Archives for Fun

3 Reasons to Dance The Night Away

3 Reasons to Dance The Night Away

August 27, 2013 | No Comments

Do you love to dance?  Are you a whiz at disco?  Are your jazz moves legendary?  If so, you’re on your way to some healthy senior years. Everyone knows that physical activity is essential for a healthy life, but it seems that dancing has some added health benefits.  Doctors and researchers are finding new reasons every year to get down and boogie.  Here are a few specific reasons to tie on your dancin’ shoes. It fights dementia.  Studies show that if a senior dances (or, in the case of the study, waltzes) at least twice a week, he is much
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4 Tips to Make a Senior-Friendly Garden

4 Tips to Make a Senior-Friendly Garden

August 2, 2013 | No Comments

Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities.  For many, it can be relaxing, grounding, and emotionally fulfilling.  However, some seniors may feel that they have to give up their favorite hobby as they become less able to tend their garden.  Here are a few tips to create a senior-friendly garden that everyone can enjoy. 1. Pick the right tools.  Consider the length of the tools that are chosen.  Long or curved handles may provide a sturdier place to grip.  And choosing a brightly colored watering can or trowel will help the senior better locate the items and avoid falls.
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Seniors Star in New Video Game

Seniors Star in New Video Game

June 28, 2013 | No Comments

One of the biggest fears of a senior is falling and getting injured.  One video game company saw this problem and set out to find a solution.  Now the company Blue Marble Game Co. has created a game they are confident will revolutionize fall prevention. The best way to minimize falls is through balance and strength exercise.  If the muscles are strong, they will prevent the fall.  So Blue Marble created a video game called Zoezi Park that will help the senior exercise specifically aiming at building the muscles to maintain balance. This fun and educational game takes place in a virtual
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Pets Help Seniors Stay Healthy

Pets Help Seniors Stay Healthy

June 7, 2013 | Comments Off on Pets Help Seniors Stay Healthy

May was National Pet Month, a time to celebrate the faithful dogs and the people who care for them.  Anyone who is a pet owner knows what happiness a dog can bring to a home.  Not only are they excellent at keeping the home safe but they are also endless entertainment, excellent listeners, and want nothing more than to be loved. The benefits for seniors are even more than those mentioned.  Retirement can be a lonely time of a person’s life.  A dog can reduce some of that loneliness and can even be helpful to introduce the senior to others. 
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A Lucky Catch at the Ball Game

A Lucky Catch at the Ball Game

May 10, 2013 | Comments Off on A Lucky Catch at the Ball Game

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!  At a recent Arizona vs. Colorado baseball game an elderly woman caught a baseball without even trying.  She was merely sitting in her seat, apparently reading, when a fly ball was hit into the stands.  The ball misses her head by inches, and lands in her lap.  This amazing event was caught on video and now has “gone viral” on the Internet. The video can be seen here on YouTube.  If an older adult is planning on going to a sports event this spring or summer, there are probably
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Crab Lady Runs Thriving Business at the Age of 74

Crab Lady Runs Thriving Business at the Age of 74

May 9, 2013 | Comments Off on Crab Lady Runs Thriving Business at the Age of 74

An Mathis begins every day by trolling for crabs. After that, she prepares crab cakes from the day’s catch, and then finds time to run a successful business; All at the age of 74. An, who is also known as The Crab Cake Lady, arrived in the United States in 1972.  She needed to find a way to support her family.  With no knowledge of how to read or write in her own language, much less English, she realized that it would be a difficult task.  So she put her mind to selling crab cakes from the crabs she found
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Recap of Wednesday's Luncheon

Recap of Wednesday's Luncheon

May 2, 2013 | Comments Off on Recap of Wednesday's Luncheon

The Myra Rubenstein Weis Health Resource Center Luncheon was held yesterday, May 1.  For those of you who attended, we would like to say thank you for attending. And for those of you who were unable to attend, we have a recap of the afternoon. This event  was dedicated to “Harmonious Healing” and was the luncheon's 17th year.  It was honoring Janardan D. Khandekar, MD, who is the Director at the Center for Molecular Medicine in the NorthShore University Health System.  Dr. Khandekar has contributed greatly to the field of oncology by researching better ways to fight cancer for over thirty years. In addition
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Be Yourself and Be Happy

Be Yourself and Be Happy

April 30, 2013 | Comments Off on Be Yourself and Be Happy

Everyone keeps saying that to be happy, you just need to “be yourself”.  This simple phrase has been used so often that we are now skeptical of it.  Is there any scientific proof that “being yourself” will actually make you happier? homemade body wrap to lose inches Actually, there is.  A study was done by the two authors of Focus: Use Different Ways of Seeing the World for Success and Influence which surprisingly showed that “being yourself” does lead to happiness, especially if you’re a pessimist. That sure beats trying to be happy all the time! The research study had participants
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Seniors for Seniors Pet Adoption Program

Seniors for Seniors Pet Adoption Program

April 29, 2013 | Comments Off on Seniors for Seniors Pet Adoption Program

Pets have been proven to lower health risks of their owners, not to mention they make excellent companions.  But for some seniors, they don’t see getting a pet as a possibility.  Often, they can’t imagine handling the care that a puppy or kitten deserves. Luckily many shelters have a “Seniors for Seniors” program.  Seniors for Seniors matches older adults to senior cats and dogs for fostering or adoption.  Having an older pet is helpful as they are often house-trained and more subdued than younger pets.  If the elderly person is living at home, the pet can add safety and security
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Fun Events Around Chicago

Fun Events Around Chicago

April 22, 2013 | Comments Off on Fun Events Around Chicago

This winter has been cold, snowy, and seemingly never-ending.  But now as the flowers are beginning to bloom and the temperature rises, we can’t help but to get out of the house.  Luckily, there are several events and classes for Chicago seniors happening around town. The Active Senior Expo pops up in various cities once a month in the Chicagoland area.  It features products and services that interest older adults, from healthcare to travel to financial services.  Participants at the Expo can also enjoy live music, free health screenings, and prize drawings.  It is definitely not something to be missed.
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