Senior volunteers are making a difference each day in local churches, community organizations, neighborhoods, senior centers and health care organizations. In total, these unsung heroes are making a bigger impact than ever as local budgets evaporate and community needs escalate. For many of these seniors, helping others defines who they are in their retirement years.

In response, Home Instead Senior Care has announced the launch of Salute to Senior Service(SM) program (www.SalutetoSeniorService.com) to honour the many volunteer contributions that older adults make to this nation. This program, which launched on January 15, 2012, includes a search for the country’s most outstanding Senior Hero(SM) in each state and culminates with the selection of a national Salute to Senior Service winner during Older Americans Month in May. State Senior Hero(SM) winners will receive plaques and their stories on the www.SalutetoSeniorService.com site. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

Between January 15 and March 12, 2012, entries can be submitted to nominate seniors 65 and older who volunteer at least 15 hours a month, making a positive impact on their communities through volunteerism. Stories can be submitted online at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com.

“Not only are senior volunteers changing their communities, but they are also changing the face of aging,” said Jeff Huber, President and Chief Operating Officer of Home Instead Senior Care. “Volunteer opportunities for older adults should not diminish because of age and, by all accounts, don’t. Home Instead is thrilled to be able to take this opportunity to recognize and showcase their important contributions.”

About half of U.S. seniors (52 percent) volunteer their time through unpaid community service, according to research conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care network. Nearly 20 percent (one in five) of senior volunteers surveyed started volunteering when they reached the traditional age of retirement – 65 or older. Furthermore, 20 percent of seniors who volunteer say that their community service is the most important thing they do. Seniors who volunteer give an average of 15 hours a month in unpaid service.

Seven in 10 seniors (70 percent) who volunteer indicate they plan on volunteering “forever.” This percentage is slightly higher for senior volunteers who suffer from chronic health problems. In fact, managing chronic conditions and maintaining health are important motivations. Three-fourths of senior volunteers surveyed (75 percent) who have chronic conditions say that staying active through volunteering helps them manage these conditions. But the benefits go much deeper. According to Home Instead Senior Care network research, 95 percent of senior volunteers feel that seniors who volunteer are healthier and happier than seniors who do not. Volunteering enables seniors to develop and maintain important social connections, learn more skills, and pursue new interests.

“We know from our work with seniors that the more active an individual the more likely that he or she will continue to remain independent while aging. Those who find a way to give back, even if they have their own aches and pains and need help, realize many benefits,” shared Huber.

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.

Home Instead Senior Care® network research reveals that volunteering is a magic bullet of sorts to keep seniors mentally and physically engaged in the world around them, making a difference in the lives of others as well as benefiting their own Salute to Senior Service.

Other benefits that the senior volunteer survey respondents identified include:

I want to help others – 99 percent

I want to make a difference in my community – 99 percent

I want to provide assistance to causes I care about – 99 percent

I feel like my volunteer contributions are appreciated – 98 percent

I enjoy volunteering with my friends – 93 percent I want to socialize and meet new people – 92 percent

I want to share my talents, skills and experience – 90 percent

I enjoy learning new skills – 89 percent I have more time now – 86 percent I want to occupy my free time – 84 percent

Home Instead CAREGivers in Mississauga are available to help your senior loved ones continue to pursue their passions by providing non-medical assistance at home – call us for more information 905- 276-2273.

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

Roles that senior volunteers play have evolved over the years, according to Dr. Erwin Tan, director of Senior Corps, who serves as the expert U.S. source for the Home Instead Senior Care® network’s Salute to Senior Service program. The program, which kicked off in January 2012, includes a search for the most outstanding senior volunteer in each state and Canadian province (except Quebec) and culminates with the selection of a national Salute to Senior Service winner in May in the U.S. and in June in Canada.

• As seniors’ lifestyles and longevity have evolved over time so, too, is the desire for new kinds of volunteer activities, Dr. Tan said. In a highly technological world, the “new senior” has different interests than those of the past. Seniors are being encouraged to volunteer for a cause or an activity in which they are interested or for which they feel passionate.

• According to Home Instead Senior Care network research, 95 percent of senior volunteers feel that seniors who volunteer are healthier and happier than those seniors who do not.

• Check out more benefits from volunteering opportunities as well as information about how to make a deserving senior 65 and older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month a Senior Hero – SalutetoSeniorService.com.

• State and Canadian provincial (except Quebec) winners will receive plaques and their story on the SalutetoSeniorService.com website. A gift of $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s favorite nonprofit charity.

Help us recognize outstanding senior volunteers who make a difference in their community. Nominees have a chance to win $5,000 for their favorite volunteer organization. Please share volunteer stories from your community and nominate a senior for Salute to Senior Service.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. 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

Senior gift requests are expected to be up again this holiday season amid worries about the threat of declining benefits and the economy.

Be a Santa to a Senior®, the popular campaign that has delivered 1.5 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America during the past seven years, is gearing up again this holiday, according to the Home Instead Senior Care® network, the world’s largest provider of non-medical, in-home care services for seniors.

The program relaunches during a time when already-nervous seniors faced the threat of Social Security payment delays as part of the debt-ceiling debate earlier this year. These older adults have lost nearly one-third (32 percent) of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a senior advocacy organization.

Local offices of the Home Instead Senior Care network, the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, have joined their area senior care organizations and retailers to provide gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either this holiday season.

In most years, seniors receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with the costs of inflation. But since 2000, the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has increased just 31 percent, while typical senior expenses have jumped 73 percent, according to the survey.

In 2011, for the second consecutive year, seniors received no COLA. Before 2010, however, seniors had received a COLA every year since 1975, when the automatic COLA was introduced. Seniors can expect to receive only a very small COLA next year, the TSCL reported.

Be a Santa to a Senior isn’t just about gifts, though. It is designed to give back to those needy seniors as well as to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.

Here’s how the program works: Before the holiday season, the participating nonprofit organizations in local communities throughout North America will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to local Home Instead Senior Care offices for this community service program. Christmas trees will go up in stores that feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their respective gift requests.

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached. The local Home Instead Senior Care office then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, nonprofit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts. A community gift-wrapping event, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped, is held in many communities.

Businesses are encouraged to contact their local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors. For tree locations in your local area, or for more information about the program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.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.

Seniors are using internet technology and social networking tools to stay connected with family and friends.

To help older adults avoid struggling with basic computer skills, there are a variety of resources that can help seniors get connected and ensure they have the needed assistance to stay safe and independent.

According to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, as of December 2009, 38 percent of U.S. adults ages 65 and older go online, a significantly lower rate of internet adoption than the general population (74 percent) and even the next-oldest group (70 percent of adults ages 50-64 years old go online).

There are various places in your community that are able to help older adults learn to use a computer and go online. First, ask someone who knows how to use the computer – perhaps the family member who gave you the computer – go to Mactech Distance Education in Canada at www.homeed.com or log on to www.seniornet.com.

SeniorNet, a non-profit organization of computer-using adults over 50, offers about 200 Learning Centers managed primarily by senior volunteers at senior centers, community centers, public libraries, schools and colleges, and clinics and hospitals. For more information about the centers or to find the nearest one to you, ask your family to log on to www.seniornet.com.

Computer Generation offers computer training to Toronto’s seniors at home or retirement residence – private, semi-private or small group – at http://www.computergeneration.ca.

Here’s another resource: Experience Senior Power at www.50plusprime.com teaches older adults basic and intermediate computer skills, using an easy step-by-step tutorial.

Does your area have a community college? If so, many offer computer classes geared toward seniors. If there’s no community college in your area, why not try calling the local high school computer department and asking if they know of classes for seniors in your area. If nothing else, perhaps a high school student would be willing to tutor you.

Or consider calling Home Instead Senior Care at 905- 276-2273, we hire CAREGivers to assist seniors in their homes with non-medical tasks. A CAREGiver could help you find someone to assist you with the computer as well as offering support with day-to-day activities such as meal preparation and light housekeeping.

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.

As seniors age, their social life may slow down. Reasons for this varies like losing a spouse or if they suffer from physical conditions or illness. Yet it’s important for older adults to remain active because it increases good health and well-being.  Family caregivers can play a vital role when encouraging their loves ones to find ways that keep them physically active.

Here are a few suggestions of what family members can do in helping an aging relative be more active:

Assist in planting a garden – gardening is one of the most popular activities for seniors. Know that getting outdoors, especially in the heat may not be prudent, for your older senior. Instead, think about bringing the garden indoors like using a simple pot or window gardening. This is very attractive and will brighten their day.

Planning a trip or taking a family vacation can be fun for the entire family. Your aging parent or grandparent will enjoy spending time away with the whole family. Prepare early because you may need the support if an older adult is traveling with you.

Encourage your loved one to reconnect with old friends via Skype or meeting a friend for a lunch and movie.

Attending social functions at the local senior citizen centre is a great place for your loved one to be active. Most communities sponsor adult classes like yoga, fitness, stretching, even Pilates at the senior centre.

Home Instead CAREGivers help do all of the things you would to help your aging relatives get ready for a trip, plant an indoor garden or transport them to the nearest senior center. Give us a call!

Source: Care for Yourself while Caring for your Aging Loved One

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.

In Canada approximately 37% of the population age 75 and older – nearly 1.8 million people – lives alone, according to Statistics Canada. These seniors face significant socialization challenges, particularly related to lack of shared mealtime experiences, often taken for granted by most Canadians.

Home Instead Senior Care launched a program, geared to promoting healthy aging by helping seniors eat nutritiously and stay connected socially.  The study that the program is based on, revealed that 59 percent of seniors say they eat more nutritiously when family and friends are around. Families who provide mealtime companionship, whether it’s a family caregiver or a professional caregiving service, are contributing to their senior’s health and well-being in a big way.

When seniors were asked what’s important to you when sharing a home-cooked meal with family or friends?

98% – Good tasting food

97% – A hot meal

94% – A nutritious meal

72% – The entire meal process

38% – A set decorated table

Seniors want good-tasting, nutritious food and stimulating conversation when they share home-cooked meals with family and friends. Having a set, decorated table is not as important; this is even less important for men than women.

Seniors attribute many positive benefits to sharing meals with their family and friends. These include:

• I take longer to eat 84%
• I feel happier than eating alone 81%
• The food tastes better than eating alone 71%
• I eat more nutritious meals 68%

Download the Canadian research results as a PDF (3.3 MB)

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 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.

Nutritious meals are important, but many seniors want to relive a time around the dinner table when they are sharing their lives with the people they love most. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga has developed the Craving Companionship program to help older adults who live alone. About 37 per cent of the population 75+ lives alone* according to a Canadian study.

The study reveals:

• An overwhelming majority of seniors (88%) say that having someone to share their meals makes those times more satisfying.
• More than one-half (53%) say their mealtimes are more satisfying if they have someone prepare their meals for them.

Nearly one-half of seniors who live alone have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health, according to Home Instead Senior Care® network research. The signs and their incidence rates:

• Eating alone most of the time (76%)
• Taking three or more different medications a day (67%)
• Having an illness/condition that prompted a diet change (39%)
• Eating few fruits, vegetables or milk products (36%)
• Having a tooth or mouth problems that make it hard to eat (29%)
• Having lost of gained 10 pounds in the last 6 months without wanting to (28%)

Lack of companionship is the biggest mealtime challenge for seniors and the Craving Companionship program offers tips and practical advice to encourage companionship and easy, healthy meals. The program also encourages family caregivers to revive mealtimes for isolated and lonely seniors.

*2006 Canadian Census