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Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on How Yoga Can Improve Your Mental Health

Yoga is most closely associated with stretching and flexibility, but while it’s great for those physical qualities, it can have numerous mental-health benefits as well—that go well beyond meditation and relaxation to curb anxiety and depression.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing takes a look at how yoga can actually strengthen your brain, resulting in improved memory, learning skills, and overall function.

Strengthening Your Brain

It should come as no surprise that performing an exercise that is good for the mind will actually help strengthen your brain. Doing yoga helps brain cells develop new connection, which results in a sharper memory, increased learning skills, and better overall brain function.

Studies show that those who regularly take part in yoga exercises have a thicker cerebral cortex and hippocampus than those who don’t. These areas are responsible for the processing of information and learning/memory, respectively. Studies have also shown that yoga can improve reasoning, decision making, reaction time, and accuracy on cognitive tests.

As memory and other brain functions can naturally deteriorate with age, taking part in yoga regularly could help counteract these effects.

Mood Improvements

Any sort of exercise is a mood-enhancer, as endorphins (hormones that make you feel good) are released and more oxygen goes into your brain. Conversely, stress-hormone levels throughout the body are lowered. But research has found that yoga can have even more mood-related benefits. Another brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with decreased anxiety and improved mood, has been seen at elevated levels in people who partake in yoga regularly.

In addition, a study of stress-relieving activities like massage, progressive muscle relaxation, and listening to music, yoga was found to have the longest-lasting effect on mood.

 

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Easy Mediterranean-Diet Inspired Meals to Make

The more you read about the Mediterranean diet, the better things sound. The diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats and proteins, has been linked to a decrease in heart disease and even potentially helping to curb deadly diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

And one of the best things about it is that you don’t need to be an expert chef in the kitchen to make meals that are inspired by the Mediterranean diet to be heart-healthy.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is sharing these four delicious recipes that will keep your stomach—along with the rest of your body—happy.

  1. Tomato Feta Shrimp Pasta

One additional healthy hack to this recipe is to use Italian cherry tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. They have no added sugar even though they are sweeter than their American counterpart, and also has less sodium and fewer preservatives. Use your choice of whole-grain pasta, which is high in fiber and have fewer bad carbs, 8 ounces of extra-large shrimp (between 20 and 25 pieces), and an ounce of crumbled feta to complete this dish.

  1. Lemon Pistachio Quinoa Salad With Grilled Salmon

Use 6 cups of arugula for your salad base, 2 cups of cooked quinoa, one-quarter cup of dry-roasted pistachios, one-quarter cup of lemon juice, and four salmon fillets at 4 ounces each.

  1. Grilled Chicken Zoodle Marinara

Here’s a healthy take on chicken parmesan! Grill the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and instead of pasta, make zoodles—zucchini noodles. By tossing the noodles and chicken in the marinara (if you go for store-bought, by a low-salt, no-sugar-added sauce) and sprinkle with parmesan, you can please even the pickiest vegetable-eater.

  1. Mediterranean Pizza

Pizza can be good for you too! Use either a whole-wheat or cauliflower-based crust and top with cheese, cherry tomatoes, olives, and the vegetables of your choice.

 

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Weight-Loss Hacks to Try Today

The thought of dieting can be stressful. Whether it’s having to give up your favorite foods, the prospect of eating salads all the time, or cutting your portion sizes down to the point where you’re always hungry, dieting is as much of a mental exercise as it is a physical one.

Fortunately, there are some tricks that may seem small but can add up to big changes, and it doesn’t involve you having to make drastic changes.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five of these weight-loss hacks to help you in your wellness journey.

  1. Make That Sandwich Open-Faced

In addition to switching from white to whole-grain bread to cut down on empty calories, only use one piece of bread for your sandwich instead of two. Going open-faced can cut anywhere from 70 to 120 calories off your meal, depending on the type of bread you use.

  1. Buy a Fruit Bowl

If you have a fruit bowl, you are more likely to use it! Keep it filled with fruits and vegetables that you can easily snack on when you’re feeling like one instead of something unhealthy like chips.

  1. Eat at the Table

Studies found that people overeat while eating or snacking in front of your TV because our mind is distracted and doesn’t realize when the body is full. Eat mindfully by taking your meals and snacks to the kitchen table.

  1. Get Smaller Plates

Do you have large plates and bowls? You might feel the need to fill them when you make your meals, and you could be overeating because of it. Eating on salad plates and in smaller bowls can lead to eating more sensible portions.

  1. Repetition is Your Friend

Find some healthy meals you enjoy and stick to those for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Pre-set meals will keep you on track and give you less reason to stray from your plan.

 

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on 5 Productive Ways to Retirees to Spend Their Free Time

Let’s face it: retirement can be an adjustment, especially for people who were used to being on the go. The change from a busy schedule to loads of free time can be harder for some people to manage than others who may find that they can’t have enough relaxation time!

If you’re one of those people looking to occupy some of that new-found free time, Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five productive ways to fill up your schedule in retirement.

  1. Exercise

If you’ve been putting off your exercise due to work and other commitments, now is the time to get serious. As we age, it’s even more important to get in your exercise time. Not only will it build you up physically, you’ll also see mental improvements to your mood, a reduction of stress and anxiety, and better sleep.

  1. Build Your Brain

Take the time to learn a new hobby or skill. There are loads of options online, and many colleges and universities even offer free access to classes you might be interested in sitting in on.

  1. Find Love

If you’re single, online dating offers much easier access to the dating world than you were accustomed to when you were younger. The stigma of online dating is gone now, and if you need a bit of a nudge, enlist in the help of a younger person in your life who is very likely familiar with the ins and outs of this trend.

  1. Earn a Few Bucks

Just because you left your full-time job behind, that doesn’t mean that you can’t work at all. You can find a low-stress part-time job, or consider entering the gig economy. If you enjoy driving and meeting new people, try driving for a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber. If you enjoy shopping, enlist with Instacart to shop for others and get paid while doing so.

  1. Give Back

If you’re looking to share your wisdom or lend a helping hand, your community likely has several avenues to volunteer. Help out an area teacher, join Habitat for Humanity if you’re handy, or see if your church or local library, SPCA, or Humane Society is in need of any help.

 

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

 

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

According to the CDC:
– The vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19
– They will help keep you from getting seriously ill
– They help protect your family and community
– Vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorizations from the FDA

Talk to the facility administrator or social worker—and get vaccinated today.

Protecting our patients, residents and staff from COVID-19

From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, our facility has followed the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The safety of our residents, patients, staff and their families are our priority and we continue to take an abundance of precaution to protect them.

Our team is well-trained in the importance of proper handwashing and the use of alcohol-based sanitizer, and all are supplied with proper PPE. If they experience symptoms—such as fever or cough—they are instructed to stay home, and they must be cleared before returning to work.

Handwashing and hygiene posters are displayed throughout our facilities, and employee education and training continue based on the latest community and CDC guidelines. In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine is currently being administered throughout the Centers Health Care facilities to staff and residents alike.

For the latest news about visitation and more, please contact our facility.

Centers Health Care celebrates 25 years of experience, innovation and leadership

25 years of improving lives
25 years of compassionate care
25 years of making a difference

Experience matters and we have it.

We’re proud to be part of Centers Health Care, one of the leading post-acute care organizations in the country. 

This year, Centers Health Care is celebrating 25 years of monumental care.

As the leading post-acute healthcare network in the Northeast, Centers’ experience is unmatched, our knowledge unparalleled. We bring more accumulated expertise to the residents and patients we serve than any other post-acute provider in the country, touching more than half a million lives and achieving more than 20,000 successful rehabilitations every year.

Our remarkable insights and ground-breaking achievements over the past quarter-century are exemplary.  We have developed programs that have put our company in the top 5% nationwide for successful rehabilitations such as our specialized care units, ranging from a cardiac care unit that has been certified by the American Heart Association to vent and dialysis care.

We have developed unprecedented outreach to the communities we serve—creating units dedicated to community cultures. Centers has, in short, transformed post-acute healthcare…and that’s just the beginning.

We celebrate as we look back at our successes and look forward to our continuing triumphs.

“Over the last quarter-century,” CEO Kenny Rozenberg says, “we have gained the kind of powerful experience in post-acute healthcare that is unmatched in the industry. I am proud and honored to celebrate the 25th anniversary—and look forward to moving ahead, as we write new chapters in the story of Centers Health Care, leading the way for the next 25 years.”

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Things to Know About the Wait for a COVID-19 Vaccine

The month of October is bringing more news about a potential COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government announced a plan to administer free vaccines to nursing home residents and staff through Walgreens and CVS, the two largest pharmacy chains in the country. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer also said it could be applying with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use of their vaccine as early as November.

But with this being the fastest-produced vaccine in the history of medicine, should you have confidence that it will be safe? Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine, courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

 

The U.S. has long-time safeguards in place to ensure that all vaccines are as safe as possible. The FDA is requiring a two-month monitoring period of those participating in trials before they will authorize use.

 

 

The CDC is working with all companies and with all levels of government (federal, state, local) to have a plan to rollout each one when it is ready.

 

 

It’s expected that the FDA will give vaccine candidates an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) at first in order to ensure that high-risk people are the first ones vaccinated.

 

 

While the initial supply will be limited, the goal is to make the vaccine easily accessible for all Americans. It is expected to be available at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers.

 

 

Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be provided at no cost. There may be some administration fees from providers, but most public and private insurance companies have vowed to cover those costs.

 

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on the Link Between Loneliness and Memory Loss

Isolation and loneliness are always a concern when it comes to the health of our senior population, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought that issue to the forefront.

Social distancing, a lack of visitation options, and popular places like senior centers, gyms, and malls being either closed or having restrictions upon them have made things difficult for seniors. In order to remain free of COVID-19 and the complications the virus brings to the elderly, issues with loneliness and isolation have become widespread.

Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is also bringing another concern to light—a study that suggests the risk for dementia can increase after just six months of seniors living in isolation.

Just One of Many Risk Factors of Isolation

Loneliness has been known to bring on physical issues in the elderly like high blood pressure, diabetes, and a weakened immune system. Depression and anxiety are also linked to long periods of isolation in seniors. And this was a major issue before the pandemic, as a 2018 survey found that 43% of people age 60 or older reported some feelings of loneliness.

How Loneliness Relates to Dementia

Scientists describe the brain with the term “use it or lose it.” It’s believed that proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia accumulate in the brain for decades before issues rise to the surface, and if there are social deprivation and other lack of stimulation in the mind, signs of dementia can begin to appear.

How to Cope

While visitation is beginning to resume at long-term care facilities like Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, it has been beneficial for seniors to be involved in the community atmosphere that senior living can bring. Additionally, video connections through FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and other apps provide adequate face-to-face interaction when being there in person isn’t possible.

To learn more about Oak Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://oak-hill-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/. 

 

Centers Health Care is Stronger Together

This summer Centers Health Care is Stronger Together

A reflection of our unity, our strength and our ties to the communities we serve.

We are committed to providing an empowering circle of care. Top healthcare professionals in every field play a critical role in our mission to deliver a patient-centered life cycle that makes us all stronger. Our leadership, experience and expertise in post-acute healthcare all lead to successful outcomes.

Danny Prero, Administrator at Williamsbridge Center, describes how he experiences the circle at his facility: “I’m a firm believer in working hard, working together, and paying it forward. My mission is to guide my team toward a common goal and outcome—improving the lives of all those who come through our doors in need of our care. I inspire my team to achieve success, and they inspire me by their great work.”

This summer, as you get to know why we are stronger together, you will also have the opportunity to learn something…and win something, including a Roku TV, a trip for 2, and more. All you have to do is learn the facts: Did you know that Centers Health Care partners with over 2,000 hospitals and health providers, that the average therapy department at Centers has over 140 years of combined experience, and each year we achieve over 22,000 successful rehabilitation stays? There is real strength—and some pretty cool prizes—in those numbers!

We are also recognizing our healthcare hero partners at regional hospitals, serving up complimentary ice cream or donuts to the staff at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, and NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn to name just a few. Watch our donut extravaganza in action, courtesy of Centers Health Care.

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd1EUsKY2u4[/embedyt]

 

The bottom line is: Centers Health Care is making a difference in people’s lives.

These are just three of the many examples from around Centers Health Care that remind us of the wonderful stories we can share because we are stronger together.

Last, but certainly not least, the campaign highlights inspiring true stories of patients and residents who have benefitted from the Centers Circle of Care, demonstrating the real-life power and success of the Stronger Together promise.

Did you enter for your chance to win?