Aloha Allure

written by  Claire Wentz Caringfromafar.com We all want what’s best for our parents and other loved ones in their senior years, but it isn’t always easy to know what the best is. When you’re a caregiver and your senior loved one doesn’t live nearby, your situation is even more complicated. If this is you, these tips will help you make sense of your options so you can give them the best, even when you’re far away. Stay on Top of Legal, Financial, and Medical Information For a caregiver who lives long-distance, the first thing you want to do is ask your loved one if you can help with legal, financial, and medical matters. HuffPost says you should get all of their important financial documents organized, and then you can begin to simplify their life by setting up things like automatic bill paying. You can also help with medical information to make sure they’re getting the care they need. One thing to be aware of is that Medicare plans can change, and if your...

written by  Jessica Brody Traveling with your dog is great. Bringing your pup along with you on vacation provides a sense of security, as well as some structure. While you don’t have to have a moment-by-moment itinerary, with a dog in tow, you do have to make time to meet their needs. Traveling with your dog also ensures your vacation will be fit and active. Even the laziest dogs need walks, but active breeds can join you on excursions such as hiking, kayaking , and biking.  When it comes to the types of vacations you can take with your dog, the possibilities are endless. However, you want to choose a destination that will afford your furry friend plenty of space to move around and play. For this reason, taking an adventure into the great outdoors is ideal, whether that’s camping, staying in a lake house, or something similar. While there are numerous benefits to traveling with your dog, it’s not always easy. Use the following advice to keep your precious p...

ACCORDING to Hawaiian myth, Pele, the volcanic fire-queen and the chief architect of the Hawaiian group, was a foreigner, born in the mystical land of Kuai-he-lani, a land not rooted and anchored to one spot, but that floated free like the Fata Morgana, and that showed itself at times to the eyes of mystics, poets and seers, a garden land, clad with the living glory of trees and habitations a vision to warm the imagination. The region was known as Kahiki (Kukulu o Kahiki), a name that connotes Java and that is asso- ciated with the Asiatic cradle of the Polynesian race. Pele's mother was Haumea, a name that crops up as an ances- tor in the hoary antiquity of the Hawaiian people, and she was reputed to be the daughter of Kane-hoa-lani..... Read more PELE AND HIIAKA A Myth From Hawaii BY NATHANIEL B. EMERSON, A. M., M. D. HONOLULU, HAWAII Author of The Long Voyages of the Ancient Hawaiians, and of Unwritten Literature of Hawaii, Translator of David Male...

written by  Sheila Olson With so much to do in your everyday life, it is easy to forget about taking care of yourself. This can lead to high levels of stress, but fortunately, there are endless self-care activities you can take up, including fitness. Benefits of fitness as a self-care tool Simply defined, fitness is a state of the body to be healthy and function optimally. Exercise is a key component in fitness, and it offers you numerous benefits mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Exercising helps your body to become strong, agile and flexible. It promotes cardiovascular and respiratory health. Research shows that it is an effective tool for maintaining a healthy weight, therefore reducing the risk of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, among others. When you are physically fit, you are able to perform your daily physical tasks well. Exercising promotes the production of feel-good hormones an...

written by  Lydia Chan What is Alzheimer’s disease?  According to a study conducted recently at the University of California, Los Angeles, nearly 50 million Americans are dealing with the early stages leading to Alzheimer’s disease today. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder and the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. The majority of people with Alzheimer’s are not diagnosed until they are over the age of 65. Diagnosed before then, it generally referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s. While there is no cure for the disease, lifestyle changes and treatments can delay symptoms.  Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mild during the early stages. The patient may experience some cognitive impairment such as short-term memory problems and difficulties with solving problems such as math equations. Other early indicators of Alzheimer’s include misplacing items and an inability to retrace steps. It ma...

A conversation about long-term care planning rarely ranks high on anyone’s “to-do” list, but because it often requires substantial financial resources, it’s not a discussion you should save for down the road. Anticipating, financing, and planning for long-term care can become quite an overwhelming proposition. These considerations may help to guide your strategy. How likely is it that you’ll need long-term care? A study found that one in five Americans needs help for a year or less, while one in seven adults may depend on extensive help with daily living for five or more years. But individual circumstances, including overall health, gender, and genetics, play a part, too.  Women, on average, live longer than men, and are more likely to require extensive help for longer periods of time. Lower-income people need more assistance than those with higher incomes. The older you are, the more likely you’ll need higher levels of care. Single people are also more likely to...