Home Instead: New year resolutions for senior people

Happy New Year to all.
As we welcome in the new year, a very special thanks needs to go to our team of Caregivers who have done us so proud.

The festive season has been the busiest on record with more clients than ever needing support.  To all those dedicated and devoted people who gave up their Christmas to visit their clients, some briefly leaving their own families on Christmas Day,  to make sure that those who needed some help or company, weren't forgotten. 
It is a real privilege to have such wonderful people working for Home Instead.

New Year's resolutions for seniors
Now that the Christmas excesses are behind us, people of all ages are ready to start anew and make their New Year's resolution. To help Ireland's seniors live a healthier and more active life, Home Instead Senior Care, Ireland's trusted source of home care for seniors, recommends the following New Year's resolutions:
• Start exercising - It is never too late to start exercising. Regular exercise can help improve your health and overall quality of your life. It also helps improve your balance which will help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile. 
• Assess your medical health - Prevention really is better than cure and visiting the doctor regularly will help identify any potential health problems allowing you to prevent or treat illness early. 
• Make new friends -  After the death of a spouse or loved friends and family members,  many seniors find themselves alone. Being lonely is hard on our health and affects our immune systems so it is so important we reach out to people especially when feeling lonely. Developing new friendships can ward off depression and make life feel worthwhile again. 
•  Learn new things - You are never too old to learn new things - research shows that training and learning actually reignites the brain and improves memory. Many local schools and colleges offer adult learning programmes that you may be interested in, such as language classes. 
• Fall proof your home - 82% of accidents to people over the age of 75 are fall related. A home visit by an occupational therapist will help identify risk factors and tell you what to do to make your home safer. For example you may want to avoid throw rugs or have cracks and uneven pathways repaired.