CARING Connection
December 2015

In This Issue

 

The Best Christmas Gift for Seniors

 

Loneliness Increases Risk of Death


Continued Learning Helps Fight Dementia

High Stress Leads to Alzheimer's

video 

"Man On The Moon"
~ A profound Christmas reminder ~ 
 

 clients
What Our Clien ts Are Saying About Us:

Home Care Pulse, an independent quality management agency, randomly surveys our clients on a monthly basis.  Here's what two of them had to say last month: 

"Our caregiver has helped the most by being punctual and doing things without me having to be behind her. She is very reliable, which is important to me.
--L.H. 
Boise, Idaho


"Assisting Angels is exactly what I hoped for. They have lived up to everything we went over in the interview."
--D.P.
Boise, Idaho
recipe
Cranberry Hootycreeks 
Cookies in a Jar
   
Need a gift idea you can make at home? You can't go wrong with Cookies in a Jar, especially when it features cranberries, white chocolate, and nuts.Just layer the ingredients and decorate the jar for a gift that is both lovely and delicious!

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Greetings! It's the season for frantic last minute shopping, the sugary scent of fresh baked goodies, eggnog by a crackling fire, and Aunt Violet's infamous fudge. But for many elderly people, it can also be a time of profound loss and sadness. Don't forget to show them you care this holiday season. On behalf of everyone at Assisting Angels, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If you were forwarded this issue of CARING Connection, or you are viewing it on our website, you can sign up for your own subscription by clicking here .

Thank you,

The Team at Assisting Angels Home Care 

Article1  
The Best Christmas Gift For Seniors 
     
Looking for the perfect gift? One UK doctor has issued a call to action this holiday season. Apparently, what many consider to be the most boring Christmas gift of all just so happens to be the best one you can give.  Slippers.

Suffolk General Practitioner  Dr. Christopher Browning states that a good pair of slippers with non-skid rubber soles can help reduce the risk of falling for seniors, thereby lowering their risk of broken bones, loss of mobility, and even early death. For more ideas on lowering risk, download our free PDF,  Products to Consider for Preventing Falls.
 article2
Loneliness Increases Risk of Death 

CNN recently reported that loneliness increases the chance of early death in the elderly by as much as 30%.  Christmas can be an especially lonely time of year for many elderly people -- a universal issue that is receiving attention all across the world. For instance, a German supermarket chain put out this  commercial   exploring the reality of elderly loneliness during the holidays. While the video has  gone viral with over 42 million views, it's not the only ad of its kind. Our featured Video of the Month "Man on the Moon,"  is a stunning production from the UK with over 21 million views on YouTube.

For information on helping someone you love, download our PDF, Helping Seniors Beat the Holiday Blues.
 Anchor3
Continued Learning Helps Fight Dementia

The old adage, "use it or lose it," is often used to stress the importance of exercise and physical rehabilitation. However, it may be just as true when it comes to protecting the brain against dementia. 

According to Science Times, it's never too late to maximize memory and cognitive functioning. A recent study revealed that 92% of seniors who took a year of full or part-time college courses showed improvement in both memory and decision-making, suggesting that any brain stimulating activity may be a valuable tool in helping fight off dementia. 
Article4
High Stress Leads to Alzheimer's 

For many of the 470,000
Americans who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's each year, the first symptom was mild cognitive impairment. According to Mirror Daily, perceived stress significantly increases the chance of an elderly person developing such an impairment. 
On a positive note, stress is a risk factor that may be within one's power to address through self care, mindfulness therapy, and/or medication.
 Article5
Employee Spotlight

Marlene Cotroneo
Caregiver
Caregiver Marlene Cotroneo lived in Ohio and throughout the Southeast before finally moving to Idaho twelve years ago to be closer to her identical twin sister.  Marlene has now been with Assisting Angels for four years.

She knew she had the heart of a caregiver as early as the age of sixteen when she, along with her twin, worked as a candy striper for a local nursing home. The experience made a big impact on Marlene, appealing to her caring, compassionate nature. She later became a primary caregiver for both her grandmother and mother, a time that gave her the greatest joy of her life. Today, Marlene remains passionate about her work, viewing her relationship with her clients as one of mutual respect and closeness -- like family. 

When not working, Marlene enjoys time with her grandchildren, reading, and immersing herself in her faith and religious community. 

Thank you, Marlene! We appreciate all that you bring to Assisting Angels!

 

Brenda Critell, President / CEO
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
A native of Boise, Idaho and a 4th generation Idahoan. Brenda founded Assisting Angels Home Care in 2006.





Skip Critell, VP/COO
Director of Operations and Community Liaison for the Treasure Valley





About Assisting Angels Home Care  

Serving the state of Idaho, Assisting Angels Home Care, Inc. has been providing personalized care at home with supporting services since 2006. Assisting Angels uses certified personnel for supervision and monitoring of all direct services, has no minimum requirement for hours for accepting clients, and does not charge separately for travel to and from the job location. All employees are bonded and insured. Complete screening and thorough background checks are performed prior to any person having contact with one of our clients or patients. Assisting Angels provides a wide spectrum of personalized in-home care services, including live-in care, general homemaker, personal care, and private duty nursing for all ages.  

Visit www.AssistingAngels.biz or call 208.344.7979 (Boise) for more information.