New Year’s resolutions rarely make it past Valentine’s Day. So seniors, this year focus on resolutions that will improve your health, but that are also fun!

1. Be social – attend parties, classes, and social groups. Seniors who are socially active have better physical and mental health than those who are isolated. It’s not uncommon for seniors to withdraw, but avoid it in 2010

2. Try healthy indulgences – controlled amounts of red wine and dark chocolate are enjoyable and can improve health by preventing diabetes, lower blood pressure and more

3. Laugh a lot – you’ve heard laughter is the best medicine. It’s true. Laughter is about the only thing you shouldn’t do in moderation. People should get in a good laugh a couple of times a week to improve the health of their blood vessels

4. Take a snooze – heart related death has been proven to be reduced in seniors who nap for 30 minutes at least 30 times per week. It can also help seniors feel refreshed and improve their immune systems

5. Dance for health – dancing can help to prevent dementia, and is a great form of exercise. Get out those dancing shoes in 2010!

6. Eat some fat – linoleic acid and safflower oil can actually help seniors with a few pounds to shed lose weight, so incorporate them into your diet

7. Get some sun – don’t forget the sunscreen, but vitamin D can lift spirits and reduce the risk of heart disease

8. Try tai chi or yoga – these activities can improve mental health through meditation and help with balance, strength and flexibility

9. Have sex – many seniors give up sex, but it can help you to sleep better, reduce pain, blood pressure and stress

10. Spend time in nature – anxiety and depression are greatly reduced in those who appreciate green space!

Via: AARP

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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.

In numerous studies and polls, seniors have said that they would rather stay in their own homes than move into a senior residence. But for some seniors, even with home care services, it becomes necessary to make the hard decision to leave their home behind for a different option that will provide for their needs as they age. Assisted living facilities offer seniors the best of both worlds with the following services and benefits:

1. Living independently – seniors in ALFs are often in one-bedroom or studio apartment buildings, so they have the privacy and independence that they require

2. Safety is offered – ALF apartments anticipate the safety needs of seniors and ensure that they include grab bars, ramps and other essential safety devices. Supervisors are always available to respond to emergencies

3. Seniors don’t need to worry about home maintenance – cleaning services, including laundry can be provided by ALF

4. Activity of daily living services are offered – bathing, dressing, and medication reminders can be provided. There are also special facilities for those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and dementia and designated services

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.

When visiting with a senior over the holidays, it’s a great time to take the opportunity to see how they’re doing. Seniors will rarely admit if they’re having financial problems, so be on the lookout for 7 signs that could indicate that they could benefit from assistance for the sake of their financial survival:

1. Unusual temperatures in the home – seniors are more sensitive to temperature as they age, so a colder home in the winter and warmer house in the summer, despite the availability of adequate heating and air conditioning might indicate financial problems

2. Their home is in disrepair – if your loved one is typically on top of home repair and maintenance, if you visit and things are in disrepair, financial problems might be taking place to prevent the needed attention to necessary repairs

3. The outside of the home is lacking attention – seniors often need assistance with outdoor maintenance like lawn mowing or snow clearing, and if they are not being done, seniors may not be able to afford to hire someone

4. He/she is unwilling to travel over the holidays – if your senior typically visits family or travels over the holidays, they might not be able to afford to

5. Medical appointments are being missed – many seniors try and avoid visiting the doctor, but you have to look at the reasons that motivate them

6. Medications aren’t being filled – necessary medications that are going unfilled can indicate financial issues

7. Social activities are being cut out – entertainment, social activities and dining out could be eliminated from a senior’s routine

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

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.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

If you are a senior traveler, or you are a caregiver making travel arrangements for an elderly individual, there are some ways to get a great deal. Many times, seniors are unaware that they may be entitled to discounts when planning a vacation. The best way to find these deals is to plan the trip through a travel agent. The sooner plans are made, the better the chances of getting a discount. By following the tips listed below, senior travelers will have the opportunity to book a trip at a discount.

1. Make sure to know personal preferences before contacting a travel agent. These requests should be made in advance. Some common requests for traveling seniors include aisle seats on airplanes, morning flights and non-smoking accommodations.

2. Be sure to deal with a travel agent directly. Many travel agents have personal assistants that relay messages. If possible, try to arrange to speak with the agent directly.

3. If there are time constraints, make sure to have a back-up plan. Use a calendar to plan for schedule changes. Often times, a change in time could mean a greater discount.

4. Inquire about car rentals and hotel rooms. Your travel agent may be able to book a complete package which would offer additional savings.

Source: www.ehow.com

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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.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

If a family member has asked you to move in with them, you were probably immediately met with mixed feelings. On one hand, you likely felt gratitude; happy that someone is willing to sacrifice for you and is worried about your care. But on the other hand, you probably felt a sense of looming regret that you’d have to give up your home and your independence. Living under one roof is an arrangement that does work for many intergenerational families, and for some it doesn’t. You decide if this is something that would work for you in your senior years, and during the process, make sure you ask these questions:

• What will my role be in paying for household expenses? Does it sound affordable and reasonable based on the living arrangements determined?

• What specific responsibilities will I have? Will I be expected to contribute to household chores or care for any of the grandchildren in the home? If so, how often and when?

• Will I be provided with my own space to maintain my independence? Will I have a room, or a bathroom that’s off limits to the rest of the family?

• What will become of my assets? How will we handle the sale of my home and finances I have in my bank accounts?

• Can I bring my pets to the home?

• Will changes be made to areas of the home to provide for my comfort and safety?

• Will I be a part of family decisions, such as vacations, travel, and hosting of events in the home? Or will the other family members make these decisions?

• Am I able to invite my friends to the home and entertain? What if I want to use the space without the grandchildren?

• What arrangements will be made if I need care assistance? Will someone in the home be able to help, or will we hire senior home care?

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

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.Myths About the Swine Flu and Vaccine

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.

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.

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.