April Greetings from Comfort Keepers

Volume 59 | April 1, 2023

News You Can Use

Comfort Keepers helps seniors live safely and independently in their own homes.

OUR ROSTER OF AVAILABLE CAREGIVERS IS UPDATED DAILY.

We serve Private-Pay, Medicaid, CCP and VA Clients

in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane & McHenry Counties.

Comfort Keepers is here for you: 847-215-8550.

(With offices in Buffalo Grove, Park Ridge, Elgin and Chicago)

Visit our Website

STAY CONNECTED -- FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

New to Comfort Keepers?

We Have a $200 Coupon for You!

Social Interaction Is the Key

Helping older adults live with joy, dignity, and purpose can make a huge difference in their physical and emotional well-being.

Throughout our 25-year history of providing uplifting in-home care, Comfort Keepers team members have seen this firsthand. Click the link below to read about simple and effective ways to enhance seniors’ mental health.

How are you supporting seniors’ mental health and wellness?

Glaucoma: What Seniors Should Know

Presently, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, medication or surgery can help slow or prevent further vision loss. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss or even blindness.

Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises and up to 40 percent of a person's vision can be lost without them even noticing. However, with early treatment, eyes can be protected against serious vision loss.

Feeling Blue? These Will Help!

We recently discovered a simple, healthy and kid-friendly recipe from what (at first) sounded like an unlikely source: Chocolate Covered Katie. While this lady says her favorite food is chocolate and she believes in eating dessert every single day, she also writes a healthy dessert blog. What's not to like?

In this recipe for "Healthy Blueberry Muffins ," Katie has created a dessert that provides vegan, gluten-free and oil-free modifications for bakers who need them. Click the link below to view the recipe:

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

10 Activities for Seniors with Dementia or Alzheimer’s

According to the Alzheimer's Association, it's important to implement routine and creative daily schedules to those who may be dealing with Alzheimer's or Dementia.

Routines and creativity can help seniors stay focused, promote relaxation, and decrease the risk of depression. At the same time, one can bring joy, purpose, and positivity to a daily routine.

SNAP Benefits Have Changed

Emergency SNAP was issued for the last time in February 2023. As a result of federal policy changes, the average one-person household is seeing their benefits go down by $86 per month. If you have experienced certain changes, you may be eligible for more in SNAP benefits. SNAP participants should make sure that all of their information is complete and accurate to ensure they receive the maximum SNAP/Link benefits for which they are eligible. The Illinois Dept. of Human Services can help you understand the impact on your benefits.

Visit abe.illinois.gov or call the hotline at

1-800-843-6154.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight & Reducing the Risk of Diabetes in Older Adults

Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise can help prevent pre-diabetes and diabetes in seniors, allowing them to continue leading rich, fulfilling lives.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that affects an estimated 25% of adults over 65, and 50% have prediabetes. Knowing more about diabetes empowers seniors and family caregivers to create healthy diet and exercise plans that can help prevent the disease or slow its progression.

More Good News About Yoga

A regular yoga practice can help build muscle, dramatically boost metabolism and increase circulation. Better still, a recent study suggests that the benefits of yoga for seniors are multi-faceted. Click the link below to read more at the Harvard Gazette:

Strong evidence that yoga protects against frailty in older adults – Harvard Gazette

CLICK HERE to visit the Comfort Keepers website to get useful links to LOCAL and NATIONAL organizations that help seniors.

Resources for Seniors & Families

The Comfort Keepers team works with many local organizations and programs that provide services for older adults. One example is the State of Illinois Community Care Program (CCP), which helps senior citizens, who might otherwise need nursing home care, to remain in their own homes by providing in-home and community-based services.

(Click here for CCP Coverage Areas Map)

Does your senior loved one qualify for the Community Care Program? Click here to learn more.

Please join us in saluting our

Caregivers of the Month for March 2023!

Thank you all for sharing your skills and kindness with the seniors you assist.

Your dedication is much appreciated!

Vladyslava

Shawn

Agnes

Maria

Sada

COVID-19 Vaccines & Boosters

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

For the best protection, everyone 6 months and older is recommended to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting boosters if eligible. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.

Cook County and the City of Chicago

https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/

Hotline: 833-308-1988 (M-F; 7am-7pm)

Lake County | DuPage County

Kane County | McHenry County

Encuentre Vacunas COVID-19

Comfort Keepers

1400 E. Lake Cook Road, Suite 110,

Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Phone: 847-215-8550 | Fax: 847-215-7941

https://www.comfortkeepers.com/offices/illinois/buffalo-grove

(With additional locations in Park Ridge, Elgin and Chicago)