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Susan J. Hurt, M.A.G.: Posted on Friday, October 30, 2015 10:42 PM
 Hello all! It has been a little while since my last blog post, but the time off was well spent. The break was needed to ponder the direction of my blog. Sharing health promotion ideas and information is undoubtedly important and useful. Perhaps more meaningful though, is the APPLICATION of this information in our daily lives. As my roots in public health have taught me, it is wise to teach by example. THIS is the new direction I wish to take my blog. |
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Guest Blogger: Christina Mendes: Posted on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 5:16 PM
Why do we need to drink plenty of water? Doing so ensures
healthier skin, helps to lubricate joints, keeps the digestive system working
efficiently, and aids in promoting brain health. Most importantly, it prevents
us from dehydrating. Drinking enough water, especially during the hot summer
months, is important to anyone at any age. However, older adults are more prone
to falling victim to the condition. The lack of ability to
notice both the changes in our body temperature, and recognize thirst are risk factors for dehydration. |
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Guest Blogger: Christina Mendes: Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 2:59 PM
 As we mentioned in our lastblog post, gardening can be a very rewarding hobby for older adults because of the variety of benefits that it provides. Tending to a garden is a leisurely and fun activity, but it's important to keep some things in mind in regards to your safety while gardening:
- Build raised beds for easy bending and reaching. Raised beds can also be wheelchair accessible.
- Grow vegetables and flowers in pots on your deck or porch that can easily be kept on a table.
- Include benches throughout the garden that will provide a comfortable place to rest.
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Guest Blogger: Christina Mendes: Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 3:47 PM
Gardening can be a very rewarding
hobby for older adults as it provides many benefits including social, physical,
and emotional ones. Tending to a garden is a leisurely activity that can help
to improve one’s overall health.
- Creates a sense of community amongst members of your neighborhood.
- Helps build social networks, especially through community
gardening.
- Lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood
pressure.
- Increases physical activity and improves physical
strength.
- Strengthens coordination, limb dexterity, and increases hand strength.
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Guest Blogger: Christina Mendes: Posted on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 1:39 PM
Maintaining a healthy diet while also staying budget conscious can be challenging. The reason for this is that healthier food choices tend to be more costly. As mentioned in our most recentblog post, there are many steps that can be taken to save money while at the grocery store. Coupon clipping and scouring the sale section of the local grocery store flyer can be helpful in cutting down costs. However, there are a few things that can be done athometo further your savings:
- Repurposing leftovers will ensure that you aren't throwing away or wasting food.
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Guest Blogger: Christina Mendes: Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2015 2:33 PM
 Eating well is important to everyone, no matter their age.As people get older, having a healthy diet can help to reduce the risk of health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Even though this is common knowledge, for some older adults, buying nutritious food can be challenging on a fixed income. There are many steps you can take to save money at the grocery store:
- Collect coupons for brands you typically purchase and items you know you need.
- Make a list of groceries you need so you don't buy unnecessary items.
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Susan J. Hurt, M.A.G.: Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2014 10:17 PM
 Thank you, my devoted readers, for waiting so patiently for Part 2 of "Traveling and Health." Now that I have returned, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my journey. I would like to share my experiences with you, so that you too, can remain healthy and safe during your summer travels.
As I quickly discovered, and you are no doubt aware, not all motels/hotels are createdequally. The biggest issue I had was with safety in the bathrooms. Let's take a look: |
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Susan J. Hurt, M.A.G.: Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 1:41 AM
 My daughter recently made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles. Being the good and supportive mom I am, I was not going to let her travel alone across the country. That said, we left Connecticut on Saturday, making our way to the west coast.
Since I am diabetic (not insulin-dependent), I had to give thought as to how I was going to keep my blood sugars steady while on the road. After all, the last thing I want is an episode of either high or blood sugar. Here is what you can do to stay safe, especially while driving: |
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Susan J. Hurt, M.A.G.: Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 12:58 PM
Each May since 1963, we celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of our older citizens. President Jimmy Carter designated the celebratory month as "Older Americans Month," replacing the original name "Senior Citizens Month." This celebration recognizes older Americans for their accomplishments, and demonstrates our nation's commitment to helping them stay healthy and active. The theme for this year's Older American Month is "Safe Today. |
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Susan J. Hurt, M.A.G.: Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2014 1:45 PM
  Thankfully, the long, snowy winter here in Connecticut is now well behind us! The piles of snow that accumulated in my neighborhood have been replaced with pretty, pink blooming trees. Even the geranium I nurtured all winter long is sporting beautiful new pink flowers! Such reawakening of life inspires me to take advantage of being active outside. When I think about the multitude of health benefits of physical activity, how can I resist? Benefits of being physically active include: |
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