Heritage Nursing Care

For many of us, war is a phenomenon seen through the lens of a television camera or a journalist’s account. It is something that feels distant or long ago; but for older adults, war touched and changed their lives. Many seniors served in the military and many more have memories of growing up during times of conflict. Recognizing Remembrance Day helps to keep these historical memories alive, ensuring that the lessons and stories from the past are not forgotten.

As someone who has been present with many during their passing, this is wonderful advice for being mindful while present with someone when they pass…

✨Expected Death ~ When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing. Don't run out and call the nurse. Don't pick up the phone. Take a deep breath and be present to the magnitude of the moment.

There's a grace to being at the bedside of someone you love as they make their transition out of this world. At the moment they take their last breath, there's an incredible sacredness in the space. The veil between the worlds opens.

We're so unprepared and untrained in how to deal with death that sometimes a kind of panic response kicks in. "They're dead!"

We knew they were going to die, so their being dead is not a surprise. It's not a problem to be solved. It's very sad, but it's not cause to panic.

If anything, their death is cause to take a deep breath, to stop, and be really present to what's happening. If you're at home, maybe put on the kettle and make a cup of tea.

Sit at the bedside and just be present to the experience in the room. What's happening for you? What might be happening for them? What other presences are here that might be supporting them on their way? Tune into all the beauty and magic.

Pausing gives your soul a chance to adjust, because no matter how prepared we are, a death is still a shock. If we kick right into "do" mode, and call 911, or call the hospice, we never get a chance to absorb the enormity of the event.

Give yourself five minutes or 10 minutes, or 15 minutes just to be. You'll never get that time back again if you don't take it now.

After that, do the smallest thing you can. Call the one person who needs to be called. Engage whatever systems need to be engaged, but engage them at the very most minimal level. Move really, really, really, slowly, because this is a period where it's easy for body and soul to get separated.

Our bodies can gallop forwards, but sometimes our souls haven't caught up. If you have an opportunity to be quiet and be present, take it. Accept and acclimatize and adjust to what's happening. Then, as the train starts rolling, and all the things that happen after a death kick in, you'll be better prepared.

You won't get a chance to catch your breath later on. You need to do it now.

Being present in the moments after death is an incredible gift to yourself, it's a gift to the people you're with, and it's a gift to the person who's just died. They're just a hair's breath away. They're just starting their new journey in the world without a body. If you keep a calm space around their body, and in the room, they're launched in a more beautiful way. It's a service to both sides of the veil.

Credit for the beautiful words ~ Sarah Kerr, Ritual Healing Practitioner and Death Doula,

I did not write this - but WOW does it speak to my heart!!! Worth the read. (Means more every time I do)

Barely the day started and...
it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday
and it's already Friday... and the month is already over... and the year is almost over... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′after′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
Afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
Afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
Afterwards, the day becomes the night...
Afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today... The moment is now...
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.

Much love to all.

Not everyone would want or can afford senior care facilities in their city or country. What can we do for our loved ones to effectively care for them?

While aging in place offers the benefit of being able to remain in a familiar location, it can also be challenging when it comes to household maintenance like cleaning and keeping a safe environment.

Here are top 10 caring tips you can use for elderly parents at home.

1. Ask your loved one to sign a release so you can speak to their healthcare team and have the contact information for their physician, specialists, and local hospital.

2. Get up-to-date information on your family members’ prescription and OTC medications

3. Secure your own copies of legal documents like advance directives, living wills, social security, health insurance, etc.

4. Assess home safety on your next visit to eliminate fall hazards and check the fire extinguishers, smoke and CO2 detectors

5. Investigate local organizations that specialize in home modifications or improvements for seniors.

6. Consider a medical emergency response system with automatic fall detection that calls for help even if your loved one can’t.

7. Check out options for transportation, including ride-haling apps.

8. Support good nutrition by signing up for meal or online grocery delivery services.

9. Create a care circle — a group of family, friends and professionals — who help you support your loved one.

10. Equip your loved one’s cell phone with apps for easy video communication with family and friends to reduce isolation and schedule regular phone calls.

Visit: https://www.lifeline.ca/en/resources/senior-independent-living/ to learn more.

“Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.”

Alzheimer's Caregiving: Changes in Communication Skills

Communication is hard for people with Alzheimer’s disease because they have trouble remembering things. They may struggle to find words or forget what they want to say. You may feel impatient and wish they could just say what they want, but they can’t.

The person with Alzheimer’s may have problems with:
1. Finding the right word or losing his or her train of thought when speaking.
2. Understanding what words mean.
3. Paying attention during long conversations.
4. Remembering the steps in common activities, such as cooking a meal, paying bills, or getting dressed.
5. Blocking out background noises from the radio, TV, or conversations.
6. Frustration if communication isn’t working.
7. Being very sensitive to touch and to the tone and loudness of voices.

Also, Alzheimer’s disease causes some people to get confused about language. For example, the person might forget or no longer understand English if it was learned as a second language. Instead, he or she might understand and use only the first language learned, such as Spanish.

Help Make Communication Easier

The first step is to understand that the disease causes changes in communication skills. The second step is to try some tips that may make communication easier:
1. Make eye contact and call the person by name.
2. Be aware of your tone, how loud your voice is, how you look at the person, and your body language.
3. Encourage a two-way conversation for as long as possible.
4. Use other methods besides speaking, such as gentle touching.
5. Try distracting the person if communication creates problems.

To encourage the person to communicate with you:
1. Show a warm, loving, matter-of-fact manner.
2. Hold the person’s hand while you talk.
3. Be open to the person’s concerns, even if he or she is hard to understand.
4. Let him or her make some decisions and stay involved.
5. Be patient with angry outbursts. Remember, it’s the illness “talking.”

To speak effectively with a person who has Alzheimer’s:
1. Offer simple, step-by-step instructions.
Repeat instructions and allow more time for a response. Try not to interrupt.
2. Don’t talk about the person as if he or she isn’t there.
3. Don’t talk to the person using “baby talk” or a “baby voice.”
4. Be Direct, Specific, and Positive

Here are some examples of what you can say:
1. “Let’s try this way,” instead of pointing out mistakes.
2. “Please do this,” instead of “Don’t do this.”
3. “Thanks for helping,” even if the results aren’t perfect.

You also can:
1. Ask questions that require a yes or no answer. For example, you could say, “Are you tired?” instead of “How do you feel?”
2. Limit the number of choices. For example, you could say, “Would you like a hamburger or chicken for dinner?” instead of “What would you like for dinner?”
3. Use different words if he or she doesn't understand the first time. For example, if you ask the person whether he or she is hungry and you don’t get a response, you could say, “Dinner is ready now. Let’s eat.”
4. Try not to say, “Don’t you remember?” or “I told you.”
5. If you become frustrated, take a timeout for yourself.

Helping a Person Who Is Aware of Memory Loss

Alzheimer’s disease is being diagnosed at earlier stages. This means that many people are aware of how the disease is affecting their memory. Here are tips on how to help someone who knows that he or she has memory problems:
1. Take time to listen. The person may want to talk about the changes he or she is noticing.
2. Be as sensitive as you can. Don't just correct the person every time he or she forgets something or says something odd. Try to understand that it's a struggle for the person to communicate.
3. Be patient when someone with Alzheimer's disease has trouble finding the right words or putting feelings into words.
4. Help the person find words to express thoughts and feelings. But be careful not to put words in the person’s mouth or “fill in the blanks” too quickly. For example, Mrs. D cried after forgetting her garden club meeting. She finally said, "I wish they stopped." Her daughter said, "You wish your friends had stopped by for you." Mrs. D nodded and repeated some of the words. Then Mrs. D said, "I want to go." Her daughter said, "You want to go to the garden club meeting." Again, Mrs. D nodded and repeated the words.
5. Be aware of nonverbal communication. As people lose the ability to talk clearly, they may rely on other ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings. For example, their facial expressions may show sadness, anger, or frustration. Grasping at their undergarments may tell you they need to use the bathroom.

For More Information About Alzheimer's and Changes in Communication Skills

NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
800-438-4380
[email protected]
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers

After having been through so much in their lives, seniors deserve to kick back, relax, and enjoy their twilight years. Mobility issues should never be an excuse to ruin their travel experience.

7 Amazing Vacations For Seniors With Limited Mobility - TravelAlerts After having been through so much in their lives, seniors deserve to kick back, relax, and enjoy their twilight years. Mobility issues should never be an excuse to ruin their travel experience. Taking the necessary precautions and choosing the right travel destinations will ultimately make their tri...

How scammers are targeting older adults & what steps seniors can take to avoid fraud

While anyone at any age can fall victim to a scam, fraud targeting older adults is on the rise. And that’s a concern for many of us as we all spend more time online.

1. Be aware that fraudsters may pose as government or bank staff, family members, law enforcement or other trusted people. Never give out money or sensitive information to a caller, by text or by email. If you’re not sure about something, call a family member, your financial advisor or your bank.

2. Never click on a link or download an attachment from an unknown source. Even if it looks to be legitimate, verify the sender before taking any action.

3. Keep your information secure by using strong, unique passwords and passphrases; and ensure your anti-virus software and internet browser are always up to date.

4. When online, don’t enter login information or credit card details unless you are sure the site is legitimate. Red flags include poor grammar or spelling errors, a URL that doesn’t match the company’s main site or a lack of a security lock symbol in the address bar.

5. When shopping online, remember that an offer too good to be true usually is. Trust your instincts, ask questions, do your research and be extra cautious.

6. Social media provides fraudsters with a large pool of potential victims. Be mindful of the personal information you post online and take advantage of privacy settings.

7. Stay connected to your finances and set up alerts for suspicious activity on your bank account or credit card.

https://eapon.ca/how-scammers-are-targeting-older-adult/

Indigenous tattooist becomes Vogue’s oldest ever cover star at 106

“Heralded as the last mambabatok of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe – signifying strength, bravery and beauty – on the skin of thousands of people who have made the pilgrimage to Buscalan,” Vogue Philippines wrote on Instagram.

Traditionally, the tattoos represent bravery for male warriors, or beauty for women. However, over the past 15 years, as Whang-Od has been celebrated for her art, tourists have increasingly flocked to her village to have tattoos done. More young people have also begun to train in the practice, according to Vogue Philippines.

The magazine’s editor in chief, Bea Valdes, told CNN that staff at the publication were unanimous in their decision to put Whang-Od on the cover.

“We felt she represented our ideals of what is beautiful about our Filipino culture,” said Valdes. “We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity.”

Whang-Od, who is also known as Maria Oggay, is one of the few Vogue cover stars to come from an Indigenous community, and is also thought to be the oldest person to feature on the front page of the magazine. In 2020, Judi Dench became British Vogue’s oldest cover star at 85.

Whang-Od does not have a birth certificate, however, she was issued a postal ID in 2017, which allowed her to access benefits available to centenarians in the Philippines.

A mambabatok can only pass their skill down through their bloodline, and so Whang-Od has trained her grand-nieces to keep the practice alive. However, she plans to continue tattooing for as long as her sight allows, she said.

“Why not keep tattooing while I can see?” she told Vogue Philippines. “I’ll only stop when I can no longer see, so I can continue to give people the mark of Buscalan, the mark of Kalinga.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/03/indigenous-tattooist-apo-whang-od-vogue-oldest-cover-star-106-philippines

A friendly reminder that it’s never too late.

Life-Giving Linen

Scientific Details of the Linen Frequency Study
In 2003, a study was done by a Jewish doctor, Heidi Yellen, on the frequencies of fabric. According to this study, the human body has a signature frequency of 100, and organic cotton is the same – 100. The study showed that if the number is lower than 100, it puts a strain on the body. A diseased, nearly dead person has a frequency of about 15, and that is where polyester, rayon, and silk register. Nonorganic cotton registers a signature frequency of about 70. However, if the fabric has a higher frequency, it gives energy to the body. This is where linen comes in as a super-fabric. Its frequency is 5,000. Wool is also 5,000, but when mixed together with linen, the frequencies cancel each other out and fall to zero. Even wearing a wool sweater on top of a linen outfit in a study collapsed the electrical field. The reason for this could be that the energy field of wool flows from left to right, while that of linen flows in the opposite direction, from right to left.

In an email dated 2/10/12, Dr. Yellen explained the process of this study:
"Frequency was determined by a technician [named] Ivanne Farr who used a digital instrument designed by a retired Texas A&M professor called the Ag-Environ machine. We had a public demonstration with an audience at internationally known artist Bob Summers home.

"Bob Graham, the inventor, told us that his machine was created to analyze the signature frequencies of agricultural commodities to aid the farmer in determining the right time of harvest growth. The gentleman identified signature frequencies that identified illness also and had turned to helping people get well. Bob Graham stated that it was a 'signature frequency of that plant's species identity.' The mHz is different, we were suggested that it would be the same as Rose essential oil.

"There could be better devices so we have been looking around for more options. There's a device that a brilliant American agriculture scientist developed that does measure the frequency of Linen. We have not yet acquired one but hope to soon!

"Dr. Philip Callahan, a noted physician and researcher, was able to prove the existence of this energy using plant leaves attached to an oscilloscope. About six months ago, he visited me in California and showed me a new development. He had discovered that flax cloth, as suggested in the Books of Moses [the Torah or Pentatuch], acts as an antenna for the energy. He found that when the pure flax cloth was put over a wound or local pain, it greatly accelerated the healing process. He was also using the flax seed cloth as a sophisticated antenna for his oscilloscope. This is the instrument that he uses to determine energy of flax."
If the idea of frequencies is new to you, you may be interested to read about Dr. Rife and his studies in the 1920s. He didn't study fabric in particular, but his research is still interesting.

“American inventor Dr. Royal Raymond Rife spent three decades studying specific vibrational ‘kill’ frequencies of hundreds of microorganisms. As far back as 1920, Rife theorized that disease-causing microorganisms vibrated at specific oscillation rates, and that if these were better understood, they might be safely eliminated by an opposing rate of vibration.

“With his expertise in optics, Rife developed microscopes with resolutions up to 17,000 times in diameter compared to the standard 2,500. With the aid of his high-powered microscopes, Rife methodically observed and cataloged the results, as he exposed pathogenic microorganisms to coordinated resonance from electronic frequencies. During his thirty years of vibrational research, Rife established what he called the Mortal Oscillatory Rate (MOR) for hundreds of disease-causing pathogens.

“In his work, Rife confirmed thousands of living vibrational frequencies. He determined that the average frequency of a healthy human body was between 62 and 72 Hz and that when the frequency drops below this average it signifies a compromised immune system. … essential oils can register as high as 320 Hz. … Rife meticulously mapped out a living mosaic of energy vibration, but he was simply too far ahead of his time to be appreciated for his contribution.” -Pgs. 19-20 of Whole Health, by Mark Mincolla Ph.D.

https://www.lifegivinglinen.com/linen-study.html?fbclid=IwAR1h34du1ZrNW17FCdsTinheWSqHk3dl8MBduy1txqcprLrX6TtWxJIYL40&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

A low-fat vegan diet, without calorie restrictions, improves joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Study participants also experienced weight loss and improved cholesterol levels.

Vegan Diet Eases Arthritis Pain, Finds New Study WASHINGTON, D.C.—A low-fat vegan diet, without calorie restrictions, improves joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Nursing home residents in 2050 ❤️