4 Essential Vitamins & Nutrients Older Adults May Not Be Consuming

If you don’t take care of your body now, how can you expect your body to take care of you when you get older? As we get older, our bodies will need more vitamins and nutrients in order to sustain ourselves. And adequate nutrition may be overlooked as other major health issues might surface, like heart disease, surgery, or cognitive decline. Consuming the right amount of different vitamins and nutrients can ensure that, as you get older, your body will be functioning at an optimal level.

And according to functional medicine dietitian, Miriam Jacobson, MS, RD, CNS, CDN, there are a few vitamins and nutrients the elderly especially need to stay healthy but might not get enough of:

 

1. Protein – When you hit about 50-60 years old you’re more at risk at protein deficiency. And that’s because stomachs don’t have enough acid to break down the protein. Protein helps build muscle tissue and different amino acids are responsible for repairing and maintain other bodily functions. For example, glutamine is an essential amino acid that helps the body heal faster and improve immunity. Glutamine’s necessity increases should you have surgery as it will help the body recover. To make up for any protein deficiencies, make sure to have one protein with a meal, whether it’s liquid (e.g. protein shakes,) veggie or legume (e.g. dark leafy greens or black beans,) or meat-based.

2. Vitamin D/Calcium – these two vitamins work together to keep bones strong. Deficiency in either of these vitamins can result in osteoporosis or osteoarthritis, which is the weakening of bones and the inflammation of the tendons and ligaments holding the bones together. A few minutes of exposure to natural sunlight can help increase your Vitamin D levels but be sure not to stay out for too long as too much sun is not good for your skin and could lead to cancer! Dairy foods like yogurt, cheese, and milk (including plant or nut milk like from soy or almonds,) are great sources of calcium.

3. Vitamin C – Vitamin C, also known as absorbic acid, is one of the best vitamins to augment your immune system. Citric fruits like limes, lemons, and oranges are excellent sources of this vitamin in additional to supplements. A strong immune system means less sick days!

4. Vitamin B12/Folate – These vitamins work in tandem. They are not as well known as the other vitamins, but are vital for keeping our senses sharp and our response time quick. Folate assists with cell repair and cell growth. Vitamin B12 protects nerve endings and helps maintains the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is the fatty tissue our nervous system uses to eases friction and allows fast travel of message transmission. This ensures that our automatic reflexes are in tip-top shape. So if we accidently touch a hot pan, our body can sense that pain in milliseconds and react accordingly. Fatty fish like salmon are an excellent source of these vitamins.

Game On! 4 Reasons Why Seniors Need to Play Video Games

The terms gaming and gamers have vastly different meanings today than they did when our seniors were young. In those days, games didn’t require any electricity to play. But just because games come in many different varieties today doesn’t mean that seniors are stuck on the sidelines watching other people play.
Seniors should absolutely join in on the fun!

There are multiple benefits backed by several scientific studies as to why seniors should be playing games in general in addition to video games. Here are but a few reasons why seniors should play video games:

1) Find things quicker: a 2012 study found that action video games improved the ability to quickly locate an item in a crowded space and track said item when the overall space is in motion. Being able to see specific stimuli more rapidly is also a good predictor of one’s driving ability.

2) Better at multitasking: if you’re playing a console game, you’re already multitasking. You’re using your left hand to manipulate directional movement of your on-screen avatar and your right hand to control specific actions to the game. Since games have multiple factors you need to monitor in order to make progress, your brain becomes more adept at responding to those factors.

3) Mental stimulation: Cognitive ability, like attention, working memory, and abstract reasoning, all tend to decline as we get older. Many studies have shown that playing video games improve all of those mental functions. In fact, a 2011 study found that video games not only lead to cognitive improvements, but a better quality of life for the elderly.

4) Having fun! Last but certainly not least is the fun factor. In a survey conducted by the Senior Care Corner, more than a quarter of seniors play games to have fun and relax. Sounds like a great reason to grab a controller and get in the game!

At Centers Health Care, we pride ourselves in provide world-class care, support, and fun for our senior residents. Find out more about our facilities at http://centershealthcare.com/locations

Celebrate Senior Citizen’s Day With Your Favorite Senior Citizen!

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan and the U.S. Congress declared that August 21 was to be known as National Senior Citizen’s Day. This was to be a day where we would be reminded to honor the senior citizens who blazed the trail for the rest of us, and especially our parents and grandparents for their love, wisdom and contributions to our society and upbringing.

At Centers Health Care we honor our seniors every day, and in recognition of this very day we’re encouraging everyone else to show the senior citizens in your life how much you care.

If they are living at a nursing home or assisted living facility, pay them a visit! And bring the grandchildren along too. Their shining smiles will brighten everyone’s day. Most facilities encourage residents decorate their rooms, so feel free to bring some family pictures, paintings and other heirlooms that no doubt hold a special place in your parent’s heart. Bring one or two family photo albums and enjoy the time together reflecting on years of wonderful memories.

Games are welcome, too. Bring along a pack of cards or any other kind of game to play with them. They’re not only fun, they can also help improve brain functions and slow down mental decline that comes with aging. We touched on this topic in a previous blog post that you can read here. Kids can also have a book with them and they can read it with their grandma or grandpa.

There are many ways to show gratitude and appreciation for the senior citizens in our lives, the ones that raised us and helped shape our society. At Centers Health Care, we have so many fun activities scheduled every day of the year for our residents. If you have a parent or grandparent living with us, you are welcome to visit at any time.

To all of you who aren’t getting older, just better, Happy Senior Citizen’s Day from all of us at Center’s Health Care!

“What’s Up With Grandma?” Explaining Alzheimer’s & Dementia to Young Children

Words alone can’t describe the difficulty a family goes through when a loved one succumbs to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It’s hard seeing your parent’s slow but inexorable transformation into someone very different. But young children are often the most confused, and frightened. Why can’t their grandpa remember who they are? And why are they acting strange? Explaining these diseases to a child is difficult, but not impossible. Here are some ways you can explain to your child what Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are and what’s going to happen to their grandma or grandpa:

1) Talk to them: Children are smarter than we think. Don’t try to “protect them” by hiding what’s happening. Sit down with them and have a meaningful conversation about their grandparent. Answer any questions they have about Grandma or Grandpa’s unusual behavior and sayings. Ask questions! Find out more about their perspective and if they feel any different about their grandparent, especially if your parent did or said something that unintentionally hurt your child’s feelings.

2) Explain the circumstances as simply as possible: Don’t try to offer deep explanations or clinical instructions. Instead, use simple terms. “Grandpa has an illness that sometime comes with old age that makes him forget things.” “Grandma’s illness sometimes make think she’s in a different place”. Your child will not get it right away, but they usually accept the simple explanations, and they will question you further when they are ready to hear more. Try to be patient and provide as much reassurance as you can. As your child grows, you can provide more specific details about the diseases.

3) Be positive: As tough as it is to care for a parent whose is living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, keep smiling for the sake of your child. If the child sees that you’re still smiling and positive, they’ll be reassured that they don’t have anything to be worried about either.

4) Involve them: Every circumstance is different. If your parent’s Alzheimer’s or dementia isn’t too severe, you should still have your children spend time with them or involve them in their care, even if it’s just sitting and talking with their grandparent. If your parent lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, take your children with you for your next visit. A simple walk, chat, or game can go a long way in make sure that your child still has a good relationship with their grandparent. It will lift your parent’s spirits, and yours as well.

It can be stressful making sure your parent is getting the treatment and the attention they need for their Alzheimer’s or dementia. Centers Health Care has several facilities with specific programs for those that have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Contact us today for more information. We’ll do all that we can to help you and your parent.

Centers Healthcare Teams Up with Senior Wishes

Senior Wishes, the United Church Home Society (UCHS) group located in Orchard Park, has been making the wishes of Western New York’s elderly come true for the past three years. And thanks to Centers Health Care and their Amsterdam Cares for Nursing and Rehabilitation and Waterfront Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, they made one local resident very happy indeed. Mary D. desperately wanted to be able to attend her grandson’s wedding in Atlanta, Georgia, but the airfare and other expenses put it out of her reach. That’s when she thought of UCHS and entered an application for a Senior Wish.

To grant this special wish, UCHS turned to Centers Health Care, which has long been an ardent supporter of the group. “We’re a community resource” said Dave Denny, administrator of the Amsterdam Cares Rehabilitation and Nursing. “We see our role here in Amsterdam as providing for the care and well-being of all our neighbors, not just those who are in need of full time care.” Colin Hart, administrator of the Waterfront Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare echoed those feelings. “A large number of our residents are here for just a short time while they rehabilitate from surgery or some other medical issue. And we host the local community here all the time, for educational seminars, entertainment, health screenings and the like. We consider ourselves family here, so when got the call about helping Mary stay connected with her family by attending this very special event, we were happy to try and help out.”

Centers Super Stock Racing Team Roars into Action

Centers Health Care is proud to continue to sponsor the wonderful Tim Gullo Super Stocks Racing Team. Come find out more about our team, and how you can help cheer on our stock car racing drivers!

Orthopedic Care at Amsterdam Cares: What You Need to Know

Many individuals will come to a point in their lives when they will have to undergo surgery to help repair musculoskeletal issues that can result from things such as degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and more. The musculoskeletal system includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. The branch of medicine that primarily focuses on these body parts is called orthopedics. An orthopedic specialist can treat something as small as a sprained ankle all the way to something more serious such as a hip transplant.

So when should you seek the help of an orthopedic specialist? Here are a list of common signs:

After physical therapy there is no improvement in pain

Having trouble standing or walking

Swelling, deformity or bruising around joints or injuries

Joint pain that causes trouble sleeping

Trouble moving around or reaching

If it ever comes to the point where you need orthopedic surgery, don’t forget about the importance of post-surgical care. Checking on your wounds can be easily done at home. Keep your wound clean and dry and keep up with your follow up appointments. Make sure there is no unexplained redness, swelling, or discharge at the incision area. These may be signs of infection.

Here at Amsterdam Cares, our therapists and physicians make sure you can get the greatest benefit from your surgery by providing treatment plans based on your individual needs. This can help improve mobility, balance, strength and make everyday living much easier. Don’t hesitate to contact our facility for more information about the program.

Amsterdam Cares is part of the Centers Healthcare family; New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island’s premier group of skilled nursing, rehabilitation and senior care services. To speak to a healthcare specialist and find out more about Amsterdam Cares, contact us by phone 24/7 at 716.883.6782, or visit us at 1014 Delaware Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 14209.

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