About Our Blog
At Applewood Senior Living we strive to share our knowledge regarding memory care and our aging seniors. We are compelled to share with you our triumphs and our learning experiences. As many of you may already know, each day with our seniors is an adventure and with it brings new joys and also new challenges. We hope to share with you ways to adjust to your loved one’s new stage in life and look to us as a resource for your family member. Our blog will also share with you what our residents are up to and the new technologies and care approaches we are implementing. Applewood Senior Living would like to welcome you to our blog. You may also find additional resources here. We encourage you to ask us questions and appreciate any feedback you may provide us. You can also check out additional updates from us on our Facebook page!
EATING WELL AS YOU AGE
IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS YOU NEED We all can do our best to eat as healthy as we possibly can, but there are still important vitamins and minerals that you need with age that aren’t available in our food sources. WATER–As we age, our bodies lose some of it’s ability to regulate fluid levels and our sense of thirst may not be as sharp. This makes those over 50 years of age more prone to dehydration. Post a note in your kitchen reminding you to sip water every hour and with meals to avoid urinary tract infections, constipation, and even confusion. During your busy days out and about, bring a water bottle with you in your car. Remember to drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water every day! VITAMIN B–After 50, your stomach produces less gastric acid making it difficult to absorb vitamin B-12 which is needed to help keep blood and nerves vital. Get the recommended daily intake (2.4 mcg) of B12 from fortified foots or a vitamin supplement. VITAMIN D–Although we get most of our vitamin D intake through sun exposure and certain foods like fatty fish, egg, yolk, and fortified milk, it may be necessary to get your Vitamin D through supplementation. With age, your skin is less efficient at synthesizing vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential to absorbing calcium and boosting muscles. And, for those living in the northern part of the country, our winters are long and sun exposure limited. Consult your doctor about supplementing your diet with fortified foods or a multivitamin, especially if you’re obese or have...EATING WELL AS YOU AGE
FOOD YOUR BODY NEEDS AS YOU AGE Adults over 50 can feel better immediately and stay healthy for the future by choosing healthy foods. A balanced diet and exercise contribute to a high quality of life and enhanced independence as you age. Fruit: Focus on whole fruits and not juices to get all the benefits of phytonutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. The Surgeon General now recommends that every American should take in 9-13 servings of fruits and veggies every day. This has increased from 3-5 servings to 5-7 servings and now 9-13 servings. So aim for at least 3 servings of fruits every day. Go for the color-rich fruits like blueberries, strawberries and melons. Veggies: Color is your credo when it comes to veggies! Choose antioxidant-rich dark, leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, broccoli as well as orange and yellow vegetables. Carrots, squash, and yams make great choices. Try to eat at least 3 servings of veggies every day. If fruits and veggies are not your thing, put them into a tasty smoothie! Grains: Be healthy and smart, and choose whole grains over processed white flour. By eating more grains, you will get far more fiber and nutrients. Older adults need 6-7 ounces of grains each day (one ounce is about 1 slice of whole grain bread). Protein: Adults over 50 without kidney disease or diabetes need about 1 to 1.5 grams per kilogram (2.2lbs) of bodyweight. This translates to 68 to 102g of high quality protein per person weighing 150lbs. Try to divide your protein intake equally among meals. Fish, beans, peas, eggs, nuts, seeds and low-fat cheese...Eating Well as You Age – Part 2
How Many Calories Do Adults Over 50 Really Need? Everyone knows that calories are a big factor in staying fit and healthy. And, unfortunately, as we age, our metabolism decreases so we burn less calories. Exercising on a regular basis will increase your metabolism at any age. How many calories do you need? Use this as your guideline: A woman over 50 who is: *Not physically active needs about 1600 calories a day *Somewhat physically active needs about 1800 calories a day *Very active needs about 2000 calories a day A man over 50 who is: *Not physically active needs about 2000 calories a day *Somewhat physically active needs about 2200-2400 calories a day *Very active needs about 2400-2800 calories a day Source: National Institute of Aging While you journey to healthier eating, try to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water every day, and drink even more water if you are very active and exercise regularly. This will help you to stay hydrated, lessen fatigue, and help you to maintain your current body weight. Remember, balanced nutrition is more than calorie counting. There are many other aspects to creating a nutritious lifestyle. Part Three…Learn WHAT healthy foods you should CHOOSE to eat as you age for creating a nutritious lifestyle. Like this:Like...Eating Well as You Age
Eating Well as You Age Nutrition and Diet Tips for Healthy Eating as You Age For adults over 50 years, there are many benefits to eating healthy. Increased mental acuteness, a stronger resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better management of health problems are just a few of the benefits. Incorporating healthy habits into one’s lifestyle is a journey. We hope that this six part series will help you and your loved ones take that first step to healthy eating. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and helps those over 50 to stay emotionally balanced. What does eating well entail? No diets and sacrifices. Eating well simply means that one should add fresh, colorful food to their diets, be creative in the kitchen and enjoy eating with friends and family! HEALTHY EATING AS YOU AGE: Feeding your body, mind and soul We are what we eat! Remember that old adage? Make it your daily motto, and you will find yourself eating healthier. Choose from a variety of colorful fruits, and veggies, whole grains and lean protein. By doing so, you will feel vibrant and healthy inside and out. *Live Longer and Stronger –– Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs and other body parts strong as we age. Eating vitamin-rich food strengthens our immune systems and fights illness-causing toxins. A proper diet also reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, bone loss, cancer and anemia. And, if we eat smart, we will consume fewer calories and more nutrient-dense foods, and...Applewood Launches Video Conferencing for Residents
As families struggle to stay connected and visit loved ones living in senior care facilities, Applewood Senior Living has launched a new program to help bring everyone together. We now provide a high-definition video conferencing solution for residents and families to enjoy “virtual visits,” bridging even the furthest distance gaps. For many of the residents who have family members living outside the area, busy schedules and the ever-growing costs of travel can make it difficult and sometimes impossible for families to visit loved ones. The launch of this innovative program, called “EasyConnect HD,” combines high-definition video conferencing systems with live support to make the experience hassle-free for residents and family members. Applewood features a 70” HD screen which is operated by a simple remote control, making it easy for residents to connect face-to-face with their loved ones. “We are always looking for new ways to help our residents stay connected with their families, so we are excited to be launching EasyConnect HD to help bring everyone together” said Greg Petrauski President of Applewood Senior Living. In addition to connecting the residents with their families, Applewood is offering interactive “Virtual Field Trips” to bring groups of residents face-to-face with museum directors, park rangers, authors, and other people of interest from all over the world! The first virtual field trip connected residents with the FDR Presidential Museum & Library in Hyde Park, NY. The interactive experience provides lifelong learning and enrichment, and is offered to the residents at no additional cost. Applewood Senior Living is the first and only senior community to offer EasyConnect HD in the Brookfield area. “EasyConnect HD” is...