Angel News
September 2008
In This Issue
Exercise and Activity For Good Health, No Matter the Age
Visit Visiting Angels of Burlington & Mercer Counties for more information and to download our free resources.

For more ideas on ways to research and make wise choices, we recommend the following resources:

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
This site contains information on the benefits of exercise.

American College of Sports Medicine
Recommendations on how to begin and maintain an exercise regimen.

Familydoctor.org
Information on getting started with an exercise program, tips on how to safely exercise, and types of exercises appropriate for the elderly population.

Mary Ann Wilson, host of the nationally syndicated PBS program "Sit and Be Fit" has videos and books she recommends for seniors on fitness: click here.
DID YOU KNOW?
The "Silver Tsunami" Replaces the "Age Wave." In 2006, there were 37 million people over age 65 in America. The projections for the future are 71.5 million persons over age 65 by the year 2030. Worldwide in 2007, there were 705 million people over age 60.
Worldwide projections are 2 billion seniors by the year 2050.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and AgingSociety.Org.

----------------

Ten percent of employed family caregivers go from full-time to part-time jobs because of their caregiving responsibilities.
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, Caregiving in the U.S., 2004.


----------------

Both male and female children of aging parents make changes at work to accommodate caregiving responsibilities. Both have modified their schedules (men 54 percent, women 56 percent). Both have come in late and/or left early (men 78 percent, women 84 percent) and both have altered their work-related travel (men 38 percent, women 27 percent).
Source: MetLife Mature Market Institute, Sons at Work: Balancing Employment and Eldercare, June 2003.
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!
September is here! The air smells of newly sharpened pencils as students head back to school; soon the leaves will be turning color as the fall season slowly trickles in. At Visiting Angels of Burlington & Mercer Counties, we want to thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to read our eNewsletter. We gladly offer you news and information related to home care, home health care, aging and eldercare. Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this eNewsletter was sent.
Green Houses®: The Small Family Style Solution to Traditional Nursing Homes

According to a 2003 survey by the AARP, an advocacy group for older Americans, just 1 percent of Americans over 50 with a disability wanted to move to a nursing home.

As an answer to this, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is investing $15 million over the next five years to encourage the building of Green Houses® (small, independent living units providing long term care). They are also studying the viability of Green Houses® and say more support could follow. The cash is directed to NCB Capital Impact, a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit that has been offering consulting, education, architectural and other help to any party interested in operating a Green House®. For more information, click here.
 
Robert Wood Johnson executives say financial sustainability is a question they're scrutinizing intently. Based on this "first round" of Green Houses®, they believe that it is financially doable, but they are rigorously testing the model and developing software that should help providers determine whether they can handle Green Houses® financially.

To read a 2007 longitudinal evaluation of Small-House Nursing Homes, click here.
Free Consumer Guides to Insurance

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers free consumer guides to choosing a Medigap Policy, and also a guide to long-term care insurance.

Click here.
Still Waiting for Your Economic Stimulus Payment? Check the Date You Filed! Recipients Must File Tax Returns Before October 15th

More than 130 million American households received IRS letters in March 2008 with general information about receiving economic stimulus payments. The IRS letters advised that to receive a 2008 stimulus payment, a 2007 tax return had to be filed. People who no longer file tax returns - certain recipients of Social Security and veteran's disability benefits - received a letter in March from the IRS explaining what they will need to do to receive their one-time economic stimulus payment and providing the necessary guidance and forms. The deadline is October 15, 2008 to apply for an economic stimulus payment. Taxpayers who already filed using a Form 1040 to comply with the April 15 filing deadline do not need to do anything extra to receive their one-time economic stimulus payment.

Click here.
"Good" Kind of Cholesterol Linked to Decreased Risk of Memory Loss

A new study in Britain has linked increased HDL, the "good" kind of cholesterol, with a decreased risk of memory loss with age. The study tested 3,000 British subjects to find their levels of HDL cholesterol and then asked them to try to memorize 20 words.

It found that at age 55, the subjects with lower HDL levels had a 27 percent increased risk of memory loss compared with those with higher HDL levels. The same subjects, tested again at age 60, showed an even greater difference in memory linked to HDL levels.

Read the full article here.
Eat These Foods for Good Health!

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. offers advice on some of the best foods to eat for good health in "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth":

  • Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol. How to eat: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
  • Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and is loaded with antioxidants. How to eat: Just drink it.
  • Sardines:  High in omega-3s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. Also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese, as well as a full complement of B vitamins. How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with Dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
  • Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round, don't spoil and are associated with better memory in animal studies. How to eat: Blend with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkle with crushed almonds.
To see all the recommendations, view the entire list here.
News for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is known to raise the risk of a number of major health problems, including heart disease and kidney failure. More recently, studies have also linked diabetes to speedier mental decline and dementia in older adults. The latest findings, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, confirm those earlier reports -- and suggest that the longer a person has had diabetes, the more substantial the cognitive decline over time.

In general, it was found that men and women with diabetes performed more poorly on the initial cognitive tests and then showed a more marked decline on subsequent tests. In addition, participants with longer-standing diabetes tended to be in worse cognitive shape at the outset, and showed a steeper decline over time.

Read more.
What's New At Visiting Angels of Burlington & Mercer Counties?
 
* We are happy to announce the opening of our new office located in Marlton, NJ. to better service our expanding client base throughout Burlington County. Our Mercer County office, located in Lawrenceville, NJ, will continue to offer our outstanding non-medical homecare services to Mercer residents.
 
* As part of our ongoing commitment to reach out to the community on home care and elder care issues, we will participate as a sponsor or exhibitor in the following events:
 
  • "Faith in Wellness Minority & Multicultural Health Fair": Sat. Sept. 20 from 10:00-2:00 at the Willingboro Senior Center at 429 Kennedy Way, Willingboro, NJ

  • "Silver Sponsor" of Princeton Senior Resource Center's 2008 Caregiver Conference: "Caregiving with Confidence": Sat. Oct.18 from 8:30-1.00 at the Senior Center's Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ

  • Saul Funeral Homes' "4th Annual Fall Senior Fest": Tues. Oct. 21 from 9:00-4:00 at Angeloni's Cedar Gardens in Hamilton, NJ

  • "Platinum Sponsor" of Burlington County Woman's "2nd Annual Women's Expo": Sat. Nov.15 from 9:00-3:00 at the Hartford Intermediate School, 397 Hartford Rd, Mount Laurel, NJ
Please note these dates on your calendar and visit us there to hear more about the latest developments in the home care and elder care sectors and to learn more about our services.
 
* We congratulate Nora de Cárdenas, Director-Owner, and Lucy Damacela, Operations Manager, on completing their training as Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Peer Leaders.
 
The CDSMP is recognized worldwide as a cost-effective health promotion program for people with chronic illness. The aim of the program is to improve the physical and emotional health of participants while reducing health care costs. Small-group workshops are given in community settings and are facilitated by two Peer Leaders. The workshops are highly interactive, focusing on building skills, sharing experiences, and support.
 
Nora is now co-leading a 6-session CDSMP workshop on Thursdays entitled "Healthy Living: A Way of Life" at the Willingboro Senior Citizen Center in Burlington County. This workshop is sponsored by The Willingboro Department On Aging under the direction of Reva Foster, its Executive Director.

* And lastly, do not miss Nora's next article in the Sep/Oct editions of Burlington County Woman ("BCW") and Mercer County Woman ("MCW") newspapers. "Is Your Loved One Safe Living Alone? A Working Assessment Guide for Families" will be the first in a series of articles that will help readers create their own working guide on topics ranging from how to assess a loved one's possible care needs to options for "aging in place".
-- A copy of this, as well as our other homecare and elder care articles in prior editions of BCW and MCW, will soon be available on our website.
Visiting Angels of Burlington & Mercer Counties:
About Our Care

 Visiting Angels of Burlington & Mercer Counties is a New Jersey-licensed, non-medical home care company committed to going well beyond the "industry standard" to provide an exceptional level of security, comfort and peace of mind to our clients and their loved ones. Our "Angels", all certified home health professionals, are ready to provide compassionate and dependable assistance to seniors, the disabled, those recovering from surgery, and the frail with the activities of daily living. Our services include such simple tasks as light housekeeping, meal preparation, errands and shopping to more personal tasks such as hygiene assistance, bathing, dressing and grooming.
 
Visiting Angels' in-home care helps make it possible for people to continue to live at home and maintain the independence of their daily routines and familiar surroundings, for as long as they can do so safely. We understand how challenging and important these times are for families and their loved ones. Visiting Angels' services helps families spend more mutually rewarding and meaningful time with their loved ones and also helps provide comfort and peace of mind to those who face the challenge of long-distance caregiving.

For more information, please visit our website, www.VisitingAngels.com/Burling-Mercer ; call us at 609-716-8600 or 856-988-1900; or contact us by email at info.VisitingAngels@comcast.net.