12 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month

As we move through life, we accumulate objects that tell the story of who we are and the relationships weve cherished. For seniors, these items often hold even deeper meaningeach photo, letter, and memento carries with it a lifetime of memories. But over time, these treasured possessions can become overwhelming, taking up space and creating clutter. The challenge lies in finding ways to honor these memories while maintaining a home that feels organized, peaceful, and comfortable.At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we understand that decluttering is not just about making space; its about preserving the essence of what matters most. Our goal is to help you organize your most precious senior possessions with love and respect, creating a living environment that reflects your unique journey. In this blog, well explore how to thoughtfully organize keepsakes so that theyre both accessible and lovingly preserved for years to come.Curating Your Collection with CareWhen it comes to organizing treasured possessions, its important to approach the process with care and intention. Each item holds a memory, a connection, or a piece of history, so the goal is not to discard these items, but to thoughtfully curate a collection that truly represents your lifes most meaningful moments.Step 1: Begin with ReflectionBefore diving into the organization process, take some time to reflect on which items hold the most emotional value. Sorting through personal belongings can be a deeply emotional experience, so its essential to go at your own pace. Ask yourself: Which items make you smile when you see them? Which ones carry stories you want to share with loved ones? This initial reflection helps you identify the objects that deserve a place of honor in your home.Step 2: Categorize Your KeepsakesOnce youve selected your most precious items, its helpful to categorize them. Group similar items together, such as family photos, letters from loved ones, travel souvenirs, or heirlooms passed down through generations. This process allows you to see what you have and makes it easier to decide how to display or store them.At A Call to Order, we guide our clients through this process, helping them sort through their possessions with empathy and care. We understand that parting with certain items can be difficult, so we focus on keeping what truly matters while organizing in a way that feels manageable and comforting.Step 3: Display with PurposeFor many seniors, having their most meaningful items on display is a way to keep memories alive. Whether its a shadow box of family heirlooms, a curated photo wall, or a memory shelf filled with travel mementos, displaying items thoughtfully can bring daily joy. Consider rotating your collectionputting some keepsakes on display for a season, while safely storing others for future enjoyment. This way, your living space doesnt feel cluttered, but still reflects your lifes rich tapestry of memories.Safekeeping and Sharing Your LegacyAfter organizing your cherished possessions, its just as important to ensure their safekeeping and plan how to pass them along to future generations. Preserving your legacy can be a deeply fulfilling process, and A Call to Order can help you every step of the way.Step 1: Create a Safe Storage SystemFor items that are not on display, having an organized storage system is key to keeping them safe and accessible. Use labeled, archival-quality boxes to store fragile items like old photographs, letters, or documents. These containers are designed to protect against deterioration and ensure that your keepsakes stay in excellent condition. Be sure to label boxes or storage bins clearly so that you and your family can easily locate items when the time comes to reminisce or share memories.Step 2: Digitize Important MemoriesOne way to ensure the longevity of your precious possessions is by digitizing them. Old photos, important documents, and even handwritten letters can be scanned and saved digitally, providing peace of mind that these memories wont be lost to time. Digital copies can also be shared with family members, allowing everyone to enjoy them without the risk of losing the originals. A Call to Order can help you set up a digital archive, ensuring that your most important memories are preserved for generations to come.Step 3: Share Your Story with Loved OnesPerhaps the most rewarding aspect of organizing your treasured keepsakes is the opportunity to share your lifes journey with family and friends. Consider creating memory albums or scrapbooks for each child or grandchild, filled with photos and personal stories that reflect your time together. Not only does this preserve your legacy, but it also strengthens bonds and creates a meaningful connection between generations.Additionally, passing along family heirlooms or special possessions can be a beautiful way to keep your legacy alive. If there are items youve always intended to pass down, take the time now to write a note about the history and significance of each one. These notes add an extra layer of meaning to the heirloom, ensuring that the story behind the object is never forgotten.At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we know that organizing your most precious senior possessions is about more than declutteringits about honoring your past, preserving your legacy, and creating a space that reflects the love and memories youve gathered over the years. With thoughtful care and personalized guidance, we help seniors curate, protect, and share their treasured keepsakes, ensuring that the essence of their lives is preserved for generations to come.Whether youre looking to display your favorite memories, create a safe storage system, or pass along cherished heirlooms to loved ones, A Call to Order is here to support you in every step of the journey. Let us help you turn your collection of treasures into a beautifully organized legacy that will be treasured by generations to come.

By the time you read this, the reported deaths from COVID-19 and its variants in the U.S. will be close to 900,000. As staggering as that statistic is, its 400,000 short of the number of Americans killed by Heart Disease in the same time period. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups.Lets not allow the topic to overwhelm the fact theres a miracle inside your chest. Weighing about as much as a grapefruit, the heart is a powerful pump that drives five to six quarts of blood to every microscopic part of your body every second. And if it fails for even a second, the body is very unforgiving. Even though its the one piece of machinery driven by the brain, we tend to treat the heart like a kitchen appliance that we take for granted. Rarely serviced, rarely cleaned, and overworked until it burns out. Although heart bypass and transplant have become routine since the pioneering operations in the 1960s, its not like replacing the coffee maker you neglected too long. One Thing at a TimeThe better way to treat your heart with the respect it deserves is to start with changing just small habits. That way, youll avoid the relapse from trying to change everything at once and falling back to unhealthy heart habits inside of a month. The most obvious: if youre a smoker or heavy drinker, work on that first. Imagine a small team of remodelers arriving at your heart to do a makeover. The first thing theyre going to say is, Well, we cant do anything with the plumbing until we clear the smoke. Look for Help During Heart MonthQuitting smoking and reducing alcohol is never easy, but this is probably as good a time as any during the year to start a cessation program with help. February is American Heart Month, so youre likely to be reminded frequently of heart health and offered tips on modifying your routine to help your heart and prolong a happy life. If you only look to one place, trust the American Heart Association  www.heart.org. Prediabetes and Heart DiseaseWhats your blood sugar level? If you dont know, you should find out from your doctor if youre not already monitoring it yourself. You could be pre-diabetic without knowing it or showing any symptoms. Theres a good chance you could avoid becoming diabetic and reverse your pre-diabetic blood sugar to normal with relatively little change to your diet and a slight increase inyour activity. Diabetes has long been linked to heart disease, but recent studies suggest that reversing prediabetes is also linked to fewer heart attacks and strokes. [Reversing Prediabetes linked to fewer heart attacks, strokes, heart.org, Jan. 26, 2021.]While youre at it, get your cholesterol tested and routinely monitor your blood pressure.If youre worried you might be at risk for heart disease, ask your doctor to perform a simple cholesterol test to let you know if youre at risk and should adjust your diet. Home blood pressure monitors are not expensive, theyre digital, and theyre easy to use. Blood pressure stations are common in supermarkets now, and you can also check your weight and pulse. Womens Heart HealthWhy the emphasis on womens heart health? The American Heart Association tells us that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year about one woman every minute. They devote an entire website to womens heart health: Go Red for Women (www.goredforwomen.org). Here are just a few of the common misconceptions about womens heart health:Myth: Heart disease is for men, and cancer is the real threat for womenFact: Heart disease is a killer that strikes more women than men and is more deadly than all cancer forms combined. While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease is the cause of one out of every three deaths.Myth: Heart disease is for old peopleFact: Heart disease affects women of all ages. For younger women, the combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent. Heart defects are more common than you might think: 1.3 million Americans alive today have some form of congenital heart defect and at least nine of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect. Even if you live a completely healthy lifestyle, being born with an underlying heart condition can be a risk factor.Myth: I run marathons no way I could be at risk.Fact: Factors like cholesterol, eating habits, and smoking can counterbalance your other healthy habits. You can be thin and have high cholesterol. The American Heart Association says to start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20. Earlier, if your family has a history of heart disease. Age and Heart HealthMany things, like wine and most people, grow better with age. The heart, however, takes more tending than a glass of fine wine. Avoid things that weaken your heart beyond the normal aging process. These are the usual suspects: smoking and tobacco use, lack of exercise, diet, alcohol, overeating, and stress. Some preexisting conditions you cant control: irregular heartbeat, congenital (inherited) heart defects, sleep apnea (although this may be a product of obesity or alcohol consumption).Viruses and MyocarditisMyocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle mostly caused by a virus, including COVID-19, and can lead to left-sided heart failure. The left ventricle of the heart is the part that pumps oxygen-rich blood back to the body. This valve tends to stiffen with age. Thats one of the many reasons why age combined with a preexisting condition puts you at greater risk of death from COVID-19. Even survivors of the novel coronavirus infection can sustain permanent heart damage. All people must protect themselves and others from COVID-19 by observing precautions, not just because of its immediate lethality but also because of its impact on the heart, known and unknown. How to Start with Your HeartThe factors involved in heart health and the onset of heart disease are many, varied, and complicated. But the common preventions (listed here, from the Mayo Clinic) are simple. You probably already know them by heart, so to speak:Not smokingControlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetesStaying physically activeEating healthy foodsMaintaining a healthy weightReducing and managing stress Those may seem like six significant challenges, especially if you take on all six. But you should notice something else about them. Almost every one of them can affect the other five. So, if you pick one, youll find it easier to take on the next one. People who quit smoking usually discover that they have more energy within the first week, and exercise becomes easier. A little exercise and switching out one unhealthy food will help with weight, stress, blood pressure, and diabetes. Easy does it, especially if youre 65 and older. Youve spent a whole life learning one way. You can take your time. Learn to enjoy your healthier heart. But start today.First, Get a Checkup!Most of the questions this article has raised in your mind (Whats my blood sugar level? Whats my blood pressure? I used to smoke am I at risk?) can all be answered in a single doctors visit with simple lab work done a few days before. Schedule it now, before you start a program of exercise and diet. And schedule a regular exam per your doctors recommendation. Relieving the stress of not knowing will be a good start on your way to a healthier heart.

As our population ages, managing healthcare for seniors becomes increasingly critical. One significant concern is hospital readmissions, which can be costly and detrimental to a seniors health and well-being. In-home care has emerged as a promising solution to reduce hospital readmissions, providing seniors with the support they need to recover and maintain their health at home. This blog explores how in-home care impacts hospital readmissions for seniors, offering insights into its benefits and the role it plays in enhancing overall health outcomes. Understanding Hospital Readmissions What Are Hospital Readmissions? Hospital readmissions occur when a patient is discharged from the hospital but has to return for the same or related medical condition within a specific period, usually 30 days. Readmissions can be a sign of inadequate care, complications, or a lack of proper follow-up. For seniors, who often have complex health needs, the risk of readmission is higher, making it a significant concern for healthcare providers and families. Causes of Hospital Readmissions in Seniors Several factors contribute to hospital readmissions among seniors, including: Chronic Conditions: Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues can lead to frequent hospital visits if not managed properly. Medication Management: Incorrect use or misunderstanding of medications can result in complications and readmissions. Inadequate Follow-Up Care: Lack of proper follow-up after discharge can lead to complications or deterioration of health. Limited Support Systems: Seniors who live alone or have limited support may struggle with post-discharge care and recovery. The Role of In-Home Care in Reducing Hospital Readmissions Personalized Care PlansIn-home care provides a tailored approach to managing a seniors health. Care plans are developed based on the individuals specific needs and medical conditions, which can help prevent complications and reduce the likelihood of readmission. This personalized approach includes: Medication Management: Ensuring that medications are taken as prescribed and monitoring for potential side effects. Chronic Disease Management: Providing support for managing chronic conditions through regular monitoring and adjustments to care plans.  Continuous Monitoring and SupportOne of the key benefits of in-home care is continuous monitoring and support. Caregivers can observe changes in the seniors condition and respond quickly to any issues that arise. This ongoing support includes: Health Monitoring: Regularly checking vital signs and tracking health indicators to catch potential problems early. Emergency Response: Being available to handle emergencies and provide immediate assistance if needed.  Post-Discharge CareAfter a hospital discharge, in-home caregivers play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition and recovery process. Post-discharge care services include: Follow-Up Appointments: Assisting with scheduling and transportation to follow-up medical appointments. Wound Care and Physical Therapy: Providing necessary care for wounds or facilitating physical therapy exercises as prescribed by the doctor.  Education and TrainingIn-home caregivers educate seniors and their families about managing health conditions, medication use, and lifestyle changes. This education helps in: Understanding Health Conditions: Ensuring that seniors and their families are well-informed about the seniors health conditions and treatment plans. Self-Care Techniques: Teaching techniques for managing symptoms and preventing complications.  Companionship and Emotional SupportEmotional well-being is an important aspect of recovery. In-home care provides companionship and emotional support, which can positively impact a seniors overall health. This support includes: Reducing Loneliness: Offering social interaction and companionship to alleviate feelings of isolation. Encouraging Compliance: Motivating seniors to follow care plans and engage in healthy behaviors. Conclusion In-home care plays a vital role in reducing hospital readmissions for seniors by providing personalized, continuous, and compassionate support. By addressing specific health needs, managing medications, offering post-discharge care, and providing emotional support, in-home caregivers help seniors maintain their health and prevent complications. Investing in in-home care not only improves health outcomes but also enhances the quality of life for seniors, making it a valuable component of comprehensive healthcare management. For more information on in-home care services and how they can benefit your loved one, contact us at 412-810-6595. We are committed to providing exceptional care and support to help seniors thrive in their own homes.