It’s the application or “apps” that make these devices so useful.  Apps turn our phones in to mini computers that put resources, information and amusement right in our hands.  Here are some apps that many seniors find invaluable.

Simple Phone Seniors Phonotto

Today’s smart phones can be overwhelming with apps, widgets, and other things on the screen, some seniors want to turn their “smart” phone into a basic handset that is easy to use and easy to see.  Simple Phone Seniors Phonotto makes using your smart phone easy.  The large touch screen buttons allow you to quickly and easily make phone calls and send or receive text messages.

 Skype

Make video calls to your children, grandchildren, or friends, wherever they live.  You’re no longer confined to a video call from your computer.  Using a smart phone capable of running the Skype app allows you to video call anyone who has Skype; regardless of whether it’s on their computer or mobile phone.  Many newer smart phones have front facing cameras in addition to the camera on the backside of the device, so video calls are easy.

 Valpak

Ever leave home to go shopping or head out for dinner and realize you left your coupons on the kitchen counter?  Now you can download the Valpak app and bring local coupons up on your phone.  Many retailers will accept the mobile version of their coupons and the app sorts them by category and location, so finding what you are looking for is easy.

 Audio book – aging

This is an audio book that discusses the changes that people experience as they age.  Physical and psychological changes occur as one ages and the chapters in this audio book discuss those changes as well as provide tips on maintaining health, life in retirement communities, protecting your skin, and how to cover up minor blemishes caused by aging.

 iTriage

Feeling a bit under the weather or have an unusual pain and wondering what may be the cause?  iTriage allows you to search symptoms and learn about potential causes.  Information about diseases, procedures, and medications is also available along with a directory of hospitals, physicians, and pharmacies.

 Senior Golf Guide

This app is designed to help seniors improve their golf game or for some, how to get started if they have never played.  Whether you are a beginner or a pro ,this app provides all the tips and tricks to be a better golfer.  It discusses the exercises you should do before hitting the course, the snacks you should take with you to keep your body fueled, and tips for warming up to avoid injury.

 Brain Genius Deluxe

Exercise your mind, quiz yourself, and keep your brain active.  This app has many fun exercises for your brain.  The games analyze your observation, memory, calculation, and reasoning abilities.  The more you play, the stronger you mind becomes.  Just like muscles in your body, the more training you do the more brain power you develop.

 Amazon Mobile

If you’ve ever shopped on Amazon.com you know there are deals to be had.  Now, you can do your shopping on the go.  Even better, if you are at a retailer and want to compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal, use your Amazon app to scan the barcode of the product.  Compare their price to Amazon’s.  If Amazon’s is better, with one click you can order the product and have it to your door within a day or two.

Before loading apps to your phone or tablet, keep in mind that some are free while others charge a minimal one-time fee.  Further, some apps may not be compatible with certain smart phones.  What’s available for an iPhones might not work on an Android, but most do work on all platforms.  The fun part of apps is exploring and finding out what works best for your lifestyle. 

1.  It’s just a nursing home…

            Many would be pleasantly surprised to discover today’s communities offer independent villas and apartments with multiple floor plans to fit almost any need.  Some offer lofts or basements for those not ready to downsize.  Meal plans, security, housekeeping, lawn service, maintenance and more, take the worries and stress from the lives of residents so they are free to enjoy life.  Retirement communities also offer assisted living apartments and skilled nursing rooms “right on campus” for when specialized services are needed.

2.  There is an unpleasant odor…

            Again, the old fashioned stigma that a retirement community is just like a stand alone nursing home is far from the truth.  Retirement communities smell just like home… if your home offers gourmet meals, freshly baked cookies and pies, open airy spaces, acres of flowers and green space, a pool and happy hour with hors d’ouevres every week!

3.  Everyone goes there when they are ready to die…

            This statement couldn’t be further from the truth!  Residents at retirement communities are looking for socialization. Many feel liberated when they can share their memories of family and experiences with new acquaintances and then create memories with their newfound friends.  Retirement neighborhoods usually offer a robust calendar of activities from overnight excursions to educational adventures, entertainment, volunteer opportunities, social hours, clubs and more.  Residents often state they are busy from morning until night with so much available.

4.  Everyone is old…

            Though the age of residents living at retirement communities is generally over the age of 55, that doesn’t make them old.  This group often lives more in one day than their family members and friends who do not take advantage of what life has to offer.  At Maple Knoll Village, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a 91 year old resident became the oldest person to indoor Go-Kart and four ladies over 75 took on zip lining at the YMCA Ozone Adventures.  And, many retirement communities have Montessori Child Centers on campus.  This intergenerational component adds joy and laughter to a community.  Old is a mindset, not a number.   

5.  You only go to one if you need help…

            If you are smart, you come to a retirement community to live the life you have always dreamed.  Taking away the monotonous chores and stresses of being a homeowner, residents at retirement communities, like Maple Knoll Village, truly Live Life.  Those that move when they are independent, and can do as they please, say it was the best decision of their lives.  Those that wait until they need help, often regret not moving sooner to capitalize on all that retirement living has to offer.

 There is no “set age” when it is best to move to a retirement community, but remember, do it sooner than later.  You will certainly be happy you did!

February is Heart Health month.  You can help fight cardiovascular disease by adding foods to your diet that are rich in vitamins, nutrients and Omega 3s.  Select plenty of fruits and vegetables and other items that remain true to their natural state.  Eat more “whole-foods” and less processed ones.

Take kindness to heart by adding the following foods to your everyday diet.

Oatmeal – A great way to start your day, oatmeal is full of omega 3 fatty acids and is rich in fiber to help lower bad cholesterol (LDL).  Top it off with berries or bananas and for a heart healthy treat, try some oatmeal cookies.

Tuna – This fatty fish is a rich source of heart healthy omega 3, high in protein, B-vitamins and nutrients that help the body produce red blood cells.  If you’re buying canned tuna, select the variety packaged in water, not oil.  Also, mixing tuna with high fat mayonnaise can cancel out the health benefits. 

Blueberries – A tiny gem packed with anti-inflammatories that help reduce the risk of heart disease. Blueberries contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their dark blue color and they’re loaded with fiber.  The best part is, you can get blueberries year-round.

Spinach – Essential to muscle strength, spinach has co-enzyme Q10 to help keep the heart muscle strong.  It also contains lutein, an antioxidant known to prevent or reduce hardening of the arteries.  Consider swapping out iceberg lettuce with this green leafy dynamo.

Almonds – All nuts are loaded with good fat (poly and monounsaturated) but almonds are nutritionally dense, giving you more benefit with fewer calories.  Great as a snack or salad topper, almonds can help reduce cholesterol. 

Black Beans – An abundant source of soluble fiber, black beans also contain a wide variety of both antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to help fight heart disease and high cholesterol.  The weather is just right for some black bean chili.

Brown rice – If you’re eating white rice, consider replacing it with brown.  The bran is kept intact with brown rice, giving you a healthy dose of fiber and it’s the only form of the grain that has Vitamin E.

In fact, you’ll have better results if you mix it up by adding strength and flexibility to your cardio workouts.  An exercise class can do just that.  Here are some ideas that will take you beyond the treadmill and help fight fitness boredom.

1.  Do a morning stretch.  Start your day off with Flex & Firm, a class inspired by Yoga that targets your core by using standing and floor stretching as well as the use of a stability ball for strength and toning. 

2.  Travel the circuit. Flex your muscles using the resistance machines in the fitness room in a group setting. The Circuit incorporates all of the upper body and lower body machines along with various exercises utilizing dumbbells and other accessories.

3.  Just add water.  Nothing is more refreshing than a workout in the pool and Aqua Aerobics gets you motivated with cardio plus resistance training.  For something a little more relaxing, try Ai Chi, a water-based, relaxation progression class that combines deep breathing with slow broad movements.

4.  Become more social.  Exercising in a group builds camaraderie, holds us accountable and keeps us motivated.  Plus it’s fun when you’re with friends!  Water Volleyball at Maple Knoll is a great way to be active and social at the same time.

5.  Start dancing!  Zumba anyone?  Dance your worries away with Zumba Fitness.  This class uses high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations. It is based on the principle that a workout should be “fun and easy to do” allowing you stick to the Zumba Fitness program and achieve long-term health benefits.

Fact: Thinking about going to the gym burns between 0 and 0 calories!

This year, add an exercise class to your fitness routine.  Contact the Hemsworth Wellness Center on the campus of Maple Knoll Village at 513.782.4340 for more information.

1.  Set realistic goals

We know visiting family and friends is always on the to-do list during the holiday season, but traveling and meeting with people all day can be physically and mentally exhausting. Make sure to schedule ample rest time throughout and allow for plenty of transportation time in between visits so that there’s no rushing around to see last-minute guests.

2.  Keep set schedules

If your senior parent or friend is used to waking up at a certain time, eating at a certain time and going to bed at a certain time, make sure to respect those schedules. Staying up later to accommodate family visits or having to eat later in the evening because of a difference in meal times can be difficult and stressful for a senior to acclimate to, so make sure you know beforehand what their schedule is like.

3.  Keep expenses to a minimum

Many older adults are on fixed incomes, so keeping costs low can help ease any financial stress associated with the holidays. Travel, gifts and food can all start to take their toll on the checkbook, so make sure to create a realistic budget and stick to it.

4.  Plan appropriate activities

A six-hour shopping trip may not be the best idea for a senior who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time. If these types of activities are unavoidable, make sure that a walker or wheelchair is available to make activities easier and more comfortable.  Many seniors have circulatory problems or other illnesses that can make standing for long periods difficult.

5.  Keep friends or family around

Along with the fun and happy aspects of holidays comes sadness for many older adults – especially those who’ve lost loved ones. Be sure not to be isolated.

Finally, Unfortunately…50% of the seniors over the age of 80 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease…holidays are very stressful for people with memory issues…if you are planning a large family event encourage relatives to wear name tags,  it can be very intimidating for people who can not remember a relatives name.   Long term memory is usually intact, so this is a wonderful time to go down, “Memory Lane” and share old pictures. 

Finally, encourage seniors, as we do at THE KNOLLS, to “LIVE LIFE”

1.  Set realistic goals

We know visiting family and friends is always on the to-do list during the holiday season, but traveling and meeting with people all day can be physically and mentally exhausting. Make sure to schedule ample rest time throughout and allow for plenty of transportation time in between visits so that there’s no rushing around to see last-minute guests.

2.  Keep set schedules

If your senior parent or friend is used to waking up at a certain time, eating at a certain time and going to bed at a certain time, make sure to respect those schedules. Staying up later to accommodate family visits or having to eat later in the evening because of a difference in meal times can be difficult and stressful for a senior to acclimate to, so make sure you know beforehand what their schedule is like.

3.  Keep expenses to a minimum

Many older adults are on fixed incomes, so keeping costs low can help ease any financial stress associated with the holidays. Travel, gifts and food can all start to take their toll on the checkbook, so make sure to create a realistic budget and stick to it.

4.  Plan appropriate activities

A six-hour shopping trip may not be the best idea for a senior who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time. If these types of activities are unavoidable, make sure that a walker or wheelchair is available to make activities easier and more comfortable.  Many seniors have circulatory problems or other illnesses that can make standing for long periods difficult.

5.  Keep friends or family around

Along with the fun and happy aspects of holidays comes sadness for many older adults – especially those who’ve lost loved ones. Be sure not to be isolated.

Finally, Unfortunately…50% of the seniors over the age of 80 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease…holidays are very stressful for people with memory issues…if you are planning a large family event encourage relatives to wear name tags,  it can be very intimidating for people who can not remember a relatives name.   Long term memory is usually intact, so this is a wonderful time to go down, “Memory Lane” and share old pictures. 

Finally, encourage seniors, as we do at MAPLE KNOLL, to “LIVE LIFE”

These programs offer benefits to individuals from every generation as they offer mentoring relationships.  “Creating an age-integrated community leads to a healthy community, where the strengths of one generation meet the needs of another.  All generations grow in an appreciation for cultural heritages, traditions, histories and values” (IntergenerationDay.org, 2008).

The goal of Maple Knoll Child Center’s intergenerational program is to provide meaningful and continual relationships, experiences and activities that are mutually beneficial and developmentally appropriate for both young and older person involved.

A pre-school in a nursing home is a perfect fit.  Many of the senior’s and children’s psychosocial needs are complementary.  Some of these needs can be met when seniors and children come together and share experiences. 

Older adults have a need to nurture and children need to be nurtured.  Children have a need to learn and older adults have the need to teach.  Older adults want to share cultural customs and children are just beginning to develop their cultural identity.  Older adults want to leave a legacy and children have a need to be connected to a previous generation.                                                       

One of the benefits of my job is facilitating the intergenerational activities between the children of Maple Knoll Child Center and the residents of Maple Knoll Village.  I get to witness the joy on the Resident’s faces as the children greet them with a smile and a hug, I hear he laughter that fills the area during one of our activities and see many smiles and ‘high-fives’ as a small group of residents and children successfully complete a puzzle.

The children are a special part of the Resident’s life at Maple Knoll.  A resident said, “Nobody likes to get old and as you do, you miss children.  And some of these children don’t have grandparents and I’m a grandparent to them in a way that is satisfying. It’s wonderful to be around little people; they’re loving and get so close to you.”

Bertha Smiley, who volunteered at the Child Center for 4 1/2 years before her death at the age of 102, noticed a young boy standing by himself looking sad and invited him to look at a book. “No”, he said. She asked if she could play a matching game with him. “No”, he said, “I just want to sit on your lap.” And Bertha recalled, “And so he came and sat on my lap and we held each other. And I went to bed that night feeling like that day was worthwhile.”

Children benefit from Intergenerational Programs in many ways, including the promotion of personal relationship with elders and positive attitudes toward the aging. Intergenerational programs help young children develop empathy and give them a concrete understanding of physical disabilities.

Intergenerational programs offer many benefits for the resident of the village:  the children help to reduce the felling of isolation and loneliness through social contact, it offers the residents opportunities to share a lifetime of experience and improves self-esteem.

So who benefits from Intergenerational Programs?  Why everyone of course!

For more information, please contact Meri Fox, director of the Maple Knoll Child Center at mfox@mkcommunities.org

•  Discontinued outsourcing therapy and hired in-house therapists

•  Discontinued the SeniorFitness program and hired in-house instructors for the Wellness Center

•  Outsourced some MKC billing functions

•  Implemented 12-hour shifts for STNA’s, LPN’s and RN’s in Bodmann Pavilion

•  Made staffing changes through attrition and repositioning

•  Awarded new groundskeeping service to the lowest bidder

•  Converted available space into two additional apartments in Breese Manor Assisted Living

•  Contracted with OneSource Employee Management, LLC, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) in order to combat Ohio’s expensive workers compensation system

Thank you,

Jim Formal

President and CEO, Maple Knoll Communities

 

Skip the salt

Table salt (sodium chloride) is approximately 40% sodium. Just skip adding salt when cooking. Keep salt off the kitchen counter and the dinner table.

Read the label

Use the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredients

statement to find foods lower in sodium. Look for foods labeled “low sodium” or “reduced sodium.” Foods with less than 140 mg sodium per serving can be labeled as low-sodium foods.

Learn the lingo

Besides “salt,” sodium comes in a range of forms.

When reading ingredient statements, look for: sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, sodium ascorbate, etc. Limit sodium and salt in food.

Ask for low-sodium foods where you eat out or shop

Ask for what you want. The marketplace is changing and supermarkets and food manufacturers want to sell healthier foods. Many restaurants will prepare low-sodium foods at your request and will serve sauces and salad dressings on the side so you can use less. The more you make your low sodium demands known, the greater the chance that food companies will change their recipes.

Pay attention to the condiments and seasonings you use

Some seasonings are just about as high in sodium as regular table salt. So, instead of onion salt, use onion powder or replace garlic salt with fresh garlic. Limit the amount of brined or pickled foods. Buy low-sodium soy sauce. Use only a sprinkling of flavoring packets instead of the entire packet.

Enjoy full-flavored, home-prepared foods

Use herbs and spices to flavor foods. Preparing your

own foods allows you to control the amount of sodium you eat. Make your own salad dressings with herb mixes instead of buying pre-packed ones.

Fill up on foods naturally low in sodium

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and cooked dry beans and lentils. Many Americans need to eat 3 cups—and for some people up to a total of 6 cups—of fruits and

vegetables each day, depending on the amount of calories needed. Go to MyPyramid.gov to find out the amount of fruits and vegetables YOU need.

Learn to enjoy the natural taste of foods

Savor the flavor of simply prepared foods. Try cutting back on salt little by little—and pay attention to the natural tastes and textures of various foods.

For more information on being healthy contact the Hemsworth Wellness Center at 513.782.4340 and ask for Jon Williamson, Wellness Center Director.

Manage Your Stress

While stress is a natural bodily function, too much stress can lead to serious health problems.  The first step to creating effective stress management tools is to identify your stress triggers. Jobs, personal relationships and money can all contribute to stress.  Examples of relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, meditation and physical exercise. No matter what the technique, the key is choosing something that is relaxing and helpful to you. Once you determine your technique, use it whenever stress arises.

Practiced Balanced Eating and Moderation

When it comes to food and healthy living, it is easy to focus on specific food groups and labeling some foods “good” and others “bad.  Balance requires eating foods from all five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy.  For example, do not limit yourself to eating carrots to meet your vegetable intake. Instead, make a salad that includes a variety of vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, olives, avocado and tomatoes.

Moderation requires making a habit of not overeating. Eat only when you are truly hungry and stop when you are full. Enjoy the foods you love such as desserts and chips; however, enjoy these foods in small portions and make healthier options the majority of your meals.

Think Positively

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, your mind plays an important role.  Making a conscious decision and taking action to think positively can improve your health. According to Mayo Clinic, possible health benefits of positive thinking may include: increased life span; lower stress levels and rates of depression; greater resistance to the common cold; better physical and mental well-being; reduced risk of cardiovascular disease; and better coping skills. Make the decision to think positively each day. Look for the humor in everyday situations; surround yourself with positive people; and constantly encourage yourself with positive words and affirmations.

Stay Hydrated

The majority of the human body is composed of water. It comes as no surprise that water is a key component to health. Your body needs water to digest food, create perspiration and for normal cell function. Drinking water does not have to constitute your sole source of water. Your body can also pull water from any food or drink that contains water, such as juice, vegetables and fruit. Accordingly, make sure your body is well hydrated by consuming foods that contain water and drinking water several times a day. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Instead, keep water on hand and take drinks throughout the day as you think about it. Keep extra water on hand when you are performing physical activities and on warm days.

The Hemsworth Wellness Center on the campus of Maple Knoll Village is always ready to help older adults with fitness, nutrition and changes to lifestyle to help make healthier adults.
Jon Paul Williamson-Hemsworth Wellness Center Director