Today is World Heart Day. The heart is one of the most vital organs in your body that requires care and attention in order to stay healthy. That’s why today, we will celebrate all seniors who are living with a heart condition, working hard to survive through their disease and overcome it so they can stay active and invincible.

The coronavirus, directly as well as indirectly, has contributed to the increasing heart-related problems. Being stuck at home once can develop issues like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, gaining excess weight, all due to the lifestyle we are now leading. Ordering in junk food and not getting much exercise has become a way of life almost. All of this is contributing towards increased risk of heart attacks.

Additionally, increased risk of blood clotting and heart attack is also possible if one contracts COVID-19, or it could be a post-recovery complication. Thus, the coronavirus has had a direct impact on heart health as well.

Live better, Live longer. Our heart health is in our own hands, the earlier we realize this the better it is.

Rosh Hashanah this year is held from September 25-27.

This holiday begins on the first day of Tishrei, and it marks the beginning of the civil year. It also marks the beginning of a 10-day period of soul searching and contemplation that concludes with Yom Kippur. Traditionally, this period of 10 days, the Days of Awe in Hebrew—Yamim Nora’im—are for thinking about our behavior during the previous year, asking forgiveness from those we may have wronged and pledging to make positive changes for the coming year.

Menus and customs vary from home to home, often based on family tradition and family origin. Those who are Ashkenazi, whose family origin is Eastern Europe, might make or buy a round challah with raisins: The roundness of the bread symbolizes the never-ending cycle of time and the sweetness of the raisins symbolizes the hope that the coming year will be a sweet one. Many families will also serve apples dipped in honey symbolizing the wish for a sweet new year.

We wish you and your loved ones a joyous and peaceful Rosh Hashanah.

Rehabilitation is generally prescribed to assist a patient improve their everyday functioning. Simply put, it refers to care that enables you to regain, maintain, or increase the function and abilities you require to carry out daily activities. 

The benefits of rehabilitation speaks for itself since the physical and mental changes that individuals experience have been greatly rewarding. The month of September is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the amazing rehabilitation institutions and professionals who work immensely hard to ensure that we live our best life! 

The positive impact rehab centers and professionals leave on their patients gives them a lifetime of hope and strength! We thank them for their compassion and hard work.

In the United States alone, there are more than 16 million Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers. During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness & Family Caregivers Month, we honor the people who serve as care partners and caregivers by providing tips for those looking to support these families living with the disease.

Whether you are seeking to support a person with Alzheimer’s or the person that cares for him or her, you will find helpful ways to lend a hand – in ways both big and small.

10 Ways to Help a Family Living with Alzheimer’s

1.        Educate yourself about Alzheimer’s disease. Learn about its effects and how to respond.

2.        Stay in touch. A card, a call or a visit means a lot and shows you care.

3.        Be patient. Adjusting to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is an ongoing process and each person reacts differently.

4.        Offer a shoulder to lean on. The disease can create stress for the entire family. Simply offering your support and friendship is helpful.

5.        Engage the person with dementia in conversation. It’s important to involve the person in conversation even when his or her ability to participate becomes more limited.

6.        Offer to help the family with its to-do list. Prepare a meal, run an errand or provide a ride.

7.        Engage family members in activities. Invite them to take a walk or participate in other activities.

8.        Offer family members a reprieve. Spend time with the person living with dementia so family members can go out alone or visit with friends.

9.        Be flexible. Don’t get frustrated if your offer for support is not accepted immediately. The family may need time to assess its needs.

10.      Support the Alzheimer’s cause.

For a person living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, the changes to their routine can be confusing and frustrating. And this can lead to agitation or other challenging behaviors, like Sun downing. And, with the holidays just around the corner, feelings of loneliness and isolation can become heightened. All in all, everything about caregiving for a person with dementia is harder now. We hope you will join us this month in raising awareness about both Alzheimer’s disease and the impact on our caregivers.

August is National Wellness Month, which highlights the importance of self-care. Self-care can be categorized into many forms, but it is important to work on oneself especially physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can take 21 days to form a habit, and 90 days to form a routine. According to a survey conducted by OnePoll and Vagaro, regarding self-care, “Respondents cited these benefits of self-care: self-confidence boost (64%), increased productivity (67%), happiness (71%).” Making small adjustments daily can lead to a well-rounded wellness routine.

There are a variety of options to improve your self-care in your overall life. Drinking more water, stretching, and making healthier food choice can improve your physical well-being. Ways to practice Emotional Self-Care can include journaling, talking with a therapist, and practicing gratitude and meditation to develop healthy coping mechanisms that increase your happiness and sense of well-being. Lastly, there are different ways to practice mental self-care including taking a mental health day for yourself, trying a new hobby, going to a museum, or even reading.

It is strongly encouraged to make self-care and prioritizing your wellness happen much more often than one month during the year. Take time this month to form a wellness routine that works for you.