For most of us, the holiday season serves as a welcome opportunity to reconnect with old friends and relatives. However, for home-bound seniors, the holiday season can be an emotionally draining and stressful time of year. With care and attention from friends, neighbors and family members, this year's holiday season can be joyful for all!

In the spirit of education and cooperation, we hope you will find the following articles informative and beneficial. And from everyone at Aunt Ann's Home Care, thank you for your continued support. We wish you the warmest and most wonderful of holidays this year!

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could this be so? It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?  ~ Dr. Seuss

May this be a meaningful holiday season - one filled with love and happiness in the warmth of family and friends.

The holidays are not always holly jolly. In fact, many people experience exhaustion and depression while friends and family members are in the mood to celebrate. Even people who are normally cheery sometimes find themselves feeling down around the holidays, and those who have a history of depression need to be extra mindful of how they manage their holiday stress.

The good news is that, while it will likely take a little effort on your part, there are ways to combat stress and find some holiday joy this season. Keeping modest expectations of the holidays is a good start to keep from being disappointed. Don't worry about things beyond your control, take care of yourself and don't be afraid to accept help when needed.  

For more ideas of ways people can find balance, reduce stress and find ways to celebrate the festivities, read the full article on WebMD.

Approximately 60 percent of Americans believe that they can simply go to their doctor and take a reliable test to find out if they have Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, close to half of those surveyed believed there was a treatment available to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Sadly, these are only a few of the common misconceptions people have about Alzheimer's disease.

These ideas seem to stem from the large amount of publicity that Alzheimer's research receives. And while there are often exciting breakthroughs in the Alzheimer's field, it is important to understand the truth about the disease and its treatments so that patients can approach diagnoses realistically.

Do you have any misconceptions about Alzheimer's? Find out what is fact and what is fiction in this article from the AARP.

When people reach a certain age, different aspects of health need to be assessed. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recently updated their list of essential health screenings for both men and women over 50 years of age:

Screenings for Women 

Screenings for Men 

For the second year running, average national home health care costs have remained the same, while assisted living and nursing home care continue to rise.

Understanding the costs of long-term care can help you and your loved ones plan for the future.

To find out more about the current costs of in-home and assisted living care, visit MetLife's 2011 Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs.

Recipe for Stress-Free Holidays

• Be realistic. Traditions often change as families change and grow. Find new ways to celebrate.
• Set differences aside. Accept friends and family as they are.
• Plan ahead and stick to a budget. Allow extra time for travel; no need for "traffic stress".
• Learn to say "no". Have others fill in when necessary.
• Don't abandon healthy habits. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to stress and guilt.
• Take a breather. Make time for yourself!