“Are You Selfish or Selfless?” – Alicia Kirschenheitert via eCare Diary

The pursuit of health and wellness is not an easy decision.  It requires commitment.  I know that sounds like a simple enough thing, but commitment is not as easy as it sounds.  But why?  We commit to all sorts of things.  We commit to family outings, bad movie dates, driving our friends places and of course to watching our programs religiously.  So then why is it so hard to commit to doing something for ourselves?  Alicia Kirschenheitert via eCare Diary.

 

My theory?  We have the ability to commit to the things important to us.  We can commit to our families, our friends and our jobs but not ourselves…see where I am going with this?  If don’t value ourselves, then how can we stick to improving ourselves?  While I’m no psychologist, our level of commitment to improving ourselves is a direct correlation of our own self value.  If we constantly put other things before our own health and wellness, at some point, inevitable illness will not allow us this luxury.

Wellness is selfish.  It is selfish to allow selfless.  Always remember that while it is difficult to break away from the day to do something for yourself, ultimately it will allow you to continue to do the things you love to do for everyone else.  Find the time.  Break the day into portions.  Look for the opportunity to add some level of fitness or wellness into everyday tasks.  For example, if you sit, find time to stand or if you walk find a way to make the destination further.  Be creative!

Until next time – be well.

Alicia Kirschenheiter is the owner of Evolution Total Wellness Inc. located in New York. Her vast array of experience in the wellness and fitness industry covers many different are areas including being an American Council on Exercise Certified Advanced Health & Fitness Expert, an in-demand personal trainer, a fitness coach (for individuals and companies) and a certified weight & lifestyle management consultant. She is a published wellness/fitness writer for a variety of publications as well as being the author of the children’s book “Oscar and Otis – Fat Fighters.”

 

 

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Patanjali Quote…Inspiration & Passion

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” ~  Patanjali

NCOA Awards Grants to 10 Organizations to Help Seniors, People with Disabilities Access Benefits

From National Council on Aging: February 16, 2011

CONTACT:
Ken Schwartz
ken.schwartz@ncoa.org
202-600-3131

Washington, D.C. – The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is pleased to award grants to 10 organizations nationwide for the purpose of finding and enrolling economically vulnerable older Americans and younger adults with disabilities into public benefits programs.

Awarded through NCOA’s National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (www.CenterforBenefits.org), the grants support the development of person-centered, community-based systems for more seamless and efficient outreach and enrollment of eligible seniors and younger adults living with disabilities into public benefits through the creation of Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs). The new BECs join the first 10 in assisting eligible seniors and younger adults with disabilities throughout the country to enroll in programs that help pay for prescription drugs, medical care, food, or utilities.

“The economic downturn makes the work of Benefits Enrollment Centers even more important,” said Jim Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. “Millions of low-income seniors and adults with disabilities are struggling to meet their basic needs. Many are simply not aware of all the programs available to help them achieve economic security, or they need assistance in applying for them.”

Each BEC will receive up to $130,000 to establish more effective systems to enroll seniors and adults with disabilities into the following programs: Medicare Part D Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy); Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs); Medicaid; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the federal Food Stamp program; State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (where available); and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP).

BECs have an ultimate goal of creating sustainable community- or state-based benefits enrollment systems that are as seamless as possible for consumers and their families and as cost-effective as possible for the government. They will help people who need one-on-one assistance with filling out benefits application forms, and use “person-centered” approaches, which encourage an individual to be screened and apply for multiple benefits at one time, rather than pursuing individual benefit programs one by one.

The BECs are funded under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging (AoA).

“Seniors and adults with disabilities need to know about the array of state and federal benefits for which they are eligible,” said Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging. “The Benefits Enrollment Centers support AoA’s commitment to identify promising practices, especially those that use person-centered assistance and web-based decision support tools. These strategies offer a more complete and cost-effective way to enroll these individuals so that they can receive the support they require.”

The following organizations are the recipients of the grants (listed alphabetically by state):

* WISE & Healthy Aging, Santa Monica, CA
* Centura Health System, Denver, CO
* Senior Resources, Norwich, CT
* ElderSource, Jacksonville, FL
* City and County of Honolulu, Department of Community Services, Elderly Affairs Division, Honolulu, HI
* Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY
* Isabella Geriatric Center, New York, NY
* Washington County Disability, Aging & Veteran Services, Hillsboro, OR
* AARP Foundation West Virginia, Charleston, WV
* Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, Madison, WI

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About NCOA The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged – and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities. For more information, visit http://www.NCOA.org.

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“It’s all in the eye.”

“It’s all in the eye.”

Dad always said.  My brother Brent has it all.

 

Brent Kirkwood: Portfolio.

Self Care for the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiver | Caring.com

“It’s really important to pay attention to feedback from others,” he says. Too often, it seems, observations – from a partner, a child, a sibling, a best friend – that a situation is less than stellar or that the person giving care is struggling are heard the wrong way by caregivers.

The natural response: Defensiveness! Anger! Hearing fightin’ words!

The better response: Consider those words to be a gift, Robbins says. “View such comments as a kindness, that someone is being kind enough to give feedback, even if it sounds critical.” And then, he adds: “Accept what you hear at face value and ask yourself what the person must have seen in order to say that.”

Read the entire article here:  Self Care for the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiver | Caring.com.