Welcome to Hearthstone Happenings
Volume 1, Number 4

Welcome to our August issue of the Hearthstone/Carestone newsletter. We certainly hope you have enjoyed some relaxing times this past month.

In this issue, we remind you and your loved ones about the importance of care for caregivers. Often, as caregivers, you carry multiple jobs with little or no time for yourselves. Learn how you can plan for some well-needed respite from the day-to-day care you so lovingly provide. If you haven’t enjoyed any relaxation this past month, we share ways to find time for you to do so!

Lastly, have you ever wondered why you have a last name and how using one came about? Do you know the most popular all-time male and females first names? Read on to find out more!

We urge you to call or drop by to visit as so many of you did this past month! Thank you. As your friend and resource, we want to support you in every way possible. Learn more about how we can help you maintain or increase quality of life for your loved ones, most affordably.

Warmly,

Lori J. Alford
President and COO

In this issue:
Care for the Caregiver

Short-Term Visits

What’s in a Name?

Special Offer

Care for the Caregiver

Caring for family members has been going on for ages and ages and is done out of kindness, love and loyalty.

But, unfortunately, caregiving can be challenging and is the cause of varying emotional, physical and mental health problems especially in older caregivers.

Did you know?
• An estimated 52 million Americans 20+ provide unpaid care to older folks and those with disabilities.
• Caregivers have many roles. 60% of those caregivers ages 50-64 work outside of the home.
• Many caregivers of older people are seniors themselves. Of those caring for someone over the age of 65, the average age is 63 and 1/3 of those folks are in poor to fair health.
• The average length of caregiving is 4.3 years.
Click here to read more.

Short-Term Visits
Temporary Care for Both Seniors and Their Caregivers

There are certain times when a short stay for a loved one at a senior community is a perfect solution.

If a caregiver has a vacation planned or even a business trip, giving him/her a brief respite from day to day care is a welcome alternative.

Designed for a month or less, or in special cases even longer, short stays are also an option for a loved on needing extra assistance after a hospital visit or illness.

Click here to read more

What’s in a Name?

Names are interesting; names are fun! Onomastics or onomatology is the study of names. There are so many answers onomasticians have for us – For instance, what is a given name vs. a family name?

A given name is a name one assumes after birth – in the United States it would be the “first” name vs. the family name which follows the given name and which is inherited.

Click here to read more

Special Offer:
Move in by September 30th and receive a relaxing Spa Day at our community. Call for details.

Join us on:

• High levels of stress from the “extra” care and support needed
• Depression
• Physical illnesses
• Strained family relations
• Loss of friends
• Complete burnout
• Difficult behavior from your loved one

Although you have heard this over and over, to be an effective caregiver, you must take care of yourself. Reduced stress brought about through good planning and organization and having good back-up resources available will help you to deal with the unexpected. Caring for a senior loved one often requires incredible amounts of physical, mental and emotional energy. Through planning and solving problems as they arise, you’ll utilize positive energy and resolve issues easily and appropriately.

The following tips should be useful to you:

• Understand your loved one’s health issues; partner with a health care provider(s) and have contingent plans should additional care needs arise
• Always know you are not alone and seek support through other family members as well as with outside organizations
• Plan your schedule and day to fully utilize other resources; always have back-ups should you become unavailable at any given time
• Constantly check the safety of your loved ones home as needs change
• Get outside legal and financial help (there are many free resources to take advantage of) so your loved ones finances and legal matters are in order
• Set specific limits on yourself and keep to them; it’s easy to break down and agree to take on more — understand it is acceptable to say “no” at times – limit the guilt

Have a strategy in place.

If your loved one’s needs change, you’ll need to be prepared. Communication is key. Work with all of your family to make decisions and plans in advance of needing them, so in an emergency situation, a well-thought out plan will be ready. It’s also important to keep your loved ones important papers and information close at hand. Keep phone numbers, prescription information as well as emergency services numbers in one convenient location. Perhaps the following tip will be helpful.

Consider carrying updated copies of medications (dosage amount and time); living will; power of attorney; healthcare insurance information; physician name’s and phone numbers, list of past surgeries and medical history in the glove compartment of your car The primary physician, of your loved one, can provide a copy of “History and Physical” for your emergency file. This document will contain much of the pertinent information needed for healthcare providers to expedite care in the event of an emergency. Having this information at your fingertips can help reduce your stress in the even of an emergency and provide providers with needed information to give quality care.

Addressing both your needs and those of the ones you care for at times will be both difficult and confusing. But, receiving good feedback and reassurance from your loved one and other resources will be so comforting. You are not in this alone. Do take time for yourself to love and laugh – and enjoy this rewarding experience.

Strength exercises – To help keep both weight and blood sugars at appropriate levels, continuing to build muscle and increase metabolism with strength exercises is important. Activity to strengthen muscles include arm raises, knee bends, and bicep and triceps curls.  Strength exercises should be done at least twice weekly, but it is important to vary the exercise routine so different muscle groups are worked during each routine.

Balance exercises – To prevent falls, helping build leg muscles through balance is essential.  Standing on one foot, then the other is a quick and easy way to work on balance.  By maintaining balance and eliminating falls, one reduces the chances of broken hips, which is a leading cause of hospital admissions for seniors.

Stretching exercises – To be more active as you age, a routine of simple stretches will give you more freedom of movement, whereas tight muscles restrict movement and lessen independence.  Best time to stretch is when your muscles are warm, right after general exercising.

Endurance exercises – To build heart rate and breathing to increase endurance, walk, jog, swim or bike even 5 minutes every day to start, gradually working up to 15-30 minutes daily.  Endurance exercises, better known as cardiovascular or aerobic exercise helps your heart pump harder so your blood vessels increase in size and therefore lowers your blood pressure.  All this is helpful in letting you breathe more efficiently and effectively and lowers the risk of heart disease.

1. Walk slowly taking steps in a straight line with one foot in front of the other (heel to toe) and lift back leg up for 3-5 seconds while walking.
2. Stand on one leg than the other for a count of 8 each.  Be sure to be near something you can grab on to, if needed.

Stretching is important to increase mobility and allow you to be involved in more activities. Walk and pump your arms; this will increase your heart rate and body temperature and blood flow to the muscles to prevent injuries. When stretching, one should feel minor pain; but stop immediately if it hurts. And, never bounce; stretch naturally!  It is equally as important to stretch after exercising ( cool down) to return the heart rate to resting position.

Balancing and stretching will help you stay flexible and fit.

Why exercise?

Exercising consistently helps fight common senior health issues including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Exercise even assists in helping alleviate varying forms of depression and can help promote a better outlook on life.  When your physical balance is maintained, your mental and emotional balance are enhanced as well to increase zest and enthusiasm and overall good feeling.

What are the objectives of exercise?

• Prevent/stabilize obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure
• Make the body more flexible (helps with falls)
• Strengthen muscle
• Improve cardiovascular functions
• Promote good health
• Reduce stress

What types of exercises work well for seniors?

There are various types of exercises for seniors to keep them fit.

Walking is essential and done on a regular basis can keep the body flexible and healthy.  Walk at set times during the day based on capability; walking helps reduce extra fat in the body.

Aerobic exercise warms the body and tones the muscles.  This will then help strengthen breathing which improves blood circulation, reduces blood pressure and improves mental health.  Forms of aerobic exercise include dancing and jumping in place.

Swimming helps reduce stress and muscle pain and keeps one in good shape.

Lightweight training using light weights can help improve metabolism.

Muscle stretching exercises often done in small groups helps with range of motion and flexibility, and is very important to help relax both body and mind.

What else is important to know about exercise?

• Check with a doctor before beginning any exercise routine
• Start slowly and increase as you are able
• Try to set a routine to exercise at least 30 minutes per day
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothes
• Hydrate appropriately

When I could no longer get out much, make it to Dr’s appointments alone, and needed some help with my daily medications, it was time to move to a comfortable, home-like assisted living community with others just like me. It wasn’t an easy decision, but a good one as I look back. My family was so supportive in helping me find the best place to live.

Little did I realize just how much happier I’d be with just a little help and support from caring people who really seem to enjoy assisting me and the others around my new home.

What’s important and very special now is that life has become more meaningful. I have choices each day — in what I eat  (and I no longer have to cook), the activities I participate in, and who I wish to spend time chatting with and just plain having fun. And, there is added time for fun since I no longer have to clean my big house or do my laundry!

There’s a full schedule of programs available (I am now on the committee to recommend new and exciting trips in our comfortable bus), and my new neighbor and now good friend is on the dining services committee to review and evaluate our menus and all the food served. It seems to get better and more exciting around here each day.

Most importantly, the medication help I get from my assisted living community is great; I am feeling good and enjoy getting up each morning to the smell of fresh coffee with my plan for the day.  Knowing also that if I need more help, it will be there for me is so important.  My daughter and son now have peace-of-mind and are thrilled to see me so happy and active, just like in the old days!  With the support I get and the special wellness programs I am participating in, I expect to be busy, happy and around for a long time.  Come join me.