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Being Thankful after a Devastation

Donna Nichols • November 2, 2022

 

Following the wrath of Hurricane Ian, you may feel you have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, but there is always a silver lining you just have to see it, and believe me, it's there!


It's inevitable that loss of life, home, belongings, jobs, businesses and community will affect everyone, whether they were impacted personally or not. You, or someone you know, may have lost your house, or parts of it, you may have lost your belongings and your furniture, or your car. But you have your life, you have your cherished memories and you have your friends and family.

 

So, how do you cope after a major hurricane? If you know what signs to look for, you can get help sooner thus deterring larger health problems down the road. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very serious condition that can arise from any kind of natural disaster. If you notice any of the signs below, PLEASE seek help immediately!!

 

Signs can vary from person to person and some people never show any signs of PTSD at all, but the most common signs are outlined below. 


 Emotional signs can include being anxious, fearful and sad, or angry. Feeling guilty is another big emotional sign, especially after a disaster, such as hurricane Ian was. This is referred to as survivor’s guilt. You may feel as though you should have lost your home when you came out unscathed and your neighbor lost everything.

 

These are all normal feelings and it’s like a grieving process. Take the time to let your feelings run their course and then carry on. Do not dwell on your gain/loss; pick yourself up, brush yourself off and get back to business. That is the only way to push through those emotional signs and not let them take over your mental capabilities. PLEASE do NOT try to drink them away or take drugs to numb them!! These solutions are only temporary and will only worsen the situation.

 

Reach out to others for support!!

 

Physical signs which can include gastric and stomach problems, headaches, eating or drinking too much, sweats or chills, shaking and muscle twitches. This is the category I fall into. When I was younger, they called it a nervous stomach. I was always sick with a stomach ache and headache, not knowing it would lead to migraines and severe gastro issues later in life.

 

I am still thankful though because it could be so much worse. This is what I mean about looking for the silver lining. My issues could leave me debilitated, not able to work or play golf, but they don’t. These same issues have others on disability and they are unable to do anything. So, does it suck to have these issues? Yes. Could my situation be worse? Yes. Do I wish things were different? Yes. Can I change the way things are? No. Does it do me any good to stress over the way things are? No. Am I grateful I can still have an active life? YES!!! 

 

Look for that lining!! It’s there!!!

 

There are also behavioral and cognitive signs of PTSD which can result in severe health problems. Some of those include, trouble falling or staying asleep, using too much alcohol, tobacco, drugs, isolation, thinking clearly, concentration, confusion, trouble making difficult decisions and remembering things.

 

Most of these symptoms will dissipate over time. However, if they don’t subside seek medical advice.

 

Here are some tips to help you cope:

 

Here at Assisted Living Made Simple, we are very support group oriented!! Find a support group to help you for your unique situation. There are so many online groups out there; a simple Google search will turn up hundreds of possibilities for you to find the perfect fit.

 

●         Keep in touch with family and friends for support too.

●         Make sure you acknowledge when you are having a stressful moment and deal with it constructively, don’t let emotions get pent up inside you.

●         Share your experiences with others and send support messages. These will not only help others in your situation, but will make you feel better as well.

●         Exercise to help release the endorphins into your body. These are natural mood enhancers and are great for your brain health too!

●         Listen to music and take deep breaths and feel the stress flowing out of your body with every exhale.

●         Eat healthy and drink lots of water.

 

Hopefully some of the above will help you deal with the after affects of hurricane Ian so you are able to find a way to be thankful this November. We are always here for you and are just a phone call away.

 

"Things" can be replaced, YOU cannot! I know the struggle is real, but you can rebuild because you are resilient and it is what we do as human beings! Ask yourself; is this the worst thing that has ever happened to me? If so, count yourself lucky; if it's not, then you know you can get through this too.

And remember, the only way to get to the other side is through!

 

Assisted Living Made Simple is thankful YOU are still with us!! 

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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