A healthy lifestyle can lead to sharper minds in the elderly.  This fit standard of living includes healthy eating, exercise, and stimulating the mind with mental activity.  By using elder care services, a senior can get the support and encouragement they need to keep up with their physical and mental health.

In addition to physical health, diet contributes to brain health and protects against cognitive decline.  Five servings of fruits and vegetables a day should be consumed, as well as fish once or twice a week.  Trans and saturated fats should always be avoided.  A companion from elder care services can make sure that someone living on their own will continue with their healthy eating, and not skip meals.

Physical activity that maintains cardiac fitness and vascular health can take of your brain as well.  Preferably thirty minutes of exercise every day, but at least three times a week, allows for cardiovascular benefits.  This vascular health and maintenance translates into a sharp mind for seniors.  A caregiver to visit an elderly person can make sure that a patient keeps up with their daily exercise routine.

Engaging in mentally challenging activities can also keep elderly minds quick and healthy.  Reading, crossword puzzles, sodoku puzzles, games, brain teasers, or learning a new language or musical instrument keeps minds active and occupied.  They are also very enjoyable pastimes, and an elder care service providing a friend to share in these activities can be a positive experience.

A non-medical home care agency provides personalized care for seniors as an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.  The longer a senior can remain in their own home, the more active both mentally and physically they will stay. Companions provided from home care agencies can help an individual with their routine and assist in their activities.  It is a priority for a patient to continue to live a healthy lifestyle, which maintains a sharp mind, and using elder care services contributes to this goal.

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Elder care, sometimes referred to as long-term elderly care, includes a wide range of services that are provided over an extended period of time to people who need help to perform normal activities of daily living because of cognitive impairment or loss of muscular strength or control. Elder care can include rehabilitative therapies, skilled nursing care, palliative care, and social services, as well as supervision and a wide range of supportive personal care provided by family caregivers and/or home health care agencies. Elder care may also include training to help older people adjust to or overcome many of the limitations that often come with aging. If appropriate, elder care can at best be provided in the home first.

Where do we start when looking for resources for elder care for a loved one? Resources that can help the elderly stay in their own home are the first place to start. A variety of independent living services are now available to help the elderly care for themselves in their own home despite their changing physical needs. This may help, delay or totally avoid moving into an assisted living or nursing home.

Resources for Elder Care that can help the elderly stay in their own home:

Visiting Angels – Visiting Angels is non-medical in home elderly care service provider and elder care living assistance service. Visiting Angels offers a variety of customized services to help the elderly stay in their own home. Visiting Angels are elderly care specialists.

American Society on Aging – The American Society on Aging is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the knowledge and skills of those working with older adults and their families. This site offers useful resources on a variety of aging-related and elder care topics and elderly care advice.

Elderweb – This site is designed for both professionals and family members looking for information on elder care and long term care, and includes links to information on legal, financial, medical, and housing issues, as well as policy, research, and statistics.

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification – NRCSHHM is a non-profit organization that promotes aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities. The website contains excellent resources on senior housing, elder care and home modifications.

Elder Care Link – Provides resources to those in need of home care.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – is an organization, which provides optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families.

The American Optometric Association — is the authority in the optometric profession and leads the way in its mission of improving the quality and availability of eye and vision care everywhere.

Beltone — has been helping people hear better for 65 years as the most trusted name in hearing care among adults over fifty.

By using resources available, elderly care in the home becomes a viable option. Elder care does not have to mean you have to do it alone. Becoming knowledgeable about elderly care issues make the aging transition an easier road to go down.

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During summer trip season, use this checklist to protect your property and to make your home seem occupied. These steps can discourage burglars and thieves.

Install good locks on doors and windows. It is true that an intruder who really wants to get into your house probably can find some way, but most burglaries are crimes of opportunity committed by small time thieves. This means that the more difficult you make it for someone to enter your house, the more likely it is a thief will not make the attempt.

Install motion detector lights and fake security cameras on the outside of your home, or try real closed circuit TV. Use automatic timers on inside lights and photoelectric switches on outside lights. A week or two before you go, set your timers so you can establish a routine while you are still home. There are even timers for sale that can vary the on/off times. Periodically have a radio or TV turned on.

Don’t leave valuable items where they can be easily observed from the windows. Video equipment, TVs, stereos, gun collections, etc. should be stored in cellars, closets, on the second floor, or left with a friend or neighbor. Equipping a storage room with a good quality lock makes a good storage area too. Leave your curtains in the normal position. Have a neighbor close them at night and open them at daylight, or use sheers. Sheers help to hide the view into the house without making it obvious, as curtains would, that no one is home.

Put at least two lights and a radio on automatic timers. Leave the bathroom light on with the door ajar to add to the idea that someone is home. Close and lock your garage doors to prevent someone from entering through the garage. Consider putting a lock in the track of overhead garage doors. Remember, attached garages that are not kept locked provide the means for an intruder to enter the garage and work in privacy at breaking into your house, perhaps even with the assistance of your own tools!

Cover your garage windows to prevent anyone from seeing the contents of your garage and see whether your auto is in there. Check your homeowner’s insurance policy- does it provide robbery coverage while you’re staying in hotels and motels? It should. Don’t let your travel plans become widely known.

Try to arrange for a house-sitter, but if you can’t, give your immediate neighbors a card with your pertinent information. If you are to be gone for an long period, you may want a trusted neighbor to:

-Check the house every day for anything unusual.

-Park in your driveway or in front of the house.

-Occasionally place garbage in your garbage can.

-Cut the lawn.

-Pick up your mail and paper.

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