Adding a home care companion to the mix can keep seniors in that socially active mode even though they may not be able to drive due to vision problems or other physical limitations.

Social Activity and Healthy Aging

“Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better every day functioning and less disability in old age,” said Bryan James, PhD, lead researcher and postdoctoral fellow in the epidemiology of aging and dementia in the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. “The findings are exciting because social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability.”

So to stay healthy, stay active socially as well as physically, and remember that seniors need to exercise their relationships as well as their bodies. Hiring home care can help with both!

The Longevity Study

Most of us know from experience that having good friends can make our lives richer, but research now shows that our friends may also increase our longevity. The same isn’t true for our relatives.

In a 10-year longevity study of people aged 70 and older, researchers at the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia concluded that a network of good friends is more likely than close family relationships to increase longevity in older people. The research report is based on the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA).

What the Longevity Study Found

Based on results from the study, researchers learned:

• Close relationships with children and relatives had little effect on longevity rates for older people during the 10-year study.
• People with extensive networks of good friends and confidantes outlived those with the fewest friends by 22 percent.
• The positive effects of friendships on longevity continued throughout the decade, regardless of other profound life changes such as the death of a spouse or other close family members.

Why Are Friendships So Powerful for Longevity?

While the study couldn’t say for certain why close friendships have such a dramatic effect on longevity, the authors of the report speculated that friends may encourage older people to take better care of themselves—by cutting down on smoking and drinking, for example, or seeking medical treatment earlier for symptoms that may indicate serious problems.

Friends may also help seniors get through difficult times in their lives, by offering coping mechanisms and having a positive effect on mood and self-esteem.

Could your aging parent use a little more social activity in their lives? If so, think about hiring a home care companion to get them out of the house and more involved with friends and groups in their local area.

For In Home Care please call us at (208) 327-1011. Boise Senior Home Care experts at Havenwood Caregiver Services are available to talk with you about your Home Care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Boise, ID and Spokane, WA.

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Download NPDA Article pdf

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Falling is one of the most serious situations related to senior care, and every year thousands of aging adults experience serious injuries related to slipping and falling. Senior home services do a tremendous amount to try to protect seniors from falling. Most of these efforts revolve around rearranging the furniture in the home, removing tripping obstacles such as rugs or other small items that could get under the feet of a senior and cause of fall, or installing a variety of grab bars and banisters throughout the home that provide additional support for a senior experiencing mobility issues. Recent studies, however, have shown that one of the most important things that seniors can do in order to prevent falls and promote bone health is adding vitamin D to their diet.

Though it is not fully understood why, studies have shown that seniors who take a vitamin D supplement and participate in regular physical exercise have a far lower risk of experiencing a serious fall. The numbers are truly stunning:

By reducing the risk of falling by just 13 percent, instead of there being an expected 30 falls among everyone hundred senior adults, there would only be 26. This reduction means that four seniors who may have experienced very serious falls and related injuries will be protected.

It is important to note that the power of vitamin D supplementation is always studied in conjunction with exercise. Vitamin D is known to help improve bone health and encourage better absorption of calcium, while physical exercise is also known to support the health of the bones and connective tissue. Some suspected that this is the true reason behind fewer falls among seniors who take vitamin D supplements and exercise. Combining these two forces creates a healthier body that is less susceptible to balance issues and immobility. Though it is only one step among many that should be taken in order to help protect seniors from falling and injuring themselves, any element of senior care that can help an aging adult enjoy a longer and healthier life is worth doing.

In Home Care Boise Experts at Havenwood Caregiver Services are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Boise, ID. For more information about senior care call us at

 (208) 327-1011

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If you are age 65 or older it is extremely important
that you do not skip getting your flu shot. It is simple, readily available, and affordable. Most importantly it
can be lifesaving.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE U.S.

Influenza and Pneumococcal are the most common
cause of death from diseases that could have been stopped by a vaccine within the United States. Over 20,000 people in America die from flu epidemics each year. Over 100,000 are at least hospitalized. Adults diagnosed with diabetes and seniors over 65 are the most likely to be victims. The saddest part is that it can all be avoided by being sure to get a influenza shot each year.

WHY IS THE FLU SO DANGEROUS?

There are a few unavoidable reasons why the flu is so dangerous to seniors. The immune system weakens with age. This makes it much easier to catch the flu virus. Once sick, many of the elderly cannot care for themselves properly, especially if they live alone. While sick, many everyday tasks can feel impossible to them. They can become sicker and even dehydrated as a result of having the flu. Add to that the fact that most of them already have life threatening health issues that can become more serious when the flu virus infects their body.

All of this pain and suffering due to the influenza virus is so senseless in many cases. Shots are free under Medicare and readily available from health care providers. Many times clinics are set up at local drug stores. Anyone 65 or older, in nursing or assisted living facilities, those with heart problems, kidney disease, or lung problems need to speak to their health care providers about getting vaccinated.

REMIND YOUR LOVED ONES

If you are a senior over 65 or have a loved one that is, encourage them to go out there and get a flu vaccine. Call your doctor or local hospital for a list of times and locations where the influenza vaccine is being offered. There is virtually no risks involved, so don’t worry. It is a myth that you can catch the flu from the shot, due to the fact that it is created using the virus that has already been killed.

The risk of illness and death is much higher when seniors do NOT receive their annual flu shots. Get yours today!

In Home Care Boise Experts at Havenwood Caregiver Services are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Boise, ID. For more information about senior care call us at

 (208) 327-1011

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