Keeping our brain healthy is one of the most important things we can do. Our brain is vital for memory, functioning, emotions, and overall quality of life. Here are some tips for keeping it healthy.Physical Exercise Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Walking is good try to do at least 3,000 steps in 30 minutes. Weight and resistance training are beneficial for strengthening. Stretching exercises help with strengthening and balance. Make simple changes like parking farther from the grocery store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or going dancing. Make sure you are safe when you exercise so you dont fall or get hurt.Nutrition - Good nutrition is important because we want to keep our blood vessels clear to keep good circulation to our brain. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables as well as lean protein. Bake or grill meats or fish instead of frying them. Cook with good oils like olive oil or canola oil. Drink plenty of water.Socialization Build friendships and family networks. If you are retired, try volunteering. Join clubs or other social groups. If you are invited somewhere GO! Traveling is a great way to learn new things, which keeps our brain sharper. We can learn a lot when we have new experiences, like talking to new people or going somewhere we have never been.Mental Stimulation Its important to stay curious and informed. Read the newspaper, watch a documentary, or take classes to learn something new. You can also take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. Play games with friends and family or do crossword puzzles.Peacefulness - This is just slowing down and relaxing. Some people pray or meditate while other people go fishing or hiking. Whatever brings you peace and helps you manage stress is good for your brain. You also want to make sure you are getting enough sleep because a lack of sleep can negatively affect memory.Managing Chronic Conditions - Make sure you are managing things like diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression because if these things are uncontrolled, it could lead to memory problems.Brain health is very important for many reasons. We need to maintain our brains in order to maintain our quality of life for as long as possible. If you have concerns about your memory, please speak to your primary care provider.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Holly Peterson. She is a licensed clinical social worker with the Alta View Hospital Senior Clinic and may be reached at 801-501-2025

The winter months can be especially difficult for seniors. With snow and ice on the ground, slipping and falling is a real danger, resulting in serious injury or even hospitalization. Luckily, there are some practical steps that caregivers and seniors can take to keep safe during the winter months.Keeping Walkways Clear of Snow & IceThe most important step in preventing falls is keeping outdoor walkways clear of snow and ice. This includes not only your driveway and sidewalks, but also any areas where you may need to pass such as entryways to buildings or public transportation stops. Investing in a reliable snow shovel or snow blower will make it easier to keep these areas clear, although many services offer snow removal at an affordable price so you dont have to do it yourself. Its also important to use rock salt or kitty litter on icy patches; these items provide better traction and help prevent slips.Dress AppropriatelyProper clothing is essential for staying warm while outdoors during the winter months, but it can also help protect against falls. Shoes should have non-slip soles that provide additional grip on slippery surfaces; boots with treads are ideal for this purpose. Additionally, garments such as hats and gloves should fit snugly so they dont get caught on anything when walking outside. Lastly, dressing in layers helps retain body heat while still allowing for movement without feeling weighed down by bulky clothing.Get Help When NecessaryIts important to recognize when assistance is needed while out in the cold weather; getting help from a friend or family member can be invaluable when navigating slippery surfaces. Additionally, using assistive devices such as walkers or canes provides support when walking outside and helps reduce stress on joints that could otherwise lead to falls. For extreme conditions, it may be best to limit outdoor activities until warmer weather arrives; if this isn't possible, then look into using transportation services like ride-sharing apps or buses that allow you to stay off your feet entirely until you reach your destination safely.As we head into winter months with colder temperatures and snowy conditions all around us, it's essential for seniorsespecially those who live aloneto stay aware of their surroundings and take precautions against slipping or falling on icy surfaces outside their homes. Clearing pathways of snow and ice combined with proper clothing outfits for warmth will go a long way toward ensuring safety during these treacherous times of yearbut don't forget about reaching out for help when necessary! With just a few simple steps taken ahead of time, seniors can enjoy their winter days knowing they're doing everything they can do remain safe while outdoors in cold weather conditions! Stay safe and warm this winter! Your Friends at Seniors Blue Book Utah

Today more than ever Seniors are looking for ways they can comfortably age in place at their own residence. There are many home improvements your local Handyman can help you with to make Aging in Place a reality. Some of these services are drywall repair, alterations to bathrooms and living areas, installation of grab bars, replacing light fixtures and/or ceiling fans and so much more all at an affordable cost. And having a Handyman help with these things means you no longer have to climb ladders or crawl under sinks. You can sit back and relax knowing whatever repair needs to be done will be done so with care, quality and expertise.Y-not Handyman is a husband and wife duo with one employee (who happens to be the wife's brother). They have been in business for three years with over 30 years experience and have had many return customers due to the fact that Tony, Nancy and Ryan are very friendly and likeable. They pride themselves on excellent communication, follow-through and dependability. You can also feel confident that they are licensed and insured.

It is often heard one of the biggest fears among seniors is outliving their money. So, what really happens when someone living in an assisted living runs out of money?Well, it's complicated.In the State of Utah there is a Medicaid program that will pay for individuals in assisted living (ALF). This Medicaid program is called the New Choices Waiver (NCW). In order to apply for the NCW a resident has to meet a few qualifications.First, they have to have been privately paying an ALF for a minimum of 12 months. Ill explain later why this is a moving target.Second, they must qualify for Medicaid. Here is a great summary of the income and assets limitations to qualify for Medicaid in Utah.Third, they must meet nursing home level of care requirements. This is determined by a nurses evaluation.Fourth, they must apply from an ALF during one of three open enrollment periods. March 1st-14th, July 1st-14th, Nov 1st-14th. This is the tricky part, the resident must run out of money and meet the other eligibly requirements during these 3 specific times a year.But this is the tragic part, even if a residents meets ALL of the above requirements, they are still not guaranteed admissions on the NCW. During the March 1st-14th 2019 open enrollment 75 individuals currently in assisted living (that have run out of money) applied and there were only 36 open slots available. The State takes all of these 75 applications and prioritizes them based on how long that individual has been privately paying for assisted living. This last open enrollment the cutoff was 870 days. Or about 29 months. Much longer than the required 12 months. Meaning, residents that have been privately paying for less than 29 months did not meet the cutoff. As you can imagine, this cutoff will get longer and longer as more seniors age and as those that didn't get approved will keep applying.So what happens to the 39 seniors in Utah living in an assisted living that have run out of money and have no assets? They either have to wait until the next open enrollment period (most of the time this falls on family members to pay what they cant) or go into a nursing home on Medicaid.Yes, you read that right. Medicaid will not pay for them to stay in the assisted living that they have been in for years but will pay for them to live in a nursing home. From the nursing home they will qualify for the waiver in 30-90 days and can return to an assisted living. I explain why that is in aprevious post. ALF providers and owners know this game and so they cycle residents in and out of a nursing homes for the sole reason to qualify them for the NCW.Why would that State pay for them in a nursing home for a couple months and not just keep them in their ALF? It really comes down to the original reasons the NCW was set up for in the first place. Years ago Medicaid didnt pay for assisted living at all. Then they realized there are hundreds of individuals in a nursing home on Medicaid that could and would do great in a less restrictive and less costly environment. So the NCW was originally setup to move people from a nursing home to an ALF. The fact that they allow any residents in an ALF to get onto the NCW is a recent adjustment to the waiver program.We think its time to look at making another adjustment.