It’s the season when the cold winter weather can impact your health. As we get older, our ability to regulate body temperature decreases-we have less body fat and muscle and cannot generate heat as efficiently as we once did. Here are five winter health tips to protect yourself and educate your loved ones:

Elevated blood pressure. Our bodies respond to cold temperatures by constricting our blood vessels. While this helps us retain body heat, it also stimulates the heart muscle to pump harder to maintain normal blood flow against the added resistance (i.e. increased blood pressure). The act of shivering also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. With these ideas in mind, it’s important to wear layers, gloves and a hat, especially if you know that you’re going to be outside.

Increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The number of heart attacks increases by more than 50% as the seasons transition from summer to winter. As mentioned above, vessel  constriction makes the heart work harder. This can cause tears in the plaque lining artery walls resulting in the formation of blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Consult with your physician first to avoid overexertion and  added stress on the heart.

Respiratory issues. Like our arteries, our airways respond to cold, dry air by constricting. Narrowed airways restrict airflow making breathing more labored and exacerbating asthma, emphysema and other lung problems. If you have any of these conditions, monitor them closely and avoid strenuous activities, especially outdoors.

Vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight is the primary, natural source from which we obtain vitamin D. During the winter, days are shorter and less sunlight means less vitamin D synthesis.  Low levels of this essential vitamin have been correlated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, heart disease, osteoporosis and other serious conditions.

Seasonal Affective Disorder. Less sunlight also means increased risk of seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression experienced in the fall and winter. Symptoms are similar to those of clinical depression-social withdrawal, loss of energy, anxiety, etc.

If you notice the onset of these symptoms coincides with the winter months, talk to your doctor to determine a plan of action for treatment.

Read Full Story on HealthNewsDigest.com

One of the most simple and effective preventative measures one can take to avoid these health dangers is to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors. Our proprietary Balanced Care Method is a holistic approach to care based on scientifically proven behaviors that promote optimal health and longevity including nutrition, physical and mental activity, social ties, calmness and purpose. Contact us today to speak with a Care Manager at your local office, or visit us at www.HomeCareAssistance.com to learn more about how to become a healthier you.

Call Home Care Assistance for a free in-home care assessment – we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

Staying Safe with Social Media

Many seniors are getting involved with social media and using popular applications, including MySpace and Facebook. Your senior loved one may be posting family photos and looking up long lost friends. While this is a great way for seniors to stay in touch, there are some safety tips they should follow while using online applications. More than 42 percent of seniors are involved in some type of social networking.

1.    Seniors must be aware of scams that can often strike through social networking channels.

2.    Be sure to maintain some privacy settings.

3.    Seniors should avoid providing a lot of personal information that can be used for identity theft.

4.    Never open an email from someone you do not know, especially if it has an attachment. Many viruses are sent through emails and unsuspecting seniors may open them and infect their computer.

5.    Do not use any social media program to wire money. This is another popular scam that has robbed seniors of thousands.

6.    Avoid disclosing any financial information, including social security numbers and bank account numbers.

7.    Use caution when you are redirected to another page.

8.    Do not click on links unless you know where it goes.

9.    Avoid giving out cell phone numbers online and never fall for make money at home scams.

10.    Avoid paying for free trials and use extreme caution when entering your credit card information when making purchases.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

A good article By Tina Tessina, at DivineCaroline, reminds us about letting go of personal habits that feel toxic in our lives. Most of us detox our bodies each year, but why do we ignore detoxing our emotions? If you are in a rut, it may be time to do just that! Here are some of the most common ways to handle it emotional back-up.

1. Frequently late – the cure is estimate time better and get more organized.

2. Often angry or irritated – it interferes with clear thinking, and makes it unpleasant and difficult for other to work or socialize with you. Take up mediation or other calming pursuits.

3. Unsure of ability – ask questions or ask for help. Dig deep to find out if you truly are unprepared.

4. Overextended – reduce expectations of accomplishments, and allow others to hep you in their own way.

5. Not enough time – may be a sign that you come last in your life. Schedule time for self to relax and play.

6. Feeling tense – if feeling anxious, it may be time for therapy. Panic attacks are the easiest things to fix in counseling sessions.

7. Often pessimistic – could be a result of negative self-talk. Learn to change the nature of your approach to life.

8. Upset by conflicts – you can learn better social techniques such as active listening, positive regard and win-win negotiation.

Read the full article and more: Care2.com – 10 Signs You Should Detox Your Life

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

As parents age, the responsibility often falls to the children to help care for them when they can no longer take care of themselves.  Sometimes this involves simply checking in on them, scooping snow from their walks or mowing their lawn and other times it can involve helping them with daily living tasks or even helping them make the decision to move from their homes into a retirement community.

If your senior loved ones are getting to the age where decisions for extra care may need to be made, there are a number of things to keep in mind.  We’ve asked our experts for their advice and tips on helping you assist your loved one to live life to the fullest!

Lee Nyberg with Home Care Assistance states, “As the holidays come to a close, many families open their eyes to the realization that their older parents or relatives are having trouble.  The first weeks of January are always our busiest time for calls.  When families get together once a year, that’s when they see that Mom or Dad isn’t doing too well.  Suddenly, they see senior care as an emergency and we’re here to help.”

“Nearly one in six Americans has a relative who is living alone but can’t perform daily living activities without assistance,” continues Lee Nyberg.  “An estimated 7 million of them live an hour or a more away from this relative.  Such needs can go unnoticed for months. Seniors themselves are often the last to realize or admit that they need help, especially to their own children. This is especially true for embarrassing bodily or memory issues. Over the years of short weekly phone calls, occasional letters and twice yearly visits, many symptoms get masked or go unnoticed. ”

“The best alternative is to hire an in-home caregiver,” concludes Nyberg.  “This is becoming the most popular solution. Of the $3.5 billion in long-term insurance benefits last year, 43 percent was for home care. That’s higher than what assisted living facilities received, and much higher than nursing home care.  Home Care Assistance handles all the aspects of hiring and managing a caregiver. They conduct thorough checks of criminal backgrounds, DMV records and legal work status. Their caregivers are bonded and insured. Plus, they can provide substitute caregivers with little notice in case of illness or emergencies.”

Read the full article on Helping Loved Ones Live a Full Life.

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.

It’s holiday time and easy to neglect elderly relatives who are confined to a nursing home or assisted living facility in the holiday celebrations.  Show them how much they’re appreciated and that they’re an important part of the family with the following activities and ideas:

1. Schedule a time to get together that works for them – the holidays can be strenuous for some seniors when they are forced to abide by schedules that are outside of their routine. Plan a visit at a time that works with their specific needs, like napping and medication administration

2. Do something to make them feel special and pampered – if visiting a woman, bring nail polish and paint their nails, or bring shoe polish to make an elderly male feel like the center of the universe

3. Spend some quality time together – take your senior out for a walk, visit with their friends and those most important to them, and remind them how happy you are to be together

4. Talk and listen – during a visit, make sure that you talk to them openly and make them feel like an important part of your life. Also make sure that you really listen to what they have to say as well. Remember, older generations have a lot of life experience and can share great advice!

If your loved ones are celebrating the holidays at home with you, here are some things to remember when planning for festivities:

Menu. Make the traditional meal a group effort. Your parent can supervise the younger family members – they will learn all the secrets to preparing favorite family recipes.

Do it differently. Plan a holiday brunch rather than a lunch, or attend a daytime religious service instead of the evening one.

Make it simple. Hauling traditional decorations may be impossible for aging relatives to handle. Instead, have a family gathering to decide which traditions to keep and what to let go.

Be the eyes, hands and feet for the loved one. Arthritis prevents seniors from writing cards or macular degeneration damages eyesight and makes it difficult to shop for gifts – offer to take on those tasks.

Home Care Assistance wishes everyone a safe and happy holidays!

When your aging parent or loved one needs home care in San Mateo, call Home Care Assistance, we can be reached at (650) 462-6900.