Q – My elderly mother, who lives alone in Boston, neglects her nutrition because she says food doesn’t taste like it used to, and since my father passed away she doesn’t bother to cook for herself. I worry about her health with all the processed convenient foods she eats. Can you suggest a healthy, tasty recipe that would be easy for her to make that would encourage her to cook at home?

A – Here’s a great recipe that your mother will be able to make quickly and easily, and it has such a great taste she’ll surely be convinced that cooking at home is worthwhile. It also tastes so wonderful that she needn’t cook it just for one; if she invites over some guests they’re sure to think she’s been slaving away in the kitchen all day even though the recipe only requires about 10 minutes preparation time, and 30-35 minutes in the oven.

Lemon Dill Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup sour cream
1 TSP chopped fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp. lemon zest

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425? F. degrees.

Mix all ingredients except chicken.
Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread 1/4 of the lemon dill sauce over the bottom of pan.
Arrange chicken breasts on top of sauce in a single layer.
Pour remaining sauce over chicken and spread evenly.
Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until chicken is done.

Sources:

1. ClevelandAndSeniors.com

2. Nutritionwerks.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Boston Senior Care enables seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their own homes.

We know that as a family caregiver you are faced with overwhelming responsibilities and high levels of stress on a daily basis. You probably focus so much on the needs of everyone else around you, that you find yourself neglecting your own. To prevent caregiving stress and burnout, you need to make sure that you factor your own needs into the equation. Complete the following checklist to determine if you are doing everything you can to reduce your own stress levels, and improving the level of care you’re able to provide to your elderly care recipient by concerning yourself with your own well-being.

• When you’re feeling overwhelmed you take a step back and breathe. Simply by taking a few long, deep breaths your will find yourself recharged.

• You ensure that you take at least a few minutes every day where YOU are your only focus.

• You make time for activities you enjoy – you relax with a good book, a glass of wine, or a hot bath.

• You know that regular exercise can help to reduce stress levels.

• You remember that your own health needs to factor in, so you seek medical attention when necessary.

Sources:

1. Caregiverstress.com

2. Caregiver ABC Blog

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q – I know that my elderly mother from Boston has a diet rich in salt. Is sodium harmful to a senior’s health? And if so, how can we help her cut back?

A – Every diet should contain sodium in order for the body to maintain homeostasis, however, when it’s consumed in excess it can be harmful to a senior’s health. According to a recent study completed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, seniors who consume more than 1,500 mg of salt per day are at a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. While altering a senior’s diet may seem drastic, proper nutrition with a reduced sodium diet is essential for Boston seniors’ health.

If your mom consumes processed foods, like meats, on a regular basis an easy change would be to encourage her to shop for fresh foods instead. Generally, fresh meats will not contain added sodium, but this can be confirmed with the butcher before purchase. Packaged foods should also contain ingredient lists, and will state if they are low in sodium – seniors should choose these products for better nutrition. You can also encourage your mother to choose salt-free snacks over those that are high in sodium; omit salt from recipes where possible; and use other spices and seasonings that are sodium-free.

Sources:
1. MayoClinic
2. Magic Kitchen
3. Seniors for Living

Image: wikipedia.org

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Since she became retired and her mobility has declined, most of my mom’s favorite hobbies and activities have kept her confined to the home. Her love of crafts has her knitting, building dolls houses, painting ceramics and even beading jewelry (though this is becoming increasingly difficult as her eyesight changes). Last spring, I began to notice that she just hadn’t been getting outside much; particularly since living in a condo in Boston she has no garden to take care of and no pets to encourage her to step out of her home. I would never ask her to give up her hobbies, but I helped her find a way that she could do her favorite activities outside of the home. Her building has a public patio area, and with permission, we decided to setup a patio table and chairs to give her a surface to sit and do her crafts, while enjoying the fresh spring air and sunshine in Boston. This year, I know that when her grandchildren come over to their grandma’s for a visit, they will love sitting out on the patio playing board games, cards, making crafts and socializing with their loved one because they won’t be cooped up inside when the weather should be getting them into the spring air!

Sources:
1. Suite 101 Janienne Jennrich
2. Disabled World

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q – I suspect that my elderly grandfather, who has an elder care provider assisting him in his home in Boston might be a victim of home care negligence. He doesn’t seem to get along with his caregiver and is reluctant to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, so what are the signs I can look for to determine if he’s a victim of negligence?

A – If you believe that your father in Boston might be a victim of negligence, or doesn’t get along with his caregiver. Don’t hesitate to talk to the caregiving agency about your suspicions and request another elder care expert to provide home care services. However, if you want to justify your concerns, there are other signs that could indicate your father is being neglected.

• Sudden changes in his behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn, depressed or angry

• Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones

• The home care provider not allowing seniors to spend time alone with family members for fear something might be revealed

• Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used

• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Sources:
1. Care Home Negligence
2. EZine Articles

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q1 – Is there any connection between physical activity and the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia?

A1 – According to a study, active seniors over the age of 60 who have a declining brain mass are at a higher risk for the development of cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s or dementia, and active seniors experience substantially less brain shrinkage than those who are inactive.

Q2 – How does exercise improve the functioning of the mind?

A2 – By increasing blood flow from the heart to the brain through exercise, a senior’s brain is stimulated and optimal health is maintained. Because exercise also decreases blood pressure, cholesterol and other diseases which could influence the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia, a senior’s overall health is better improved through physical activity.

Q3 – Will seniors who start exercising later in life still receive the same benefits?

A3 – It’s never too late to start exercising, and while the positive benefits may not be as great for Alzheimer’s prevention as those who have been routinely active throughout their lives, there are still benefits to the mind.

Q4 – How can Boston seniors begin an exercise program?

A4 – In order to become active, Boston seniors can choose any physical activity that they find enjoyable and that fit into their physical abilities. Walking, biking, swimming, stretching or exercising with weights all have their benefits; and those who are able can increase their endurance to engage in more moderate exercise programs.

Sources:
1. About
2. BBC News

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

What would you do if you had an elderly parent with an addiction?

No one seems to suspect that senior citizens are at risk for drug addiction, but currently approximately 17% of people over the age of 60 abuse prescription medication, and many have adult children who are wondering: “what do we do?” People have preconceptions about what defines an addict, but age and pharmacueticals don’t discriminate.

The elderly who face depression, illness, and various ailments are more likely to become reliant upon their prescriptions and face withdrawal once they try to stop taking them. Addiction doesn’t mean you needlessly take medications; many seniors legitimately require pain killers to cope with Arthritis or sedatives to deal with the loss of a spouse, but it’s abuse when medications are taken consistently against medical instruction.

What if you had a parent who had a history of alcohol abuse and now uses prescription drugs? It’s a great debate with seniors who abuse prescription drugs, since they need them, is it fair to categorize seniors and label them as addicts as you would label an alcoholic? According to experts, drug abuse is addiction, regardless of medical need. Alcoholics also need to have a drink in order to avoid withdrawal, and that’s addiction too. But would you handle a senior’s prescription drug addiction the same way you’d intervene with an alcoholic?

Sources:
1. Bio-Medicine
2. Join Together

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q – I am an elder care provider, and have a care recipient in Boston who has a history of strokes in his family. Since his risk of having a stroke is higher, is there anything I can do to help lower the likelihood that he will have stroke?

A – Since naturally there is no way to change your care recipient’s family history, it’s fortunate that simple changes to lifestyle and diet can reduce a senior’s risk of having a stroke. As a caregiver in Boston, there are a number of things that you can do to directly impact the likelihood that your senior will have a stroke, and a number of other things you can help with by offering support and encouragement.

How Caregivers Can Help Prevent Strokes:

• Prepare healthy meals for the senior that are low in salt and saturated fats

• Plan meals based on their specific healthy living needs – serve lower-cholesterol foods and adjust meals for those who struggle with high cholesterol

• Engage in activities daily that keep the senior active – go for a walk around the neighborhood or to the park, or try more vigorous exercise if your senior has the physical capabilities

• Ensure alcohol served with meals is done so in moderation, since excessive drinking can increase the risk of a stroke

Stroke Prevention Through Encouragement:

• Encourage a senior to understand their health, including stroke risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, circulation problems or atrial fibrillation by visiting a doctor

• Encourage a senior to quit smoking

• Be on the look out for signs of a stroke!

Sources:
1. Healing Daily
2. BBC Health

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q1 – How can a senior find a doctor?

A1 – The American Medical Association Doctor Finder is a directory of American doctors that includes their history as medical professionals. Find doctors that are located in your local area, but make the final decision based on other important factors.

Q2 – What else should seniors consider when choosing a doctor?

A2 – It’s important to decide whether a general practitioner or specialist is required based on the elderly person’s medical history. For affordability, a doctor that complies with your health benefits or medical insurance plan should also be chosen; and naturally, you want a doctor that has a great track record.

Q3 – How can you tell if a doctor’s good?

A3 – To understand how well a doctor performs, by interviewing them and their office staff.  Find out if they encourage questions, and if they remain respectful. A doctor’s professional history can be reviewed using a number of online directories, including the NCQA Recognized Physician Directory, The American Board of Medical Specialties and The Federal State of Medical Boards.

Sources:

1. Seniors for Living

2. MedicineNet

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Q – I am a caregiver for my elderly father in Boston. He seems to tire of the meals I serve him, and I’m looking for some healthy, new ideas to make for him this summer. We are on a more limited food budget, and with all the other responsibilities I have caring for him, I don’t want to spend hours slaving over the stove, especially when it’s hot; can you suggest some healthy, summertime meal ideas?

A – During the summer months, mealtime in Boston should be all about Convenience, and with the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s easy to make quick, healthy meals while maintaining a budget. During the summer, many healthy fruits and vegetables are in season, which reduces the price and increases the variety. For even more selection at a low price, try frequenting a local farmer’s market in Boston or browse the aisles of your favorite grocery store for great deals on produce.

A great way to make fast, healthy, and delicious meals is to take advantage of the nice weather and barbeque outside. Using the barbeque speeds up the cooking time of most meals, and tastes great even with limited seasonings. Instead of laboring over sauces to flavor your meats or fish, use a few fresh herbs and allow the taste from the grill to come through. Ensuring your father’s diet is rich with fruits and vegetables will also help him prevent heat exhaustion during the warmer months!

Sources:

1. Senior Advocate

2. eHow

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.