Staying Healthy Means Staying Active and Social for Seniors

As we age, we have a tendency to slow down. As we age we need to increase our activities to be able to stay healthy and strong. This is very important in our retirement years. Simple stretches and mild exercise with permission from your physician can help you live a longer healthier life. Staying socially in touch with our peers is also very important. For seniors, there are numerous seniors centers in every town to help you stay social, make new friends, and have fun. Senior centers provide a great deal of planned activities for the aging adult. Being involved with your peers and activities can help alleviate depression. The cost to join is as little as ten dollars a year and can provide you with exercise programs that fit your pace, interesting speakers, bingo and other games and special outings. You can always enjoy a great lunch with the friends that you will meet. Once you become a member, you will receive a monthly calendar listing the different activities for each day that are offered at the center. To ease in, you can pick and choose according to the schedule things that are of interest to you. Start by going once a week. For a bingo game for example. Maybe you will enjoy it. You can win prizes as well. If you choose not to drive, or cannot drive you can arrange to carpool with one of your friends that happens to be a member and have them pick you up on the way. There is always a member there that may be going your way. There is always something of interest going on at the senior center. Families should strongly encourage their loved ones to participate and join. Maybe your loved one is reluctant to go on their own for the first time. To make it easier, take your mom or dad and visit a senior center in your area for a few hours to see what it's like. You can observe and take a tour. This may help them overcome any fear or anxiety they may have. Staying social is just as important to aging adults as staying physically healthy. It is extremely important to the emotional well-being of aging adults. When you feel better emotional, you stay healthier. Hearts of Gold Home Care participates at the Grayslake Senior Center in Grayslake, Il and at the Libertyville Senior Center in Libertyville, Il. Every second Tuesday of the month we are at the bingo game in Grayslake, Il. Stop by and say hello, we would love to see you there. Check out the pictures of the wonderful Christmas party we enjoyed with all the members at the Grayslake Senior Center this Christmas. The entertainment was wonderful. The dinner was delicious and every member received a goody bag with a gift. Barbara Medel who is in charge of the center did an excellent job at putting the whole event together. You can contact the Grayslake Senior Center at 847-543-1041 for more information. The Grayslake Senior Center is located in Grayslake at 50 Library Lane. Please stop in and say hello! If you or someone you know may be in need of assistance visit us at http://www.heartsofgoldhomecare.com/

5 Ways to Pay for Home Care in Illinois

The children of aging adults at one point in their lives will have to make decisions regarding the care of their parents and who will administer that care. If a parent decides that they prefer to remain in their own home, there are ways to help pay for home care. Home care is a more affordable alternative to nursing home or assisted living placement. Home care provides ONE on ONE private assistance in the comfort of a individuals home. Home care staff is SOLELY concerned ONLY with the care of you or your loved one. Here a 5 ways to pay for home care assistance in Illinois:

1. Privately paying for long term care means paying for care out of your own income, investments, savings and assets.
2. Long term care insurance will pay for in-home care, assisted living, and nursing home care. This is the most appropriate and needed form of insurance protection available to us today.
3. Reverse mortgages have become one of the most popular and accepted ways of paying for many different expenses, including the cost of long term care. Reverse mortgages are designed to help keep seniors at home longer. A reverse mortgage can pay for in-home care, home repair and any other need a senior may have.
4. Government assistance should be the last resort when considering how to pay for long term care. This type of assistance refers to relying on the Medicaid system. Traditionally, Medicaid resources for in-home care are extremely limited, which means most seniors that apply end up in a nursing home type setting. Planning ahead is really the only viable option for families today.
5. VA AID and Attendance Pension Benefit: The Veterans Administration has established a pension program whereby your purchase of personal care home services may be paid for through your acquired pension. If you are a Veteran or the surviving spouse of a Veteran who has served at least 90 days or more on active duty with one day beginning or ending during a period of war, and you are in need of assistance at HOME, you may be eligible for VA's non-service connected disability pension.

So you see, families have options and choices financially if their loved one would prefer to remain at home. Another is using your life insurance as a way to pay for home-care services. Talk to your financila planner, banker, or Hearts of Gold Home Care can put you in touch with professional that will assit you with your needs. We work with professional that can help in placement of a nursing facility or assisted living by helping you get through the maze. We can provide you with in-home care services, whatever your requirements may be. All families have choices. All families have options.

HEALTHY SENIOR LIVING

As we retire, some of us tend to slow down. But this is the time that we should try to be more active. Even a small amount of activity will benefit our overall health and well-being. Always consult your doctor about what level of activity you can perform. Bring a friend with you on a walk. It can be more fun, plus you will feel safer not being alone. You will have someone to talk to. Lessen the likelihood of depression. Join a senior exercise class. The local Senior Centers offer them all the time.

Take up activities that you like. Walking, gardening, tennis, fishing, golf. Participate in groups. This also helps keep you in a social atmosphere. Set some goals. Start slow at first and try to be active for at least thirty minutes a day. Always dress comfortably and wear proper shoes. Incorporating a little activity each day will make you feel and look better.

Start slowly. Make sure that you stretch. This increases flexibility and range of motion. It helps you reduce injuries. Any activity that a person performs has many benefits. Activity can reduce the likelihood of high blood pressure, reduce obesity, heart disease. Do what you can. Join some social groups or start a club of your own. The more active you become the healthier you will feel. The longer you stay active, the easier it will be. http://www.heartsofgoldhomecare.com Exercise is good at any age, but most of all it is important in our aging years. So don't just sit there letting life pass you by. Get out there and have some fun! You never know, you may make a friend or two.