Whitcomb House

Daily Nutrition for Seniors from Whitcomb House Assisted Living Facility

Balanced nutrition is a critical part of comprehensive senior care. Seniors can take advantage of delivery programs from their local grocery stores to make their daily routines manageable and ensure access to quality foods like produce. Packages of pre-cut fruits and vegetables can also help seniors meet their nutritional needs.

Watch this video to discover a dietitian’s recommendations for senior care. She urges seniors to drink plenty of water, because a lessened sense of thirst is often associated with aging. She also recommends eating one cup of yogurt per day for calcium and probiotics. Find out why this dietitian states that frozen convenience meals can actually be healthy for seniors by watching the full clip.

At the Whitcomb House, we ensure that seniors receive quality nutrition. To find out more about our assisted living residence, call us today at (508) 634-2440.

How to Make an Assisted Living Unit Feel Like Home

The transition to an assisted living residence can be difficult for seniors, but making the assisted living unit feel like home will make the adjustment period easier. Help your loved one create a sanctuary in his new home by furnishing it with items that are familiar to him. While decorating the unit, remember to make safety and comfort top priorities:

Bring Furniture from Home

Assisted living units are often available furnished, but your loved one might prefer an unfurnished unit. Decorating the unit with his own furniture can help your loved one feel more at home. Be selective about the furniture that you bring to the unit, because it is likely to be smaller than the senior’s previous residence. In addition to functional furniture, such as the bed and bedside table, bring a few pieces with sentimental value, like a cherished lamp that has been handed down through the generations.

Decorate with Special Mementos

Encourage your loved one to decorate his assisted living unit with mementos that have sentimental value. Photo albums, knickknacks, and vases for flowers make a room cozy and personalized. Your loved one should also bring his favorite books and similar items as well as framed prints and curtains to brighten up the walls. However, try not to bring so many items that the room becomes cluttered.

Participate in Community Activities

Making an assisted living unit feel more like home goes beyond interior decorating. Encourage your loved one to participate in the social activities that the center offers. Doing so can help him feel more at ease with the new surroundings and provide him with opportunities to make friends in his new home.

When it’s time for your loved one to think about moving to an assisted living residence, consider the Whitcomb House. Our professional staff is on hand 24/7 to give your loved one the care and attention he needs. Call us today at (508) 634-2440 to find out more about our elder care services.

Take A Look At These Links For More Helpful Senior Health Tips

Aging can present a handful of challenges regarding health, exercise, and living arrangements for seniors. These tips can help manage some of the toughest issues. If you are looking for an assisted living facility in Worcester, contact the Whitcomb House at (508) 634-2440.

The National Institutes of Health outlines why it is so important for seniors to maintain active lifestyles.

The National Institute on Aging has a great guide to daily senior workouts, including step-by-step photos.

Cost can be a huge concern with assisted living. The Assisted Living Federation of America offers this guide to budgeting for living arrangements.

The Mayo Clinic discusses several ways to minimize the risk of stroke.

It’s crucial that the new resident of an assisted living home be included in the moving process. This guide can help make the transition smooth.

The Senior's Guide to Exercise

Age is not a reason that exercise routines should come to a grinding halt. Keeping a healthy body and mind can vastly improve physical health, guard against disease, and improve memory loss caused by strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other health issues. Seniors residing in assisted living facilities should consider incorporating the following exercises into their daily routines:

Endurance Activities

It’s important to keep your heart healthy with cardio exercises. Activities such as walking or even sitting in a chair and alternating lifting each leg about six inches off the ground for 15 minutes can help keep your heart healthy and build endurance.

Strengthening Exercises

Strength training can prevent or minimize the symptoms of osteoporosis, arthritis, and pulmonary disease. Repetitive curl ups, even with objects as light as soup cans, can make daily tasks easier and the body stronger.

Balance Exercises

Falls can be devastating to seniors. Try a heel-toe walk by slowly walking a line putting one heel directly in front of the other toe for 15 to 20 steps. You can also try a flamingo stand, in which you balance on one leg while holding on to the back of a chair. Each exercise will help build leg muscles, which can prevent falls from occurring.

Stretching Exercises

Performing stretching exercises can help reduce age-related muscle loss. One popular move is to hold a towel over your head with both hands and gently move to one side until you feel a slight pull. The movement can keep muscles limber and make everyday movements easier.

At the Whitcomb House, we know mental and physical exercise is important for seniors, and we strive to provide the best in elder care to our residents. To learn more about moving into our assisted living facility, visit us online or give us a call at (508) 634-2440 today.

How Do You Know If You Are at Risk for a Stroke?

Though many people suffer from strokes without warning, you have a few options for minimizing your risk. While there are some uncontrollable risk factors associated with stroke, such as age and gender, there are ways to combat that risk on your own. Check out this video to learn several ways your lifestyle choices can significantly cut down on your chances of suffering a stroke.

If you have a friend or family member suffering from the damaging effects of a stroke, she could be in need of professional care. The Whitcomb House in the Worcester area specializes in helping residents who are suffering from memory loss or other health issues related to strokes. For more information, call us at (508) 634-2440.