Welcome to the Hart Heritage Estates Blog
The tongue's taste buds detect four tastes: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. As we get older, the fewer taste buds we have and the less sensitive they become. In our prime, we have between 10,000 and 15,000 taste buds. By age 70, many seniors have lost two out of three, so the sense of taste declines... Read More
Preventing serious skin conditions in the elderly
It is very important that the elderly take care of their skin because they are more susceptible to skin infection and skin disease due to the changes that take place to skin as we age. It becomes less supple, thinner and dryer. It injures easier and... Read More
You can do yoga at any age -- really! It's just a matter of picking what type of yoga you do and working within your abilities. It might even help you age better, keeping you flexible and building strength through low impact moves. “We lose about a half-pound of muscle per year for each year we’... Read More
Tips to Help You Choose
Even if you thoroughly understand the details of how assisted living homes and in-home care work, that does not mean this is an easy decision. This is an important step in your life or the life of your loved one, and you want to make sure you make the right choice. These tip... Read More
Can you receive proper care in your home or would it be best to move into an assisted living home that can meet your long-term care needs? This is a question that many of us will be asking ourselves as we get older. Whether it is having to move around your home or making it around town to doctor’s... Read More
11. Treatment for cluster headaches
Cluster headaches – commonly known as “suicide headaches” – are chronically painful headaches
which can last up to several weeks. Fortunately, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic may be close to
an effective, practicable treatment for the condition.
... Read More
Driverless cars, artificial intelligence, smart watches – the future is truly upon us. With science and technology developing so quickly, medical breakthroughs continue to be made every day around the world. But what are some of the most profound advancements in recent years and how can ... Read More
You feel tired, exhausted. Your back hurts, your shoulders slump, and you can’t resist that second piece of chocolate cake. Day in and day out, you feel your physical health start to disintegrate. You know you need to get moving. You know you need to take better care of your body, and mind.... Read More
“Use it or lose it” commonly refers to the importance of exercising your body and staying fit. Exercising your brain is just as important. Your brain needs a regular workout, especially as you age. After the age of 65, your risk of developing dementia doubles approximately every five years.
D... Read More
Gardening is America’s favorite leisure outdoor activity, enjoyed by more than 78 million people, according to the National Gardening Association. For most of us, gardening provides a welcome sojourn in the natural world, a sanctuary that promises relief from the challenges of life. Yet many feel ... Read More
The benefits of physical activity for people of all ages are often touted, but is it safe for seniors to exercise? According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, almost all older people can benefit from more physical activity. In fact, regular exercise prevents chronic disease, improves moo... Read More
Study Shows Hip, Knee Replacement May Help Elderly Patients with Osteoarthritis
Knee or hip replacement surgery may be a viable option for relieving the pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis among the elderly.
A new study shows older adults who have hip or knee replacement surgery for sev... Read More
1. “Hospice staff are available by phone any time, day or night.” (TRUE)
Families can depend on 24/7 assistance and advice by phone.
When a crisis or concern arises while receiving care, hospice should be your first call.
If a crisis cannot be handled over the phone, it is common for ... Read More
Senior citizens and older travelers need to exercise some caution when flying, driving long distances or going on a cruise. Rapid changes in the temperature and climate, hours of walking and standing, and the stress of traveling itself can take their toll on an older person's health and well-being. ... Read More
Every year, Harford County Dept of Community Services, Office on Aging, provides seniors in our community a plethora of activities to stay fit, learn new skills, try new hobbies and well, have fun! And, as we strive each month to provide our blog readers with interesting and informative articles, th... Read More
What do you really know about the elderly? How would you describe them as a group? What about as individuals? I asked several random people who were not in direct contact with a senior citizen on a daily basis to answer those questions. Here are few of the responses that I received: The elderly are ... Read More
As seniors grow older, their taste buds often don’t work like they used to, making foods taste bland. The good news is that you can add some delicious herbs and spices to foods to boost the flavor for your loved one requiring in-home care. Not only will herbs and spices improve flavor, many of the... Read More
Spending time with family and visiting senior loved ones has huge benefits for health, primarily keeping seniors physically young and emotionally happy.
Visiting with your senior loved ones is not only rewarding, but it leads to a myriad of benefits. The obvious upside is the emotional pickup we ... Read More
Roughly five percent of Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder — and another 10 to 15 percent have a milder variation.
Overview
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If... Read More
Millions of older adults fall prey to financial scams every year. Use these tips from NCOA and the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement to protect yourself or an older adult you know.
8 tips to protect yourself
1. Be aware that you are at risk from strangers—and from those closest to you
... Read More
Making New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise, watch your weight, see your healthcare provider regularly, or quit smoking once and for all, can help you get healthier and feel better for many more years to come.
The American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation recommends t... Read More
Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but stressful
Caring for a sick or dying loved one can certainly be rewarding, but it can also be stressful. Indeed, nearly half of all family caregivers say they are “somewhat stressed,” and more than a third are “highly stressed,” according to the... Read More
Getting help from family and friends
Taking care of an aging or ill family member can be enormously rewarding and, at the same time, exhausting and emotionally draining. As a caregiver, you feed and read, clean up, make meals, change sheets, and offer comfort and good cheer. You manage your own lif... Read More
"Memory care" has a gentle ring to it, a sense of precious keepsakes highly valued and lovingly tended. In the realm of long-term care, memory care refers to specialized settings offering stepped-up services for people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. Demand is rising for this type of ca... Read More
Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality among seniors. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more people die each year from pneumonia than from automobile accidents. Despite the prevalence of this disease, many seniors and their caregivers don't know all the fac... Read More
It’s never too early or too late to take steps to protect your bones from osteoporosis fracture risk, especially the bones in your spine. Broken bones of the spine are common in people with osteoporosis and often go unnoticed until more serious problems occur. Learn how to recognize the signs and ... Read More
Bone Health Basics: Get the Facts
When you think about staying healthy, you probably consider lifestyle changes to prevent conditions like cancer and heart disease. Keeping your bones healthy to prevent osteoporosis may not be at the top of your wellness list. But it should.
Bone Basics
Some pe... Read More
Caring for a loved one with dementia poses many challenges for families and caregivers. People with dementia from conditions such as Alzheimer’s and related diseases have a progressive biological brain disorder that makes it more and more difficult for them to remember things, think cle... Read More
A diagnosis of dementia can come as a shock not only for the person with dementia, but also for family and friends. You will all need reassurance and support. This article gives information about how you can make life enjoyable and full for everyone living with dementia.
The early stage - what to e... Read More
Is your aging parent lonely?
Isolation and loneliness are widespread among our elders. It may begin with the loss of a spouse. It may be compounded by physical decline such as loss of driving ability, decreased hearing or vision. Friends pass away. There are fewer opportunities for social... Read More
People of all ages relate to and enjoy music, making it a universal language, of sorts. However, its value can go far beyond simple listening.
Most people enjoy music, but can it actually make the mind “move”? Absolutely, according to Kimmo Lehtonen, PhD, professor of education at the Univers... Read More
It is important to understand the different types of insurance that are available to older people. Many people believe that Medicare will cover long-term care needs. It will not.
Medicare
Medicare is a Federal health insurance program, which helps defray many of the medical expenses of most Americ... Read More
There are many housing options available to the elderly. Choosing the best one will depend on the elderly person's preference, age, health, and financial condition.
Aging in Place
Options such as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), apartment buildings, condominiums, or cooperatives... Read More
Physicians and geriatric social workers warn that there are a number of danger signs that indicate an elderly person needs extra help or a change in living arrangement. Any marked change should be noted; however, no change in lifestyle should be made without discussions with the elderly person, othe... Read More
Talking with our elderly parents about their living situations and the possible need for change is not always easy. A successful conversation depends to an extent upon the relationship we have with the parent, as well as on the parent's mental, emotional, and physical condition. While many people pu... Read More
Older adults (that is, people aged 65 years and older) are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:
Older adult man with heat exhaustion. Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
They are more likely to have a ch... Read More
While Hart Heritage Estates offers a caring and personalized assisted living experience, we are not a hospice; however, we do help coordinate hospice care for our residents who are approaching the end of life. We have relationships with several local hospice organizations in Harford and Ba... Read More
Regular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of ti... Read More
You did it, didn't you? You promised, long ago when your dad died, that you'd take care of Mom and she'd never have to go to a nursing home. You promised Mom – after her visit to a nursing home, one of the worst in the state, to visit a friend – which she'd never have to go to a care facility of... Read More
Making An Important Life Decision
Choosing a nursing home may be one of the most important life decisions you may have to make for yourself, a family member or a friend. Often the decision will need to be made during a crisis or immediately after a serious illness or injury. Learning as much as you... Read More
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) adapted its famous food pyramid to recognize the unique nutritional needs of older adults. Hart Heritage Estates Assisted Living uses these guidelines to inform all dietary and menu selections
MyPlate ... Read More
No two people face aging in quite the same way. It’s important to be mindful of your body and take proactive steps to live the life you desire and deserve. Fortunately, we know healthy aging care and certain lifestyle choices can add quality to your life like never before.
We all tend to lose t... Read More
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It affects an estimated 4 million American adults.
AD usually has a gradual onset. Problems remembering recent events and difficulty performing familiar ta... Read More
Seniors today, or those approaching retirement age, have hopefully been saving money in a company sponsored 401K, individual IRA or other investment. Social Security benefits only go so far.
If you find yourself in your later years unable to care for yourself and unable to remain in your own home... Read More
Here at Hart Heritage Assisted Living, we have many residents in our dementia care wings who have Alzheimer’s, so we are always interested in hearing what the latest research projects show.
Currently, 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. 5.2 million of those are over the age of 65. Almost ... Read More
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia take a toll on everyone in the family, from the person with dementia, to their grown children, all the way down to their grandchildren. It can be particularly difficult and confusing for children to see their adoring grandparents become grumpy, even ... Read More
At Hart Heritage Assisted Living, we provide a wide variety of activities to keep our residents active and entertained. One of these is our garden club, which meets on a regular basis for digging in the dirt, weeding and the best part – harvesting!
Gardening has many health and therapeutic bene... Read More
Should you consider Assisted Living? Whether the mail and newspapers are stac
ing up, food is spoiling, the pets aren’t being cared for, or something just doesn’t seem quite right, it’s important to be aware of the sign that your elderly parents may need outside help
Sometimes age snea... Read More
If you’re looking for an assisted living facility that provides memory care, there are some specific things you need to consider. Any memory care community, including Hart Heritage Assisted Living, will welcome your questions. You should be satisfied with their answers.
In addition to providing... Read More
We are Harford County Strong. With deep respect and admiration for the two fallen officers, Deputy Patrick Daly and Deputy Mark Logsdon. Our prayers and thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow officers of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. God Bless them. Read More
You’re not alone if you have a parent, family member or friend who is experiencing memory loss. Figuring out if it is memory loss associated with aging, or a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia may be the challenge. Read on about the ways the elderly may try to hide cognitive declin... Read More
Happy St. Patrick's Day from Biscotti, and Hart Heritage!
We are all dressed in green today, are you? Read More
If you’re looking into assisted living for yourself or a loved one, you are probably also thinking about how to pay for assisted living. At Hart Heritage Assisted Living in Street and Forest Hill, we work closely with you ahead of time to ensure you know you’re your assisted living costs will be... Read More
Spring has sprung, and while the temperatures may not be quite as warm as we would like, the staff and residents here at Hart Heritage Assisted Living are looking to get moving.
This is the perfect opportunity for seniors who have been hibernating all winter to get moving. But did you know, that ... Read More
Through our partnership with Pets on Wheels, Hart Heritage Assisted Living provides pet therapy and pet companionship for our residents several times a month. Many of our residents had to find new homes for their pets when they moved to assisted living, so being able to interact with the Pets on Whe... Read More
