Welcome to Adeste In Home Care's newsletter. We're excited about our new look, and would love to know what you think.
This month we're out and about working with several new clients, and getting to know our existing clients even better. If you haven't met with your care manager in awhile, Stacy and Theresa look forward to speaking with you soon. They're ready to answer your questions, and provide resources as you need them.
Jonnelle
Are You Stroke Ready?
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. If you or someone around you is having a stroke, time is of the essence. The faster you can get medical help for that person, the better chance they have of recovering.
According to the National Stroke Association, the best way to remember stroke warning signs is to act F.A.S.T.
F = Face
Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = Arms
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he or she repeat the sentence correctly?
T = Time
If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
Strokes can happen to anyone - there isn't a specific age or demographics for stroke victims.
Strokes are not an attack on the heart. They are an attack on the brain. Strokes require medical treatment, and the faster you get help, the better your chance for recovery.
Stroke recovery isn't just for the first few weeks after a stroke. Recovery lasts a lifetime. People recover at different rates, and need a variety of levels of help and treatment. There isn't a "normal" process for stroke recovery.
[Need a helping hand the first few weeks after a stroke? Adeste In Home Care is there to provide in home care along the way. From part time help, to around the clock care, Adeste will help your loved one remain in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.]
Reading Corner
My Stroke Of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor Ph.D.
If there was one book that should be required reading for everyone, this may be at the top of the list.
With over 780,000 strokes occurring every year, chances are you know someone who has had a stroke. While much is written on how to prevent strokes, and how to care for a stroke victim after the fact, little has been documented about the actual process. Until now.
In "My Stroke of Insight", Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor sheds insight on what its like to experience a stroke from first hand knowledge. At the age of 37, Dr. Taylor experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain. As a neuroanatomist (brain doctor) by profession, she observed all that was happening, from the time she woke up with a sharp pain in her head, to her recovery process over the course of several years.
While the entire book was an eye opening experience, several of her comments jumped from the pages. As caregivers, there is so much more we can do to empathize with those we caregive for.
Eating Health: Blueberries
BLUEBERRIES are nutritional stars bursting with nutrition and flavor while being very low in calories. Blueberries are at their best from May through October when they are in season. 
The health benefits from a daily serving of Blueberries (1 cup) are impressive. In a recent study from Rutgers University of 60 fruits and vegetables...blueberries came out on top for antioxidant protection. Other health benefits include cardio protection, protection against macular degeneration, and colon cancer. Brain protection, studies show blueberries may reduce the effects of age related conditions such as Alzheimer's.
I challenge you to start enjoying a serving (1 cup) of blueberries daily. Add blueberries to your oatmeal, your breakfast smoothie, or layer blueberries, yogurt and granola in a parfait glass as a dessert.
Blueberry Crunch is one of our family favorites, I serve this with a brunch or as a lite and healthy dessert.
BLUEBERRY CRUNCH
1 18 oz pkg. frozen blueberries
2 t. fresh lemon peel
2/3 C. Grape Nuts
½ t. cinnamon
1 T. sugar
4 T Olive Oil
Spread blueberries in 8 inch pie pan. Sprinkle with the grated lemon peel. Mix cereal, cinnamon, sugar and oil in a bowl and spread evenly over blueberries.
Bake 450 degrees
20 Minutes
8 servings
Serve with lemon yogurt.
Adeste In Home Care is proud to offer you a variety of resources we find helpful to maintain an in home living arrangement. In this month's newsletter, we're happy to introduce you to Bob Parks through his article on Medical Alarm Buttons. He'll help dispel common myths people have about Medical Alarm Buttons, and help you decide if this is the right service for you and your family. 
MEDICAL ALARM BUTTON - THE CHOICE FOR ACTIVE SENIORS
Today's seniors live active, interesting lives. They don't want an accident or injury to slow them down. That's why--along with health and auto insurance--they invest in "fall insurance": a medical alarm button that brings help quickly if they can't get to a telephone.
These wireless, high tech systems are one of the great tools available for added safety and protection in the home. Lightweight and waterproof, medical alarm buttons enable wearers to summon emergency assistance from anywhere in their home or yard.
Following are common questions which people often have as they begin researching this technology:
Will a personal medical alarm somehow limit my independence?
No. Wearing a wrist button or pendant alarm around the house or yard in no way interferes with your independence. Instead, the button insures you'll be able to receive immediate medical help in case of a fall or accident. A delay of minutes or hours in getting medical attention increases the risk of aggravating an injury. Speedy medical help cannot only reduce the severity of an injury, it can also help insure you'll be able to return home to independent living.
At Adeste In Home Care, we're dedicated to helping people all over the Denver metropolitan area remain at home for as long as possible. Whether you have a short-term need, or a long-term concern, we can help you set up a plan to provide you with the care and comfort your family deserves.
www.AdesteInHomeCare.com