Go Pink!

So many wonderful things come in pink! Pink cotton candy, pink roses, pink satin, pink cupcakes, and pink poodles (okay maybe not).  Well, this month is all about the pink ribbon.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many women and their families are impacted by this diagnosis.  Here's a few facts:

1.  Cancer can kill you. 

2.  Prevention is the cure. 

3.  You already know what to do.

Hug a woman today, be well and GO PINK!

Technology and Seniors

We love learning new things in our work with seniors!  One day in interacting with a 92 year old, we realized that she has a difficult time distinguishing the functions of the various buttons on things like her recliner, TV remote, and telephone. We have a great Occupational Therapist who suggested that we use large green and red labels to clarify, potentially retaining her much-needed independence.

This is such a simple solution which could mean a great deal for a senior.  It's important as young persons that we remain mindful of the senior's perspective. I can only imagine how much things like the telephone have changed in almost 100 years!  Here's a little insight:







Circa 1916





Circa 1954

Circa 1980's

Circa today ;-)

First Open House at Pampered on Third!

Sandwich Generation...there is help!

Picture A Day in the Life...

The alarm is blaring...your new rooster tone is no gentler than the alarming beep before. It's still dark outside, but at least the house is quiet for--too late. You hustle out of bed to check on your aging parents who are up walking the halls, feed your hungry infant, then get the older kids off to school. You drop your parents at day care and head off to work. After work is pick ups, dinner, then bed again. This is every day. You love your family, but raising a family while caring for aging parents is difficult. You are part of the sandwich generation.

Fear not!  With a growing aged population, services for seniors are growing, varied, and continuing to improve. Nursing home is no longer the only answer. Seniors now have access to in home care, day care, independent living, and adult foster care (asssisted living). Even gyms and spas have programs just for seniors.  Some studies show improved quality of life and even prevention of later nursing home admission.  You don't have to do it alone!

Pampered on Third

Who we are and why we do what we do

Video Tour of our first home ... Pampered on Third

Men's Health Month

Well fellas, everyone needs a tune up to keep things running well and now is the time for yours.  Though the cliche is that guys don't go to the doctor, staying healthy is far too important to succumb to popular culture. Here's a few things you need to know:

1. The two leading causes of death in the US (heart disease and cancer) are strongly related to lifestyle and thus preventable. 
2. Men make up over 92% of workplace deaths, though only about 50% of the workforce.
3. Annual health checkups can provide peace of mind, early detection of serious problems, and continuing education on general health and wellness.

This Men's Health Month, take a peek under the hood!

To your very best health,

Seniors and Sex

We cannot end this National Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Month without sharing some information.  Despite the impression from our TV screens that people over 67.5 years disappear into a land of quiet retirement never to be seen again, seniors in our country are quite active.  Sexually active, in fact.  This would be wonderful news if it weren't for the rise in STD's  among our elders.  We can credit medical advances like Viagra, high divorce rates, and the fact that senior citizens are human beings with needs and desires.

Check out this recent news story out of Los Angeles:  http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/02/27/more-and-more-seniors-are-putting-the-s-in-std/

The moral of this story?  STD's don't know how old you are.  Prevention involves simple concepts like abstinence, monogamy, and condoms.

You can find more information at http://www.cdc.gov/features/stdawareness/

Best of Health,

The Fountain of Youth

My husband and I both have grandmothers in their nineties!  Though I am well aware of medical technology's hand in longevity, there are those like our grandmothers, the Bluezone elders, and some of my favorite elders in the news who owe less to science and more to lifestyle.

At Pampered Living Senior Homes, we strive to enrich the lives of our elders with health and wellness information, companionship, and superior care.  We want to see more seniors live their best lives!

Check out some of my favorite stories below:

Ernestine Sheppard
http://ernestineshepherd.net/

Phyllis Sues http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/phyllis-sues-/aging-gracefully-phyllis-sues-yoga-tango_b_2878155.html?icid=hp_fifty_gallery

Hiroshi Hoketsu
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/03/04/70-year-old-london-olympics_n_1319472.html

Connect 7!

Welcome to our blog!  We hope to share our thoughts, experiences, and activities with you and you with us.

Yesterday was a very exciting day for us.  We attended MALA's Dementia Workshop.  The woman who facilitated, Chris Curtin, was amazing!   We walked away with fun treats and tons of information to help us in working with our elders.  Our favorite snapshot was:

7 Knowledge Skills Needed for Dementia Care

1. Knowledge of Dementia Disorders
2. Person-Centered Care
3. Care Interactions
4. Enriching the Person's Life  :-)
5. Understanding Behaviors (very important!)
6. Interacting with Families
7. Direct Care Worker Self-Care

What has been your experience interacting with persons with dementia?

Best Regards,