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 Why Strength Training Is Key to a Long Life The article 7 Reasons Why Strength Training Is Key to a Long Life, by Stephen Perrine with Heidi Skolnik (AARP, May 13, 2022) suggests that “In just one hour a week, you can change your health and increase your longevity.” This article presents good evidence that the secret to staying strong and vital for life is in your muscles. Physical exercise is something we stress over and over as being beneficial for seniors, especially for the health of muscles, bones, the cardiovascular system, and the brain. Following are highlights from the article, or click here to read the full piece.
If you haven’t started already, it’s time to make your muscles a top priority. Make sure you’re getting 25 to 30 grams of protein at every meal, and talk to your doctor about starting a muscle-building fitness program. Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about healthy aging and how to successfully “age in place” while avoiding hospitalization and nursing homes. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 Heat stroke is especially dangerous for the elderly – know these signs Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) has been treating patients in their homes since 1898 – well before the invention of air conditioning. Even today many of our patients don’t have reliable air conditioning in their homes and we know that heat stroke is a very real danger, especially for the elderly. Heat stroke is a severe heat-related illness that requires immediate medical attention. Please be aware of these signs and symptoms of heat stroke for yourself or a loved one you care for:
Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and if you suspect someone is experiencing heat stroke, you should call 911 immediately. While waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cooler environment, remove excess clothing, and try to cool them down by applying cool water or wet towels to the body and fanning them. Do not give them fluids to drink if they are unconscious. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent complications and potential organ damage associated with heat stroke. Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 Exercise is good preventive medicine. After 40, muscle and bone mass decrease every year, eventually leading to instability, falls, and fractures. In fact, 1 in 3 adults 50 years and older experience at least one fall per year which leads to ever-increasing inactivity and physical decline. This age-related reduction in muscle mass, strength, and physical performance is known as sarcopenia. Osteoporosis, obesity, and many other age-related conditions are associated with or made worse by sarcopenia. So, if muscle and bone mass are maintained or improved, will health improve? Many studies show the answer is a resounding YES, and the preventive medicine is simple.
Remember, consistency and patience are key when it comes to gaining muscle and bone mass. It may take time to see significant results, but with dedication and the right approach, you may find that exercise is indeed your fountain of youth. Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call VNA Foundation at 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 Why foot care becomes more important with age If you are over 50 you may already notice that your shoe size is getting larger. Consider that by age 50 most people have walked the equivalent of several times around the world! That’s a lot of pressure on your feet, ligaments, and tendons, causing your feet to flatten and spread. And the natural loss of bone density, muscle mass, and fatty collagen that comes with the aging process adds to foot problems. This is one of the reasons why the elderly are at risk of experiencing a serious fall. But don’t despair, here are some tips for aging foot care. Exercise your feet That’s right, make it a habit to exercise your feet for a few minutes every day. There are many exercise tutorials available online. Here are a few:
Here are some additional foot care tips
Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call VNA Foundation: 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 It might be time for a bone density test Too often, osteoporosis only becomes obvious due to severe pain or a broken bone. Perhaps that’s why osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease”. But there are some signs that indicate it’s time to see your physician for a bone density test, including losing height, chronic back and neck pain, stooped posture, brittle nails, dental issues including bone loss, loss of grip strength, and balance issues. Know your risks There is some good news – by recognizing your risk for osteoporosis you can delay or manage the effects of the disease.
Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care our patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please visit vnannj.org/donate or call VNA Foundation: 973-451-4148. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 Stomach Symptoms You Should Not Ignore As age progresses we may become accustomed to changes in our bodies. After all, irregularity and stomach discomfort are often signs of aging. While this is sometimes true, an excellent article by Michelle Crouch, AARP, titled 10 Stomach Symptoms You Should Never Ignore points out that stomach discomfort may also be a sign of something more serious. Following is a quick synopsis. Click the linked article for more details. Stomach issues may be an early sign of COVID A number of stomach problems are on the rise since the occurrence of COVID-19. Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms can be among the first signs of COVID-19 infection, appearing before more well-known symptoms such as cough or fever. Pay attention to stomach issues Frequent irregularity, unexplained weight loss, recurring heartburn or gas pains, and blood in bowel movements (among other stomach problems) may be signs of chronic conditions or something more serious, like colon cancer. Don’t wait to see your doctor Many temporary or chronic conditions indicated by stomach problems are easily managed with medication and diet changes, and more serious conditions like colon cancer are always more treatable when caught early. Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 5 Tests to Assess Aging Issues Here at Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), one of the most frequent questions we get from families is, “How do I know when home care is the right choice?” In June of 2021, there was an excellent article in AARP by Barbara Stepko, titled How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance. Following is a short recap of the article, but we recommend clicking on the link to read the entire piece. Often, age-related changes happen gradually. The article suggests these simple tests to help evaluate the ability of someone to safely age in place (at home). Mobility: Mark a line about 10 feet from a chair. Ask your loved one to stand up from the chair, walk at a normal pace forward to the line, turn, walk back to the chair, and sit down. On average, people who take 12 seconds or more to complete the test are at a high risk of falling, which happens to one in four elderly people. If mobility is an issue, physical therapy by VNA and home safety measures may help to avoid a life-altering fall. Mental Health: Everyone feels down sometimes, but for the elderly, changes in attitude and behavior may indicate more serious health concerns. Take note of changes in energy level, irritability, anger, difficulty sleeping or staying awake, and loss of appetite. This may be treatable depression. Difficulties with basic activities like cooking, bathing, driving, and managing finances and medications may indicate a more serious problem that requires VNA assistance. Money Management: Watch for unusual money transactions and stacks of unopened mail and unpaid bills. Helping to manage finances may be all that is needed, but trouble keeping up with money management may indicate a more serious cognitive decline, requiring more proactive home care services. Driving: The article points out that seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of seven to 10 years, according to AAA (American Automobile Association). Multiple accidents or tickets, even minor ones, indicate a potentially dangerous situation for your loved one. This may be an early and more obvious indication of a cognitive problem or vision difficulty and time for a medical evaluation. Changes in Appearance: Has your loved one gained or lost a significant amount of weight? Are they neglecting personal care and cleanliness? These problems may be improved with home care services or may indicate more serious issues like depression and dementia. The most important thing is to pay attention to your loved ones, note their ability to cope with aging at home, make a care plan, and act early before a fall or health decline seriously impacts their quality of life. Learn more about the services available to you at: VNANNJ.com Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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What are you doing for your heart?  February is American Heart Month, a time when the nation spotlights heart disease as the No. 1 killer of Americans. Heart disease awareness is now even more important due to the potentially harmful impact of the coronavirus on the heart and vascular system. If you have been following our emails and social media posts, you know Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is constantly encouraging our patients and their caregivers to practice the things that can help prevent heart disease. American Heart Month is the perfect time to remind you again that heart disease is preventable. Here are 5 things you can do right now for your heart health:
Many of our patients have heart disease but Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the care they require. If you would like to help, please visit our Donation page. Get to know Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), and all the home health services available to you and your loved ones, before you have a health emergency. We are proud to be the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey, so we know a thing or two about helping seniors. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Did you know? Cold, Flu, or COVID?1/3/2023  Many symptoms of cold, flu, and COVID-19 overlap, including sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, and body aches, while loss of taste and smell, diarrhea, and confusion may be indicators of COVID-19 rather than cold or flu. It’s complicated! AARP provides helpful information here, including:
Get to know Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), and all the home health services available to you and your loved ones, before you have a health emergency. We are proud to be the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey, so we know a thing or two about helping seniors. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Did You Know? Best Holiday Gift is You!12/6/2022  Whether it's time, distance, or COVID issues, we can’t always visit in person. The holidays can be a difficult time for loved ones who are homebound and unable to travel or receive visitors. The best gift you can give them is your time and effort to brighten their day. With a little planning, you can make a virtual visit very special and memorable. Here are some ideas on how: Get to know Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), and all the home health services available to you and your loved ones, before you have a health emergency. We are proud to be the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey, so we know a thing or two about helping seniors. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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