Senior Scene

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 72 million Americans will be 65 years of age by 2030. That number is expected to reach 83.7 million by 2050. While advances in medical science are clearly helping people live well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, longevity brings its own set of challenges that may result in a loss of independence. Among them are chronic disease, cognitive impairment, falls leading to broken bones, poor nutrition, and more. So, in what ways do professional caregivers help ensure seniors maintain a lifestyle that allows them to stay independent?

1. Focusing on Senior Nutrition. Like most things that “go,” the human body requires adequate, consistent, high-quality fuel. This takes the form of healthy food that must be shopped for, prepared, and of course consumed. Today, there are usually in-store food shopper options and a variety of store-generated or outside delivery choices that will help seniors acquire the food items they need. There is usually an extra charge, but nothing beats the convenience of a service that helps provide consistently good nutrition. And while diet can’t always stave off chronic disease, a healthy body has a better chance of presenting a strong immune defense when illness strikes.

2. Exercise and Other Activities to Keep Up Senior Physical Health. For adults, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) recommends 150 minutes a week (2.5 hours) of moderate intensity aerobic exercise (walking; jogging; cycling; dancing), with strength training two days a week. That said, the same guidelines state that any exercise is better than none, so if a senior doesn’t consistently hit the mark, some movement is still recommended. This is where, following a healthcare provider’s sanctioned plan, trained caregivers can make a difference in the quest for independence by encouraging a client to get up, out, and move.

3. Medication Monitoring Key to Senior Independence. Staying current on prescription medication and vitamin supplements can mean the difference between a healthy life and a decline or hospitalization that results from neglectful medication management. A decline in mental acuity can sometimes cause forgetfulness as well. In this respect the caregivers can provide constant monitoring and reminders so doses are not missed, noting and reporting when a prescription needs to be refilled, and reporting changes in the client’s mental and physical health, mobility, and other issues—some of which may be a reaction to medication.

As seniors age, helping them maintain a good quality of life requires support in many areas. The role that a family caregiver or a professional caregiver play is invaluable and integral to a healthy, independent lifestyle.

-Len Everts

Amada Senior Care

www.amadabirmingham.com

Healthy Living 

What does the phrase “love your body” mean to you? We parents tend to put lots of things over taking care of ourselves and building our self-confidence. Now that spring breaks, beach vacations and pool time is getting closer, the pressure to look a certain way can feel suffocating. Let’s take a step back.  

Loving your body isn’t just empty talk or inaction. While it does involve accepting our body, it also looks like taking a walk, drinking water, eating enough protein to have energy, taking supplements to support our skin and joints, moving our body daily, listening to music or podcasts that lift us up, and so much more! 

If we were talking over coffee, I’d tell you that God gave us one body and He says for us to treat it like a temple. That means treat it like the place that He dwells, because He does dwell with us through His Holy Spirit every single second.  Would that make us look a little more kindly at our bodies? We’re human, and we’re imperfect, but perfectly loved and made perfectly worthy by God. Let’s ignore the lies of the enemy and embrace our identity in Christ together! 

Here are two takeaways to consider:
1. Today, make a point to drink water, move your body, and eat some protein! (Find high-protein recipes at mylifewellloved.com) 

2. I highly recommend finding a friend in Christ to come alongside you and be your community! Allow them to speak truth into your life and hear about the struggles you are experiencing – bonus points if they’re a workout buddy too! 

Listen to the “Healthy with Heather Brown” podcast wherever you listen to podcasts for more tips on how to invest in your health more each day! 

–Heather Brown helps busy mamas of young littles who are caught in the hustle to find encouragement in their journey to true health, from the inside out, starting with the heart. Connect with her @mylifewellloved on Instagram or visit mylifewellloved.com for resources and to learn more! 

Healthy Living

Families of the addicted get sick too. Many family therapists have written volumes on the codependency of family members who have a loved one riddled with addiction. Numerous books have been written exploring the damage done to families due to alcoholism and other addictions including drugs, gambling, sex, and even food. The following is a scenario that has been given to me several times throughout my career as a therapist:

It’s another sleepless night as I pick up my cell phone. The time is 2:40 a.m. and there’s still no text from her. I’ve conditioned myself to listen intently for the notification ding. The only communication I would receive indicating she was alive was a text, never a phone call. My daily mantra, whenever I received this text, was, “She’s drug-free. She’s alive.” But when the texts stopped again, unfortunately, I knew she had relapsed—or worse, was dead. How many times have we reported her missing? How many times have we stayed home instead of roaming the streets looking for her? We knew she was running with the wrong crowd. We knew that she was shooting up heroin. And we were in a state of terror most of the time. She’s twenty-four years old. I can’t ground her or spank her. I can’t put her in time-out or take her phone away. I can only hope and pray for her protection…

In November, Valleydale Church is hosting workshops designed for families with addicted loved ones with Cathy Napier and Pastor Barry Chesney. Chesney and Napier have written a workbook, Addiction: One Day at a Time with Jesus that approaches addictions with both a biblical and psychological protocol for wellness. Learn a protocol for wellness for families of addicted loved ones on November 2, 9, 16, and 30 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Valleydale Church’s Worship Center. Attendees will learn: 

1. How to stage an intervention for immediate help.

2. How to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with God’s word for their benefit during difficult times.

3. How to use journaling for their benefit.

4. How to communicate positively with their family members. And more!

Learn more about these events at www.valleydale.org/midweek. 

-Cathy Napier 

Healthy Living

This time of year brings many wonderful things such as cozy gatherings with loved ones, warm fires, and delicious food. Unfortunately, it also brings along coughs, sneezes, and sniffles.  At such a busy time of the year, getting sick can really put a damper on your holiday plans. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and energized this season.

Develop healthy lifestyle habits.

• Get adequate sleep. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Our immune system is most active at night while it focuses on recovery and developing immune memory.
• Eat a colorful diet. Having a balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in simple sugars will help ensure you’re getting nutrients that can boost immunity and decrease inflammation in your body.
• Exercise. Many studies have found that exercise protects against viral infections, including influenza, the common cold, and COVID.
• Reduce your stress. Too much stress, especially for prolonged periods of time, can significantly lower your immune system. I often find that changing my perspective and finding gratitude can help me stay positive.

Practice healthy hygiene.

• Wash your hands often. Up to 80% of communicable diseases are spread through touch, so strive to keep your hands free of germs!
• Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Keep your hands moisturized. Dry, cracked hands compromise our first line of defense against infections – our skin.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Be sure to cough or sneeze into your elbow to keep your hands clean.

Dietary supplements provide additional support.

• Zinc. This essential mineral is not naturally made by the body, so it must be obtained through diet or supplementation.  It regulates immune functions, has antioxidant activity, and helps maintain a balanced inflammatory response within your immune system.
• Vitamin C. A recent study shows over 40% of the population is deficient in vitamin C. Vitamin C supports a variety of immune system functions, and it’s also necessary for the production of collagen. Collagen is an essential protein that’s necessary to heal and repair the body.
• Vitamin D. This all-star hormone helps modulate the immune system – ramping up defense when necessary and calming the immune response when its work is done.
• Melatonin. While typically associated with sleep, this hormone also has a powerful influence on our immune system and generally supports innate immunity.
• Probiotics. A staggering 70% of the immune system resides in the gut. Probiotics are good bacteria that naturally inhabit our digestive system. Our immune system and the good bacteria that live in our gut work together to support a healthy immune response.
• Quercetin. This nutrient is commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Quercetin helps the body maintain a healthy, stabilized immune response when facing illness. As a potent antioxidant, it also helps protect against the damage that can occur in our cells from infections.

-Joseph Feick, Pharm.D.

Owner, Double Oak Mountain Pharmacy

www.DoubleOakMountainRX.com

205-991-0800

Senior Scene

Proveer at Grande View provides the Hoover community with a vibrant, upscale and modern senior living community. The word “proveer” means to provide. With Proveer at Grande View, that is their purpose.

The staff at Proveer has dedicated themselves to understanding the needs of seniors who call their community home, the desires of their adult children who call their team extended family, and the expectations of associates who call Proveer partners. “Grande View” isn’t just in the name. Proveer is located on top of a ridge just off U.S. 280, in the residential community of Meadowbrook. The community will be unique in style and feel with several dining venues. All day dining will also be available. The community also has stunning views of Double Oak Mountain. When the activities of daily living get to be a burden, that’s when Proveer at Grande View can help. They provide extensive care for their residents, including:

• On-site rehabilitation services
• Medication management
• Activities of daily living assistance
• Pharmacy services
• Individualized service plans
• Home health hospice coordination
• Personal pendant for assistance

Assisted living. Proveer offers assisted living, which means the staff will provide as much or as little support as you need. Services include on-site rehabilitation services, medication management, pharmacy services, individualized service plans and more.

Memory Care. Through the signature memory care program Cherish, Proveer provides the care needed for individuals living with dementia and their families. In addition to receiving passionate care every day, residents can also enjoy making friends, pursuing their hobbies and eating heart-healthy meals. The layout is easy to navigate, and there are various floor plans to fit all residents’ lifestyles. For more information, call 205-307-5500 or visit www.proveeratgrandeview.com. †

Healthy Living

Dr. Anthony Kleinsmith’s goal is to help people become healthier versions of themselves. As a formulator and researcher for more than 30 years, Dr. Kleinsmith is passionate about the benefits of colostrum. After growing up on a dairy farm and seeing firsthand the benefits available from colostrum, he began studying colostrum as a child and hasn’t stopped.

What is colostrum? “It’s a pre-milk liquid superfood produced by mammalian mothers to jumpstart offspring. It is only produced in a zero-to-six-hour time frame with cows and a three-day time period with humans,” Dr. Kleinsmith explains, adding that colostrum provides immune and growth factors that promote the health of the newborn.

What are the benefits of taking colostrum? Dr. Kleinsmith says that people who take colostrum can expect many improvements in their overall health including “more useful skin, energy, weight loss or weight gain, improvements in gut issues, support to the nervous system, and more.” Colostrum benefits encompass anything in the anti-aging, regeneration, immune system, weight loss, stress, and youthfulness arenas, and more. “Colostrum is a functional food supercharged with 97 Immune Factors and 87 known Growth Factors.”

To read more about the research behind colostrum or if you have any questions, visit 3624.anovite.com/whycolostrum6. Dr. Kleinsmith and his team have not changed their formula for colostrum since beginning in 1991. Colostrum products come in different forms including powder, capsules, chews, skincare products, and even treats for pets.

Why take colostrum? “Do you have something you’re worried about or something that you physically feel that hurts? What would you do to stop it?” Dr. Kleinsmith asks, adding, “Colostrum, with over 32 years of research and literally millions of bottles sold around the world, will give back to that depleted body building blocks which will allow your body to heal itself.”

To order, including a 90-Day Money Back Guarantee & Free Shipping in the US, call toll-free 877-295-1269 Monday thru Friday 8 am – 5 pm MT and mention this article in Birmingham Christian Family.

-Melissa Armstrong

Senior Living

Join the Brookdale Family!

We are excited and proud to say that Brookdale University Park is open to new residents! Brookdale residents enjoy an engaging lifestyle with a selection of care options to meet changing needs. The community conveniently located off Lakeshore Drive offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s and dementia care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Call 205-870-0786 to connect with one of our team members who would be delighted to help you plan your personal visit, www.brookdale.com.

Living Well with Low Vision. Low vision is usually caused by eye diseases or health conditions. Some of these include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetes and glaucoma. A low-vision specialist, such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist, can help those with low vision make the most of their remaining sight and maintain independence and quality of life. Below are some low-vision activity enhancements and safety awareness tips to use in your surroundings.

Activity Enhancements:

•  Organize work areas
• Develop systems, and use them consistently
• Keep clutter to a minimum
• Practice environmental consistency
• Use the right lighting for the job
• Non-skid materials and rubber bands for built-up handles and contrast

Safety Awareness:

• Focus on fall management
• Avoidance of burns
• Learn to use door and window locks
• Spare keys to your home stored wisely
• Practice personal safety with strangers in home and community
• Consider an emergency call system

You’re invited to Bites & Insights! Join Brookdale on July 21 at 2 p.m. to enjoy delicious food prepared by Brookdale chefs and listen to residents share why they choose to call Brookdale home. Contact Lee Cobb at 205-789-9408, [email protected] to learn more and reserve your spot!

An Invitation to Experience Brookdale 

Residents of Brookdale University Park enjoy an engaging lifestyle with a selection of care options to meet changing needs. The community conveniently located off Lakeshore Drive offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s and dementia care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. 205-870-0786, www.brookdale.com. 

Healthy Living

“Every week, I see obstetrical patients that I delivered who are now having their own babies,” Dr. Carol Swindle of Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C., says. Dr. Swindle has been serving patients in and around Birmingham since 1988. “I enjoy seeing patients through their adolescence, childbearing years, and on into menopause,” she says.

Dr. Swindle has a passion for medicine that started during her high school years. “I had the opportunity to work in a lab. This was my initial exposure to the medical field,” she explains, adding, “This allowed me to take science classes as a freshman and I subsequently pursued a career in medicine.” Dr. Swindle received her medical degree from The University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

“Being an OBGYN is a great blend of medicine and surgery,” Dr. Swindle says. She is excited about the new non-invasive prenatal screening. “This gives us assurance that babies are chromosomally normal, and if there are issues, offers the opportunity to prepare and support the expectant parents,” she explains, adding, “Patients are particularly excited about the ability to learn the baby’s gender as early as seven weeks.”

When Dr. Swindle is not at the office, you can find her spending time with her family and traveling. She and her husband, the late Dr. Mark Swindle, have two grown children. She has also adopted several rescue dogs and the newest furry member of the family is named Henley. 

For more than 30 years, Henderson & Walton Women’s Center has been specializing in women’s health care in Birmingham and surrounding areas. All the OB/GYN physicians, including Dr. Swindle, are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For patient convenience, HWWC sees patients in Birmingham, Alabaster, Chelsea, Cullman, Rainbow City/Gadsden, Jasper, and Tuscaloosa. To learn more about Dr. Swindle and the team of physicians and staff at Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C., visit www.hwwc.net or call 205-930-1800.

-Melissa Armstrong

Healthy Living 

Brought to you by Community Partner Compact, www.compact2020.com 

What is trauma? Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. However, there is nothing simple about trauma. There are three main types of traumas.

1. Acute Trauma. This type of trauma usually results from a single distressing event, such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster. The event is extreme enough to threaten the person’s emotional or physical security. If not addressed through medical help, it can affect the way a person thinks or behaves. Acute trauma generally presents itself in the form of excessive anxiety or panic, irritation, confusion, inability to have a restful sleep, and more. Studies show that a third of people involved in critical incidents have serious trauma, a third have moderate trauma, and a third have no trauma. Just because you feel no trauma or more trauma than others does not make your feelings wrong. You simply are coping with it in a different way. 

2. Chronic Trauma. This trauma occurs when a person is exposed to multiple, long term or prolonged traumatic events over an extended period. Several events of acute trauma may progress into chronic trauma. The symptoms of chronic trauma often appear after a long time, even years after the event. Symptoms include unpredictable emotional outbursts, anxiety, extreme anger, flashbacks, fatigue, body aches, headaches, and nausea.

3. Complex Trauma. This type of trauma is a result of varied and multiple traumatic events or experiences. The events are generally in the context of an interpersonal relationship. It may give the person a feeling of being trapped. Complex trauma often has a severe impact on a person’s mind. 

Whatever the type of trauma, if a person finds it difficult to recover from the distressing experiences, they must seek timely psychological help. A qualified phycologist can help the person with a traumatic experience live a fulfilling life. For more tips on trauma, visit www.compact2020.com or Facebook @Compact2020. †