Playing For Change

For me, singing sad songs often has a way of healing a situation. It gets the hurt out in the open into the light, out of the darkness.

Reba McEntire

There have been studies done to show the impact music has on our lives. Researchers have found that music can reduce anxiety (Wiley-Blackwell) and can help improve performance (British). There have even been studies on linking  the long effects of being a musician to better hearing (Baycrest). All of these studies show that music produces positive results in every form.

A group of people believe that music can change the world and created a movement called Playing For Change in 2005. What they did was travel around the world recording street musicians playing the same songs and then put them together in one track. From the video below you can feel how inspiring and beautiful the results were.

You can get involved as well. Some of the musicians travel the states together replicating the music and spreading the idea that music can bring us all together in harmony. The link here will take you to their website where you can purchase their documentary and read more about their hope for positive change through one of the most profound and abundant resources we have on earth.

Playing for Change Website

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care (2011, September 13). Older musicians experience less age-related decline in hearing abilities than non-musicians. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/09/110913091557.htm

British Psychological Society (BPS) (2012, April 17). Listening to your favorite music boosts performance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2012/04/120417221709.htm

Wiley-Blackwell (2011, August 9). Music reduces anxiety in cancer patients. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/08/110809212424.htm

Spring Funnies

As Easter has just past us and we are well headed into spring I thought it would be fun to search around for some funny Spring comics. Everyone should laugh, chuckle and giggle.

(Scientifically it has proven to lower stress!)

 Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.  ~W. Earl Hall

The naked earth is warm with Spring,

And with green grass and bursting trees

Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,

And quivers in the sunny breeze.

~Julian Grenfell

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.  ~Mark Twain

What Else Can You Do?

"You cannot plough a field by 

turning it over in your mind."

Author Unknown

Besides keeping your senior active and staying aware of medical symptoms for things like depression or Alzheimer's it would be a good idea to make sure your loved one is getting everything they need. Straight from the Home Instead website I wanted to inform you on some of the things we can provide as CareGivers.


We’ll Be There When You Can’t Be


You call her every day … you shop for her … you take care of her repairs … you drive her to the doctor and help her with paperwork. You’d like to do more, but you’ve got your job and your own family to think about, too. And yet, you worry about your mom being home by herself so many days. And you’re not alone. Nearly one in every four Americans is caring for an older adult, and the stress can take its toll.

A Healthy Solution


Home Instead Senior Care’s® companionship services not only relieve stress and worry for family caregivers, but they also provide the healthy interaction and activity that are vital for seniors in retaining cognitive abilities and physical health. Our kind and thoughtful CAREGiversSM truly enjoy working with seniors. And we find that most seniors are much more likely to accomplish tasks and participate in favorite activities when they simply have a companion with whom to enjoy them.

Companionship Services

• Offer companionship and conversation
• Discuss current and historical events
• Reminisce about the past
• Participate in crafts
• Play games and cards
• Aid with reading
• Stimulate mental awareness
• Read religious materials
• Record family history
• Rent and play movies
• Maintain family scrapbook
• Assist with entertaining
• Provide respite care
• Plan visits, outings and trips
• Visit neighbors and friends
• Maintain calendar
• Arrange appointments
• Provide reminders for appointments
• Monitor diet and eating
• Prepare grocery lists
• Clip coupons for shopping
• Check food expirations
• Record and arrange recipes
• Provide medication reminders
• Assist with Personal Tasks
• Aid with morning and wake-up
• Help with clothing selection
• Assist with evening and tuck-in
• Assist with walking
• Monitor TV usage
• Buy magazines, papers and books
• Organize mail
• Mail bills and letters
• Write letters and correspondence
• Supervise home maintenance
• Oversee home deliveries
• Answer the door
• Care for houseplants

Ten Things Not to Forget About Alzheimer's

This was an amazing seminar presented to some of our office employees by Michael R. Villanueva a few weeks ago and we thought it would be beneficial for everyone to know. If you would like some more information about these ten things please contact our Medford office at the phone number in the side bar. If you would like more information on how to keep up a relationship with a loved one who has Alzheimers click the following link: Link

1. Remember that they don't. Many times people caring for loved ones with Alzheimers will know in their mind that the person has trouble remembering but will often not act or speak in a way that acknowledges it.

2. Refrain from arguing.

3. Understand that you may not always understand them.

4. Less is more. When presented with a large array of options it can be overwhelming.

5. Know that they may get agitated or frustrated when it doesn't seem like logical situation to be upset about.

6. Don't assume your loved one is depressed when they no longer enjoy activities they once did. Apathy is a behavior which can be common in those who have Alzheimer's.

7. Often people who have Alzheimer's change their habits. Something they once loved to do; like shopping, may not be something they enjoy now.

8. Playing 20 questions with a person who suffers from Alzheimer's does not always help them remember something from the past. Usual daily questions that are normal in every day situations, but too many questions can become overwhelming.

9. Alzheimer's not only impairs memory but it can also disrupt every day motor skills like using a fork or knife. Daily activities like bathing or making coffee can prove to be a tricky task for someone suffering from Alzheimer's.

10. Denial is part of it. There may be a lack of awareness of the common symptoms of Alzheimer's in the patient as well as in their family.

Patience - Caring - Listening - Acceptance - Flexibility 

Laughing is the Cure

Give your stress wings and let it fly away.  ~Terri Guillemets

On those off day's where stress has taken over and it's hard to stay optimistic, there is a way to fix it. Studies have shown that laughing at problems, problems you have no control over or those little daily glitches can make it easier to manage. Too much stress can lead to weight gain, heart disease and cancer. Forcing yourself to laugh, at first is not easy, but the longer you do it, the more your mood has a chance to lift and you can face the challenge head on in a positive way.

What is stress?
Stress is what we describe as our response to threatening or challenging events.

Many things can cause stress throughout our lives, that we never thought would. There are the obvious "stressors" (the actual things that cause stress) like major live changes, moving to a new city, financial difficulty or a death in the family. On the other end of the stressor scale are little things like being late to an event, procrastinating or forgetting your tooth brush while traveling. Many problems with stress, besides the health and those are the specific factors in stress. Pressure, uncontrollably, frustration and aggression are all negative outcomes of stress.

However, not all stress is a bad thing. Many good things come from pressures, as long as they are not overwhelming or happen too often. But be sure that when things are becoming too much, you reach to your healthy outlet. Below are some suggestions for healthy outlets, and a list of unhealthy outlets that you should be aware of.

Healthy Outlets

• Laughter
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Reading
• Taking a long hot bath 
• Going for a walk (witch can also be a motivator)

Unhealthy Outlets

• Browsing the internet (This is a huge one! If you want to get away from things, surfing the web is the least helpful.)
• Smoking 
• Alchohol/Depressants 

If you have a different way to deal with stress let us know! Follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.  ~Author Unknown

Exercise - Ultimate Guide to a Smile

"I must do something" 

always solves more problems than 

"Something must be done."

Yoga is not for the faint of heart and if done incorrectly can hurt your body. But yoga can also have a positive impact on your life, increasing happiness, relaxation, flexibility, strength, posture and balance. That's not to mention the positive impact it can have on your heart, concentration and mood. Yoga is meant to focus the mind on the body to become relaxed and de-stress from the day.

Tai Chi is a lot like yoga because of all the health benefits they share-the heart is an example. I best remember Tai Chi from the movie Meet the Fockers. To the right is an example of this meditation.

However, yoga and Tai Chi may not be for the elderly, due to a lot of bending and stretching. there are still exercise classes created specifically to bend to those challenges.

When elderly are in situations where they feel more in control of their lives, being able to cook for themselves, or help cook and clean they tend to be happier and healthier. Getting out of the house and going for daily walks or taking bi-weekly water aerobics classes are things to improve the lifestyle of a loved one. Be sure to have your senior talk with their doctor before getting started.

Water Aerobics not only helps joint pain and Osteoarthritis but it's a low impact movement activity which reduces the possibility for injuries. Below there is a link to a few water aerobic exercises which can be done outside of an aerobics class during public swim. 

It is very beneficial to to everyone involved when a loved senior is active when they can be and there are simple ways to do this. Down below are not only links to water aerobic classes for beginners but places that offer Yoga and Tai Chi as well. If cost is a problem there are many scholarships available. Call the numbers on the different websites and ask for scholarship information for their classes.

Yoga - Ashland and Medford
Yoga - Klamath Falls

Tai Chi - Medford
Tai Chi - Ashland and Medford

Water Aerobics - Medford
Water Aerobics - Klamath Falls
Water Aerobics - Grants Pass

Water Aerobic Exercises

Alzheimer's: How to keep up a relationship

In this short clip, released by Penn State University in 2007, they briefly explain how to keep up a relationship with a loved one suffering with Alzheimers.



Talking with a loved one with Alzheimers in the present, instead of the past is an effective way to maintain a relationship. Asking broad questions, like in the video, with visuals, stimulate the mind in a creative way.

Approximately 24 million people world wide suffer with Alzheimers and every little step taken can help lessen the pain. There are many places that can help families with loved ones with Alzheimers, but it always starts with knowledge. Below are a few links to information on how to tell if a loved one shows signs, and general information.

Feel free to leave a comment with your story, or with other informational websites.

Science Daily: Alzheimer's Disease

Guide for Caregivers

Ten Signs of Alzheimers

Living with Alzheimers