Resources for Families

Information regarding resources on Nutrition Assistance programs.

Holiday Cooking

If you’re cooking for family and friends during the holidays, it’s important to keep food safety in mind, whether preparing, serving, or storing food. Follow these 4 steps when handling food. Test your knowledge about food borne illness and older adults.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Here are 10 tips that may help you get a good night's sleep.

Medicare Fraud Alert

Have you heard you'll be getting a new Medicare Card? Wondering when or why? This isn't happening until April 2018 but scammers are already jumping on the confusion as an opportunity for fraud. Protect yourself.

My Plate for Older Adults

This article and graphic for Older Adults based on MyPlate encourages adequate nutrient and fluid intake for older adults.

A Little Bit of Physical Activity Can Help the Heart

A little activity goes a long way, even for the elderly who may have mobility problems. Most exercise recommendations include several sessions of moderate to vigorous activity each week, but not all adults are physically up to the task.

Healthy Eating

Healthy eating is important for everyone. But it can be even more critical as you age, especially if you’re living with a chronic condition. Click below to be connected to the National Council on Aging web site for more nutritional information.

High Blood Pressure Information

If your blood pressure is too high, it puts you at risk for serious diseases such as heart attack and stroke. There are many factors that Causes of High Blood Pressure, and some of these are lifestyle habits that you can control. 

High blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. If high blood pressure is not controlled, it can lead to heart and kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. But studies have shown that “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,” or DASH, is an eating plan that can help lower high blood pressure. Get details on following the DASH eating plan.      

National Institute of Health

This is a wonderful resource for health and wellness information for older adults from the National Institute of Health. It has everything from eating safely (how to handle those leftovers and food storage) to links to help adults 60+ find reliable online health information.

Stop Falls

Falling is the leading cause of unintentional injury at home among Americans 65 and older. “Stopfall.org” is the official website of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. Their mission is to identify best practices in fall prevention and to help communities offer fall prevention programs to older people who are at risk of falling.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth, and it can be uncomfortable. Some people notice a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth. Others notice a burning feeling or difficulty while eating. But dry mouth can lead to other problems too, so it’s important to treat it.

Health Screenings & Immunizations

Health screenings are tests that look for diseases BEFORE you have symptoms. Screening tests can find diseases early, when they're easier to treat. Some conditions that doctors commonly screen for include colorectal cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. As with any medical test, there are questions you should ask beforehand.

Driving Skills for Seniors

Declines in physical and thinking abilities as a person ages can affect driving skills, but some older adults may not recognize, or accept, that their skills have changed. If someone has become an unsafe driver, they can endanger themselves, their passengers, pedestrians, or other drivers.

Identify Your Exercise Starting Point

Have you been told by your doctor or health care provider to get more exercise, but you’re not exactly sure how to start? An important first step is to identify your starting point—your current activity level—so you can pick exercises that are comfortable and realistic for you. Use these simple tests to measure your fitness level.

And don’t forget – safety first!

See How to Start Exercising After a Break

For more, see “Starting to Exercise Again After a Break,” from Go4Life®, the exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at NIH.

Find Treatments in Place of Knee Replacements

Knee replacement is becoming more common among older adults. People mainly have the surgery to ease pain and disability from arthritis or other joint problems, while preserving movement. Before recommending knee replacement, your doctor might advise you to try other treatments.

Watch “What to Drink as You Get Older? (VIDEO)

For information on healthy eating, see “What’s On Your Plate?” — a nutrition resource from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Cognitive Health and Older Adults

Help keep your brain as healthy as you age. Learn how your brain changes as you age and what you can do to keep your cognitive function at its best.

Now What? Next Steps after Alzheimer's Diagnosis

This website gives a checklist of resources and referrals to newly diagnosed patients. Available in English and Spanish. 

Choosing Healthy Meals as You Get Older 

Food provides nutrients you need as you age. Use these tips to choose foods for better health at each stage of life.

Go4Life from the National Institute on Aging

If you are trying to fit exercise and physical activity into your day, then try these fitness tips from the National Institute on Aging.

Holiday Hints for Alzheimer's Caregivers

Holiday traditions can be a comforting link with the past for people with Alzheimer’s disease, and celebrating together can be a treasured experience for families. But the changes in routine, busy schedules, and many visitors may also be stressful for a person with Alzheimer’s.

Keep Track of Medications with this Worksheet 

Older adults may take more medications than they did when they were younger. Keep a copy of this chart up-to-date with your medications, as well as any over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or supplements you routinely take. If you're caring for a family member or friend, make sure to fill out a copy with them as well

Are You Reaching Your Fitness Goals?

Check your exercise progress each month with Go4Life's Monthly Progress Test! Stay motivated to exercise by seeing how far you've come each month. Record your scores and watch your progress!

6 tips to help you get a better night's sleep

Feeling sleepy? Lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can increase your risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and obesity.

Kids Nutrition & Information

Prevent Childhood Choking: It’s Up to You

Information for parents and child care providers on keeping mealtime and the house safe.

Ways for Preteen Girls to Lose Weight Without a Diet

Making healthy food choices is the first step toward a healthy weight for preteen girls.

What is an Eating Disorder?

Some basic facts about eating disorders.

Nutrition for Children with Special Health Care Needs

An resource compiled by the State of Washington but those who live outside Washington State may also find the information helpful.

Obesity and Special Needs Children

A Report and Obesity Guide helping parents of Special Needs Children with Obesity.  This guide focuses on problems through stories based on incidents and then offers solutions and tips for parents. 

Help Finding a Registered Dietitian

You realize the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. But getting the best and most accurate information isn’t always easy.

Dietary Guidelines

The MyPlate food guidance system replaces MyPyramid. The Daily food Plan can help you choose the foods and amounts that are right for you.

Skin Care and Aging 

Your skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Age spots and skin tags may also appear. Should you worry if you see them?

Men

Healthy Living for Men

Resources that highlight a variety of health issues and observances related to men’s and general health.

Men’s Health

A good resource for tips on healthy living and exercise.

Women

What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

Information regarding the safe consumption of seafood for women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children.

Healthy Heart!

This site provides women with information on nutrition, exercise, cholesterol, blood pressure and other factors related to heart health.

Menopause and Weight Gain

Learn about weight gain as we age and what can be done about it.