Drink water, it's good for you!

(January, 30, 2015)

You have likely been told every summer since you were a child that you should drink plenty water so you don’t dehydrate. While this is an accurate statement it is not the only positive aspect that drinking water offers. There are actually numerous benefits that consuming water has on your body, which will have these positive effects throughout the entire year.

Throughout the day our bodies continuously lose bodily fluids as we sweat, create saliva, urinate and even breathe. It is therefore imperative that we replace these fluids so our bodies can function properly and stay healthy. Dehydration occurs if our input of liquids does not equal the output of fluids our body is exhausting. During the summer months when the temperatures are much higher our bodies sweat much more and we therefore need to replace these fluids at a quicker pace. The same applies to the other months of the year where people may forget to drink. 

In addition to maintaining bodily fluids, drinking water also helps us control our calorie intake. This is because with the consumption of water our bodies will feel very full from the water weight, which will deter us from snacking or eating more than is necessary and thus keep our calorie count in check. This can help you loose weight while still feeling satisfied after your meal.

 

Another use that is often overlooked is that our skin contains plenty of water, and is used as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. If we become dehydrated our skin will start to feel dry and may wrinkle.

So what are you waiting for go-ahead grab a cup of water and keep yourself fit and healthy.

Top iPhone Apps for Seniors:

Recently joined the iPhone revolution? Welcome! With so many apps that can do almost anything on your phone, it is a shame if you don’t explore the possibilities. Some apps are fun games, some bring information to the tip of your fingers, some track medical history, and others are just wacky. There are over one million apps to choose from, and good news- most of them are free! Below we are outlined some of the best apps for seniors to make their lives easier and their days better:

1.  Symple: As the name implies- this app makes things a lot simpler! Symple allows you to log any symptoms or feelings. For example if you have recently been experiencing frequent headaches, log them into Symple's easy to use interface each time. This can make it easier for your doctor to diagnose any issues, as well as discover any links and or patterns.

2. Healthtap: An app that is filled with valuable health information. Got a health question? Open up Healthtap on your iPhone and find questions answered by over 50,000 doctors, all organized into specialties and categories. Not only that but the app includes daily health tips that are valuable for a long life.

3.  Eyereader: Tired of carrying a magnifier around to help you read small print in the market, restaurant, and almost everywhere? Eyereader is definitely the app for you! This app enlarges text and provides light, which is perfect to use on a restaurant menu.

4. Lumosity: The app best known to train your memory and attention without boring the user. Lumosity was designed by neuroscientists, and it creates a personalized brain “workout”. This is all done by playing entertaining games and solving puzzles. Not only has it been proven to maintain cognitive function, but improve cognitive function as well!

5. Silent Bodyguard: Caught in a scary or dangerous situation? Need help? Silent Bodyguard sends out an emergency message with the user’s GPS coordinates to preselected phone contacts, facebook or twitter contacts, as well as email addresses. The app itself is discrete in a way that it does not look like you are calling for help. Silent Bodyguard can be a potentially life saving app and worth the download!

Credit Card Advice for Seniors:

At some point in our life many of us find our wallets stuffed with credit and debit cards of all sorts. Some have great rewards, some have great benefits, and not mention those with low interest rates. As fun as starting your very own credit card collection may be, there are many disadvantages to having a variety of them. First of all, with so many cards for so many different uses, it becomes very easy to forget to pay off your bills on time. Besides for that, having many cards can make it easier for identity theft to occur, along with having the urge to buy many things you don't need. If you find yourself with a stack of plastic, perhaps take some time and do some research. Look into each card individually to see what is best for your needs and lifestyle. The even better thing to do is cancel all or most of your cards and opt for credit card that is senior friendly. Below are some of the best credit cards to consider for seniors of all ages. 

1. As we know the elderly is more prone to identity and credit card theft, seniors must constantly be aware of their charges and payments. Seniors tend to get mixed up in all sorts of scams, by falling into traps and unknowingly giving out their credit card numbers to criminals. One option to prevent this is the True Link Card (https://www.truelinkcard.com/). For $10 a month, a trusted administrator can monitor any activity that may be suspicious, as well as set spending limits. This card is a debit card so there will be no interest fees or overdraft fees. Not only is the card great to keep seniors safe, but it is perfect for the forgetful senior as well.

2. For those seniors who love earning rewards and benefits through their card usage, they should check out the AARP Credit Card from Chase (http://www.aarpcreditcard.com/Default). Designed exclusively for AARP Members this card is big on the cash-back, points reward, and a host of other benefits tailored towards seniors. With no annual fee, this card may may be the right one for the elderly. 

3. For seniors stuck in a low credit pit, one card that may be helpful is the Capital One Secured Mastercard (http://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/secured-mastercard/). This card regularly reports credit changes, as it allows you to build up your credit score. Along with that, it has a yearly fee of just $29, which makes affordable for most. 

These three options are just a few of the many possibilities! Because there are so many cards to choose from, it can feel quite overwhelming to choose the right one. Hopefully the information will give you a great place to start!  

The Truth about Hand Sanitizer:

Most people usually equate hand sanitizer with help, as it is told that it will kill 99% of germs found on the skin. However, studies and research are beginning to show that hand sanitizer is not as good as we think. This may be shocking to hear as hand sanitizer is found almost everywhere, ranging from hospitals, schools, offices, and homes. So what’s the deal with it?

The main ingredient in bacteria fighting agents is alcohol. Studies show that for hand sanitizer to be truly effective, it must contain at least 60% alcohol amongst it’s ingredients. Although this may be true, many companies continue to sell hand sanitizer with less than the necessary amount of alcohol. Anything less than 60% won’t kill the germs and bacteria you were hoping to get rid of. The best thing to do is to look at the label of the hand sanitizer to see its alcohol content.

Besides for not having enough alcohol content in some sanitizers, some do not have any at all. It has found to be that triclosan, the active ingredient in non-alcoholic hand sanitizers, actually make your body resistant to some antibiotics. Meaning, sooner than later the germs and bacteria you are trying to kill off will be able to tolerate the hand sanitizer, thus they will be able to live. This scary truth can cause more harm than good when using hand sanitizer frequently.

Lastly, research shows that hand sanitizers that do not contain 60% of more alcohol, do not even fight off viruses such as the common cold. This is because illnesses like the common cold are not caused by germs and bacteria, rather they are caused by viruses in the body. For all those who slather on the hand sanitizer when they feel a cold coming on, are nothing actually helping to prevent it.  

Now that you know what hand sanitizer is really all about, what is the final verdict? Should you opt for the hand sanitizer or leave it behind? The best route in this matter is to make sure you are using alcohol containing agents, of course with an alcohol content of 60% or above. Anything other than that will not be effective, and can even leave you off worse. Don’t get fooled by choosing the cheapest brand, make sure to buy the right brand so that you can stay healthy!  

How Drinking Coffee can Delay the Onset of Alzheimer's | Waterview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Coffee might do more than just help your grandparents wake up in the morning. According to a 2012 study conducted by University of South Florida and University of Miami researchers, drinking coffee can help reduce the chances or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease in senior citizens. 

  

One of the professors from the University of South Florida, Dr. Chuanhai Cao has a theory for why drinking coffee can reduce the effects of Alzheimer's. He says it is rooted in how the caffeine found in coffee affects the Beta-amyloid protein found in the human brain. According to Cho, this protein accumulates as one ages. Some of this protein then gets caught in our system often resulting in Alzheimer's disease. However, according to Cho, when one drinks coffee, the "caffeine [in the coffee] inhibits the production of beta-amyloid, so your system only metabolizes all of the available protein." 

  

The study also showed that moderate caffeine intake appears to lessen the onset of other diseases associated with aging including Parkinson's disease, stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, and Breast Cancer. 

  

So seniors, Waterview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center kindly reminds you to have that cup of joe in the morning... it very well may assist you to remember to drink it again the next morning!