Tag: subacute care Somerset NJ

Feeling “Busy” Leads to Healthy Choices

Feeling “Busy” Leads to Healthy Choices

Posted on by Judah

Recently, a fascinating yet simple study was conducted at the global business school INSEAD, which has campuses in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, along with the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Pennsylvania, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of “feeling busy,” in terms of self-esteem as well as in the ability to make healthy choices. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

The team of researchers began the study by dividing a random set of people into two groups: a control group, which was given no psychological input; and a second group of individuals who, by means of subtle psychological techniques, were led to believe that they were busy.

After the researchers succeeded in making the psychologically-manipulated people feel that they were relatively busy people compared to their peers, they asked the participants to make a series of choices. By analyzing the choices, the researchers were able to determine how feeling busy related self-control and self-esteem.

The researchers were careful to avoid questions of great urgency, for example questions of life-and-death. Instead the participants were asked to make the types of choices that people make on a daily basis. For example, participants were asked about which foods to eat – healthy or unhealthy foods, whether or not to exercise, whether to spend or to save money, along with other similar questions.

The conclusions of the study are best summed up in the words of Prof. Chattopadhay of INSEAD, the lead author of the study: “Every day we make decisions that involve choosing between our immediate and future well-being. When we perceive ourselves to be busy, it boosts our self-esteem, tipping the balance in favor of the more virtuous choice.”

The authors were careful to point out that individuals who feel far too busy, or indeed are far too busy, often have greater anxiety, greater feelings of stress, and consequently often make worse decisions. As is always the case, balance is needed for optimum health.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers we know that an active, involved and rewarding lifestyle is vital to our residents’ total well-being. For that reason, our recreation staff is much larger than a typical facility of similar size.

We have a comprehensive and stimulating array of programs is designed to appeal to a variety of tastes, interests and levels of ability, and is offered seven days a week. With an emphasis on empowering our residents, our recreational programs encourage patients and residents to fulfill their potential and remain engaged and involved. Individually tailored activities and programs include live entertainment, lectures, trips and events that encourage socialization and a healthy sense of “feeling busy.”

Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.

Researchers Find 500 New Genes That Affect High Blood Pressure

Researchers Find 500 New Genes That Affect High Blood Pressure

Posted on by Judah

Another new and original article for our beloved Regency readers and family, in honor of Heart Health month!

The American Heart Association estimates that more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). As we get older, our blood vessels lose elasticity, meaning that the risk of hypertension increases as we age.

Worldwide, high blood pressure is the leading cause of cardiovascular death. Moreover, between 2005 and 2015 the number of deaths due to high blood pressure increased by nearly 40%. In other words, the incidence of hypertension, already at epidemic levels, is increasing rapidly.

There are a number of risk factors for high blood pressure that can be influenced by our behavior. Those risk factors are diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and stress.

However, there are a number of risk factors that we cannot change — they are embedded in our genes. Recently, a team of scientists at Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College, London completed a comprehensive study of the genetic data of more than 1 million people, and found more than 500 new genetic regions linked with high blood pressure.

According to Professor Caulfield, one of the authors of the study, “This is the most important advance in blood pressure genetics to date.” We now know that there are more than 1000 genetic markers which influence our blood pressure. This provides many new insights into the way our bodies regulate blood pressure. As result, it will also provide many new opportunities for the development of targeted drugs.

By calculating a person’s genetic risk for high blood pressure as they age, based on the multiple genetic markers we are now aware of, we could hopefully create a much more precise approach to helping those at high risk for hypertension.

Until such drugs are developed, you can rest assured that at the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best care in a patient-centered environment. Because an active, involved and rewarding lifestyle is vital to our residents’ total well-being, our recreation staff is much larger than a typical facility of similar size. A comprehensive and stimulating array of programs is designed to appeal to a variety of tastes, interests and levels of ability, and is offered seven days a week.

Our Food Service Director, dietician and dietary staff serve varied, well-balanced meals, individually tailored to the clinical needs and personal preferences of each resident, in elegantly decorated dining rooms.

Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.

Finding Dangerous Inflammation with the ESR Test

Posted on by Judah

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test is a commonly-administered blood test that can reveal inflammatory processes in the body. The test measures how quickly red blood cells sink to the bottom of a test tube of blood. Inflammation causes higher amounts of protein in the blood, causing red blood cells to “clump.” These clumps are heavier than regular blood cells, and therefore settle to the bottom of the test tube at a faster rate in people afflicted with inflammatory diseases.

Although the ESR test is nonspecific, meaning the specific cause of the inflammatory response is not indicated by the test, it nevertheless informs the doctor of the need for further testing to determine the cause of inflammation.

The normal reference range for ESR is 1-13 mm/hr for males and 1-20 mm/hr for females. The normal range changes with age, as is expected since some degree of increased inflammation is usually found among older people. But for those whose ESR level falls outside of the normal range, the possibility of disease requires further investigation.

People with low ESR levels may suffer from leukemia; congestive heart failure; or an increase in blood thickness, known as hyperviscosity; among other conditions.

People with elevated ESR levels may suffer from any of a number of inflammatory diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, thyroid disease, kidney disease, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

While ESR levels outside of the normal range do not always indicate serious illness, an out-of-range result will alert your doctor to check for underlying conditions.

With the availability of so many tests that can uncover potentially serious conditions, it is important to be proactive, visit your doctor regularly, and be willing to withstand the discomfort of a needle prick in exchange for the important information a blood test can provide. The earlier the diagnosis of any condition, the greater the likelihood of a good outcome.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.

Mindfulness Found to Reduce Pain

Mindfulness Found to Reduce Pain

Posted on by Judah

At Regency Nursing Centers NJ, we are all about mindfulness.

Indeed, it permeates everything we do and it begins from the very top, with our leadership team.

Did you know that according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), chronic pain affects more than 25 million people in the United States, with particularly high prevalence in older people. Although some medications offer temporary relief from chronic pain, these medications are often accompanied by severe side effects, as in addition to a risk of addiction.

A recent NIH study, published in the journal PAIN, showed that the way people go about their daily routine, and in particular what they think about, can have a dramatic effect in terms of pain relief.

Researchers refer to the way a person goes about their daily routine and what they think about as “mindfulness.” Dr. Fadel Zeidan, an assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina and lead author of the study, explains that mindfulness is related to being aware of the present moment without excessive emotional reaction or judgment. A mindful person focuses on what is going on around them more than what is going on within them.

The study examined the neurological aspects of this phenomenon in an effort to find effective strategies for the relief of chronic pain. Dr. Zeidan and his colleagues studied a group of participants whose baseline mindfulness levels were assessed via the standard Freiberg Mindfulness Inventory.

The researchers administered both painful and non painful stimulation to the participants, while analyzing their brain activity using MRIs. Researchers found that that mindfulness correlated with lower pain sensitivity, by means of a deactivation of the brain circuit known as the default mode network.

The default mode network consists of several interconnected brain areas that are activated when one is focusing on their internal state more than they are paying attention to what is happening around them. When a person is highly aware of their own inner state, drawing their attention inwards and becoming involved with their own thoughts and emotions, their default mode network becomes highly active. This state is associated with higher sensitivity to the awareness of pain.

Conversely, the default mode network becomes deactivated whenever people are involved with mindful tasks. For example, something as simple as reading a book, drawing a picture, talking with a friend, or even writing an email, will help deactivate the default mode network.

The main areas that make up the default mode network are the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex. The study found that higher levels of mindfulness correlated directly with greater deactivation of the posterior cingulate cortex. The more pain people felt, the more active the posterior cingulate cortex was.

What causes this difference? Dr. Zeidan explains that, “Mindful individuals are seemingly less caught up in the experience of pain, which is associated with lower pain reports.”

The take away message for us is that being involved with life in a direct way will not only lead to us to becoming more positive and happier people, but can even alleviate chronic pain.

The Hard Impact of Senior Falls

Posted on by Judah

 Falling is the most common way for a senior citizen to lose their independence.

See our infographic for shocking facts about the frequency and seriousness of falling.

But remember, falling, while common, is not an inevitable part of aging.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we strategize ways to help our residents lower their risk of falling. In addition to assessing for fall risk, we:

  1. Encourage our residents to participate in appropriate exercises to increase their strength and improve their balance.
  2. Review medications prescribed to seniors with an eye toward reducing their fall risk.
  3. Ensure our residents have annual eye exams, and always wear glasses with a current prescription.
  4. Maintain a well lit, clutter-free environment that offers easy access to frequently-used objects.

Remember, falls are dangerous but avoidable. Taking the time to address fall risks will increase both the length and quality of a senior’s life.

At Regency, our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.