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Healthy eating should be a priority throughout our lives. As we age, it becomes an important factor in staying active and independent. Planning our meals with a focus on getting the right nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight will give our immune system a boost. Plan your meals to maximize nutrients by including lean protein, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Seniors may become more susceptible to foodborne illnesses as their immune system weakens and stomach acid decreases, leaving bodies unable to fully fight the bacteria or virus causing the illness. For older adults age 65+, the results can be dangerous, even fatal. If you have ever experienced a foodborne illness, commonly known as food poisoning, you know it is extremely unpleasant, to say the least. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, even body aches, fever and headaches combine to create quite the memorable experience. This takes a toll on the human body at any age, often resulting in dehydration and an overall feeling of weakness. The good news is we can take action to prevent contracting foodborne illnesses by following 4 basic food safety rules: CLEAN. Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water throughout the food preparation process. Be sure to wash them again if you sneeze or cough. Also keep all surfaces clean, including counters, cutting boards, and tables as well as utensils.SEPARATE. Be sure to keep raw and cooked foods separate. While in the refrigerator, raw fruits, vegetables and ready-to-eat foods should be kept away from raw meats. During prep, clean surfaces and wash your hands after handling raw foods.COOK. Always cook foods to their proper temperatures. A food thermometercan ensure your food is cooked thoroughly all the way through. When preparing food in a microwave, make sure there aren't any cold spots that may contain bacteria.CHILL. Refrigerate foods promptly. Follow the 2 Hour Rule: Don't allow perishable foods to sit on the counter for more than 2 hours. Do not thaw meat on the counter! Toss any food not stored at the appropriate temperature for more than 2 hours. There are also some foods that seniors should avoid or consider carefully before eating: raw fishhot dogs and lunch meat unless heated to the appropriate temperatureraw or unpasteurized milk or fruit and vegetable juicesrefrigerated pates or smoked fishraw or lightly cooked eggsraw meat or poultryraw sprouts So be careful about storing, preparing and eating food. By cleaning, separating, cooking, and chilling you can help prevent contracting a foodborne illness… at any age!

National Physical Therapy Month is commemorated each October by the American Physical Therapy Association. The goal of this month-long celebration is to raise awareness of the important role physical therapists and physical therapy assistants play in helping people decrease pain, improve mobility, and engage in healthy lifestyles. A physical therapist is a trained and licensed medical professional specializing in diagnosing physical abnormalities, maintaining and restoring mobility, and promoting physical activity and function. Licensed physical therapists work in a variety of healthcare settings including outpatient offices, private practices, hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, home health, sports and fitness settings, schools, hospices, occupational settings, government agencies, research centers…and the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Physical therapists treat a wide range of medical conditions: sports-related injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, neurological disorders, and much more. Physical therapy is particularly beneficial for seniors, especially after they've had a stroke, knee or hip replacement or other surgery, or are recovering from a fall. Are you in pain? Do you need a licensed physical therapist? Ask your doctor to refer you to the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Noah S. Marco, M.D., Jewish Home Chief Medical Officer, says, "We offer a wide range of physical therapy programs, including therapeutic exercise and fitness training, massage, and thermal therapy. All in a comforting, welcoming environment. We'll help get you back on your feet." To learn more about physical therapy at the Jewish Home, please call our Connections to Care® hotline at (855) 227-3745.

As we recover from an illness, injury, medical procedure or acute hospital stay, short-term rehab can be a crucial ally in putting us on the road to wellness. For seniors, this is especially true: The support short-term rehab provides is often a key factor in helping them regain self-sufficiency and return to their own homes or communities as quickly as possible. The Advantages of Short-term Rehab. Seniors working to get back on their feet can reap enormous benefits from short-term rehab. A surgery, illness or medical episode can leave seniors lacking the vital strength they need to care for themselves, and working with medical professionals who specialize in short-term rehab can help them rebuild that strength, restore their confidence, and prepare to reclaim their former independence. How Short-term Rehab Helps Short-term rehab serves as a bridge for seniors – facilitating their transition between hospital and home. It is geared to treat a broad range of conditions including: Joint replacement rehabilitationOrthopedic post-hospitalization careStroke and neurological rehabilitationPost-medical and post-surgical recoveryAdaptive equipment instruction and conditioning In short-term rehab, seniors focus on regaining critical function and recovering their physical, sensory and mental capabilities. They receive a wide variety of therapies and nursing services as they heal and make progress toward their ultimate goal: getting home as quickly as possible. A number of things to keep in mind while evaluating potential options for short-term rehab are: Defining short-term rehabKnowing what to look for in a short-term rehab facilityHoming in on short-term rehab that specializes in serving the elderlyFinding a short-term rehab that accepts Medicare Short-term Rehab at the Jewish Home When it comes to effective short-term rehab, the Jewish Home offers unparalleled expertise. Seniors in the Home’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) are cared for by physicians and geriatric specialists in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. They also enjoy full access to all of the Home’s cutting-edge clinical and support services. The Jewish Home short-term rehab team integrates state-of-the-art medical care and prescribed therapies with personal coaching, counseling, and nutritional guidance. Seniors spend an average of two to six weeks in the TCU, though the unit accommodates stays of up to 90 days. For more information about short-term rehabilitative care and physical therapy at the Jewish Home, please contact our Connections to Care® hotline at (855) 227-3745.

Finding a good short-term rehabilitation definition can help seniors determine whether short-term rehab is right for them. Understanding the range of options available makes it easier to achieve the best fit. There are many short-term rehabilitation definitions out there, but they all boil down to the same basic points. What Is the Right Definition of Short-term Rehabilitation? Recovering from an injury, illness, medical procedure, or acute hospital stay can take time. The definition of short-term rehabilitation is a suite of inpatient services designed to help seniors and others recoup their strength and prepare to regain their independence and resume their former lives. Patients in short-term rehab benefit from rehabilitative and skilled nursing care, typically offered in a warm, nurturing, technologically state-of-the-art environment that focuses on physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as addressing other critical needs. Expanding Short-term Rehabilitation Definitions Some providers of short-term rehab are better equipped—and more experienced—than others. Their expertise expands the definition of short-term rehabilitation to include addressing seniors' emotional well-being; catering to their unique nutritional needs; and enabling them to have a positive outlet for socializing and staying intellectually engaged. Identifying these providers takes asking pointed questions and talking to others who have utilized the service. The Limitations of Short-term Rehabilitation Definitions Sometimes, what people understand as the definition of short-term rehabilitation does not translate well in practice. Promotional literature can be helpful in evaluating a short-term rehab, but there is no substitute for seeing it in person and getting a first-hand sense of how rhetoric matches up with reality. Consider touring a facility to build your own definition of short-term rehabilitation and ensure you are making an informed choice of care providers.

Many seniors are able to use Medicare to access high-quality, short-term rehab. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. Short-term rehab falls under Medicare Part A, and seniors can work with short-term rehab administrators to determine whether the government-provided insurance covers the services they need. What to Know About Short-term Rehab and Medicare Medicare Part A covers short-term rehab under certain conditions—and for a limited amount of time— in a skilled nursing facility. Among the short-term rehab services allowed under Medicare are: Skilled nursing carePhysical and occupational therapyMedicationSpeech-language pathology servicesMealsSemi-private roomMedical supplies and equipment used in the facility Short-term Rehab and Medicare: How Patients Qualify Medicare will cover short-term rehab if patients meet specific criteria—and assuming the skilled nursing facility in question is Medicare-certified. Those criteria include: Patients must have Medicare Part A and have days remaining to use in their benefit period.There must be a qualifying hospital stay—an inpatient stay of three consecutive days or more.The services needed at a skilled nursing facility must be ordered by a physician.Patients must require the care on a daily basis, and the services provided must require inpatient residence at a skilled nursing facility.The care required must be for a medical condition that was treated during a qualifying three-day hospital stay—or that began while the patient was receiving skilled nursing care for a medical condition that was treated during a qualifying three-day hospital stay.The services must be deemed reasonable and necessary. Making the Most of Short-term Rehab and Medicare Seniors should feel comfortable engaging with the staff of their short-term rehab of choice to discuss Medicare and a host of related issues such as how their care is planned and their rights and protections under the law.

When seniors begin searching for the best fit in rehabilitation care, it pays to focus on facilities that specialize in short-term rehab for the elderly. Finding caregivers with the right expertise helps ensure a fuller, quicker recovery. Short-term rehab for the elderly offers other key benefits, as well, including a peer group of like-minded patients all working toward the same ultimate goal. Why Experience Matters in Providing Short-term Rehab for Elderly Short-term rehab for the elderly is most effective when it is provided by experienced professionals who understand the unique set of medical challenges seniors face. Those challenges include strain on aging bodies and minds, which necessitates prioritizing physical and emotional health as seniors work to regain their independence after an injury, illness or hospital stay. Natural loss of physical strength, feelings of powerlessness and isolation, difficulty reaching out for critical assistance—these can characterize seniors' physical and psychological profiles even before they confront an acute medical problem, and seasoned providers of short-term rehab for the elderly are skilled at helping them confront and cope with these issues in a positive and productive way. Characteristics of High-quality Short-term Rehab for Elderly It is important to take a methodical approach to evaluating short-term rehab for the elderly. Seniors and their caregivers should look at their options with an eye toward determining which one will provide them with the best: Individualized care24-hour skilled nursing servicesWellness and enrichmentSubacute careFamily and discharge planning services Choosing Short-term Rehab for Elderly that Meets Specific Needs Also essential in selecting short-term rehab for the elderly is making sure it can accommodate seniors' specific needs for services such as: Orthopedic rehabilitationOccupational therapyPhysical therapySpeech and language therapyNeurological rehabilitation

Short-term rehabilitation facilities provide a customized level of nurturing and care for seniors and others as they work to regain their independence after an injury or illness. But not all short-term rehabilitation facilities are created equal: There are clear differences ranging from the services offered and the quality of staff to the emphasis of the organizational mission. Choosing whether short-term rehabilitation is for you—and identifying the best facility to meet your needs—comes down to evaluating some key criteria. Why People Choose Short-term Rehabilitation Facilities People turn to short-term rehabilitation facilities to help them recover from a surgery, hospitalization, or other serious medical problem. There are multiple benefits to selecting this path, including lower costs than hospitals or medical centers, a warmer, more nurturing environment, and numerous comforts and amenities. The licensed professionals at short-term rehabilitation facilities are uniquely focused on advancing patients' immediate objective: recovering sufficiently so they are ready to go home. How to Find the Right Short-term Rehabilitation Facility The goal of short-term rehabilitation is to ease the transition between hospital and home—but finding the right short-term rehabilitation center can make all the difference. There are a number of important considerations to keep in mind when evaluating your options. Reputation is at the top of the list: Is the short-term rehabilitation facility well reviewed by seniors (and their families) who have utilized its services? Is the staff qualified—and are staff members welcoming, compassionate, and eager to help? How is the physical environment? Does it feel clean and modern, and is there a positive, upbeat atmosphere? Does the staff work as your advocate and ally, both in terms of restoring physical and emotional health and also in working with your insurance provider? Short-term Rehabilitation Facility Checklist Additional questions to consider when determining whether a short-term rehabilitation facility is right for you include: Does the short-term rehabilitation facility specialize in treating seniors?Are family members and private caregivers welcome at the facility, and are they encouraged to play a role in the patient's care plan?Does the facility make use of state-of-the-art technologies to speed and improve your recovery?Are the dining options appealing and nutritious?Are the rooms shared or private—and which one works better for you?Are there outlets for socializing with other patients in the facility?

November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the Alzheimer's Association, here are the 10 signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's: Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (such as reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. With early detection, you can get the maximum benefit from available treatments; explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help you maintain a level of independence longer; and increase your chances of participating in clinical drug trials that help advance research.

It's National Gratitude Month—a time to "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative," as the song goes. Turns out, being grateful is healthy. Here are six reasons why you should adopt gratitude as an everyday attitude: 1. Makes you feel good. A 2009 National Institutes of Health study showed that acts of kindness and gratitude flood our brains with a chemical called dopamine, which gives us a natural "high." 2. Reduces anxiety and depression Research has also shown that keeping a gratitude journal—noting people, places, and things for which you are grateful—or writing and sending thank-you notes increased long-term happiness by more than 10% and decreased depression by more than 30%. 3. Increases energy Gratitude research has repeatedly shown that thankful people have higher energy levels, and are more relaxed, happier, and healthier. 4. Helps you sleep better Numerous studies have shown that gratitude increases the quality of sleep, decreases the time it takes to fall asleep, and lengthens the duration of sleep. 5. Lowers blood pressure A 2007 study demonstrated that people who kept a gratitude journal had a significant decrease in their blood pressure. 6. Decreases pain levels In a study conducted in 2003, ill patients who kept a gratitude journal reported reduced pain symptoms. So, this month—and every month—adopt an attitude of gratitude toward all the people in your life: family, friends, caregivers, and co-workers. You'll be grateful you did.

Most people feel lonely at one time or another during their lives. Loneliness occurs when someone feels emotionally disconnected, even if they are around others. Carried to the extreme is social isolation, or living in a situation where you have almost no contact with other people. The latter is becoming increasingly more common for seniors, and it can have significant health consequences. For years, researchers looked at the role that chronic loneliness can play in people’s health. Studies showed that chronic loneliness or chronic isolation both can cause inflammation, high blood pressure, and reduced immunity. Loneliness and isolation cause the release of hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. These natural stimulants are normally helpful because they make us more alert during temporary stressful situations. However, long-term production of these hormones damage our bodies and make our cells age faster. Heart disease is more likely when these hormones stay elevated. People with greater social connection had a 50 percent reduced risk of early death. Chronic loneliness, social isolation and living alone were risk factors for early death that exceeded the effect of other well-accepted risk factors such as obesity or cigarette smoking. Many things can help to reduce the risks of developing chronic loneliness or isolation. People planning for retirement can look into what opportunities their community provides to develop new social connections. The goal is to replace the social connections at the workplace with those at a gym, club, community center, religious institution, volunteer position, or by being a mentor. With current technology it is easy to stay in your home and not venture out. Food and any other item one might need can be purchased online and delivered. When this becomes a habit, it can reinforce fear and create a cycle of complete social isolation. Breaking the cycle is easy just by becoming a regular at your favorite restaurant rather than ordering take-out. Research suggests that a valuable defense against loneliness is to look for ways to form stronger relationships with a few others, rather than casual connections with several. For today’s generation that would mean using Facebook’s messenger more than posting on your home page. It may take a combination of people wanting to reach out and others being willing to extend a hand for seniors to create a new meaningful connection. Various community resources, designed especially for those with advancing age, are often available. Regular visits from home health care providers is another way to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Home health care agencies provide trained professionals whose presence provides social and emotional interaction (along with their medical and therapeutic services). In-home caregivers help with basic activities such as hygiene and dressing, and provide mental and physical stimulation. Regular visits from home health care professionals or in-home caregivers also monitor their client’s mental and physical condition, and they relay that information back the family, or the doctor. This addresses issues earlier before something catastrophic and life-changing occurs. Most importantly, understand it’s OK to ask for help. If you find you are feeling lonely or fear you are becoming isolated, reach out to family, friends and neighbors. Ask for recommendations on activities and groups (even online) that can help you connect with others. With a little help, you can find your way out of loneliness and into a fuller, more meaningful life.