November 15 was a significant day for our residents as they completed the ‘Matter of Balance‘ course receiving not only a certificate of completion, but also a graduation ceremony marking the occassion. The course was sponsored by the National Council on Aging and through a series of workshops, residents were encouraged to set goals and…
Dancing involves moving and balancing techniques that make it a unique and fun exercise for seniors. Dancing can be anything from jumping, jiving, tap, tango, or moving hands, arms, feet, legs, hips and head around in any form. However, new research suggests that dancing also has an impact on our brain health and may fend…
Fall prevention is a challenge for all older adults and this September the Brookhouse Home participated in a structured course sponsored by the National Council on Aging. Through a series of workshops, residents were encouraged to set goals and make small changes to reduce fall risks. A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of…
September is known as Healthy Aging Month, as it is just a great time of year to make some lifestyle changes. As our hot, summer days wind down, we all tend to draw on that “back to school” urge embedded in everyone from childhood. It is a time focus and take precautions to help face…
National Senior Citizens Day, August 21, is the day to let seniors know how much you care and it’s an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed this holiday to raise awareness about issues that affect senior citizens and their quality of life. The Administration for Community Living for 2023 is Aging…
June 21 marks the first day of summer! This is the season when the Brookhouse Home is especially beautiful because of our lovely grounds and gardens. We also benefit from the salt air and sea breezes off of Salem harbor. From our vantage point, we get to watch the schooners and sailboats come and go…
On May 3, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. The Surgeon General warns that disconnection fundamentally…
As April is Stress Awareness Month, we consider that many older Americans are facing extremely stressful circumstances— and may encounter emotionally stressful situations that are more severe and occur more frequently. Some situational causes of increased chronic stress in older adults include: Retirement Loss of a loved one Heart disease Too much unstructured time Declining…
An extraordinary 85-year-long Harvard research study found that retirees don’t miss working, they miss the people. The study began in 1938 by gathering health records from 724 people from all over the world, asking detailed questions about their lives at two-year intervals over 80 years. Over time, the study found a similarity as people reached…
On January 20th this past week, a report came across our evening news that made us all sit up and listen. A nine year study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that socially isolated older adults have a 27% higher chance of developing dementia than older adults who aren’t. “Social connections matter for our cognitive health,…