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Are you ready for some football! This Sunday, February 5, two teams come together to battle it out in Super Bowl 46!   At some point, a favorite team of yours must have played in the big game. Right?  Perhaps not, but a favorite of the two is chosen nonetheless, even if it is just for the day.

 READY!  Remember how different football was years ago? Over the years, the uniforms and players have advanced to new levels.  The stadiums, which hold the rowdy fans, have developed.  Mascots and cheerleaders are no longer the same either.   For example, the Baltimore Ravens used to be the Baltimore Colts.   Baltimore is where cheerleading originated as part of the band ensemble. Now, they now attend charity events and various appearances in the communities, not to mention being a crowd pleaser.  Comparing how you watched your favorite, now retired players, to those in uniform today is remarkable.  With technological advancements, the HD screen makes you feel like your apart of the game.   No matter how you choose to view it this year, enjoying the game is something that can be done at any age.

 SET!  Everyone has heard of a super bowl party.  It is a way to add another element of fun to game day.  This year, do not just invite friends over for the usual pizza and wings, kick it up a notch.   First, have all your friends arrive wearing the jersey or colors of their favorite team, bringing exciting and friendly rivalry to the group.  Why not put a little money on it?  There are several ways to create betting pools, so huddle up, choose the one that everyone thinks is fair, and place your bets.  If you are not interested in betting on the game, perhaps pick who’s commercial you think will be best.  Will it be a car, beer or insurance company?   Just remember to keep it clean and fun, don’t let anyone have to call a flag on your play. 

Not really into football, but still want to enjoy the day?  Have a Boston Tea Party or New York City Nightlife themed party.  Serve Boston cream pie or New York cheesecake to your guests. Use the Super Bowl as an excuse to get your friends together and have an enjoyable time.

 HUT!  No matter how you choose to celebrate, just make sure you do not get caught on the sideline.  Get out there and have fun!

Don’t give up your favorite things; just find new ways to enjoy them. Get In The Game

Enjoy,

Kara Walton

Monday, January 16th our nation celebrates the birthdayof an important man in history. Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he believed in, took on a difficult task, and did not turn away when fear looked him in the eye.  His speech is taught in schools today and remembered by those who lived it.   There is more than just watching MLK’s speech on TV or hearing stories about marches, and the changes that occurred, here are other ways you can remain young at heart and participate in Martin Luther King Day.

 MLK and Aretha Franklin had it right; it is all about r-e-s-p-e-c-t.   He was a man who brought people together and showed that being nice can go a long way.  On his birthday, out of remembrance for him, take time out of your day to do something nice for someone.  Whether it is for a loved one, or someone in passing on the street, let them know how special they are or give a helping hand.  Small gestures can go a long way.  Go by his words “The time is right, to always do what is right.”

 Another way to celebrate is to make a Heroic Book.  Gather pictures of everyone you look up to and admire.   They can be family, friends, and celebrities, those who are living and deceased.   In a blank paged notebook, paste in these pictures on each page, add a little story of what makes these individuals heroic to you.  Include quotes, poems and proverbs or stories you like and can relate to.  What is it that makes this person or quote so special to you?  Can their actions or its words be ones to live by?   Look at one page of this book to look at each day in order to motivate you.  Inspire yourself to be a better person, and if you include your friends in this craft, it’s more people who will share great morals that can be passed on to others, just as Martin Luther King did.

 “I have a dream” is the speech that Martin Luther King that is and will be remembered for many years to come.  MLK had big dreams and you probably do too.  What are your big dreams?  Gather with friends to discuss yours and theirs.  Talk about the dreams you made when you were younger that you have already accomplished.  Create a list of those you would still like to get done.  Through conversation, you might even come up with new dreams.  Post this list on your mirror or refrigerator so you can always remember the fun things you did and motivate yourself to get the ones done you have not.

 No matter how you choose to celebrate MLK’s birthday, just remember, he was a man who stood up for what he believed in.  He inspired people and lived out a big dream of his.  Perhaps if we would all follow his morals, we would be happier and world would continue to become a better place. 

Don’t give up your favorite things; just find new ways to enjoy them. Keep your dream alive.

Enjoy,

Kara Walton 

Year after year promises are made that the New Year will bring changes.  Theses promises usually start off with a strong conscious effort, but dwindle away as the year goes on.  This year, how about making promises that are easy to keep!  Old age does not mean you are unable to make a resolution.   Now, the resolutions may be a little different from years before, but with some tweaks and changes, plans can be made for health, wealth and social wellbeing in order to suit your lifestyle now. Let the countdown to a happy, healthy new year begin, so that you can remain young at heart. 

10.  Get your affairs in order - Get together all your important documents (social security card, insurance forms, financial accounts, Medicare/Medicaid forms and last wills) and put them in a safe secured place.  Let a family member or a close friend know where they are kept.  This way if anything should happen, all forms and documents can be located and you will be taken care of.

9. Treat yourself- Everyone is always thinking of what they can do for others, especially around the holiday season.  During the year, do not forget about yourself.  Pick one day each week and treat yourself to one special thing. Maybe it’s a day at the salon, an extra round of golf or a second scoop of ice cream.  Do what makes you happy.

 8. Ask for help- Since so many seniors live alone, a lot of responsibility falls solely on them.  Older age can make it harder and may become dangerous to get everything done.  Make a promise that you will ask for help when needed.  Have a family member, friend or CAREGiver to go grocery shopping with you, help with laundry, or make you a well-balanced meal.  It will become a friendly time spent together while getting things accomplished.

7. Keep a journal or memory book – Whether its new or old memories, make a journal entry every day.  Your entries can include pictures, drawings, notes and other mementos.  If you are feeling extra savvy, record a video with your happy memory of that day and how it relates to your past.  By doing this you can keep your skills and memories sharp.  This is an item you can always look back on and remember the joyous times you had.

 6.  Start exercising – It is never too late to start exercising and for seniors, regular exercise can help improve your health and overall quality of your life. It also helps improve your balance which will help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile. Grab your friends and go for walks or follow these easy to do chair exercise.  Your body will feel great in the New Year

 5. Take care of your medical health – Make those appointments you have been putting off! Prevention really is better than cure and visiting your doctor will help identify any potential health problems allowing you to take steps to prevent or treat illness early.  Call a family member, friend or CAREGiver to drive you to appointments.

 4. Make new friends and stay in contact with old ones- As seniors get older; they tend to lose those closest to them, leaving them lonely. Being lonely is hard on our health and affects our immune systems so it is so important seniors reach out to people. Developing new friendships can ward off depression and make life feel worthwhile again.  Don’t forget about those loved ones who are far away.  Keep in touch with scheduled phone calls and letters.

 3. Learn new things – You are never too old to learn new something – research actually shows that training and learning reignites the brain and improves memory. Many local schools and colleges offer adult learning programs that you may be interested in.  Some fun ones may be language classes, dance lessons or computer classes.

 2. Downsize/ Fall proof your home – Over the years, items may be collected and left around, making lots of clutter.  Keep those keepsakes but get rid of the things you no longer need. It is better to be safe than sorry so arrange furniture to make the easiest paths, add rails to all steps and showers and remove area rugs that could be tripped over.  This way your house will be tidy and you will not have to worry about tripping and falling over any unnecessary junk.

1. Live a long, joyous and healthy New Year.  Wake up each day and smile. Live life to the fullest!

Don’t give up your favorite things; just find new ways to enjoy them. Cheers to a New Year!

Enjoy,

Kara Walton

Ho Ho Ho!!  Tis the Season to be jolly!  Lights and decorations will be hung throughout the home, families will gather to spread cheer, and little children will be on their best behavior knowing that Saint Nick will soon be here.  Some of life’s greatest memories revolve around the holiday season.  There is something in the air that gives the feeling of warmth and puts a smile on every man and woman’s face.

However, while this time of year may be cheerful for many of us, there are those who are less fortunate.   This month brings a sense of loneliness and memories that are now a thing of the past.

Here at Home Instead Senior Care in Chester County we recognize that for seniors, holiday times today are not as merry and bright as they once were,  therefore, we want to bring a little cheer and make the holiday special to them.  This is done through our “Be a Santa to a Senior” project.  This is a holiday activity that will keep you young at heart, while helping some seniors in need.

It is easy to take part in this project; all you have to do is one of my personal favorite holiday activities… which is shop!  Grab your friends and family members and make it an outing.  We have teamed up with the VA Medical Center in Coatesville, Luther House in West Grove, and Coatesville Tower’s in Coatesville. These are all nonprofit organizations which provide housing low-income residents. The staff at each facility has identified needy and isolated seniors in their buildings and provided those individuals names along with their wish list to our office.  While you are out purchasing your Christmas gifts stop by our “giving trees” which have been placed in Boscov’s in the Exton Square Mall (260 Exton Square Mall Exton, PA) and Peebles in Kennett Square (350 Scarlet Ave Kennett Square, PA ). Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy 1 item on the list and return them unwrapped to the store with the ornament attached. 

 The program isn’t just about gifts.  Be a Santa to a Senior is designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.  This is why members of our office dress up as Santa and his Elves and will personally deliver each gift to the residents December 16^th-21^st.

 This is an activity that warms our hearts and brightens those who may be less fortunate.  This is why we ask you to take part; so that you may bring cheer to others’ hearts while keeping yours feeling not only young, but big and full of love.

Don’t give up your favorite things; just find new ways to enjoy them. Tis The Season!

Enjoy,

Kara Walton

I just finished reading a White Paper from Home Instead Senior Care regarding a study we commissioned in 2009 by the Boomer Project.  What the study found isn’t shocking to me but it puts before me hard numbers rather than theoretical postulations.  What the study found is that as a country we are in the first year of explosive growth in the population of seniors and seniors today and their adult children are grossly uniformed with regards to the care options that are available and the cost of those options.

It is no secret that baby boomers are approaching the senior stages of their lives but for most of us our understanding doesn’t go much further.  The estimates are 72 million seniors in 2025 up from 35 million in 2000.  There is already a growing shortage of trained professionals from nurses to psychiatrists, geriatric physicians to geriatricians.  This is based on the number of these professionals graduating between 2003 and 2007down in every case. 

Forty years ago the senior care model consisted of two levels, Mom aged as long as she could at home then went to a nursing home.  Today it is vastly different with eight levels of professional care including: senior centers, adult care centers, in-home non-medical care, in-home medical care, retirement and independent living communities, assisted living communities, skilled nursing homes,  and hospice care.  The study showed that among adult children 71% could name a maximum of 2 of these levels and 67% said they were aware of at least four of the levels when shown a list.  Seniors didn’t fair much better 66% knowing only two levels and 76% familiar with four with assistance.

The study also revealed a troubling lack of understanding regarding Long Term Care Insurance.  Most respondents plan on funding their future care with Social Security, Medicare and their own savings or pensions.  According to one estimate more than half of Americans will spend part of their senior years in long-term-care situations.  Few people have the personal resources to cover such an expense and Medicaid and Medicare are limited.

It isn’t difficult to imagine what will happen 10 to 15 years from now.  The government will feel the pressure of the voting senior population in crisis mode, to pay for the care that is needed with money that isn’t there. 

Education is the first step if we hope to avoid crisis. Understanding and knowing hopefully lead to planning and problem solving.  Here at Home Instead Senior Care we try our best to educate through public speaking events, our blog, website and social media outlets and our radio program on 1520 WCHE Wednesdays at 4pm.  If you have questions call us at 610-431-7877.  But it is going to take a massive education effort from every front from the private sector, government, and grassroots for us a country to come to grips with what is a sleeping giant. 

Sincerely,

Phil McFadden