BrightStar's BrightInsights

Elder Care Benefits of "Paying It Forward"

Maybe you remember the movie "White Christmas" or maybe you don't. There's a song in that movie, the message of which has always rung true for me: "When you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep." Chelsea O'Neil, an insightful blogger, recently touched on this very topic, encouraging people to, especially for elder care providers, pose the question, "What's not wrong," during stressful times.

What a concept indeed! For each of us in our daily lives,  and especially for exhausted caregivers and adult children providing elder care. She goes on to say that simply "listing the things that are not wrong can lift the heavy burdens and fill up our depleted souls with the love and kindness that we deserve.  It's a simple reminder of what is right within us and around us." When everything around you seems to be crumbling, it's probably because that's what you're focusing on.

And while it may be difficult to see the good through the bad, imagine what good (however little) taking even just a moment to pay homage to what is not wrong could do. It could make a better, more relaxed caregiver, promoting quality elder care, safety and wellbeing for patient and care provider. Just as she asks at the end of her entry, take some time out of your day to heed the following questions: Who fills you up? Who offers you hope and guidance and inspiration? Perhaps now is the time to tell them?

Is this helpful advice? What helps you get through difficult or stressful situations?

True Happiness For Everyone, from Children to Seniors

Doing good deeds, family and friends, and laughing. Just a few of the things in life that make me happy. Is the laundry list of things that make us happy the true keys to happiness, or is it something deeper? According to Nick Temple of the Global Ideas Bank, compiler of "500 Ways to Change the World," psychologist Dan Baker has identified six key tools that are essential to true happiness:

• "Appreciation: the outward-bound kind of love that gives everything and asks for nothing, making it pure and strong." Think about the last time you forgot your wallet or purse somewhere and how happy you are when a friend or stranger returned it to you-now that's appreciation!
  
• "Choice: Anyone can choose the course of their lives, but only happy people do it." When you make a choice, you take control over a situation, you assert yourself, you express yourself, all of which can be both liberating and exhilarating.
  
• "Personal power: A proactive force that gives individuals the power over their feelings and their fate. It is made up of two constituent parts: taking action and taking responsibility." Much like when you make a choice, you are knowingly taking the wheel and driving.
  
• "Leading with your strengths: Focusing on strengths, rather than focusing on weaknesses, enables a swifter resolving of situations." It has been proven that people respond better to positive reinforcement. And the law of attraction essentially says that the more you focus on something, the more of that something you get-if it's strength, you get strength; if it's positivity, you get positivity.
  
• "The power of language: Language can be used in a healthy or horrible way, and words have immense power to constrain or liberate." Be honest and open when you speak to others, and be sure to think before you speak whenever possible.
  
• "Multidimensional living: Putting energy into the three main components of life (relationships, health and purpose) is the final key." Balance is the key to just about everything!

When evaluating your life, think about the things that make you happy. Where do they fit within these categories? Are there areas for improvement? Perhaps these categories can serve as a guide to set your goals and prioritize, or serve as a catalyst to evaluate your life in general.

Fun Activities for Everyone from Children to Seniors

Variety is the spice of life, so we've come up with some great activities you can do all year 'round with your loved ones, from children to seniors, to keep things fresh and get the most out of life.

1. Set up an e-mail account and help him/her keep in touch with friends and loved ones
2. Set up a Flickr account to share photos with friends and loved ones near and far
3. Find out what kind of music they enjoy and compile a mix CD for them to enjoy
4. Help him/her to write and send letters to friends and loved ones who live far away
5. Find out what his/her favorite (types of) books are and check them out at the library and read to them
6. Set up a table outside (or somewhere to minimize cleanup) to finger paint
7. Create puppets out of small paper bags and put on a puppet show
8. Bring a mani/pedi set and offer to paint her nails
9. Have a "Recycling is fun" day and help him/her to create bins for recycling
10. Help him/her to compile and scan their favorite photos to create a photo book on ShutterFly

This is only the beginning! How do you keep things fresh? Share your ideas with us!

Reducing Family Stress This Holiday Season

Depending on who you ask, the economy seems to be on the up and up; the housing market appears to benefitting from the tax incentive extension; and unemployment rates are going down. But people are still stressed out. A new survey conducted by Misericordia University and Braun Research found that three in 10 said healthcare costs have led to arguments and tension with friends and family members, and it doesn't help that the holiday season and the long winter season are upon us.

So what gives? We've come up with some great ways to cut costs, reduce stress and get through the winter with a smile (or, at the very least, without a frown):

• Exercise! Even if you get up and walk around the house, wave your arms in circular motions or do some jumping jacks in between TV shows, getting your heart pumping and blood flowing can facilitate the release of happy hormones that can help to boost your mood. Here are some more ways to exercise indoors this winter.
• Spend time with the people you care about. It costs nothing, whether they live next door or thousands of miles away and here's why: you can use Skype to keep in touch, or plan a get-together. Taking some time to visit with friends, family and loved ones can instantly boost your mood, and it can be a great opportunity to vent if you've been feeling down.
• Use couponmap.com to find deals wherever you may be traveling this holiday season, or even if you're not! Saving money is on the top of just about everybody's list these days and knowing that you are saving money can make you feel better.
• Reduce stress for seniors and people with disabilities this holiday season by increasing your home's visit-ability. Being mindful of making your home more accessible for your visitors can make you feel more prepared while allowing them to feel safe and comfortable. It's a win-win all around!
• Take the guess work out of managing your medications by downloading a helpful medication chart. This is a great way to keep tabs on multiple prescriptions and supplements, for you and your doctor, but without having to remember everything.

The winter doesn't have to be a dreary sentence to months locked behind closed doors; there are so many easy ways to stay positive and reduce stress. What do you do in the winter to boost your mood and reduce stress? Weigh in now!