Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: The Case for Animal Friendships

Humans and animals can comfort each other in sickness and in health.

  A few years ago, archeologists dug up a 12,000-year-old human skeleton in Israel. This prehistoric Israelite had been laid to rest with his favorite wolf pup, and the skeleton was found with the hand of the human resting on the head of the dog. This may be the oldest surviving record of our human capacity for affection toward animals. Twelve millennia  later, our propensity to love our pets – whether they are furry, four legged, have gills, beaks, or slither about in a cage – is just as strong as it was in ancient  times. What we know today, is that there is a growing body of research that shows that our love for animals is good for us and can even be linked to health benefits.     Pets and Health Studies show that if you’re preoccupied …

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Notes From Youville: Health Benefits of Laughter and Humor

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy– we’re happy because we laugh” –– William James

  It’s a beautiful Fourth of July evening, and you’ve gathered with friends and family at your favorite harbor side restaurant to celebrate. For the occasion, you’ve worn your favorite red, white and blue silk tie  – a valuable family heirloom passed down through five generations. The waiter comes around with a bottle of red wine and starts pouring. Everything’s going fine until he gets to you, at which point he trips over his shoelaces and sends half the contents of the bottle your way. What is your reaction? Laughter might not be your first instinct. But after regaining your self-composure, humor could be one of the healthier ways to deal with the staining of your prized patriotic tie– not to mention the inconvenience of getting drenched…

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Notes from Youville: On Creativity and Health

Seniors can take advantage of many health benefits related to a connection to creativity, and it’s never too late to get in touch with your inner muse. If you’ve stayed away from the arts in earlier life, you may be ripe with material just waiting for its

In 2007, Lonnie Sue Johnson’s life was turned upside down by illness. A rare form of viral encephalitis struck without any warning, wiping out her memory and ability to speak. After months of slow progress, Lonnie Sue asked for a pen and paper. She had been an artist all of her life, and her doctors and family discovered that in spite of severe cognitive impairment limiting her speech, she was still able to draw.   Lonnie Sue’s story is exceptional, but it can be seen as a parable of the healing power of art. Creative expression, in its various forms, can foster healing and self-renewal in people from all walks of life. Whether you draw, sing, paint, sculpt, write poems or dance, chances are that your creative passion will bring you not …

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Notes from Youville: Health Benefits Through Volunteering

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." —Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Every Tuesday, Youville resident “Mary” volunteers at a local soup kitchen. She and her fellow volunteers spend three hours preparing meals for the homeless. This weekly routine is rich with personal history for Mary. She has made and maintained many close friendships through her volunteer work, some of whom she has worked with for 20 years. Now in her 80s, she still looks forward to seeing her friends at the soup kitchen and making a positive difference in the lives of so many. For Mary, community service is rooted in her church upbringing. She has never thought twice about serving others. In addition to her work in the soup kitchen, she participates regularly in volunteer activities at Youville and elsewhere in the community. She may …

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: Facing up to Vision Loss

Joanne Parsons, president and CEO of Youville Assisted Living, provides a brief overview of common visual ailments affecting seniors today.

  When was your last eye exam? If it’s been so long that you can’t remember, now might be a good time to call your ophthalmologist–– especially if you are over 60. Today, over 7 million seniors suffer from decreasing vision. Over the next few decades, that tally is expected to double as the senior population increases.  Research is still making important discoveries about the causes of vision loss.  Some conditions, like cataracts, now have surgical cures that work for almost everyone. Others, like macular degeneration, have less effective treatments and the root causes are still unclear. The following is a brief overview of common visual ailments affecting seniors today: Age-related macular degeneration: This is the most common type of …

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: Food for Thought

Youville Place offers advice on eating your way to a healthier brain.

  Who doesn’t want a healthy brain? According to recent research, we can make our brains healthier by watching what we eat. Like other organs in our body, the brain requires specific nutrients and adequate blood flow, both of which are influenced by diet. By supplying our brains with the right foods, we can improve our mental sharpness and help keep our brains healthy. The battle of the fats A typical brain is made up of 60 percent fat. With this composition, it is one of the fattiest organs in our body. Most of the brain’s fat is comprised of the Omega 3 fatty acid DHA. Our bodies cannot produce DHA or other Omega 3s, so the only way to “feed our brains” is to get these healthy fats from food.    The best source of Omega 3s are freshwater…

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: How Our Friends Affect Our Health

Although family is certainly one of the most important factors in our emotional lives, our non-family connections – our friends – are the most important in terms of increasing our longevity.

When is the last time you spent an afternoon with a friend? For many Youville residents, the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a more social lifestyle is one of the biggest advantages of living in a Youville community. From daytime shopping trips and in-house presentations, to evening  movies and Bingo, residents have the opportunity to take part in social activities within the community. New friends made at Youville help to make each moment  more vibrant and enjoyable. It turns out that friends are good for more than just a good time – research has shown that people who maintain friendships into old age are also more likely to live longer. In various studies, seniors with active friendships have been shown to outlive their …

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Notes from Youville

Notes from Youville: Medication Disposal

Lexington assisted living residence Youville Place provides tips for proper disposal of medications.

It’s a quiet Saturday afternoon, and you’re in the midst of fall cleaning.  After hours spent rummaging  through stacks of old papers and magazines, you make your way into the bathroom. Opening the cabinet above the sink, you confront a dense wall of amber medicine bottles. Some of them have expiration dates from nearly five years-ago. These bottles take up so much space in the cabinet that you no longer have room for all of them.  What do you do with all the old medication?  Is it safe to flush down the toilet, or to throw in the garbage? Given how little is known about the way pharmaceuticals effect our environment, we might not often think seriously about the topic of proper medication disposal. However, the U.S. Food and Drug …

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Carleton-Willard At Home Info Session This Saturday

Monthly sessions get seniors up to speed on the programs offerings.

The following information was provided by Stephanie Smith, public relations director for Carleton-Willard Village. Has it been a long winter? Are chores surfacing right along with the green of spring? If the answer to those questions is "Yes," then it might be time to check out Carleton-Willard AT HOME, a not-for-profit membership services providing seniors many of the benefits of a retirement community while allowing them to stay in the homes they love. For those interested, a monthly information session about Carleton-Willard At Home will be held at 11 a.m. this Saturday, April 30, at the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society on Waltham Street. According to press release, assistance is only a phone call away for Carleton-Willard At Home …

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