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Apr 15
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adult day care assisted living jacksonville

Optimism is the Foundation of Courage

By Resources for Caregivers

This all takes optimism, and courage. I don’t think any of us really knows how we will come out of this Pandemic in 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years from now.  The reality is that life for all people changed overnight and will never be the same. We who have been labeled as essential services workers are thankful for still being employed and have (or feel) an obligation to continue serving our community. Those of us leaving the safety of our homes, leaving our school children behind to attend classes via internet and those unable to see our family members that we are isolating from, are all heroes. For it takes courage to leave our home, don our masks and give up the normal human contact we are accustomed to. However, courage can be short lived if not held strong with optimism as a foundation. 

Those of you who know of my “Jamisms” have heard me say, “this too shall pass.” If you look at facebook or watch the news, you can see that humanity has stepped up and are doing major acts of kindness. Simple things like sending a note of hello to someone, sending door dash to a neighbor you know has been caregiving at home, just walking someone’s garbage can to their garage shows kindness. Do you have someone in your neighborhood that needs a grocery run or a dog walked?  People want to help. So, if someone asks you if they can do something, give them something to do. People need to be needed. Good deeds reflect on the goodness of humanity. Kindness and goodness breeds optimism. 

I have a challenge for you. Every morning when you start your day, look in the mirror and say what you are looking forward to when this Pandemic is over. Visualization is powerful. You must know and feel what you are looking forward to. When you open your courage up, know that it is still strong because your optimism has made it so. And “this too shall pass.”

We all have a story of what we have given up these past weeks going on months. Every morning I leave my daughter with the dog, at home to attend virtual school. This past month has left disappointments for so many High School Seniors. They have worked hard and want to celebrate. We are all ready to live outside of our cocoon again. Find a way to Celebrate. It will also help breed optimism. Optimism is the foundation of Courage. 

 

Apr 15
Love0
assisted living jacksonville

Keeping Up With Spiritual Health

By Resources for Caregivers

Spiritual health has a different meaning to everyone. For this month’s blog, we will be focusing on spiritual health being defined as “a purposeful life which creates a balance between physical, psychological and social aspects.” We’ll also be sharing our favorite ways of keeping up with spiritual health.

When a loved one needs extra care, it becomes especially important to take care of ourselves. There are many ways to practice spiritual health.

How to Keep up With Your Spiritual Health

Almost Home is here to help families by offering quality & affordable Adult Day Care, Assisted Living & Family Consulting Services, including information and resources on how to keep yourself well.  For more Caregiver resources, visit our Resources page. Contact us if you have any questions on how we can help you and your family.

Mar 11
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adult care jacksonville

How to Improve Your Mental Fitness

By Resources for Caregivers, Resources for Seniors

In March, our word of the month is Mental Health, or more specifically, Mental fitness. Mental fitness is important for many reasons. Engaging in a variety of activities can keep your brain in tip-top shape, assist to decrease stress, increase self-confidence, promote better sleep, and boost brain function.

Just like physical fitness, there are many different activities that improve mental fitness. Start now by choosing a variety of activities. Make sure you are doing them consistently, and over time, you may begin to notice improvements in things like mood, memory, creativity, and problem solving.

Mental Fitness Activities

  • Get outside.
  • Eat a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables.
  • Exercise regularly and try new exercises.
  • Practice good sleep hygiene.
  • Read often and choose new subjects.
  • Challenge your intellect and memory with games such as Sudoku or chess.
  • Make time to relax.
  • Daydream.
  • Take up a new hobby.
  • Engage in stimulating conversations.
  • For the technologically savvy, download brain training apps such as Words With Friends, Lumosity, or Duolingo.
  • Learn a second language.

Our team at Almost Home is dedicated to keeping our friends engaged and active in a variety of activities that are good for the body and the mind. Do you have a Mental Fitness activity you’d like to share with us? Would you like to learn more about the services offered at Almost Home? Contact us and we will get back with you shortly.

 
 
Feb 14
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heart health jacksonville

3 Tips for Heart Health

By Resources for Seniors

 

February is National Heart Health month. Creating heart healthy habits is not just important for increasing the longevity of your life, but for improving the quality of your life. Here are three tips to incorporate at any age to promote heart health. 

1 Increase Your Activity

There are many ways to increase your activity. From reaching a daily step goal to participating in an exercise program- there’s enough variety for people of every age to find something to enjoy!

  • Find walking or running difficult? Do chair exercises
  • Join a water aerobics class
  • Offer to walk the dog- it’s good for both of you!
  • Park farther away from the front of the store
  • Take the stairs
  • Use your arms 
  • Play your favorite music and dance- shoot for 10 minutes 
  • Use your core- try Pilates 

2 Eat More Fiber

Fiber may not sound fun, but increasing your daily fiber intake can be both delicious and beneficial. According to Harvard Medical School, “Fiber’s role in preventing heart disease is thought to stem from its ability to lower both blood pressure and cholesterol. It also fills you up, which helps you eat less and perhaps lose weight.” Check out their list of delicious high fiber foods! 

3 Choose Plant Based Protein 

Did you know there are many ways to get your protein without the cholesterol? Try something new! Find a delicious, simple, affordable, quick, heart healthy recipe to try this month! 

We care about your heart health. This month, focus on improving the heart health of those you love (including yourself) by trying out our useful tips. Looking for more ideas or guidance on caring for a loved one? Contact us for information on Adult Daycare, Assisted Living Care and Caregiving.

Jan 15
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How Can I Prevent Dehydration?

By Resources for Seniors

How Can I Prevent Dehydration?

 

Simply stated it is making sure there is fluid intake. Everyone needs to be properly hydrated.

Encourage drinking a glass of water each time medication is taken. Buy a reusable water bottle or use a special cup just for your loved one. It can be filled in the morning and you can make a game of making sure it is empty by bedtime. Besides water or other fluids, you could try to encourage eating foods such as fruit, vegetables, jello or soup. We always have popsicles on hand in our facilities. This is another fun way to get some hydration.

We encourage folks to drink not just when they are thirsty but at mealtimes, snack times and times in between.

If you want to mask the non-flavor of water, add a squirt of lemon, lime or orange juice. There are also liquid and powder flavor additions you can buy to add to the water.

There is never a bad time to take a drink of water.

 

Jan 15
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Resolutions: Make Them or Break Them?

By Resources for Seniors

Happy New Year 2020!

At this time of year, I always think about making resolutions. Isn’t that what we all do? I expect the best of myself every January 1. Then reality kicks in and my best intentions are swept away with everyday life. This is not how it’s supposed to happen, is it? Why not try something different this year. A lot has been mentioned about finding your word for the year. Makes sense. Why not just wake up and go to bed each night and think about your one word. It could be anything that is meaningful to you. Some friends have shared their words, such as health, connection, gather, focus, content, happiness and simple. I love this idea since I never keep my resolutions! I won’t feel bad this year rather I will feel empowered by my own personal word. No one really needs to know what it is, right? You can share it or keep it a secret. I would like to share my word for the year. My word is “FOCUS”. It’s your own special way to make yourself feel good about life.

Having a Good Life

Not only words but actions can help you feel good about life. I challenge you this year to think about your own health in addition to your loved one. They depend so much on you that we want to keep you healthy. One lifestyle change that could help both of you is to walk a little bit each day. Here in Florida we have such beautiful weather this time of year. I love to get out and feel the sunshine and take a short walk.

Walking is Good for the Brain

Physical exercise, low key or strenuous, is essential for maintaining good blood flow to your brain. Just 10 minutes a day can help lift your mood and help to refocus your thoughts. One of your thoughts can be your special word for the year. Here’s to happy thoughts!

Dec 11
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Where did the time go?

By Resources for Seniors

Walks with Madaline

My daughter, Madaline turned 18 a week before this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Her first Walk was literally a few days before she was born. Madaline was named after my mother who is the reason why I have been an advocate for Alzheimer’s patients and families for 30 plus years.  I have attended all Jacksonville Walks since 1988 and was overwhelmed at the growth of this year’s participants.

A true compassion and empathy amongst caregivers, care providers, those with the disease and those advocating was so apparent, that I was lifted off the ground with an overwhelming sense of pride for those who participated on Walk day. After all these years, I was still filled with hope to witness the many who are new to the pledge to carry on the challenge and the veterans that are still fighting for a cure.

I must admit, I was saddened thinking that this was our last Walk to End Alzheimer’s together. Madaline is off to college soon and I don’t know what her future will bring. Although, with Walks all over the country, I am sure we will stay true to our tradition and find one to participate in together.

As a Walk committee member, I thank all of you who participated in the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. For without your dedication and determination, we would not keep moving the mission forward.

Dec 10
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Putting the Alzheimer’s Puzzle Together

By Resources for Seniors

The Pieces

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects the person with the disease, the family and the community. As has been mentioned, the time to prepare and plan is now before life turns into one crisis after another. The diagnosis is a starting point for you and your loved one. Decide what your loved one wants now when they can share their thoughts and hopes with you. This will make it just a little bit easier when you are further down the road with the disease.

Honoring Choices

The diagnosis brings up so many questions and thoughts that need to be discussed. I offer the Honoring Choices Program as a model to start the discussion. It is an excellent resource for everyone in the family to consult not just for the newly diagnosed person. We should all pre-plan and have our wishes for care in a life-altering situation honored.

Communication

Communication with an Alzheimer’s patient is one of the most difficult challenges you will encounter. It is frustrating for all involved. My best advice is if all other communication fails – start singing and dancing. You will be amazed at the transformation when music and movement is part of the conversation.

Caring for the Caregiver

This is one of the most important puzzle pieces. This could be the four corner pieces of your Alzheimer’s puzzle. There are risks to caregiving such as depression, stress which causes medical issues, illnesses, mood swings, lack of sleep and unhealthy diets. As a caregiver you will experience constant grief. Alzheimer’s has been labeled the longest goodbye.  To keep check on your own wellbeing, when you are especially feeling the load of caregiving – H.A.L.T.

  • Hungry – eat properly and get the right nutrition
  • Angry – frustration or annoyance can expand to full blown anger
  • Lonely – you feel you are in this struggle all by yourself
  • Tired – you are challenged by fatigue

I highly encourage you to plan for all this by caring for yourself. Let go of perfection and just accept that life doesn’t have to be perfect but you should try to enjoy the special moments when they arise.

 

Highlights from the book Simply Caring: Putting the Alzheimer’s Puzzle Together by Almost Home CEO Jamie Glavich. View more at Simplycaringbook.com.

 

 

Nov 12
Love1

How Do I Communicate and Visit with My Loved One?

By Resources for Seniors

Communication is an important aspect of any relationship, it is more than sending and receiving messages. To help with communication, be supportive, show you are interested, offer comfort and reassurance, give them time to get out their words and avoid criticizing or correcting. Each one of us is unique. What works for you one day may not work for you the next day. Be flexible. I share many tips with you in Chapter 9 of Simply Caring. Read More

Oct 15
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Walk to End Alzheimer's Jacksonville, Florida

Why I Walk to End Alzheimer’s

By Events, Jacksonville, Resources for Seniors

Jamie's mom in pink dressWhy I Walk to End Alzheimer’s

I walk for my mother, Madaline, who passed in 2002 with an Alzheimer’s related dementia. In 1989, I got involved with the Walk to honor her memory. Mom was my best friend and I became her caregiver. Whenever I needed coaching or encouragement, Mom was always there with the right words. Mom did not get to enjoy my wedding, the birth of my daughter – her namesake – or enjoy the pleasures of being a grandmom. In raising awareness and through research, I hope that one day no one will have to endure the disappointment and emotional pain that consumes families with this disease.

Team Almost Home

Team Almost Home, with Jamie Glavich as Team Captain, was created to participate in the Jacksonville Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The 2019 Walk will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 starting in Hemming Plaza, downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Check-in time is 8:00 am with the Walk start at approximately 9:00 am.

Walk Committee 

Trish and I are on the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s planning committee which has been meeting since the beginning of the year. We are hosting two areas this year.  I will be the host of the Champions Tent. This is a special area for the largest fundraisers to enjoy a catered breakfast before the start of the Walk. Trish will be the host of the Promise Garden Tent. This is the place to pick up a Promise Flower. Through color, these Promise Flowers represent the diverse motivation of the Walkers:  Blue – I have Alzheimer’s/Dementia; Yellow – I am supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s/Dementia; Purple – I have lost someone to Alzheimer’s/Dementia; Orange – I support the cause and the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s; White – the first survivor.

Please consider supporting our Team by Joining the Walk or Sponsoring Our Team!

 

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