Author Archives: craig braddick

Incredibly the first generation of video gamer’s are now in their 60’s and 70’s and up to 25 percent of current seniors enjoy playing video games of various sorts and that number continues to grow. Read on to learn more.

AARP says that 38 percent of all 50-plus adults play video games. And 43 percent of gamers over the age of 60 play video games every day. So there’s clearly a lot to love about this type of entertainment, regardless of your age.

Video games offer a form of visual and auditory engagement that most other kinds of games can’t match. Many of them provide truly thrilling experiences as well as opportunities to connect with other players (of all ages). They are downright fun.

But here’s something you should definitely know: Some electronic game developers claim that their “brain training” products can improve your brain health and cognitive performance. However, their marketing is often misleading. The science behind brain-training games is controversial at best. Many of the world’s top psychologists and neuroscientists say that there is little or no solid evidence to support claims that certain kinds of video games can improve a senior’s overall mental faculties.

The truth is that so-called “brain games” may not actually boost your cognitive abilities for everyday life nor prevent or slow down any brain-related diseases. Rather, by playing a game repeatedly, you’ll get better at the particular tasks for that game (and possibly other tasks that are very closely related to them). But you won’t necessarily get better at doing unrelated tasks in the “real world” outside of the game. If you really want to improve your brain health, you’re better off exercising, getting good sleep, and learning new things.

That said, if a video game is completely new to you, then your brain may benefit from the challenge of learning how to play it. And you can’t overlook the pure enjoyment factor. After all, having fun should be your top reason for playing any video game.

According to AARP, the most popular types of video games among older adults are card, tile, puzzle, and logic games. But a lot of seniors also enjoy strategy, role-playing, and action-oriented games. So try out several different kinds and see what you enjoy.

Most seniors play video games on their laptops or desktop computers. But you can also play games on a smartphone, digital tablet, handheld game console, or TV game console (such as the Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation, or Microsoft Xbox). Games for computers and mobile devices can often be downloaded for free or played online at no cost.

Source: https://www.greatseniorliving.com/articles/games-for-seniors#video-games

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Read on to learn more about how to celebrate birthdays with loved ones or friends in assisted living.

Singing

Singing can be fun for many people. Whether, Happy Birthday or just old favorites, getting a few people together to sing can often help everyone have a good time, even if they can’t physically join in.

Favorite Foods

Bring favorite foods for the occasion, even if the facility is loaded with treats. Each elder has favorite treats from home. Try to provide some for the elder and some for her to give as snacks to residents, staff and visitors. Many elders enjoy a chance to be a host or hostess.

Connecting With Other People

Hopefully, you already have made friends with staff, other residents and their families. That connection helps your loved one feel a part of a whole rather than left out of life. If your loved one is new to the center, this is a good time to get to know other families.

Rest

All of this celebrating doesn’t only wear down your elders. It can also be exhausting for the caregiver. You found help by choosing a good care center because your elders need more help than you, alone, can give. When party time is over, give yourself time to regenerate. You should be a better caregiver if you do.

Music

It’s great for setting the mood. It also relaxes tension or promotes a festive feel, depending on the music chosen and the direction you need to go with the elder. Keep a CD player or an iPOD (with speaker) around so you can play their favorites.

Photos

Photos are wonderful for stirring memories. If you print copies of old photos, you won’t have to worry about loss or damage. If some can be enlarged without undue distortion, so much the better. Hang them on walls or put them in an album.

Over Stimulation

Be careful to not over stimulate someone with dementia. Keep an eye on the elders’ moods so you know when to stop the party or when you should help a particular elder back to his room if he needs a break. Too much commotion can get confusing and stressful for anyone in ill health, but particularly for someone confused by dementia. Celebrating should preferably end before stress is evident, but be alert in case you need to assist someone to a quieter area.

Participation

Join in the fun as much as your loved one can handle, but remember your own needs as well. If you have family members at home that need some of your time, then you have to balance both worlds. Give your loved ones in the care center your attention and contribute to their good time, then leave them in the good hands of staff and go back home to finish celebrating with the rest of your family.

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 is currently impacting the entire world. But older people are especially at risk. Here is some advice from the American Red Cross. Read on to learn more.

Limiting The Spread Of Germs

The Red Cross recommends the following steps to help prevent the spread of germs during this situation:

• Stay home if you can and avoid gatherings of more than ten people.
• Practice social distancing by keeping a distance of about six feet from others if you must go out in public.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; throw used tissues in the trash. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, computers, phones, keyboards, sinks, toilets, faucets and countertops.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them – use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Full information on how to disinfect found here.
• Wear a face mask if you are sick. You should wear a face mask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.

According to the CDC, COVID-19 symptoms include fever, shortness of breath and a cough. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Call your doctor for medical advice if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms.

Are You At High Risk?

According to the CDC, early information shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this virus. This includes older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or a serious medical condition, it is extra important for you to take actions to avoid getting sick.

Stay home as much as you can and avoid crowds as much as possible. Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.

• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Stock up on supplies.
  • Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
  • If you cannot get extra medications, consider using a mail-order option.
  • Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.) to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
  • Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for a period of time.

For More Information

You can find more information on COVID-19 safety here. For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19.

What Seniors Should Know About The COVID-19 Vaccine

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Read on to learn more about board games seniors can enjoy playing!

• Cards: A deck of cards provides an array of games to enjoy, from Go Fish to poker and everything in-between. A standard deck offers 52 playing cards with four suites.
• Scrabble: Scrabble is a great game that requires critical thinking and blends it with the entertainment of a word puzzle. Enjoy the clack of tiles as you pass on your vocabulary to your grandchildren — and learn theirs. This game is especially fun for seniors who enjoy crossword puzzles and word searches.
• Chess and Checkers: Everyone has some experience with one or both of these games of wit. Chess and checkers are great games to play with the elderly. Both games are easy to learn and highlight creative problem-solving and strategy as fundamental portions of the game.
• Monopoly: This timeless board game of fast deals and property trading is a classic for sure at 8 years old, no matter what pieces are included now. The game has undergone minimal changes in its lifespan, with the most recent one ousting the boot, wheelbarrow and thimble for a T-Rex, rubber ducky and penguin. Remember fighting over the Scottie, hat, car, cat and battleship?
• Ticket to Ride: Ticket to Ride is an award-winning game where players collect color-coded cards to claim train routes and connect one city to another. The game features the competitive fun of Monopoly with simple rules that will have you chugging along to famous cities in the U.S. or across the country. Ticket to Ride uses replica maps of real countries, which can inspire memories of past travels.
• Suspend: Similar to Jenga, Suspend takes the same concept and replaces stacking blocks with a series of metal rods. This game is fun to play with the whole family and blends creative problem-solving and fine motor skills.
• Incan Gold: Take classic card games such as poker and blackjack, add Indiana Jones and you’ll get Incan Gold. Travel to an ancient temple and collect treasures along the way, but make sure you make your escape before traps close in on you. This luck-based game exercises creativity and critical problem-solving.
• Qwirkle: Qwirkle is a tile-placement game where players match colors and shapes, just like dominoes or Uno. The game uses pattern recognition, basic mathematics and strategy to exercise the brain, keeping it happy and healthy.

Source: https://www.capitalsenior.com/blog/senior-citizens-board-games-health-benefits/

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

It is important to keep seniors who suffer from Alzheimers entertained. Watching older television can help with brain activity and to recall memories from the past. Read on to learn more.

A positive tv show can assist with mood, ease anxiousness and promote socialization especially when they watch tv with other family members, who can explain if the plot gets consfusing and keep an eye on suitable content.

DVD’s are the best choice for seniors as it is easier to control the content and can ensure the shows are not too challenging to watch. Seniors who have Alzheimers should not be subjected to stressful shows with suspense or violence or the news as it can impact their ability to tell reality from fantasy. These shows are highly recommended for seniors:

• The Golden Girls
• The Waltons
• The Lawrence Welk Show
• The Carol Burnett Show
• Bonanza
• The Andy Griffith Show
• Leave It To Beaver
• I Love Lucy (and its various iterations)
• The Dick Van Dyke Show
• I Dream Of Jeannie
• The Brady Bunch
• Are You Being Served?
• Sanford And Son
• As Time Goes By
• Keeping Up Appearances

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Here are some books that are popular with seniors according to Goodreads

• Invisible (Ivy Malone Mysteries, #1)
  by Lorena McCourtney
• Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (Hardcover)
  by Helen Simonson
• The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones (Hardcover)
  by Wendelin Van Draanen
• The Blossom Sisters (Hardcover)
  by Fern Michaels
• Notes from the Midnight Driver (Hardcover)
  by Jordan Sonnenblick
• Prime of Life (Paperback)
  by P.D. Bekendam
• The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules (League of Pensioners #1)
  by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
• Noah’s Compass (Hardcover)
  by Anne Tyler
• A Confederacy of Dunces (Paperback)
  by John Kennedy Toole
• Next Year in Havana (Paperback)
  by Chanel Cleeton
• Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery #1)
  by Nora Page
• An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good (Hardcover)
  by Helene Tursten
• Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop, #5)
  by V.M. Burns
• Chickenlandia Mystery (Shady Hoosier Detective Agency, #3)
  by Daisy Pettles
• Restart (Hardcover)
  by Gordon Korman
• Trusting Grace (Virtues and Vices of the Old West #3)
  by Maggie Brendan
• Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess (Paperback)
  by Shari Green
• To Night Owl from Dogfish (Hardcover)
  by Holly Goldberg Sloan
• Night of Miracles (Mason, #2)
  by Elizabeth Berg
• The Story of Arthur Truluv (Mason, #1)
  by Elizabeth Berg
• This Would Make a Good Story Someday (Hardcover)
  by Dana Alison Levy
• Dandelion Season (Green Valley Shifters, #3)
  by Zoe Chant
• Escaping The Giant Wave (Paperback)
  by Peg Kehret

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Happy New Year from all of us. New years resolutions are not just for young people. Check out these resolutions everyone (but especially seniors) can benefit from!

• Seniors need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night and should avoid napping in the daytime.
• Around twenty percent of seniors suffer from anxiety or depression. Some symptoms can include tiredness, lingering sadness, not enjoying activities you used too and a lor of appetitie. You may also want to spend more time alone, be more irritable and find sleeping more difficult. If any of these last longer than two weeks, speak to a fmaily member or healthcare provider.
• Quitting smoking will more than half your chances of getting heart disease. it wil lallow you to breate easier, sleep better and have more energy. Remember it can often take four or five attempts. But never give up!
• Engage your mind more by playing games like Sodoku or crossword puzzles. Read more or join a discussion group.
• Make sure you are doing all you can do to guard against falling over. Working out with an elastic band and/or walking more can greatly benefit your health as well as your strength and balance.
• Keep an eye on your alcohol habits and consider drinking smaller glasses of your favorite tipple. Remember, it is advisable not to have more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week for men and 7 alcoholic drinks for women.
• Ensure you regularly see your medical providers for routine screeningsand follow up visits with any specialists. understand the medications you are taking what what effect they have on you.
• See if your insurance plan has a silver sneakers program that can get you into exercise classes that can help improive every physical aspect of your life as well as improving your mental health!
• It may be time to start taking a multivitamin. Your healthcare provider can advise you which one would be best to get the most out of life.

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.

Have a senior friend or family member in assisted living. here are some ideas to celebrate Christmas with them!

• From classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas to more contemporary favorites like The Santa Clause, Elf, and Scrooged, there are near-endless movies to choose from when it comes to planning a day or night of film viewing fun.
• Many seniors enjoy arts and crafts, and there’s no better time todo this than during the holidays. Host a class or workshop on wreath-making, gift-wrapping, gingerbread house-making or an alternate holiday-themed activity.
• While their physical and financial capabilities may have changed, many older adults still enjoy shopping for gifts for the special people in their lives. For residents who are mobile, a group trip to the local shopping mall can be a fun and fulfilling outlet. But even residents who aren’t up for venturing off-premises can still get in on the shopping action thanks to the internet and some assistance from caregivers, if necessary. Some assisted living communities even host their own holiday stores offering residents the experience of shopping without the hassle of dealing with crowds and long lines.
• Many older adults feel isolated from friends and family members during the holiday. Prevent this situation by welcoming loved ones to join in the fun whenever possible. Family members can help with everything from decorating common spaces to sharing in special meals.
• Encourage seniors to don Santa hats and Christmas sweaters while coming together for a holiday-themed sing-along featuring everything from cheerful ditties like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to nostalgic oldies-but-goodies like, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Hand out the lyrics so everyone can sing along — even if they’ve forgotten the words.
• Even the most “bah humbug”-inclined seniors will be unable to resist the mood-boosting impact of Christmas music. Spinning holiday tunes in the dining hall and other communal spaces is a simple way to lift spirits while also promoting a sense of community among residents.
• Who doesn’t love a beautifully decorate mantle or sparkling string of twinkle lights? Just because older adults may no longer be living independently doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from some holiday cheer in the form of Christmas decorations. Small artificial trees, sprigs of mistletoe, and stockings are just a few of the way to dress up senior living spaces for the holidays.

If you’re looking for the very best assisted living in Phoenix; SLS Communities can help!  We have 5 locations in the Phoenix Valley that seniors and their families can choose from. With great amenities such as meticulously manicured landscaping, swimming pools, theater rooms, on-site salons, and much more! SLS Communities delivers today’s seniors the very best assisted living care services in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Check out our locations below

• Canyon Winds
• Chaparral Winds
• Desert Winds
• Sedona Winds
• Ventana Winds

For more information about assisted living and senior living services please call 480-348-0300.