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It's so important to keep moving no matter you're physical capability. For the last post of the year, we'd like to offer you a few ideas to stay active- even in a chair! Thanks to Sunrise Senior Living, this infographic gives less than ten exercises twice per week to stay healthy! 
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 For more reasons than one, it's important to schedule those annual checkups. Even if you feel OK, there could be unseen warnings or problems under the surface. If you qualify for medicare, there is no excuse either, they're covered!
Many standard tests you may recognize, blood pressure, cholesterol, height or weight however there are others like loneliness or stress that we would like to raise awareness of. Your annual checkup is the time to discuss any emotional problems, or lack energy, as your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. One retirement community in Massachusetts has been ensuring every resident, new or veteran, has an annual checkup to establish their overall wellness. One coach Susan Flashner-Fineman, swears by this program as it allows their residents to not only survive but thrive! The staff believe they can help residents live healthier and happier lives by shifting the focus away from needing to fix what’s broken to living their best day every day. Plan ahead and stay healthy! If you can't remember the last time you went, it's probably been too long. Now that we're in the holiday season, you may be creating a list of people to buy for and gift ideas. If you have elder relatives or friends it may be particularly difficult to buy for them, because like the rest of us, our needs change over time. For those in assisted living, or even still at home, but have everything they need, consider simply spending time with them! We know time is precious so if you find that simply won't be enough, we have a few ideas for you.
The gift of connection. According to "A Place for Mom", readers had a lot of ideas, but their top suggestion was time. Consider taking them out to lunch or to dinner, simply getting out of their everyday environment can be an amazing gift. The gift of music. If you have a tech-savvy senior, why don't you load their iPod with their favorite music? They can plug in their headphones anytime! The gift of mementos. In all the years that have passed, full of memories, build a photo album and put it on a digital frame. They can watch the pictures float by and you can add pictures after big events! The practical gift. Most of our elders are no longer working, so paying the bills means staying on a tight budget. Why don't you take care of their phone bill or put money towards a larger bill? We'd all like a little help paying our bills, wouldn't we? Finally, the gift of health. Our motto to #StayIndependent comes on strong here. No matter what our age, we all need to take active measure to stay strong. Stretch bands or light weights would go a long way to build anyone's strength or mobility. Our friends over at Aging Wisely have another list of great ideas but if you have others, we'd love to hear them! Winter is here. The days are getting shorter as day turns to evening in the blink of an eye before the table's even set for dinner. If you're like us, it's hard not to slip into a seasonal depression when the season changes. Experts can't explain exactly what causes it but believe it's a disruption in our circadian rhythm: our 24-hour clock that regulates how we function during sleeping and waking hours. As many as 4-6% of Americans suffer from what's called SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, and another 20% have a mild form when the temperature and daylight hours drop. A few common symptoms include fatigue, change in appetite or irritability. If you're feeling the effects, there are a few remedies to overcome it! First, try light therapy. Sometimes, light from a box mimics sunlight and provides much brighter light than a regular bulb. If you sit by one for about 30 minutes per day, it stimulates the circadian rhythm in your body to suppress the natural release of melatonin.  Next, try to add aromatherapy to your routine. The essential oils, like that of lavender, influences the brain's mood control center.  Finally, GET MOVING! We've said this a few times before, but, exercise induces chemicals in your brain that alters your mood. You'll feel happier and more relaxed by simply jumping on a treadmill or taking a walk outside.  There are more options to beat the winter blues, visit EverydayHealth.com for their expert advice! As always, we are here to help you stay independent. Give us a call to find out how we can help you beat the winter blues. Finding yourself or a loved one in need of a wheelchair? You may be scratching your head wondering how to choose the right one. There are a series of questions to consider when deciding which one to purchase.
Once you've answered those questions, you can start to deepen your search and consider adjustable leg rest, arm rests, back height and depth among others to make the user most comfortable! We are happy to walk you through the process, give us a call anytime at 816-505-1303 to discuss the best option for you! We believe taking control of your health is up to you and we are all providers, payers, practitioners and patients. To advocate for an empowered and healthy community we've found a few resources to keep you connected and educated. First up is Health:Further, a podcast with an open organized around two very important points. The first is that health is a human right and second is that health must be supported affordably and sustainably. Some of their open community conversations include topics such as Building a System to Break Down Barriers, Passion in Health and Life, Helping Consumers see their Purpose and Eliminating Friction for Patients. Listen online! Next, Healthcare Dive takes an interesting perspective on Health IT, care delivery, healthcare policy and regulation as well as health insurance. Healthcare Diver offers daily newsletters to keep you in the know! One recent article expanded on the healthcare crisis in rural America, yet some hospitals are finding a way to grow. Find out how these rural areas are beating the odds. Like podcasts as much as we do? Our last resource today is Better Health While Aging, a podcast by a Geriatrician. Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH, talks about Innovations to help Older Adults and Caregivers to What to Know about Flu Shots for Older Adults. Tune in for practical tips from Leslie and contributing industry experts. This is not a paid advertisement. The team here at Happy Living Medical Sales believes you should be empowered to take control of your health. It's time again to recognize the caregivers in your life. Every November is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers, while it's also a time to educate caregivers on self-identification and increase support for them. The promotion of National Caregivers Month began in 1994 by the Caregiver Action Network (the National Family Caregivers Association) and President Clinton signed the first NFC Month Presidential Proclamation in 1997. Each president thereafter has followed suit, issuing an annual proclamation every November.  Not all caregiver stories look like the pictures. As a caregiver, you can sometimes feel alone or like you're the only one feeling a certain way. The reality is that often times many people are in the same shoes. Caregiver Action Network shares stories just like that, everyday. Join their community to share your own!
The Caregiver Action Network also offers connections to other organizations such as advocacy assistance and training for family caregivers. Give yourself credit, caregivers have one of the toughest roles out there. Thank you for all that you do! According to the "Growth Opportunities in Global Wearable Device Market" report, this market is expected to grow to an estimated $9.4 billion by 2022. The positive outlook of this market is reassuring and led by the increasing awareness and importance of a healthy lifestyle. The wearable medical device market by application: Diagnostic Vital Sign Monitoring Neuromodulation Fetal and Obstetric Therapeutic Pain Management Wearables Diabetic Rehabilitation Respiratory Want even more positive news? Vendors in this market are focusing on the U.S. market because of a robust healthcare infrastructure and high adoption rate of new technology. So what does this mean for you? A path to a more proactive, personalized path to great health. Our health is not a one-size fits all, wearable medical devices will empower YOU and monitor YOUR health. Check out the infographic below for a visual representation of the benefits by MaRS.  This past week our own Eric Rizzuti, you may have seen him on the floor, went to the local National Multiple Sclerosis Society meeting to share how Happy Living Medical Supply can help you with MS! MS, or Multiple Sclerosis, is an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. [1] How can we help? Well we hear the constant message everywhere to exercise. It reduces your risk of chronic diseases, helps your brain health and memory, good for your muscles and bones, etc. What does this mean for those with MS? Symptoms that follow the diagnoses include fatigue, weakness and lack of coordination. As it turns out “that we have extra incentives to do everything possible to stay fit. A now classic 1996 study of people with mild to moderate disability from MS, conducted under the supervision of Jack Petajan, MD, PhD, an MS specialist formerly at the University of Utah, demonstrated the payoffs. Regular aerobic exercise — vigorous enough to raise the pulse and respiration rate — increased fitness, arm and leg strength, and workout capacity, and improved the participants’ bowel and bladder control. People in the study also reported reduced depression, fatigue and anger.” (Exercise as a Part of Everyday Life, Harmon, 2016) There are plenty of reasons to get up and out, but we realize that can still be a struggle for most. Happy Living Medical Supply offers a number of products to help including lift chairs, scooters and rollators. Give us a call today to discuss your options! [1] https://www.nationalmssociety.org/ Not to sound bleak, but we're all aging. Every day we do just a little bit more, so why do we consider aging negative? We're going to bust three myths about aging! Myth: Aging Decreases Creativity We busted this in a recent tweet! Many people actually find their passion at a later age because you have time to discover it. Another generational phenomenon where seniors today stayed in one job and rarely took vacation. If you want some inspiration, here's a list of 20 Women following their passion after 65. Myth: Aging Makes You More Religious While that generation does statistically attend more religious ceremonies, religion was a generational phenomenon. Seniors today grew up in a culture where you went to church. Myth: Aging Leads to Loneliness We've covered before that seniors are prone to isolation because of physical limitations but there are activities available at many senior living facilities and local community spaces that offer social and active opportunities. Don't let myths overpower your strong will and positive attitude as you age. The team here at Happy Living Medical Sales is there to help you #StayIndependent! Give us a call for any of your medical supply needs. |