Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s lens. In order for our vision to be clear, the lens, through which light travels to the retina, must also be clear. Initially, as cataracts begin to develop, you may not notice any change in your vision. But as it progresses, your vision will become blurry or cloudy, as though looking through a dirty window, and colors won’t be as bright as they once were.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week to reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. Even better, the CDC cites gardening as a moderate-intensity activity, which means that an avid gardener can catch two birds with one net and enjoy good health and a beautiful green space.
More than five million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and while a number of breakthroughs have occurred over the past few years, there is currently no cure for this devastating disease.
It’s well known that regular exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but two recent studies have found that regular vigorous physical activity can also positively impact the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
Saucon Valley Manor (Hellertown, PA) and Whitehall Manor (Allentown, PA) recently became the only locally and state approved Assisted Living Facilities (ALRs) in Pennsylvania. Assisted Living Facilities allow a resident to “age in place” for a longer period of time and receive patient centered care, giving them control of their care. Assisted Living Facility certification recognizes that a community offers extra levels of care. Personal Care Facilities that seek certification as an ALR undergo a strict accreditation process that takes into account concept, construction, and levels of care offered.
Saucon Valley Manor resident Clayton Fritz was recently featured in an article in the Allentown Morning Call. He is passionate about the dwindling art of written correspondence. Through his ongoing efforts, Mr. Fritz has maintained Pen Pal relationships with hundreds of people around the country. To read more, please click here.
Enjoying spring or summer weather lifts the spirits and gets seniors outside and moving around, which is good for body and soul. But sun safety is extremely important, particularly for older adults, who are more susceptible to the harmful and cancer-causing effects of the sun.
Dementia affects 40 million aging Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and an estimated five million seniors have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, a number of treatment therapies have been found helpful in controlling the symptoms of the disease and improving the quality of life of those who suffer from it.