How to stay healthier by listening to your biological clock Rise with the sun Studies have shown that early-to-bed, early-to-rise types often enjoy the most natural and productive slumber. That's because our bodies take the ebb and flow of natural light as a cue to either boost or reduce levels of melatonin, the "sleep hormone." And melatonin starts to increase at sunset - a few hours ahead of when it will cause us to feel drowsy. Following that rhythm would mean a relatively

What to look for in your benefits next year. Benefits Jump Social Security recipients will get a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their monthly benefit payments starting in January, the largest increase since 2012. The average recipient will receive $1,404 a month, up from $1,377 in 2017. Higher Tax Cap Workers now contribute 6.2 percent of their earnings to Social Security up to an income of $127,200. That ceiling rises to $128,700 in 2018. The change will affec

With the holiday season officially in full swing, caregivers are feeling the additional stresses associated with this time of year. While a popular holiday song may say that all is calm and all is bright, the reality of celebrating the holidays with a loved one in an assisted living facility creates some unique challenges. How can you keep the magic of the holidays from fading for your loved one? Here are some quick tips for keeping the season merry. 1) Make time to visit Top

Understand that a person with Alzheimer's will lose their short-term memories, but retain some long-term memory if we learn how to trigger them. Remember their greatness. Find out what brought them joy in their younger days and use those memories to help them feel great again. Frequently the Alzheimer resident will stop doing "their greatness" in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, because it causes them frustration. What we can put back in their hands may possible trigge

As the year draws to a close, it's a good time to review your progress toward your financial goals. But on what areas should you focus your attention? Of course, you may immediately think about whether your investments have done well. When evaluating the performance of their investments for a given year, many people mistakenly think their portfolios should have done just as well as a common market index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500. But the S&P 500 is essentially a meas

When we think of hospice, the automatic response tends toward something like, “That’s not for me, I’m not lying in bed dying!” Unfortunately, and all too often, the conversation about hospice comes too late. At Assured Hospice, we support our patients and their loved ones on the front line. In every case, we offer as much support to the families as to the patients. So why are so many hospice-appropriate patients’ not receiving hospice services until the very end - often th

Rehab, Skilled, and Post-Acute Facilities are not all the same, nor is it easy to determine the best fit for your patient. Here are ten characteristics to look for when considering a facility. 1.) Does the community have a home-like feel? Is it cheerful in décor, minimal with unpleasant odors, have a caring atmosphere, with pleasant and smiling staff members? Are the grounds well kept? Often times the website portrays an unrealistic picture. Take a tour of the community so

How to celebrate holidays when seniors live in assisted living Holidays in assisted living are fun, festive, and meaningful, but with a twist, as it might mean embracing new traditions. One thing to watch out for is the added guilt. Caregivers struggle with guilt all the time, but holidays in assisted living can really pile it on. Don’t beat yourself up because things aren’t exactly the way they used to be – that’s out of your control. What’s important is that you’re doing yo

Stay Independent and Active for Life Arvon Anderson says he's a firm believer in physical therapy, having benefited from it in the past for shoulder and hip problems. He's even been able to avoid surgery due to physical therapy. So when recent chemotherapy treatments made his legs weak, resulting in several falls and difficulty walking, he turned to Kitsap Physical Therapy and Sports Clinics (KPT). After six weeks of working with Jarel Bakke, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)