7 Senior Women & Their Incredible Accomplishments

Getting older does not necessarily mean being less healthy. By eating balanced diets and staying active, many seniors enjoy exciting lives well past retirement age. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care in Prescott. Our professional caregivers are available around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

Many older women continue leading productive lives. Here is a list of 7 incredible senior women and their accomplishments.

1. Ernestine Shepherd

Ernestine Shepherd is the official Guinness World Records holder for Oldest Female Bodybuilder. Her sister died early from a brain aneurysm. The loss inspired Shepherd to live a fuller life. At the age of 56, she began working out and became interested in bodybuilding. She entered her first competition at the age of 71. Now 80, she continues running marathons, staying in shape, and teaching fitness classes.

2. Flo Meiler

Although Meiler competed in the Senior Olympics as a tennis player, she ventured into track and field when she was 60. Five years later, she pole vaulted for the first time. After 10 years, Meiler competed in 13 National Senior Games, and she currently holds 15 world records and 12 United States records. Some of the events she regularly competes in include the 100 and 200-meter dashes, the discus and shot put throws, the high jump, the long jump, and the triple jump.

3. Harriett Lake

At 95 years old, Harriett Lake enjoys life as a philanthropist. Each year, she donates money to 200 local charities. In 2014, she donated 4,000 items from her closet to raise money for the level one trauma center at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Orlando Regional Medical Center. The fashion enthusiast admits having a weakness for clothes and accessories, and she requires more than 5,000-square feet of space for her personal wardrobe.

4. Jeannie Epper

At the age of 76, Epper is considered by many to be the greatest stuntwoman in the world. During the 70s, she was Lynda Carter’s stunt double in Wonder Woman. Her more recent film appearances include Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Minority Report, and The Fast and the Furious. In total, Epper has been in more than 100 films, and she has won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Taurus World Stunt Awards.

5. Johanna Quaas

At 92, Quaas is the world’s oldest gymnast. She regularly competes in the Landes-Seniorenspiele events in Germany. Quaas spent most her life as a gymnastics coach. Floor dance routines and the parallel bars are among her specialties.

To remain active and healthy, your senior loved one needs to adopt a healthy lifestyle. A Prescott home caregiver can help your elderly loved one manage his or her health in a variety of ways. If your loved one needs encouragement to exercise more often, eat healthier foods, or socialize on a regular basis, an in-home caregiver can address these and many other health-related concerns.

6. Lorelei de la Reza

Although she is now 72, de la Reza still loves to play basketball. She took up the sport 17 years ago by attending a class at her fitness center. By 2002, she qualified for a position on the Houston Senior Olympics team. She continues playing three times each week.

7. Tao Porchon-Lynch

At 98 years old, Porchon-Lynch holds the record for being the oldest yoga instructor. In fact, she spent more than 60 years teaching yoga to others and continues teaching today. She also enjoys participating in ballroom dancing competitions.

Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Prescott, AZ, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. To create a custom care plan for your senior loved one, get in touch with us at 928-771-0105 today.

How To Reduce the Risk of B-12 Deficiency in the Elderly

B12 deficiency can result in a variety of health conditions, including mood swings, general lethargy, insomnia, a loss of appetite, and vision problems. While this vitamin is found in several foods, seniors often face difficulty in properly digesting these foods. However, with a few lifestyle changes most aging adults can prevent B12 deficiencies.

If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care in Prescott. Our professional caregivers are available around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in seniors.

Get Tested

One of the reasons several B12 deficiencies go undiagnosed in seniors is because the symptoms are often similar to other age-related issues. This is why seniors should be tested for major nutritional deficiencies once every few years. You should also consider having your loved one tested for vitamin deficiencies if he or she exhibits warning signs such as numbness, tingling, a loss of appetite, constipation, cognitive decline, heart palpitations, or pale skin.

Eat More Animal Products

B12 deficiencies are fairly common among seniors who don’t eat animal products because few vegan ingredients contain this vitamin. If your loved one has a B12 deficiency, you should try out different animal products to see if it helps with his or her condition. Even eating fresh seafood just a few days a week should provide a senior with enough B12. You can also add B12-rich snacks such as hard boiled eggs, canned tuna, and chicken wraps to your loved one’s diet.

Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Prescott, AZ, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.

Take a Multivitamin

Multivitamins are designed for very specific age groups depending on what nutrients they contain. Unlike multivitamins for younger adults, senior multivitamins generally have high doses of vitamins B6 and B12. These products will be beneficial if your loved one has had any surgeries carried out on his or her stomach or intestines. Many weight loss procedures reduce the efficiency of the digestive tract and make it much more difficult to absorb nutrients.

Research Medications

Different medications will have an impact on how well a senior absorbs nutrients such as vitamin B12. Digestive issues are common among those who take diabetic medications and other drugs that affect the production of stomach acid. Seniors with B12 deficiency should speak with their doctor about altering their medications or trying alternative treatment options. You should take a look at your loved one’s over-the-counter medications to see if they might be impacting his or her digestive system.

Get B12 Shots

Seniors who have difficulty remembering to take their B12 supplements might benefit from scheduling B12 shots once every few weeks. These shots work almost instantaneously, and they give doctors control over exactly how much B12 is administered into a person’s system. Within just a few hours of administering these shots, many seniors feel a wide variety of benefits such as higher energy levels and a healthier appetite.

Quit Smoking

Smokers have much higher rates of nutritional deficiencies. They also tend to have poor dietary habits, and their bodies must also send additional resources to the cells that are being damaged by the tobacco products. A 2004 study published in the Nutrition Journal found smokers are almost twice as likely to be deficient in vitamins A, B, C, and D.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to dementia and other types of cognitive diseases. Professional caregivers can help seniors delay the onset of memory loss. For dementia care Prescott, AZ, families can count on, reach out to Home Care Assistance. Our compassionate caregivers use revolutionary memory care programs to help seniors stave off the progression of dementia, and they can also assist with a wide variety of important everyday tasks, including bathing, grooming, exercise, and cooking. To hire a dedicated caregiver for your aging loved one, get in touch with us at 928-771-0105 today.

Visit us online today @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com

5 Ways Seniors Can Boost Their Emotional Health

Emotional ailments are often more difficult for outsiders to recognize than physical illnesses. However, it’s just as crucial for seniors to maintain emotional wellbeing as it is to enhance other aspects of their health. The Prescott elder care experts at Home Care Assistance discuss 5 ways your elderly loved one can boost his or her emotional health.

1. Revisit Old Passions

There should never come a point when your loved one feels too old to reignite passion in activities he or she once loved. Even with physical limitations, there are still ways to get involved in practically any hobby or leisurely pursuit once again. Seniors who used to go on long hikes can look for local parks with flat pathways and beautiful views, and those who once enjoyed drawing might be able to seamlessly transition over to painting or sculpting.

2. Celebrate Personal Accomplishments

Taking a few moments to celebrate small accomplishments throughout the day is an excellent way to maintain a positive mindset. Whether it is learning to cook a new meal or getting around to finally calling a family member, small steps such as these can add up. Seniors who only focus on their mistakes and shortcomings will find it far more difficult to protect their emotional health.

3. Stay Socially Connected

Withdrawing from friends and family members can have a major impact on your loved one’s psyche. Without social stimulation, emotional disorders like depression and anxiety will be a constant threat. Even a few minutes of social interaction a day can boost your loved one’s psychological health and happiness.

4. Continue Setting Goals

The sense of accomplishment seniors receive from achieving goals is extremely important to their emotional health. However, many seniors tend to toss their goals to the side when they are managing physical and cognitive limitations. Even the act of setting a goal can provide your loved one with hope and enhance his or her outlook on life.

5. Eat and Drink in Moderation

Not many people realize just how much their diet impacts their emotional wellbeing. Using food and alcohol to manage stress or unhappiness can be a dangerous habit. Though most foods and beverages are fine in moderation, using them as a crutch may set your loved one up for failure in the future.

If you are concerned about your loved one’s emotional wellbeing, consider hiring a professional in-home caregiver from Home Care Assistance. We are a leading provider of Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s home care Prescott families trust, and our caregivers are available 24/7 to provide social companionship and emotional support, assist with daily activities, and prepare healthy meals. For more information and to request a free consultation, call 928-771-0105 today.

Visit us online @ http:www.homecareassistanceprescott.com