cause them to use their imagination in order to create. Some experts in the field of art therapy for seniors say that benefits don’t exist unless the art activity is guided by an expert, but don’t let that hold you back, encourage the creative process in your elderly loved one by following these tips:

1. Choose activities suitable to the senior’s level of mobility – although skill really doesn’t play a role in the benefits of artistic expression and seniors, you don’t want to make the experience frustrating for them. Keep a senior’s physical abilities in mind when choosing an activity.

2. Make activities challenging – age doesn’t mean seniors are less capable of creation. Don’t choose activities that are too simple, like those you’d give to a child.

3. Create a quiet environment – to receive the best possible benefits from a creative activity, seniors need a quiet environment where they can simply focus on creating. An area free from distraction will help set the tone for the creative process

4. Think about long-term projects – a quick craft that can be finished in a couple of hours won’t have the same benefits as one that extends over a period of time. Choosing an activity that seniors can think about and go back to day after day will really get the creative juices flowing

5. Work together – remember, even if you’re working on an art project together, don’t take over and don’t try to lead; it’s not about the end result of the creation, it’s about the journey along the way

Sources:

1. Washington Post

2. My Optum Health

3. Associated Content

Image: well.blogs.nytimes.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Decades ago, you might have pictured your retirement as a time when you were going to move from your suburban home to a retirement community full of seniors. But today, you realize that you don’t want to give up your roots in the community and would prefer to remain in your suburban home. Other seniors, like you, want to remain in their own homes in older adulthood, and with these tips on how to survive suburbia as a senior, you can make it happen!

1. Address financial restraints – consider a reverse mortgage to fund any additional financial needs of the home like maintenance, renovations, or any remaining amount on a mortgage loan

2. Make the home safe – suburban homes aren’t necessarily designed for senior living. They are often 2 stories, and are not compatible with those who need to use wheel chairs or other assistive devices. To make the home accessible and safe, install safety bars and hand-rails, improve the lighting in the home, and have ramps or other assistive devices incorporated into the home as needed

3. Get help – for older adults, keeping up with the routine maintenance of a home can be challenging, but that doesn’t need to be a reason to give it up. Hire services to clean and keep up with the yard work, or get an in-home caregiver to cook and provide basic assistance with other tasks as needed

4. Look into transportation – walking to get to shops and other areas in the suburbs may not be convenient. Seniors who don’t drive can use transportation services available, or hire a caregiver that can help them get around

Via: CSA Connections

Image: seniorcarehomesmidwest.com

Are you seeking home care Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.