Aging Gracefully:The Five-Day Full-Body Recharge Plan

Aging is inevitable, but there are ways to delay the onset of physicalsigns like wrinkles or graying hair as well as mental and sensory signs,according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, prominent cardiac surgeon andhealth personality.

Dr. Oz recently announced a five-day plan to help rejuvenate eachof the five senses, as a common aging associated outcome is dullingof the senses.This is particularly interesting for those at risk fordeveloping Alzheimer’s as the plan Dr. Oz has developed can alsohighlight warning signs for early symptoms of the disease. Below youwill find the first two days of the sensory recharge plan, an excellentexercise for anyone looking to promote healthy longevity in his orher own life.

Day 1:Focuses on testing your senses and seeing which areas needimprovement and which areas are fully functional at a normal capacity.This is what Dr. Oz suggests for each sense:

TouchTest: Hold your arms straight down with your wrists pressing againsteach other for 10 seconds. If you feel numbness in several of yourfingers then you may have some nerve compression in your hands.

Remedy: “To maintain and strengthen the sensation in your nerves,take 10 mcg of vitamin B12 each day.”

SmellTest: Take a swab of alcohol away from your nose and near yourwaist. Slowly raise the swab towards your nose until you can smellit. If you can smell the alcohol around chest level then your sense ofsmell is fine. If not, this is what Dr. Oz suggests:

Remedy: “If you find your sense of smell lacking, try taking 600mgof the supplement Alpha Lipoic Acid daily to increase the functionof the olfactory nerve, which is instrumental in one’s sense of smell.”

CareNotes NewsletterVolume 5, No. 1

Letter from the Editor:

My first thought on January 1st is alwayswhat will the new year bring? 2011 wasan exciting year for Home Care Assistancewith thousands of caregivers providingnearly 6 million hours of in-home care,providing security and comfort for ourclients and peace of mind for their families.We published the second and third booksin our health and wellness series, TheHandbook of Live-in Care and From Hospitalto Home Care, which are now available onAmazon. We also launched a CorporateSocial Responsibility initiative to furtherserve our communities through activeengagement, education and philanthropy.Reflecting on the successful year that haspassed, I look forward to sharing with youin the comings months the many excitingdevelopments and projects we will belaunching in the year ahead!

To kick off another milestone year atHome Care Assistance, we are excited toshare the first CareNotes newsletter for 2012.To add to your New Year’s resolutions, I will share a Five-Day Full Body RechargePlan created by Dr. Oz to help rejuvenateeach of the five senses, as dulling of thesenses is a common complaint amongolder adults. Also recent research has beenpublished about a superfood with whichwe are all familiar: broccoli. I will sharethe reasons why you should find a way toincorporate this vegetable into your dailydiet starting today. I will also discuss thegrowing momentum of the aging in placemovement among older adults. As aresponse to the housing crisis and byvirtue of older adults becoming savvier inresearching the long term costs and qualityof life impacts of various care options,many seniors are holding onto their homesand opting for in-home care instead ofselling their homes and moving into anassisted or independent living facility.

Lastly, I would like to congratulateDeeDee Bradley from Home Care Assistanceof Milwaukee for being selected for thismonth’s Caregiver Spotlight. We wouldlike to recognize DeeDee for theprofessionalism and unyielding care shebrings with her in caring for our clients!

TasteTest: Mix zinc sulfate with water and swish it around your mouth for ten seconds. If you donot sense a metallic taste, then your sense of taste may be deficient.

Remedy: “Take 15 mg of zinc daily if you experience a taste deficiency. Within 2-3 weeks yoursense of taste should be restored. Otherwise, consult your doctor.”

Day 2:The second day focuses on skin rejuvenation, as the skin is one of the most obvious signs ofaging as it begins to wrinkle and show signs of weathering. The mixture of nutmeg andcinnamon can serve as a rejuvenation agent for wrinkled skin. Take 6 teaspoons of cinnamonand nutmeg and run it though your coffee machine’s filter. Then, pour this mixture directlyinto a warm bath and soak in it.

Alternatively, you can let the mixture cool and use it as a face or body wash instead.

Have you found these tips useful? You can read the rest of the remedies from the remainingthree days of the regimen here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/5-day-full-body-recharge-plan?page=3#copy.

As always, you should consult your physician or other health care professional before startingthis or any other wellness plan to determine if it is right for your needs.

A Little Broccoli Goes a Long Way

I am always looking for ways to incorporate healthy foods into my daily diet. One easy way toaccomplish this is by choosing fresh, organic (if possible) and nutrient rich options whenshopping for foods. Many of us know that a diet high in fruits, vegetables and lean proteins isideal, but one particular vegetable has a significant number of health benefits that sets it apartfrom other vegetables, according to recent research; this superfood is broccoli. Though oftenhumorously disliked for its taste (though I personally have always loved the taste!), broccoli ishigh in fiber, iron and other vitamins, such as Vitamins A, B, C, and K, and is favored bynutritionists for its cancer fighting properties in the form of a phytochemical called sulforaphane.

CareNotes NewsletterVolume 5, No. 1

CareNotes NewsletterVolume 5, No. 1

Below, Beth Gilbert, M.D., lists seven more key benefits broccoli offers older adults:

1) Improves immunity with its high vitamin C content.2) Helps fight depression with its mood boosting B vitamin folate.3) Enhances bone health as a result of high calcium content.4) Neutralizes sodium levels in the body as a result of its rich potassium content.5) Offers some protection against heart disease and stroke.6) Improves digestion.7) Contains lutein, which is important for eye health. Studies have shown that lutein helps

prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

For those of you who aren’t very fond of plain broccoli, there are many ways you can addflavor to the vegetable without decreasing its nutritional value. Add lightly steamed broccolito a whole wheat pasta dish with grilled chicken for added protein or sprinkle reduced-fatparmesan cheese over steamed broccoli for added flavor.

Home Care: The Preferred and Practical Choice

When it comes to long term care options for themselves, 9 out of 10 seniors would prefer to age in place at home, according to an often-quoted AARP survey. Not only are seniorsable to maintain their independence in their own homes, but they are also able to remain in a familiar place surrounded by the memories and belongings they love. As older adults agedin the past, they were more likely to consider selling their homes for financial reasons, but anumber of factors have made this trend less appealing in more recent years.

As a response to the housing crisis and by virtue of older adults becoming savvier inresearching the long term costs and quality of life impacts of various care options, manyseniors are holding onto their homes and opting for in-home care instead of selling theirhomes and moving into an assisted or independent living facility. The good news, accordingto the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is that caregiving will become the second fastestgrowing occupation in the country, with more than 50% projected growth by 2016. This meansthat as the aging population lives longer due to technological and medical advancements,there will also be enough caregivers to provide in-home care to those who wish to remain intheir own homes.

So when you or your loved one reach a point where living at home without assistance is unsafeand not ideal, sit down with your family members and have a frank and honest discussionabout what the best and most financially wise care option is for you.

CareNotes NewsletterVolume 5, No. 1

Caregiver of the Month Spotlight: DeeDee Bradley

This month’s Caregiver Spotlight honors DeeDee Bradley from Home Care Assistance ofMilwaukee for her professional and empathetic care and dedication to her elderly clients.It comes as no surprise that DeeDee is from a long line of caregivers. In fact, she oftencomments that her extraordinary and natural caregiving abilities may even be genetic.Interestingly, five out of her nine siblings are also in healthcare careers. DeeDee says, “my passion for compassion is my mission in life and it most certainly comes from my heart.

This strong, vivacious mother of three and grandmother of seven was one of Home CareAssistance of Milwaukee’s first hires. DeeDee quickly set a benchmark for other caregivers tostrive toward and helped the office staff realize the special personal characteristics and skillsthey wanted in future caregivers. DeeDee earned her certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenseand comprehensive CBRF trainings 12 years ago; she added to this a wealth of experiencefrom her job at Marion Franciscan Nursing Home in Milwaukee. In the three years that shehas been a valued employee with Home Care Assistance, DeeDee has profoundly touched thelives of over 25 clients with her exceptional care and compassion. She is always willing to fill inwhen needed and has proven to be an excellent member of the Milwaukee team.

Although DeeDee loves all aspects of caregiving, the hospice focus of home care is what she ismost passionate about. It is her ability to almost instantly create a genuine and loving relationshiprooted in trust and respect with her clients and their families that is so comforting when theend is near. She has often asked to remain with her client on a live-in basis until – as one clientexpressed – “she becomes the angel that ushers our loved one home”. During this time,Deedee’s “passion for compassion” with her clients is also extended to the client’s loved onesand their needs. It is truly inspirational to hear DeeDee’s express how caregiving is her lifemission and calling.

On behalf of everyone at Home Care Assistance, we are proud to call DeeDee Bradley a memberof our family. Thank you for helping us achieve our mission of changing the way the world ages!