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How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

When senior citizens were younger, they probably didn’t take getting a good night’s sleep so seriously. Whether it was pulling an all-nighter when they were in college or working 12 to 16 hours a day inside a factory or behind a desk, they could get by on a few hours of shut-eye. But studies have shown that a lack of sleep can affect both your mental and physical health.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends that adults, especially older adults, need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. However, seniors may have a difficult time falling asleep, either because they are sick or in pain. Seniors who do not get enough rest during the night may experience certain ailments the following day, including irritability, forgetfulness, depression and more falls or accidents.

There are other health problems that are brought on by poor sleep habits. These include cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

In addition to getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night, the NIA offers these tips that will make you restful and relaxed throughout the night:

Avoid taking naps of 30 minutes or more. Although you may feel tired during the day, you might not be able to fall asleep later that night.
Set the same bedtime schedule — when you go to bed and when you get up — every day. That also includes Saturdays and Sundays.
Find a routine to get you ready for bed, whether it’s a warm bath, reading a book or listening to soothing, calming music.
If you exercise, try avoiding doing it within three hours of bedtime. Although you may feel physically tired, your heart rate and temperature may be raised, making it harder to fall asleep.
Avoid eating heavy meals before going to sleep. That may result in stomach issues that could keep you awake. Also, stay away from caffeine late in the day (that includes coffee, tea, soda and chocolate). Be careful of taking certain medications as well, as those can keep you awake. Avoid alcohol, as that will actually keep you awake.
Turn off all electronic devices before going to bed. These serve as distractions and will prevent you from getting an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
Set your bedroom to a comfortable temperature and lower the lighting in the room as you prepare for bedtime.

McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your loved one’s needs and allow them to live to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.

How Seniors Can Celebrate Halloween

The sights of jack o’lanterns, kids in costumes and homes decorated as haunted houses remind us that Halloween is coming soon. Senior citizens get a kick out of the festivities as much as the children do when the day approaches. In celebration of the spookiest day of the year, here are some activities that seniors can enjoy:

Wear your favorite costume — One of the fun things about Halloween is the opportunity to dress up as a famous TV character or movie monster. These costumes can be purchased at outlet stores, which means there is no need to spend a lot of money, especially on something that is going to be worn only once a year. In addition, they can get together with their friends and have a costume party.
Watch an old-time scary movie — Today’s horror films rely on gore and gratuitous violence to provide scares, but they don’t compare to the originals. Seniors will fall back in time as they watch these monster movies they grew up with, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and The Mummy, and see the actors who were the legends of horror back in the day, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr.
Listen to a spooky story — Nothing gives a chill than listening to a tale of terror. Thanks to today’s technology, senior citizens can download audiobooks from Kindle or their local library and choose a scary story from their favorite author. It may be a good idea to stick to the classics from writers such as Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, or Edgar Allen Poe. They can also stream old-time radio stations on the Internet and hear spooky shows like Lights Out!
Decorate pumpkins — For those who aren’t into frights and screams, seniors can put their artistic skills to good use and give pumpkins a special look. They can paint funny or scary faces on their pumpkins and use other crafts to give it a special look. They can use spare parts from a Mr. Potato Head and place the ears, nose and eyeglasses. For hair, they can utilize colored yarn and glue to give the pumpkin an almost-human look.

For the families, if they have a loved one in an assisted living facility and they are unable to visit due to time constraints or distance, they can send a Halloween card to their loved one as a way of saying “We are thinking about you.” Children can create a Halloween-themed collage with “I love you” in the middle.

McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your love one’s needs and allow them to live to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.

Seniors Should Prepare for the Upcoming Flu Season

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging senior citizens to get a flu shot before the end of October. As people age, they become more susceptible to viruses such as influenza, so it is more important than ever for them to get vaccinated.

Recently, three vaccines have been approved for older people: Fluzone High-Dose Equivalent, which has four times more antigens than the standard dose and is shown to be effective in reducing hospitalizations from the flu; Fluad, an additive which is used to improve the immune system’s response to the vaccine; and Fluad Quadrivalent, which is a higher-dosage version of Fluad.

The CDC found that vaccinations are effective in reducing illnesses as a result of the flu, as well as the number of hospitalizations and death. Statistics from the agency found that 50-70% of those hospitalized with the flu are 65 years old and older. Of those who died from the flu, 70-85% were in the same age group.

It is also recommended that seniors with long-term health conditions receive the flu shot. That includes those with asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease. The flu can actually exacerbate these medical conditions, putting seniors at risk.

In addition to receiving a flu shot, there are other ways that senior citizens can protect themselves from the flu. This includes washing their hands frequently, staying away from others who may be ill, getting plenty of rest, exercising, drinking plenty of fluids and eating healthy foods. Those who are sick should remain in bed and avoid being around those who don’t have the flu.

McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your loved one’s needs and allow them to live to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.

How Seniors Can Adjust to Their New Surroundings

For seniors, making the transition to an assisted living or senior care facility can be quite difficult. They have to become acclimated to a new place after spending nearly all their lives in a home of their own. This new experience can be overwhelming for them, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for seniors on how they can make their stay an enjoyable one:

Meet other people — Sometimes, meeting other people can be as easy as just saying “hi.” It can be intimidating at first, but once they introduce themselves, they will get to know the other residents.
Get the lay of the land — If the senior did not have the chance to tour the facility before moving in, they can ask a staff member to show them around. They can see where other parts of the facility such as the dining area, the lounge or the game room are located.
Join a class — Many assisted living facilities have art classes, in which residents take part in drawing and painting. This allows seniors the opportunity to exercise their creativity and to meet new people.
Attend a meeting — Council meetings are held at assisted living facilities to address any issues affecting fellow residents. When the senior attends a meeting, they get to learn what is going on in the facility and offer their input as well.
Take part in activities — New residents can meet other people while playing games or other organized activities. They can get to know the residents over a game of checkers, Scrabble or cards.
Learn something new — Some facilities host experts who provide lectures on famous historical and political figures and entertainers. Seniors will have a greater knowledge of the subject matter and find out who else has the same interests as they do.

McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. We offer art and music classes for our residents, as well as fun games and activities to keep them active. We provide particular attention to residents with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your loved one’s needs and allow them to live life to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.

September 13 is National Grandparents Day

This coming Sunday is National Grandparents Day. Now is a good time to finally visit your loved ones, especially those who are in assisted living facilities.

National Grandparents Day honors the families’ elders and celebrates the familial bonds between the young and old. The holiday’s beginnings can be traced back to 1956 — the same year that McPeak’s was founded. Marian McQuade, a West Virginia resident, was helping put together a celebration for seniors over the age of 80 when she noticed that the local nursing home residents were alone and had no one to visit them. From there, she sought to establish a holiday for all grandparents and those seniors who may have been forgotten by their families.

On July 15, 2020, the New York State Health Department allowed visitors inside and outside assisted living facilities, but with strict guidelines. Among them:

facilities cannot have any new coronavirus cases within a 28-day period
facilities must complete and pass inspections of their infection control practices
visitors must provide their contact information upon checking in, undergo a temperature check, wear a mask and practice social distancing
residents will be allowed no more than two visitors at a time
at least one of the visitors must be 18 years of age or older (those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult)

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of health facilities throughout New York, leaving residents with loneliness, isolation and depression. A visit on their special day would definitely make them feel better.

McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your loved one’s needs and allow them to live to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.

Positive Attitude, Respect for Elders Help Older People Live Longer

Scientific data compiled and analyzed by Orb Media found that senior citizens who had a more positive outlook about aging were more likely to live longer and be less prone to health problems. In addition, seniors who encountered younger people who show respect for their elders were also reported to be in better health.

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Residents Must Still Protect Themselves from COVID-19

Although New York State has “flattened the curve” and has seen a drop in coronavirus cases, that does not mean we are out of the woods yet. Senior citizens, especially those who reside in assisted living facilities, must still remain vigilant when it comes to protecting their health and preventing the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

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Exercising Your Brain Can Help Ward off Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, along with many neurologists, reported that mental exercise can help reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. These experts say that exercising your brain 20 minutes per day, three times a week can decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer’s by 70%.

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Using Technology to Stay in Touch with Your Senior Loved Ones

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, New York State executive orders currently require people to stay at least six feet away from each other and wear protective face masks when going out and when social distancing cannot be maintained. Unfortunately, there is no visiting at this time since the elderly are the most susceptible to the coronavirus.

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Coronavirus Cases in NY Expected to Peak Within Next Week

According to official estimates, the number of new coronavirus infections in New York are expected to peak at some point within the next week. While this doesn’t signal the end of the coronavirus infections, it does mean that New York may be able to begin relaxing some of the coronavirus-related restrictions over the next few weeks. This would allow life in New York to return to relative normalcy after the strife caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading “Coronavirus Cases in NY Expected to Peak Within Next Week”