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As the days get shorter in the fall and winter, some people experience what is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that can cause depressed mood and low energy level. More than just the “winter blues,” SAD is a serious condition that should be identified and addressed. Consequently, at our skilled nursing community in Fort Collins, we reassure residents that there are steps that can be taken to treat SAD.

SAD Symptoms

While doctors and researchers don’t fully understand SAD, the condition is clearly caused by decreased exposure to sunlight and seems to affect hormone levels and our internal clock to a degree. And, in addition to mood and energy level issues, SAD can also be responsible for:

• Decreased ability to focus or concentrate
• Loss of interest in socializing
• Anxiety
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Increased sleepiness or trouble sleeping
• Cravings for starches, carbs, and sweets
• Reduced sex drive
• Unexplained weight gain
• Angriness or irritability

It’s important to note that other conditions can cause many of these symptoms. So, it’s critical to talk with your doctor who can help you identify exactly what is causing them.

Treatments for SAD

Doctors commonly prescribe two treatments for SAD. First of all, bright light therapy uses special fixtures that produce high intensity light. They can help decrease melatonin production, leaving you feeling less sleepy and depressed. In addition, a treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. Also referred to as “talk therapy,” it teaches you to reduce negative thoughts and mindsets so you can deal more effectively with the decrease in sunlight.

Other things you can do at your skilled nursing community to help minimize SAD include:

• Increase interior light and maximize exposure to natural light by spending time near windows during the day
• Get or stay physically active, which increases the release of “feel good” endorphins.
• Make the effort to participate in hobbies and activities, even if the condition initially makes them feel less enjoyable.
• Get outside daily for a walk or just some time sitting on the porch. Even on overcast days this exposure to natural light can be helpful.
• Keep your stress under control by finding time each day for meditation, yoga, or prayer.
• Eat healthy meals and enjoy treats and dessert in moderation.
• Practice proper “sleep hygiene” like ensuring that your bed is comfortable, and that your room is cool (but not too cold), dark, and quiet during the night.

Don’t Let SAD Linger

As a leading provider of skilled nursing in Fort Collins, Colorado, we want all our residents at Green House Homes at Mirasol to stay happy and healthy through the winter and year ‘round. Therefore, we encourage them to take action promptly if they begin to feel the effects of seasonal affective disorder. Because the condition can be successfully treated, there is no need to suffer until springtime.

Colder weather is coming, and with it cold and flu season. Not only can catching a bug put you out of commission for a few days, it can lead to complications in some cases. But, in your senior housing community and around town there are things you can do to help minimize the risk of getting sick.

Tips for Keeping Cold and Flu Bugs at Bay

As a leading senior housing provider, we know from experience that you can use these simple strategies to stay healthy this cold and flu season:

• Get a flu shot. While every elder’s health situation is unique, for most people a flu shot is a good idea. Not only does it protect you, it keeps you from being a carrier that can infect others. Talk with your doctor about whether you should get the shot.
• Avoid contact with sick people. Although you may want to hug and kiss your loved ones, refrain from doing so if they are sick. They will understand!
• Wash your hands frequently. By doing a good job of removing germs from your hands, you increase your odds of steering clear of illness.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. These areas are the primary pathways that germs enter our body. If you have germs on your hand and you rub your eyes, you may be introducing pathogens into your system.
• Try not to inhale pathogens. When walking near others who are sick and coughing or sneezing, let out a long, slow exhale as you pass them if you can to keep from inhaling their germs.
• Consume protein. Protein plays an important role in supporting your immune system. Be sure you are getting plenty of it in your diet.
• Get enough sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, our body struggles to deal effectively with germs. Ideally you should be getting eight hours or more.
• Clean shopping cart handles, etc. The surfaces we encounter when out in public are often covered in germs from others. Use disinfecting wipes to clean shopping cart handles and other surfaces when you can. Some people will also carry their own pen to use when signing checks.

Staying Healthy all Winter Long

At the Green House Homes at Mirasol senior living community in Fort Collins, we do all we can to help our elders avoid illness all year long, and especially during cold and flu season. It’s a collaborative effort, and one that pays off with better health and happiness!

Injuries suffered due to falls are some of the biggest health risks to elders, at home or in a skilled nursing facility. From broken bones to head trauma, falls can cause significant pain and suffering, hospitalization, and subsequent complications. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the risk of falls. At Green House Homes at Mirasol, we act on all of them to help keep elders safe.

Reducing the Fall Risk

There are many environmental and health conditions that can make it more likely that an elder will suffer a fall. However, caregivers can address each so that the risk is minimized. Here are some of the ways that loved ones at home or skilled nursing providers can help keep elders safe:

• Proper lighting. An environment that is either too dark or too bright can make it difficult for an elder to see changes in the walking surface that pose a tripping hazard. So, care providers should be sure to install proper lighting.
• Secure, wrinkle-free flooring. Rugs that can slide or bunch up into raised ridges pose a serious tripping risk. So do abrupt transitions from a flooring surface of one height to another, such as from hardwood to thick carpet. Ensuring that flooring is secure, free of wrinkles and ridges, and with minimal changes in height is key.
• Clutter-free walking spaces. Objects left on the floor in areas where elders will be walking are a danger. Consequently, it should never be assumed that people will see the items and navigate around them.
• Handrails. In areas where elders will be going from standing to sitting, it’s important to have sturdy handrails they can use as they make the transition. Beside toilets and stairways are two of the critical spots.
• Sturdy, tip-resistant furniture. Elders often lean on furniture as they move around their home, and also tend to put weight onto it as they sit or stand. So, furniture should be strong, have a wide base that prevents tipping, and not be prone to sliding when pushed.
• Appropriate footwear. While a thick pair of socks may be comfortable, the lack of traction can be a problem. Consequently, elders should wear shoes or slippers with gripping soles when walking around the house.
• Proper prescriptions. Medication, or the combination of multiple medications, can affect an elder’s balance, increasing their risk of a fall. Elders and their loved ones should work closely with the person’s doctor to ensure that medication is prescribed at levels and in combinations that don’t impair movement.
• Vision correction. Elders who have poor vision may have trouble seeing obstacles and tripping hazards. Therefore, ensuring that they visit the eye doctor as needed can be very helpful.

Keeping Our Elders Safe

Elders in skilled nursing communities rely on their care providers to watch out for them. At Green House Homes at Mirasol, ensuring the safety and wellness of those we care for is our top priority. Consequently, we do all we can to minimize fall risks so that they can move about freely and their families can have peace of mind.

Preparing to move into senior housing can be both a very exciting time and a somewhat stressful one. An elder is likely to feel eager to make new friends. But, they may also be sad to be saying goodbye to familiar surroundings and routines. In order to make a smooth transition to the new living situation, there are a number of steps that can be taken.

Focusing on the Future 
Here are some strategies that elders and their families can use to prepare for a move and approach it with optimism:

Start connecting before you move in
There’s no reason to wait until after you’ve moved in to start connecting with the other elders you’ll be living with. Once you’ve signed your paperwork, ask if you can begin attending meetings and social events.

Plan family visits
Having loved ones come check out your new home can be uplifting for you and fun for them. And knowing that you’ve already put those visits on the calendar gives you something to look forward to. If you have lots of family and friends in the area, it may be wise to spread those visits out. Have people come over a period of weeks rather than bunching visits together.

Begin downsizing early
A move to a senior housing environment may mean that some of the elder’s accumulated belongings will need to be given new life through donation or discarded. Rushing to make these kinds of decisions ahead of a fast-approaching moving day can be stressful. Instead, try to start making those choices as far in advance as possible so that you can tackle them gradually.   

Ask for assistance from a third party
When thinking about what to do with personal possessions, it can help to have a friend or relative provide their input. As someone a little removed from this emotional process, they will have a more objective perspective.

Get involved immediately
It’s understandable that you might want to “ease into” your new living situation. But, the more involved you are in activities at your new home, the more connected you’ll feel. Join a club, volunteer to help with tasks, sign up for an outing. All of these things help you make and maintain strong friendships.

Making a Stress-Free Move to Senior Housing

At Green House Homes at Mirasol, our senior living environment is designed to make the elders who are joining us feel welcome, cared for, and connected. It’s our view that the transition from their previous living situation can be one that is easy and enjoyable, and we do all we can to support that.

When we think about the importance of staying healthy, we tend to focus on physical health, with eating well and getting plenty of exercise at the top of our list. However, it’s important that we pay attention to our mental and emotional health as well. Chronic stress can have a very negative impact on the way we think and feel. What’s more, it can cause physical harm or make existing ailments worse. That’s why it’s important to know how to minimize stress and to use those techniques regularly to maintain a more relaxed and positive outlook. 

Strategies for Managing Stress

While everyone experiences times of stress, there are things you can do to help prevent or alleviate it, including:

• Express your emotions. Elders sometimes feel they just need to “get by” and not bother others with their feelings. Unfortunately, keeping emotions bottled up generates a tremendous amount of stress. It’s best to talk with a friend, family member, or counselor when you are upset.
• Focus on one issue at a time. Especially as we age, life can feel a bit overwhelming. When possible, resolving one concern before turning your attention to another is a more effective way to deal with them.
• Ask for help. Especially in a skilled nursing environment, there are many people—both staff and other residents—who will be happy to lend a hand. The key is to ask for their assistance. 
• Provide Help. Assisting a friend or family member promotes feelings of accomplishment and self-worth that can be a great stress reliever.
• Resist the urge to be self-critical. It’s fair to give some thought to ways you can improve on how you are handling life’s challenges, but beating yourself up over your actions (or inaction) is not helpful. Try to counter those negative thoughts with positive encouragement.
• Occupy your mind with fun and interesting activities. Stressful thoughts and emotions tend to fill the void when we aren’t thinking about other things. Staying involved with hobbies, learning, and social interactions can help make it hard for stress to take hold.

Finding Ways to Help Elders be More Worry-Free

Our approach to life at Green House Homes at Mirasol is helping elders stay engaged, active, and interested in playing a role in how their house operates. It’s a unique perspective on skilled nursing, but our elders find it to be one of fulfillment, happiness, and less stress. And, it leaves their loved ones feeling the same way.