It can be difficult to buy useful and thoughtful gifts for inactive or less active senior citizens. Often grandparents and other elderly family and friends have few needs, few wants, and very little storage space. Here are some good gift ideas for less able loved ones.

Actually sold as a children’s toy, a Cozy Cookie makes a lovely gift for the elderly. These adorable, warm and cuddly plush gingerbread cookie dolls feel and smell wonderful. Just pop them in the microwave for two minutes and the warmth and the wonderful aroma of gingerbread will delight any senior.

Book Butler Book Stand: The Book Butler is a book stand that makes it easier for older people with hand pain or weakness to view books and turn pages. This book stand will accommodate almost any paperback or hard cover, including very large books, all at a comfortable angle.

Long Playing Card Holder: Active seniors who enjoy playing card games with others, but who have limited hand usage, will enjoy this thoughtful gift. This long rack displays cards so they may be easily seen, added, or removed much more easily than trying to hold multiple cards. Pencils fit on the front of the holder and it can also hold recipes or memos.

Losing Your Vision Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Your Confidence

Throughout your life, vision has likely been your main primary sense. Some researchers estimate that the sense of sight provides approximately 80% of all the information we receive about the world. You’ve probably been using your vision - unconsciously for the most part - to double check the accuracy of your other senses. For example, when you hear a siren from a fire engine, your tendency is to confirm that it is indeed a fire engine by turning to look at it. Because of this tendency, you may feel less confident about your other senses since you can’t depend on vision as you used to.

In time, and with training, you can learn to make maximum use of all your senses: touch, hearing, smell, and any remaining vision - as well as improve your visual memory. Gradually, with practice and successful new experiences, you can begin to trust your other senses and rebuild your confidence.

Finding that perfect toy for the child in your life is never easy, but it can become even more difficult when shopping for holiday gifts for children with special needs. Jodie L. Moulton, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, clinical manager/speech-language pathologist in the Pediatrics Department of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network offers the following tips when toy shopping for children with disabilities:

1. Choose toys that match the ability of the child. Ensure that the toys provide activities that reflect both the developmental and chronological age of the child.
2. Consider the child’s opportunity for successfully using the toy. Children with special needs can become frustrated if they feel the toy does not work for them.
3. Choose toys that allow for creativity or self-expression. Toys that promote dramatic play offer children a relaxed way of increasing their language and cognitive skills. Likewise, the potential for interaction with other children is helpful to improve social abilities.
4. Choose toys with multi-sensory appeal. Children with vision challenges enjoy toys that make sounds or vibrate. Those who have difficulty hearing prefer toys that use lights or print out messages. Toys that stimulate the sense of touch help children with special needs take in the world around them.
5. Look for toys that soothe. Many children with special needs have a difficult time soothing themselves and need a special item to help calm them. These include items with soft tactile qualities or items that the child can put in his or her mouth.
6. Find toys that are easily activated and require fewer steps to work. Toys that move or make sounds by activating a switch are a good choice.
7. Remember toy safety and durability. Toys should be easy to clean and should not contain small parts or choking hazards.
8. Look for items that increase the child’s safety. Many parents of children with special needs spend a large portion of their day keeping their children safe. Providing parents with safety items gives them more time to spend interacting with their child.
9. Look for items that help parents with everyday tasks. Again, anything to decrease time spent on activities of daily living will give parents more time to spend interacting or stimulating their child’s development.
10. Make sure the toy fits the child’s size and strength. Lightweight toys should be chosen for children with limited motor skills and strength.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network’s online store, Rehability, is a national resource for unique child development toys that you can give as holiday gifts for children with disabilities. Products available include toys that aid in life skills, such as the Cutting Food Box, a crate of wooden food that children can cut, or the Basic Skills Board, a board to practice everyday tasks including buttoning and zippering.

Often small children look to toys with which they can identify. Special Needs Dolls available at Rehability, such as Special Needs Abby, who features crutches, allow children with disabilities to play with toys that look like them. These toys help children with disabilities feel included in society and those without disabilities understand why other children need mobility tools.

“The Special Needs Dolls help children understand everyone is unique and helps the child feel special because there is a doll that they can relate to,” says Tara Clauser, buyer/operations manager for Rehability.

“You have to balance your intake of calories and fat with what you burn off.” So says Betsy Azain, a registered dietitian at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, who counsels patients and residents.

This simple equation is easily forgotten in a lifestyle consumed with fast paced and fast food, but there is an undeniable link between foods high in fat and cholesterol, which increases your risk for a blood clot, a heart attack, and a stroke. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke is to simply follow MyPyramid, the guide to a balanced diet brought to you by the United States Department of Agriculture. The MyPyramid guide is packed with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that provide vitamins and minerals to keep your body healthy and reduces the risk of heart disease and several forms of cancer.

Here are some surefire ways to help prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease, blood clots, strokes:

• Drink more water. Water fills you up, making you less likely to succumb to a snack attack, plus it’s a necessary ingredient for a healthy body. Make it more appealing by keeping a favorite glass close at hand and add a wedge or two of lemon for a summery burst of flavor!

• Be a savvy shopper and read those labels! Watch out in particular for processed foods high in fat (especially trans-fat which is linked to heart disease and high cholesterol), calories, and carbohydrates. Look for foods made of whole grain or whole wheat and that are high in fiber. Soluble fiber is the most desirable because it slows food digestion which some researchers believe helps regulate cholesterol and glucose (sugar) levels in the blood by affecting absorption rates.

• Fat-free doesn’t mean calorie-free. Many people make the mistake of thinking that because something is fat-free” or low-fat they can eat more of it. Wrong, says Betsy. Those “little” calories quickly add up and if not burned off, can turn into fat too.

• Resist end-of-the-day stress eating. That hour or two between the end of work and dinner is when the temptation to snack often peaks. “That’s a good time to take a walk,” Betsy says. Or, keep a bag of nuts handy for a quick and delicious snack. The monounsaturated fat in almonds reduces LDL cholesterol and increases the HDL or “good” cholesterol levels. They are also a good source of Vitamin E. Other good choices: hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts and peanuts. Keep it to a handful, about 1-1/2 ounces or 1/3 cup.

• Reduce mealtime portions and think color. When eating at home, don’t overload your plate. This just increases your likelihood of eating more than you need. A serving of meat should be no bigger than a deck of cards. Think color and add some simply-prepared veggies, such as steamed spinach and garlic, a baked sweet potato with just a dab of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar, or a serving of frozen corn (without the heavy sauces). And when eating out, don’t feel like you have to clean your plate. Take some leftovers home. You’ll be glad you did!

If you’re in one of the high-risk groups for heart attack or stroke, here are some other tips:

• Lose weight: This is especially important if you are overweight and if you tend to gain weight around your waist rather than in your hips and thighs. Losing just 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure.

• Become more physically active: Keep your heart strong. Exercise regularly. Thirty to 45 minutes of brisk walking three to five times a week will help lower your blood pressure (and will also help you lose weight). Record your activities and reward yourself at special milestones.  Nothing motivates like success!

• Moderate alcohol use: Limit your alcohol intake to two drinks or less per day.

• Cut down on salt intake: Don’t put the salt shaker on the table, and limit ready-mixed sauces and seasonings, frozen dinners, canned soups, and salad dressings, which are usually packed with sodium. Eat lots of fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables that have very little sodium, and look for products labeled “low sodium” (containing less than 140 milligrams of sodium per serving). Always measure the salt in recipes and use half of what is called for.

• Stop smoking: Smoking increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.

• Doctor’s orders. Always follow your doctor’s advice. Take your medicine if your doctor decides you need it to lower your blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked often.

• Stick with it: Managing high blood pressure is a lifetime undertaking. You can’t stop your program just because you feel good. Remember, this is a silent disease - it damages the heart and blood vessels without ever causing pain.

• Have your blood pressure checked regularly - and keep your heart healthy.

For more information visit:

• The American Heart Association

• The American Stroke Association

• MyPyramid guide

As with any change in diet and exercise, be sure to consult your physician.

Stroke products for rehabilitation can be found at Good Shepherd’s Rehability Store.

Good Shepherd is holding a Health Fair at the Bethlehem Senior Center.  Come and enjoy the day with our Health Fair Offerings:

• Stroke Screening: blood pressure check, carotid bruit testing, review of risk factors

• Balance screening with tips for fall prevention

• Lee Silverman Big and Loud Screens for those with Parkinson’s Disease

Learn more about:

• Non-surgical options for spine and joint pain

• Advance Directives

• Aging in place for seniors, including home modification

• Care for dizziness and neurological diseases

• Inpatient and Outpatient rehabilitation

• Senior products to make your life easier from Rehability

FREE refreshments -Raffle Prizes and giveaways!
For more info call 610.778.9220
goodshepherdrehab.org

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network
Health Fair at Bethlehem Senior Center
November 19, 2008
9:30 am to 1:30 PM
Bethlehem Senior Center
720 Old York Road Bethlehem, PA

There are 1,440 minutes in everyday- schedule 30 of them for physical activity. With a little creativity and planning, even a person with the busiest schedule can make room for physical activity. Think about your weekly or daily schedule and for or make opportunities to be more active. Every little bit helps. Consider the following suggestions.

• Walk, cycle, jog, skate, etc. to work, school, the store, or place of worship
• Park the car farther away from the destination
• Get on or off the bus several blocks away
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Play with children or pets. Everybody wins.
• If you find it too difficult to be active after work, try it before work
• Take fitness breaks-walking or doing desk exercises – instead of taking coffee breaks
• Perform gardening or home repair activities.
• Avoid labor saving devices-turn off the self propel option on your lawn mower or vacuum cleaner.
• Use leg power-take small trips on foot to get your body moving
• Exercise while watching TV
• Dance to music
• Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and your office
• Make a Saturday morning walk a group habit.

(Source: Centers for disease control and prevention)

Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home, causing serious injury, permanent disability, and death. With proper home setup and attention to hazardous objects, it is possible to prevent such incidents. Consider a home evaluation by a Certified Aging in Place Specialist to help you properly design your home to avoid hazards.  The following checklist is designed to help senior citizens find and fix these hazards in each room of the home.

Kitchen
Problem: Kitchen items are on high, hard-to-reach shelves.
Solution: Move kitchen items into cabinets. Keep things you use often on lower shelves.  Consider a Reacher to grab hard to reach items.

Problem: Your step stool is unsteady.
Solution: Get a new step stool with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.

Bedroom
Problem: Path from your bed to the bathroom is dark.
Solution: Use a nightlight to see where you’re walking. Some nightlights go on by themselves after dark.

Problem: Difficulty getting out of bed
Solution: Use a bed assist rail to help in getting in and out of bed.

Bathroom
Problem: Tub or shower floor is slippery.
Solution: Try shower slippers or put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.  Use a tub transfer bench to easily get into the tub without having to step in.

Problem: Extra support is needed when getting in and out of the tub or up from the toilet.
Solution: Have a handyman install grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet.  Also, consider a raised  toilet seat with arms in your bathroom.

Floors
Problem: When you walk through a room, you have to walk around furniture.
Solution: Have someone rearrange the room so a path is always clear.  Keep objects off of floor. Utilize closets, bookshelves, and tables for such items.

Problem: Throw rugs on the floor.
Solution: Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or non-slip backing to prevent the rugs from sliding.

Stairs & Steps
Problem: Steps are broken or uneven.  Handrails are loose or broken.
Solution: Get steps repaired immediately.  Have a handyman fix any loose handrails or install new ones

Problem: Stairway is poorly lit.
Solution: Have a handyman or electrician install and overhead light at the top and/or bottom of the stairs.

Other Ways to Prevent Falls

- Exercise regularly. Exercise makes you stronger and improves balance and coordination.

- Have your doctor or pharmacist look at all the medication you take (even over-the-counter   medicines).     Some medications can make you sleepy or dizzy.

- Have your vision checked at least once a year by an eye doctor. Poor vision can increase your risk of falling.  Consider a low vision product.

- Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.

- Wear sturdy shoes with thin, non-slip soles. Avoid slippers and running shoes with thick soles.

- Improve the lighting in your home. Use brighter bulbs (at least 60 watts). Use lampshades or frosted bulbs to reduce glare.

- Use reflecting tape at the top and bottom of the stairs so you can see them better.

- Paint doorsills a different color to prevent tripping.