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In This Issue

Gadget Corner

Spice Up The Holidays With Personal Gifts

Simple Tips Add Sparkle to Entertaining

Don't be Tricked by the "Grandparent Scam"

Holiday Activities That Cross the Generations

What's Happening At Visiting Angels

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Holiday Activities That Cross The Generations
Holiday Lights
Photo Courtesy of FreePhotos.com

 Put together a family photo album with existing photos, or take some new ones. A photo album can be atreasured possession for a senior to share with friends.


Take a drive to look at holiday lights--possibly to a former neighborhood or other area of interest.


Plan an evening watching old home videos, renting a movie or playing favorite board games.


Offer assistance in decorating an elderly family member's house for the holidays. Set up a Christmas tree or menorah. Talk about the history behind some of the decorations that have been handed down through the years. Don't forget to also volunteer to help take down the decorations after the holidays!


When loved ones are together, hold an "I Remember When" session encouraging each person to recall and share significant events and memories that have been meaningful. A video or audio recording of such a session can become priceless. Give people a heads-up prior to the event so the requested memories are the best they can be.


Interview an elderly neighbor or relative and find out the important dates in his or her life. Create a calendar with handmade pictures or photos and fill in the special dates. This can be done on the computer, by hand or with a calendar kit.


Play a game of reminiscence. Have everyone write questions they would like to ask of the people in the room about his or her history and put the questions in a jar...maybe the grandchildren want to know what Grandma did without television, or the parents can ask what their children's biggest Christmas wish is, or maybe Grandma would like to know her son's favorite childhood memory. Take turns pulling questions out of the jar. Making a game out of reminiscing will get children more involved.


Attend one of the numerous local holiday events, such as a concert, play or parade.


Tips courtesy of: Family Cares, Knowledge House, Utah University, and eHow


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Greetings!

Pine ConeIn our "Holiday 2010" issue, we are bringing you holiday gift ideas and activities as well as interesting topics relevant to seniors.

All of us at Visiting Angels join in saying THANK YOU for helping to make 2010 a wonderful year! In 2011, it's our commitment to continue finding even better ways to service our clients, business partners, employees, and community.

Wishing you happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year!

Sincerely,
Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties
Nov-GadgetGadget Corner

This month in our ongoing search for unique gadgets that will help improve the lives of seniors, we found the following holiday gift ideas:

 

Smart ShopperSmartShopper: This gadget is an automated grocery/errand list assistant that uses Nuance's state-of-the-art voice recognition technology. The user simply presses the center button on the unit and speaks the name of a grocery item or errand that needs to be picked up or done on his/her next visit to the store. The device even categorizes the items on the list for quick reference in the grocery store and designates quantities needed next to each item. Once the user is ready to head out to do the day's shopping, all he/she has to do is press print, and the entire list is printed out. For more information, visit www.smartshopperusa.com.


Giddy-Up Stick CaneThe Giddy-Up Stick: This unique, dual-handle walking cane enables users to more evenly leverage body weight when standing. The top handle is stationary while the bottom handle swivels a full 360 degrees. The LED light accessory is available for nighttime or low-light use. Adjustable for any height, it is crafted from lightweight aluminum and is designed for arthritis sufferers and for use after knee replacement or hip surgery. Click here for product information.
 

Ring PenThe Ring-Pen: This pen is the first writing instrument that takes a holistic approach to how a pen should be designed to fit the human hand and has been endorsed by the National Arthritis Foundation because it relieves arthritic pain due to its ergonomically sound design. As it relieves many of the stresses associated with the ordinary pen, it also relieves the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome sufferers. It relaxes the hand while writing, allowing one to write for longer periods with less fatigue, preventing "writer's cramp", and promotes correct writing posture. www.ringpen.com

SpiceUpSpice Up the Holidays with Personal Gifts
Woman with GiftLooking for an affordable gift with a personal touch? A spice gift basket can fit any budget and makes an ideal hostess or holiday gift for every cook. They are perfect for a birthday, housewarming or simple thank you, too. With just a little thought and a few supplies, you can assemble a personalized basket. With Internet and mail-order shopping, it's possible to buy everything you need without leaving the house.

     Begin with a basket or any other useful kitchen container, such as a mixing bowl, cake pan, serving dish or colander. Vintage items you pick up at a second-hand store or garage sale can be charming. Line the container with a pretty cloth napkin, a colorful dishtowel or even a piece of fabric cut with pinking shears, or use tissue paper if you prefer. Add bottles or packets of spices, herbs, seasonings and other ingredients.

      With the wide variety of seasonings and accessories available, the possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination and you can spice up your gift-giving with personal and original gifts. For more tips and suggestions for specific gift baskets made with spices, seasonings, mixes and cooking accessories go to www.frontiercoop.com/giftbaskets.

Courtesy of ARA Content

tipssparkleSimple Tips Add Sparkle to Entertaining
red garland
Photo: FreePhotos.com

This season make all your festive get-togethers sparkle by using simple and innovative ways to entertain friends and family. Being creative with items you already own and a few extras will make your parties shine.
     Jennifer Sbranti, co-founder and editor-in-chief of HostessWithTheMostess.com offers a few easy and clever tips to make your celebrations sparkle. 


Set a Festive Table:

  • Fill oversized, clear glass vases with colorful elements like fresh cranberries or white feathers for a modern, monochromatic centerpiece.
  • White twinkle lights and candles are appropriate for any type of party theme and put your guests in a festive mood.
  • When deciding on the menu, choose seasonal items, such as root vegetables, that are easily found in stores and at farmers markets in the fall and winter months to make great-tasting dishes.

Dress up Drinks:

  • Set a trend by offering a signature drink. Pick one that matches your party theme or colors. For non-alcoholic options--and to make an eye-catching centerpiece--try lining up colorful bottles of all-natural IZZE Sparkling Juices.
  • Get creative with garnishes. Dip the rims of cocktail glasses in colorful sugars and complement the colors and flavors of a drink with fruit or holiday candy.
  • For creative, simple and fun bar table decorations, line up martini glasses and fill them with multi-colored candies, small fruits and nuts.

Courtesy ARA Content

Scam
Full Moon
Photo: FreePhotos.com
Don't Be Tricked by the "Grandparent Scam"

In what's known as the "grandparent scam," calls often come late in the night, and the callers are in a panic, saying that they're in an emergency situation, like a car accident or having been arrested. Posing as grandchildren, the con artists often beg their victims to transfer money as quickly as possible. "The best protection from this scam is awareness," says Denise Jaworski, Vice President of Consumer Protection at Western Union. "It's important to verify any emergency situation before sending funds."


Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself:

  • Tell the caller you'll call them back at a known number, not a number that they give you. In the meantime, call a mutual friend and ask if they are aware of the situation.
  • Contact your friend or family member and let them know you've received an e-mail or call claiming to be from them.
  • If you did send a money transfer through Western Union before realizing it was a scam, call the company immediately at (800) 448-1492. If the transfer hasn't been picked up, it will be refunded to you.

For more information about scams and for more tips on how to protect yourself from fraud, visit www.WesternUnion.com/consumerprotection.


Courtesy of ARA Content

whatshappeningWhat's Happening at Visiting Angels

December Community Resource BulletinDECEMBER COMMUNITY RESOURCE BULLETIN
The holiday season can be filled with joy, but can also be very stressful--especially for the elderly and their caregivers. Our December bulletin focuses on how to create a "stress-free" holiday. Visit the resource library page on our blog to download December's bulletin, as well as back issues.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT OUR NEW BLOG?
Blog page
We're pleased to announce the creation of our very own company blog. We are very excited about this new venue for connecting with clients, employees, referral sources, internet searchers, and our fan base. We'll do our best to help make our blog your "Go To" resource for senior care. Check it out today by clicking here!
Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties:  About Our Care

Visiting Angels of Central 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 with the activities of everyday living to seniors, the disabled, those recovering from surgery and to those who are simply frail. 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 seniors and adults with special needs 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 truly understand how challenging and alien the entire home care selection process can be...and we are experienced in working with families; with loved ones "resistant" to receiving care; and with third-parties payors (such as insurance companies and the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) to help insure that the best interests of the family and their loved ones are met. Visiting Angels' services help 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 call us at 609-883-8188, visit our blog, MyVisitingAngelsBlog.com; our website, www.VisitingAngels.com/Burling-Mercer; or contact us by email at [email protected].

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