It’s by no accident that Earth Day falls right in the midst of a blooming spring season. After a long stretch of gloomy winter weather, your seniors will appreciate the chance to open up those windows, step outside, and enjoy some fresh air. This all-about-earth holiday is a fun opportunity to encourage seniors to engage in what brings them joy. And this year at our Highland Park Home Care, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite Earth Day activities that you can do with the seniors that are dearest to you. Getting Outside Walking in the Neighborhood
Read More
Posts by Freedom Home Care
Spring Arthritis Relief
The unfortunate truth about arthritis is that those who have it, are constantly trying to find relief from it. But is there a method that actually works? With more than 100 different types of arthritis, there’s no set treatment for everyone. Once your doctor does an evaluation to determine your specific type, a diagnostic test is done to confirm the diagnosis. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of the disease. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints starts to break down. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the hips, knees and spine, but can also target the neck, thumbs, fingers
Read More
Fun Spring Activities for Seniors
With spring right around the corner, you want to make sure your senior has enough fun things lined up this season to help ward off boredom and prevent loneliness. And with warmer temperatures right around the corner, your loved one is once again able to enjoy all of their favorite outdoor activities – and maybe even try a few new ones. In fact, being outdoors, your senior gets a healthy dose of vitamin D – necessary for proper development of the brain, bones and muscles. Doctors say sunlight is also helpful in improving mood and cognitive function, while offering mental
Read More
Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors
We’ve all heard the saying, “You are, what you eat.” So, it’s only natural that a healthy diet makes for a healthier you. This is especially true for older loved ones. A well-balanced regimen, rich in vitamins and nutrients, becomes more essential to our overall well-being as we age. Over time, the body begins to go through a lot of physical changes. Our metabolism start to slow down and we don’t burn as many calories as we should. The digestive system no longer absorbs nutrients the way it used to, and we tend to lose much of our appetite. That’s
Read More
Improve Health and Mood with Aromatherapy
Often, when people think of their health and mood, the associations that come with these words relate to one’s diet, exercise regimen and stress level. To alter their state, people try all kinds of treatments and lifestyle changes to better themselves. One type of alternative therapy that is often overlooked is aromatherapy. What Is Aromatherapy? Defined by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy as “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit,” the use of essential oils’ is growing. Everyone from
Read More
Music Appreciation with Jim Kendros!
At A Glance Event: “Music Appreciation by Jim Kendros” Location: Lake Forest Senior Center located in Dickson Hall. Dates: 3/7, 3/28, 4/25, 5/23, 6/27, 7/25, 8/8, 9/26, 10/24, 11/28 and 12/26 Time: 10:30 a.m. Registration: Due one week before each class Starting this March and continuing through December, Music Researcher and Composer Jim Kendros will explore the world of music in the monthly music series, “Music Appreciation by Jim Kendros” at the Lake Forest Senior Center located in Dickson Hall. Music Salon Magic Proudly sponsored by Highland Park home care agency Freedom Home Care, this event series
Read More
Easy to Grow Plants for Seniors
If there’s one activity that benefits us all as we age, it’s gardening. Since at least the early 1900’s, Americans have taken advantage of gardening and all that it has to offer. Not only does planting and growing your own garden increase mental health, it also provides a host of other benefits like building endurance, improving sleep cycles, increasing mobility and flexibility, decreasing stress levels and reducing anxiety and depression. Desite all of the favorable aspects of gardening, your loved one doesn’t have to have a green thumb to get started on their own garden. Growing your own flowers and
Read More
Childrens' Books Teach Kids About Alzheimer's
Understanding Alzheimer’s is difficult for most adults. And explaining a complex disease like dementia to a child, can be even more of a challenge. That challenge is magnified when the loved the one suffering from Alzheimer’s as a grandparent. Children have fond memories of grandmothers and grandfathers. Traveling back-and forth to their homes for the holidays, times spent cooking or fishing together – even listening to familiar stories passed down through the generations. When family members branch out and begin their own lives, grandparents are often the glue that holds everyone together. They also seem to hold a special place
Read More
A Healthy Heart is a Happy Heart
The month of love isn’t just about caring for your Valentine, but for caring about yourself and your heart. While February 14 is often the highlight for retailers around town, in the realm of health, February is important because it is the federally designated American Heart Month. Around each hospital and home care agency alike, instruction and attention is focused on heart health throughout the month—ever since February 1964, when cardiovascular disease was the cause of more than half of the deaths in the U.S. Today it’s still responsible for about one in four deaths, but the good
Read More
How To Thank A Caregiver
When you think about all the things a caregiver does, it can be overwhelming—an ordinary thank you card doesn’t seem to do them justice. The very definition of a caregiver is someone that is constantly “doing for others,” but that doesn’t mean they don’t need something special for themselves every now and then. This month, with National Caregivers Day on February 16, give your caregiver a little extra love. If you’re unsure of how exactly to say “Thank You,” here are a few ways to give back: Deliver A Handwritten Note Expressing your gratitude does not have to be
Read More
