Multiple studies have proven that having close friends is good for your health and well-being. Here are eight reasons why making and keeping friends is so beneficial. Friends make you—and others—happy. Happiness is contagious! A heart study demonstrated that people have a tendency to gather into happy or unhappy groups, and happiness appears to spread to those immediately inside the group and to people outside the group as well.Friends help boost your immune system. Being socially active produces positive emotions, which may boost your body's immune system and reduce stress.Good friends are great listeners. Sometimes, you just want to get something off your chest. Who better to rant and rave to than a friend? Good friends listen but don't judge.Friends are honest. Being a good friend means that you are supportive, but also honest. Hard as it may be, friends can help you face the truth.Friends help you cope with grief. People who receive support from friends or family after a personal loss are better able to cope with their grief. The most effective forms of support are often the simplest: listening, offering sympathy and encouragement, and just being physically present. In contrast, feeling alone tends to worsen grief.Friends help you meet your fitness goals. Friends provide the encouragement and support you need to achieve your fitness goals, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or eating a healthier diet.Friends give you self-confidence. We may doubt our decisions and abilities. Good friends stand by you and help you believe in yourself.Friends help you age more gracefully. A survey of people over age 60 shows that those who have close, healthy relationships with family and friends are more content as they grow older. Spending time with friends is fun; it may also produce long-term physical and emotional health benefits. So keep your friends and make new ones. You can never have too many.

On Sweetheart's Day, February 14th, make time to share some special moments with the one you love. Your first thoughts may be candy and a card, a dozen red roses, or a special dinner out. You can actually celebrate the day - and your love - in an endless variety of ways and on any budget. Here are just a few suggestions: Start off the day with their favorite breakfast, prepared by you! A single flower in a simple vase makes it even more special.Is the one you love an outdoorsy person? Plan a hike, a stroll along the beach, or go for a run or bike ride. Have a bite at a neighborhood restaurant afterward.Does he or she prefer the indoors? Cue up their favorite movie and order in their favorite food.Is there one item they want and have yet to pick up for themselves? Whether it’s the latest bestselling book or the newest CD from their favorite artist, these thoughtful gifts will mean a lot.How about some spa time? You can recreate a relaxing spa experience at home. Fresh towels, candles, bubble bath and soothing music are really all that’s needed.And, speaking of spa time, surprise your special someone with a massage. Pick up some scented oil or lotion and add candles and music.Put on some music and dance!Plan a day out. Visit local museums, art galleries, shops, and parks, or join a walking tour. Top it off with lunch or dinner.If theatre or music is their passion, grab some tickets for a show or concert. If you’re in Los Angeles, there’s always a great variety to choose from.If your loved one is a foodie, make reservations at a restaurant they’ve been wanting to try.Remember to say “I love you.”If you have children, make sure to hire a babysitter so that, whatever you do, you’ll have time for just the two of you. And, perhaps most important of all, put your phone down! Give your special someone the most meaningful gift of all: your undivided attention. Let them know they are loved, respected and cherished. Happy Sweetheart's Day to everyone!

As we get older, it's normal to feel—and hard to admit—we may require help with daily living tasks. Often, it is up to families and caregivers to recognize the signs that indicate when we need senior care. Following are 4 ways to tell if the senior you love may need special care. 1. Problems with memory Being forgetful as we age is common. But when loved ones experience more serious problems, such as being unable to remember their address or family members' names, this may be an indication they need professional care. 2. Prone to accidents Accidents are another problem for seniors. And, true, an accident now and then happens to everyone. But frequent accidents, such as repeated falling, pose a serious danger to seniors and may be a symptom of a health condition. 3. Unable to perform daily tasks Are the seniors you love unable to perform tasks of daily living? For instance, preparing meals, keeping appointments, paying bills, handling finances, keeping the house clean, even dressing? If so, it may be time to look into senior care. 4. Changes in physical function Other indications that seniors may need care: they sleep most of the day, experience poor diet or weight loss, lose interest in hobbies and activities, neglect personal hygiene, or have changes in mood or extreme mood swings. These are four of the most common signs that a senior may need professional help. Do you suspect the senior you love would benefit from care? Call the Los Angeles Jewish Home's Connections to Care®: 855.227.3745. We can help deliver the customized, comprehensive, quality care your senior needs—and deserves.

Last month we posted a blog entitled "7 New Year's Resolutions to Improve Your Health in the Coming Year." As a follow-up, we're offering a few tips for keeping your resolutions. Because as we all know, there's nothing easier than making a resolution—and nothing harder than keeping one! In fact, one study of 3,000 people showed that just a little over 10% of people are able to keep their New Year's resolutions. Here are the major reasons why: The resolution is unrealisticProgress isn't trackedPeople forget about the resolutionPeople make too many resolutions Following are 5 ways for you to help keep your resolutions. 1. Set specific goals Wanting to lose weight—just to use one example of a common resolution – is an admirable goal. But be specific. How much weight do you want to lose? 10 pounds? 20? Or perhaps your resolution is to exercise more. How? Walking? Swimming? How often? How far? Once you understand the parameters, the following tip will come in handy. 2. Measure your progress Now that you know how much weight you want to lose or how much you want to exercise, track your progress by keeping a diary. If you are not achieving your goals, you'll know what you have to do. If you are reaching your goals, you may be inspired to strive for even more. 3. Talk about your goals Share your experiences with family and friends. You might consider joining a support group, such as an exercise class, to reach your goals. Sharing your challenges and success may help make keeping your resolutions much easier and more enjoyable. 4. Ask for help You are surrounded by people who want you to succeed—and want to help. Don't hesitate to ask. You may be surprised how much they can help you achieve your goals, even if just by offering their support. 5. Be kind to yourself It's perfectly normal to go off your diet or skip the gym. But that's okay. There's no need to beat yourself up—or worse, give up altogether. The important thing is to resolve to get back on track as soon as possible. By following these 5 simple tips, you'll be on your way to achieving your New Year's resolutions!

Fire is an incredible element and force of nature. On the one hand it can be overwhelming when it burns out of control. Parts of Southern California have been ablaze for weeks. Many days, though we were not close to the fires, we had to stay indoors to avoid inhaling the smoke. Thankfully, because of the bravery and diligence of the firefighters, who have had to work day and night, lives, homes and even synagogues have been saved by the skills of hand and heart, hose and helicopter. Water has been a rival and affective opponent of fire run amuck. Indeed, fire is an incredible element and force of nature, as demonstrated also by the Chanukiah, or Chanukah Menorah. The Chanukah lights remind us of the power of fire when it is controlled. Fire controlled can be productive instead of destructive. It can warm the body and warm the soul. The ambiance of candle light is unmatched. That is why the rabbis of the Talmud noted that the reason we start with one candle on the first night and add a candle each night until the eighth is because in matters of holiness we never decrease, we only increase. There is fire and there is fire. Fire uncontrolled is like passions uncontained. Fire uncontrolled is like impulses unrestrained. Controlled fire is like controlled impulse. You know when you are simply going about your day, doing your own thing, with not a bother on your mind and then suddenly something happens that really upsets you? In that moment, every time, is an opportunity to make a choice. In that moment you have the opportunity to decide to be like a gentle candle or a blazing fire. Psychiatrist and Auschwitz survivor Dr. Viktor E. Frankl wrote, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." When we react to difficult moments uncontrolled, we can insult or hurt others. When we slow down, give pause and commit ourselves to our best response, we can heal the moment, heal ourselves and others. When a fire is out of control, smoke can blow far beyond the area of the fire itself. I know someone with asthma who suffered during fires that were 20 miles away. So too with our emotions. Passions uncontained and impulses unrestrained do damage beyond their immediate impact, both in time and in lives. The flame of the Chanukah menorah is soft. It is gentle but determined, illuminating and enlightening. It is fire but it is the fire of a Chanukah candle, which humbles us with its confidence in the miraculous. May we enter the new year inspired by the memory of its sweet light. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!! Rabbi Karen BenderSkirball Director of Spiritual [email protected]

Goodbye, 2017. Hello, 2018. It’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions. For many of us, the resolutions are often the same each year: quit smoking, exercise more, eat healthier. All very worthwhile. And we wholeheartedly support them! Following are additional resolutions that can help improve your health in the coming year. 1. Get your check-ups Visit your doctor to get your annual check-ups: physical, dental, vision. Don’t put them off. 2. Lose weight Probably the most popular resolution of all. But difficult to keep. You start strong by losing weight in the first few weeks, but then fade—and the pounds return. How to keep the pounds off? Use a food journal to keep track of what you eat. And have a support system in place—people you can count on to you get through the rough spots and back on your diet. 3. Reduce stress Chronic stress can increase your risk of heart disease, depression, insomnia, obesity, and other conditions. Relieve stress by socializing with friends and family, taking vacations, and doing things you love, such as gardening or playing music. 4. Sleep more A lack of sleep has been linked to a greater risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. And sleep is crucial for keeping memories strong. So sleep long. Sleep often. And don’t feel guilty about napping. 5. Drink less Drinking alcohol in excess affects the brain’s neurotransmitters and can increase the risk of depression, memory loss, or even seizures. Chronic heavy drinking boosts your risk of liver and heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and mental deterioration, and even cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, and breast. 6. Get in shape Begin an exercise routine—whether it’s going to the gym, walking, swimming. Whatever suits you. Of course, check with your physician before starting. 7. Special resolutions for seniors Seniors often require specialized healthcare. If you or a senior you love needs help, call on the Los Angeles Jewish Home. We deliver care that is comprehensive, customized, and compassionate. When it is a question of senior care, the answer is the Jewish Home. The Jewish Home has produced an inspiring new video featuring seniors sharing their resolutions for 2018. Click below to watch it now. The end of the year is the perfect time to begin planning how to meet your health needs in the coming year. If you resolve to keep these six resolutions, you will be taking important steps toward improved health in 2018!

Palliative medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious, chronic or life-limiting illness. The term “palliative” means to relieve or lessen without curing. The goal is to provide comfort and improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. At the Jewish Home Center for Palliative Medicine, care is provided by a team that works with you. It includes your participating family, our board certified physical specializing in palliative medicine, and a certified nurse practitioner with extensive experience in the field. Palliative medicine can be helpful to those experiencing symptoms (caused by the disease itself or side-effects of medications) such as pain, shortness of breath, less of appetite, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, nausea, or other conditions that cause discomfort or stress. In addition to controlling your pain and other symptoms, our goals are to help you: better understand your choices for medical careregain strength to carry on with daily lifeimprove your ability to continue medical treatmentsreduce visits to the emergency room While anyone who is experiencing uncontrolled symptoms related to surgery or chronic illness can benefit from palliative care, here are some of the most common diseases and conditions that bring people to seek help and relief: multiple sclerosis / cancer / congestive heart failure / kidney illnessstroke / ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) / emphysema / COPDdementia/Alzheimer's disease / HIV/AIDS / Parkinson's diseasesickle cell anemia / Huntington's disease If you or a loved one experiences a sudden change in your health, such as heart attack, stroke, hip or spinal fracture, or subtle onset (weight loss, pain, recurring infections, fatigue, avoiding food or medications), please call the Jewish Home Center for Palliative Medicine at 818.578.7427 to schedule a consultation. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.lajh.org/care/in-your-home-care-community-health-care/jewish-home-center-for-palliative-medicine/.

According to Los Angeles County Public Health, influenza (flu) activity is increasing in LA County. So far this season, flu activity has remained higher than at comparable points in previous seasons. According to the CDC, the most widely circulating strain of flu this season is AH3N2. Seasons where influenza AH3N2 predominates are typically more severe than AH1N1 or B seasons, and the seasons also are more likely to affect older populations. The best defense against flu is the seasonal vaccine. It can take up to two weeks for immunity to develop, so getting vaccinated now can help protect you and your loved ones as the flu season picks up. Despite the benefits of the flu vaccine, the CDC estimates that roughly 3 out of 5 people in the US have not yet been vaccinated. Early laboratory data suggests that this year's vaccine is a good match with the strains of flu virus that are circulating. Additionally, circulating strains are similar to last year; therefore, the CDC expects this year's vaccine effectiveness to be similar to that of last year's vaccine.

What gift do you get for a senior who has lived a long and full life? Cute coffee mugs? Pencils that glow in the dark? Probably not. Seniors tend to want practical and thoughtful gifts that will make their lives easier. Here are a few suggestions. 1. A lightweight, folding, single-step stool A simple way to give independent seniors a leg up on items that are just out of reach. Speaking of hard to reach… 2. A grab-and-reach tool A safe, easy way for seniors to latch onto hard-to-reach items. And speaking of latching on… 3. Gripper socks The non-skid bottoms help assure a firm footing to prevent slips and falls. Nowadays, these socks come in a variety of fashionable designs and colors. Speaking of colors… 4. Large-print coloring books A study found that seniors who engage in creative activities have better overall health than those who don’t. Choose senior-friendly, easy-to-see coloring books. Speaking of easy to see… 5. Oversize calculator and big-button phones Both have large numbers to make them easy to read and use. Speaking of easy to use… 6. Gift cards Purchase them at your loved ones’ favorite stores—and let them choose their own gift. What a treat! And speaking of treats… 7. Homemade goodies Whether it’s mandelbrot or babka, rugelach or macaroons, just knowing that it’s made with love makes it more delicious. And speaking of love… 8. The very best gift Finally, there’s one more gift for the seniors in your life—and the most important one of all: show them your love by spending time with them and giving them your attention. That’s the gift your loved ones will love most of all.