Posted on Monday, May 16, 2016

Choosing an Assisted Living Part II

Are you a caregiver looking to determine the best type of facility for your loved one? Do you need tips on how to get your senior acclimated to his or her new home?

In order to feel confident in your decision it is important to do all of your research. Making sure you are an advocate for your senior, gathering the necessary documents and establishing a schedule for your senior to follow will make this transition easier on both of you.

What is the difference between an assisted living and a nursing home? Do you have other options? Is your loved one getting the care you were promised? What financial decisions need to be made before moving in to a facility?

Your questions are important. That’s why I have scheduled a FREE live webinar on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 2 p.m. EST to help empower you to navigate the process of choosing an assisted living facility with ease.

Ready to get ahead on planning for assisted living? Tune in to the live webinar to learn:

How to determine the level of care your senior needs
Ways to be an advocate for your senior
Expert tips on how to get your senior acclimated to their new facility
Advice on ways to help you remain patient during this time of change for your loved one

You can bring your questions to the webinar or submit them in advance by email or on Facebook or Twitter.

Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2016

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease In Women

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women in the United States. Did you know that one in four women die due to cardiac problems? Yet, often we only hear about men having heart trouble. And even though it is just as much an epidemic in women, little research is done in this department.

What’s even more scary, is women are often times misdiagnosed after reporting their symptoms to a doctor. In fact, due to prejudices, their signs are often brushed off as anxiety or depression, so they are not receiving proper treatment because they are being misdiagnosed. Therefore, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women, the risk factors, who it effects, and how to improve your odds.

Do you have chronic jaw, neck and upper back pain? Unexplained nausea or vomiting? Dizziness or lightheadedness? Unexplained fatigue? Right arm pain? These may seem like minor aches and pains, but one or any of these symptoms could be a sign that you may have heart problems. Don’t brush these symptoms under the rug. If you experiencing any of these problems, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Many other diseases and risk factors can increase your odds of developing cardiovascular disease. Women who smoke are at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke, those who have diabetes are more susceptible to cardiac issues, as well as those with high stress levels.

Contrary to popular belief, heart disease does not only affect older people. Heart disease does not discriminate against age, race, religion or gender. You are never too young to have a heart attack.

How can you decrease your odds? First, hit the pavement. Walking just 30 minutes a day is all you need. Those who are physically active sharply decrease their odds of stroke and heart attack.

Second, if you smoke, quit now. Cigarettes are filled with harmful chemicals and smoking increases your blood pressure and can lead to high cholesterol.

Third, find ways to reduce your stress. Start meditating, or find a positive way to focus your energy.

Fourth, make sure you’re getting eight hours of sleep. Your body needs that time to rest and refuel, and without that time it can put added stress on you.

Fifth, maintain a healthy weight. Women who carry around excess weight are at an increased risk of heart disease.

Heart disease doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Getting informed and being proactive can help save your life or the lives of those around you.

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Posted on Monday, May 9, 2016

How To Maintain Your Health While Being A Mom

As a tribute to Mother’s Day yesterday, I want to wish all the mom’s across the world a beautiful and healthy year filled with love, happiness and success. Being a mother is such a wonderful learning experience and a gift. Being a mom, however, has its challenges and occasionally we may forget about our own health and wellness when caring for our children. Especially for new moms learning to adjust, it can be difficult to create balance and structure to ensure you are healthy and being the best mom you can be.

Through out the years and through much trial and error, I have developed some essential tools I use to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being a mom. These tips I would like to share with you in hopes of assisting you in becoming a healthier and more vibrant mother.

When my girls were young, most of my free time outside of work was spent raising them, worrying about their health and safety, and spending quality time with them. Often times, our kids are the center of our world. Even so, it is still important to find time for yourself. Schedule yourself a period of time each day where you can enjoy the things you love to do whether that’s reading a book, taking a walk, making yourself a hot bath, or going to a quiet place to relax.

As my kids got older, I began to exercise more frequently and it became a very positive outlet for me. There may not always be enough time in the day but try and schedule two or three days a week to exercise, even if it is just for 30 minutes. Do something that you enjoy, that will increase your heart rate and makes you sweat. Incorporating exercise in your weekly routine, will help you maintain your health and overall well-being. If you are also looking for ways to spend more quality time with your family, create a fun exercise routine weekly with them, this will give them something to look forward to and will get them out the door.

It’s easy to loose track of eating healthy when you’re focused on your kids. It’s sometimes easier to grab something less healthy to eat when you’re on the run. However, eating the right foods will increase your overall energy, mood, sleep and can reduce your stress and anxiety. Making a few healthy meals during the week for you and your family can make all the difference. It can be as simple as cutting out excess sugar, focusing on fresh ingredients and getting in more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and even more organic foods.

After incorporating exercise, alone time, and healthy eating into your weekly routine, you will find that you have more energy and are rejuvenated. This will also be a great thing for your kids to witness, if they see their mother happy, active and maintaining their health, they will be more likely to adopt those same patterns in their lives as well.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my latest offering in dealing with unexpected healthcare: When Life Happens: What to do about unexpected health concerns. This is a bit different than my other books. When Life Happens is a workbook filled with information, tips, and tricks for getting through accidents, difficult diagnoses, rehabilitation, and what to do with the kids through it all. But it also has activities to guide you through your situation. You can find it here for only $10!