Your mom is generally healthy but has started showing signs of frailty—losing weight, feeling weak, and sometimes struggling with balance. It’s concerning, but the good news is that frailty isn’t inevitable. In fact, new research suggests that exercise and lifestyle changes can help seniors regain strength, reduce fall risk, and maintain independence.

So, what steps can you take to support your aging loved one? Let’s explore how exercise can play a key role in reversing frailty in seniors.

The Role of Exercise in Combating Frailty

Recent research published in Age and Aging, highlights that frailty in seniors can be reduced—and even reversed—with a combination of strength training and proper nutrition. The study followed individuals aged 65 and older and found that those who engaged in regular physical activity saw improvements in mobility, muscle mass, and overall resilience. Continue reading Can Exercise Reverse Frailty in Seniors? Science-Backed Ways to Build Strength

When is the last time you enjoyed a meal with your aging loved ones?

Understanding the Impact of Mealtime Companionship on Seniors

Research shows that seniors who regularly dine with friends and family tend to eat more and make healthier choices. More importantly, most older adults say they feel happier and more fulfilled when eating with others.

“Sharing a meal is about so much more than eating food,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “If your senior has companionship during mealtimes, they’re more likely to be happy and healthy. It’s also an important way to keep loneliness at bay and help them maintain their independence.” Continue reading Enhancing Mealtime for Seniors: Tips for Companionship and Nutrition

Does your mom’s arthritis make it difficult for her to button a blouse or open a jar of mayonnaise?

Is your dad struggling to read the labels on prescription bottles because of macular degeneration?

Understanding Chronic Health Issues in Seniors

“Nearly 85 percent of seniors live with at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and dementia,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “Without support, these conditions can significantly impact a senior’s quality of life and threaten their independence.”

The Role of Caregivers in Managing Health Conditions

While Trail Ridge Home Care’s professional, in-home caregivers do not provide medical care, they can help seniors manage chronic conditions by offering assistance with day-to-day tasks, including:

Key Services Offered by Caregivers

Medication Management for Seniors

Seniors with chronic conditions typically take multiple medications, and taking the right dose at the right time is critical to their overall health and well-being. We help seniors organize their medications, set reminders and ensure they’re taken as prescribed. Continue reading Support for Seniors: How Caregivers Help Manage Chronic Health Conditions

Older adults lost a reported $1.9 billion… yes, BILLION… to fraud last year.

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission, says, because most cases of fraud are not reported, the actual number is likely much higher. The report says older adults were:

• more than five times more likely than younger groups of people to report losing money to a tech support scam.
• almost three times as likely to report a loss to a prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam.
• approximately 53% more likely to report losing money to a friend or family impersonation scam.

“Seniors who live alone, have memory issues or don’t understand technology are especially vulnerable. It’s shameful,” said said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so it’s important that we help our senior loved ones understand the risks and take steps to avoid becoming a victim.”

According to the National Institute on Aging, these are the most common scams that target older adults. Continue reading Keeping Older Loved Ones Safe From Scams

Have you gotten a flu shot?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu shot, with rare exceptions.

Because our immune systems weaken with age, it’s  especially important for older people to get immunized. In recent years, it’s estimated that between 70 percent and 85 percent of flu-related deaths occurred in people 65 and older and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in the 65-plus age group.

Health experts say the best way to protect yourself and your senior from potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. Here’s what they want you to know: Continue reading Flu Shot Facts

In the U.S., nearly 7 million people age 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s disease.  By 2050, that number is expected to double.

“Working with seniors and their families, we understand that just thinking about the possibility of Alzheimer’s is very scary,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “That’s why we’re joining with other organizations to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline of memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Continue reading Ten Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

We know music is good for the soul, but did you know it’s also good for the mind?

Studies show that music brings our senses to life and stimulates many parts of the brain at the same time, including those that affect language, mood and movement. Through research at the University of California, Davis, experts have even pinpointed the region of the brain which stores memories by linking them to familiar songs and the emotions associated with those memories.

“We’ve seen the reaction from our own family members as well as clients who have some form of dementia – a visible change often takes place when they hear music,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “If they hear a familiar song, they might sing, dance or clap their hands. It makes them happy and, in many cases, it can lessen aggressive behavior.” Continue reading The Benefits of Music Therapy

Your mom seems to have trouble focusing while reading or watching her favorite television program.

Does she simply need new glasses or could it be something more serious?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 3 million Americans have some form of glaucoma – a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve. When left untreated, it can cause vision loss and even blindness. Continue reading Understanding Glaucoma