Keeping Senior Loved Ones Close When a Physical Visit Isn’t Possible
(NewsUSA)
– On a typical day, the average person doesn’t think about how it feels to go days with little human connection or interaction.With most of our communities practicing social distancing to stunt the spread of COVID-19, we are gaining a new level of empathy for what many older adults face every day. According to the 2018 National Poll on Healthy Aging, 27 percent of older adults reports feeling isolated and more than one in four says they experienced social contact once a week, if not less."The uneasiness, loneliness and helplessness that many of us are feeling now will eventually pass," says Jeff Huber, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care."For socially isolated seniors, however, this pandemic has the potential to amplify the impact on their already-fragile situations. While the world stays home to prevent illness, we must reach out to our neighbors and loved ones to make sure our seniors stay connected."For many seniors who live alone, social distancing will amplify the loneliness they already feel. And isolation can have significant health implications such as higher risks of heart attack, stroke, depression, anxiety and even premature death. But there is a cure, and it’s called community.In a time when bringing family and friends together may not be feasible, we need a little creativity and a lot of intention to ensure regular contact with neighbors and loved ones.Whether you’re helping a relative or neighbor navigate social distancing, or looking to minimize the effects of isolation, Home Instead Senior Care recommends the following ideas to stay connected:1. Set a schedule. Despite our best efforts, it can be easy to let days go by before the next call or email. Regular check-ins can go a long way toward helping older relatives, friends and neighbors feel supported. The trick is to plan ahead. Establish a regular cadence for phone calls, emails and video chats – and stick to it!2. Chat through video. While no technology can take the place of in-person human interaction, video-chat platforms such as Skype or Zoom and tablets such as an iPad or GrandPad, can supplement seniors’ social interactions when visits with friends and family aren’t possible. Webcams are a user-friendly and affordable gift to keep the generations connected – offering grandchildren the chance to show off their latest school project, or faraway relatives an opportunity to hear and see one another.3. Give them a ring. Texting is an easy way to keep in touch, but sometimes picking up the phone is the best way to get the job done. Call a parent, relative or neighbor, and when you do get them on the line, give them your full attention. If you’re drawing a blank for conversation topics, consider requesting their advice or asking about their family, hobbies or recent activities.4. Embrace snail mail. Sending an old-fashioned letter or postcard is an easy way to say hello and remind someone you’re thinking of them. While a thoughtful letter may not completely stamp out loneliness, it can help lift spirits and show how much you care. If you have young children, consider enlisting them to draw pictures or practice their handwriting with a special note.As we all continue to adjust to the impact of COVID-19, it’s easy to spread a bit of cheer and help make a senior smile. For more ideas on how to forge a meaningful relationship with older adults in your life, visit ReadytoCare.com or contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office. 
– Now more than ever, older adults recognize the importance of staying healthy. And their numbers are increasing. The U.S. population of adults aged 65 years and older is expected to be 88.5 million by the year 2050, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections. For many of these older adults, staying healthy includes working to control glucose levels because they have type 2 diabetes or meet the criteria for “pre-diabetes” with risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
– The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to impact the economy in many ways, one of which has been the surge in popularity of the barter economy.
– People across the nation are feeling the impact of the novel coronavirus that is infecting tens of thousands of Americans and wreaking havoc upon our economy. Many of those who have lost their jobs during this public health crisis rely on one or more prescription drugs to stay healthy or alive. But they will soon run out of money to pay for them.We are living in a time when people must be creative about how they will get through the next few hours, days, weeks and months. It is critical that those who need medication can afford to pay for it.If you or someone you love is one of the millions of Americans living with a chronic disease or a life-threatening condition, pharmaceutical manufacturers and their partners may offer you hope. While some like to point the finger at these companies and criticize or blame them for rising Rx costs, many have programs in place to help working families. Rather than finger-pointing, what we need today is for the nation to come together and people to help each other.Eligibility for Prescription Assistance Programs (PAPs) is often, but not always, based on a patient’s household income. Patients with no health insurance coverage are often the first group considered eligible. Likewise, those with one or more chronic or life-threatening conditions are considered high priority.If you fall into one of these categories, check out the PAPs found on individual pharmaceutical company websites or those listed at 
– La pandemia de COVID-19 está generando temor, confusión e incertidumbre económica en muchos estadounidenses mayores, especialmente aquellos que viven con un ingreso fijo.
– Well, actually, it’s both … the charm of hummingbirds is most certainly apropos and "a charm" of hummingbirds is actually factual! Yep, that’s right, the collective noun for these unique creatures – just like a gaggle of geese or a flock of birds, is a charm of hummingbirds. Since the definition of the noun ‘charm’ is "the power of giving delight or arousing admiration," one doesn’t need to be a wordsmith to see how right that is. Hummingbirds are charming. And there are over 330 varieties of the species, Trochilidae, which is their biological family name and they’re found in the Western Hemisphere. When one sees a hummingbird, it’s a stunning, stop-in-your-tracks sight. Their brilliant throat color is actually a result of the iridescence in the arrangement of their feathers, not color pigment. Light level, moisture, angle of viewing and other factors all influence just how bright and colorful their throats may appear. Perhaps you’ve heard them, too – the name hummingbird comes from the buzzing sound of their fast-flapping wings.Hummers are migrant birds, so although many stay close to the Equator, lots of varieties travel this time of year, so there may be a ‘charm’ coming to your backyard soon. If you have the desire to see one up close or are curious about how to attract them to your yard, the folks at Cole’s Wild Bird Feed Co have got you covered. First, they figured out the engineering of an elegant, deceptively simple, easy-to-use (and easy-to-clean!) feeder. The patented 
– These days, everyone is looking for, and finding heroes in our communities and our world. General entertainment television network