Whether you or an aging loved one has diabetes, it can be especially difficult to manage the disease during the holiday season.

From pumpkin spice everything, made with ingredients that can wreak havoc on blood sugar, to sweet and carb-laden temptations everywhere, managing diabetes during the holidays requires self-control and careful planning.

Eating Healthy During the Holidays

These six tips can help you or your senior loved one manage diabetes this holiday season.

1. Look for diabetes-friendly alternatives to family favorites.

If you’re cooking for your family, search for healthy alternatives to the dishes you usually prepare. Cauliflower mashed potatoes, desserts made with natural, sugar-free sweeteners, fresh-baked sweet potatoes instead of sweet potato pie are all examples. If you’ve been invited to a party or a dinner, offer to bring a few healthy side dishes or appetizers.

2. Take advantage of the healthiest flavors of the season.

As much as the holidays might mean pumpkin treats, apple pies, fruitcake, and candy, November is also harvest time. Fill your table, and your plate, with farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.

One of the most popular spices of the season, cinnamon, has been shown to help regulate blood sugar. Use it in home-baked, sugar-free cookies and other pastries, as well as in tea and on sweet potatoes.

3. Plan ahead.

It can be hard to resist a buffet table of tasty sweets and carbs if you aren’t prepared. But the worst thing you can do is to skip eating all day to make up for a feast that evening. This causes your blood sugar to drop and then spike to unsafe levels.

If you know you’re going to a party or dinner, ask about the menu in advance. Plan what you’ll eat, taking note of carb and sugar counts. Eat a sensible breakfast and lunch.

When you arrive, fill a small plate with healthy, balanced choices, starting with vegetables. It’s okay to include a few of your favorite treats in small portions.

Then choose to mingle in a spot further away from the food for the remainder of the evening.

4. Aim for balance.

Can’t resist splurging on a small slice of apple pie? Forego the mashed potatoes or other carbs at dinner to treat yourself to dessert. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect at every meal. Just be conscious of your choices.

5. Take your focus off the food.

There’s plenty to do at holiday gatherings besides eat.  When you do sit down for the meal, eat slowly, taking time to savor each bite.

If everyone at the Thanksgiving table is still indulging in second and third helpings, head out and play outdoors with the children in the group, who are probably already done eating.

Wherever you may be for the holidays, take the focus off the food and socialize instead.

6. Make time for exercise.

Suggest a walk after dinner with your family and friends. Regular exercise can help stabilize blood sugar and can help offset the effects of a large meal.

Enjoy Healthy Meals at Five Star Senior Living

The signature chefs are Five Star Senior Living cook up healthy, diabetes-friendly meals every day. Find out more about the many benefits residents can enjoy at Five Star Senior Living.

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<!–[CDATA[Having a close circle of friends is important at any age. But those bonds are especially important as we age. In fact, research shows that a strong social network of family and friends helps promote successful aging.
 
According to research conducted by scientists at Adelphi University, older adults who have close personal relationships are less likely to suffer from health conditions such as depression and obesity.
 
But as we grow older, our social circles often become disrupted. Retirement can lead to relocation to a warmer climate. Close friends may go through a divorce or pass away. And an older adult may experience the loss of a spouse.
 
These losses can impact both the size and quality of an older adult’s relationships. Research from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) shows that adults between the ages 75 and 85 have smaller social networks.
 
If building new friendships is a challenge for you or an aging Indiana loved one, senior living can be a solution.
 
How Senior Living Helps Older Adults in Indiana
 
Here are a few ways senior living communities help older adults rebuild important social networks.
 
Life Enrichment Programs
 
A commitment to life enrichment is a core component of senior living communities. At Five Star Senior Living, we focus on the five dimensions of wellness as we create programs and activities for our residents:
 

• Physical
• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Social
• Spiritual

We call this program Lifestyle360.
 
Residents have an opportunity to participate in activities ranging from book clubs to Chair Yoga.
 
If you or your senior loved one is feeling lonely, a senior living community can help expand social networks and find new passions.
 
Supportive Social Environment
 
When it comes to maintaining relationships, where you live matters. An environment that makes it easier for seniors to connect and engage with each other another is another positive part of a senior living community.
 
Common areas and community living rooms encourage social interaction. These shared spaces provide seniors with both a feeling of home and an informal place to connect with one another.
 

Close Proximity to a Peer Group

 
Living in close proximity to older adults who may be experiencing similar ups and downs in life can also promote healthy aging. Sharing troubles with other seniors can help boost mood and lift the spirit. And having friends nearby not only encourages close relationships, it can also lead to a healthier lifestyle including fewer incidences of obesity and a healthier heart.
 
How Adult Children Can Encourage a Senior Loved One
 
Building new friendships can take time and confidence. An older adult who may have always relied on the comfort of a long-standing social circle may feel intimidated meeting new people. A senior living community can provide the space they need to create new relationships. 

<!–[CDATA[If you are the primary caregiver for an older loved one, your days are likely busy. In addition to assisting with personal care, household chores, bill paying, grocery shopping, and meal preparation, you are probably the keeper of the senior’s health care appointments. That is an important task that requires good organizational and communications skills. 

It isn’t uncommon for seniors and their caregivers to feel a little intimidated or overwhelmed during physician appointments. The offices are busy and everyone always seems to be in a rush. You might not feel like you have an opportunity to have all of your questions and concerns addressed. 

The key lies in making sure you’ve chosen a physician who is comfortable working with older adults and to work on building a relationship with them. Here are a few tips for doing that.

5 Tips for Building a Relationship with a Senior Loved One’s Physician

1. Organize and maintain a medical file with all of your loved one’s information

There can be an overwhelming amount of paperwork and information associated with managing a senior’s health care. Getting it organized and keeping it organized can be a challenge. But doing so will make it easier for you to ask questions and refer to notes during your family member’s appointments. Your loved one’s physician will appreciate your efforts.

2. Keep an appointment and symptoms calendar

It’s important to manage your loved one’s appointment calendar efficiently.Note upcoming appointments on the calendar, along with any blood work or testing that must be done prior to the appointment. 

Also add any unusual symptoms or changes in health on the calendar. You might also want to note what was occurring prior to the symptoms. For example, did the senior have tough time sleeping the night before? Did something traumatic happen to the family that day? This type of information may help the physician figure out what is going on.

3. Make time to prepare for the physician appointment

As your family member’s caregiver, you have firsthand knowledge of what they struggle with day in and day out. That’s important insight for a physician who might only see them a few times each year. 

Before each of your loved one’s appointments, make time to review the notes you documented on the calendar and write down any trends or concerns you have.  You’ll feel more confident you are getting to the bottom of things when you can quickly relay your list of concerns to the physician.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

When you witness the hustle and bustle of a physician’s office, you might be hesitant to ask too many questions. Remind yourself that addressing small concerns before they become big ones should be your goal and the physician’s. 

If you are well-prepared for the visit, asking questions for clarification won’t take that much time. But if you feel like the physician is annoyed by your questions or won’t take time to answer them, it’s probably time to begin the search for a new doctor. It’s the only way to make sure your senior family member is getting the best quality care.

5. Document everything

It’s vital that you take good notes and document items that need follow up. If your loved one’s doctor provides visit notes at the time you check out, make sure to review those after you are home. This is the best way to stay organized so you don’t overlook something important.

If you decide it’s necessary to find a new physician for your senior loved one, we have a few tips to help you in your search. Read “How to Find a New Primary Care Doctor for a Senior Loved One” to get started.

<!–[CDATA[Most older adults know how important it is to see their doctor at least once a year for a checkup. It’s the best way to identify small health problems before they develop into big ones that can’t be treated. What few seniors are aware of is how important it is to pay an annual visit to the eye doctor. Because the risk for eye problems increases with age, older adults need to make vision health a priority.

Seniors and Annual Eye Exams

Would it surprise you to learn that almost 11 million Americans over the age of 12 have a vision issue that requires some kind of correction? Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, having a yearly eye exam is still important.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults over the age of 65 have an annual eye exam that includes dilating your eyes. This gives the doctor a better look at the retina and optic nerve so they can identify any potential problems and intervene early.

An annual eye exam can also help to detect conditions of the eye common among older adults:

• Cataracts: A condition that causes clouding of the eye’s lens. Cataracts can usually be corrected with surgery.
• Diabetic retinopathy: A condition related to diabetes, diabetic retinopathy causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
• Macular degeneration: This age-related vision problem affects the light-sensitive tissue in the eye. It can lead to blindness.
• Retinal tearing: Seniors are also at higher risk for small lacerations in the inner lining of the eye. These can lead to a dangerous retinal detachment or other conditions that impact vision, like black spots or floaters.
• Glaucoma: This is a term to describe a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve in the eye. It can lead to serious vision loss. Early intervention often helps prevent blindness.

An ophthalmologist can also detect a variety of other health problems during a visit, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and conditions commonly linked to autoimmune diseases.

Who Pays for Vision Exams?

Although Medicare usually doesn’t pay for routine eye exams for corrective lenses, or for the lenses themselves, Medicare Part B does cover some vision exams. Check with your eye doctor if you need clarification.

Local non-profit organizations may have programs or funding available to help defray these expenses for seniors. The agency on aging in your city or county can probably help point you in the right direction.

Another option to explore is The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. They provide free or low-cost exams to seniors who qualify through their EyeCare America program.

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At Five Star Senior Living, we are committed to connecting older adults and family caregivers with the information and resources they need to live their best life. One way you can stay in touch is by subscribing to our blog. We share the latest news and research throughout the week!

<!–[CDATA[A healthy diet is linked to a longer, healthier life. From weight control to diabetes management and lower risk of cardiac disease, what you eat matters. Many people are surprised to learn nutrition also impacts eye health.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nutritional choices can protect eye health and may help slow the progression of some types of eye disease. What foods can protect your vision?

We have a few suggestions for you to consider incorporating into your diet.

5 Food Choices That May Help Protect Eye Health

1. Fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C

We start with vitamin C because its eye health benefits are well-documented. Researchers even refer to vitamin C as “Vitamin See.” It supports overall eye health and protects against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Vitamin C is found in colorful fruits like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, papaya, and grapefruit. It’s also prominent in leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, snow peas, brussels sprouts, and bok choy.

2. Produce that contains both vitamin C and beta-carotene

Carrots are renowned for promoting healthier eyes. They are rich in both vitamin C and beta-carotene, a vision-protecting duo.

Red and orange vegetables and fruits tend to have this combination. You’ll find it in sweet potatoes, bell peppers, squash, melon, apricots, and pumpkin.

You can also add herbs and spices that contain beta-carotene to foods high in vitamin C. A few to experiment with include sage, paprika, coriander, parsley, and marjoram.

3. Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids

The heart health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been widely discussed. Omega-3 fatty acids also benefit vision. Researchers believe that may be due to DHA, one of the three fatty acids. Some studies showed DHA prevented age-related vision loss.

You can find omega-3 fatty acids in mackerel, tuna, salmon, sardines, and herring. It’s also in nuts, seeds, and plant oils.

4. Fruits that contain anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that guard against vision problems, including UV damage, cataracts, and glaucoma. While many people are aware of how serious glaucoma is, they are less familiar with the damage cataracts can cause. Cataracts do more than cause blurry vision. Left untreated, they can lead to blindness.

You can find anthocyanins in fruits such as blackberries, blueberries, currants, and red grapes.

5. Foods with lutein and zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin are two more antioxidants linked to better vision health. You can find them in spinach, kale, eggs, kiwi, grapes, squash, and zucchini.

Signature Dining at Five Star Senior Living

At Five Star Senior Living, we understand the importance of good nutrition at every age. Our Signature Dining program features meals designed to be both delicious and nutritious. 

Visit Five Star Recipes & Tips to watch how meals are prepared and find recipes you can try at home. We also invite you to join us for a meal at the Five Star community nearest you. Call (853) 457-8271 to schedule a time!

The holidays are upon us!  The glamour and excitement of the season is surrounded by lavish menu selections which leads many of us to worry about gaining extra weight.

It has been suggested that one can expect an average of 4-6 lb. weight gain from Thanksgiving to the New Year’s, but the actual weight gain statistically is 1 lb.  The challenge is that 1 lb. becomes difficult to lose and the winter months often lead to comfort food eating.  

Here are some tips to follow to help maintain your weight during the holiday season.

1. Have a healthy snack such as carrots and hummus before leaving for any holiday celebrations, to give you a feeling of fullness. 
2. Look for a dessert plate to place your food items on rather than a dinner plate.  This will greatly help with portion control.  
3. Although it may be difficult to resist grabbing bread, make sure to choose vegetable crudités with your food.  
4. Avoid dishes with sauces or fried food items. These items may look appetizing, but will lead to weight gain, and remember, our goal is to maintain our present weight this holiday season! 
5. Choose half portions of items offered instead of the full spoon.  This will be especially easy if you follow tip #2 and choose a dessert plate to place your food on. 
6. Follow the 1 serving a day of a dessert, which would also include candies and holiday treats that may be available throughout the day. 
7. If you are planning on a dessert, skip the higher carbohydrate offerings of pasta, rice and potatoes.
8. Choose sparkling waters for beverages over high calorie egg nog.  If choosing an alcoholic beverage, a single serving of wine is suggested.
9. Mingle amongst the guests.  Do not stand near the buffet line; it will be tempting to indulge!  
10. Comfort is important in clothing, but avoid elastic waisted garments as your holiday attire and also baggy clothing.  Wear something that can be belted to remind you of cutting down on your caloric intake.

Annette Catalfano, RDN
Corporate Dietician
Five Star Senior Living
 

Many of us devote time each week to physical fitness activities. From walking to swimming to biking, we try to keep our bodies physically fit. But what about brain health? Are there steps you can take to keep your brain healthy and ward off memory loss?

While physical fitness does help keep your brain healthier, there are other steps you can take to protect cognitive health.

One of the challenges many of us face is finding time to learn new skills and develop new hobbies. When your brain isn’t processing new and different information it isn’t being stimulated. Researchers say being stuck in the same daily routine may contribute to memory loss. Learning new skills can give your brain the workout it needs.

Brain Aerobics to Promote Healthy Aging

Experts from the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation say the best types of brain aerobics:

• Engage more than one of the senses
• Are interesting enough to keep your attention
• Offer a break from routine

Here are a few brain boosting ideas to explore:

• Learn a new language: Borrow foreign language CDs from your library or find an inexpensive set online. As you complete your housework or run errands, pop a disc in to your CD player. Devoting even 10 minutes a day to practicing a new language will benefit your brain.
• Making music: Many of us harbor a secret desire to learn how to play a guitar, the piano or even master the drums. Besides being fun, tackling a new instrument can also help stimulate the brain.
• Games and puzzles: From crossword puzzles to word search, euchre, and even poker, playing games and working puzzles is another avenue for pumping up your grey matter. You can invite friends and make “game night” a monthly social event.
• Art classes: One way to expand your social circles while also improving brain health is by taking an art class. Most senior centers, community education programs, art museums, art supply stores, and community colleges offer reasonably priced classes for seniors. Topics often range from photography to watercolor painting.
• Read more: Whether it is the local newspaper or a novel on your iPad, reading helps keep your brain stimulated. Most local libraries have lending programs that allow readers to borrow e-books at no cost.

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

At Five Star Senior Living communities, you will find a full calendar of life enrichment activities for residents to enjoy each day. Our holistic approach to wellness means programs and events are designed to engage the body, mind, and spirit. 

The best way to learn more is by joining us for an activity or two at your convenience. Call the community nearest you to receive a copy of our monthly life enrichment calendar!

<!–[CDATA[Aging generally causes the immune system to weaken. That puts older adults at an increased risk for health issues, like pneumonia, shingles, and the influenza virus. Fortunately, there are steps to take that can boost a senior’s immunity. From flu shots to the shingles vaccine, pumping up the immune system starts when seniors talk with their primary care physician.

Seniors Need Immunizations Too

While children typically have a standard immunization protocol to follow, older adults don’t often know there are vaccines they need too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 70,000 adults a year lose their lives from vaccine-preventable illnesses.

If your senior’s primary care physician doesn’t bring up the topic of immunizations, encourage them to inquire about what the CDC recommends. There are a number of immunizations that seniors should know about:

• Influenza vaccine: The flu is more than just an annoyance for older adults. It can be deadly. Seniors make up more than half of all hospital flu admissions, and nearly 90% of flu-related deaths every year. Having an annual flu shot is the best way to prevent contracting the illness. If an older adult does come down with the flu, the vaccine may help minimize the severity of the symptoms. Early October is considered to be an ideal time to receive a flu shot.
• Shingles vaccine: The chicken pox virus can cause a painful skin rash known as shingles. It creates skin blisters that usually take weeks or even months to heal. In 2017, the CDC changed its recommendation for what type of shingles vaccine older adults should receive. Instead of the Zostavax® immunization, they now suggest Shingrix. It is recommended for people over the age of 50. Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles, as opposed to the 51% for Zostavax®. Shingrix also helps prevent a painful shingles complication known as postherpetic neuralgia.
• Pneumonia vaccine: Most seniors know pneumonia can be a serious health risk. Some aren’t familiar with the vaccine that can assist in preventing it. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends older adults get two vaccines—one year apart—to better protect them from sepsis (a bacterial infection in the blood), meningitis, and pneumonia. Typically, the Prevnar 13® vaccine is given first, then the Pneumovax®23 vaccine 12 months later. Because almost 50,000 seniors lose their lives each year to pneumonia, it’s important to share this information with the older adults in your life.
• Tdap booster: Tdap stands for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis. This one-time shot helps protect against all three illnesses. This is an important one for older adults who spend time around infants because pertussis, also known as whooping cough, can be deadly for babies.
• Hepatitis A and B: Finally, remind your older family members to talk with their physician about the hepatitis vaccine. It’s often recommended to seniors with chronic health conditions and those who are exposed to large groups of people on a routine basis.

Bookmark this Blog

If you found this information helpful, we encourage you to bookmark the Five Star Senior Living blog and stop back often. We regularly share new information and research about aging, caregiving, and senior living.

We also invite older adults and their families to stop by for a tour! Contact the Five Star community nearest you to set up a time!

At Five Star Senior Living, we are serious about food! In fact, Dining and Nutrition is one of the three pillars that comprise the Five Star Difference. Our residents often list the delicious food as one of their favorite parts of life at their Five Star community. So, what better place to go next in our Behind the Scenes series than into the kitchen?

Being a Five Star Chef Is More Than Just Cooking Great Food

Our Dining Services team is filled with renowned chefs and stellar dining staff. But did you know that at Five Star, menu planning is its own discipline? We asked Janece DiFranco, Regional Director of Food & Dining Services in the Southeast, what makes menu planning so important at Five Star, and here’s what she said.

“Five Star Chefs put an enormous amount of time into planning menus each season to ensure each dish offered is inspired by the flavorful traditions, regional preferences, and the personal culture of our residents throughout the country.”

We Plan Menus That Reflect the Culture of Each Unique Community

Just as we do with activity planning, housekeeping, and more, our menu planning goes far beyond utilitarian necessity and truly considers the culture of each unique community and its residents. Chefs are in regular contact with residents, getting new ideas and learning what the popular ingredients and dishes are.

For example, in the Southeast, it seems that cauliflower is the current “it” food! The most popular dishes there now are: Lemon Herb Cauliflower and Bean Dip, Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Capers, and Sweet Sesame Cauliflower. What’s all the rage with cauliflower?

“Perhaps it’s conversations with their family members who are leading low-carb lifestyles, cooking shows, or articles they come across in newspapers or the web that intrigues them to try interesting recipes made with cauliflower,” Janece muses. It’s true that health and nutrition are big considerations for most Five Star residents.

Health and Nutrition Are Top Considerations in Menu Planning

Our chefs not only are great at making delicious meals that keep residents happy — they’re also keeping up with nutritional needs and special diets. Nearly 60% of Five Star residents have at least one special dietary need. “The importance for menu planning is to ensure adequacy in balanced diets for our residents who need assistance in this area,” Janece tells us.

At Five Star Senior Living we understand how food can nourish more than just the body, which is why we put so much thought and effort into not just our dining program as a whole, but into every meal and every menu item.  To learn more about what our senior living communities have to offer (or have on the menu) find a senior living community near you.

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Brain aerobics can do for your brain what walking and Chair Yoga can do for your body. Giving your grey matter a good workout can help keep your brain healthy and guard against memory loss.

So just what can you do to give your brain a real workout?

We have some tips to help you get your workout started.

6 Ways You Can Boost Your Brain Power

From tackling a new language to keeping up with world events, here’s what you can do to give your brain a boost:

1. Learn a New Hobby or Skill. Tackling a new and different hobby is a great way to stimulate your brain. Foreign languages, art classes, cooking classes and learning a new musical instrument can all help give your brain a workout.
2. Switch Hands. Are you familiar with Neurobics? This is when you try to complete tasks with your non-dominate hand. If you are right-handed, you could try scrubbing the counters down with your left hand. Or try teaching yourself to brush your teeth with your right hand if you are a leftie. Neurobics are one more avenue for stretching your brain.
3. Fun and Games. While research is mixed on this topic, some Alzheimer’s experts believe playing games and working puzzles can help maintain brain health. Enjoying a round or two of cards with friends or a game of Uno or Candyland can be a fun way to keep those neurons firing.
4. Turn Left Instead of Right. Routine can be dangerous for the brain. When you do the same things the same way every day your brain isn’t challenged. It slips in to “autopilot.” Look for opportunities to shake up your daily schedule. Take a different route to church. Find a different path for your morning walk.
5. Engage in Current Events. Keeping up with current events and engaging in healthy debate with friends are great brain booster activities.
6. Read Every Day. Finally, make reading a part of your daily life. It might be by downloading ebooks from the library on your tablet device or reading the local newspaper online.

Lifestyle360 at Five Star Senior Living is our holistic approach to active living. Call the community nearest you to learn how it works.