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More than any other age group, seniors gain the most benefit from stress management. Stress is an everyday part of life that is unavoidable, but not all stress is created equal. Something is bound to trigger a stress response, whether it’s heavy traffic, lost keys, or a disagreement with your spouse. And sometimes it’s more serious like health issues, looming retirement, or the struggle to live on a fixed income. We all have to learn to manage this kind of stress in a healthy way.
But too much stress for long periods, known as chronic stress, is what causes emotional, mental, and physical problems. How long you’re under stress and how much you’re able to control it plays a huge role in your overall health. Even though chronic stress isn’t good for anyone, it’s especially problematic for seniors, as it dramatically increases cortisol levels and triggers serious health conditions. Here are 7 ways seniors can manage chronic stress and cortisol.
Cortisol is an important natural chemical your body produces in response to stress. It plays a crucial role in many bodily functions but gets a bad wrap because of its stress connection. If you’re healthy, cortisol helps regulate inflammation and provides immune system support. It also ensures you’re prepared to react more efficiently to high-stress situations or potential dangers.
If you’re faced with a bear in the woods, you want the hormone cortisol to give you the physical energy and mental acuity to react. It’s what allows you to act quickly and get away. Cortisol gives you the energy to fight or flee from threats or push through stressful situations.
Cortisol is about balance. Appropriate doses of cortisol keep you healthy and safe. But when it’s chronically elevated, the benefits reverse. This is when your immune system becomes less sensitive, and therefore less reactive, to viruses, bacteria, and other attackers. As your immune system slows its response, inflammation increases. In other words, chronic stress leads to a sluggish immune system and chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is a big deal. It’s been linked to many chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
It’s not always easy to notice chronic stress, because it’s something you’ve been living with for a while. Chronic, high levels of stress can begin to feel normal. You just get used to it. But physical and emotional symptoms usually appear at some point. Here are some chronic-stress warning signs to look for:
If you have been experiencing several of these for a while, it’s possible you’re living with chronic stress and high cortisol levels.
Older adults are more sensitive to the cortisol’s effects. Chronically high levels of cortisol more negatively impacts cognitive performance and the memory areas of your brain. This could be because it takes older adults longer to recover from surging cortisol. The hormone doesn’t come back down to normal levels as quickly as it does in younger people.
In general, cortisol’s effects are exaggerated in seniors, causing a greater increase in inflammation, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar. All of these are risk factors for heart disease.
Some studies suggest that chronically high cortisol levels could be linked to the progression of dementia.
Different seasons of life come with different stressors and stress triggers and the “golden years” are no exception. Here are some common reasons older adults experience chronic stress:
If you’re experiencing any of these circumstances, consider what stress symptoms you’ve been experiencing and for how long. Also remember that people handle stress and different levels of stress in different ways. Just because your neighbor never stressed over impending retirement doesn’t mean that it won’t affect you.
Moving or caregiving doesn’t stress everyone, but if it’s affecting you, it’s best for your health and well-being to address it.
You don’t have to live with chronically high cortisol and chronic stress. You can improve your health by taking these steps to achieve a healthier lifestyle and help you improve stress management.
There are all kinds of reasons for adopting a healthy eating plan, and managing cortisol levels is another one.
What you eat affects your cortisol levels. Processed foods and foods with a high glycemic index (GI) have been found to elevate cortisol. This means you’ll want to avoid sugary drinks, fast food, refined carbs, and other highly processed foods.
Your calorie intake also affects cortisol. High-calorie foods immediately increase cortisol, and not eating enough calories disrupts cortisol levels and can even cause an increase.
It’s as if unhealthy eating affects your digestive system, stresses your body, and triggers cortisol.
Regular, intentional exercise is best, but if that is too much of a stretch for you, any physical activity will help. This means that anything that gets you up and moving is more helpful than remaining sedentary. You might not think of walking, gardening, or yoga as exercise, but these count as physical activity. Experiment with what works best for you.
Exercise is known to relieve stress, making it very helpful for managing cortisol levels.
When it comes to past failures, your first reaction is probably avoidance. Who wants to dwell on it? But there is another option–dealing with it! If you’re carrying a previous failure or stressful experience, believing that it’s not affecting your present—think again.
Evidence suggests that if you write about that past event, processing it in a healthy way, it will reduce your cortisol levels even as you deal with your current stressor.
Meditation and prayer have proven effective stress management tools. If you remain consistent in practice you are better able to manage anxiety and uncertainty. Managing stress this way brings down your cortisol levels and has a notable long-term impact as this habit becomes part of your daily life.
Even highly stressed people see an exceptional difference in their stress levels after successfully practicing prayer or meditation for a period. It’s a practical stress management tool for seniors who might have physical limitations that make exercise difficult. Anyone can meditate or pray, and it can be done anywhere.
It’s important for seniors not to lose their social connections. Not only does social engagement help keep cortisol levels down, it also helps keep your mind sharp and can ward off dementia. Much research suggests staying connected to people you love can improve your well-being and overall health.
When you know a loved one is nearby, it puts you more at ease, especially if you’re going through a stressful time.
Getting adequate, quality sleep cortisol lower, especially when faced with a stress-triggering task. One study assigned a group of participants to a normal night’s rest and the other group to a night of sleep deprivation. The next day, everyone had to perform stressful tasks like giving a speech and solving a math problem in front of an unfriendly audience. The sleep-deprived group showed higher cortisol levels than the rested group.
And it’s not just the next day that you can feel the effects. Other findings indicate that elevated cortisol levels can continue into the second day after getting poor sleep.
This can be a challenge for seniors, especially if you struggle with physical or health problems that make sleep uncomfortable. Discuss sleep aid options with your doctor to give yourself the best opportunity for a good night’s rest.
If you haven’t had much exposure to art or classical music, it might benefit your health to experiment and discover what you enjoy. When you enjoy art or music, stress and cortisol ebb away.
One study indicates that cortisol levels drop faster after you experience enjoyable art. Specifically, the study directed a group of participants to listen to relaxing, classical music, while another group listened to rippling water. The third group listened to nothing at all. Afterwards they were asked to perform a stressful task. The group who had listened to the classical music had faster dropping cortisol levels than the other two groups.
While good stress management is important at any age, it’s especially important for seniors. When you understand that stress is directly linked to physical reactions involving cortisol, it can remind you that stress has very real physical effects. These effects are so “real” that they can cause serious health conditions and promote chronic disease.
Managing stress is managing health. And implementing some or all of these stress-reduction tips can help you manage the stressors that you cannot change.
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Pennsylvania offers Medicaid waiver programs under the Community HealthChoices (CHC) umbrella and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Waiver (often referred to as the PA Council on Aging Waiver). These programs help older adults and individuals with physical disabilities remain in their homes or community settings instead of entering nursing facilities. CHC and the PDA Waiver provide long-term services and supports (LTSS) based on assessed functional needs, emphasizing assistance with ADLs and IADLs. Covered services may include personal care assistance, adult day services, home-delivered meals, transportation, home modifications, assistive technology, and respite care for family caregivers. In addition, Pennsylvanias CHC Waiver offers Participant-Directed Services that allow participants to hire and manage their own caregivers, including family members. To qualify, applicants must be Medicaid-eligible, at least 60 years old (for PDA Waiver) or 21+ (for CHC), and require a nursing facility level of care as determined through a standardized functional assessment of ADLs/IADLs. In this article, we explain what Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are and how needing help with these tasks is central to qualifying for Pennsylvanias Medicaid waivers like CHC and the PDA Waiver.What Are ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)?Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are fundamental self-care tasks that a person must perform daily to maintain independence. Difficulty with ADLs often signals a need for supportive services. Core ADLs include: Mobility (Ambulating/Transferring): Safely walking, getting up from a chair, or transferring from a bed to a wheelchair. Dressing: Selecting and putting on appropriate clothing (including handling fasteners) without assistance. Eating: Feeding oneselfusing utensils to get food from a plate to the mouth and consuming it. Personal Hygiene: Bathing or showering and performing grooming activities like shaving, brushing teeth, and combing hair on ones own. Toileting (Continence): Independently using the toiletgetting to the toilet, transferring on and off, and cleaning oneself afterward. When someone can no longer perform several ADLs without help, it indicates that ongoing care or support is likely needed.What Are IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)?Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are more complex tasks that allow a person to live independently in the community. While not necessarily performed daily, they are essential for managing ones household and life. Key IADLs include: Shopping for Essentials: The ability to shop for groceries, pick up prescriptions, or purchase clothing and other necessities. Meal Preparation: Planning and cooking mealsgathering ingredients and safely using kitchen appliances. Housekeeping: Keeping the home clean and livable tasks like cleaning, laundry, and taking out the trash. Money Management: Handling finances, such as paying bills on time, managing bank accounts, and budgeting. Transportation: Getting around or arranging transportationdriving oneself or using public transit or rides to run errands and attend appointments. Medication Management: Managing and taking medications properly remembering to take the correct medicines at scheduled times and refilling prescriptions. Communication: Using the phone or computer to communicatelooking up phone numbers, making calls, sending emails, and staying in touch with others. Trouble with IADLs is often one of the first signs that someone needs more support, even if basic ADLs are unaffected.Why ADLs and IADLs Matter for Medicaid Waiver EligibilityIn Pennsylvania, needing help with ADLs and IADLs is a central eligibility criterion for the CHC and PDA Waiver programs. These waivers serve individuals who would otherwise qualify for nursing facility care but prefer to remain in their own homes or community settings. Eligibility is determined through both financial and functional assessments. The functional assessment evaluates whether an individual requires hands-on assistance with ADLs and/or significant help with IADLs, thereby meeting a nursing facility level of care. Pennsylvania uses standardized toolsoften the Pennsylvania LongTerm Care Assessment System (PaLTAS) or the Minimum Data SetHome Care (MDSHC)to score independence in ADLs and IADLs.During the functional evaluation, an assessor reviews abilities such as transferring from bed to chair, walking safely, eating, toileting, meal preparation, housekeeping, medication management, and managing money. Cognitive issuessuch as memory problems due to dementiaare also considered since they impact daily functioning. If an individual cannot perform multiple ADLs without assistance or has significant deficits in IADLs, they are likely to meet the level-of-care requirement and become eligible for waiver services.Community HealthChoices (CHC) WaiverCommunity HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvanias comprehensive HCBS waiver program for individuals aged 21 and older who require a nursing facility level of care. Administered by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), CHC is a managed care program that combines physical health, long-term services and supports, and pharmacy benefits under a single plan (with behavioral health carved out). To qualify for CHC: Be age 21 or older. Meet Medicaid financial eligibility guidelines. Require a nursing facility level of care (confirmed through functional assessment). Live in a setting that meets HCBS requirements (e.g., home, apartment, assisted living). Be a Pennsylvania resident. Once enrolled, participants receive a comprehensive package of services tailored to their needs. Covered services may include personal assistance, home-delivered meals, adult day services, behavioral support, professional nursing, home modifications, assistive technology, transportation, and respite care. CHC also offers Participant-Directed Services, allowing participants to recruit, hire, train, and supervise their own caregiversoften family membersto assist with ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting) and IADLs (meal preparation, medication reminders).PDA Waiver (Council on Aging Waiver)The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Waiver, also called the Council on Aging Waiver, serves seniors aged 60 and over who require nursing facility level of care but choose to remain at home or in other community-based settings like domiciliary care homes. To qualify: Be age 60 or older. Meet Medicaid financial eligibility requirements. Be assessed as requiring nursing facility level of care (through the functional assessment). Live in a qualifying community setting. Covered services under the PDA Waiver may include personal care assistance, home-delivered meals, homemaker services, personal emergency response systems, respite care, adult day services, minor home modifications, and transportation. Like CHC, the PDA Waiver emphasizes managing ADL and IADL needs to keep participants safely in their homes.Participant-Directed ServicesBoth CHC and the PDA Waiver offer Participant-Directed Services, which empower participants to choose and manage their own caregivers, including family members, friends, or neighbors. Under this model, participants develop a service plan with guidance from a care coordinator, set schedules, and handle payroll tasks. This flexibility helps ensure that personal care and IADL support align with participants preferences and routines.Signs That Your Loved One May QualifyBelow are practical indicators that someone may be eligible for Pennsylvanias CHC or PDA Waiver due to difficulty with ADLs and IADLs: Trouble with Personal Care: Skipping showers, unkempt hair, or wearing dirty clothes may indicate difficulties with bathing and dressing (ADLs). Malnutrition or Weight Loss: An empty fridge or significant weight loss suggests issues with meal prep or feeding oneself (ADLs/IADLs). Mobility Decline and Falls: Struggling to walk without assistance, needing help to stand, or experiencing frequent falls signals reduced mobility (ADL: transferring/ambulating). Medication Errors and Memory Problems: Missing doses, mixing up pills, or forgetting appointments point to challenges with medication management and scheduling (IADLs). Household Neglect: Piles of mail, unpaid bills, or a cluttered home reflect trouble with housekeeping and money management (IADLs). A combination of needing help with several ADLslike bathing and toiletingand difficulties with IADLssuch as meal prep and housekeepingstrongly indicates a nursing facility level of care. Document these challenges for the functional assessment to demonstrate eligibility.Were Here to Help: Next Steps and Contact InformationNavigating Pennsylvanias Medicaid waiver programs can be complex, but you dont have to go it alone. At Passion to Care, we specialize in guiding Pennsylvania families through the CHC and PDA Waiver application processesfrom the initial functional assessment of ADLs and IADLs to completing paperwork and coordinating services once approved. If you notice your loved one struggling with daily tasks or if a professional has recommended nursing facility care, it may be time to explore CHC or the PDA Waiver. Our compassionate, family-first team ensures your loved ones needs are met with dignity and respect. Call us or contact us today to learn how to get started with Pennsylvanias Medicaid waivers for home and community-based services.
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.
The SS United States: A Legendary Ocean Liners Final Chapter in Mobile, AlabamaFor decades, the SS United States was the pinnacle of American innovation, a sleek, steel-clad symbol of speed and luxury that ruled the high seas. Now, after years of uncertainty, this legendary ocean liner has found a temporary home in Mobile, Alabama, where it will undergo preparations for its final transformationbecoming the worlds largest artificial reef.As of March 28, 2025, the ship sits docked at the Port of Mobile, a ghost of its former grandeur but still commanding awe. Its arrival has sparked excitement, nostalgia, and even a bit of controversy as preservationists scramble for a last-minute rescue. But love it or mourn it, the SS United States is embarking on its final journey, and Mobile is playing a crucial role in its farewell.The Glory Days: Speed, Luxury, and Hollywood FameLaunched in 1952, the SS United States also known as the Big U was an engineering marvel. Built in Newport News, Virginia, it was designed to be both a luxury ocean liner and a secret military asset, capable of transforming into a troop transport if needed with the ability to carry 14,000 troops 10,000 miles without refueling. On its maiden voyage, it shattered records, crossing the Atlantic in just three days, 10 hours, and 40 minutesa feat no other passenger ship has beaten to this day.For nearly two decades, it was the way to travel between the United States and Europe. Celebrities, dignitaries, and socialites graced its decks, reveling in its opulent design and unparalleled speed. Hollywood took notice, too. The ship made memorable appearances in films like Disneys 1962 classic Bon Voyage!, where it served as the glamorous setting for a family adventure, and 1955s Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, where its sleek profile played a starring role. Even in 2013, the thriller Dead Man Down used the SS United States for atmospheric shots while it was docked in Philadelphia.But the golden age of ocean liners was not meant to last. By 1969, the rise of jet travel rendered transatlantic crossings obsolete, and the SS United States was retiredmarking the beginning of a long, uncertain future.From Neglect to New PurposeFor decades, the once-proud liner sat idle in Philadelphia, rusting away as preservation efforts struggled to secure funding. Dreams of transforming it into a hotel, museum, or entertainment venue never materialized. Then, in 2024, a decision was made: Okaloosa County, Florida, would purchase the vessel and repurpose it as an artificial reefa $10 million project that would give the ship a new purpose beneath the waves of the Gulf of America.Thus began the ships 401st and final voyage. On February 19, 2025, it was towed 1,800 nautical miles from Philadelphia to Mobile, arriving ahead of schedule on March 3. Spectators lined the waterfront, watching as the once-glorious ocean liner, now a shell of its former self, was guided into port.A Temporary Stay in MobileNow docked at Modern American Recycling Services (MARS), the SS United States is undergoing extensive preparation before its submersion. Over the next six to twelve months, crews will strip the ship of non-metal materials, wiring, and hazardous components, ensuring it is environmentally safe. Holes will be carefully cut into the hull so that when it is finally submerged, it settles uprightproviding a thriving habitat for grouper, snapper, and tuna.While many celebrate this transformation as a fitting second life, preservationists arent giving up without a fight. Organizations like the SS United States Conservancy continue to push for an alternative, hoping to turn the ship into a floating museum akin to the USS Alabama in Mobile Bay. A Tourist Boom in MobileRegardless of its fate, the SS United States has already left an impact on Mobiles tourism scene. Locals and visitors alike are flocking to catch a glimpse of this historic ship before it disappears beneath the ocean. Harbor cruises aboard the Perdido Queen and tours through Blakeley State Park have sold out quickly with maritime enthusiasts eager to snap photos and reflect on the ships remarkable past and those looking to explore Mobiles deep connections to the sea.The Final GoodbyeDespite the nostalgia, the clock is ticking. Soon, the SS United States will make its last journey, not to another port, but to the ocean floor off the coast of Florida. Once there, it will begin its final rolenot as a fading relic, but as a vibrant, living reef, fostering marine life for generations to come. For now, as it looms over the Port of Mobile, it remains a towering testament to American ingenuity, ambition, and the fleeting nature of technological supremacy. Whether you see it as a tragic loss or a poetic new beginning, one thing is certain: the legacy of the SS United States will live onabove the waves, beneath the ocean, and in the hearts of those who remember its glory.
It takes collaboration of great minds, a great passion and great brand to successfully foster our global mission to empower the over 33 million Americans suffering from urinary incontinence and the many challenges it can bring to make a smart product choice as their incontinence solution. We are honored to showcase our product and to continuously raise the standards of our customer experience, improve the quality of their life andEmpower their Health.Inspiring a healthier life for everyone, everyday. Contact Julie Wolf today your local Tye Medical Professional in Florida directly at 252-292-8744
It takes collaboration of great minds, a great passion and great brand to successfully foster our global mission to empower the over 33 million Americans suffering from urinary incontinence and the many challenges it can bring to make a smart product choice as their incontinence solution. We are honored to showcase our product and to continuously raise the standards of our customer experience, improve the quality of their life andEmpower their Health.Inspiring a healthier life for everyone, everyday. Contact Julie Wolf today your local Tye Medical Professional in Florida directly at252-292-8744
It takes collaboration of great minds, a great passion and great brand to successfully foster our global mission to empower the over 33 million Americans suffering from urinary incontinence and the many challenges it can bring to make a smart product choice as their incontinence solution. We are honored to showcase our product and to continuously raise the standards of our customer experience, improve the quality of their life andEmpower their Health.Inspiring a healthier life for everyone, everyday. Contact Julie Wolf today your local Tye Medical Professional in Florida directly at 252-292-8744