Take the worry out of daily living for yourself and your loved one Assisted Living at Novant Health UVA Health System Caton Merchant House Schedule a tour today by calling 703-335-8400
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Signs Your Aging Parents May Need More Help at Home
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very day, roughly 10,000 baby boomers nationwide turn 65, according to the Pew Research Center, which means that a growing number of Americans are dealing with the many challenges associated with aging parents or relatives. Among them is determining when parents may need assistance they aren’t currently receiving. “Asking for help and depending on others for care may make an individual feel like a burden to family or friends. The goal of home care should be to strengthen the mind and the body, lift spirits and support loved ones in a way that makes life worth living,” says Jennifer Sheets, president and chief executive officer of Caring Brands International and Interim HealthCare Inc. “This whole person and individualized approach allows caregivers to look for ways to empower people at home.” Unfortunately, when seniors struggle with basic tasks such as self-care, transportation or household chores, they don’t always talk about it. They may be embarrassed or afraid of losing their independence or homes. Still others may not even realize anything is amiss, particularly if they’re in the beginning stages of dementia. Interim HealthCare shares some warning signs that an aging loved one may be
in need of senior care: • A change in mood, such as depression, anxiety or a loss of interest in social activities and hobbies. • Significant weight loss, which can happen for a variety of reasons, including serious physical and mental disorders. • Issues with mobility and balance. These can be signs of joint, muscle or neurological problems, and increase the likelihood of falls. • Bruises, cuts or scrapes are sometimes evidence of falls or kitchen mishaps, and a potential indication of declining physical agility. • Piles of bills, un-watered plants and overflowing hampers -- these are just a few of the many signs that basic tasks are being neglected. • New dents or dings on your parents’ vehicle. These could be signs that safe driving has become an issue. • Stains, missing buttons and untrimmed nails, are signs of neglected personal hygiene. • No food in the house, or moldy, stale or spoiled food, might mean a parent is struggling to grocery shop or cook, or may have even lost interest in eating. • A prescription stockpile could indicate your parent is forgetting to take critical pills. • Stacks of unopened bills, late payment notices, unbalanced checkbooks and
wads of cash stashed in odd places, are all signs of mismanaged money. If a parent requires extra care, consider all your options, including in-home assistance, which allows older adults to continue living at home, while getting needed help. Look for care that offers a wholeperson approach, such as Interim HealthCare’s HomeLife Enrichment standard of care, which looks beyond basic needs to encompass mind, body, spirit and family
to develop specific protocols and interactive activities that stimulate the brain, improve motor functions and help seniors feel in control of their days. To learn more, visit interimhealthcare.com. If your parents are displaying signs of needed care, getting them this support is crucial -- both for their immediate health and safety, as well as their overall happiness and wellness. - StatePoint
the best of Falcons Landing is proud to announce our latest expansion project, The Terrace Homes. With the best features of apartment and cottage living, The Terrace Homes offer a new take on Independent Living for military officers who have honorably served and senior-level federal employees. Whether your passion is serving up aces both on the court and in the pool, or popping open the perfect wine with friends, you can experience it all here at Falcons Landing.
NEW TERRACE HOME APARTMENTS COMING IN 2020
FalconsLanding.org | 20522 Falcons Landing Circle, Potomac Falls, VA 20165
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Call (703) 810-7307 to claim your Terrace Homes apartment before they’re all reserved!
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Why Children Should Spend More Time With Their Grandparents
lay is important for everyone, no matter their age — and when grandparents, parents and children play together, that’s where the real benefits of unstructured fun are discovered. “Play time with adults of different ages is not just a chance for families to bond, these interactions with positive role models can help children develop a range of important social, language and problemsolving skills,” says Dr. Amanda Gummer, child psychologist and an expert contributor to TheGeniusofPlay.org. Adults benefit from play time too. As one grows older, the free unstructured fun enjoyed in childhood is often replaced with structured activities like sports, card games and solving crosswords. Time spent with youngsters can keep adults young and give them a chance to relive more carefree days. According to The Genius of Play, a national initiative whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of play and help parents make play a critical part of raising their kids, here are three reasons why intergenerational play is good for young children: • Unstructured play tends to be collaborative, encouraging cooperation and honesty. • Spending time with older adults helps children understand how aging works, and later accept their own aging. • Grandparents are storytellers and
their wisdom and experience can open children’s horizons further, as well as ignite imagination and creativity. When it comes to adults, intergenerational play is beneficial in the following ways: • Children bring innocence, joy and laughter to any situation, helping adults reduce stress. • Active, busy play time can keep an older adult vital and healthy. Indeed, those that play with children burn more calories, experience fewer falls and become less reliant on walking aids, according to studies. • Play time is good for an aging adult’s mental and emotional health. Games can help seniors maintain cognitive skills and retain memory, and the quality time with children can prevent feelings of loneliness and boost positivity. Whether you’re young, old or somewhere in between, these three tips from The Genius of Play can help you make the most of the time together: • Share your favorite games with your grandchildren. From hide-and-seek to hula-hoops, introducing them to the games you played years ago is a great way to connect and make new memories. • Give children an opportunity to express themselves by letting them share their ideas for what they want to play with PLAY
Experience Our Exceptional Lifestyle!
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HarborChase of Prince William Commons offers:
Woodbridge Resident
Hometown Discount As a local, family-owned company, we want to thank the community that has embraced us for over 30 years. If you become a new resident at Potomac Place and your current mailing address is Woodbridge, you will receive a discount of 10% off your base rent for the first six months you reside in our community. Call today!
• Seasonal menus created by award-winning Chefs • Energizing experiences and social events daily • Generous amenities • Scheduled transportation
Call now to schedule your customized tour and culinary experience.
703-494-3817 PotomacPlace.com 2133 Montgomery Ave. Woodbridge, VA 22191 Coordinated Services Management, Inc. Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981
Hometown Senior Living for Over 30 Years
Prince William Commons 14080 Central Loop | Woodbridge, VA 22193
(703) 688-2123
www.HarborChase.com
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How to Keep Your Data Safe in Today’s World Is your data secure? Whether you’re a typical consumer gearing up with smart home technology or a business owner with dozens of clients, understanding the latest trends in cybercrime can help you protect what matters. Enter the latest updates from the SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, which provide key insights into current threats based on real-world data from more than 1 million international security sensors in over
200 countries. While the report found that global malware volume is down 20 percent, a spike in other forms of cyberattack means that consumers and organizations need to stay vigilant. Here are a few key findings and what they could mean for you: • A 15 percent increase in ransomware attacks globally highlight criminals’ new preference of ransomware-as-a-service and open-source malware kits as means of attack.
• There’s nothing “smart” about it when connected devices become a target for cybercrime. In the first half of 2019, there was a 55 percent increase in Internet of Things attacks, a number that outpaces the first two quarters of 2018. These findings are a good warning to businesses and consumers to never connect home or office devices to the internet without first taking proper security measures. • Cryptojacking experienced a 9 per-
You can’t put a price on the future of a loved one. A discount, however, never hurts. We started counting all the reasons to choose Tribute at The Glen as your new home, such as beautifully-designed suites, three chef-prepared gourmet meals a day, snacks, cable, housekeeping, laundry services, the list goes on. And on. In fact, we got to a gazillion and stopped counting. Suffice it to say you don’t need much more incentive to choose Tribute at The Glen. But why not make it a gazillion and one for good measure? Put down a deposit today and we’ll waive $2,000 for your first two months*. * Offer expires October 31, 2019
Tribute at The Glen 4151 Old Bridge Road | Woodbridge, VA 22192 571.402.1870 | ThriveSL.com/TheGlen A Thrive Senior Living Community
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SENIOR LIVING GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 2019 | INSIDENOVA.COM
cent increase over the last six months of 2018. Though a rise in bitcoin and Monero prices is great for cryptocurrency investors on its face, it also makes cryptojacking a more lucrative option for cybercriminals. • Cybercriminals have their sights set on non-standard ports for web traffic as a manner to deliver viruses undetected. Based on a sample size of more than 210 million malware attacks recorded through June 2019, Capture Labs monitored the largest spike on record since tracking the vector, when one quarter of malware attacks came across non-standard ports in May 2019 alone. • Some of the most ubiquitous and trusted types of files you download could actually be dangerous. In February and March 2019, 51 percent and 47 percent of “never-before-seen” attacks, respectively, came via PDFs or Office files. “Individuals and organizations continue struggling to track the evolving patterns of cyberattacks, making it extremely difficult for them to defend themselves without assistance,” says SonicWall president and CEO, Bill Conner. “Being proactive against constantly-changing attack strategies involves harnessing innovative technology, such as machine learning.” To that end, consider breach detection and prevention services that use machine learning to adapt and proactively guard against attacks, such as SonicWall, which has been fighting the cybercriminal industry for over 27 years and is backed by research from SonicWall Capture Labs. For more information, visit sonicwall.com. As cybercrime evolves, be sure your means to protect yourself has too. With vigilance, staying connected fearlessly is possible for any organization, individual or household. - StatePoint PLAY
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you. They’ll be more enthusiastic about participating if they get to call the shots sometimes. In today’s tech-savvy world, grandchildren might want to play with a toy that uses augmented reality or teaches coding skills. This can be a great way to engage with them on their level and learn more about their favorite activities. Plus, you’ll be learning something new! • Let your grandchildren win and lose the game sometimes. This is a great chance to boost self-esteem while learning about good sportsmanship. For more play ideas, expert advice and resources for families, visit TheGeniusOfPlay.org. There’s no doubt about it, intergenerational play is beneficial to everyone along for the fun. Be sure to carve out play time for your family, particularly when visiting with older relatives. - StatePoint