Love Your Pet Day

This “unofficial” National holiday is set aside to give our lovable pets a little more extra love and attention. 

Our pets constantly give us unconditional love. They’re protective, supportive, loyal and they’re the best at keeping our secrets.  In addition our pets provide us with great health benefits such as reducing stress and lowering blood pressure. 

Our pets give us so much without asking for anything in return

Here are some ways to show our love to our wonderful pets. 

When walking your dog allow them to explore a new path. While you’re at it, stay out a little bit longer, this also allows them to get some good exercise.  

After a long day from school or work, coming home to an enthusiastic creature full of joy and happiness makes anyone feel good. Spend a little more time with your pet or great them at the door with a new treat to show your little cutie how much you love them. Don’t forget to scratch their backs a little longer that would really make your cat purr. 

Finally, when you give them a bath, give it to them full of love and maybe for tonight let your pets sleep beside you. 

Our pets do so much for us; let’s give them a little bit more love in return. 

Is a Motor-Scooter right for you?

For seniors with limited mobility getting around each day may be a struggle. Running simple errands, and doing simple tasks within one’s home may feel like a burden when it shouldn’t. Besides for the standard walker and wheelchair which aids in the mobility of seniors, many people opt for a motorized scooter. As great as it might seem to be, there are many pros and cons when investing in a scooter. Below is a guideline that can help clarify if a motor scooter is right for you.

Pros of using a motor scooter:

-Increases mobility in those who cannot walk at all, or for limited distances.

-Saves time as it is easy to move around with a controlled speed.

-Gives the elderly feelings of independence and control.

Cons of using a motor scooter:

-Does not promote exercise and movement.

-Can be very expensive.

-Any scooter may be too big to maneuver around one’s house.

On the market today, there are many types and models of scooters available, in many price ranges as well. Generally, a motor scooter can cost anywhere between $800-$3000, however some insurances do foot the cost of it. The best way to decide what’s right for you and your needs is to do research! Visit a store that specializes in this area, test one out, and compare different models. You won’t know how a motor scooter can change your life until you try it!

The Fist-Bump Revolution

Recent studies show it’s time to ditch the handshake and opt for a fist bump instead. Not sure what a fist bump is? Google dictionaries define a fist bump as “a gesture of greeting or affirmation in which two people lightly tap each other's clenched fist.” Yes, it may have been familiar to you in your younger years, but doctors are suggesting that it is time to bring back this trend. Research has compared to amount of bacteria transfer between three different types of hand greetings, the handshake, the high-five, and the fist bump. The fist bump won the hearts of doctors as it proved to be twenty times more hygienic than the standard handshake. The results of the study are so revealing that people are looking to ban the act of handshaking in hospitals, to be replaced with no hand contact at all, or if necessary a fist bump.

These finding are important to the elderly who tend to be frequent visitors of hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other places where germs can spread easily. Not to mention that the elderly usually have weaker immune systems to begin with. The next time you see your ole’ buddy consider employing the fist bump to spare you and your friend from potentially dangerous germs. Hey what could be so bad? Leaders across the globe are even on board with new trend. This clearly shows that the newest professional greeting is a simple fist bump.

Foods that Help Lower your Cholesterol | Brooklyn Queens Nursing Home

First of all, it is important to clarify the difference between good and bad cholesterol. LDL is bad cholesterol; it contributes to the building up of plaque which can clog your arteries. This is compared to good cholesterol known as HDL, which helps remove the plaque buildup caused by LDL. Studies show that bad cholesterol is relatively common in seniors, which is why it is so important to take preventative measures to ensure your arteries stay healthy, or else it can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other heart conditions. Although certain foods contribute to the plaque buildup caused by LDL, certain foods with high amounts of HDL can reverse those effects. For this reason, the dietary department at Brooklyn Queens Nursing Home puts a special emphasis on preparing healthy, low cholesterol foods for their residents. Below are a few delicious foods that can help you get the job done in a natural way:

- Oats. Try to incorporate this LDL-combating food into your breakfast. If plain cooked oats are too bland, try mixing in blueberries, milk, or even maple syrup to give the oats a delicious taste.

- Almonds. A nutrient rich food that is proven to help lower bad cholesterol, the recommended serving is about one handful a day. You can eat them as a snack or topped on your favorite dishes. When choosing which almonds to buy it is best to stay away from sugar coated almonds, or salted almonds.

- Tomatoes. Interestingly enough, tomatoes were only recently found to help lower LDL. Tomatoes are generally available all year round, and can be eaten in many different ways. In fact tomatoes are probably part of your daily eating habits already. If not, try including tomato juice and tomato sauce in your meals, as well as adding tomatoes in your salads, sandwiches and almost any other dish.

- Green tea. Recommended by studies as an excellent natural way to lower your bad cholesterol level. Start by drinking one to two freshly brewed cups of green tea daily. However, note that green tea contains a substantial amount of caffeine, so take that into account if you like to enjoy a nice hot cup before bed.

Brooklyn Queens Nursing Home believes that these four foods represent easy ways to either lower bad cholesterol levels in your body, or prevent it from building up. Studies have even shown that sometimes these foods are better than medication when it comes to lowering LDL levels and breaking down the plaque. As we all know, the heart is one of the most vital organs so it is important to keep it healthy!