One More Day To Vote!

Time is running out!

This is your last chance to vote and support your favorite Salute to Senior Service^SM Contest nominee.

Vote Now!

It's more crucial than ever to enlist the votes of all your friends and family. $500 - or possibly $5,000 - is at stake!

Ask your friends and family for one last vote!

The nominee from each state with the most votes by the end of the day on April 30, 2013 will become a State Winner.

State Winners will receive:

• A $500 donation to their non-profit charity of choice.

• A chance to win an additional $5,000 donation to their non-profit charity of choice if they are selected as the National Winner.

Cast Your Last Vote

We will announce the State Winners by June 9, 2013.

It's Spring, Tips For Gardening For Seniors

Gardening has several health and therapeutic benefits for seniors, especially when you create an edible garden. Garden beds, equipment and tools can all be modified to create a garden that is interesting, accessible and productive.

Some medical conditions and physical disabilities may restrict or prevent seniors from participating in gardening. However with planning and a few changes, you can create a safe, accessible, and pleasant space.


Gardening keeps you fit and healthy

Everyone can benefit from creating an edible garden. Seniors can get particular benefits because gardening:

• Is an enjoyable form of exercise.
• Increases levels of physical activity and maintains mobility and flexibility.
• Encourages use of all motor skills – walking, reaching and bending – through activities such as planting seeds and taking cuttings.
• Improves endurance and strength.
• Helps prevent diseases like osteoporosis.
• Reduces stress levels and promotes relaxation.
• Provides stimulation and interest in nature and the outdoors.
• Improves wellbeing as a result of social interaction.
• Provides nutritious, home-grown produce.

Physical and mental considerations in the garden

Some physical, mental and age-related conditions must be considered when older people work in the garden. These include:

• Skin – fragile, thinning skin makes the elderly susceptible to bumps, bruises and sunburn.
• Vision – changes in the eye lens structure, loss of peripheral vision and generally poorer eyesight can restrict activities.
• Mental abilities – mental health, thinking and memory abilities may be affected by dementia and similar conditions.
• Body temperature – susceptibility to temperature changes and tendency to dehydrate or suffer from heat exhaustion are common concerns with outdoor physical activity for older people.
• Skeletal – falls are more common because balance is often not as good. Osteoporosis and arthritis may restrict movement and flexibility.

Changes to equipment, tools and the garden

Garden spaces, tools and equipment can be modified or adapted to help reduce the physical stress associated with gardening. Suggestions include:

• Use vertical planting to make garden beds accessible for planting and harvesting – try using wall and trellis spaces.
• Raise beds to enable people with physical restrictions to avoid bending and stooping.
• Provide retractable hanging baskets, wheelbarrows and containers on castors to make suitable movable and elevated garden beds.
• Find adaptive tools and equipment – these are available from some hardware shops.
• Use foam, tape and plastic tubing to modify existing tools.
• Use lightweight tools that are easier to handle.
• Provide shade areas for working in summer months.
• Have stable chairs and tables to use for comfortable gardening.
• Ensure that there is a tap nearby or consider installing a drip feeder system for easy watering.
• Make sure the toilet is nearby.

Safety in the garden for older people

• Here are a few safety tips that older people and their carers should follow.
• Attend to any cuts, bruises or insect bites immediately.
• Take care in the use of power tools.
• Secure gates and fences if memory loss is an issue.
• Ensure that paths and walkways are flat and non-slip.
• Warm up before gardening and encourage frequent breaks.
• Prevent sun exposure by working in the garden early in the morning or late in the day. Wear a hat and apply sunscreen frequently.
• Drink water or juice, and avoid alcohol.
• Wear protective shoes, lightweight comfortable clothes that cover exposed skin, a hat and gardening gloves.
• Store garden equipment safely.

Legionnaire’s disease and gardening

Legionnaire’s disease is sometimes linked to handling potting mixes. Always follow these safety rules:

• Wear a facemask and gloves.
• Do not lean over an open bag of potting mix. This avoids the risk of breathing in spores.
• Moisten contents of potting mix bags when you open them.
• Wash hands with soap and water after handling soil.

Plant selection

An edible garden is a garden that contains flowers, herbs, seeds, berries and other plants that you can eat. You should also consider using varieties of plants that have sensory and textural qualities. Sensory plants include those that have special smell, taste, touch and sight qualities.


Gardening activities for older people

There are many activities associated with cultivating an edible garden that seniors may enjoy. These include:

• Digging
• Planting
• Watering
• Harvesting food and flowers
• Crafts and hobbies associated with plants
• Food preparation.

You can check various websites for tips on gardening and information on plants.

Gardening is a healthy, stimulating physical activity that can be enjoyed by seniors.
The garden, equipment and tools can all be modified to suit the needs of older people.
Make sure your edible garden is a safe and accessible space.


Information also provided from: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

April Is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

What Is Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson's disease. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms.

Parkinson’s involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinson's primarily affects neurons in the an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally.

The specific group of symptoms that an individual experiences varies from person to person. Primary motor signs of Parkinson’s disease include the following.

• tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face

• bradykinesia or slowness of movement

• rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk

• postural instability or impaired balance and coordination

Scientists are also exploring the idea that loss of cells in other areas of the brain and body contribute to Parkinson’s. For example, researchers have discovered that the hallmark sign of Parkinson’s disease — clumps of a protein alpha-synuclein, which are also called Lewy Bodies — are found not only in the mid-brain but also in the brain stem and the olfactory bulb.

These areas of the brain correlate to nonmotor functions such as sense of smell and sleep regulation. The presence of Lewy bodies in these areas could explain the nonmotor symptoms experienced by some people with PD before any motor sign of the disease appears. The intestines also have dopamine cells that degenerate in Parkinson’s, and this may be important in the gastrointestinal symptoms that are part of the disease.

Go to:  http://www.pdf.org/en for more information on Parkinson's and how you can help those whose lives have been affected by this disease.

April is Financial Literacy Month

April is Financial Literacy Month.  Here you will find cost-cutting warning signs and how to help your senior stretch their dollar.

Finances may be among the most difficult issues that seniors and their family caregivers face. Many situations complicate the financial lives of older adults and their loved ones. The recession, multi-generational living and fixed incomes, to name a few, can throw seniors and their families into turmoil and prompt them to search for solutions.

If you are a family caregiver facing a situation that is impacting your loved one's financial situation, you may need resources to help. Answers could be just around the corner.  Click here for more information: http://www.caregiverstress.com/finances

Lovely Locks Will Be Shaved When Home Instead Senior Care Team Reaches Fundraising Goal

Most of us, if not all, are willing to physically protect a child should the need arise. Our sad reality, however, is that not everything that threatens children is something that can be physically fended off. Once every three minutes, a parent is told that their child has cancer; it’s an experience that no one can imagine, and no one should have to go through. From that moment on the child is no longer a mere child, but a gladiator in a fight for their life.

Childhood cancer is a tragedy for everyone it touches, and it touches more people than you might think. In spite of the horrors of the illness, however, little cancer research is geared directly with children in mind. In the face of overwhelming odds, we are lucky to have theSt. Baldrick’s Foundation.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has pledged to help end the fight against childhood cancer by funding research not only specifically geared toward children, but also geared toward saving their lifelong health from being damaged by the treatments. And luckily for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, they have four new warriors on their side this year.

At the Home Instead Senior Care office in Olympia are four women who have pledged to raise $4,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Rock, Paper, Scissors fundraiser on June 8th in Seattle. For the privilege of receiving your donations Michelle, Andrea, Carlena, and Jennifer will shave their heads. Why? Because they all agree that in the face of childhood cancer, hair is entirely meaningless.

To assist with these noble ladies’ endeavor, donations can be made through this group or in person at the office located at 1217 Cooper Pt Rd. SW Ste. 8. If you have questions, you can call Jennifer at 360-570-0049 ex. 107. For updates you can visit the South Sound Home Instead Senior Care Facebook page.

ABOUT THE PARTICIPATING STAFF:

Carlena Elliott

Age: 27

I recently had a friend who’s young niece Sadie-Lynn lost her fight to a very rare form of brain cancer known as AT/RT (Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor).  I have two small children and like any parent would be devastated if a tragedy like childhood cancer presented itself to my kids. After learning about Sadie and the Sadie’s Fight Foundation I became passionate about helping to find cures for childhood cancers. St. Baldricks like Sadie’s Fight is an incredible non-profit organization and I am happy to be taking part of something so big with a team of girls so great.

Jennifer McClees

Age: 28

I was born and raised in Tumwater, WA.  I am married to Dave McClees and I have 3 kids: Brady (7), Aspen (5) and Porter (1).  My father is a 2-time cancer survivor and I have lost people close to me to cancer.  Having three kids of my own and having been affected by cancer, I want to do everything I can to raise awareness and help find a cure.  Shaving my head is the least I can do to help.  One of my favorite quotes: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Michelle Webb

Age: 26

Reason why: Why wouldn’t you commit to such a great cause? Raising funds and awareness to support childhood cancer research is a worthy reason itself, but for me personally being able to selflessly give in support of all children and their families going through such a tremendous struggle is reason enough for me.

Andrea Garner

Age: 25

My name is Andrea Garner and I’m married to Shane Hedberg. Our family has been affected by cancer in many different forms, all of which hold their own tragedies and stories of absolute triumph. When I was approached and asked to fund raise and shave my head in support of childhood cancer research, there was no hesitation. I’m looking forward to the journey and the eradication of these diseases.

Article Care of:  http://www.thurstontalk.com

Salute To A Senior

VOTING STARTS TODAY!

Salute an outstanding senior volunteer! You'll be able to vote for which nominee deserves to become a State Winner. State Winners will receive a $500 donation for their favorite non-profit volunteer organization.


To recognize seniors for the impact they make in their communities by volunteering their time and talents, Home Instead Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, conducts an annual contest search for the most outstanding senior volunteer in the U.S.

In addition to our network’s mission of helping seniors to stay healthy and active as they age, which many do through volunteering, we want to encourage a positive outlook on aging. And what better way to do so than by inviting everyone in the country to personally recognize seniors who set an inspiring example for people of all ages?

Senior volunteers nominated for the Salute to Senior Service℠ contest not only receive public recognition and appreciation of their dedicated community service, but they are also eligible for a chance to win up to $5,500 for their favorite volunteer organization.



For complete contest information please go to: http://www.salutetoseniorservice.com