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In Today's Newsletter
- Top Trends For Caregiving in 2008
- Planning Checklist: 10 Tips To Start Out The Year In A Great Way
- Recipe: Boost Your Immune System With Healing Foods
- Ongoing Learning: Home Organization
Top Trends For Caregiving in 2008
Currently over 20 million baby boomers are caring for their elderly parents on a part or full time basis, with dramatic annual increases forecast.
Are you one of them?
By 2010, over 40 million Americans will be over the age of 65. And a vast majority of them will either find themselves in a caregiving role, or requiring care.
The issues and choices each new caregiver will face is often overwhelming, and in some cases almost impossible to find answers for. Take a look at some of today's top concerns:
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Planning Checklist: 10 Tips To Start Out The Year In A Great Way
Every year we start out with goals and resolutions for ourselves. But what about the one you are caregiving for? Start them out this year by making sure you have everything in place. 
1. Do you have all of your new medical information together? December is a time for change; verify that you have all updated medical ID cards, and all medical and prescription program information together.
2. Are all of your loved one's prescription purchased from the same place? If not, have a pharmacist review all medicines to help avoid adverse drug reactions.
3. Have your loved ones received their flu and pneumonia vaccinations? Its important to have these in place to prevent sickness during the next few months.
4. Have your loved ones received their annual checkups, both medial and vision? Make sure you request a hearing exam during their annual checkups.
5. Have your loved ones checked home security systems? Install fire and carbon monoxide alarms, check and replace batteries in existing alarms, and replace old alarms that are more than a few years old.
6. Is your parent's home energy efficient? Have heating systems inspected and change air filters. Weatherize doors and windows. Install fluorescent light bulbs. Insulate pipes, both inside and out, and hot water heaters.
7. Is your loved one still driving? Verify when their driver's licenses need to be renewed. Inspect their automobiles for safety and emission inspections. Verify auto insurance premiums and coverage.
8. Have your parents prepared and filed all necessary tax filings? Review all forms of income, and make sure you have everything in place for tax filing.
9. Are your loved ones on the DO NOT CALL registry? This is a good way to stop phone calls that may open up your loved ones to scam calls.
10. Have your parents completed a home inventory? List all important items and documents, and have the information in one secure place.
Boost Your Immune System With Healing Foods
Source: Lisa Mosing with Lifescript.com
With the cold and flu season upon us a healthy immune system will be your best defense against the viruses and bacteria's our bodies try to fend off daily
Here are some tips to help support your immune system.
Omeg 3's: Fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and wheat germ. In fact, research shows diets low in fat weaken the immune system and increase depression.
Protein: Zinc, found in beef and lamb strengthen the immune system. Choose lean cuts of meat. Other proteins are chicken, fish, eggs, whole grains, soy and dairy (yogurt is a great choice).
Plant Foods: Avocados, berries, pineapple are great choices to boost the immune system. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Can be prepared and served in salads, soups, or stews.
Citrus: Leafy greens, bell peppers, oranges, grapefruit, pomegranates. Vitamin C inactivates histamine, which is responsible for your runny nose and congestion, and helps reduce inflammation. Bright colored fruits and vegetables carry immune enhancing antioxidants which help fight wintertime illnesses. Eat a variety... strawberries, blueberries, apricots, tomatoes, spinach, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, yams.
Nuts: Great for snacks and nuts contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Sunflower seeds, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts. For all the women macadamia nuts are a great boost to certain immune system cells when we're under stress. Eat nuts everyday.
Spices: Onion, garlic, crushed red pepper. Add to soups, stews, salad dressings.
Hydrate: Drink at least 8 glasses of WATER every day. If you are sick, double this.
Tea: A hot mug of tea is more than just comfort, it is a natural antihistamine.
AVOID: Foods and snacks high in sugar and fat. As little as two sugary sodas a day can lower the power of your cold-busting immune cells by 40%.
A car needs more than just fuel to run smoothly...it also needs preventative maintenance. This is the same with your immune system. Your immune system is on guard 24 hours a day to stop any intruder that poses a threat to your health. And YOU are the CEO responsible to keep your immune system running at maximum efficiency with a healthy lifestyle of exercise, rest, and healing foods.
YES, Chicken Soup is still a classic remedy for colds and flu. It can relieve cold symptoms, moisten and clear the nasal passages and sooth a sore throat. Let me share with you our family chicken soup recipe:
HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP
Pkg of chicken wings (healing nutrients in the skin and bones)
4 Chicken breasts (beats cutting up a whole chicken)
3 sprigs of parsley
Carrots
Celery
1 onion
4 cloves garlic
¼ t thyme
¼ t marjoram
1 bay leaf
10 peppercorns
5 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
1 T salt
Cover with 3 - 4 quarts of water. Cover and simmer on stove for 4 hours. Or 6 to 8 hours in a slow cooker (crock pot). Use a colander in large bowl to strain the broth. Bring the broth back to a boil and add noodles and cook until tender. (I use frozen noodles, they are more like homemade). Cut up the chicken breast and add to broth and noodles.
TIPS:
Can add a pkg. of frozen vegetables or precooked carrots and celery.
Freeze the broth to have on hand for those times you do get a cold.
Ongoing Learning: Home Organization
 Did you know Seniors Etc can help your loved one organize her mail, assist with home deliveries and mailing bills and letters?
After the holidays, many of us have dedicated the first few months to getting organized. It's important to organize last years' receipts for tax purposes, organize the incoming mail, and put things away for the coming year.
If you're having trouble finding time to take care of your own home, and the home of your loved one, Seniors Etc can help. We can work with your loved one on sorting and organizing, and putting things into order for both you and her. We'll give you piece of mind, and ensure that important papers aren't lost or misplaced while you're at work or running your own household.
Want to find out more? Contact Seniors Etc for more information, and to schedule your fact-finding consultation.
Seniors Etc
6834 S. University Blvd. #401
Centennial, CO 80122
720.529.1211
Email: info@seniorsetc.com | | 
