Resources For Aging Well

Focusing on health and wellness is one of the most common New Years resolutions that people set. The issue is many are unable to keep those resolutions.Dani Johnson, a wellness physical therapist with the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, offers tips to make it easier to stick to a resolution to get in shape:1.) Make sure you start with realistic goals.2.) Think about what you enjoy doing and try to find exercises you will enjoy.3.) Consider your time commitment 20 to 30 minutes, three times a week may be a reasonable start.Watch this video to learn more:

Understanding the financial aspects of home care is crucial for many families. Its about knowing your options, who to talk to, and where to begin. At Amazing Care, were here to help you navigate through the maze of home care payment options, ensuring you make informed decisions regarding paying for home care services.Home care, an essential service for many, can sometimes be a financial burden. However, with the right information and resources, you can find ways to manage these costs effectively. Amazing Care offers several payment options to alleviate this burden.Medicaid: A viable option for those who meet certain income and health requirements. Amazing Care accepts Medicaid for qualifying services, providing a lifeline for many in need of home care without the financial means to afford it out-of-pocket. For more detailed information on how you can utilize Medicaid for services at Amazing Care, visit our Medicaid payment options page.Medicare: Typically, Medicare covers medically necessary home health care services. If you or your loved one is a Medicare beneficiary, you might be eligible for coverage of Amazing Cares services. This includes nursing care, physical therapy, and more under certain conditions outlined by Medicare guidelines. To understand how Medicare can help cover your home care needs with Amazing Care, check out Amazing Cares Medicare guide.Private Insurance: Home care covered by insurance is available, and many private health insurance policies include home care services. Coverage details can vary widely, so its essential to contact your insurance provider to understand the specifics of your policy. Amazing Care works with numerous private insurance plans, assisting you in maximizing your benefits. For insights on navigating private insurance with Amazing Care, visit our private insurance payment options page.Starting this journey can be overwhelming, but youre not alone. The first step is to contact Amazing Care to discuss your needs and payment options. Our team is dedicated to guiding you through the process, ensuring you access the care you need without undue financial stress. By exploring Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance options, youll find a path to covering the costs of home care. Questions, please contact us at 303-755-3170.

Social interaction is a cornerstone of health and well-being, particularly for seniors. Engaging in social activities can significantly impact their mental, emotional, and physical health. This post aims to underscore the importance of socializing your parents or elderly loved ones and provide practical suggestions for encouraging meaningful social engagement.Research has consistently shown that seniors who maintain active social lives enjoy numerous health benefits, including reduced risks for chronic diseases, lower blood pressure, and decreased rates of depression and anxiety. Social interactions can also play a critical role in preserving cognitive function, thereby potentially delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimers disease.However, fostering social connections for seniors can sometimes be challenging. Mobility issues, health conditions, and the loss of peers can make it difficult for them to maintain their social networks. Here are several ways to help your elderly loved ones stay connected and engaged:Leverage Community Events: Many communities offer events tailored to seniors, such as exercise classes, art workshops, and social clubs. Encourage your loved ones to participate in these activities, which can be great opportunities to meet peers with similar interests.Embrace Technology: Online platforms and social media can be invaluable for seniors, allowing them to connect with friends and family members despite physical distances. Introducing your parents to simple-to-use apps and devices can open up a world of interaction.Encourage New Friendships: Help your elderly loved ones find new social circles by encouraging them to join clubs or groups based on their interests. Whether its a book club, a gardening group, or a cooking class, these activities can provide both a sense of community and a chance to learn something new.Volunteer Together: Volunteering is not only a way to give back but also a powerful method for socializing. Engaging in volunteer work allows seniors to feel connected to their communities and provides a sense of purpose.Schedule Regular Visits: Regular visits from family members, friends, or caregivers can significantly boost a seniors mood and sense of belonging. Even short, frequent visits can make a big difference in their overall well-being.Facilitating social interaction for seniors is about creating opportunities for connection and ensuring they have the support needed to engage with their community. By prioritizing social activities and leveraging resources both offline and online, we can help enrich the lives of our elderly loved ones, contributing to their happiness and health. If you have any questions, please contact AmazingCare at 303-755-3170.

It takes more than prescription medication to lower or control blood pressure, although they play a vital role in treatment. Other dietary and lifestyle changes can be instrumental in maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Before your doctor increases your medication dosage or adds another prescription to your treatment, he might recommend other changes in your eating habits or lifestyle, such as limiting sugar and alcohol, increasing exercise, and getting better sleep.All of these and more can help set you up for success for lowering blood pressure, especially as you age. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, often has no recognizable symptoms but is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.Most healthy adults should aim for a blood pressure reading below 120/80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure is considered high at 130/80 or above. Anything in between these ranges is considered elevated blood pressure and means you are at risk for developing high blood pressure. But this isnt inevitable.Here are 9 effective methods to lower your blood pressure.1. Get Adequate ExerciseExercise is a key ingredient for lowering blood pressure and can help you manage it long term. According to research, both aerobic and resistance training positively affect blood pressure and can even lower it for up to 24 hours after exercising.The key is to get regular exercise, meaning that its part of your daily routine. Its about regularly increasing your heart rate and breathing so that over time your heart is strengthened. A stronger heart pumps with less effort, putting less pressure on your arteries. This means lower blood pressure.So how much exercise is required to affect cardiovascular health? You should aim for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. Thats 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly. Moderate intensity exercise is defined by your heart rate during a work out. Anything below this range is too low to benefit cardiovascular health and anything above it is unnecessary. If you are exercising for health, these are the target heart rate ranges.Age (years)Target Heart Rate Range (beats/min)5085-1195583-1166080-1126578-109Other than intentional exercise, you can also increase activity by doing the following:Using the stairsWalking instead of drivingWorking around the houseGardeningBike ridingPlaying a sportBut be sure to clear any new exercise routine with your doctor to be sure you are healthy enough for moderate-intensity workouts.2. Manage Your WeightExtra body weight strains your heart and cardiovascular system, because it makes them work harder. This creates more pressure inside your arteries and can raise blood pressure. If youre overweight with a body mass index (BMI) over 25, it can help to lose 5-10 pounds. Losing weight may lower your blood pressure and your risk for other health problems.There are three major components to lowering BMI:Be more physically activeEat lessEat a healthy diet3. Eat Less Sugar and Refined CarbsCutting back on sugar and refined carbs can help you lose weight while lowering blood pressure. One study found that people who are overweight or obese who followed a low carb and low fat diet dropped their diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) by about 5 points and their systolic pressure (top number) by about 3 points after just six months.You can start by replacing some of the refined carbs with more whole grain varieties and foods that are less processed. Be sure to read labels and notice the sugar content in common foods you eat. Its often best to eat fewer prepackaged foods as these often contain more simple carbs and sugars.Instead, snack on produce and include more lean protein in your diet.4. Eat More Potassium and Less SaltEating a diet high in salt can increase your risk for high blood pressure. But if you eat more potassium and cut back on salt, you can lower your blood pressure. Science hasnt determined why salt impacts blood pressure, but its believed to have something to do with water retention and inflammation in blood vessels could be factors.Potassium helps your body eradicate salt and even relieves some of the pressure in your blood vessels. Think of it as a counterbalance to salt and its effects. Cutting back on salt and adding more potassium to your diet can notably lower blood pressure over time.High potassium foods to incorporate into your diet:Dried fruit (apricots, prunes)Milk and yogurtLentils and kidney beansVegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, and spinachFruit like watermelon and bananasIf you have kidney disease, talk with your doctor before increasing potassium in your diet, as it could be harmful.5. Manage StressManaging stress benefits your overall health and positively affects your blood pressure. Stress has a direct impact on your body and its systems. Its important that you learn to recognize the symptoms of stress and its triggers. Its best to eliminate sources of stress when possible. But much of what causes your stress probably cant be set aside. In this case, youll need to learn to manage stress in a healthy way.Consider some of these methods and determine what works best for you:Taking a walk (or getting exercise)Reading a bookPracticing deep breathingListening to musicMeditation or prayerThese are ways you can decompress from daily stress and set your mind elsewhere. This type of relief can relax your body and keep your blood pressure from rising. Chronic stress, especially when poorly managed, keeps your body in an anxious state with an elevated heart rate and increased blood pressure.6. Get Plenty of Quality SleepWhen youre sleep deprived youre at greater risk for high blood pressure. Blood pressure often lowers a bit while sleeping, giving your system a rest. But if you havent slept well or enough, your body doesnt get this needed break. And without it, pressure continues to build. If you do this night after night, it can have long-term effects on your blood pressure.Here are some tips for getting better sleep:Keep a regular sleep scheduleExercise (but not too close to bed time)Leave devices outside your bedroomSleep in a cool, dark roomAvoid caffeine and alcohol too close to bedtime7. Limit Processed FoodsA strict definition of processed foods is any food that has been changed from its natural state. Technically, just cutting and washing a food is a change to its natural state, and so not all processed food is bad. But often, when this phrase is used, its referring to overly processed foods that make them less healthy. This type of processed, pre-packaged food often includes additives like preservatives, sugars, fats, and not-so-natural ingredients.Bad processed foods include ingredients you dont want that can also increase blood pressure and negatively affect your health. They often contain higher levels of sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and inflammatory chemical ingredients.Common examples include:Processed meats (lunch meats, sausage, ham, etc.)Fried foods or fast foodProcessed snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, etc.)And be careful about foods labeled low fat since they often include more sugar or salt to compensate for the lower fat content. They may be lower in fat but arent necessarily healthy overall.8. Try SupplementsYou can try supplements to help manage blood pressure. Some widely used options include:Omega-3 fatty acids or fish oilWhey proteinPotassiumMagnesiumWhile you may see some benefits from supplement use, there is not enough scientific evidence to verify that most of them can decrease blood pressure.Be sure to check with your doctor before using any supplement as some conditions and medications might cause complications.9. Limit AlcoholAccording to research, your heart rate can increase for up to 24 hours after drinking just an ounce of alcohol. It appears that blood pressure drops for the first 12 hours but then increases. The average alcoholic beverage contains about half an ounce of alcohol.And dont be fooled by red wine. While the idea that its heart healthy has been widely spread, the America Heart Association warns that too much can be harmful. Instead, limit your alcohol consumption, even red wine, to two standard drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women, if you drink at all.One drink or serving of alcohol is considered to be:One 12-ounce beer4 ounces of wine1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits1 ounce of 100-proof spiritsConsidering general health and common medication interactions, it may be best to skip the alcohol completely.Blood Pressure Management Is KeyManaging your blood pressure as you age is a critical component of aging well. While you can try supplements and take medications when needed, these alone wont necessarily prevent high blood pressure. If you want to prevent additional or stronger medications, or hope to avoid prescriptions altogether, then be sure to get daily exercise, sleep well, manage stress, and limit salt and sugars. Your diet and lifestyle are keys to lower blood pressure.TYE Medical offers premium incontinence products in a variety of sizes and absorbency levels. Get free and discreet shipping when you shop our online store.