As we age, maintaining bone health becomes increasingly crucial, helping to ensure mobility, independence, and a high quality of life. A key player in this aspect of our well-being is vitamin Doften dubbed the 'sunshine vitamin.' This essential nutrient plays an indispensable role in maintaining bone density and aiding calcium absorption, ensuring our bones stay strong and healthy. All About Vitamin DVitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is a powerhouse essential for many bodily functions. Its most crucial task involves promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body. These actions ensure the normal mineralization of bones. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become brittle, thin, or misshapen. How Vitamin D Prevents Osteoporosis and FracturesOsteoporosis is a serious problem for many seniors. It's characterized by a decrease in bone density, leading to fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures. Thankfully, vitamin D can serve as an effective prevention tool. Regular vitamin D intake helps maintain bone density, reducing the risk of fractures and slowing the progression of osteoporosis. Of course, always consult with your doctor if you're looking for ways to prevent osteoporosis and other health issues. Sources of Vitamin DSo, where can you get this essential vitamin? Our body produces vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight. For seniors, a daily exposure to the sun of 15-20 minutes can significantly aid in vitamin D production. Of course, one must ensure safe sun practices, like wearing a hat, protective clothing, and sunscreen on exposed skin to avoid sunburns.Dietary sources offer another avenue of vitamin D intake. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, fortified dairy products, egg yolks, and beef liver are rich in vitamin D. Incorporating these into your daily diet can significantly contribute to maintaining your vitamin D levels.The Importance of Regular Vitamin D Intake What happens when the body doesn't get enough vitamin D? Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone abnormalities such as soft bones (osteomalacia) or fragile bones (osteoporosis). It's vital, especially for seniors, to regularly monitor vitamin D levels and maintain adequate intake to prevent such health challenges. Regular screenings, a balanced diet, and safe sun exposure can help ensure you're getting enough of this crucial vitamin. Of course, talk to your healthcare provider about any major changes to your diet or supplements you're taking. Senior Helpers Provides Essential Care for SeniorsAt Senior Helpers Fort Collins, we understand the importance of bone health for seniors and are committed to providing services that enhance the lives of our clients. Whether you live in Fort Collins, Englewood, Littleton, Lone Tree, or Longmont, we are here to support you on your health journey. We can offer assistance with meal prep, help seniors keep up with their dietary requirements, or offer companionship services that can enhance seniors' quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you or your loved ones in maintaining a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

This May is American Stroke Month, a multi-agency effort that seeks to provide the public with more information about one of Americas most common adverse health events. Each year, nearly 800,000 people suffer a stroke, leading to 140,000 deaths. This makes it the leading cause of death in America, and a major cause of serious disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control.Luckily, a stroke is often preventable and treatable. Thats why it is crucial to know the risk factors and warning signs. Stroke StatisticsThough strokes can affect people of all ages, they are most commonly seen in those over 65. According to the Stoke Awareness Foundation, the risk of stroke doubles each decade after an adult turns 55.While treatable, the adverse health effects of a stroke can be debilitating, sometimes affecting survivors for the rest of their lives. Of the 7 million stroke survivors in the United States, more than two-thirds suffer from some sort of disability as a result of the stroke, the Stroke Awareness Foundation reports.According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, strokes are more common in men, but more deadly in women. Additionally, strokes are more common, and more deadly, in African American adults, regardless of age. Stroke Risk FactorsWhen thinking of adverse health events related to the cardiovascular system, most adults tend to think of heart attacks. But this isnt the only adverse event that can come from poor cardiovascular health, as heart health is one of the leading factors when it comes to stroke risk.According to Johns Hopkins, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol are all risk factors for stroke. Additionally, other risk factors include age, race, gender and genetics.These risk factors mean that maintaining heart health is key to avoiding stroke. This means that adults should exercise regularly, refrain from smoking or excessive drinking, consume heart-healthy foods and regularly check in with their healthcare provider to assess cardiovascular health. Signs of a StrokeAccording to the American Stroke Association, more than 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that a stroke goes untreated. Thus, getting treatment is critical to lowering the risk of an adverse outcome. And to get treatment, one must understand the signs and symptoms of a stroke.Several health agencies have made this easier through their usage of an acronym FAST. Its meaning is as follows:F Face droopingA Arm weaknessS Speech difficulty (such as slurring)T Time to call 911 Additionally, men and women can sometimes have slightly different symptoms of a stroke. Signs of stroke in women include feeling weak, disoriented, fatigued and nauseous, in addition to vomiting. A stroke is a serious medical condition, one that can lead to poor health outcomes in both the short term and long term. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the factors behind a stroke and the symptoms of stroke.By knowing the symptoms of a stroke, you can take action quickly, and improve the chances of a positive health outcome.

What about those greedy relatives?Remember the Baudelaire children from our previous Legal Brief about Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events? Lets look at another way parents with children of any age can protect their legacy.In Lemony Snickets tale the Baudelaire children are left with a significant family fortune when their parents die. Their uncle hopes to gain access to this vast fortune by taking in the children. When that does not work he tries to marry Violet, the oldest daughter, so he can access the family wealth. Hopefully your relatives are not awful like Count Olaf; yet, sometimes you only find out who people truly are after someone passes away. So, what is the estate planning remedy for greedy relatives or even your childs questionable spouse?Trust planning.Trust planning ensures your family fortune, no matter the amount, stays with your children; not in the hands of a greedy relative, in-law, creditor, or even used in an unintended manner by your children.There are many ways to write trusts to ensure your wishes are met. The general starting point for trust planning is a revocable living trust. When properly funded, this type of trust allows trust assets to pass directly to beneficiaries bypassing the probate process. Bypassing probate also keeps your wishes private. Additionally, if a surviving spouse remarries a revocable living trust can be built to keep existing family assets within the family. The surviving spouse can access assets but when they pass away trust assets continue down to your children and grandchildren instead of going to an unintended beneficiary.More specific concerns?Maybe you have a child with a disability? Consider a special needs trust. A special needs trust prevents a large lump sum from an inheritance going directly to a beneficiary. Instead, a trustee manages the trust and assets. Money is given on an as needed basis for anything not provided through other benefits or programs. This can be especially useful when needs based programming covers only the minimum services. This specialized trust allows you to protect and provide for your loved ones with special needs and circumstances when you are no longer able to do so, while still allowing them to maintain their other benefits.Is one of your children caught up in drugs or debt? Consider a heritage trust. A heritage trust could help in Violets situation with her uncle or if some other gold-digger comes along and tries to marry her for the family fortune. How? Heritage trust planning allows you to name a trustee who can manage trust assets. This person or institution provides the beneficiary with funds for reasonable requests (e.g., housing, education, etc.). The trustee acts as a gatekeeper. Trust assets pass from your child to grandchildren or other beneficiaries. This shelters trust assets, keeping them within your family or named beneficiaries for multiple generations. Trust assets are also protected from creditors, lawsuits, and from spouses or others not directly named as beneficiaries.What exactly is a trustee?Your trustee is the person who manages and distributes trust assets after your passing. As with any decision regarding finances, choose your trustee carefully. Appoint someone to this role who you will take their responsibility seriously. Someone you trust to carry out your wishes and manage trust assets wisely. Allowing assets to grow and benefit your family members for years to come.Remember: trusts do not go through the probate process like a will, so your decisions remain private. Give yourself peace of mind today by taking care of your estate planning with Stone Law! Make your guardianship wishes known in your will and put together trust planning to ensure your assets go where you want them to.