Meditation for the Older Mind

Meditation isn’t something that many seniors realize can truly benefit them. But it’s an ideal activity, because it’s one that doesn’t require any particular physical skill, and the benefits are to the mind as well as to the body. Seniors don’t need to know how to meditate properly, it’s not a cultural thing or anything else – it’s about making the most of the benefits and relaxing to reap the following benefits:

• Meditation increases longevity; cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral flexibility; and learning ability in older adults

• Meditation creates an outflow from the parasympathetic nervous system and helps to slow the heart. This allows the mind to declutter and focus as the body relaxes

• Meditation doesn’t have to mean the classic form, there is no specific chant that people need to use in order to get into a state of meditation. It can be counting, repeating one particular phrase, using the sound “ohm” or virtually any repetitive word or sound to establish a constant breathing pattern. Focus on relaxation, and if your mind wanders, bring it back; you don’t need to focus on meditating perfectly, just get the benefits you need from it!

Via: AARP

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Increase of Senior Women in Direct Care Positions

More direct care positions are filled by women over the age of 55. In fact, more than 30% of direct care workers are older women. Despite the low pay scale and the tremendous workload, older women are taking these jobs to help other seniors who need services. Below is a list of information regarding older women in direct care positions.

1. In 2018, it is believed that more that 1.2 million women over 55 will be direct-care workers.

2. This increase is mainly due to the growing work force. Fewer seniors are retiring early and many senior women stay employed as long as possible.

3. Older women will make up the majority of employees that are providing services and support to other seniors with illnesses and disabilities.

4. Direct-care jobs are typically funded with public money. The government is trying to ensure that these jobs attract a stable group of employees.

5. Direct-care positions are very important in society. Without these jobs, many seniors would not receive the care they need on a daily basis.

6. One major concern is the low pay scale. People who provide direct-care earn much less than the average worker. This could cause potential problems in the future by driving older women away to look for a better paying job.

Source: PHI National

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Walking for Heart

Walking won’t only lift the spirits of seniors, it can also improve heart health substantially as an aerobic exercise. Walking is a great low-impact exercise, and seniors can do it at their own pace in any environment that makes them feel comfortable, so there’s no excuse not to; especially not with these tips to get you started!

1. Don’t push yourself too hard – as an older adult, you do need to be conscious that you don’t push yourself too hard. When you start walking, keep the distances short at first until you work up your endurance. Walk for 5-10 minutes at a slower pace, then slowly increase your pace and time spent.

2. Focus on good posture – proper posture will bring greater benefit to your body overall. Lift your head high, tuck in your stomach, and fall into a comfortable stride with your legs and arms

3. Focus on your breathing – as you begin your new exercise program, focus on breathing while you walk. This may prevent you from being able to hold a conversation if walking with friends or family, but it will bring the most benefit. If you find your breath is quickening rapidly, adjust your breathing or slow your pace

Seniors should speak to their doctors before beginning any new exercise program.

Via: American Heart Association

Home Care Bakersfieldprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

No matter what your relationship to your mother, you have a respect and appreciation for her for giving you life.

Especially if you are an adult child who is involved in the care of your aging mother, you play such a big role in her life and her in yours. You may know all this, but putting it into words can sometimes be easier said than done.

However, you don’t need to use your own words to express the love of your mother. A number of books written with Mother’s Day in mind can help you to get the message across. These are just a few of the popular choices:

1. The Adventures of Mighty Mom by Gwendolyn Mitchell Diaz: this book focuses upon a mother’s devotion for her child

2. Mothers are like that by Carol Carrick: Mothers and their children don’t all have the same relationships and this book focuses upon the differences but how all show support for one another in their own way.

3. Dear Mom: Thank You for Everything by Bradley Trevor Greive: A child’s thoughts and feelings about a mother accompanied by pictures that all mothers and children will relate to.

4. Love Lessons from My Mom by Kelly Corbet:  This is a quote from the book which really represents the focus of the book “A love lesson can come dressed as a baggage handler or a bag lady, from a family counselor or a drive-you-nuts member of your family A love lesson might even come in the shape of a flower growing in your backyard. It’s all in the invitation. So if you’re open to life, there’s no telling what great joys you’ll have over for tea or meet in a parking lot.”

5. All That Matters: A Mother’s Memories by Janis Hogan: A focus upon the special moments in life and how that impacts the relationship between mothers and children.

Mother’s Day Celebration

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Body Acceptance Benefits for Seniors

Body acceptance is very difficult for many people, even seniors. As we age, things begin to sag and droop, making it very difficult for seniors to feel attractive. They simply need to be able to accept their body for what it is. The main focus for seniors should be staying fit, maintaining health and being happy. The following list can help seniors accept their bodies.

1. Everybody wants to be a supermodel, but for most seniors, this will never be a dream that comes true. To overcome this, seniors need to learn how to love their body. This is done by noting the positive and not dwelling on the negative.

2. Keep in mind that being different from another person is what makes us all unique. If everyone were a model and had perfect features, there would be no personal satisfaction or gain when a goal is reached.

3. Losing weight may help get your body trim again, but it is not the most important thing in life. Never compromise general health for vanity.

4. Looking good comes from feeling good. If you are comfortable with the person you are on the inside, chances are you will have a better chance of accepting the physical aspects as well.

Source: http://www.fromfat2fit.com/articles/a2.html

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Bakersfield Senior Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Staying active is essential for seniors. The more active an individual is, the more they will benefit. Physical activity not only helps the body, but it can also enhance mood and help with depression. Seniors are encouraged to engage in physical activity each day. Depending on general health and other restrictions, some seniors may be able to handle more activity than others. The following list contains some tips and facts on staying active.

1. Physical activity on a daily basis can help prevent frailty. It can even reverse the signs of frailty. Seniors should be active for a short period every day. The more physical activity a senior engages in, the better they will feel. They will also maintain health and keep muscles and bones strong.

2. Daily exercise can have mental and emotional benefits as well. It has been shown that exercise can help battle depression. Many seniors suffer from depression and an increase in physical activity may help.

3. When a senior engages in daily physical activity, they are strengthening their body and their mind. This can help in the future as health issues begin to occur. Seniors can tolerate aging issues and problems much better by building their physical and mental reserves from physical activity.

4. Being active does not have to involve anything strenuous. Seniors should be as active as possible. Some seniors do have physical restrictions which may not allow for extensive activity. It is suggested that seniors engage in as much activity as they can tolerate.

Source: getmommoving.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Bakersfield Home Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

A happy senior is a healthy senior. It is important for seniors to have happiness and cheer in their life. This is east to accomplish if some of the tips provided below are followed. By taking an extra minute during the day, seniors can have cheer in their life which will lift their spirits and provide them with a sense of happiness.

1. Read an amusing book. This is a great way to escape from reality while providing a sense of happiness. Try not to look too far down the road. Having short views of life can be rewarding. It helps to ensure that the little things are not overlooked!

2. Make time for friends and people who bring a smile and offer some amusement. This can make seniors very happy by giving them a social outlet as well as someone to laugh with.

3. Enjoy the outdoors. Fresh air can be invigorating and can increase mood.

4. Do not be hard on yourself. Life is too short to dwell on shortcomings. Try to focus on positive aspects each and every day.

5. If there is a location in the home that makes a senior feel comfortable and happy, try to arrange daily living so that much time is spent there.

Source: happiness-project.com

Image: tom.intellisite.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Home Care Bakersfield enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

Even though they may be old, seniors still celebrate Valentine’s Day. For the seniors who still have a living spouse, this is a day of love, a day to share the memories of the years past. Valentine’s Day is not just for the young. It is a day to spread joy and love to all of those who hold a special place in your heart. Age is just a number. Below is a list that contains some great ideas for gifts to seniors on Valentine’s Day.

1. Make handcrafted Valentine’s cards. This can be a great project for school classrooms as well as adult groups. Seniors would be very appreciative of any cards that were hand delivered. Taking the time to make and deliver something by hand can have a huge effect on seniors.

2. Small gifts provide a bit of cheer. For senior family members, use a heart shaped picture frame to display family photographs and present to your senior loved one.

3. Chocolates and cookies make great gifts. Be sure to check if the senior is on a restrictive diet before buying sweet treats. Many sugar-free chocolates are available and cookies that are made at home can also be made to suit a particular diet.

4. A “heart attack” is not always a bad thing! If you are able to decorate living spaces with hearts and other Valentine’s symbols, you will be giving a senior a positive “heart attack.” This can also be done through the mail by filling an envelope with heart shaped paper and confetti.

Source: aginggrandparents.suite101.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Home Care Bakersfield cares for many aging adults, and we can tell you the best way for seniors to stick to their New Year’s resolutions is to set goals that they feel will truly change their lives. For some, exercise and diet goals are ones they can stick to; but that tends to be the exception not the rule. Make sure you set goals that motivate you, because they’re things that you truly want to accomplish.

1. Educate yourself – you’re never too old for learning. Pursue an interest; go back to school and take advantage of the discounts for seniors who want to return to college. Or take a class that teaches you more about another hobby like a craft or physical activity like dance

2. Expand your career – if you’re a senior who’s still in the workforce, make the best of your last few years in a career and do something you really enjoy. Even if you’re not working for an income, volunteer somewhere that fulfills you

3. Take a trip – if you’ve been dreaming of getting away somewhere, make it your goal this year. You can take the opportunity to plan and save. It doesn’t have to be something glamorous; even a journey to visit family that normally comes to you makes for a change of pace

4. Work on organization – sometimes with age, people become more sentimental. You may find that your home is becoming more cluttered. Take the opportunity to get your home organized for a safer and more comfortable environment

5. Develop new relationships – whether it’s romance you have in mind, or just feel you’d benefit from increasing your social circle; get out there and network!

Via: LifeScript

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Even though most people wait until the start of the year to begin working on their goals, it may be best to start them as soon as possible. Seniors can benefit from starting early. By doing so, they will be less likely to forget some important things about their goals. There is no law that says you have to wait until New Year’s to begin. We here at Home Instead Senior Care Bakersfield would like to share the following list that provides some tips and reasons for starting early, so get out there are start working toward your goals today!

1. Millions of people make resolutions each year and many of them are seniors. These goals are often centered on changes that will improve daily life, so there is no better time to start than now!

2. Resolutions do not have to be made just for the New Year. You can make a resolution at any point during the year and begin working on it as soon as you can. There is no need to wait until the first day of a new year.

3. When starting early, you will see there are benefits. You will begin improving your life sooner. Self-discipline is one of the most important factors of any resolution success, so start early and make changes for the better.

4. Keep your goal in mind, no matter when you start to work on your resolution. Create a plan that will allow you to stick to your convictions and achieve your goals. Resolutions not only improve life, they also help people grow physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Source: ehow.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.