Well it is raining again. Could it get any greener! As my children start the  first day of summer vacation, I can recall the glee felt by all on that last day of school. Happy to say the least, more free time who can complain. Well today when free time means indoor time and more sitting I have to say or do something. The weather is clearly not cooperating. Yard work, swimming outdoors and riding bikes would be a great way to get active-contect with neighborhood friends and just have some…

As children progress through their many stages of development there may be times when they stall. As upsetting as those stalls may be to any parent, they are also clues to underlying behaviors that may aid in finding a cause. I recall parents telling me their child would/could not keep their clothes on. Feeling frustrated the parent looks at it as abnormal and wants it to stop but does not know how to stop, or why it is happening. Something called Sensory Integration Disorder could be the reason behind the behavior.…

Feeling overwhelmed by all the new and improved nutritional advice to be had? That is OK, take heart some changes now  will help you for a long time. First of all that two thirds of our plate should be vegetables, yes 2/3!!! I actually love vegetables and often feel that eating out shortchanges me on what I consider a balanced meal.  I am not looking for a mound of starch with a few random vegetables mixed in. Or a plate that is 80% protein and a tablespoon of potatoes. I need all the colors of the…

Caring for children and family can often be more than a full time job. It pays to be organized. But are you as organized about your own healthcare needs. The number one killer of women today is heart disease and few women know their risks. Do you know the signs of a heart attack in men or women? Symptoms vary but having baseline EKG at your well visit will help pick up on abnormalities early-and maybe save your life. Only 30% of women survive their first heart attack. Often there…

Spring has given us some warm, sunny weather. It is nice to have sunny days and more opportunities to be outside. Even if it is just laying on a park lawn, the fresh air helps rejuvenate after a long winter. Maybe hiking, biking, climbing, running and outdoor sports are on your weekend agenda. Getting active it is great. But take precautions, too. Now that we have had weather over 60/62 degrees for many days, the bugs will come. With the flies and mosquitos, there will also be ticks. Just walking through a…

An important component of the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center is offering health education to our seniors. We want to provide our members with information to help them live safe and healthy lives at home, as long as possible.

Last week, we had a terrific speaker from the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA) present on Sexuality and Aging. The speaker, who’s an RN and a senior herself, helped our members get comfortable with the topic while educating them. She spoke about living a healthy, sexually active life regardless of…

The greatest impact on health can often be found in the mouth. Yes, the health of our teeth when they are first errupting (at a rapid rate in some young children) is when daily dental care should begin. Many pediatric dentists feel that as soon as teeth begin to show, the child should see a dentistm and “baby bottle tooth decay” should be discussed and prevented. Brushing, cleaning and overall oral hygiene should be a natural part of all children’s care. As they age, kids will become more independent and more efficient…

Ask young children what they want to be when “they grow up,” and you may be pleasantly surprised by their responses. Childhood is filled with wonderful, almost magical, looks at the real world. To all of us adults who may be a little more reality focused, we laugh and think longingly of our own dreams. If you think back to your feelings about growing up, you may have also had very high hopes. Wasn’t that a great feeling? Where did that joy go? Well, dreaming up these marvelous carreer paths never has…

Last Friday, everyone was on alert for the impending snow storm. We weren’t sure how many seniors would attend the Day Center, but we opened for those who wanted to come. We had early dismissal to get everyone home safely before the storm arrived, even though they didn’t want to stop activities!

I was simply amazed at how many seniors showed up on Friday! 

Ms. N. told me that, although her daughter wanted her to stay home, she said, “I’m going to the Center – it’s my second home and I’m not missing…

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Are you looking for a device that can help your loved one lower his or her risk of falling in the home? How about one that fits in the palm of your hand? Surprisingly this post isn’t about the latest generation of smart phones, but the good old-fashioned nightlight.

I have found that many older adults fall at night simply because adequate and accessible light is not available. A routine trip to the bathroom could potentially result in injury. Unfortunately, in this country, falls related injuries continue to be one…