We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In-Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Believes Aging Musicians Have Sharp Brains Playing a musical instrument throughout life may help fight cognitive decline as we age.Older musicians perform better on cognitive tests than individuals who did not play an instrument, according to a new study published in the April issue of Neuropsychology. While much research has been done to determine the cognitive benefits of musical activity by children, this is the first study to examine whether those benefits can extend across a lifetime. “Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging,” says lead researcher and clinical neuropsychologist Brenda Hanna-Pladdy of Emory University. “Since studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines as we get older.” The study enrolled 70 individuals age 60-83 who were divided into three groups. The participants either had no musical training, one to nine years of musical study or at least 10 years of musical training. All of the participants had similar levels of education and fitness, and didn’t show any evidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive performance was measured by testing brain functions that typically decline as the body ages, and more dramatically deteriorate in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The high-level musicians who had studied the longest performed the best on the cognitive tests, followed by the low-level musicians and non-musicians, revealing a trend relating to years of musical practice. The high-level musicians had statistically significant higher scores than the non-musicians on cognitive tests relating to visuospatial memory, naming objects, and cognitive flexibility, or the brain’s ability to adapt to new information. “Based on previous research and our study results, we believe that both the years of musical participation and the age of acquisition are critical,” Hanna-Pladdy says. “There are crucial periods in brain plasticity that enhance learning, which may make it easier to learn a musical instrument before a certain age and thus may have a larger impact on brain development.” The preliminary study was correlational, meaning that the higher cognitive performance of the musicians couldn’t be conclusively linked to their years of musical study. Hanna-Pladdy, who has conducted additional studies on the subject, says more research is needed to explore that possible link. The study was conducted with at the University of Kansas Medical Center. At the time of the study, Hanna-Pladdy was an assistant professor in psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a research faculty member of the Landon Center on Aging University of Kansas Medical Center. Study co-author and cognitive psychologist Alicia MacKay, also a former research assistant at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is now an assistant professor of psychology at Tulsa Community College. More news from Emory:http://emoryhealth.org ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Talks About Seniors Going Online Research shows that every second one senior is added to the aging population of the world.  Also increasing at a rapid rate is the growing popularity of senior citizens going online. The benefits of the Internet are tremendous in helping them to live happier lives after retirement. There are several benefits seniors can reap by becoming involved online: Mental benefits.  Knowledge of the Internet will help senior citizens improve their mental alertness. Aside from the vast information found on the Internet, it is also a great source for video games. Why video games? According to the Psychology and Aging magazine, playing video games helps improve the cognitive functions of seniors which normally decline during old age. Strategy video games help in keeping their brains razors sharp, and improve their hand-eye coordination. The gaming industry is now looking into the possibility of developing more video games tailored for seniors. Business opportunities.  By using the internet, seniors will still have the opportunity to earn after retirement. Some online business opportunities include: selling products, selling stock photography images and other service offerings. A great freelance home based job is to be an online content writer.  The reach of the internet enables seniors to share their expertise, knowledge and wisdom acquired through the years. Shopping convenience.  The ability to make purchases online is one of the best things that happened for seniors. It means that they can shop in the comfort of their home without worrying about mobility and transportation. World exploration.Not all seniors have the chance to travel due to financial and health limitations. Now the Internet gives seniors the opportunity to explore the world just by browsing and watching videos online. Continued education.Seniors have the opportunity to browse the Internet to get more information about anything they could possibly want. The categories that have been found to provide the most helpful information for seniors are health and fitness. Online tutorial videos are great ways for seniors to find/see information related to their interests. Popular tutorial videos include painting, playing the piano, gardening, preparing flower arrangements and cooking. Emotional benefits.  The Internet provides the means for online communication with family and friends which could drastically enhance the mood of an otherwise isolated senior. Studies have found when seniors are able to interact with others online they experience enhanced self-esteem, a more cheerful outlook, increased independence, and an overall happier disposition. Enhanced family relationships.  Many senior grandparents may feel they are being left behind because they cannot keep up with what is going on in the lives of their grandchildren. With Internet access and knowledge, seniors are able to catch up with their grandchildren through emails, social networking sites, and video chat solutions, thus bridging the gap between them. The Internet can help seniors learn, grow, and live much happier lives.  AS R.S. Yalow once said, “The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you are learning, you’re not old.” Read more:http://www.bukisa.com/articles/350657_seniors-go-digital-on-the-internet#ixzz1UTF9bT94 ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut’s “Heat Helpers” Aids Local Seniors Who Ignore Heat Warnings Caregivers check on elderly in brutal heat A deadly heat wave is melting most of the country but as it turns out, many senior citizens, most vulnerable to the heat, may be ignoring the warnings.  Astudy out of Kent State Universityshows 90 percent of respondents over the age of 65 were aware of heat warnings, but most seniors thought the messages were targeted toward “older Americans,” a group to which they did not think they belonged.*  That’s whySenior Helpers, one of the largest in-home providers for seniors in the nation, has started a program called “Heat Helpers,” caregivers who come to the home to keep the elderly safe in this sweltering summer. “Nobody wants to admit they can’t deal with extreme heat like they used to.  That’s why it’s so important to have someone check on your elderly loved one when you can’t be there,” says Peter Ross, CEO and founder of Senior Helpers, one of  our nation’sleading national in home senior care providerswith a“Heat Helpers” in your town.  “Heat safety has changed… from new FDA guidelines on sunscreen to health recommendations for water intake, seniors need to stay hydrated.  It often takes an extra set of eyes and ears to make sure seniors are doing everything they can to stay protected.” How  Senior Helpers’ “Heat Helpers” Works : Senior Helpers caregiverscome to the senior’s home to help them with daily activities like cleaning, cooking and yard work, which may be too strenuous in these brutal temps.  Caregivers also make sure seniors are taking proper precautions to beat the heat. ·.  .  .  .  Stay well hydrated– Caregivers remind seniors to drink water throughout the course of the day, even if they’re not particularly thirsty.  As adults continue to age, the amount of water retained by the body decreases substantially. ·.  .  .  .  Maintaining a cool environment– Caregivers close blinds and curtains keeping the house cool, even in triple digit temperatures.  Caregivers also have battery operated/handheld fans readily available to keep their seniors comfortable. Most seniors are budget-conscious, so it’s important for caregivers to be sure the AC is set to a proper, cool level and it’s working. Caregivers can also be responsible to check filters once a month. ·.  .  .  .  Stay In air conditioning in the afternoon– The hottest part of the day is from 3-5 p.m. Caregivers provide inside activities like playing cards, going to movies or the mall to keep seniors active inside to avoid spending time outside during the most dangerous hours of the day. ·.  .  .  .  Eat plenty, but eat light– Caregivers prepare light food because heavy foods, like meat and cheese, tend to make the body work harder to digest, using more water and generating more body heat. ·.  .  .  .  Follow new sunscreen guidelines– Caregivers are well versed on the FDA’s newly released guidelines about sun protection.  Seniors are more prone to sunburn because their bodies have less water.  Caregivers educate seniors about these new regulations such as there’s no such thing as “sweat proof” or “water proof” sunscreen or that you must re-apply sunscreen every two hours for it to work effectively(new guidelines listed at the bottom of the release). ·.  .  .  .  Copies of health care information– In the event of an emergency, caregivers can have copies of senior’s prescriptions, health insurance card, and phone numbers of health care providers on-hand. “We want to do everything we can to make sure our seniors don’t make heat headlines,” says Ross. “Even if your elderly loved ones say they’re staying safe in the heat, it’s always a good idea to have  someone check up on them.” *http://sheridan.geog.kent.edu/pubs/2006-IJB.pdf Sources:  American Cancer Society, the Skin Cancer Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Journal of Public Health. What We’ve Learned From the FDA’s New Sunscreen Guidelines: ·.  .  .  . There is no such thing as “sweat-proof” and “waterproof” sunscreens.  These words are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels. ·.  .  .  . Sunscreens can claim to be “water resistant” but the company has to put a label on their product stating the sunscreen only offers 40 or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating. ·.  .  .  . You must re-apply sunscreen every two hours for continued sun protection. ·.  .  .  . Use sunscreens with UVA and UVB protection, also known as “broad spectrum” protection. ·.  .  .  . Only broad spectrum sunscreens with 15 SPF or higher provide any type of sun protection (15 – 30 SPF is recommended). ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut’s “Heat Helpers” Aids Local Seniors Who Ignore Heat Warnings Caregivers check on elderly in brutal heat A deadly heat wave is melting most of the country but as it turns out, many senior citizens, most vulnerable to the heat, may be ignoring the warnings.  Astudy out of Kent State Universityshows 90 percent of respondents over the age of 65 were aware of heat warnings, but most seniors thought the messages were targeted toward “older Americans,” a group to which they did not think they belonged.*  That’s whySenior Helpers, one of the largest in-home providers for seniors in the nation, has started a program called “Heat Helpers,” caregivers who come to the home to keep the elderly safe in this sweltering summer. “Nobody wants to admit they can’t deal with extreme heat like they used to.  That’s why it’s so important to have someone check on your elderly loved one when you can’t be there,” says Peter Ross, CEO and founder of Senior Helpers, one of  our nation’sleading national in home senior care providerswith a“Heat Helpers” in your town.  “Heat safety has changed… from new FDA guidelines on sunscreen to health recommendations for water intake, seniors need to stay hydrated.  It often takes an extra set of eyes and ears to make sure seniors are doing everything they can to stay protected.” How  Senior Helpers’ “Heat Helpers” Works : Senior Helpers caregiverscome to the senior’s home to help them with daily activities like cleaning, cooking and yard work, which may be too strenuous in these brutal temps.  Caregivers also make sure seniors are taking proper precautions to beat the heat. ·.  .  .  .  Stay well hydrated– Caregivers remind seniors to drink water throughout the course of the day, even if they’re not particularly thirsty.  As adults continue to age, the amount of water retained by the body decreases substantially. ·.  .  .  .  Maintaining a cool environment– Caregivers close blinds and curtains keeping the house cool, even in triple digit temperatures.  Caregivers also have battery operated/handheld fans readily available to keep their seniors comfortable. Most seniors are budget-conscious, so it’s important for caregivers to be sure the AC is set to a proper, cool level and it’s working. Caregivers can also be responsible to check filters once a month. ·.  .  .  .  Stay In air conditioning in the afternoon– The hottest part of the day is from 3-5 p.m. Caregivers provide inside activities like playing cards, going to movies or the mall to keep seniors active inside to avoid spending time outside during the most dangerous hours of the day. ·.  .  .  .  Eat plenty, but eat light– Caregivers prepare light food because heavy foods, like meat and cheese, tend to make the body work harder to digest, using more water and generating more body heat. ·.  .  .  .  Follow new sunscreen guidelines– Caregivers are well versed on the FDA’s newly released guidelines about sun protection.  Seniors are more prone to sunburn because their bodies have less water.  Caregivers educate seniors about these new regulations such as there’s no such thing as “sweat proof” or “water proof” sunscreen or that you must re-apply sunscreen every two hours for it to work effectively(new guidelines listed at the bottom of the release). ·.  .  .  .  Copies of health care information– In the event of an emergency, caregivers can have copies of senior’s prescriptions, health insurance card, and phone numbers of health care providers on-hand. “We want to do everything we can to make sure our seniors don’t make heat headlines,” says Ross. “Even if your elderly loved ones say they’re staying safe in the heat, it’s always a good idea to have  someone check up on them.” *http://sheridan.geog.kent.edu/pubs/2006-IJB.pdf Sources:  American Cancer Society, the Skin Cancer Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Journal of Public Health. What We’ve Learned From the FDA’s New Sunscreen Guidelines: ·.  .  .  . There is no such thing as “sweat-proof” and “waterproof” sunscreens.  These words are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels. ·.  .  .  . Sunscreens can claim to be “water resistant” but the company has to put a label on their product stating the sunscreen only offers 40 or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating. ·.  .  .  . You must re-apply sunscreen every two hours for continued sun protection.·.  .  .  . Use sunscreens with UVA and UVB protection, also known as “broad spectrum” protection.·.  .  .  . Only broad spectrum sunscreens with 15 SPF or higher provide any type of sun protection (15 – 30 SPF is recommended). ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Shares Affordable Safety Products For Seniors Seniors are very vulnerable. No matter how they deny this fact, this is something that is true in a lot of cases. With their strength usually depreciating, serious threats can easily knock them down. With this, it is just essential that seniors are given safety products that will help them live through emergency situations that can mean life or death to them. One of the affordable safety products you can give to a senior is a big button cell phone with a personal emergency response system (PERS) feature. Cell Phone for Seniors                                                                                              Senior safety products extend from hand rails and smoke alarms to senior cell phone options. A cell phone for seniors can very well help them during emergency situations. Say for example theJust5 mobile phone. This is a very promising cell phone for seniors since it is equipped with PERS features. This emergency feature of the Just5 cell phone works to dial pre-programmed numbers on the list once the user pushes the SOS button. This means that the phone will dial up to five numbers again and again until someone picks up for help. Besides this, the emergency button also powers up a loud alarm. The alarm can very well help in attracting attention of nearby people to increase the senior’s chances of getting help as soon as possible. What makes this cell phone even more perfect for seniors is its senior-friendly feature. This is a big button cell phone that can help seniors who have problems with their vision, not to mention its bright LCD screen display. Plus, it has amplified sound to address the needs of those with hearing problems. Moreover, Just5 is a very basic and simple mobile phone. It is not packed with complicated features that only confuse seniors, especially since they are not as tech savvy as the younger population of today. Affordable Safety Promise for Seniors The Just5 cell phone is a very cheap investment. Unlike its other senior cell phone counterparts, this can be purchased for less than a hundred dollars. Plus, the cell phone’s emergency response system comes free of charge. No matter how much you press the emergency button in a single month, you will not be billed for it. It is a given that seniors need safety equipment to ensure their security and safety all the time. However, make sure you pick a product that is practical, convenient, and reliable for the seniors’ utmost safety. Source: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/519177_affordable-safety-products-for-seniors#ixzz1T4MGGodz ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Warns of Scams Targeting Seniors Scamming has become common throughout society. Fraudsters will not stop attempting to findwhat they desire with elderly and disabled persons their prime targets. Here are some scams to which senior citizens are most susceptible and for which they should be on the lookout. • . . . . . Medicare Rip-off • . . . . . Telemarketing Scams • . . . . . Medical Care Fraud • . . . . . Medical Insurance Scams • . . . . . Door-To-Door Scams • . . . . . Nonprofit Misrepresentation • . . . . . Prizes&Drawing Rip-offs • . . . . . Bogus Drug Frauds • . . . . . Funeral service & Graveyard Cons • . . . . . Invert Home Loan Frauds • . . . . . Court Responsibility Con (verified from the Federal Bureau of Investigation) Logic behind why elderly people are targets: • . . . . . Seniors are extremely prone to helping others. • . . . . . Senior citizens will be more considerate as well as trustworthy and the traits are usually taken advantage of by con artists. • . . . . . Many senior citizens live on their own and are therefore more prone to manipulation. • . . . . . Elderly scam situations are rarely brought to light so they are not educated as to what to look out for. Suggestions to stop scams: • . . . . . Advise your aging loved ones not to give financial information such as the number of bank card and credit cards they have, banking account amounts, and Social Security amounts to unfamiliar people without checking first with a family member. • . . . . . Do not invite unfamiliar individuals into the home without another person      present. If unsure about a company, check with a service such as the local Better Business Bureau. • . . . . . Before making big purchases or investments, speak with friends or call a trusted lawyer, accountant or bank representative and acquire their advice. • . . . . . Do NOT make big purchases or investments over the phone. • . . . . . Research and become knowledgeable about the most common scams and frauds – always lean on the side of being overly cautious with unfamiliar people and confusing situations. Resources to learn more about scams: Federal Trade Commission FBI Better Business Bureau The nation’s Fraud Data Center (NFIC) ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Warns of Scams Targeting Seniors Scamming has become common throughout society. Fraudsters will not stop attempting to find what they desire with elderly and disabled persons their prime targets. Here are some scams to which senior citizens are most susceptible and for which they should be on the lookout. • . . . . . Medicare Rip-off • . . . . . Telemarketing Scams • . . . . . Medical Care Fraud • . . . . . Medical Insurance Scams • . . . . . Door-To-Door Scams • . . . . . Nonprofit Misrepresentation • . . . . . Prizes&Drawing Rip-offs • . . . . . Bogus Drug Frauds • . . . . . Funeral service & Graveyard Cons • . . . . . Invert Home Loan Frauds • . . . . . Court Responsibility Con (verified from the Federal Bureau of Investigation) Logic behind why elderly people are targets: • . . . . . Seniors are extremely prone to helping others. • . . . . . Senior citizens will be more considerate as well as trustworthy and the traits are usually taken advantage of by con artists. • . . . . . Many senior citizens live on their own and are therefore more prone to manipulation. • . . . . . Elderly scam situations are rarely brought to light so they are not educated as to what to look out for. Suggestions to stop scams: • . . . . . Advise your aging loved ones not to give financial information such as the number of bank card and credit cards they have, banking account amounts, and Social Security amounts to unfamiliar people without checking first with a family member. • . . . . . Do not invite unfamiliar individuals into the home without another person      present. If unsure about a company, check with a service such as the local Better Business Bureau. • . . . . . Before making big purchases or investments, speak with friends or call a trusted lawyer, accountant or bank representative and acquire their advice. • . . . . . Do NOT make big purchases or investments over the phone. • . . . . . Research and become knowledgeable about the most common scams and frauds – always lean on the side of being overly cautious with unfamiliar people and confusing situations. Resources to learn more about scams: Federal Trade Commission FBI Better Business Bureau The nation’s Fraud Data Center (NFIC) ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more

Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Lower and Upper Coastal Fairfield County, Milford and Orange, Connecticut, Celebrates National Therapeutic Recreation Week Recreational Therapy Helps Keep Seniors Active,Healthy and Independent                     The National Therapeutic Recreation Society established National Therapeutic Recreation Week in 1984. This special week has been celebrated during the second week of July annually since then. This year, National Therapeutic Recreation Week is July 10-16. What is Therapeutic Recreation? Recreational therapy is defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition. How are Recreational Therapy services different from other therapies? Recreational therapy embraces a definition of “health” which includes not only the absence of “illness”, but extends to enhancement of physical, cognitive, emotional, social and leisure development so individuals may participate fully and independently in chosen life pursuits. The unique feature of recreational therapy that makes it different from other therapies is the use of recreational modalities in the designed intervention strategies. Why is Recreational Therapy important? Research supports the conceptthat people with active, satisfying lifestyles willbe happier and healthier. Recreational therapyprovides services which are based on theindividuals’ interests and lifestyle, which allowsthem to better engage in therapy and applythese functional improvements to all areas oftheir life. Ultimately, it allows them to generalizetheir therapeutic outcomes to their life after thehealthcare team is no longer involved resultingin greater health maintenance over time.Recreational therapy aims to improve anindividual’s functioning and keep them as active,healthy and independent as possible in theirchosen life pursuits. AtSenior Helpers, we believe activities are the heartbeat of living. The importance of activity in daily living is just one reason whySenior Helpers caregiverscan assist your aging loved one in a variety of recreational activities that stimulate minds, promote physical fitness, increase social interaction, teach new skills and, overall, improve the quality of life for all of our clients. Ourteam of caregivers at Senior Helpersbelieves in creating an environment that is fulfilling, holistic and nurturing to enhance our clients’ quality of life. About the American Therapeutic Recreation Association ATRA is the nationalmembership organization representing theinterests and needs of recreational therapists.The association is directed by an elected boardof directors with over 42 volunteer teams andcommittees, focused on areas such as publicpolicy, coverage and reimbursement, diagnosticspecialty groups, education and research. Anexecutive director leads the association nationaloffice in Alexandria, Virginia. The associationprovides a vast array of membership servicesfocusing on professional practice, professionaldevelopment, external affairs, advocacy,treatment networking, and educational services.Specifically, ATRA leads the profession withnationally recognized professional standards of practice, code of ethics, and competency guidelines. Sources: http://atra-online.com; http://www.recreativeresources.com ...read more

We've just published a new edition of our newsletter! You can check it out on our website and get the latest information from Senior Helpers of Coastal Fairfield Co, Milford & Orange, Connecticut (CT). Let us know what you think! Read It Now Here ...read more