Blog

May 7th, 2021 In accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH) reopening guidance, we must report to you the recent changes to the Updated Guidance for Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care Facilities Incorporating COVID-19 Vaccination. The full written Guidance can be found here. Highlights: Reminder: we must adhere to the cor...

A COVID-19 Vaccine is just around the corner! COVID Fast Facts and Stats Resident Consent for Vaccination We know how stressful it has been for you since some of the first outbreaks of COVID. We also know how frustrated you all are with all the COVID nose swab testing. Words cannot express our gratitude and sincere appreciation for everything you h...

 Heritage Health and our managed locations understand that visiting with family and friends is important to the quality of life. We encourage these visits, provided they are done in a safe and healthy manner. This fact sheet has been created to provide you and your loved one with guidance so everyone may enjoy their time together. Visits are b...

You likely have heard of varicose veins, have them yourself or have seen them on someone else. Varicose veins are large, twisted veins that have become elongated or thickened that are not able to properly control blood flow. These damaged veins most often occur in the legs and are visible on the surface of the skin. Varicose veins and other venous ...

Effective the week of May 3, all residents will be required to wear a mask when they are outside of their room, in accordance with the social distancing guidelines. We wanted to communicate this to you so you are not alarmed if you see a mask on your loved one. This is a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus. Our goal is to ...

With the current COVID-19 situation sweeping our nation, a focus on immune system health has become more critical than ever. People with compromised immune systems, like many of the elderly population, have been deemed more at risk than other demographics. This is consistent with other illnesses such an influenza, however the nature of the COVID-19...

In accordance with President Trump's national emergency declaration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the following guidance to all long term care facilities. All skilled nursing, assisted living and supportive living facilities will be subject to a prohibition of visitors. Exceptions will only be made on a case-by-...

There are more than 43 million caregivers in the United States, can you believe that! A caregiver, by this definition, is a person who provides unpaid care to an adult or a child in need. Of that number, more than half (over 34 million!) have provided care to another adult over the age of 50. These informal caregivers are different than people who ...

There are more than 43 million caregivers in the United States, can you believe that! A caregiver, by this definition, is a person who provides unpaid care to an adult or a child in need. Of that number, more than half (over 34 million!) have provided care to another adult over the age of 50. These informal caregivers are different than people who ...

Circulation: movement to and fro or around something, especially that of fluid in a closed system. Our circulatory system, or the cardiovascular system, permits blood to circulate throughout the body. It also transports nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, blood cells and hormones to and from the cells of our body to provide nourishment. As we age, t...

The holiday season brings families together. Whether families are scattered across a wide geographic area or all live in the same time, the holidays give us an excuse to spend time together and to reconnect. For many people who have aging or elderly parents, this time together is also an opportunity to discuss if a change in their parent's care or ...

Did you know that one in three women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture? That is quite a few women affected by this disease. While most often associated with women, osteoporosis also affects men. One in five men over the age of 50 will also suffer some kind of osteoporotic fracture. What is Osteoporosis? The definition of o...

Women and men have different symptoms of a heart attack. Many signs can be mistaken for something else, and are often ignored by the person experiencing them. Do you know what to look for in yourself or in a loved one? What Exactly Is a Heart Attack? A heart attack is a common but complicated event that is the result of multiple factors. Because ou...

Functional medicine is a new term to many Americans. This approach to care is a patient-centered, individualized and science-based approach that works to address underlying causes of disease. Functional medicine doctors determine how and why illness occurs and addresses the root cause in order to restore optimal health. Practitioners address the ro...

The Villas Senior Care Community in Sherman cares for seniors affected by joint pain arising from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. While the causes of painful joint conditions vary, seniors have options for coping with the symptoms. The nursing team at The Villas helps seniors reduce the effects of joint pain in late life....

There are many different kinds of headaches, with migraines being the most severe and most debilitating. A migraine is considered a neurological disease that affects 39 million men, women and children in the United States alone. Worldwide, nearly a billion people suffer from this debilitating disease. The National Headache Foundation (NHF) recogniz...

Water is vital to life, no matter how old we. As humans, our bodies are made of 60% water. Our various organs (heart, brain, kidneys and skin) are also composed of mostly water. Even our bones are 31% water! We know that hydration is important during the warmer summer months. This is especially vital to the elderly population because their body wat...

Have you heard this recent "fad"? Sitting is the new smoking, meant to suggest that a sedentary lifestyle is as dangerous to your health as smoking. Cigarettes, tobacco use and vaping are definitely very unhealthy habits for people of any age. The health benefits of stopping these behaviors can add years to your life. You can combat obesity, high b...

Spring is in full swing and that means the onset of spring allergies! The blooming trees, flowers, grasses and bushes, while heralding warmer weather and the prospect of summer, also bring allergies and respiratory challenges. When is allergy season? Technically allergy season is year-round, due to indoor allergens like dust and dander that exist e...

Have you ever heard an older person predict rain because their joints hurt? Of course you have, sometimes as a joke but often times quite seriously. There is a good amount of truth behind those achy weather predictions. Winter may be on its way out, but we all know that the winter-to-spring transition means there is still a good amount of cold, wet...

Macular degeneration is the number cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans (that's more than glaucoma and cataracts combined!). You may have heard of macular degeneration, or even the wet vs. dry conditions of this disease, as well as age-related macular degeneration. As February is dedicated to educating the public on "Age-R...

The Midwest is caught in the throes of what meteorologists call a polar vortex. Temperatures are dangerously low, so much so that experts warn again even open your mouth while outdoors. While the sub-zero temperatures are the main concern right now, winter poses plenty of risks to elderly seniors. The cold weather, snow, and ice are all ingredients...

January 12, 2019, is National Pharmacist Day, a date set aside to honor and recognize the positive impact that pharmacists have in the healthcare industry. Recognition days like this help increase awareness about the importance of pharmacy services and the pharmacists themselves. Green Tree Pharmacy is the pharmacy of choice for the residents at Th...

Senior Living: Options and Opportunities The Baby Boomer generation is aging, and with that comes the demand for reliable information about senior living and healthcare options. Things have changed a lot over the last few decades, and seniors looking for care have a plethora of options. The Villas Senior Care Community in Sherman is a campus with m...

Today's society places a lot of focus on physical health and how a healthy physical lifestyle can keep things like cardiovascular problems, obesity, diabetes and other maladies at bay. One thing we often do not hear a lot about is brain health, and ways to keep our brains strong. Our brain is the most complex organ in our bodies and controls every ...

Did you know it was Plato who first said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" While the initial understanding of this familiar adage relates to physical beauty, it holds meaning in many different forms. Have you ever considered how this seemingly clique phrase can have a positive effect on your daily life? Think of beauty in relation to your at...

Winter weather is slowly creeping up on us! With the colder weather comes the threat of catching a cold, the flu or something even worse for those with weakened immune systems. For seniors with weaker immune systems, a common cold or episode of influenza can turn into something more dangerous like pneumonia or bronchitis. A strong immune system wil...

The fall season is a wonderful time of year to enjoy a nice walk outdoors. The trees are changing, the air is crisp and skies are blue. Colorful trees, pumpkins and mums decorate the landscape in every direction. It's the perfect time to lace up those walking shoes and get outside.You can enjoy the scenery while getting healthy at the same time. Wa...

Autumn is officially here. It's the season of pumpkin everything! Pumpkin spice lattes, donuts, candies and of course … pumpkin pie! While pumpkin may dominate the landscape, there is a literal cornucopia of super foods that not only taste delicious, but are beneficial to boosting our immune systems. With cold and flu season just around the corner,...

As the leaves change and temperatures turn cooler, our seasonal food cravings tend to follow suit. The variety of fruits and vegetables that have their peak season in autumn combines with the desire for warm, hearty comfort food, resulting in wonderful, healthy options to add to our menu options. For seniors, the foods of fall can be a rich source ...