Early this year we published a blog post about gratitude and we hoped all readers would practice some tips we mentioned. Since August is “Happiness Happens Month”, we thought we would look at some ways to be thankful, and how we can still be thankful, even when we don’t feel very happy or thankful.

In this blog post, we’re exploring thankfulness from a different angle. We’re trying to answer the question: “How do I feel thankful when I have nothing to be thankful for?” There is a lot going on in the world, and it can often feel like not much of it is good. On top of that, we all have our own problems to deal with. So how do we feel thankful?

Our January blog post explored some ways to facilitate feeling and being thankful, and why gratitude matters. Gratitude can be a powerful tool in dismissing negativity and leading to a positive mindset. To summarize, the benefits of gratitude include reduced stress while developing stronger mental health and emotional resilience, better relationships, and greater levels of happiness, empathy, and compassion, as well as greater self-esteem. Oh, and it could improve your sleep and your physical health.

Let’s Be Real

Feeling thankful or happy shouldn’t be a chore or some kind of test. If you’re not feeling it, just be honest with yourself. No one is happy all the time and you shouldn’t sublimate your feelings for something you’re “supposed to feel”. It’s important to acknowledge your genuine feelings. Try talking about them, writing in a journal about them, or just being mindful.

Our clients often comment that chatting with our in-home care providers really helps to take a load off.

Is Positivity A Step Too Far?

Sometimes we go through patches in our lives where everything feels wrong. But, even then, we can find something that is at least a little positive. If not, maybe something neutral that may not make you feel positive, but that at least doesn’t make you feel negative. Such as a pretty mural, or spring flowers. Or maybe that it’s Friday afternoon and you finally have the weekend to yourself. If we can’t find anything positive, it’s important to acknowledge the neutral things and realize not everything is negative.

“Thank You”

Just saying “thank you” can have a big impact on how you’re feeling. The action of saying “thank you” helps us to notice the positive things that are all around us. It doesn’t matter that it’s something as small as thanking someone who says “bless you” when we sneeze, or someone who holds the elevator for us. The act of thanking someone reveals that there are pockets of kindness happening all around us.

A List

Try making a list of thanks. It can be a good way to brighten your mood, but try to make it detailed. Don’t just write: I am thankful for my family. Instead, try delving deeper. For instance: I am thankful for my sister, who may be a little brash, but underneath her spiky exterior is a caring person who makes time to chat over coffee and helps me put things in proportion.

It doesn’t even have to be a person. You could list a funny joke you heard, or kitten videos on YouTube. They all count, and, as long as it makes you thankful, nothing is too trivial.

Life Through A Different Lens

It’s always worth taking another look at life and the world from a different perspective by reframing the situation you’re facing. Getting a different angle on things means it can be easier to see the bright side. So reframe the situation and you’ll start seeing the opportunities of a situation rather than the downsides, and see the positive points. Here are some questions you can use as prompts.

What can I learn from this difficult time?
What will help me navigate this challenge?
What experiences from past situations will help me overcome this challenge?
What has this experience revealed to me about myself?
What can I take away from this experience that may help me with future challenges?

The Takeaway

Be honest with yourself and don’t try to feel something you don’t genuinely feel. If you feel down, be real and own it. But try to identify some things that don’t make you feel negatively. If you can’t find things that make you feel positive, at least identify things you feel are neutral rather than negative. Try to notice when you say “thank you” to someone. You’ll soon find that you say it at least a few times each day, often for minor things, but it is often those seemingly minor things that remind us that there is still a lot of good in the world.

It’s always a good idea to make lists. Not only do they help to break down larger tasks, but they can help to keep things in proportion. Make a list of things you are thankful for, no matter how trivial, and you’ll soon see that you’re more thankful than you thought. Don’t forget to look at things using a different perspective, and ask yourself some reframing questions that will allow you to see the silver lining to any situation.

If you have a loved one who needs a little care and lots of smiles, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to take your call and go through the options to give your loved one the assistance they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence through compassion and quality care together at home.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

Welcome to our first blog post of August! It’s National Immunization Awareness Month, so we thought we’d reveal some facts, debunk one of the biggest myths, and mention some top tips for overcoming a fear of needles, or at least enough to get through an immunization.

Facts

Vaccines help to boost our immune systems’ response to life-threatening illnesses brought on by viruses and bacteria. Vaccine programs around the world have resulted in reduced disease transmissions, lower rates of disability, and reduced infant mortality.

Despite the effectiveness of vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases have not disappeared. Those who are unvaccinated can still pick up viruses and bacteria for illnesses. Even if those illnesses aren’t common in the US, global travel means that diseases can spread easily among those who are unvaccinated.

Vaccination isn’t pointless, it can save lives. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, in the U.S. roughly 50,000 adults died each year from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines.

Scientific evidence has shown that vaccines are safe and effective. In the US, we have an approval process to determine the safety of vaccines. While vaccines may come with potential side effects for some, those effects are generally uncommon and not as severe as the diseases they are meant to prevent.

Would it surprise you to learn that millions of US adults fall ill from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines? This means they miss work or can’t always effectively care for their children, parents, or other dependents.

Myths

Despite many opinions to the contrary, vaccines do not contain anything bad for us. The ingredients list might look scary (e.g. mercury, formaldehyde), but these ingredients are naturally found in our bodies, in our food, and in the environment. The amount found in vaccines is relatively small, not enough to harm the body.

Vaccines, as mentioned above, are tested and go through a robust approval and certification process. Vaccines need to be both safe and effective before they’re offered.

Additionally, there is no credible link between vaccines and autism or autism-related disorders. A 1998 study reported such a link, but the study used falsified data and was soon discredited. Meanwhile, many other studies have been carried out that confirm there is no association between vaccines and autism.

Neither can vaccines rewrite human DNA. Vaccines supply our immune cells with temporary instructions to get them to make a protein associated with a particular illness. So, if the protein from the actual illness comes along, our immune system will recognize and deal with it. Our DNA is found within the cell nucleus and the instructions from vaccines don’t make it there.

Think of vaccines as disappearing ink that vanishes from our immune cells as soon as it delivers its message.

Overcoming Your Fear Of Needles (Trypanophobia)

If you’re worried about the injection itself, you may have a fear of needles. Here are a few tips to get over that, or at least work around it.

Location Location Location

You might be feeling anxious about getting a vaccination in a busy location? It’s often something that triggers symptoms for people who are afraid of being vaccinated. If that’s the case for you, try a different location that’s quieter.

Relaxation Techniques

Different types of relaxation techniques can be a big help. Such as picturing you’re somewhere different, such as your “happy place”, or just somewhere you normally feel more relaxed, such as your bedroom, or somewhere fun, such as the beach. You can also use deep-breathing exercises.

If your loved one is worried about having injections, EJAI Loves Homecare’s medical experts know just how to calm even the most anxious individuals for a stress-free vaccination.

Choose Your Words

Words are important, and sometimes the words we use can impact the way we see what should be relatively mundane things. The terms “vaccine” and “injection” can sound medical and scary. You could ask your nurse or doctor to use other terms, such as “jab” or “poke”, instead.

Don’t Look

You don’t need to watch as your vaccination happens! Feel free to look away if you are worried about needles. Remember, it only takes a few seconds to complete your vaccination, so you don’t have to look away for long. Before you know it, it will be over. Nothing to worry about!

DISCLAIMER: You should always seek medical advice. This blog post is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional.

If you have a loved one who needs a little care and lots of smiles, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to take your call and go through the options to give your loved one the help they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence through compassion and quality care together at home.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

Most of us like to be that person who says “thank you for your service” when we meet a veteran, or anyone from a service that is dedicated to our safety and welfare. However, for most of us, other than a few reposts on social media, the gratitude stops there. What if there were a way for us and businesses to do something that really matters? Well, there is a really easy way for employers to show their appreciation: hire a veteran. And that’s what National Hire A Veteran Day is all about highlighting.

According to the Department of Labor, each year around 200,000 members of the armed services either retire or leave the services. Sure, these people are veterans who leave the services having lived many amazing experiences. But they also enter the job market with a lot of experience that is difficult to gain elsewhere.

Let’s be honest, there is nowhere like the armed services for developing highly sought after transferable skills, such as teamwork, communication, and attention to detail.

Despite this, veterans find it difficult to land a job as civilians, with many finding it challenging to slot into the civilian job market. National Hire A Veteran Day was initiated in 2017 to encourage veterans to apply for civilian jobs. Also, to remind employers of the in-demand skills and ethics that armed services veterans have already developed throughout their career in some of the harshest environments.

2017 also saw Congress pass the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act). This introduced the HIRE Vets Medallion Program which offers employers the opportunity to earn a HIRE Vets Medallion award by employing veterans.

The program’s website says this federal award “recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development.”

Remember, a job isn’t just the means to earn a livelihood. It’s the opportunity to contribute and feel part of something. To veterans, it’s important to feel part of a team working towards common goals. We can all identify with the need to feel useful, and having a job means feeling valued, and that is no different for veterans.

Some veterans return home with different needs due to injuries. EJAI Loves Homecare actually has a Vet Assist Program that helps them access our in-home care that can be tailored to their needs and schedule.

So if you’re an employer, consider whether a veteran might have the key attributes your business needs. If you’re a veteran, consider the following resources:

tips and advice on hiring veterans
employment and training opportunities
apprenticeship.gov job-finder tool
Career OneStop’s Veteran and Military Transition Center.
USA Jobs
VA Careers
Clearance Jobs (for veterans with security clearance)
list of employers with opportunities for veterans
government job sites

Giving a veteran a job isn’t just about filling a vacancy, or showing gratitude. Employing a veteran is about recognizing a person’s skills and making the most of their experience that they have built up over years spent defending their country at home and abroad.

Despite the challenge of transitioning to the civilian job market, veterans have a lot to offer a prospective employer.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

Last Monday was National Strawberry Sundae Day, and while it’s always great to treat ourselves to something we really love, there are many out there who feel guilty about enjoying themselves. Whether it’s eating or drinking something we love, or doing something we enjoy, some of us feel bad for treating ourselves. We thought we’d explore this a little more and look at the surrounding topics, such as self-care. Because everyone should feel able to treat themselves without remorse.

What’s Behind The Guilt?

It’s actually fairly typical for people to ask a very specific question when they think about getting or doing something they love. It’s usually something along the lines of: “do I deserve this?” or “what’s the occasion?” For people who work super-hard to make ends meet, that can ring especially true.

But perhaps you don’t need to wait for a special occasion, or wait until you feel you’ve earned something. Often, we feel selfish for treating ourselves to something we like, and maybe we feel good about denying ourselves that little treat, but it can have a negative effect in the long run as we may end up feeling like we don’t deserve to feel good, or that we’re not worthy of nice things.

We’re not saying you should live beyond your means. We’re just saying that it’s okay to be kind to yourself. So, what is it that normally makes us feel guilty? Has someone told you that you don’t deserve to treat yourself? Do you need someone to give you permission to enjoy yourself?

Growing up, maybe you couldn’t have the things you wanted, so now it feels frivolous. Whatever the reason, it’s important to track the source of your guilt before it gets worse.

Time To Think Differently About Self-Care

Once you determine what makes you feel guilty, you can start to change how you think about it. Try to replace self-recriminations with self-compassion, and see if you can transform your negative thoughts into kinder ones. Try to keep in mind that feeling shame will bring nothing positive, and that you don’t need a special reason to have special things.

Self-care is not selfish, it’s necessary if you don’t want to suffer from burnout as it helps to regulate our mental and physical health. Time treating ourselves helps us to replenish ourselves and avoid burnout.

We cannot keep pushing ourselves full-throttle and expect to keep going indefinitely. Neglecting ourselves will eventually mean not being able to care properly for our loved ones.

Remember The Positives

Don’t forget that being kind to yourself is a way of showing yourself compassion, and – providing you don’t feel guilty afterwards – it is an excellent way to boost your mood. Looking after our mental health and keeping anxiety, depression, and stress at bay has never been more important. So caring for yourself is essential and learning to treat yourself with kindness is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

If you’re caring for a loved one and trying to hold down a job, there may not be a lot of time left over for self-care. That’s where EJAI Loves Homecare can help. With our bespoke care plans, we can provide you and your loved one with the care and medical expertise they deserve, and to a schedule that suits you.

What’s Your Ideal Treat?

One person’s ideal treat differs from the next person’s. One person might think of a new pair of shoes as a treat, whereas for another, a pack of their favorite cookies would rock their world. So what works for you? What would be your ideal treat? It’s important to remember that a treat doesn’t necessarily need to be something material. It could just be taking time for yourself.

Maybe, if you haven’t treated yourself in a while, you’re at a point in life where you need to reconsider what you term “a treat”. What does being kind to yourself look like to you?

Final Thoughts

Self-care is vital, for your mental health, and so you can keep on living your life. You can’t look after the people you love if you don’t take care of yourself. Remember: You can’t pour from an empty cup. So don’t deny yourself the self-care you need. Treat yourself to that strawberry sundae, or whatever treat floats your boat.

Client on the phone

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

Grudges are funny things. For some of us, they seem to spring up out of nowhere, and before we know it, we’re nursing them over weeks which become months, and then years. You could even say that grudges are uninvited houseguests living rent-free in your mind. How freeing it would be to release those grudges and not give the person who inspired them anymore attention. Well, since last week was “National Forgiveness Week”, and Monday was “Let It Go” day, we thought it would be a good time to cover the topic of forgiveness.

Isn’t it strange how, for some grudges, we remember the exact incident that sparked them? However, for others, all we remember is how we feel. Sometimes it’s not even a person who has earned our ire. It could be a company with poor customer service, or a shop with an unfair returns policy. No matter the reason, most of us hold a grudge, and here are some fascinating stats from a survey conducted by Trustpilot.

The average adult is nursing around 7 different grudges.
Out of 12,000 adults polled around the world, 78% admitted harboring resentment about an incident.
15% of those polled admitted holding onto a grudge for at least 11 years.
A third admitted they could no longer remember what their grudge was about.
Roughly a third of those polled admitted their grudge had affected their mental health, and just over a third regretted their grudge.

Sounds awful, doesn’t it? But here’s the thing: people find holding grudges enjoyable, according to Fred Luskin, a psychologist and director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, says: “Short doses of anger release dopamine, which is a pleasure chemical.” He says it’s no good for the long term. “The problem with dopamine is not that every now and then you might release a tiny bit of it, but if you do it too much, it will make it harder to get pleasure from things you should be getting pleasure from.”

Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist. She says that grudges start “from a place of rigidity, that we feel someone has broken our rules. And that’s very narrow because, of course, why should we expect that our rules are universal rules?” When grudges have an adverse effect on our sleep and energy, it is time to forgive and let it go. If not, the only one hurt in the long run is the person holding the grudge.

So, what are the steps to getting rid of a grudge? Read on.

Identify what you’re angry about and realize that you can’t change it because it is in the past. Ask yourself why you’re wasting your energy on something you can’t change, and make a list of all the other things you could do with that misspent energy.
We’re always kinder to others than we are to ourselves, so ask yourself what you would say to a friend if they were carrying the grudge you are. You’re almost certain to look at the situation more logically and come up with a better way to deal with your grudge.
See if you feel up to talking about your grudge with a friend. Linda Blair says, “preferably someone who doesn’t know the person or circumstances that you are holding a grudge against, so they can be more objective. Should that fail, you can, of course, talk it through with a professional.”
Robert Enright, professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, suggests “without excusing what the other did. People tend to think in either/or ways. Either you forgive and abandon justice, or you stand firm and you don’t forgive under any circumstances until you get justice. But you can have forgiveness and justice grow up together, so that, as you forgive, ask something of the other, and your ask will probably be more gentle, more reasonable and maybe better received.”
Try to think of the person you’re holding a grudge against as more than someone who did you wrong. Then you stand a better chance of seeing them as an average human being, as a person with emotions, quirks, and vulnerabilities.
Don’t give anyone else the power to rain on your parade. Practising relaxation techniques every time you’re reminded of your grudge can help take the edge off it. According to Luskin, “You have to practise some degree of gratitude so you get used to seeing life as both difficult and good, and that helps to reduce the power of grudges.”

This lies at the heart of forgiveness, and ultimately, the more our hearts can forgive, the more they can love and find happiness in the genuine joys of life.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

With June being Aphasia Awareness Month, it’s a good time to explore this condition that affects many people all over the country. It’s estimated that aphasia affects 2 million people in the US alone, including big names such as Bruce Willis. Other people to have had aphasia in the past include Aubrey Plaza and Amelia Clark. But even with figures as high as this, and some big names with the condition, few of us know what aphasia is. This blog post explains aphasia and how to spot the early warning signs.

What is aphasia?

Our team of medical professionals often care for clients with aphasia, so they often field questions about it. If your loved one has aphasia and needs care, contact us to discuss the options.

Aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or a head injury, but it can also occur as the result of a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease causing degenerative damage. The severity of a person’s aphasia depends on the extent of the brain damage, and the cause. Depending on the severity, a person with aphasia may find their ability to communicate (spoken and written) affected.

Aphasia, or apraxia?

Aphasia and apraxia are two different conditions, both related to speech and language. While aphasia affects the ability to communicate, apraxia affects the ability to control the muscles related to speech, with no damage to those muscles. Aphasia affects the brain’s ability to handle language.

Can aphasia be treated?

This is a question our care providers often hear from families whose loved one has aphasia. It can be incredibly frightening for the person who has it, but treating aphasia comes down to treating the condition that caused it. Speech and language therapy are also helpful in helping the person with aphasia to relearn language and rediscover how to communicate. The rehabilitation process is easier when family members are involved.

Here’s how to spot aphasia

You need to remember that aphasia is itself a symptom of another condition, like a stroke or a brain tumor. Bearing that in mind, the symptoms of aphasia include:

Speaking in brief or incomplete sentences
Speaking in badly structured sentences
Swapping words or sounds around
Speaking unrecognizable words
Having trouble locating the right words
Not understanding what others are saying
Not understanding written words
Writing badly structured sentences

What to do if you spot the signs

Since aphasia is a symptom of another condition, it is important that you seek medical attention if you spot:

Trouble seeing
Sudden unexplained headache
Weakness or feeling numb on one side of the body
Sudden dizziness or difficulty walking
Sudden trouble speaking and understanding, and confusion
Difficulty understanding speech
Finding it hard to locate the right words
Trouble with written communication

Even with therapy, aphasia can be difficult to overcome, and many have to live with the condition for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, the likes of Aubrey Plaza and Emilia Clarke serve as examples that aphasia need not be a lifelong affliction. If you, or someone you know, suffer with aphasia, it can be scary. However, it should be a boost to know that the condition can often be temporary, and you can get back to normal with the right therapy and treatment.

DISCLAIMER: You should always seek professional medical advice. This blog post is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

In our last blog post, we discussed May being “Victorious Woman Month” and how it is a celebration of all women who have overcome adversity and emerged triumphant. We thought it only appropriate to offer some further inspiration on this topic with some insights from our very own Esther JeanBart, the founder of EJAI Loves Homecare. She has her own story of overcoming adversity that she would like to share.

Esther JeanBart has been a businesswoman and entrepreneur for many years. She knows the sweet taste of victory and, like us all, has had to deal with some disappointment along the way. But nothing she has experienced in business compares to the heartache she went through when her son, Gianni, was involved in a motorcycle accident eight years ago.

Gianni was living his best life, serving his country as a US Marine, when his accident happened just before his twentieth birthday. In the accident, Gianni sustained a traumatic brain injury which has left him non-responsive and quadriplegic, requiring 24/7 nursing care.

As a mother and serial entrepreneur, Esther is no stranger to challenges. However, the impact of Gianni’s accident was a devastating blow to his friends, colleagues, and his family, including his three siblings, Milano, Bijou, and Rome.

It would have been understandable if Esther had decided to hide away from the world and shut out all the pain. But, she and her fellow “Victorious Women” are made of sterner stuff. To Esther, there was no other choice but to carry on managing her various enterprises while also navigating a kind of anxiety, fear and grief that she had never experienced before.

However, Gianni’s presence and spirit were and still are a source of inspiration for Esther. “Rest assured, ‘my papa’ is still here,” she shares. “He is still present and has God in his heart and my sun shines through his beautiful eyes. Gianni, my son motivates me to live through love every single day.”

In a similar situation, many people would think no further than dealing with the predicament at hand. However, Esther needed some good to come of this tragedy and, as an entrepreneur, she knew the best way through this adversity would be to use her creativity and business skills.

After navigating the world of in-home care for herself, Esther realized she wanted to give back by creating a care agency that would provide care providers and care receivers with a positive and forward-thinking environment that genuinely supports everyone involved. And after four years, she believes she has succeeded. “Our nurses stay for years. They love their new families, and our families now feel confident and supported,” says Esther.

Gianni’s accident shattered his and his family’s world. But having experienced first-hand what families go through when seeking care for their loved ones, she knew creating something to help families would be the best way to honor Gianni and get through her own grief.

“I took my time to design and birth how I wanted this beautiful experience and story to come out.” explains Esther. “Our clients are our priority, our core value is to help people feel and smile again, even through the most difficult hardships. Our goal is for your loved ones to stay home and out of the nursing home.”

Throughout the challenge of supporting Gianni through his condition, Esther has been sustained by the love of her family, and also her faith. “Putting God in the forefront allows His light to shine through me. I push forward and show my sons and my daughter that through pain, you can still succeed, inspire, and support through love.”

It is her beliefs, as well as her faith in herself and her family, that have allowed her to overcome one of the most terrible things that can happen to any parent, and emerge a “victorious woman”. “This is turning tragedy into triumph. This situation shows what life’s blessings are all about.”

For anyone facing adversity, Esther has these words of encouragement: “Trust in the process. Trust in family. Don’t lose sight of caring for those who once cared for you. Your loved ones depend on you. Find the right source and don’t give up. There are people on your side who care and want to support you.”

Like all the world’s victorious women, Esther JeanBart is an inspirational figure from whom we can all learn a lot. Esther shows us what it is to get up, dust ourselves off, and break through the walls of adversity to emerge stronger, wiser, with greater empathy, and victorious.

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

For anyone unaware of it, May is “International Victorious Woman Month”, a month when we take some time to appreciate the perseverance and accomplishments of women around the world, no matter the nature of their achievements. If you’re an avid reader of this blog, you probably remember that May is also Older Americans Month; sure, just like the victorious women in our lives, May can be more than one thing.

“International Victorious Woman Month” began on May 1st and is specifically used to highlight instances where women have turned adversity into victory.

It’s those struggles that we should value as they resonate through time and will continue to teach our daughters and granddaughters that they too can win if they don’t lose heart. So we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to look at some of the good adversity can do for us.

How “International Victorious Woman Month” Started

“International Victorious Woman Month” was born out of an idea author Annmarie Kelly had to celebrate women worldwide overcoming adversity to emerge victorious. She launched a campaign to make May Victorious Woman Month and it was eventually accepted in 2006.

May is now known, amongst other things, for highlighting the resilience of women, and it offers an opportunity for women to share experiences, lessons learned, and inspiration. The month helps to empower everyone who can appreciate everything a woman has to offer.

Adversity And Its Ways

When it strikes, adversity can seem like an unfair barrier, an arbitrary obstacle to our success, a cruel joke with an unexpected punchline: our plans. However, with time, we usually come to see that the adversity we once faced offered us an opportunity – even if we didn’t see it that way at the time.

Adversity can offer the opportunity for personal learning and growth. It can teach us to be resilient, and even show us just how determined and strong we are.

Each challenge we take on is a journey of self-discovery, and we don’t know what the outcome will be. It may be an easy one, or it may be a journey of transformation.

No matter your circumstances or age, we are all constantly on a journey of self-discovery, and transformation. The highly trained, expert care giving staff at EJAI Loves Homecare recognize that each client is still on that journey, and that each day holds the potential for their progress and discovery.

It can be kinda fun to consider these challenges as if they’re daunting climbs to the top of a dark and misty mountain. Each step takes us further into the unknown. However, when we get to the summit, the view is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced, and is all the richer because of the hardships we’ve had to endure. Those hardships imbue us with a new perspective, greater strength, and a deeper well of courage and resilience.

Failure And Success

Here’s the thing about challenges we set ourselves. We look at them as opportunities to prove ourselves, and this means we are looking to succeed. To do this, we use our knowledge of success and of previous failures, to help us avoid another failure. But challenges should not be about avoiding failure at any cost. Some people believe that only absolute success can show strength to others.

However, in finding the determination to get up each time we fall, we build an inner strength that is much more meaningful.

Maybe you’re a single mother traveling far from home for work, but still find time and energy to love and nurture their child. Perhaps you’re an artist seeking recognition, and the strength to keep expressing yourself in the face of indifference. Or maybe you’re battling an illness and are determined to make it because there are more memories to make with your loved ones. No matter your struggle, it is your silent yet stoic resilience that helps you get through your personal challenge. Your story is more than the individual failures and successes you experience. You are more than that.

Your grit, resilience, and spirit carry you through each challenge and help you take on each hurdle with courage and grace.

We don’t need to avoid adversity. Instead, we can treat it like our most dedicated teacher who will be with us throughout our lives, because life is full of adversity. Life’s challenges are the molds in which we shape our resilience and determination. These not only help us through life, but light the way to show others they can also make it regardless of the obstacle at hand.

If adversity is our most dedicated teacher, then let’s be its most committed students and learn to take some sort of victory from each challenge. Even if that victory comes as greater strength and resilience to help us take on and win the next challenge.

If you have a loved one who needs a little help, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to discuss the options to give your loved one the assistance they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence, lower cost.

Client on the phone

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

Contact Us

They once raised families, built careers, and helped to shape communities, and even the country. Some of our senior Americans are still doing those things. May is known as Older Americans Month, and it is when we give thanks to all Americans who have given so much of themselves over the years and decades. So let’s celebrate our elders!

A Short History Of Older Americans Month

Older Americans Month dates back to 1963 when there were only 17 million Americans who had reached the age of 65. Roughly 33% of senior Americans experienced poverty and there weren’t many schemes to support them, leading to a rise in interest in the issue. Discussions between President John F. Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens (N.C.S.C.) led to May being designated Senior Citizens Month, now known as Older Americans Month.

Back in 1963, Older Americans Month became an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of older Americans, particularly armed forces veterans. Since then, each American president has used the event to encourage all citizens to appreciate their community’s elder Americans. Since 1978, each Older Americans Month has been celebrated with a different theme, and the theme for 2025 is “Flip the Script on Aging”. The hope is that this will encourage Americans to think and talk differently about aging.

Let’s Celebrate Older Americans Month

If you’re wondering how best to honor our senior citizens, nothing beats actually spending some quality time with them. It’s important to make sure our senior citizens have good company, and someone to check in on them and make sure they have all they need. This is important throughout the year, but May can be a good reminder for us all.

Quality Time

No matter your age, you can show your appreciation by visiting an older American, and asking to hear their stories. You can escort a senior citizen to an appointment, or an event. You can work with a non-profit organization that provides support to senior citizens. EJAI Loves Homecare’s care providers know all about spending quality time with their clients, and always provide great care at an affordable rate.

Perks!

If you have a senior citizen in your life, see if they can sign up for some perks. Citizens as young as 50 can save on products and services they use daily. Savings can often prompt a senior citizen to leave their comfort zone and try something new, getting them out of the house and making them a little more active in the process.

More Support

You can also check out the Library of Congress resources for suggestions on how we can make life easier for retired citizens, and those living on a fixed income. There are many charities that help to support aging citizens, and you may find a way to save the senior citizen in your life, or yourself, a significant amount.

Workshops

Our senior citizens have collected so many experiences in their life. If you’re community minded, you could set up a workshop for them to share their experiences and stories with younger generations. Interaction between younger and older people benefits both parties.

Music Connects Us

Music has the power to connect different generations. Whatever their age, people can find something to appreciate in music from different eras. A musical event in your community where people of any age can perform and expose others to music they haven’t heard is a wonderful thing.

Let Senior Americans Plan

Don’t plan your event or activity around the senior citizens in your life. Try to make them an integral part of the planning process. Remember that it should be all about them, so bring them in on it. Let them take the lead so you end up with an outcome that satisfies them, and shows they can still make an important contribution to society.

The Takeaway

It’s important to appreciate our elders, not just to honor them and their contributions to communities and the country. We should also appreciate them to keep a perspective on how much things have progressed, and how much progress is still necessary. There is always much we can learn from our elders and May’s Older Americans Month is an annual reminder of the lessons that can be learned from our senior Americans, and how much they can inspire us and our children.

If you have a loved one who needs a little help, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to take your call and go through the options to give your loved one the assistance they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence, lower cost.

Client on the phone

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones

In the US, April is “Move More Month” – no prizes for guessing what it’s all about! April is the month when we do our best to encourage others (and ourselves) to get moving a little more. No matter our condition, or level of fitness, we can all make a little more effort to improve our health by moving more. It doesn’t take much, just a little more walking, or a little dance, any excuse to move means less time sitting.

“Move More Month” encourages us all to boost our energy, boost our mental health, and boost our heart health – an initiative that was started by the American Heart Association. Whether you’re into yoga, or just enjoy playing with your dog, every physical activity goes a long way. Add some simple activities every so often and it won’t feel like you’re making an effort, it’ll just feel natural and lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Don’t think of it as getting more exercise. Think of it as finding joy in movement. We should all be looking for joy in life, and we should attempt to put joy into everything we do.

With that in mind, we thought we’d put together some ideas for how you can incorporate more movement into your day.

Microbreaks

Whether you’re working or relaxing, try to remember to move every half hour. How about you use your phone to set an alarm to do at least 5 minutes of activity every 60 minutes? You don’t have to take a walk; it’s a little difficult to take a stroll around the building every hour. Maybe you could do something like some shoulder rolls, calf raises, or chair dips. Anything that stretches the muscles of your limbs and spine is good, and you might feel energized too.

Turn Your Commute Into An Activity

We all have to get to work somehow, and if we live close enough we could try cycling or walking there. However, if you drive you could try parking a little further away and walking the rest of the way. If you take public transportation, is it feasible to get off one or two stops early and walk into work. This would be a great way to get some more movement into your day.

Walk And Talk

When you’re chatting on the phone, try to remember you can move around too. Feel free to keep moving around the room, the house, or the garden as you chat. How about staying on the move at work while you talk? Need to schedule a meeting? Why not make it a “walking meeting”. Think about it: you’ll get the blood circulating and keep the ideas percolating!

Lunchtime Can Also Be Move Time

A lot of workplaces have a gym for their employees. You could just take a walk using the treadmill, if you don’t want to end up going for a shower during your lunch break. Even if your place of work doesn’t have a gym, you can simply take a walk outside. If the weather is bad, try taking a walk through the building. See? There is no excuse not to be active at work.

Stand And Deliver

You’ll burn more calories and use your muscles more by standing at work instead of sitting. If you feel self-conscious about standing all day in an office full of people sitting, I get it. Many people feel like it makes them the focal point. But you can explain to everyone that you are looking after your health, and you might be surprised to find others following your lead.

Forget The Elevator

It’s so easy to opt for the elevator when you live or work somewhere with many floors, but taking the stairs instead will add so much activity to your day. If you live or work quite high up, or have a condition, you could just commit to going down using the stairs, and using the elevator to go up. Or use the elevator, but get off a few levels away and use the stairs the rest of the way.

Let’s Dance

Put on your favorite feel-good tunes and turn up the volume to get your body moving to the beat, and show us your best moves! Seriously though, it’s not about being a great dancer, it’s just about moving more. Dancing to just a few songs will leave you feeling energized, in a better mood, and will get your heart pumping. Why not get others involved for more motivation?

Pets Can Help Too!

If you have a pet, like a dog or a cat, playing with them can count towards moving more. Yes, it may be true that dogs have masters while cats have staff, but cats do also love to play. You just can’t take them to the park to play with a ball the way you can with a dog. Sure, dogs are more open to walking or running with you, fetching a stick or ball you throw for them, and other games. All of which results in more movement for you. If you don’t have a pet of your own, you could try borrowing someone else’s.

Moving With Parkinson’s Disease

As well as being US Move More Month, April is also Parkinson’s Awareness Month, as discussed in our earlier blog post this month.

We are proud of our care providers and medical health experts who work tirelessly for EJAI Loves Homecare to provide our clients with the best possible care at affordable prices.

They have immense experience working with those living with Parkinson’s disease, and know how difficult it can be to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.

According to Melita Petrossian, MD, Director of the Movement Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, “exercise is like a drug for Parkinson’s disease. It helps people’s brains use dopamine more efficiently, it creates new synapses or connections between brain cells, and it releases a protein called BDNF that helps protect the brain cells from further decline. Most of my patients who start exercising notice a significant benefit from exercise within a few weeks or a couple of months.”

When it comes to the best types of physical activity for those with Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Petrossian recommends “types of exercise that can be helpful include cardiovascular exercise; strength training including focusing on the upper body, lower body, and core; stretching; balance training; and skill-based exercise, which is when patients are learning something new such as dance, boxing, yoga, and or pilates. However, always make sure to ask your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.”

DISCLAIMER: You should always seek medical advice before taking up a new diet. This blog post is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional.

Client on the phone

EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more

Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones