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 Since the '70s, adult day health care has been an alternative to nursing home care for seniors with chronic illnesses, disabilities or dementia - and a new study from the Institute on Aging (IOA) has found that it can play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence.
According to a press release from the IOA, "Adult day health care programs provide seniors living in the community with transportation to non-residential facilities where they receive health services, nutritious meals and social activities as many as five days per week, helping to prevent premature institutionalization and freeing family caregivers to work or attend to errands." These programs are also much less expensive than nursing home care.
During the study, the IOA research team followed attendees of 16 San Francisco adult day health centers and comparable adults who didn't attend one. After a year, they found that day center attendees had significantly fewer problems with regular daily activities. The attendees also perceived an increase in their quality of life, which some researchers believe can result in better health and reduced health care utilization and mortality.
To view the original blog entry, click here.
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 On April 19, we hosted our second employee cooking contest – Dip Day! We had 18 submissions, but in the end Customer Care Professional Team Leader Leanne Pavlich emerged the victor! The recipe for her scrumptious Reuben Dip will be featured in the next issue of Embrace. Make sure you pick up a copy and check it out.
Haven't subscribed yet? It's easy, and it's free! Simply visit www.embracethemagazine.com and click on the "Subscribe" link.
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It looks like Buzz Aldrin was on to something when he signed up for Dancing with the Stars! A recent study published in Nursing Administration Quarterly found that dance-based therapy can help
improve gait and balance - two major fall risk factors - in the elderly.
The researchers, based at the University of Missouri, selected participants to take part in a dance-therapy program known as the Lebed Method three times a week for six weeks. The Lebed Method involves choreographed low-impact dance steps set to music.
More than half of the participants reported improvements in their gait and balance, suggesting that additional dance-based therapy would be useful in helping to decrease fall risk.
To view the original blog entry, click here.
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