Older adults tend to be happier than most others. Why? Psychologists believe that cognitive processes are responsible—in particular, focusing on and remembering positive events and leaving behind negative ones; those processes, they think, help older people regulate their emotions, letting them view life in a sunnier light. “There is a lot of good theory about this age difference in happiness,” says psychologist Derek M. Isaacowitz, “but much of the research does not provide direct evidence” of the links between such phenomena and actual happiness.

Some psychologists believe that cognitive processes are responsible – in particular, focusing on and remembering positive events and leaving behind negative ones.

Other studies have discovered that as people age, they seek out situations that will lift their moods – for instance, pruning social circles of friends or acquaintances who might bring them down. Still other work finds that older adults learn to let go of loss and disappointment over underachieved goals, and their goals toward greater well-being.

One thing is certain – nearly 90 percent of seniors would rather live in their own homes. Companionship, too, is one way to help seniors maintain their sunny dispositions. Learn more about our Home Instead Senior Care® support services – call us in the Mississauga ON area to ask about our senior home care services at 905- 276-2273.

Source: Psychologicalscience.org

Our local Mississauga Home Instead CAREGivers can help keep seniors healthy, happy and safe at home. For more information on our services call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Almost everyone has attended a family reunion. But what about hosting a family get-together to share important health information? It’s a novel idea that could help families get up-to-date on aging parent’s critical medical information.

A family health history makes sense because:

• Family members share genes,

• Behaviors,

• Lifestyles,

• Environments, which all together may affect their risk of developing health problems.

Most people have a family health history of common chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease, or diabetes) and other health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure and high cholesterol). A person with a close relative affected by a chronic disease may have a higher risk of developing that disease than a person who does not have an affected relative.

The Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait tool could help families collect and organize family health history information they can easily share with their doctor. This information can help a doctor caring for other family members decide which tests and screenings are recommended to assess risks.

Our local Mississauga Home Instead CAREGivers can help keep seniors healthy in spite of their family tree. For more information on our services call 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Just a century ago, you could expect to live until age 50. That’s it. It was “end of the road,” not “over the hill” as we call it today. But thanks to advances in health care and overall standards of living since 1900, the current average life expectancy has risen to 78.4 in the U.S. and 81.5 in Canada, according to the CIA World Factbook. Today, many seniors even live into their 90s or past 100—a feat of healthy, purposeful living that other older adults can model with guidance from senior healthcare professionals.

It makes sense. Seniors who stay healthy live longer. But how can you help seniors maintain good health when the odds of developing dementia, diabetes, heart disease, some form of cancer, or a host of other ailments are against them? Some answers might come from the Greek island of Ikaria where a remarkable one in three natives reach 90 years of age.

According to an AARP The Magazine article called “Live More Good Years,” researchers discovered that, compared to Americans over 90, Ikaria’s 90-plus population experienced 20 percent fewer incidents of cancer, half the rate of heart disease, one-ninth the rate of diabetes and virtually no Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.

To encourage similar habits to help North American older adults add years to their life. Advise seniors to eat meals incorporating whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish, and herbal teas to add important vitamins, antioxidants and complex carbohydrates to their diets. Seniors will also benefit from scheduling walks or daily exercises, naps, and opportunities for social interaction and religious practices into their day. Adopting a carefree attitude about time may not translate as well to our culture of hectic schedules and tight deadlines, but look for ways to reduce stress by demonstrating patience with seniors who might take longer to complete tasks.

Another approach to increasing lifespan takes into consideration not only the good behaviors to adopt, but also which behaviors to avoid. A recent CDC report boils the secret to longevity down into four key habits:

•Do exercise regularly
•Do eat a healthy diet
•Don’t smoke
•Don’t drink alcohol excessively

If your loved one needs help and assistance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, call Mississauga Home Instead Senior Care at 905- 276-2273. Our CAREGivers are available to help your senior stay healthy.

Visit Caregiverstress.com for more information on healthy aging.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

It’s a known fact that most seniors want to stay living in their own home for as long as they can, but in some cases, safety is an issue. However, there are several things that family members can put in place to make a home safe for their older loved ones. Being at home is a comforting thing for most aging adults, but being safe at home is the ultimate factor of their good health.

1.    If mobility is an issue, the layout of the home may have to be altered. This may sound like a huge project, but it can be as simple as rearranging furniture and changing doorways to allow for easy and safe access.

2.    Bathrooms often need to be updated or remodeled to help seniors at home. Installing shower handles and grip bars on the walls of the bathroom will help make the room safer. There should also be an anti-slip mat or grips on the bottom of the tub or shower to help prevent falls.

3.    Increase lighting. Falls at home are the leading causes of injuries for seniors. By increasing the amount of light in the home, seniors will be able to see things better and reduce their chances of falling.

4.    Remove all rugs or carpets from stairs and make sure a hand rail is installed.

5.    In addition to the physical safety at home, seniors need to be concerned over emotional safety. If they feel they are being harassed or targeted, there are many crime prevention programs that can help. These programs will monitor the home from the outside and can even offer discounts on security systems.

Please call Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga for a free in-home care assessment at 905- 276-2273.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 905-276-2273 or 416-239-2200.

Everyone is home for the holidays. What could be better? Only problem is, sister Elaine can’t understand why Mom’s house isn’t all decked out as it used to be. And brother Bob has found a pile of unopened bills on the dresser. The holidays, when family is all together, are good times to assess if an older adult needs help. But take care not to ruin the fun or cause a family fight.

Don’t get into the topic when everyone is at the dinner table nor when they may have had too much holiday wine, advises Gail Hunt, President and CEO of the U.S.’s National Alliance for Caregiving.

“When talking with your siblings about your concerns for Mom and Dad, go out to lunch to have that discussion rather than right in the middle of the family festivities. Then approach a parent in a non-threatening way. Perhaps you’re in the kitchen making pies with Mom. You might ask, ‘I saw those bills on the dresser. Is there something I can do to help?’”

If you’re home for the holidays, keep an eye out for these red flags that might signal a senior needs help:

• Look in the refrigerator, freezer and pantry. Has food spoiled because Mom can’t get to the grocery store? Does she have difficulty cleaning tight, cluttered places?
• Look over the grocery list. Has Dad’s declining health prompted him to purchase more convenience and junk foods, and neglect proper nutrition? Is he losing weight?
• Look on top of furniture and countertops. Accumulated dust and dirt may be a sign that household cleaning is becoming too difficult for your parents.
• Look up at fans and ceilings. Has the inability to lift her arms and climb stepstools prevented your loved one from cleaning soot and grime from high places? Caution seniors not to climb.
• Look to your parents’ neighbours and other close friends to find out about their daily routine. Are your seniors at home more, watching television and avoiding stimulating conversation and companionship?

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Family caregivers dread bringing up elder care issues with their aging relatives. Discussing these sensitive subjects over the telephone is no way to deal with a senior loved one. That’s why trips home during the holidays often are ideal times to talk with an aging loved one. When you’re visiting during the holidays, check out some of the tips offered in the “40/70” Rule Booklet that help caregivers communicate with their aging parents on sensitive subjects:

Get started. If you’re 40 or your parents are 70, it’s time to start observing and gathering information carefully and thoughtfully. Don’t reach a conclusion from a single observation and decide on the best solution until you have gathered information with an open mind and talked with your parents.

Talk it out. Approach your parents with a conversation. Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your parents what they think is going on. If your parents acknowledge the situation, ask what they think would be good solutions. If your parents don’t recognize a problem, use concrete examples to support your case.

Sooner is best. Talk sooner rather than later when a crisis has occurred. If you know your loved one has poor eyesight or has trouble driving at night, begin to address those issues before a problem arises.

Forget the baby talk. Remember you are talking to an adult, not a child. Patronizing speech or baby talk will put older adults on the defensive and convey a lack of respect for them.

Maximize the independence. Always try to move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for the older person.

Look for answers that optimize strengths and compensate for problems. For instance, if your loved ones need help at home, look for tools that can help them maintain their strengths.

Ask for help. Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence.

Call your local Home Instead Senior Care office for home care services at 905- 276-2273.

Click here to check out local senior resources that can help in the New Braunfels area.

Check out: http://www.caregiverstress.com/category/helpful-tips-for-caregivers/caregiver-communication/40-70-rule/40-70-conversation-topics/

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Instead Senior Care hosted the kickoff to their 3rd Be A Santa To A Senior Campaign in Mississauga, on November 4th. The program, in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Society, Shoppers Home Health Care and The Mississauga Seniors Center, will be collecting and distributing gifts to isolated and needy seniors in our community.

Stella Amber MP for Mississauga South joined everyone to help decorate the tree and kickoff the campaign. Participating nonprofit organizations in the local communities identify isolated and deserving seniors and provide those names to the local Home Instead Senior Care office in Mississauga. Christmas trees go up in stores, and other locations, that feature Be A Santa To A Senior paper ornaments with the first names only of the seniors, and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers pick up an ornament and buy the item(s) on the list and return them unwrapped to the store. For more information, visit www.beasantatoasenior.ca

The holidays are a good time for family caregivers returning to Mississauga to tune into the signs that an older family member may need extra help to remain safe at home.

To learn more about those signs, register for the free Home for the Holidays web conference, moderated by a representative from the Home Instead Senior Care network.

The hour-long web conference will be available in Canada, and offered on Monday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. To register, go to Family Education at Caregiverstress.com.

“It’s easy for busy family caregivers to overlook the subtle signs that a senior loved one needs assistance,” said Greg Bechard, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Mississauga. “But during the holidays, when many return to their childhood homes, the difference between your last visit and now can highlight those red flags.”

The web conference will be moderated by Director of Strategic Alliances Mary Alexander of Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network. Alexander is a family caregiver and a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).

“Signs of potential trouble can be evident in a senior’s home – such as spoiled food in the refrigerator and piles of unpaid bills – or personal indicators such as episodes of confusion or dirty and unkempt clothing,” Bechard said.

Countering senior resistance to assistance can be a challenge. President and CEO of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), Suzanne Mintz adds, “Family caregivers must recognize that their parents are adults and – unless there are cognitive or emotional problems – they can make their own decisions. We do not and should not become our parents’ parents. We must remember we will always be their children.”

The web conference will feature information about countering senior resistance to assistance as well as resources that can help family caregivers and senior care professionals.  To register, go to Family Education at Caregiverstress.com.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.

This year’s Be a Santa to a Senior campaign kicks off Nov. 4 at the Mississauga Seniors Centre

Last year the campaign, developed and sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, the largest provider of non-medical services for seniors worldwide, delivered more than 250 Christmas gifts to local seniors. With a continuing tough economy, it’s expected the need will be greater this year.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to an important segment of our community who have contributed so much throughout the years,” said Home Instead Senior Care owner Greg Bechard. “It’s not just about presents; more than 1.8 million Canadian seniors over 75 live alone, and for many it’s the human connection that makes the campaign important”, says Bechard.

It’s simple to join in: between Nov. 4 and Dec. 9, go to www.beasantatoasenior.ca and enter your postal code to find a participating store. Go to the store and take an ornament off the Christmas tree. On the back of the ornament there is the first name of a senior and their requested gift. Purchase the gift and deliver it unwrapped, along with the ornament, to a store employee.

On Dec. 14, Home Instead Senior Care office employees will host a gift-wrapping party at The Mississauga Seniors Centre for staff and volunteers who will wrap the gifts for delivery.

Home Instead Senior Care’s Mississauga office is partnering this year with several local organizations and businesses including Alzheimer’s Society of Peel and Shoppers Home Health Care.

Popular and economical gifts for seniors include slippers and socks, toiletries, pet food, blankets and pajamas.

Seniors are chosen for the program before the holiday season by participating not-for profit-organizations.

Mississauga Seniors Centre is located at 1389 Cawthra Rd. Mississauga South MP Stella Ambler will help kick off the campaign at 1 p.m.

Source: Mississauga.com

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.

Home Instead Senior Care partners with local non-profit and community organizations to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. The company then works with local businesses and retail stores to help facilitate the purchase and distribution of gifts by placing trees and ornaments within their various locations. Each senior’s gift requests are written on a Be a Santa to a Senior tree ornament.

Here’s how to help an underserved senior:

1. Find the nearest Be a Santa to a Senior tree location by using the form at the top of the page
2. Remove an ornament
3. Purchase the gift
4. Bring ornament and gift back to participating store and give to
   store employee.

View the video at CityNews.CA

It’s that easy.

Volunteers collect, wrap, and deliver the gifts to the seniors.

Dates vary by location, however, the program typically begins the first week of November with gift collection taking place through mid-December. Volunteers deliver gifts prior to Christmas.

Find a Tree today and brighten the life of a senior.

If there is not a Be a Santa to a Senior tree in your community, we encourage you to contact an organization in your community dedicated to helping seniors during the holidays.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.