Leslie Newlife

What to Know About Being a Caregiver for Your Parent

For many families, making use of nursing facilities or hired in-home caregivers simply isn’t an affordable option. If your parent has already suffered from one or more medical problems, you may be wondering what you can do to help. Adults in this position may need to step in and personally ensure that their parent is healthy and happy. If you’re conducting research on what to know about being a caregiver for your parent before you take on this responsibility, here are a few things you should consider.

Caregiving Is Demanding

Becoming the primary caregiver for your parent means dedicating time, resources, and energy to their welfare. Frequent medical visits drain hours out of the day, and adjusting to an additional person in your home is undeniably exhausting. You will have to decide if this is a process you are capable of handling before you opt to become your parent’s caregiver. Fortunately, if you do take on the responsibility, there are resources available to help you in all the difficult aspects, from support groups to financial options.

Caregivers Can Receive Compensation

If your parent needs assistance with multiple activities that impact their quality of life, like showering or getting around the house, you may be able to receive compensation for helping them. Plans like Medicaid can pay in-home caregivers an hourly wage to help maintain the financial stability and well-being of you both. However, your income, your loved one’s income, the state you live in, and many other factors can impact your eligibility to be a paid caregiver.

You May Need to Train

Caregivers don’t always need to play the role of nurse for their loved one, but there are bound to be times when that kind of assistance is necessary. If you will spend most of the time as your parent’s primary caregiver, it is in your best interest to seek caregiver training programs as early as possible.

Many free programs exist that can fill new caregivers in on the legal, financial, and medical aspects of the work and help prepare them for what’s to come. Finding a program that specializes in your parent’s needs, such as Alzheimer’s and memory care, will be especially helpful.

Another thing to know about being a caregiver for your parent is that you don’t necessarily need to be the primary caregiver to remain involved. Even from a distance, children of aging parents can help their parents adjust to medical, financial, and social changes by frequently reaching out. By remaining a resource that your parents can rely on, you can help them thrive without sacrificing your own financial or mental well-being.

Are Old Tunes Best for an Old Soul?

Music therapy isn’t always the first form of therapy you think of when it comes to senior care, but playing and listening to music has been proven to keep the mind young. When you hear some of the best road trip songs from the 1950s or a song your mother used to sing, the feeling you get is more than nostalgia.

The power of music is universally known and used to instill pride, unite the people of a nation, and create an atmosphere. In recent history, music was used as a treatment for soldiers returning from World War I and World War II for mental and physical healing.

The charitable act of performing music for children, the elderly, or those healing has been in practice for centuries within the U.S. and is documented for almost every culture globally.

If music is not currently a part of your self-care or caretaker routine, it could be in your best interest to count it in.

What is music therapy, and who is qualified?

Music therapy is a therapeutic technique that can help patients achieve mental and physical health goals through various musical and sound methods.

Music and sound can be used to improve mood, be a sleep aid, and increase mobility skills for individuals. With so many things to gain, why don’t seniors and caregivers make more effort to incorporate music into their daily lives?

The answer is that most people don’t think of music therapy as an option. Music is often seen as a hobby or something to do as a leisure activity. However, sound and music can be one of the best ways to treat mental and physical ailments. 

Although simply listening to more music is likely to improve the mood of you or your patient, music therapy techniques are more than pressing play.

If you are a caretaker or just find music therapy interesting, you should know what qualifications you want when looking for a therapist. A trained music therapy professional needs to have been issued the Certification Board for Music Therapists’ credential along with a bachelor’s degree in music, psychology, or medicine.

How is music therapy done?

In a music therapy session, you can expect to do anything from profoundly listening to creating your own music. Activities such as analyzing lyrics, composing music, and singing songs support treatments for emotional, spiritual, and trauma healing.

There are multiple ways a music therapist may use music as a healing agent. Music therapy sessions range from stationary to active, depending on the overall goals for the patient.

To improve strength, mobility, and cognitive abilities, sessions may include dance or rhythm-keeping activities such as tapping fingers and toes to a beat.

You can expect to be asked to talk about the meaning of melodies and lyrics and the emotions that different types of music make you feel. Getting used to instruments such as drums, keyboards, guitars, and harmonicas are highly encouraged, especially if you’re not already musically inclined.

 Each session of music therapy will be different, which keeps the programs engaging and productive. Believe it or not, even methods that target what sounds will improve sleep for older adults and reduce stress.

What conditions can music therapy help?

You don’t necessarily need to be ill or suffering to benefit from music therapy, but it can be a way to supplement other medical forms of treatment. Doctors will often recommend lifestyle changes in addition to prescriptions, but breaking out of old habits is easier said than done.

Music therapy is a great way to create new healthy habits while providing extra support for any already prescribed medications.

A list of conditions and illnesses music therapy can be used to help treat include:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Behavior disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Blindness
  • Deafness or hearing loss
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Headaches and migraines 
  • Hormonal imbalance and mood issues
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Substance abuse
  • Stroke
  • Road rage and anger management

Those who participate in music therapy vary since the treatment is a practical therapy method for a wide range of ages and conditions. Sound and music therapy has shown to improve conditions for those who have participated in military service, people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and victims of trauma and crisis.

This therapy has also shown results for people in correctional facilities, rehabilitation, and individuals with various mental health disorders. 

Not all who participate in music therapy need to receive a diagnosis to start. Others participate to get guidance on stopping self-harming behaviors such as binge eating, undereating, violent or angry outbursts, or those socially withdrawn.

Can music therapy help me physically?

The mental health benefits of both music and sound therapy are more than worth the effort of giving it a try. However, the benefits of partaking in music therapy don’t stop there.

Physical ways patients see the positive results of effective music and sound therapy include:

  • Improved cardiac functions
  • Improved motor development
  • Improved organ function
  • Improved respiration
  • Reduced heart rate
  • Reduced pain
  • Regulated blood pressure
  • Regulated digestion
  • Relaxed muscle tension

The connection between your emotional and physical state has profound effects on your overall health. Regardless of why you’re considering music therapy, there are endless ways you can find life-altering results.

Will insurance cover the cost of music therapy?

If you have to receive treatment for your health, why not choose a therapeutic method that allows you to have fun? Music therapy is just one of the must-haves to improve senior quality of life and is deemed necessary by insurance as well.

If you currently are enrolled in a Medicaid or Medicare health insurance policy, your coverage likely already includes music therapy treatment. Regulation for music and sound therapy differs from state to state, but it isn’t uncommon to need a prescription to initiate the coverage.

The only way to know exactly how much coverage you can receive is by talking to your current provider or shopping around for a better rate. Considering music and sound therapy are beneficial for patients in treatment and recovery, it shouldn’t be challenging to apply for pre-approval.

Talk to your doctor and explore what options are available to help you live a happier, healthier, and more joyful life.

About The Author:  Danielle Beck-Hunter writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. Danielle is an insurance expert who began researching senior care when her grandmother was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Protect Your Keepsakes from a Flood

Often, the most precious items that we own are also the most irreplaceable. Valuable keepsakes help us remember the important memories in our lives, whether they’re vintage photos or priceless antiques that relatives passed down through generations.

In an instant, however, a natural disaster—such as a flood—can wash them away without a care, and you’ll lose decades’ worth of memories. Before it’s too late, learn how to protect your keepsakes from a flood if your house is in a flood-prone area.

Keep Your House Clean

After you’ve lived in your home for so long, it is difficult to imagine cleaning it and downsizing your collections of stuff. Maintaining a clean house is important for protecting your valuables from the unthinkable—knowing where everything is at any given time will help you know if something goes missing.

If your house is too cluttered to clean on your own, have your home care assistant, friends, or family members help you undertake the project. You may need a professional cleaning company to clean your home for you quickly.

Once you have a clean slate, take inventory of your most beloved belongings. Create an organized chart or list and keep it somewhere safe, so you can double-check it if a flood ever impacts your home.

Digitize Photos, Film, and Documents

Physical media formats may disappear in a flood, but digital versions of those same memories can last forever—especially if you store them on cloud storage. Cloud storage keeps your files in your personal online space, which prevents them from washing away, like if you had stored them on a flash drive, CD, or computer.

Because you never know when a flood can strike, you must digitize your media sooner rather than later to avoid losing your fragile photos. You may need help from a child or grandchild to ensure that everything is easily accessible to you. All your favorite keepsakes will have digital copies in case you ever lose the originals.

Pick a Safe Place to Store Keepsakes

Finally, the best way to protect your keepsakes from a flood is to keep them high and dry wherever you store them. Don’t stow them away in your damp, cold basement where they’re the most at risk of flood damage—keep them in a closet upstairs where it’s dry. Higher floors are less likely to flood, making them ideal for precious memorabilia. Utilize shelves, storage bins, and acid-free photobooks to keep things tidy.

A flood is disastrous for your home, but you don’t have to lose generations’ worth of antiquities and memories to the damage. Take small steps now to protect your keepsakes, and you can focus on the big picture if water ever makes its way inside the house.

How to Design Safe Bathrooms for the Elderly

Most of us love large, luxurious bathrooms. But bathrooms for elders need special design features and a number of helpful components. The wrong tiling, lighting or sanitary fixtures can result in major inconveniences and dangerous mishaps.

The last thing any elder needs is a fall in their old, vulnerable age.

So, here are some safe and convenient ideas for a bathroom designed for older folk: 

1) Non-slip flooring

Fancy tiles look great till they are wet and slippery. Most bathroom accidents and slips are due to soapy, wet floors in the shower, bath or even dry areas onto which the water sometimes overflows.. There is a wide and beautiful selection of anti-slip bath floor tiles to choose from. When purchasing online or from a store, double check the anti-slip properties of your tiles.

If you’re moving into a home that already has tiling, place non-slip mats in strategic positions. The spots from where one steps in and out of the shower and bath-tub, and inside the shower cubicle or bathtub. To be on the safer side, place non-slip runner mats along the length of the bathtub. Lay down a non-slip mat at the door of the bathroom as well. 

Speaking of doors, wide, sliding doors on the entrance and shower are easier to handle than those with complicated locking systems. You can also consider a frameless shower door and install handles on them for the safety of the elderly. 

2) Grab or holding bars and railings

Be sure to include short or long grab bars on the wall areas near the toilet, when getting out of the shower and in the dry area to assist elders at every point. The height of each bar should match its usage. For example, the ones near the toilet should be reachable when sitting down. 

Good, solid holding bars are essential for elders with arthritis, weak muscles or post surgery. The latest statistics tell us that by 2040, close to 80 million Americans will be diagnosed with arthritis. So, holding bars will never be a wasteful idea and they are quite inexpensive to buy and install. 

Plus, if the elders you are designing for need caretakers, these bars can also help them to assist better.

3) Shower bench or chair

Age affects our ability to balance. The solution is to offer a waterproof shower bench to sit on while bathing. Old folk can relax and stay calm instead of feeling traumatized and nervous every time they enter the shower.   

Bath time is meant to rejuvenate and destress, but if standing upright is a task, a shower bench will help. Since they’re designed to be placed in the shower or bathtub, shower benches are stable and don’t slip around. They have small holes in the seat and back to allow water to drain out and prevent nasty collections. You can choose benches with armrests or without. Also, they are height adjustable. 

4) High toilet with bidet

A high toilet would be one that is at least 17 inches from the floor. It’s better on aging knees and back to install a high toilet. Makes it easy to sit and get back up, especially when coupled with grab bars on the side. 

Many elders suffer from weak bladders and when they need to go, they need to go! The toilet’s placement, therefore, should be close to the door for easy and quick access.

Many elders like the idea of a bidet as it helps them to clean themselves if needed, without depending on others. So consider installing one for the benefit of the aged. 

5) Easy, well arranged storage

To begin with, an elderly’s bathroom should be minimalist in terms of the number of bottles, tubes and bath items being stored. Too much stuff will tend to spill over onto the floor causing them to bend over and pick up, every time. 

Once you have decided on all essential bath products and bath aids for seniors, store them in pull out drawers rather than cupboards. Every item should be easily accessible, not too high nor too low. In fact, refrain from installing any drawers lower than average knee height.

Towels, wash cloth drawers should be close and within reach from the shower area. If you’re installing a shower bench, store soaps and shampoos in walled shelves or a sturdy shower caddy, at a lower height, so that one doesn’t need to stand up to take and put back bottles. Similarly, if it’s a normal shower situation, keep the shower caddy high enough so that one doesn’t need to bend to get stuff. 

Another neat trick is to keep permanent dispensers that can be refilled instead of product bottles. These can fit right into the caddy cavities and can be accessed via a pump spray mechanism…. much simpler.  

6) Walk-in tubs with doors and features

Walk-in tubs are genius ideas for elderly people’s bathrooms. These tubs eliminate the horrific possibility of tripping over the side or experiencing excruciating pain when stepping in and out of the tub. They also prevent chances of slipping on entering a tub. 

The latest breed of walk-in tubs offer a range of features such as comfort seating, handrails and bubble jets. Check them all out before choosing. 

7) Emergency alert systems

Even after taking the maximum precautions, you never know when an accident can occur. An alarm system in the bathroom can be as simple as a bell or an app-enabled emergency signal that pings emergency contacts within seconds. 

Finally, plan the dimensions of the bathroom to accommodate walkers, wheelchairs if needed, without making it too big. Spacious bathrooms are always preferable than small, dingy ones but for elders, it takes more effort to move from the shower, to the toilet and back to the washbasin. 

Most bathrooms and toilets that adhere to universal design rules are usually safe for elders. They take into consideration many of the points we’ve discussed above. However, all elders have their own needs and comfort levels, so if you’re designing for someone, it’s best to discuss your ideas with the seniors you’re designing for. Ask them for their inputs and recommendations and share your ideas with them to see how you can improve on every aspect, terms of safety and convenience.

The Best Cities in the US for Retirement

Every aspect of planning for retirement is difficult. From financial planning to estate planning, there are many things to consider. One of the things that many soon-to-be retirees struggle with is where they should move when they retire.

Of course, some retirees are happy to stay put where they are and have planned to do just that. Others, however, like the idea of downsizing, moving to a better climate, or getting closer to the family they haven’t been able to see very often. There are many reasons to move, but there are also many reasons that you might want to move to certain locations as a retiree.

What cities in the US are among the best cities to retire to? Consider the following on your quest to find the best place to retire.

Things To Consider When Moving To Retire:

Everyone has different priorities in retirement. When it comes to moving, there are a few things that most people are thinking about when they move. These things include:

  1. Weather
  2. Local amenities and entertainment
  3. Distance to family
  4. Healthcare options
  5. Home care and nursing home options
  6. Affordability
  7. Crime rates
  8. Quality of life

Of course, you might have your priority list. These were some of the considerations used in choosing the cities that will be highlighted as some of the best cities in the US to retire to today. If you’re considering other cities or areas, make sure to consider these eight factors in your selection process.

Best Beach Retirement: Pensacola, Florida

Many people that think of moving when they retire consider moving to the beach, and that’s very much a possibility! There are many cities in Florida which rank highly as great places to retire. One of those places is Pensacola, and there’s a lot to take in here.

With a population of just under 500,000 people, more than 20% of the population is over sixty years old. This sets the region up to handle the needs, desires, and amenities that a retired crowd is looking for when retiring.

One of the best parts of Pensacola as a beach retirement location is that it is still an affordable place to live. People can find homes, condos, or apartments to meet their budget with no problem. Additionally, there are many home care or nursing home locations to consider if that becomes something you need later in life.

Pensacola is a very desirable place to live, and it is also a convenient place to live. Everything that you need is accessible, affordable, and ready for you!

Other Great Florida Locations:

As mentioned, many cities in Florida have a lot to offer retirees looking for somewhere with great weather and proximity to the beach. These cities include:

  • Sarasota
  • Largo
  • Clearwater
  • St. Petersburg
  • Fort Lauderdale

All of these cities have vibrant retiree communities, affordable housing, and various local entertainment options to help make your retirement the best time of your life!

Best City and Country Balance: San Antonio, Texas

Some retirees want to see the benefits of city living without giving up the comforts of a more suburban or rural lifestyle. People living in San Antonio, Texas say that this area does just that!

Though San Antonio is a very fast-growing city, it can show a great combination of scenic Texas with excellent city amenities like high-quality healthcare options. Additionally, the city has many great entertainment options like museums, shopping, restaurants, and more.

San Antonio has a population of over 2.4 million, and just under 20% of the population is over sixty years old. Despite the city’s growth, mortgage and rental prices in the area remain affordable for many retirees. This makes it a reasonable place to live when considering how your financial situation looks moving forward.

Finally, many people consider Texas a great location to retire because the state doesn’t have an income tax. If you plan to keep working or are considering part-time work, this can be incredibly beneficial. 

Another Great Texas Location:

Just as in Florida, there are several places around the state that retirees consider to be great places to live. The Dallas Fort Worth area, in particular, has attracted a large number of retired people in recent years.

Depending on where you choose to live in the cities, you can get the perfect blend of suburban and big-city living just as you can in San Antonio. This makes it possible to keep up a good social life with a small-town feel even though all the conveniences and healthcare options you need are nearby.

The Sky’s The Limit

When choosing where you want to live after retirement, the only limits on where you can live are your own goals and budget. Financial considerations aside, many cities have a lot to offer retirees.

For example, a few more cities to consider are:

  • Madison, Wisconsin
  • Asheville, North Carolina
  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania

All around the country, there are cities where retirees can make a great life for themselves. What are you waiting for? Start looking for your ideal retirement city today!

6 Hobbies and Crafts to Take Up in Retirement

Getting older is a time to kick back, relax, and reap the benefits of all your hard-earned work in younger decades. You might look for new hobbies and crafts to take up in retirement, or you might already have some favorite ways to spend your days.

Retirement communities can offer opportunities to connect with people your age and provide many options to participate in group activities or develop a solo hobby. If you want to try something new, here are some great ideas for you to explore.

Herb Window Gardening

Not all gardening has to take place outdoors. If you don’t have a yard or experience limited mobility, you can start a small garden on your windowsill, patio, or even on the kitchen counter. Growing herbs in pots can brighten up a room and freshen any meal!

Sewing, Knitting, and Crocheting

Learning how to work with fabrics is an excellent hobby to pick up. There are hundreds of tutorials and patterns available online. If you can read, you can create! You can also develop stronger hand-eye coordination, make gifts for loved ones, and hang out with friends while doing it.

Cooking or Baking

There are always new recipes to make, thanks to the millions of food blogs available online. Have a friend over to try out a unique taco flavor or find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Puzzles, Board Games, and Cards

You can never run out of options for puzzles, board games, and card games. The best part? You can find something to work on alone or with others. Start a monthly poker or bingo night, aim to finish a jigsaw puzzle every week, or work on sudoku or crosswords at the end of the day.

Woodworking and Jewelry Making

It is rewarding to have a hobby that allows you to collect or gift your creations. The possibilities of making jewelry are endless, and there are even different types of woodworking that you can explore.

Scrapbooking

What is better than opening up all those dusty boxes, finding your favorite photos, and putting them on display to relive? Scrapbooking is a beautiful way to create a living memoir of your life.

Try out any or all of these six hobbies and crafts to take up in retirement today!

Reasons Your Elderly Parent Might Wander

With age comes a whole host of problems. If you have older parents, you’ve likely seen or heard about some of these issues, including the tendency to wander. There are many reasons your elderly parent might wander off on their own, but to understand them, we also need to know who does it and what we can do to help them. This article will cover all these factors, so continue reading to learn more.

Who’s Likely To Wander?

Though many older folks tend to walk around aimlessly, that doesn’t mean they all do. The most common seniors to suffer frequent lapses are those with Alzheimer’s and other people with memory-related problems. While it’s less common, those with ADD might meander off, too. Of course, even if they have none of these issues, any senior might wander away once in a while.

Why Do They Wander?

Wandering is rarely a purposeful act. Most of the time, the person left because they were looking for something, such as food or a bathroom. However, the actual problem occurs when they forget where they were going or become distracted by something else. The tendency to wander might also be a side effect of their medication. Even if their pills aren’t for memory-related issues, they could lead to disorientation if they aren’t working correctly.

The final major reason an elderly parent might wander is to escape their current situation. Sometimes, it’s as simple as the desire to get out of an area that’s too loud. Other times, it’s less innocuous in intent, such as when an older person tries to leave their senior care facility without permission or get out of their house without anyone knowing. While this is the least likely reason for wandering, it’s the most common one for those without known medical issues.

What Can You Do To Help?

Fortunately, there are many ways to deal with the reasons your elderly parent might wander off. If the cause is medical-related, begin by talking to the person’s doctor. Many forms of memory care are available to help improve their current situation.

If you want to help your loved one yourself, you might consider attaining guardianship of your parent. That way, you will be able to keep a close eye on them in case their wandering gets worse. However, you can’t always be there for them. If you have a busy lifestyle or they still want to keep their independence, guardianship may not be the best option.

That’s when you need to look into other options for taking care of a parent that lives alone. One useful but unobtrusive option for this scenario is to buy them a smart device that can track their location. That way, if they wander too far away from where they’re supposed to be, you’ll be the first one to know about it, even if you live on the other side of the country.

4 Ways an Adjustable Bed Can Improve Quality of Life for Seniors

We spend a considerable time of our lives sleeping. Proper rest is essential for a happy and healthy life and as we age, this is particularly important since a good night’s sleep assists the body’s natural healing and restoring processes.

In recent years, adjustable beds have gained significant popularity among people of all ages but especially those over the age of 65. This allows them to create a close connection between bed and sleep. Although most people assume that adjustable beds are only intended for medical facilities, these models can greatly contribute to a person feeling their best and increasing their quality of life.

In this article, we’ll look at ways adjustable beds can improve living for elderly people, who might be struggling to get a decent night’s rest.

Experience Instant Relief

Nowadays, we’re used to sitting and keeping our back in one position for a long period, forgetting to stand up and stretch quickly or walk for at least a couple of minutes. The older we get, the more we can feel this type of discomfort. Whether it’s an occasional twinge or persistent pain, seniors might feel that they’re kept from carrying out their daily tasks and activities.

Osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, or degeneration of joints in the lumbar spine are all common pains seniors experience. A full size adjustable bed for elderly people can have pain-reducing benefits and mitigate debilitating pains by relieving a significant amount of pressure off their lower backs. It can assist them to elevate their head and feet into a good position that addresses their chronic pain.

There are many elderly people with back pain today which can cause many different problems ranging from limited mobility to accidents. For seniors, it’s crucial to do everything to improve this condition, keep their back healthy, and prevent it from deteriorating.

Helps in Managing Acid Reflux

Compared to younger people, seniors are more likely to suffer from acid reflux and in these cases it is highly recommended that they don’t lie flat on their beds as the food they eat is unable to easily move through the esophagus, causing stomach acid to travel up towards the throat.

If you have this diagnosis, a doctor would probably advise you to buy an adjustable bed to help you raise your head at least five inches and stop acidic stomach contents from going up to the esophagus. You might think that using a pillow would be helpful but it isn’t a fool-proof strategy. It could instead cause you more harm than good.

Controls Snoring

As people get older, they tend to have problems with snoring, but the adjustable bed can remedy this issue. The main reason for snoring is that the trachea is slightly closed due to the weight in the neck and this creates the distinctive snoring sound. An adjustable bed allows you to change the direction of the weight of the neck, which reduces the sound of snoring and improves the quality of sleep.

The same applies to sleep apnea, which is a condition where you wake up during the night because your breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. It can cause serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart trouble. Adjustable beds can improve these conditions significantly as a person can raise themselves into an upright position, which will prevent the weight from the neck from inflicting pressure on the trachea. This will stop the snoring and help get a peaceful sleep.

Better Digestion and Reduced Swelling

Sleeping a little more upright is good for seniors’ digestion because then the body can process the food during the night. It’s not appropriate to sleep on a full stomach, but if they have eaten a couple of hours before going to bed, which most people do, the sleeping position can help promote digestion by elevating the head by around 6 inches.

The chances for circulation issues and swelling in the legs is greater with seniors and choosing a good adjustable bed can help. By slightly elevating the legs during sleep at the touch of a button, it can instantly improve blood flow and reduce swelling, making your sleep peaceful and pleasant. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re a senior, make sure to invest in your health by purchasing an adjustable bed that will allow you to change your sleeping position exactly as you want to. It will work wonders if you’re dealing with chronic pain or issues with snoring and poor digestion.

As we age, we appreciate an uninterrupted, sound sleep at night and a healthy lifestyle free of pain. An adjustable bed is a perfect solution, providing the essential comfort an elderly person is searching for.

5 Ways to Show Gratitude to Grandparents

For many of us, visiting our grandparents for the holidays or going over to their place for the weekend are some of the happiest memories of our childhoods. We all love them to death, but sometimes it’s not easy to express that love. There’s a divide of generations between us after all, but maybe with a little research and thoughtfulness we can bridge it and tell our grandparents how much we appreciate them.

The best idea is to travel back in time a bit and communicate with them in their own language. What are their interests? What were the most common presents people gave each other when your grandparents were young? And what are the things from their childhood that they miss the most? Maybe they would enjoy a few photographic memories, or a bouquet of the best London roses from this flower store.

Somewhere in the answer to these questions lies the perfect gift for your grandparents, and we have some ideas that can help too. 

Get Them Flowers 

In our grandparent’s time, flowers as a gift were very popular. It’s an even better present if your grandparents appreciate the language of flowers, but a bouquet of thank you flowers will usually be more than enough to make your grandparents happy and make them feel loved. 

Flowers like pink and yellow roses, hydrangeas, and irises all symbolize one form of gratitude or another. Peach colored flowers, for example, stand for appreciation. 

You can include a little note or a handmade card with the flowers to make it extra special and thoughtful. 

Write Them Letters 

We all know that grandparents aren’t that great with texting, and they may not always be up for phone calls either. But what you can do is send them letters the old fashioned way. Your grandparents will love the gesture and really enjoy writing back. 

And don’t just write on plain old paper either – go the extra mile and get some fancy stationery, write with an old school ink pen, make your letters pretty and show them how much thought and care you put into them. 

This is a great way to show your love and appreciation for them while your grandparents may be stuck in a lockdown, or if you live far away from them. 

Spoil Them With Treats! 

Who says it’s only the grandmas who can spoil their grandkids with food? It can always be the other way around if you’re old enough. 

You can either take them out to dinner somewhere if it’s safe, or cook them an old favorite of theirs. A great way to thank them for all the love they gave you is to teach yourself one of your old family recipes and cook it for them – you can even have it delivered to them if you can’t visit them yourself. 

If your grandparents can eat chocolates and other comfort food, it might be a great idea to send them a box of those treats with a cute note. 

A Subscription Box 

Subscription boxes are a great and thoughtful way to show your friends and family that you care about them, and there are countless subscription boxes for senior citizens that we’re sure your grandparents would love to try. 

Ask your parents about what your grandparents love, think about their needs and interests, and then pick one that you feel they’ll be happiest with. 

It can be a puzzle book subscription for your grandpa who loves crosswords, or a decade candy gift box subscription that sends out gift boxes with candy from a certain decade every month. Your grandparents will be getting a taste of their favorite treats from their childhood and adult lives! 

Host an Event for Them 

One of the biggest problems grandparents have with the rest of the family is how everyone just doesn’t have time for one another anymore. Well, you can fix this by hosting an event for your family to all get together and celebrate your grandparents, and how much they’ve done for everyone. 

Take the time to get together and talk about the old days, about how much you loved visiting your grandparents as a child, and to make them feel loved and appreciated. 

Grandparents are some of the most loving influences on a lot of people, and you never know what tomorrow holds, which is why you should never take too long to tell your family and your grandparents how much you love them.

Best Outdoor Activities for Seniors Who Crave Adventure

Reaching your golden years comes with its growing pains. Staying fit is one of the main challenges of entering old age. However, you can easily find fun ways to stay active.

You can exercise indoors, but if you want a breath of fresh air, then the outdoors is your domain. These are the best outdoor activities for seniors who crave adventure.

Apple and Berry Picking

Walking is an excellent activity for staying fit when you’re older. It also helps you improve your balance as you age. However, it can be boring if the environment isn’t engaging.

Taking a trip to the local orchard is an exciting prospect for anyone. In addition to collecting tasty fruit, picking berries and apples at a brisk pace requires some physical activity and stretching.

If the amount of time you spend on foot becomes taxing, going on a nice hayride can help you catch your breath. When autumn comes, pumpkin patches are must-see destinations. Make sure to call ahead and ask about the terrain, as some orchards may be too hilly.

Fishing

One activity that involves some strength is fishing. Although you spend most of the time sitting around waiting for a bite, you must be ready for the fish to pull hard when it finally arrives.

Fishing is a quiet activity that requires some skill and allows seniors to ponder life’s great mysteries while exploring nature.

Boating

If fishing is too strenuous, boating is a peaceful activity for anyone who loves being out on the open water. A calming boat ride on a lake or pond can give seniors a brief respite from their usual scenery so they can enjoy the natural beauty.

Some boats are also handicap-friendly, which makes them more inclusive to seniors. Large flatboats are particularly suitable for seniors. Call ahead and ask about availability as well as handicap accessibility. This can make the difference if a senior is on the fence about going.

Bird-Watching

Bird-watching is an activity you can do at any public park, and the best part is that you can avoid uneven ground. This is another wheelchair-accessible activity, and you can even bird-watch right from your car window.

The only materials needed are a set of binoculars and a field guide. Plus, you can find many smartphone apps that show you where the best spots are.

Every senior is different, and the best activities will suit each person’s individual preferences. Nevertheless, these are some great examples of the best activities for seniors who crave adventure and want to explore their surroundings.